Understanding Islam

Shahir A. Safi

Outline

What is Islam? Who are Muslims Statistics on Muslims The Creed (Aqeedah)
The Pillars of Faith - the beliefs (Arkan Al Iman) The Pillars of Practice - the practical application of the

beliefs (Arkan Al Islam)

Some Contemporary Issues

Islamic View on Terrorism
Hijaab Islamic Dress

Final thoughts, Questions/ Comments

What is the meaning of Islam?? What can you give the Creator?

What is the meaning of Islam??

What is the meaning of Islam??

These actions describe the actions of a believer in Almighty God and they surrender their will to Gods will, and are submitting to Gods commandments they are doing this in true obedience and sincerity, and will attain peace in this world and in the hereafter.

What is the meaning of Islam??

Islamic Meaning: When person who fully surrenders himself/herself to Almighty God alone, worshiping Him purely will live in peace and harmony in this life and in the hereafter .

What is the meaning of a Muslim??

Muslim is one who follows the way of life called Islam

What Islams position on race?

Islam from the definition is a universal religion.

Not tied to a personality - Christianity, Buddhism, etc. A race Judaism A country or Region Hindu

Muhammadism

Islam is can be seen from the definition is a universal religion.

The principle on diversity in Islam: 1.We learn that there is nothing special about white skin, or black skin, or blue eyes, or brown eyes, or blond hair, or black hear, or long noses, or flat noise, or differences language because all of these varieties exist everywhere in nature and they are part and parcel of the creation of God Almighty. 2. Racism and Bigotry the root causes of it ignorance.

Islam by definition is a universal religion.

And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colors. Verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge 30:22.

World Muslims

1.2 to 1.6 billion, Muslims represent between 19.2% and 22% of the world's population. One of every five humans in the world is a Muslim Second largest religion in the world Fastest growing including Europe and America

World Distribution of Muslims

Africa
Asia Europe Latin America

308,660,000
778,362,000 32,032,000 1,356,000

27.4%
69.1% 2.8% 0.1%

North America

5,530,000

0.5%

World

1,126,325,000 100%

Source: Britannica Yearbook, 1997

Muslim Population Distribution by Countries

American Muslims
Estimated

6 to 7 million About 40% Afro-American Not all Muslims are Arabs, Not all Arabs are Muslims Estimated 50,000 Muslims in Greater Phoenix Metro Area.

American Muslims

African American South Asian Arab African Iranian Turk Caucasian American Undetermined

42.0% 24.4% 12.4% 5.2% 3.6% 2.4% 1.6% 5.6%

The Islamic Creed

IsAdab/Aklaq

Diet (Halal vs Haraam Food

Human Rights

Family

Allah is the Arabic name for God Allah literally means The God The world Allah has no plural, and is
genderless

Allah is used to refer to the One

by:

True God

Muslims Christian Arabs Jewish Arabs

 Islamic Monotheism = Tawheed Tawheed is the most important belief

 Three Parts of Tawheed

1. Unifying the Lordship of Allah 2. Unifying the names and attributes of Allah 3. Unifying the Worship Of Allah

The Qurran - Chapter 112: 1-4

1. Say:He is Allah the unique

2. Allah the Eternal or Infinite 3. He begets not, neither is he begotten. 4. And there is nothing that can be compared to Him.

The nature of Angels. Created from light. They do not have free will They do specific tasks such as: 1.They protect human beings. 2.They record all of our deeds. 3. Carried messages to the Messengers of God.

42:13 He decreed for you the same religion decreed for Noah, and what we inspired to you (Muhammad), and what we decreed for Abraham, Moses, Jesus: You shall uphold the one religion, and do not divide it. The idol worshippers will greatly resent what you invite them to do. Allah redeems to Himself whomever he wills: He guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).

Born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in the year 570 C.E.

Received

first revelation at the age 40 through angel Gabriel.

Died in the year 632 C.E, after preaching Islam for 23 years.

Falwell's comments are problematic for many reasons, not least with regard to historical accuracy. Muhammad forbade murder and the killing of innocents, and never used terror as a weapon in his struggles against his aggressive pagan enemies. Far from glorifying aggression, the Koran says (2:190), "Fight in the way of God against those who fight against you, but do not begin hostilities, for God does not love aggressors.

Juan Cole professor of Middle East and South Asian history at the University of Michigan and author called Sacred Space and Holy War

GEORGE BERNARD SHAW said about him: "He must be called the Savior of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it much needed peace and happiness." (The Genuine Islam, Singapore, Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936)

LAMARTINE, HISTOIRE DE LA TURQUIE, Paris, 1854, Vol. II, pp 276-277 "Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images, the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is MUHAMMAD. As regards all the standards by which Human Greatness may be measured, we may well ask, IS THERE ANY MAN GREATER THAN HE?"

"My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular levels." (M.H. Hart, THE 100: A RANKING OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS IN HISTORY, New York, 1978, p. 33)

ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA confirms: .... A mass of detail in the early sources show that he was an honest and upright man who had gained the respect and loyalty of others who were like-wise honest and upright men." (Vol. 12)

MAHATMA GANDHI, speaking on the character of Muhammad, (PBUH) says in YOUNG INDIA: "I wanted to know the best of one who holds today's undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind.... I became more than 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 simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to this friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the 2nd volume (of the Prophet's biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of the great life."

"To pursue knowledge is obligatory on every believing (man and woman)." [Ibn
Majah]

Sayings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh):

Removing a harmful thing from the road "Those who do not showis charity." [Bukhari, tenderness and love cannot
expect to have tenderness Muslim] shown to them." [Bukhari]

He (Allah) sent down to you this scripture (the Quran) in truth, the Book, confirming what went before it; and He sent down the Torah (Old Testament) and the Injeel (Gospel) before this, as a guide to mankind, and He sent down the criterion (of judgment between right and wrong).

The Quran 3: 1-3

Source of All Divine Books is God Tawraat (Torah) Moses, Zabur (Psalms) David, Injeel (Bible) Jesus, Qurran Muhammad Peace be upon them all

Qurran: The Holy Book

23 Years of Revelations (609 632 C.E.) 114 Chapters; Revealed in piece meals Chapter (Surah) names Historic Context Complements Sunnah (sayings and practices of the Prophet (PBUH)

Qurran: The Holy Book

The Quran talks about scientific verses, but it is not a book of science The Quran talks about history but it is not a book of history. The Quran talks about prophesies but it is not a book of prophecies The Quran talks about etc. The Quran is a book of guidance = Owners Manual of Life

Copy of Quran over 1400 years old In Museum in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Qurran: 2:162
and Indeed! In the creation of Indeed dispersing are signs the heavens and the earth, And the Day which revive the earth after its And the alternations and In thein creation the ordinance and the difference of (Of night All kinds of Allahs Of the heavens Death of the the night Of the winds and the clouds and the and day, and ships Sovereignty) for animals which run upon the sea heavens Obedient between and Earth People with with that which is of use to Therein And earth dispersing Sense. men, and the water which Allah sends down from the All kinds of ... And the ships which animals sky Run upon the sea that Which is of use to men Therein

We did created the human from a pith of clay: Then We placed him as a drop of sperm in a place of rest firmly fixed (i.e womb). Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood. Then of that clot We made a lump. Then We made out of the lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh. Then We developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah the best to create. after that, you will die. On the day of judgment you will be raised up again. (Surah 23:12 16)

Whoever believes in The Creator has to believe in a day of Judgment.

Nothing happens without His knowledge. By His knowledge. He prescribed every thing. GOD knows what happened, what is happening, what will happen and he knows the 4th ; He knows what will not happen, if it happened, how it would have happen Allah knows x, y, z, time, etc.

Pillars of Islam (The practical aspect of Islam)

Testimony of Faith: There is no deity except Allah, and Muhammad is His Last Messenger. Prayers (Salah) Charity (Zakah) Fasting ( Saum during Ramadan) Pilgrimage (Hajj)

2. Prayers (Salah)

2. Prayers (Salah)

Establish regular prayer: for prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life ) (Chapter 29, Ayah 45)

Prayers (Salah)

Five Daily Prayers

Dawn, Afternoon, Late After Noon, Evening, Night Additional Prayers optional

How Prayers (Salah) are performed.

Ritual cleansing of all exposed parts of the body, clean clothes, clean place of prayer, turning fact to Qibla Prayers are held in fixed times Prayers involve ablution, standing, bowing, prostrating, sitting postures Face Kaabah, prayers in Arabic as taught by the Prophet.

Prayers (Salah)
Skid 1:Abultion and Irwin The Insensitive

Prayers (Salah)
Skid 2: Abultion and Charlie The Considerate

Prayers (Salah)
Skid 3: Prayers and Irwin The Insensitive

Prayers (Salah)
Skid 4:Prayers Charlie The Considerate

3. Charity (Zakat)

So establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity; and obey the Apostle; that ye may receive mercy. (Surah 24, Ayah 56) Require to pay minimum of 2.5% towards charity on yearly savings above and beyond basic needs

O ye who believe, fasting has been prescribed upon you as it was prescribed upon those before you, so that ye may learn self-restraint.
(Al-Quran:2:183)

4. Fasting (Saum)

Fasting (Saum)

Ramadan

is 9th month in Islamic Lunar calendar Daily dawn to sunset fast for 29/30 days (no food, drink or marital relations) Eid-Ul-Fitr Holiday at the end

Ramadan Activities: Perform the optional pilgrimage to Mecca

Ramadan Activities: Spend time in the Masjids Worshipping Allah

O people! The month of Allah (swt) has come with His mercies and blessings. This is the month that is the best of all months. Its days are the best of days, its nights are the best of nights, its hours are the best of hours.(Prophet Muhammad-saw)

Hajj (Pilgrimage)

Pilgrimage to Mecca once in life time for able Muslims Commemorates the trials of Abraham and his family 2-3 million Muslims perform Hajj each year from all over the world. Eid-Ul-Adha: the biggest Muslim Holiday

Contemporary Issues on Islam and Muslims

Hijab Islamic Dress

"O Prophet, tell your wives and daughters and the believing women to draw their outer garments around them (when they go out or are among men). That is better in order that they may be known (to be Muslims) and not annoyed..." (Qurn 33:59)

Hijab Islamic Dress

"Say to the believing man that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do. And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; and that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what must ordinarily appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands..." (Qurn 24:30-31)

Hijab

Cennet Doganay, 15, took off her hijab as she was entering the Louis Pasteur Lycee high school in Strasbourg, French School Girls who France. She shaved her to

quit school the Hijab protest the due ban to on ban. Hijab in France

Islamic View on Terrorism

Does Islam promote Terrorism ???

What is Terrorism??

Islam promote Terrorism ??? Answer:

NO !!! NO !!! NO !!!

Cave of Hirra on Mountain of Light

From the movie The Message 1976 Filmco Production

From the movie The Message

The Noble Qurran 2:190, 191

2:190. Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loveth not transgressors. 2:191. And fight them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have Turned you out; for turmoil and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith.

The Noble Qurran

2.190. Fight against those who fight against you in the way of Allah, but do not transgress, for Allah does not love transgressors.

The Noble Qurran

2.191. Kill them whenever you confront them and drive them out from where they drove you out. (For though killing is sinful) wrongful persecution is even worse than killing. Do not fight against them near the Holy Mosque unless they fight against you; but if they fight against you kill them, for that is the reward of such unbelievers.

The Old Testament:

Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man intimately. But all the girls who have not known man intimately, spare for yourselves. (Numbers 31:17-18)

Islamic Rules of Engagement

The Noble Qurran 5:8

5: 8. O ye who believe! stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do.

The Noble Qurran 16:90

Verily Allah commands justice and the doing of good and the giving unto kindred (what shall be necessary) and he forbids wickedness, iniquity, and oppression

Terrorism what is it ??

Terrorism Quiz
Who blew up the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in 1946 killing 91 British soldiers as well as British, Jewish, and Arab civilians (the most deadly terrorist act that has ever taken place in Palestine or Israel to this day)?

a. Israeli terrorists
b. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

Answer:

Terrorism Quiz
In 1881 the tsar of Russia was assassinated by:
a. a Russian terrorist b. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

Answer:

Terrorism Quiz
Who massacred 247 men, women and children in a Palestinian village in 1948 in order to cause panic among Palestinians and convince them to flee their homes? a. Israeli terrorists

b. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

Answer:

Terrorism Quiz
Who launched suicide attacks in explosive laden aircraft on American warships in 1945, sinking 40 ships?

a. Japanese Kamikaze pilots

b. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

Answer:

Terrorism Quiz
Who set off a powerful car bomb at the American headquarters at Ram stein airbase, Germany in 1981, injuring 14?

a. Israeli terrorists
b. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

Answer:

Terrorism Quiz
Who set off bombs at abortion clinics killing 2 receptionists in 1994,murdered 2 abortion clinic workers in 1995, and assassinated 3 doctors in 1993,1994, and 1998?

a. American anti-abortion extremists

b. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

Answer:

Terrorism Quiz
In 1995 who set off a bomb at the Federal building in Oklahoma City killing 168 people?

a. an American terrorist
b. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40

Answer:

Conclusion

Elevator Speech
.

How can we Proceed

We must learn to peacefully co-exist Understanding Respect Tolerance

Questions and Comments