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Understand Islam Wizard

 Greeting
• As Salam Alaykum (Peace be upon you)
• The following is several pieces of information
we have put together to help you understand
Islam and Muslims.
• In the Noble Quran, God Reveals in the First
Chapter: All praise be to God, Lord of the
Universe; the Compassion-ate, the Merciful.
Sovereign of the Day of Judgment! You alone
we worship; and to You alone we turn for help.
Guide us to the straight path; the path of those
whom You have favored; not of those who have
incurred Your wrath, nor of those who have
gone astray. Amen.
• 2Muslims.com Webmaster
 Islamic Terms
- Islam: “Peace through submission to God”.
- Muslim: “One who submits to God.”.
- Allah: “God” The same word used by Arab
Christians and Jews.
- Quran: “The Holy Book Of the Muslims.”.
- Muhammad: “The last prophet from God.”.
- Hadith: “ The words and actions of the prophet”.
- ALLAHU AKBAR: God is the greatest.
- EID: “ Islamic celebration or holiday”.
- Salat: “Prayer”.
- Dua: “Supplication”
- P.B.U.H: “Peace Be Upon Him “.
 What Is Islam?
• Based on its linguistic origin, the Arabic word
'Islam' means to achieve peace--peace with God,
peace within oneself, and peace with the creations of
God through submission to God and commitment to
His guidance.
• Islam is not a new religion but the final culmination
and fulfillment of the same basic truth that God
revealed through all His prophets to every people.
For a fifth of the world's population, Islam is not just
a personal religion but a complete way of living.
• Islam is not a specific group religion, Islam is
universal.
 Muslims Population
• India/Pakistan/Bangladesh 250-300 Million
• Africa 200 Million
• Arab countries 180 Million
• Southeast Asia 170 Million
• Iran 50 Million
• China 50 Million
• Europe 30 Million
• North America 10 Million
• South America 5 Million
• Australia 1 Million
• Worldwide over 1 Billion

• Ethnic breakdown - 82% Non-Arab - 18% Arabs

• Indonesia is the largest country with over 170 million Muslims
 Islam In The U.S.A I
• There are evidences of Pre-Columbian Islamic
civilization in the New World.
• Since 1800’s, Muslims have migrated to the US for
various reasons from all over the world seeking the
same dream all immigrants seek.
• Currently, a little over 7 million
Muslims live in the USA with
over 2000 Islamic centers all over
the States.
• Over 45% of the Muslims have at
least a bachelor degree.
 Islam In The U.S.A II
Muslims Come from a different backgrounds:
• African American 42.0%
• South Asian 24.4%
• Arab 12.4%
• African 5.2%
• Iranian 3.6%
• Turk 2.4%
• Caucasian American 1.6%
• Undetermined 5.6%
Basics Of The Muslims Belief
1. Believing in One Unique, Eternal,
Single God (Allah).
2. Believing in The Angels.
3. Believing in The Revealed Books
Including the Bible & Torah.
4. Believing in The Prophets Of God
including Moses, Abraham, & Jesus.
5. Believing in The Day of Judgment,
after life, And The Pre-destination &
Free Will.
1- Believing in One God
• Muslims believe in one unique,
Incomparable, superior undivided God.
Muslims belief that God is one and one
only, he has no wife, no children. He has
never been born and shall never die.
• The Word Allah Is an Arabic translation
for Lord or God and it is the same word
used by Arab Christians and Jews.
• “Say: He is God, the One and Only; God,
the Eternal, Absolute; He begets not,
nor is He begotten; And there is none like
unto Him.” (Quran: 112)
 2- Believing in Angels
• Muslims believe in the Angels created
by God and that they are created from
light and they never disobey God.
• Among the Angels’ names that
Muslims know:
 Gabriel (Archangel) the angel of revelation..
 Mikail (Angel of Weather).
 Israfel (Angel of Death).
 3- Believing In The Revealed
Books
• Muslims believe in all the original texts of the
revealed books including:

• Taurat or Torah (Revealed to

Moses)
• Zaboor or Psalms (Revealed to
David).
• Injeel or Gospel (Revealed to
Jesus)
• Quran (Revealed to Mohammed)
4- Believing In The Revealed
Prophets
Muslims believe in all the Prophets, through
whom God’s revelations were brought to
humankind, beginning with Adam and
including:
Noah (Nuh), Abraham (Ibrahim), Isaac
(Ishaq), Jacob (Ya'qub), Joseph (Yusuf),
Moses (Musa),, David (Daoud), Solomon
(Sulayman), Elias (Ilyas), John the Baptist
(Yahya), and Jesus (Isa); peace be upon
them all.
 5- Believing in The Day of
Judgment And The Pre-
Destination & Free Will
• The Day of Judgment is coming. When God will
resurrect the entire mankind.
• In the hereafter every Individual is accounted for
his/her actions and deeds in their life.
• Every soul will be brought back to life and our
deeds will bear their fruits good or bad.
• God's complete authority over our destiny.
• Human’s free will to choose their path in their life
weather its good or bad.
 The Pillars Of Islam?

Islam Has five Pillars that every practicing

Muslim should do:
2) Al-Shahada: (Declaration Of Faith)
3) Salat: Establishing Five Prayers a day.
4) Zakat: The payment of A Must charity to the
poor (Tax).
5) Sawm: Fasting The full “lunar” month of
Ramadan
6) Hajj: (Pilgrimage to Mecca) if affordable, save
and health permits .
1- Declaration of Faith
The declaration that there is no god but One and
that Mohammad is His messenger.
The English Translation reads:
(I bear witness that There is no god Except
Allah, and that Muhammad is his Messenger)
 2- Salat (Prayer)
• An Obligatory prayers for adults that are performed
five times a day:
» pre-dawn
» noon
» mid-afternoon
» after sunset
» night
• These five prescribed prayers contain verses from
the Quran, and are said in Arabic, the language of
the Revelation. Personal supplications, however, can
be offered in one's own language and at any time.
 2- Salat (Prayer) - Athan
• Athan is the call for the prayer and it translates:
• God is Great……God is Great.
• God is Great……God is Great.
• I testify that there is none worthy of worship except God.
• I testify that there is none worthy of worship except God.
• I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
• I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
• Come to prayer!
• Come to prayer!
• Come to success!
• Come to success!
• God is Great!
• God is Great!
• There is none worthy of worship except God.
 3-Zakat (Charity)
• In Islam everything belongs to God.
• Zakat means both "purification" and
"growth“.
• Zakat is mandatory charity and it is
different than voluntary charity.
• Eligible Muslims pay it on an annual
basis. It helps to "purify" their wealth.
• Funds collected are distributed to the
poor, orphans, and needy in society.
• Zakat consists of giving 2.5% of one’s
accumulated wealth excluding such
items as primary residence, car and
professional tools.
 4- Sawm (Fasting)
• Fasting One month a year in Ramadan.
• Mandatory for all adult Muslims with some exceptions.
• Muslims fast from dawn until sundown
• Fasting means abstaining from any food, drink, and
sexual relations.
• Fasting helps Muslim: build will-power, feel
compassion, purify their body, and strengthen
community relations .
 5- Hajj (Pilgrimage)

• Once in a lifetime.
• An obligation only for those who are physically and
financially able to do so.
• The first call for hajj was made by Prophet Abraham.
• Commemorates the trials of Abraham and his family.
• In Hajj Muslims dedicate their full time to worshiping
God.
• About 2-3 million people perform the Hajj annually.
 Kaba
• The most sacred place on Earth for
Muslim. The central, cubic, stone
structure, covered by a black cloth,
within the Grand Mosque in Mecca,
Saudi Arabia
• Kaba was built by Abraham and
Ishmael over 4000 years ago by the
commandments of God.
• Kaba Is not worshiped by Muslims.
• Kaba is where Muslims face when
they pray.
• Kaba is to where Million of
Muslims perform Hajj each year.
 Revelation Sources
• Muslims consider two sources only as their
main reference:
o The Quran: The words of God revealed to
us through his prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
o The Sunnah: This is the Life, sayings, and
actions of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
which explains further a lot of issues.
 Quran
• The Quran is the very exact words of God,
Almighty. A complete record of the exact words
revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to
Prophet Muhammad.
• The Quran amazingly contained information 1400
years ago that only today are we finding out about
scientifically.
 Muhammad (PBUH)
• He is The prophet of God and Muslims do not
worship him, but consider him a Human, a
messenger of god.
• At the age of 40 he received the first revelation from
God through the Archangel Gabriel.
• The revelation continued for decades and the whole
collection is called the Quran.
• He was known by the honest even before his
Message began, and even according to his enemies
he never lied.
• Prophet died at the age of 63
 Islamic Holidays
 Eid Al Fitr: Celebrating the end of
Ramadan and asking for the
acceptance of the fasting.
 Eid Al Adha : Celebrating the end of
Hajj, with sacrifices, prayers and the
exchange of gifts in Muslim
communities everywhere.
 In 2001 the USA issued the first
stamp joining the Eid celebration with
Muslims.
 Does Islam Tolerate Other
Beliefs?
• Yes. The Quran states unequivocally: "There is
no compulsion in religion." (Quran 2:256).
• The original, unchanged revelations given to
Abraham and other prophets came from the One
God. This common origin explains the similarities
and is why Islam tolerate all other religions .
• Protection of the rights of non-Muslims to worship
is an intrinsic part of Islamic law. It is also stated
in the Quran.
• Historically, Christians & Jews have always lived
peacefully under the Islamic state.
 Status of Women in Islam
• Woman is recognized by Islam as a full and equal
partner of man. She is equal to man in bearing
personal and common responsibilities and in
receiving rewards for her deeds.
• She is equal to man in the pursuit of education and
knowledge.
• She is entitled to freedom of expression as much as
man is.
• Woman enjoys certain privileges of which man is
deprived.
• Women are not blamed for violating the "forbidden
tree," nor is their suffering in pregnancy and
childbirth a punishment for that act.
 Veil (Hijab)
• Both men and women are expected to dress in
a way that is simple, modest and dignified;
specific traditions of female dress found in
some Muslim countries are often the
expression of local customs rather than
religious principle.
• Hijab gets people to value the
inside of a women, show more
respect and helps protect the
marriage.
 Islam & Family
• The family is the foundation of Islamic society. The
peace and security offered by a stable family unit is
greatly valued and seen as essential for the spiritual
growth of its members. A harmonious social order is
created by the existence of extended families;
children are treasured and rarely leave home until the
time they marry.
• A Muslim marriage is both a sacred act and a legal
agreement, in which either partner is free to include
legitimate conditions. As a result, divorce, although
uncommon, is permitted only as a last resort.
Marriage customs vary widely from country to
country.
 Islam & Parents
• Parents are greatly respected in the Islamic
tradition. Mothers are particularly honored: the
Quran teaches that since mothers suffer during
pregnancy, childbirth, and child rearing, they
deserve a special consideration and kindness.
• In Islam, serving one's parents is a
duty second only to worshipping and
it is the parents' right to expect it.
 Jesus In Islam
• Muslims believe in Jesus as a prophet of God and a
Muslim can not be a Muslim until he does so.
• The Quran confirms his miraculous birth, and a special
surah of the Quran is entitled "Mary." The Quran describes
the Annunciation as follows:
• 'Behold (O Mary!)' The Angel said, 'God has chosen you,
and purified you, and chosen you above the women of all
nations. O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from
Him, whose name shall be the Anointed (Masih or
Messiah), Jesus son of Mary, honored in this world and in
the hereafter, and one of those brought near to God. He
shall speak to the people from his cradle and in maturity,
and shall be of the righteous.' "She said: 'O my Lord! How
shall I have a son when no man has touched me?' He said:
'Even so; God creates what He wills. When He decrees a
thing, He says to it, "Be!" and it is.” (Quran 3:42-7) .
 Jihad In Islam
• Jihad literally means "struggle" and not "holy war"
and its often used for social life struggling as well.
• Like Christianity & Judaism, Islam permits
fighting in self-defense, in defense of one's
country, and in defense of religion .
• It lays down strict rules of combat that include
prohibitions against harming civilians and against
destroying crops, trees and livestock.
• "Fight in the cause of God against those who fight
you, but do not transgress limits. God does not
love transgressors." (Quran 2:190).
 Human Rights
• Freedom of speech, religion are honored.
• The life, honor and property of all citizens
in a Muslim society are considered sacred.
• Racism and sexism are not part of Islam.
• Freedom of conscience is laid down by the
Quran itself.
• Muslims are amongst the first to use
election to choose their leaders.
Justice in an ultimate value in Muslims life..
 Misconceptions/Myths
• Islam is frequently misunderstood and may even seem
exotic in some parts of today's world. Perhaps this is
because religion no longer dominates everyday life in
Western society; whereas, for Muslims, Islam is life.
Muslims make no artificial division between the secular
and the sacred.
• For quite some time Islam was thought of as some
"Eastern" religion, but with the increasing number of
Muslims living in the West, Islam is gradually being
perceived as a global faith. Muslims are not thought of as
strangers with unusual practices, but are being welcomed as
part of the mosaic of life in the West. In many cases, Islam
is not just viewed as an acceptable religion, but as a desired
way of living.
 Myths & Reality I
 Islam is not a cult.
 Allah is an Arabic word that means "God“, the
same God worshiped by others faiths..
 Muslims neither worship Muhammad nor pray
through him.
 Muslims believe that God has 99 attributes, and
those names do not represent different Gods.
 The Holy Quran was not authored by Muhammad.
 The Holy Quran has no flaws or contradictions.
The same exact copy is found through out the
world.
 Myths & Reality II
 The word "jihad" does not mean "holy war". Instead,
it means to struggle.
 Islam was not spread by the sword as history proves.
 Women are not oppressed in Islam.
 Arranged marriages are allowed in Islam but are not
required. The marriage decision is left to the
individual. "Forced" marriages are not Islamic.
 All Muslims are not Arab. Islam is a universal
religion
 Muslims do not worship the moon but rather use the
lunar year to track certain Islamic occasions.
 Famous Muslim Scientists
• Jaber Ibn Haiyan • Abu Al-Qasim Al-
(Geber) Zahravi (Albucasis)
– died 803 A.D. – 936-1013 A.D.
• Ibn Sina (Avicenna) • Ibn Rushd (Averroes)
– 981-1037 A.D. – 1128-1198 A.D.
• Ar-Razi (Rhazes) • Al-Khawarizmi
– 864-930 A.D.
(Algorizm)
– 770-840 A.D.
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 References

• This Is Islam
• http://www.2muslims.com
• http://www.cair-net.org
• http://www.islamicity.org
• http://www.discoverislam.com
• http://www.islam-brief-guide.org