What is Islam???

January 10, 2005

I hop that I am not annoying you with my article , but I believe that it is

worth reading

Islam and Muslims

Islam is an Arabic word which means total submission to God, peace, purity,

acceptance and commitment. As a religion, Islam calls for complete acceptance of

the teachings and guidance of God. A Muslim is one who freely and willingly

accepts the supreme power of God and strives to organize his life in total

accord with the teachings of God. He also works for building social institutions

which reflect the guidance of God. "Muhammadanism" is a misnomer for Islam and

offends its very spirit since the Prophet Muhammad was a messenger of God, and

not a divine being worshipped by Muslims. Muslims use the word "Allah" for the

English word "God". The understanding of Deity in Islam differs from some of the

connotations in the English word, God. For the convenience of English speaking

readers, the word God is used in this brochure except when the word "Allah" is

in the quotations from the Qur'an.

Continuity of The Message

Islam is not a new religion. It is, in essence, the same message and guidance

which God revealed to all His previous messengers. "Say: We believe in Allah and

that which was revealed to us, and that which was revealed to Abraham and

Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes and that which was given to Moses and

Jesus and to the Prophets from their Lord; We make no distinction between any of

them, and to Him we submit". Qur'an 3:83. The message which was revealed to the

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is Islam in its comprehensive, complete and

final form.

The Five Pillars of Islam

Every action done with the awareness that it fulfills the Will of God is

considered an act of worship in Islam. But it is the specific acts of worship

termed the Pillars of Islam which provide the framework of Muslim spiritual

life. These are given below:

1. The DECLARATION OF FAITH. "I bear witness that there is no one worthy of

worship except God (Allah), and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger." The

Prophethood of Muhammad obliges Muslims to follow his exemplary life in every

respect.

2. PRAYERS are prescribed five times a day as a duty towards God. Prayer

strengthens and enlivens belief in God and inspires man to higher morality. It

purifies the heart and controls temptation, wrong-doing, and evil.

3. FASTING during the month of Ramadan. This means abstention from food,

beverages, and sex from dawn to sunset, and curbing evil intentions and desires.

It teaches love, sincerity, and devotion. It develops patients, unselfishness,

social conscience, and willpower to bear hardship.

4. ZAKAH is a proportionately fixed contribution collected from the wealth and

earning of the well to do and rich. It is spent on the poor and needy in

particular, and the welfare of the society in general. The payment of Zakah

purifies ones income and wealth and helps to establish economic balance and

social justice in the society.

5. HAJJ, or pilgrimage to the Ka'bah in Makkah, once in a lifetime, provided one

has the means to undertake the journey.

Oneness of God

Islam enjoins faith in the oneness and sovereignty of God, which creates an

awareness of the unity and meaningfulness of the universe and of man's place in

it. This belief frees him from all fears and superstitions by making him

conscious of the presence of the Almighty God and of man's obligations to Him.

But this realization must be expressed and tested in action. Faith alone is not

enough. Belief in one God requires that we look upon all humanity as one family

under the universal omnipotence of God - the Creator and Nourisher of all. Islam

rejects the idea that there is a "chosen people" making pure intention, faith in

God, and good deeds the only way to heaven. Thus a direct relationship is

established with God, open to all alike, without any discrimination or

intercession.

The Qur'an and Hadith

The Qur'an is the last revealed word of God and the basic source of Islamic

teachings and laws. It deals with a variety of subjects including the basic

beliefs of Islam, morality, worship, knowledge, wisdom, God-and-man

relationships, and relations among human beings. Comprehensive teachings on

which sound systems of social justice, politics, economics, legislation,

jurisprudence, law and international relations can be built from an important

part of the Holy Qur'an. Though Prophet Muhammad did not receive a formal

education, the Qur'an, as soon as it was revealed to him in the spoken word, was

committed to writing by his secretaries. In this way every word was written down

and preserved during his lifetime by his companions. The original and complete

text of the Qur'an is in Arabic and translations of its meaning in most known

languages are available in major libraries and bookstores. Hadith, the

teachings, sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad, accurately reported and

collected by his devoted companions, explain and elaborate the Qur'anic verses.

Concept of Worship

Islam does not teach ritualism. It places great emphasis on intention and

action. To worship God is to love him and to act upon His commands in every

aspect of life, to enjoin goodness and forbid wrong-doing and oppression, to

practice charity and justice and to serve Him by serving mankind. The Qur'an

presents this sublime concept in the following manner: "It is not righteousness

that you turn your faces to the East or West, but righteous is he who believes

in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Scripture and the Prophets; and

gives his wealth for love of Him to kinsfolk and to orphans and the needy and

the wayfarer and to those who ask, and sets slaves free; and observes proper

worship and pays the Zakah. And those who keep their treaty when they make one,

and the patient in tribulation and adversity and time of stress; such are those

who are sincere. Such are the Godfearing". Qur'an 2:177.

Man, A Free Agent

Man is the highest creation of God and he has a free will to make his own

decisions. God has shown him the right path, and the life of Prophet Muhammad

provides a perfect example for achieving success and salvation. Islam stands for

the sanctity of human personality and confers equal rights on all without

distinction of race, nationality or sex. The law of God set down in the Qur'an

and exemplified in the life of the Prophet is supreme in all cases. It applies

equally to the prince and the pauper, the ruler and the ruled, the saint and the

sinner.

Man's Accountability to God

Man's life is not limited to the short span of earthly existence. On the day of

judgement the entire human race will be resurrected; everyone will appear before

the Almighty God and face the consequences of his deeds in this life. Thus, life

in the Hereafter is a continuation of the earthly life. Belief in man's

accountability to God gives a sense and meaning to life and differentiates human

beings from animals and inanimate objects. It serves as a reminder against

crime, corruption, immorality, and injustice.

Human Rights

Islam protects all noble values and human rights. Freedom, equality, justice,

and the right to life, liberty, and security of person are of prime concern in

Islamic law. "Whosoever kills a human being for other than manslaughter or

corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and

whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all

mankind..." Qur'an 5:32. Islam places great emphasis on social justice. It

opposes all those who exploit, oppress and deal unjustly with people. " O ye who

believe: Be steadfast witnesses for Allah in equity and let not hatred of any

people seduce you that you deal not justly. Be just; that is nearer to piety".

Qur'an 5:8.

Science and Technology

Islam encourages the use of science and the scientific method. Acquisition of

knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim, male and female. In Islam, science and

technology should be used for moral ends and serve all legitimate needs of

mankind. Moreover, both are viewed as yet another means to understand and see

the power and glory of God. "He it is Who created for you all that is in the

earth." Qur'an 2:29. "It is your Lord, the Most Bounteous, Who taught by the

pen, taught man that which he knew not..." Qur'an 96:2- 5. "We shell show them

our Signs on the horizons and within themselves until it will be manifest unto

them that it is the Truth..." Qur'an 41:53.

Islam: The Cure for Modern Ailments

Racism is a major problem in many materially advanced countries. Prejudice and

discrimination against racial groups is common phenomenon even today. For 1400

years Islam has shown in practice how racism can be ended. The Islamic social

scene, particularly during the Hajj, is a unique example of the brotherhood of

men of all races and nations under One God. Similarly, the family, the basic

unit of civilization has also become something of a problem in the West. It is

in visible decay. The family system of Islam brings the rights of husband, wife,

children, and relatives into a fine equilibrium. Islam nourishes generosity in

the family and holds it together under the clear Qur'anic laws and teachings of

the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Some Misconceptions About Islam

It is unfortunate that some teachings of Islam have been distorted and

misrepresented in the West and the communist world. The main distortions relate

to the status of women, marriage and divorce, jihad or so-called "holy war", the

authenticity of the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the

distinction between the Qur'an and the Hadith. The accurate teachings of Islam

on these matters can be obtained only from authentic Islamic writings.

For more information about ISLAM

http://www.geocities.com/amat_arahman/links.html

January 10, 2005

So Laudon:

If Islam was so great, why are innocent people being killed all over

the world in name of Islam--over 30,000 Kashmiri Pandits raped and

murderd and their entire culture displaced from their own land, over

3,000 Americans killed in the World Trade Center attacks, hundreds

and hundreds of Indians killed in the Bombay stock market blasts?

Mukund

, "Laudon" <alrayyan1>

wrote:

>

> I hop that I am not annoying you with my article , but I believe

that it is worth reading

>

> Islam and Muslims

>

> Islam is an Arabic word which means total submission to God, peace,

purity, acceptance and commitment. As a religion, Islam calls for

complete acceptance of the teachings and guidance of God. A Muslim is

one who freely and willingly accepts the supreme power of God and

strives to organize his life in total accord with the teachings of

God. He also works for building social institutions which reflect the

guidance of God. "Muhammadanism" is a misnomer for Islam and offends

its very spirit since the Prophet Muhammad was a messenger of God,

and not a divine being worshipped by Muslims. Muslims use the

word "Allah" for the English word "God". The understanding of Deity

in Islam differs from some of the connotations in the English word,

God. For the convenience of English speaking readers, the word God is

used in this brochure except when the word "Allah" is in the

quotations from the Qur'an.

>

> Continuity of The Message

>

> Islam is not a new religion. It is, in essence, the same message

and guidance which God revealed to all His previous messengers. "Say:

We believe in Allah and that which was revealed to us, and that which

was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the

tribes and that which was given to Moses and Jesus and to the

Prophets from their Lord; We make no distinction between any of them,

and to Him we submit". Qur'an 3:83. The message which was revealed to

the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is Islam in its

comprehensive, complete and final form.

>

> The Five Pillars of Islam

>

> Every action done with the awareness that it fulfills the Will of

God is considered an act of worship in Islam. But it is the specific

acts of worship termed the Pillars of Islam which provide the

framework of Muslim spiritual life. These are given below:

>

> 1. The DECLARATION OF FAITH. "I bear witness that there is no one

worthy of worship except God (Allah), and that Muhammad is His

servant and messenger." The Prophethood of Muhammad obliges Muslims

to follow his exemplary life in every respect.

>

> 2. PRAYERS are prescribed five times a day as a duty towards God.

Prayer strengthens and enlivens belief in God and inspires man to

higher morality. It purifies the heart and controls temptation, wrong-

doing, and evil.

>

> 3. FASTING during the month of Ramadan. This means abstention from

food, beverages, and sex from dawn to sunset, and curbing evil

intentions and desires. It teaches love, sincerity, and devotion. It

develops patients, unselfishness, social conscience, and willpower to

bear hardship.

>

> 4. ZAKAH is a proportionately fixed contribution collected from the

wealth and earning of the well to do and rich. It is spent on the

poor and needy in particular, and the welfare of the society in

general. The payment of Zakah purifies ones income and wealth and

helps to establish economic balance and social justice in the society.

>

> 5. HAJJ, or pilgrimage to the Ka'bah in Makkah, once in a lifetime,

provided one has the means to undertake the journey.

>

> Oneness of God

>

> Islam enjoins faith in the oneness and sovereignty of God, which

creates an awareness of the unity and meaningfulness of the universe

and of man's place in it. This belief frees him from all fears and

superstitions by making him conscious of the presence of the Almighty

God and of man's obligations to Him. But this realization must be

expressed and tested in action. Faith alone is not enough. Belief in

one God requires that we look upon all humanity as one family under

the universal omnipotence of God - the Creator and Nourisher of all.

Islam rejects the idea that there is a "chosen people" making pure

intention, faith in God, and good deeds the only way to heaven. Thus

a direct relationship is established with God, open to all alike,

without any discrimination or intercession.

>

> The Qur'an and Hadith

>

> The Qur'an is the last revealed word of God and the basic source of

Islamic teachings and laws. It deals with a variety of subjects

including the basic beliefs of Islam, morality, worship, knowledge,

wisdom, God-and-man relationships, and relations among human beings.

Comprehensive teachings on which sound systems of social justice,

politics, economics, legislation, jurisprudence, law and

international relations can be built from an important part of the

Holy Qur'an. Though Prophet Muhammad did not receive a formal

education, the Qur'an, as soon as it was revealed to him in the

spoken word, was committed to writing by his secretaries. In this way

every word was written down and preserved during his lifetime by his

companions. The original and complete text of the Qur'an is in Arabic

and translations of its meaning in most known languages are available

in major libraries and bookstores. Hadith, the teachings, sayings and

actions of Prophet Muhammad, accurately reported and collected by his

devoted companions, explain and elaborate the Qur'anic verses.

>

> Concept of Worship

>

> Islam does not teach ritualism. It places great emphasis on

intention and action. To worship God is to love him and to act upon

His commands in every aspect of life, to enjoin goodness and forbid

wrong-doing and oppression, to practice charity and justice and to

serve Him by serving mankind. The Qur'an presents this sublime

concept in the following manner: "It is not righteousness that you

turn your faces to the East or West, but righteous is he who believes

in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Scripture and the

Prophets; and gives his wealth for love of Him to kinsfolk and to

orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask, and sets

slaves free; and observes proper worship and pays the Zakah. And

those who keep their treaty when they make one, and the patient in

tribulation and adversity and time of stress; such are those who are

sincere. Such are the Godfearing". Qur'an 2:177.

>

> Man, A Free Agent

>

> Man is the highest creation of God and he has a free will to make

his own decisions. God has shown him the right path, and the life of

Prophet Muhammad provides a perfect example for achieving success and

salvation. Islam stands for the sanctity of human personality and

confers equal rights on all without distinction of race, nationality

or sex. The law of God set down in the Qur'an and exemplified in the

life of the Prophet is supreme in all cases. It applies equally to

the prince and the pauper, the ruler and the ruled, the saint and the

sinner.

>

> Man's Accountability to God

>

> Man's life is not limited to the short span of earthly existence.

On the day of judgement the entire human race will be resurrected;

everyone will appear before the Almighty God and face the

consequences of his deeds in this life. Thus, life in the Hereafter

is a continuation of the earthly life. Belief in man's accountability

to God gives a sense and meaning to life and differentiates human

beings from animals and inanimate objects. It serves as a reminder

against crime, corruption, immorality, and injustice.

>

> Human Rights

>

> Islam protects all noble values and human rights. Freedom,

equality, justice, and the right to life, liberty, and security of

person are of prime concern in Islamic law. "Whosoever kills a human

being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it

shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the

life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all

mankind..." Qur'an 5:32. Islam places great emphasis on social

justice. It opposes all those who exploit, oppress and deal unjustly

with people. " O ye who believe: Be steadfast witnesses for Allah in

equity and let not hatred of any people seduce you that you deal not

justly. Be just; that is nearer to piety". Qur'an 5:8.

>

> Science and Technology

>

> Islam encourages the use of science and the scientific method.

Acquisition of knowledge is obligatory on every Muslim, male and

female. In Islam, science and technology should be used for moral

ends and serve all legitimate needs of mankind. Moreover, both are

viewed as yet another means to understand and see the power and glory

of God. "He it is Who created for you all that is in the earth."

Qur'an 2:29. "It is your Lord, the Most Bounteous, Who taught by the

pen, taught man that which he knew not..." Qur'an 96:2- 5. "We shell

show them our Signs on the horizons and within themselves until it

will be manifest unto them that it is the Truth..." Qur'an 41:53.

>

> Islam: The Cure for Modern Ailments

>

> Racism is a major problem in many materially advanced countries.

Prejudice and discrimination against racial groups is common

phenomenon even today. For 1400 years Islam has shown in practice how

racism can be ended. The Islamic social scene, particularly during

the Hajj, is a unique example of the brotherhood of men of all races

and nations under One God. Similarly, the family, the basic unit of

civilization has also become something of a problem in the West. It

is in visible decay. The family system of Islam brings the rights of

husband, wife, children, and relatives into a fine equilibrium. Islam

nourishes generosity in the family and holds it together under the

clear Qur'anic laws and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be

upon him.

>

> Some Misconceptions About Islam

>

> It is unfortunate that some teachings of Islam have been distorted

and misrepresented in the West and the communist world. The main

distortions relate to the status of women, marriage and divorce,

jihad or so-called "holy war", the authenticity of the prophethood of

Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the distinction between the Qur'an

and the Hadith. The accurate teachings of Islam on these matters can

be obtained only from authentic Islamic writings.

>

> For more information about ISLAM

>

> http://www.geocities.com/amat_arahman/links.html

>

January 11, 2005

Mr.Mukund

Refrain yourself from religious discussions. I have been reading and observing

your behaviour for quite a long time. Keep your ideas and views to your own

self. Better avoid hurting the sentiments of other people. Today , if you do ,

tomorrow you will face the same music.

Stop wearing sun glasses and you would know the world. Look and see the world

with eyes and not with the fashion glasses on.

Remember one thing, If you point your finger on a person the other four fingers

are pointing towards you ( Just a reminder: A hand has five fingers).

I would request the moderator to please interfere and let this guy stop from

making such comments. The moderator role is to keep his eyes and ears open and

not just to make a group and go to sleep.

monmuk111 <monmuk111 wrote: