UnderstandingUnderstanding

IslamIslam

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MuslimsMuslims

In the Name of Allâh, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful

What does Islam mean ?What does Islam mean ?

•Arabic root word is SLM Arabic root word is SLM •No vowels in classical ArabicNo vowels in classical Arabic

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SLM = Salaam = PeaceSLM = Salaam = PeaceISLAM = Willful Surrender = Willful SubmissionISLAM = Willful Surrender = Willful Submission

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•Peaceful surrenderingPeaceful surrendering of your ‘free will’ :of your ‘free will’ :– to God’s will and divine guidanceto God’s will and divine guidance– to willfully, knowingly, accept and worship to willfully, knowingly, accept and worship

the onethe onetrue creator of everythingtrue creator of everything

ContinueContinue Who is “ Who is “AllahAllah” ? ” ?

AllahAllah has no gender. has no gender.

AllahAllah is not masculine or feminine. is not masculine or feminine.

AllahAllah has no mother, no father, has no mother, no father,

no children, no no children, no relatives.relatives.

AllahAllah is is notnot part of the Creation part of the Creation

AllahAllah isis the Creator. the Creator.

If you canIf you can touch ittouch it, , taste ittaste it, , see itsee it, , smell itsmell it, it is , it is

notnot AllahAllah..

Muslims believe Islam is NaturalMuslims believe Islam is Natural

‘Everyone’ is born Muslim‘Everyone’ is born Muslim

• Islam is a natural religion : Spiritually, Mentally, PhysicallyIslam is a natural religion : Spiritually, Mentally, Physically• We are all born Muslim, pure without sinWe are all born Muslim, pure without sin• Our free will peacefully surrendered to God’s willOur free will peacefully surrendered to God’s will• We are innately attracted (programmed) to accept our We are innately attracted (programmed) to accept our

creatorcreator• Our soul constantly reminds us of our creatorOur soul constantly reminds us of our creator• We are always being called by God from within We are always being called by God from within

Who Is Mohammad ?Who Is Mohammad ?

• Born in Mecca, Arabia, in the year 570 Born in Mecca, Arabia, in the year 570 AD. AD.

• Descendant of Ishmael, the first son of Descendant of Ishmael, the first son of Abraham.Abraham.

• Received first revelation (the Qur’an) Received first revelation (the Qur’an)

at the age 40 through the angel at the age 40 through the angel Gabriel. Gabriel.

• Died in the year 632 ADDied in the year 632 AD

Muslims Believe Mohammad Is:

• The Last Messenger & Last Last Messenger & Last ProphetProphet

• The Seal Of The ProphetsThe Seal Of The Prophets

• The Truthful One, The Honest The Truthful One, The Honest

• A Mercy To MankindA Mercy To Mankind

• The Universal ProphetThe Universal Prophet

What Others Say About What Others Say About MohammadMohammad

• ““I wanted to know the best of one who holds today’s undisputed I wanted to know the best of one who holds today’s undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind …. sway over the hearts of millions of mankind ….

I became convinced that it was not the sword that won a place I became convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and his followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his friends and his followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the 2obstacle. When I closed the 2ndnd volume (of the Prophet’s volume (of the Prophet’s biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of his biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of his great life.”great life.” Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi

• ““God has no mercy on one who has no mercy God has no mercy on one who has no mercy for others.”for others.”

• ““None of you truly believes until he wishes for None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.”his brother what he wishes for himself.”

• ““He who eats his fill while his neighbor goes He who eats his fill while his neighbor goes without food is not a believer.”without food is not a believer.”

• ““Powerful is not he who knocks the other down, Powerful is not he who knocks the other down, indeed powerful is he who controls himself in a indeed powerful is he who controls himself in a fit of anger.”fit of anger.”

• ““Allah does not judge according to your bodies Allah does not judge according to your bodies and appearances but He scans your hearts & and appearances but He scans your hearts & looks into your deeds.” looks into your deeds.”

Sayings Of Prophet Sayings Of Prophet MohammadMohammad

The “6” Articles of FaithThe “6” Articles of Faith

• Belief in the Belief in the OnenessOneness of Allah (God)of Allah (God)

• Belief in the Belief in the AngelsAngels created by Allah (God) created by Allah (God)

• Belief in the Belief in the Revealed BooksRevealed Books of Allah (God) of Allah (God)

• Belief in the Belief in the Messengers and ProphetsMessengers and Prophets of Allah of Allah (God)(God)

• Belief in the Belief in the Day of JudgmentDay of Judgment

• Belief in Belief in Allah’s (God’s) SovereigntyAllah’s (God’s) Sovereignty (control) (control) over Human Destiny & over all Affairsover Human Destiny & over all Affairs

The Five Pillars Of IslamThe Five Pillars Of Islam ( Forms Of ( Forms Of Worship )Worship )

1)1) Declaration of Faith Declaration of Faith (Shahadah)(Shahadah)

2)2) Prayers (Salah)Prayers (Salah)

3)3) Charity (Zakat)Charity (Zakat)

4)4) Fasting ( Ramadan)Fasting ( Ramadan)

5)5) Pilgrimage (Hajj)Pilgrimage (Hajj)

Simply by saying with conviction :Simply by saying with conviction :

““La ilaha illa Allah, La ilaha illa Allah,

Mohammedan Rasoolullah,Mohammedan Rasoolullah,””

one becomes a Muslim. one becomes a Muslim. 

This saying means :This saying means :

““There is no true deity to be worshipped but There is no true deity to be worshipped but

Allah (God), Allah (God),

and Mohammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of and Mohammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of

Allah.”Allah.”

1. 1. The Declaration of Faith, The Declaration of Faith, ShahadahShahadah

The Five Pillars Of IslamThe Five Pillars Of Islam ( Forms Of ( Forms Of Worship )Worship )

1)1) Declaration of Faith Declaration of Faith (Shahadah)(Shahadah)

2)2) Prayers (Salah)Prayers (Salah)

3)3) Charity (Zakat)Charity (Zakat)

4)4) Fasting ( Ramadan)Fasting ( Ramadan)

5)5) Pilgrimage (Hajj)Pilgrimage (Hajj)

Jesus in IslamJesus in Islam

Son of MarySon of Mary

Messiah / ChristMessiah / Christ

Servant of GodServant of God

Messenger of GodMessenger of God

The Word of GodThe Word of God

Spirit of GodSpirit of God

Sign of GodSign of God

Jesus is mentioned in 25 places in the Holy Qur’an Jesus is mentioned in 25 places in the Holy Qur’an

with names of respect and honor:with names of respect and honor:

Titles of Jesus in the Qur’anTitles of Jesus in the Qur’an

Say: We believe in Allah (God) and that which Say: We believe in Allah (God) and that which was revealed to us, and that which was was revealed to us, and that which was revealed torevealed to AbrahamAbraham, , Ishmael,Ishmael, Isaac,Isaac, JacobJacob and and the tribesthe tribes and that which was and that which was given togiven to Moses,Moses, JesusJesus and to the Prophets from theirand to the Prophets from their Lord; We make Lord; We make NO NO distinction between any distinction between any of them, and to Him (God) we submit. of them, and to Him (God) we submit.

(Quran, 3:83)(Quran, 3:83)

What the Qur’an says about What the Qur’an says about JesusJesus

Behold! The angels said, ‘O Mary! God has Behold! The angels said, ‘O Mary! God has chosen you and purified you - chosen you chosen you and purified you - chosen you above all women of all nations. above all women of all nations. (Qur’an, 3:42) (Qur’an, 3:42)

O Mary, God gives you good news of a word O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him whose name shall be Christ Jesus, from Him whose name shall be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, honored in this world and the the son of Mary, honored in this world and the Hereafter and one of those nearest to God. Hereafter and one of those nearest to God. (Qur’an, 3:45) (Qur’an, 3:45)

The Birth of Jesus in the Qur’anThe Birth of Jesus in the Qur’an

She (Mary) said: ‘Oh my Lord! How shall I have She (Mary) said: ‘Oh my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?’ He a son when no man has touched me?’ He said: “Even so; God creates what He wills: said: “Even so; God creates what He wills: When He decrees a thing, He says to it, “Be!” When He decrees a thing, He says to it, “Be!” and it is.and it is.

‘‘And God will teach him (Jesus) the book and And God will teach him (Jesus) the book and wisdom, the law and the Gospel,wisdom, the law and the Gospel,

And (appoint him) a messenger to the Children And (appoint him) a messenger to the Children of Israel …’of Israel …’

(Qur’an, 3:47-49)(Qur’an, 3:47-49)

ContinueContinue Birth of Jesus in the Birth of Jesus in the Qur’anQur’an

The Qur’an Says :The Qur’an Says :

Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust and likeness of Adam. He created him of dust and then said to him, “Be!” and he was. then said to him, “Be!” and he was.

(Qur’an, 3:59)(Qur’an, 3:59)

Birth of Jesus Birth of Jesus = = Creation of Creation of AdamAdam

I (Jesus)I (Jesus) have come to you with a sign from have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as it your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as it were, a figure of a bird and breathe into it were, a figure of a bird and breathe into it and it becomes a bird by God’s leave. And and it becomes a bird by God’s leave. And I heal the blind and the lepers, and I raise I heal the blind and the lepers, and I raise the dead by God’s leave. the dead by God’s leave.

(Qur’an: (Qur’an: 3:49)3:49)

Miracles performed by JesusMiracles performed by Jesus

““Jesus spoke from the cradle to explain his birth”Jesus spoke from the cradle to explain his birth”

(Qur’an 19:27-33)(Qur’an 19:27-33)

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At length she (Mary) brought the babe to her At length she (Mary) brought the babe to her people carrying him in her arms. They said. ‘Oh people carrying him in her arms. They said. ‘Oh Mary! Truly an amazing thing hast thou Mary! Truly an amazing thing hast thou brought!brought!

O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of evil nor thy mother a woman unchaste!evil nor thy mother a woman unchaste!

ContinueContinue Miracles performed by Miracles performed by JesusJesus

But she (Mary) pointed to the babe. They said, But she (Mary) pointed to the babe. They said, ‘How can we talk to one who is a child in the ‘How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?’cradle?’

He (Jesus) said, ‘I am indeed a servant of God: He (Jesus) said, ‘I am indeed a servant of God: He hath given me revelation and made me a He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet .’prophet .’

(Qur’an, 19:27-30)(Qur’an, 19:27-30)

ContinueContinue Miracles performed by Miracles performed by JesusJesus