IslamIslam

• www.mwlcanada.org/publications/Introducing_Islam.ppt

• Scriptures: Quran / Koran• God: Allah• Authority: Muhammad • Date founded: 622 CE• Believers: 1,570 million

(80% outside the Arab world. the fastest growing religion)

• Islam means submission to the will of God. A Muslim is one who submits. Man’s purpose is to serve the will of God.

Introducing Islam

• Tawhid – the oneness or unity

• Prophecy – Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Jesus was the second to last prophet, who foretold the coming of Muhammad.

• Revelation – God revealed scriptures to humanity as guidance for them. The Quran is the final word.

• Angelic Agency – Angels are everywhere; they come to people’s help in every thought and action. (Fisher and Luyster)

• Last Judgment and Afterlife – the pictures of Heaven and Hell.

Five Pillars of Faith

• Shahada—Declaring your faith 承认信仰– “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the Prophet of

Allah.”

• Salat—Five daily prayers and one communal on Friday 礼拜

• Zakat—Almsgiving 课功• Sawm—Fasting one month every year, the holy month of

Ramadan 斋月• Hajj—Pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia once in a life

time 麦加朝圣

Five Pillars of Practice

• Two meanings:– Inner Jihad, the struggle with oneself, mastering one’s passions and

leading to a virtuous life

– Outer Jihad, all activities like defending Islamic faith or Muslim lands

Jihad—Holy War

The ProphetHis background

• An orphan of a noble, but not well-to-do, family that lived in Mecca.

• His father died before his birth. His mother died when he was six. His uncle raised him.

• He was known for being honest and truthful before prophethood.

• Worked as a shepherd and later as a trader • Married his first wife Khadija, and the mother of his

surviving children, when he was 25. She was 40.

The ProphetHis prophethood

• In 610, he received his first revelation at 43. These revelations were compiled later into the Quran; the holy book of Muslims

• The nobles of Mecca refused his call, ostracized and persecuted him and his followers.

• After 12 difficult years, he immigrated in 622 to Medina whose people welcomed him.

• In Medina, he was a prophet and a statesman.

• In 633, he died at 63

• His personality revolves around the traits of mercy, generosity and forgiveness.

The ProphetThe message

• The oneness of God, the creator of the whole universe.

• Islam is the continuation of divine messages that God sent to humanity through prophets like Abraham, Isaac, Moses, and Jesus.

• The moral principles of the ten commandments are reflected in the message of Muhammad.

• It acknowledges the diversity of the human race and freedom of religions

The Quran

• The revelation of God to Muhammad

• It has been preserved as revealed 14 centuries ago.

• It consists of 114 chapters of various lengths. In Arabic, it numbers about 604 pages.

• The translation of its meaning is available in English, Chinese and most of the world’s languages

The Quran

• Appeals to the mind to reflect on creations and the creator

• Glad tidings for the believers

• Admonitions to the non-believers

• Stories of previous messengers of God such as Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Jesus, Mary, etc.

• Rulings on social and commercial issues.

What the Quran says about• Moses: And we sent Moses with our signs; get your people

from darkness to light and remind them of the miracles of Allah. For in it are signs for the thankful (14:5)

• Mary: The angels said. “O Mary! Allah has chosen, purified and chosen you among the women of this world. Mary, worship your Lord devoutly: Prostrate and bow with those who bow down.(3:42-43)

• Jesus: The angels said, “O Mary! Allah brings you good news; a word from Him whose name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the hereafter and of those nearest to Allah. (3:45-46)

The Muslim legal code “Shari’a”• Consists of the following

components:• Rulings mentioned in the Quran

• Precedents in the life of Muhammad as it explains and complements the Quran in more details

• Opinions (fatwa) of Muhammad’s prominent companions.

• Opinions of previous jurisprudents

• Opinions of contemporary scholars

• Importance of majority and consensus

The Mosque

• The Muslim’s house of God, where they pray.

• The Imam (religious leader) leads the prayers and delivers sermons.

• Persons entering the mosque are supposed to have cleansed themselves.

• Non-Muslims should seek permission before entering the mosque.

Islamic Foundation, Scarborough

Friday sermon & prayers

The Muslims of the world

• Sects: Sunni (the majority), Shia 7%, Ismaili 1%?

• Homogenous when it comes to core beliefs and essential practices of Islam like daily prayers, fasting, etc

The Muslim Women

• The first to accept Muhammad’s message was his wife Khadija. Many of his followers were women who embraced Islam before their spouses or fathers.

• Islam gave women the following rights, 1400 years ago:

– The right to decide their future Muslim husbands.

– The right to a definite share of the estate of a father, husband or children. A will cannot take away or abrogate this right.

– The right to own property independently of their husbands or children.

– The right to education.

– The right to conduct their own commercial business.

– The right to participate in politics.

• Muslims take their religion, and its symbols, very seriously.

• Muslims invoke prayers frequently in their daily chores.

• Muslim women are required to dress modestly and not to show their beauty except to near family.

• Muslims are not supposed to sit or meet alone with members of the opposite sex.

• Muslims are respectful of elders, women and persons of authority. Out of respect they may not look you in the eye, not because they are avoiding you.

• Muslims have dietary restriction; mainly they are not allowed to eat pork, wild animals or animal slaughtered improperly. Islam forbids alcoholic beverages and drugs.

Dealing with Muslims

Know them better; their religion and culture(s).

Communicate with leaders and institutions to build trust and cooperation.

Solicit advice from leaders on handling issues and situations.

Show respect and understanding: soft approach works better than hard one.

Winning the Muslims