In Search of Understanding

My Path of Discovering Islam

Charles Galloway
 Charles Galloway
5275006
English 3
Spring 2010
Eng3-004W-10250

Goals – 16 week Project

Chapter 1 – Narrative that defines Goal and gives historical reasons why
Chapter 2 – Define Steps to complete the goal, which details the systematic approach
Chapter 3 – Discuss goals, what was learned from pursuing the goals, and the process by
which the information was gained
 Chapter 1

Intention

“Allah will not call you to account for

thoughtlessness in your oaths, but for the intention in
your hearts; and He is Oft-forgiving, Most Forbearing.”
(Qur’an 2:225)
 Intent

The purpose of this writing is to discuss how I am going to learn my religion of

Islam better and how I plan to do so. I believe that God put us on this planet with rules of life and

a set of duties that should govern us and tests us for his validation of our existence in heaven. I

believe that he gave us the choice to live our lives on earth so that we can then also choose to

live our next lives with him. I believe that if someone cannot be a descent person here on earth,

that they couldn’t be worthy of good in heaven. If you willfully and vainly do dirt and slander in

the presence of the creation, how might you act to the God that created all things? How long

would it take you to question him in His heaven? This alone propels me reason to want to learn

the truth when it is given to me, and that should also motivate me to change whatever

wickedness I am doing in my life. I know we all have sinned, are sinning and continue to sin,

which is why I choose to write on this topic, but I should do my best to outline what I am

supposed to learn. Why would God put us here without reason and guidance? Surely it is most

just to create something with purpose and guide that creation with appropriate message. Why

would he give us a series of messages that are long lasting? Why can't we see that we are

unintentionally doing wrong? I believe that God has a plan for us all, and I believe that little

effort is put into understand the world that He has created.

 A very good mother, terrific grand parent, amazing family, and adult mentors

raised me. Each have shared their views of the world and taught me right and wrong. I have a

very tight core of people around me that are honest and open to new ideas. I was also raised a

good Christian in a combination of African Methodist Episcopal Churches and Catholic

churches. Up until recently however I have decided to change my religion, which really wasn't a

change but more of realignment. I have the same values, motivations, kindheartedness and civil

duty I have always had. I have an unquestioning belief in God as the highest power, faith, and

guidance. I believe that Jesus is one of God’s great messengers, teachers, and prophets. I believe

in the teachings of the Bible in its original form, the Torah in its original form, and now the

Quran in it's unchanged form. I have always searched for the truth in everything and always

searched for the right answer to important questions. My normal question in the state of all

affairs is simply 'why' and when the why is answered I have a good tendency to believe. I have a

faithfulness that needs to be affirmed in reason and sense that most people allow to pass them by.

Usually people say that someone like me has no faith, but I truly feel that faith shouldn't be

blind, but a true understanding of something so much greater and so abundant that our brains can

fathom. Faith is the acknowledgement that something greater than you is hard at work, and belief

is the acknowledgement that nothing that God puts into play is an accident. The unfaithful and

unbelievers therefore are people who when given their answers to questions, and the answer is
truthful, and still continue to turn away. Those people think that this is all a big accident or game.

They think that the fact that we are here, on a green and lush planet, full of water, with other

animals, stars, rain, and our brain functionality is all a big concoction of mistakes and chance. I

really feel sorry for the person that looks at the sky and sees a big mistake. I feel sorry for the

person that really thinks that life is a game of chance similar to craps. 
 The year of 2009 proved to be the most pivotal year of my life. Everything that I

originally thought I would be at this age I wasn’t. Everything I thought I would be doing I

haven’t. It was a year that started off with a troubled marriage, a fast paced and aggravating job,

a mind in disarray, and goals that without a change in my lifestyle would never be accomplished.

I recognized that I was searching for answers in a million places but a clear answer was in front

of my eyes in the form of a perceived enemy. Before this time I served as a United States

Marine, and I was conditioned to believe that Muslims, who were described as terrorist, were my

enemy. My training was centered on Muslims who do wrong, and how to thwart them. I am

constantly reminded at the present and in the past, that the religion, I was taught, specifically

targeted the United States, therefore anyone of the people in the religion were my enemy. I was

told to think that weapons of mass destruction and all forms of terrorism were of Muslims, and

that the biggest threat to our society is the rise of Islam. No one ever explained to me that there

are more terrorist incidents from Irish nationals, Mexican gangs, and pseudo-Christian

movement than by any Muslims. No one told me that more American soldiers die by suicide than

by the hands of Muslims. I didn’t realize that by thinking in this manner I was lowering my own

desire for peace and happiness. I didn’t realize that I was replicating the same thoughts and

aggression that ignorant people have on what they don’t understand. I was the same thoughtless,

mindless, and unquestioning individual that I despise.

 The turn of the new calendar year was also a change of heart towards my life

view, as I knew it. After studying a new religion, Islam, I notice a slow progression from the

“Me” that I was to the “Me” I wanted to be, and with that progression I also noticed that

reminders of my troubled past no longer seemed relevant. I had forgiven people for the wrongs

that I had done. I also sought to mend relationships, and pay debts that I owed to others in the

past. I noticed that many of my problems were melting away and that the murky path seemed

very much more clear. The clarity allowed me to see the world in a new light. The new light

made me happy to view the order of the world and the beauty of life on the planet. I finally

enjoyed the peace and quiet of sitting under a tree and reading. I finally enjoyed the cold of the

winter, the breeze of the ocean, and the comfort of my home. I slowly became conscious of the

change of heart that I had to living creatures. I can honestly say with confidence that I am happy

to have found something that characterized belief, science, philosophy, actions, and law into one

religious book.
 With a conversion to Islam I discovered an honest and wholesome feeling that I

was on the right path and that the moments of doubt and confusion were over. In the eight

months prior to 2009 I was studying a religion that seemed as foreign to me as the media had

declared it. I never once questioned my discontent for the Muslims in the past, and during the

months leading up to 2009 I had to completely changed my outlook of them in order to learn

about them. The knowledge came in long waves of interest and content. I found myself

wondering about the people at first, and then the content of the religion, and finally what makes a

Muslim different than other people of religions. I was surprised to find that the basic content of

the religion was the same as Christianity, which is the religion I converted from. I was also

baffled by the blatant hate that many western societies had towards the religion and towards the

people in countries that are associated with Islam. I recall realizing that my views of the Creator

were exactly the same as the Muslims, and that the inherent questions of faith that are frequently

asked by Christians were answered with reason and logic by the Holy Quran, the religious

scripture of Islam. I began, at first, to question the authenticity of my research as well as my own

faith. I now realize that the knowledge I learned and the feelings I had were normal and that the

unfamiliarity of Islam made it hard for myself and others to accept it. I noticed that that there are

many problems facing Muslims of America, which has to do with cultural norm differences

between Muslim countries and western countries.

 I also noticed profiling issues, mass misrepresentation, prejudices, and confusions

amongst people inside and outside of the religion. If many people had learned of the religion of

Islam, history of Muslims, or the differences in the faith of the believers than the world and its

issues would be muted. If many people of intolerance, like myself, would learn to understand the

persons that they are claiming to dislike, the confusions would subside and the positive

information would prove obvious. The Qur’an and the teachings of the Prophets instruct every

Muslim to treat everyone as equal. “O people, we created you from the same male and female,

and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may recognize one another. The best

among you in the sight of God is the most righteous. God is Omniscient, always Cognizant”

(Qur’an 49:13). We are directed to be good to the neighbor and to respect believes of the people.

It is a misconception to say that Muslims want to change the beliefs of others through violence

and torture. Indeed there are misguided persons of every religion, but no religion should be

understood from the standpoint of a radical minority. If the misrepresentations were true, then

the whole world would be in unrest because of Islam, which claims the minds of approximately 2

billion Muslims on the planet. Principles of hate, torture, and mistreatment couldn’t possibly

come from words of truth found in the Qur’an. “There is no compulsion in religion. True

guidance has been made clearly distinct from error. Therefore, whoever renounces evil and

believes in Allah has grasped the firm handhold that will never break. Allah, Whose handhold
you have grasped, hears all and knows all” (Qur’an 2:256). The word Islam is a derivative of

Salam, which means “peace” in Arabic. For that derivative of meaning, Muslims greet each other

with the words “Peace be with you”, and respond with the return “And also with you”.

It is my opinion that the problems of the Muslims in America are similar to the

problems of many a religion and many a people of the United States. It is clear to me that this is

a nation that is built upon a foundation that has attracted people from many climates and places.

For this purpose I believe it is an absolute necessity that the problems of the old are compared,

and that the success of people in the past are to be emulated by the present.

It is my intention to gain a greater understanding of my religion. It is also my

intention to write about gaining more knowledge and insight into Islam. I want to better

communicate the real believes of Muslims, which can be done through educating myself on the

religion. I intend to gain a better understanding of the history of Muslims, cultures of Islam,

principles of belief, actions of believers, and regulations guiding the people. I will do this

through reading the Qur’an, Sunnah – way of the Prophet, history books, and articles. I will

watch movies about Islam, converts to Islam, Muslim teachers, and differences of faith. I also

intend to continue to visit the Mosque – worshipping centers of Muslims, and I want to speak to

scholars of all subjects of knowledge. I feel that this task will complete my understanding of the

religion and peoples of the religion as well as give me a greater inside to comparison of religion.
 Chapter 2

Path

“Indeed this Qur’an guides to the path which is

clearer and straighter than any other.”(Qur’an 16:89)
 Path

Proper planning prevents poor performance, and therefore I began my path to discovering

my religion, Islam, by planning for a successful campaign. I intended to understand the history,

pillars of belief, practices, actions, and Islamic law. These gave me a better understanding of the

religion as a whole. I can recognize that the task involves an acute determination and an extreme

desire for knowledge, but I am very passionate about finding the information on what I believe is

the truth. In order to correctly follow the traditions derived from a strong belief system, I must

sincerely understand these basic functions of Islam. The process that I had to take was an

organized approach to discovery. I had to place meaning to a proper end, which was a firm

understanding of my chosen way of life.

 Seeking to understand something on my own requires knowledge of myself, and

an understanding of my deficiencies. I acknowledge that although I know much of the religion

from my previous studies and initial attachment, I still need to be able to answer questions by

non-Muslims and other faith believers. For instance Christians often ask about the divinity of

Jesus in Christianity as opposed the Qur’an. The Qur’an states that, “This revelation which We

recite to you is full of signs and wise reminders. In fact, the example of the birth of Jesus in the

sight of Allah is like the example of Adam who had no father and mother, whom He created out

of dust, then said to him ‘Be’ and he was” (Qur’an 3:58-59). It also says however “Say, He is

Allah the One and only. Allah is the Self-Sufficient – independent of all, while all are dependent

on Him. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is none comparable to Him” (Qur’an

112:1-4). Others often ask about drinking alcohol and gambling. The Qur’an states “They ask

you about drinking and gambling, tell them, ‘There is great sin in both, although they may have

some benefit for men; but the sin is greater than the benefit’. They ask you what they should

spend, tell them, ‘Whatever you can’. Thus Allah makes His revelations clear to you, so that you

may reflect upon” (Qur’an 2:219). My seeking of information is a very personal voyage, and

therefore the actions that I took to attain greater understanding was tailored specifically for

myself. Although I have joined social groups, such as; Converts to Islam on meetup.com, and the

American Muslims Interactive Network (AMIN) a in order to experience the world of Islam in
social settings, I feel that this is a quest that should be of the heart and not influenced by other

people’s personal interpretations. I recognize that conversations with others are a terrific way of

learning, but I also know that every individual has his and her own interpretations about the

world, religion, and correct actions.

The first thing that I did was to identify my goal and begin to plan around it. Of

course, deciding on a specific goal was difficult, but my intention was to better myself

spiritually, physically, and mentally. The best way that I could think to do that was by becoming

a better Muslim, which meant understanding the religion that I am newly apart of better. I then

made a goal to understand as much about the religion as possible in a broad sense. In order to

accomplish my goal of understanding I would have to break it down into smaller components.
 The second step in my approach was to break down the goal into smaller

components or objectives. The goal was to understand the religion. The objectives of my goals

were to understand history, belief, practices, actions of believers, and religious law. The

objectives, therefore, had to define each of the components individually, which would allow me

to track my progress. I had to establish an understanding of the history of the early Muslims and

the Prophet from which we derive our message. I learn that the religious leaders in the first one

hundred years oversaw the spread of Islam over an area larger than any other religion or country.

Islam, I learn, was spread by mercy and understanding, which opposes many historical thoughts

and depictions. I had to gain a firm grasp of the belief that Muslims share, as well as understand

the practice of the beliefs that would give rise to understanding the actions of the believers. I

learned that to be Muslim, one must believe in every teaching of the Qur’an, which are; Angels,

Prophets, beginning of creation, death, and the unseen world. We must understand that Prophets

were righteous teachers of the same God, that there is a spiritual world, that belief in Heaven and

Hell is important, and that we are the creation of an infallible God. The Qur’an states that “To

Allah belong the East and the West, whichever direction you turn your face there is the presence

of Allah. Surely Allah is All-Embracing and All-Knowing”(Qur’an 2:115). Additionally, a

Muslim must believe in the prophet hood of Jesus, but deny the partnership of anything and

anyone to God All-Mighty, which also follows the teachings of Moses who gave the ten
commandments to the God fearing. The first of those Ten Commandments, according to the

Bible and the Torah was “Thou shall not worship no God but me”, and Muslims believe that

worshipping any statue or person is breaking this first commandment. The Second

Commandment is that “You shall not make for yourself a carved image of any likeness of

anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the

earth”, and for this reason Muslims regard pictures of God, Prophets, Idols that represent God,

and symbols as blatant breaking of the second commandment. Muslims believe that Allah

discusses these transgressions in the Qur’an, "Eat of the good things I have provided for you, in

spite of these favors your forefathers violated my commandments. However, by violating our

commandments they did not harm Me, but they harmed their own souls” (Qur’an 2:57). Finally I

had to also establish that I needed to understand the laws and regulation provided by the Qur’an

and the Prophet Muhammad.

 I had to break down the order in which I would study and understand the

knowledge that I was seeking. I decided to learn the history first because it would put the faith

and depth of lessons from the path in contrast with my previous understanding of the religion and

the early Muslims. I then placed beliefs next because without belief there would be no religion.

Practices came next in my priority because they are based on belief and define quality actions of

true believers, which came immediately afterwards. Finally I choose to place law last and final. I

did this because law should not be abided by unless the purpose is clearly understood, and the

reasons according to the religion are preservation of the belief, believer, and needs of the

believers.
 I went into the process of learning with a clear head and with questions. Some of

my questions were simple and many were philosophical age-old questions. I also found out that

the Qur’an made all of my questions clear. Why are we alive? The answers was given quickly, “I

only created jinn and man to worship Me” (Qur'an, 51:56). Can a man be God, as in many

religions? That answer too was witnessed in the Qur’an in multiple place, one of which was,

“Allah is He, besides whom there is no god, the Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is the

Compassionate, the Merciful” (Qur’an 59:22). Were we created, or did we evolve, or both? The

Qur’an repeats versus that hint to creation from water, through cycles, and according to a plan.

One verse states, “Allah has created every animal from water. Of them are some that creep on

their bellies some that walk on two legs, and some that walk on four. Allah creates what He

wills, for truly Allah has power over all things" (Qur’an 24:45). Who will go to heaven? The

Qur’an clearly states that “Those who spend their days benevolently in ease as well as in

straightness, and those who restrain anger and pardon men; and Allah loves the doers of good to

others. And those who when they commit an indecency or do injustice to their souls remember

Allah and ask forgiveness for their faults, and who forgives the faults but Allah, and who do not

knowingly persist in what they have done. As for these, their reward is forgiveness from their

Lord, and gardens beneath which rivers flow, to abide in them, and excellent is the reward of the

laborers.” (Qur’an 3:134-136). Why do I find so many contradictions in the world and in the
religious peoples actions? Allah gives his answer again, asking us “Did ye think that ye would

enter Heaven without Allah testing those of you who fought hard in His cause and remained

steadfast?” (Qur’an 3: 142). I sought to answer those question and many more, and I feel that by

knowing the answers to the questions that I am better equipped to handle the turmoil of the

world. I learned the answers to all of these questions by reading the Qur’an. I learned that all

creation was created to worship their Creator, and that all things created naturally wanted to

follow guidance and naturally sought after it. From the Quotes out of the Qur’an, I learned more

about the story of Jesus, which is left out of the Bible. It is said in the Qur’an, about Jesus, that

“He will speak to the people in the cradle and in his old age and he will be among the

righteous"(Qur’an 3:46). There are many examples in the Qur’an where God talked about

himself as the only deity to be worshipped and where He issued promises for those who only

worship him. I read the Qur’an the entire way through and found no contradictions in its words,

and compared the words of the Qur’an to what I felt in my heart. By learning the religion better I

understood how to be happy with the many possible outcomes in my life. I learned that although

the world seems to be in chaos, it is entirely in hands of God. I began to understand that every

action had a reaction, and that the world was a large expanse of test and circumstances in which

a person will be tested for a heavenly suitability. The goal for this project went beyond just

accomplishing a specified tasks, it also is realizing the path of learning.

 I also had to decide on which ways I was going to learn about the religion. Before

during research on modes of learning I thought that books were the best and only method. I

learned that books were tools, but there were also DVDs, Online Lectures, CDs and Public

Broadcast. I learned that by combining the way that the information was being learned, that I

would have a better opportunity to grasp many major concepts that were previously alien to me. I

focused my early reading on the Qur’an, which is the only error-free religious text in Islam. I

read the saying of the prophets, the rulings of the early Muslim scholars, and teachings of many

Islamic minded philosophers. I read many books that discuss Islamic philosophy. I learned the

value of attaining knowledge of the physical and material world, with a mind focused on the

Creator of the world. I learned to view the world differently, because I realized that in my

physical body I was as much of the world as a tree. I learned that I was created from the same

substance as everything else in the world, and I learned that the world had a spirit just as I do.
 Chapter 3
Success

“The one who will take admonition and purify

himself shall be successful, who remembers the name of
his Lord and prays. But O men! You prefer the life of this
world; while the Hereafter is better and everlasting.”
(Qur’an 2:225)

Success
 As a goal, I sought to further my understanding of the religion of Islam. I sought

to increase my understanding of the way the Muslims worship and those beliefs that guide us on

this specific way of worship, otherwise known as religion. I believe that there is a God, which

can be witnessed in the organization of the world, and based on observations and subjective

worldly understanding. By Organization of the world I am referring to the way that the world

seems to be in a harmonious existence, and the most terrific way that the world is structured.

During my search in this religion I discovered a deep wealth of knowledge and an extremely

concrete representation of God and His effect on creation. I have not completed my goal,

however I have made positive steps in the understanding of the faith. I believe that I must

continue to build a foundation of understanding and that I must conduct continuous efforts to

learn throughout my life. I have learned about the religion by means of surveying the history of

Islam, basic beliefs and values of the Muslims, actions that determine a Muslim, and Islamic

jurisprudence.
 In my path to discovery I decided to understand what historical significance there

was to the religion of Islam. Through my study of the history of Islam and Muslims I found out

that Islamic peoples have given, either through the religion directly or through the principles of

their existence, countless examples of antiquity to the humanistic tradition. Muslims have given

architecture, art, literary traditions, medicine, hygiene, and countless concepts related to morality

and judgment. As I learned in An Islamic History of Europe, a documentary by Rageh Omaar on

by the British Broadcast Corporation, Islam entered Europe by way of Spain and positively

affected the people of the medieval times. Muslims crossed into Spain from the Northern Islamic

countries of Africa by way of the Gibraltar Straight. With them came a rich tradition of

education and architectural advancement that eventually displaced the dark and sundry life of

Europeans. According to historical studies, Muslim Mosques were the envy of the Christian

churches and were even mimicked in the application of arches, domes, and spires. With them

also came hospital techniques, hygiene used for medical applications and an understanding of the

human body that rivaled the entire globe. Muslim traders were the first to bring soap and

toothbrushes to medieval Europe, as well they brought with them spices and garnishments for

foods that flavored the spoiled foodstuffs of European peoples. Muslims were notable in their

contributions to the western world by preserving the history and antiquity of classical Greek and

Roman knowledge. Many scholars of Islamic and western studies, who were Muslims, devoted
themselves to knowledge and education that taught the European people, and eventually helped

to lead European countries toward the renaissance. Muslims created value in the world by

gaining an understanding of Arithmetic, and then taught people of the world who had previously

fallen into ignorance. Islamic influence can be seen in various related religions, philosophy,

psychology, and agriculture. The religion of Islam, through the teachings of the Qur’an and that

of the Prophet Muhammad, spread throughout the world and influenced the far reaches of the

world through trade and high quality education.

 Muslims have a very simple view of our Creator and an even simpler way of

worshipping the All-Knowing, All Powerful, and All-Merciful God who’s name is Allah. The

name Allah, signifying singularity, is different from the word of God in any language, because

the word Allah in Arabic cannot be pluralized, dissected, or given attributes of sex. Muslims

believe that due to this basic language translation that the concept of God, or Allah, is far more

unique than the basic understanding of a deity in other faiths. According to the Qur’an this idea

is both rational and intentional per the design of the Creator. “He is Allah, besides whom there is

no other God, the All-Knower of the unseen and the seen. Allah is the Most Beneficent, the Most

Merciful. He is Allah, the King, the Holy, the One, Free from all defects, the Giver of security,

the Guardian, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Exalted is Allah from all that they

associate as partner with Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Originator of all things, and the

Bestower of forms. His are the most Gracious Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth

glorify Him. And He is the All-Mighty and the Wise One” (Qur'an 59:22-24).
 In totality, I learned that the religion of Islam is a simple religion, which guides

the Muslim, or complete believer, to peaceful and glorious existences. Islam is a religion that

encompasses all things in the lives of the believers, and is the base for many government and

societal structures. Islam means 'Submit in peace' in Arabic and therefore offers guidance by way

of humility and trust to the Muslim. Islamic teachings and beliefs have helped shape the way of

the world from its conception in 600 BCE. Islamic people pride themselves on many things to

include moral standards, complete devotion, rational intellectual processes and openness to the

world and environments.

In order to understand the structure of the religion of Islam, we can compare the

religion to the concept of a building, specifically a structure with a base, pillars, and roof. Islam

is like a great and majestic house that is entirely built to support itself. In order to understand the

overall structure and basic features of Islam one must first understand the belief system – the

foundation of belief, the pillars of faith – structure in actions, the believers – maintainers of the

structure, and the moral grounds of those believers – the canopy of the structure.
 Islam, translated as peace from God, is a religion that is part of the Abrahamic

based monotheistic religions that put the God of other faiths such as Christianity and Judaism at

the head of its beliefs. Muslim are the believers in Islam who follow the teachings of previous

prophets and most of all the teachings of Muhammad the Islamic profit. Muslims believe that

they are the last of the 'People of the Books' who are the righteous followers of Allah, God, and

who must guard the teachings of Allah and the Prophet Muhammad with utmost care and

respect. Islam to date is the least changed of all the major religions, and the reason is the beliefs

that religion, learned through the Qur’an is to remain unadulterated and true. Muslims believe

that Allah is All-powerful, All-knowing, the Uncreated, Un-Begotten, and Most Merciful master

creator of heaven and earth. To the Muslim, Allah is complete, and without want and therefore is

the source all things in unto Himself. The Muslim also believes that Muhammad is the

messenger and servant of Allah through revelation from the angel Gabriel. The Islamic

revelation, or the Al Quran, is the assimilated book of profession and direct teachings of Allah to

his final profit, or Seal of the Profits, who would then spread the religious teachings to the world.

Muslims also believe that Muhammad, through his actions, is the best example of perfect in the

flesh, and therefore follow the Hadith, or actions and sayings, to cement their faiths through

positive moral ground. The acceptance of Allah is the bases of understanding for the truly

faithful. The saying “No deity, but Allah” is the first part of the profession of faith for the
Muslim. It is the level surface on a sturdy rock that is the religion of Islam. By saying that there

is 'No deity first, the Muslim acknowledges the world, and rids his/ her brain of false notions. By

quickly following with ' But Allah puts Allah in his proper place above all other concerns. “And

Mohammad is His servant and messenger”, the second part of the profession is the

acknowledgment of Muhammad as the servant and prophet of the Allah mentioned previous.

These beliefs are the concrete base of the religion. This profession gives Muslim clear guidance

from Muhammad, to worship the one and Only Allah. 

The pillars of Islam are the support of the religion, like the pillars of great

buildings. The Pillars of Islam are the Profession of Faith (Shahada), Prayer (Salat), giving to the

needy (Zakat), Fasting (Sawm), and Emigration (Hajj). Each of the pillars gives support for the

various functions of the people and the religion, and each also guides the Muslim on the spiritual

level towards Allah. 

Faith, as mentioned previously mentioned is the understanding that there is

something greater then the overall worldly dimension we live in. It also has the Muslim

recognize that if there is a God, then there must be guidance and that guidance comes from the

Prophet Muhammad through the Quran and Hadith. Prayer is the second pillar of faith as it

brings the Muslim closer to Allah through acts of devotion and intent to give time for worship. 
 Prayer supports the religion of Islam through thought and feelings of the Muslim.

“Be ever mindful of prayers, and of praying in the most excellent way; and stand before God in

devout obedience” (Quran 2:238). It is required for the Muslim to remain clean in the presence

of Allah and to remain without worldliness while conducting prayer. Muslims must therefore

clean themselves for prayer which is hygienic, and must also not be under the influence of drugs

or alcohol, which makes the Muslim abstain themselves from forbidden pleasures. The prayers

are five times a day and at set times during the day to honor and appreciate the creation of Allah

and his life to the Muslim. 

 Giving is a pillar of Islam because it has the Muslim give up worldly possessions

to persons in need. "Who give to charity during the good times, as well as the bad times. They

are suppressors of anger, and pardoners of the people. God loves the charitable" (Quran 3:134).

This serves many different functions, such as; providing for the sick and needy in society,

removing selfishness and greed from the heart, and building good deeds to honor Allah. Every

Muslim who can give, does give, so that the other needy Muslims in society can receive support

and be thankful for the aid from there brethren and Allah. This creates unity in the mind and

hearts of the givers and the receivers. The Muslim gives also to show Allah that he is a righteous

and God fearing person. Muslims believe that greed and want drive people to stock supplies and

money, but they also believe that everything they receive is from Allah and for the sake of Allah.

By giving they leave the world behind and show that they understand the divine revelation given

to them. By giving, they are given riches beyond the riches of material goods and stockpiles. 
 Fasting is another important aspect of Islam, for it breaks the dependency of

physical needs and mental hurdles. Fasting is done in the month of Ramadan, and last for 30

days. Fasting is the act of not eating or drinking or speaking untruths for the duration of the

sunlight. Fasting is giving to the Muslim in the Quran, “O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed

to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may learn self-restraint” (Quran, 2:183).

By fasting the Muslim learn restraint and control of the mind and body. Fasting doubly makes

the Muslim think of the poor and hungry, so that they then give in greater magnitude and ease.

Fasting also shows the true Muslim that if they can abstain from food or drink during the day,

which they may then abstain from obscenities and forbidden things forever. Fasting is a

celebrated time of the year where many sacrifices and duties are expected as learning and

growing experience. 
 Emigration, or Hajj, is the willful and honest travel to the city of Mecca and to the

Kaaba. The Kaaba is believed to be the very first structure of worship for the one true God, built

by Abraham and his son Ishmael. “Hajj shall be observed in the specified months. Whoever sets

out to observe Hajj shall refrain from sexual intercourse, misconduct, and arguments throughout

Hajj. Whatever good you do, Allah is fully aware thereof. As you prepare your provisions for the

journey, the best provision is righteousness. You shall observe Me, O you who possess

intelligence” (Quran 2:197). The Hajj is the action that envelops the Muslim in appreciation and

purification. People on the Hajj are encouraged to ponder the love of the world, to seeking

humbleness, and to admire the beauty of the world. The massive emigration also makes the

individual see the magnitude of believers and people of like cohesiveness. The Hajj is typically a

very moving and spiritual awakening to the Muslim. 

The Islamic faith also promotes global understanding and acceptance. Muslims

are tolerant to others in regards to religion, moral conduct, customs, and knowledge. Tolerance

and knowledge of the world act as the walls of faith. In every society Muslims have become part

of the crowd and part of the collective whole. Without the malleability of the faith and accepting

of other places and ideas of Islamic faith would not have survived today. So therefore the

protection of the faith is the lack of protection it places on strict social rules and dogmas.
 Through tireless confidence and love, the Muslims have perpetuated the teachings

of Muhammad and ultimately Allah with utmost sacrifices and stewardess. The Muslim hold true

to the moral teaching and practice brought to them by their instructor, and the gloriousness of

Allah. The moral code of life acts as the ceiling, in which it covers all of the true Muslims from

the repercussions of deceit, anger, envy, and lust. The acts of perpetuated giving, knowledge

attainment, humbleness, understanding, and togetherness breed strong support for each other,

and strong believe teachings. 

 A believer in Islam will exude many characteristics that will often contrast the

chaos of the people around them. For instance, because many practicing Muslims attain a high

level of peace in their daily lives they are less likely to commit atrocities against other people.

Concurrently, most Muslims believe that those who do wrong to others aren’t true believers, or

that they are being tempted by ‘Shaitan’– the devil’s name in Arabic, the world, or by their

internal selfish nature. Muslims try to uphold the goodness of the world through understanding

the creation of the Creator, and we try realizing the countless lessons being taught in a world of

many obstacles. Muslims understand that without sadness there is no happiness, that without evil

there is no good, and that without problems there are no solutions. Because of such clear

understanding of the need for opposition, Muslims strive to be the upright and patient. Muslims

have faith that the actions with good intentions will yield rightly deserved peace. Muslims see

the world as testing grounds, where men and women are to worship God alone. “I did not create

Jinn and Mankind, except that they may worship me. I do not need anything from them, nor do I

need any provisions” (Qur’an 51:56-57).

 Through my studies I also learned about the Shari’ah Law, or Islamic

Jurisprudence. Shari’ah is the totality of understanding of the actions deemed permissible -

halaal, and prohibited - haram. Shari’ah is not just given to punish people for wrong actions, but

also to allow people to clearly review actions. Shari’ah covers proper dress, actions, words, and

eating. I learned that the Shariah is comprised of the words of the Qur’an, and the words and

actions of the prophet of Islam, Mohammad. According to AbdulWahid Hamid, author of Islam

the Natural way, “Shari’ah is to realize and secure the general good or the interest of the people

by promoting their welfare as individuals and as a collective body and keeping harm and injury

away from them”. Shari’ah does this through recognizing vital needs, catering to requirements,

and allowing for betterment of life. The vital needs protected by the Muslims, in order of

importance, in Shari’ah are the religion, their life, the mind of the individual, their honor and

chastity, wealth, and property. The Islamic laws require the establishment of permissible and

prohibited items and actions, which are determined by the Qur’an as the ultimate source, but also

refer to the Prophet for others. It is important to note that no thing named in the Qur’an as

permissible or prohibited was ever changed by the Prophet.

 Shari’ah requires that conditions must be met in order to decide between matters

of civil action. Those requirements are that the person must be sane, and they must be mature

and capable. In the Shari’ah people are considered innocent until proven guilty and they are

errorless if their actions are caused by outside forces. For instance, if a man is charge with

stealing, he must be proven to have stolen the food, but also proven to have enough wealth to

purchase food. Additionally, if the cause of him stealing is because the government could not

provide adequate food, or if they took away his money without cause then the government would

be judged for the crime. It is also interesting to know that Shari’ah applies to every country on

the planet that houses Muslims, because it is Shari’ah law that a person must leave a land that

they cannot willingly perform their religious duties. Shari’ah therefore also places the

responsibility on the person for their individual choices, but also on government to force equal

treatment of all people, and fair protections from abuse.

 Ultimately, thorough study and consistent effort, I have learned a great deal of

information about Islam and the believe system of Muslims. I seek to understand the religion at

large and with every moment of earnest that I put into it, I am more learned and better for

gaining the experience. In a single year Islam has changed my perception of the world, granted

me needed peace in understanding the world, and offers me an advantage in understanding the

Creator of the world through experiencing this life in His Creation. Although I do not believe

that my goal will ever be truly completed, I do believe that I have made large steps towards that

moment of clarity. I have gained historical knowledge of Islam and Muslims that gives me a

respect for Islam. I have learned the building blocks of belief, as well as actions of the Muslims

that give me an understanding of the Muslims. I have learned the purpose of the Shariah Law,

and a correct way of viewing the laws of God, which gives me guidelines as to how I should be

living. I am very fortunate to have experienced the study of this world and this religion.

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