ISLAM 595 CE

- Muhammad met KHADIJAH, an

ETYMOLOGY OF ISLAM:
older and wealthy widow.
ISLAM – ‘farewell pilgrimage’ to Mecca. - He was hired by Khadijah as a
“CARAVAN MANAGER” and
According to (Quran 5.3b)
eventually married her and they had
“Today I have perfected your system of SIX CHILDREN.
belief and bestowed my favours upon you
610 CE
in full, and have chosen Islam as the creed
for you” - ANGEL JIBRIL appeared to
Muhammad inside the cave of Mt.
Moreover, ISLAM is an Arabic term which
Hira and then revealed to him the
means “OBEDIENCE or SUBMISSION.” Thus,
first revelations of QUR’AN and told
it designates that religious surrender by
him that he is the prophet of God.
which human beings submit to God and
- He was chosen to be the prophet
devote themselves totally to the fulfillment
since at that time, the people in
of the will of God (Allah) and the MUSLIM is
Mecca desacralized the shrine
the “ONE WHO SUBMITS” to Allah’s will by
(Ka’aba) was located and gradually
accepting Islamic Religion and by observing
embraced a polytheistic religion by
its laws and practice.
believing in Gods and Goddesses.

BRIEF HISTORY OF ISLAM:

570 CE 622 CE
- The prophet of Allah was born into - Muhammad and his followers
the QURAYSH TRIBE in MECCA migrated from Mecca to YATHRIB or
(Arabia). MEDINA. This journey was called
- His complete name is “Abu al-Qasim “THE HEGIRA” and was considered
Muhammad ibn Abd allah ibn Abd by Muslims to be the special
ad-Muttalib ibn Hashim ibn Abd- beginning of the Islamic Calendar.
Manaf ibn Qusai ibn Kilab.”
- uncle who was a Trader. 630 CE
- through the influence of his uncle, - Muhammad, together with
he became known to be a generous, thousands of his followers gained
honest, truthful, and sincere man. control in Mecca and rededicated
Later on, he was regarded by the the Kaaba to Allah by destroying the
affluent traders in Arabian Peninsula idols from the Shrine. And that
as “EL AMIN” or “THE TRUTHFUL”. journey to Mecca is called “HAJJ”.
 submission to Allah (swt).” In submitting
themselves to Allah (swt), they have to
SPREAD OF ISLAM:
develop and cultivate in themselves the
RASHIDUN, who were the first four crowning Islamic Virtue called “TAQWA”
successors of prophet Muhammad. which means “piety or holiness”. The
Muslims recognized that the sole measure
1ST SUCCESSOR – ABU BAKR
of their stature before God is not earthly
2ND SUCCESSOR – UMAR prestige, material wealth or social stature
but THE DEPTH OF THEIR PIETY. As the
3RD SUCCESSOR – UTHMAN
(QURAN 2.148) states, “so strive towards
4TH SUCCESSOR – ALI IBN ABI TALIB and piety and excel the others: God will bring
MUAWIYAH you all together wherever you be.”
Moreover, in the pursuit of cultivating
The former started the (Shia Islam) and the
TAQWA. The Muslims must do these
latter started the (Sunni Islam).
following obligations: they must faithfully
obey everything that were stipulated in the
Quran, will of Allah and must faithfully
SPIRITUALITY OF ISLAM:
observe the five pillars of Islam.
The spirituality of Islam is oriented towards
the achievement of the promise of peace
by ALLAH (swt). In (Quran 39.73) Allah 5 PILLARS OF MUSLIM
promise them: “Those who were mindful of
“la’ ilaha, iklla-llah, mu’ammadur-rasulu-
their duty to the Lord will be driven in
llah”  SHAHADA
groups to paradise, till they reach it and its
gates are opened, and its keepers say to “there is no God but Allah (swt);
them: ‘PEACE BE UPON; YOU ARE JOYOUS. Muhammad is his messsnger.”
SO, ENTER HERE TO LIVE FOREVER!’ No
“Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala” “Glory to him, the
wonder why, Muslims have their own
Exalted.”
Islamic Salutations such as,
SALAH – if one of you had a river right by
“al- Salamu ‘alaykum” which means “peace
his door and he bathed in it five times a
be upon you!”
day, do you think that there would be any
“wa- ‘alaykum al- Salam which means “and dirt left on him? They said, ‘No, not a trace.’
upon you, peace!” He said, ‘that is how it is with the five
prayers.’ God wipes away all sins.
“alayhi ‘salam” which means “peace be
upon him”
In order to achieve Allah’s promise
of peace, the Muslims will live out their
spirituality, i.e. “Straight path of
5 ISLAM PILLARS RAMADAN – it is celebrated as the month
during which Muhammad received the
SAWM – fasting and self-control during the
initial revelations of the Quran, the holy
Holy Month of Ramadan.
book for Muslims.
ZAKAT (CHARITY/ALMSGIVING) – as the
EID AL FITR – festival of the breaking of the
(QURAN 3.180) states, let not those who
fast.
are niggardly of the things that God has
given them…in fact, it is worse, for what CORE BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES OF ISLAM
they grudged will be hung around their
QUR’AN – the Quran is known to be the
necks on the day of resurrection.”
KITAB AL-ALLAH or (book of God). It is
HAJJ – only those who are physically and believed to be the LITERAL WORD OF
financially able are obligated to perform it. ALLAH or Earthly Replica of the Heavenly
Quran.
• Equal
• origin revealed to the Prophet
• Umma
Muhammad.
Having mentioned all those things that are
• it consists of 114 surahs (chapters) and
necessary to achieve the Allah’s promise of
each composed of ayahs (verses).
peace.
HADITH – this sacred text refers to the
JIHAD – it is does not mean a HOLY WAR,
reports regarding the sayings and actions of
but it actually means “TO STRUGGLE, TO
the prophet Muhammad. It is considered to
STRIVE, TO EXERT EFFORT”
be an important guide in understanding the
ISLAM MODE OF WORSHIP revelation in the Quran and has a significant
influence in Islamic Law, second only to the
JUM’AH (Friday in the Arabic language)
Quran.
- It is a sacred time fir Muslims to pray
6 ARTICLES FOR ISALMIC FAITH
as one community (umma) inside
the mosque every Friday. Before TRIVIA:
entering the Mosque, they perform
The taqiyah is a short, rounded skullcap.
the RITUAL ABLUTION (wudu) in
They are often worn for religious purposes
order to purify their body and spirit
especially during the five daily prayers
before meeting Allah (swt).
includes: Fajr (sunrise prayer), Dhuhr (noon
MAJOR FEASTS AND HOLY DAYS prayer), Asr (afternoon prayer), Maghrib
(sunset prayer), and Isha (night prayer).
EID AL ADHA – “DAY OF SACRIFICES”, a
four-day festival observed by the Muslims
to commemorate the event of Allah
1. BELIEF IN ONE GOD (AL IIMAANU
appearing to Ibrahim (Abraham) in a dream,
BILLAAH)
commanding him to sacrifice his son
Ishmael to show his devotion to Allah.
- it means that Allah is one, that there - It is a belief that Allah already knows
is none like him, he has no partner, what will happen. But it does not
he neither begets nor is he stop human beings in making free
begotten, he is invisible in person. choices. Thus, ALLAH WILLS THAT
2. BELIEF IN ANGELS (AL IIMAANU BI EVERY HUMAN BEINGS WILL BE ONE
MALAA-IKATIHHH) WITH HIM IN ETERNITY.
- The angels are the spiritual 6. BELIEF IN JUDGEMENT DAY (AL
creatures of Allah created of light IMAANU BIL YAUMIL AAKHIR)
and endower with life, speech and - That day is called “Qiyaamah” (The
reason. Last Day). On this day, all the human
3. BELIEF IN DIVINE BOOKS (AL beings who had lived in the world
IIMAANU BI KUTUBIHII) since its inception will be restored to
- It means that Allah revealed life and will be presented begore
Commandments (SUHUF) and Code God who will sit in court on that day.
of religious (KUTUB) to different This is called “Hashar”
Prophets at different stages of (resurrection). Then the entire
history for the guidance of mankind. record of every man and woman,
These sacred books are the their doings and misdoings will be
following: TAURAH (Torah as presented before God for final
revealed to Moses), ZABOOR judgement. Those who committed
(psalms as revealed to David), INJEEL sins but died with Iman (faith) will
(Gospels as revealed to Jesus), be temporarily punished in Hell and
QURAN (as revealed to will ultimately be sent to Paradise
Muhammad). through the pleading (shafaa-ah) of
4. BELIEF IN PROPHETS (AL IIMAANU the Prophet Muhammad.
BI RUSULIHII)
- A prophet is a servant and
messenger of Allah. He is a model
for mankind and teaches mankind
the Commands of Allah, himself
acting in accordance with his own
teachings. Prophets were sent by
Allah to all nations at all stages of
history to warn them against their
sins and to lead them along the right
path. Principally, the prophet taught
mankind to worship and fear Allah
and to be obedient to all his
Commandments.
5. BELIEF IN FATE