Introduction to Islam - Islam and Muslims
The word “Islam” is an Arabic word which means “submission to the will of God”. This word comes from the same root as the Arabic word “salam”, which means “peace”. As such, the religion of Islam teaches that in order to achieve true peace of mind and surety of heart, one must submit to God and live according to His Divinely revealed Law. The most important truth that God revealed to mankind is that there is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God, thus all human beings should submit to Him.
The word “Muslim” means one who submits to the will of God, regardless of their race, nationality or ethnic background. Being a Muslim entails wilful submission and active obedience to God, and living in accordance with His message. Some people mistakenly believe that Islam is just a religion for Arabs, but nothing could be further from the truth. Not only are there converts to Islam in every corner of the world, especially in England and America, but by taking a look at the Muslim World from Bosnia to Nigeria, and from Indonesia to Morocco, one can clearly see that Muslims come from many various races, ethnic groups and nationalities. It is also interesting to note that in actuality, more than 80% of all Muslims are not Arabs - there are more Muslims in Indonesia than in the whole Arab World! So, though even though it is true that most Arabs are Muslims, the large majority of Muslims are not Arabs. However, anyone who submits completely to God and worships Him alone is a Muslim.
Continuity of the Message
Islam is not a new religion because “submission to the will of God”, i.e. Islam, has always been the only acceptable religion in the sight of God. For this reason, Islam is the true “natural religion”, and it is the same eternal message revealed through the ages to all of God’s prophets and messengers. Muslims believe that all of God’s prophets, which include Abraham, Noah, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, brought the same message of Pure Monotheism. For this reason, the Prophet Muhammad was not the founder of a new religion, as many people mistakenly think, but he was the final Prophet of Islam. By revealing His final message to Muhammad, which is an eternal and universal message for all of mankind, God finally fulfilled the covenant that He made with Abraham, who was one of the earliest and greatest prophets.
Sufficient is it to say that the way of Islam is the same as the way of the prophet Abraham, because both the Bible and the Quran portray Abraham as a towering example of someone who submitted himself completely to God and worshipped Him without intermediaries. Once this is realized, it should be clear that Islam has the most continuous and universal message of any religion, because all prophets and messengers were “Muslims”, i.e. those who submitted to God’s will, and they preached “Islam”, i.e. submission to the will of Almighty God.
The Oneness of God
The foundation of the Islamic faith is belief in the Oneness of Almighty God - the God of Abraham, Noah, Moses and Jesus. Islam teaches that a pure belief in One God is intuitive in human beings and thus fulfils the natural inclination of the soul. As such, Islam’s concept of God is straightforward, unambiguous and easy to understand. Islam teaches that the hearts, minds and souls of human beings are fitting receptacles for clear divine revelation, and that God’s revelations to man are not clouded by self-contradictory mysteries or irrational ideas. As such, Islam teaches that even though God cannot be fully comprehended and grasped by our finite human minds, He also does not expect us to accept absurd or demonstrably false beliefs about Him.
According to the teachings of Islam, Almighty God is absolutely One and His Oneness should never be compromised by associating partners with Him - neither in worship nor in belief. Due to this, Muslims are required to maintain a direct relationship with God, and therefore all intermediaries are absolutely forbidden. From the Islamic standpoint, believing in the Oneness of God means to realize that all prayer and worship should be exclusively for God, and that He alone deserves such titles as “Lord” and “Saviour”. Some religions, even though they believe in “One God”, do not make all of their worship and prayers for Him alone. Also, they also give the title of “Lord” to beings that are not All-Knowing, All-Powerful and Un-Changing - even according to their own scriptures. Suffice it to say that according to Islam, it is not enough that people believe that “God is One”, but they must actualize this belief by proper conduct.
In short, in the Islamic concept of God, which is completely based on Divine Revelation, there is no ambiguity in divinity - God is God and man is man. Since God is the only Creator and continual Sustainer of the Universe, He is transcendent above His creation - the Creator and the creature never mix. Islam teaches that God has a unique nature and that He is free from gender, human weaknesses and beyond anything which human beings can imagine. The Quranteaches that the signs and proofs of God’s wisdom, power and existence are evident in the world around us. As such, God calls on man to ponder over the creation in order to build a better understanding of his Creator. Muslims believe that God is Loving, Compassionate and Merciful, and that He is concerned with the daily affairs of human beings. In this, Islam strikes a unique balance between false religious and philosophical extremes. Some religions and philosophies portray God as just an impersonal “Higher Power” who is uninterested, or unaware, of the life of each individual human. Other religions tend to give God human qualities and teach that He is present in His creation, by being incarnate in someone, something - or even everything. In Islam, however, Almighty God has clarified the truth by letting mankind know that He is “Compassionate”, “Merciful”, “Loving” and the “Answerer of Prayers”. But He has also emphasized strongly that “there is nothing like unto Him”, and that He is high above time, space and His creation. Finally, it should be mentioned that the God that Muslims worship is the same God that Jews and Christians worship - because there is only one God. It is unfortunate that some people mistakenly believe that Muslims worship a different God than Jews and Christians, and that “Allah” is just the “god of the Arabs”. This myth, which has been propagated by the enemies of Islam, is completely false since the word “Allah” is simply the Arabic name for Almighty God. It is the same word for God which is used by Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians. However, it should be clarified that even though Muslims worship the same God as Jews and Christian, their concept of Him differs somewhat from the beliefs of other religions - mainly because it is based completely on Divine Revelation from God. For example, Muslims reject the Christian belief that God is a Trinity, not only because the Quran rejects it, but also because if this was God’s true nature, He would have clearly revealed it to Abraham, Noah, Jesus and all of the other prophets.
The Quran
The Arabic word “Al-Quran” literally means “the recitation”. When used in regards to Islam, the word Quran means God’s final message to mankind, which was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. The Quran, sometimes spelled Koran, is the literal the word of God - as it clearly says time and time again. Unlike other sacred scriptures, the Quran has been perfectly preserved in both its words and meaning in a living language. The Quran is a living miracle in the Arabic language; and is know to be inimitable in its style, form and spiritual impact. God’s final revelation to mankind, the Quran, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years.
The Quran, in contrast to many other religious books, was always thought to be the Word of God by those who believed in it, i.e. it wasn’t something decreed by a religious council many years after being written. Also, the Quran was recited publicly in front of both the Muslim and non-Muslim communities during the life of the Prophet Muhammad. The entire Quran was also completely written down in lifetime of the Prophet, and numerous companions of the Prophet memorized the entire Quran word-for-word as it was revealed. So, unlike other scriptures, the Quran was always in the hands of the common believers; it was always thought to be God’s word and, due to wide-spread memorization, it was perfectly preserved.
In regards to the teachings of the Quran - it is a universal scripture addressed to all of mankind, and not addressed only to a particular tribe or “chosen people”. The message that it brings is nothing new, but the same message of all of the prophets - submit to Almighty God and worship Him alone. As such, God’s revelation in the Quran focuses on teaching human beings the importance of believing in the Oneness of God and framing their lives around the guidance which He has sent. Additionally, the Quran contains the stories of the previous prophets, such as Abraham, Noah, Moses and Jesus; as well as many commands and prohibitions from God. In modern times where so many people are caught up in doubt, spiritual despair and “political correctness”, the Quranic teachings offer solutions to the emptiness of our lives and the turmoil that is gripping the world today. In short, the Quran is the book of guidance par excellence.
The Prophet Muhammad
Unlike the founders of many religious, the final prophet of Islam is a real documented and historical figure. He lived in the full light of history, and the most minute details of his life are known. Not only do Muslims have the complete text of God’s words that were revealed to Muhammad, but they have also preserved his sayings and teachings in what is called “hadeeth” literature. This having been said, it should be understood that Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad was only a man chosen by God, and that he is not divine in any way. In order to avoid the misguided wish to deify him, the Prophet Muhammad taught Muslims to refer to him as “God’s Messenger and His Slave”. The mission of the last and final prophet of God was to simply teach that “there is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God”, as well as being a living example of God’s revelation. In simple terms, God sent the revelation to Muhammad, who in turn taught it, preached it, lived it and put it into practice.
In this way, Muhammad was more than just a “prophet” in the sense of many of the Biblical prophets, since he was also a statesman and ruler. He was a man who lived a humble life in the service of God, and established an all-encompassing religion and way of life by showing what it means to be an ideal friend, husband, teacher, ruler, warrior and judge. For this reason, Muslims follow him not for his own sake, but in obedience to God, because Muhammad not only showed us how to deal with our fellow human beings, but more importantly, showed us how to relate to and worship God; worship Him in the only way pleasing to Him.
Like other prophets, Muhammad faced a great deal of opposition and persecution during his mission. However, he was always patient and just, and he treated his enemies well. The results of his mission were very successful, and even though his mission started in one of the most backward and remotes places on earth, within a hundred years of the death of Muhammad, Islam had spread from Spain to China. The Prophet Muhammad was the greatest of all of God’s prophets, not because he had new doctrines or greater miracles, but because it was him who was chosen to bear the last revelation which would come to humanity from God, one suitable for all places, times, and people, everlasting and unchanging until the Last Day. Read and learn about Introduction to Islam.
The Islamic Way of Life
In the Holy Quran, God teaches human beings that they were created in order to worship Him, and that the basis of all true worship is God-consciousness. Since the teachings of Islam encompass all aspects of life and ethics, God-consciousness is encouraged in all human affairs. Islam makes it clear that all human acts are acts of worship if they are done for God alone and in accordance to His Divine Law. As such, worship in Islam is not limited to religious rituals.
The teachings of Islam act as a mercy and a healing for the human soul, and such qualities as humility, sincerity, patience and charity are strongly encouraged. Additionally, Islam condemns pride and self-righteousness, since Almighty God is the only judge of human righteousness.
The Islamic view of the nature of man is also realistic and well-balanced. Human beings are not believed to be inherently sinful, but are seen as equally capable of both good and evil.
Islam also teaches that faith and action go hand-in-hand. God has given people free-will, and the measure of one’s faith is one’s deeds and actions. However, human beings have also been created weak and regularly fall into sin. This is the nature of the human being as created by God in His Wisdom, and it is not inherently “corrupt” or in need of repair. This is why the avenue of repentance is always open to all human beings, and Almighty God loves the repentant sinner more than one who does not sin at all.
The true balance of an Islamic life is established by having a healthy fear of God as well as a sincere belief in His infinite Mercy. A life without fear of God leads to sin and disobedience, while believing that we have sinned so much that God will not possibly forgive us only leads to despair. In light of this, Islam teaches that only the misguided despair of the Mercy of their Lord.
Additionally, the Holy Quran, which was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, contains a great deal of teachings about the life in the hereafter and the Day of Judgment. Due to this, Muslims believe that all human beings will ultimately be judged by God for their beliefs and actions in their earthly lives. In judging human beings, Almighty God will be both Merciful and Just, and people will only be judged for what they were capable of.
Sufficient is it to say that Islam teaches that life is a test, and that all human beings will be accountable before God. A sincere belief in the life of the hereafter is the key to leading a well-balanced and moral life. Otherwise, life is viewed as an end in itself, which causes human beings to become more selfish, materialistic and immoral.
Islam for a Better Life
Islam teaches that true happiness can only be obtained by living a life full of God-consciousness and being satisfied with what Godhas given us. Additionally, true “freedom” is freedom from being controlled by our base human desires and being ruled by man-made ideologies. This stands in stark contrast to the view of many people in the modern world, who consider “freedom” to be the ability to satisfy all of their desires without inhibition. The clear and comprehensive guidance of Islam gives human-beings a well-defined purpose and direction in life. In addition to being members of the human-brotherhood of Islam, its well-balanced and practical teachings are a source of spiritual comfort, guidance and morality. A direct and clear relationship with Almighty God, as well as the sense of purpose and belonging that ones feels as a Muslim, frees a person from the many worries of everyday life.
In short, the Islamic way of life is pure and wholesome. It builds self-discipline and self-control through regular prayer and fasting, and frees human-beings from superstition and all sorts of racial, ethnic and national prejudices. By accepting to live a God-conscious life, and realizing that the only thing that distinguishes people in the sight of God is their consciousness of Him, a person’s true human dignity is realized.
What is Islam?
Islam is to believe in and to worship The One True God (“Allah” in Arabic) alone, and to accept Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as His final Messenger.
Approximately 1 in 4 people (23%) are Muslim – over 1.5 billion Muslims
Followers of Islam are known as Muslims who can be from any racial or ethnic background
Faith & Attitude
God calls on us to acknowledge Him through His signs. God has made it our responsibility to recognise Him. This is part of the test of this life. Without the right attitude, no amount of information can make someone believe.
✔ Objectivity & an open mind ✖ Preconceived barriers/misconceptions to not believe
✔ Humbleness & sincerity ✖ Pride & arrogance
✔ Contemplation about our purpose ✖ Focus only on material world
✔ Receptive to God’s signs ✖ Dismiss everything as meaningless
Reason 1: Beginning of the Universe
The first reason for believing in God relates to reflecting on the origin of the universe.
How did the universe come to exist?
Did it come from nothing? From nothing, comes nothing. So, obviously not.
Did it create itself? No, this is irrational. It is like saying a mother gave birth to herself.
Has it always existed? No, modern science concludes that the universe is not eternal and had a beginning.
Was it created? Yes. Muslims believe something beyond the universe created it – The Creator.
But who created God?
God was not created. Unlike the universe and the rest of creation, God is eternal, has always existed and has no beginning.
Reason 2: Order of the Universe
Another simple reason for believing in God is by pondering over the order of the universe using the following logic:
Anything that is ordered indicates intelligence
Our solar system is highly ordered with intricate systems, laws & patterns
The order in our universe indicates the intelligence of the Creator!
Many features in the universe clearly indicate it to be specially designed to support life. If these measurements were slightly different to what they currently are, life could not exist. Examples below.
Ozone Layer
Thickness of earth’s crust
Oxygen % in the air
Distance from sun
Relative size of sun, earth & moon
Could a large complex universe form by coincidence, without supervision? It should be noted that Islam encourages scientific research and reflection. The role of science helps us describe the many observed patterns that God places in His creation and appreciate the extent of His power and wisdom.
Reason 3: Revelation – Quran
The Quran provides a strong argument for the existence of God and it is unmatched in its style, wisdom, guidance, eloquence as well as its uniqueness in how it addresses the reader.
No errors or contradictions.
Pure & clear descriptions of God.
Pinnacle of arabic linguistic beauty.
Revealed via Prophet Muhammad who was illiterate.
Preserved – no alterations in 1400 years.
Deep insights into human behaviour.
Memorised by millions of people.
Contains scientific facts not known at that time.
“On earth there are signs for those with sure faith; and in yourselves too, do you not see?”
(Quran 51:20-21)
Who is God?
One of the main beauties of Islam is that it acknowledges the complete perfection, greatness and uniqueness of God with absolutely no compromises.
God is One & Unique and has no rivals, partners or sons.
God is Worthy of All Worship – directly & exclusively (no intermediaries).
God is Perfect & Flawless – No limitations or weaknesses.
God is the Most Merciful – He knows we are imperfect and commit sins, however the key is to always acknowledge our mistakes and to sincerely ask for forgiveness.
No part of God is present in His creation nor do others share in His divine attributes.
When trying to understand the concept of God in Islam, it is important to discuss the status of Jesus, given the widespread confusion and claims about his nature.
Islam acknowledges Jesus as an honourable Prophet and Messenger of God, but Muslims do not worship him – as worship is for God alone who created Jesus and everything that exists. As such, the belief of Jesus as God, or the son of God, or part of a trinity, clearly contradicts the pure teachings of God in Islam.
If Jesus was God, who would he be praying to?
There are many examples in Christian teachings of Jesus speaking and behaving as if God is a separate being to himself, e.g. Jesus prays to God.
How can God be both perfect and imperfect?
Jesus was born, ate, slept and had limited knowledge – all attributes not befitting God. God has attributes of perfection whereas Man is the opposite.
What does the term “son of God” really mean?
We find the term “son of God” is symbolically used in the earliest biblical languages for a “righteous person” for many people – not exclusively for Jesus. God is far removed from having a physical and literal son.
If God can do anything, why can’t he become a man?
God always maintains attributes of perfection and does not do anything to compromise this perfection. By definition, God does not do ungodly acts. So, if God became man and took on human attributes, he would, necessarily, no longer be God.
Many Prophets 1 Mission
Prophet Adam
Prophet Noah
Prophet Abraham
Prophet Moses
Prophet Jesus
Prophet Muhammad
+ other prophets
Peace be upon them all
Emphasise concept of one God
Reject false gods and beliefs
Demonstrate how to worship God
Be an example of righteousness
Describe rewards for obedience (heaven)
Warn of punishment for disobedience (hell)
God sent Prophets to every nation throughout time with the same essential message – to worship one true God. Although Muslims love and respect all Prophets, they do not worship them or attribute divinity to them, as this is reserved solely for God.
Purpose of Life
God, the All Wise, did not create us to simply wander aimlessly or to only fulfil our basic instincts and desires. Rather, we have a higher purpose – to acknowledge and worship God alone, so that we live upon the guidance of our Creator. This guidance enables us to live a contented and successful life in all aspects.
It is part of God’s infinite wisdom that He created us and gave us the opportunity to know Him and to experience our lives and make our own choices.
Islam is a complete and practical way of life that teaches Muslims to be balanced, decent and contributing members of society. The concept of worship in Islam does not only include praying and supplicating to God. It is a broad definition that includes any action that God is pleased with. Some examples include:
Earning an honest living.
Opposing oppression.
Taking care of orphans.
Looking after the environment.
Having patience & humility.
Benefitting the community.
Respecting parents.
Standing up for justice.
Kindness to neighbours.
Having mindfulness of God.
Providing for one’s family.
Speaking the truth.
Acts of worship require the sincere intention to please God and must be performed correctly according to Islamic guidelines.
What does Islam say about…
Women: Women have the highest respect in Islam. They are to be treated with love, honour and respect. They are the partners of men, and no oppression can ever be condoned towards them.
Terrorism: Islam permits fighting in order to preserve the well being of society, to prevent oppression from spreading, and to promote justice. However, targeting innocent non-combatants is a despicable act which is prohibited.
Halal food: Halal foods are those lawful for Muslims to consume. Meats and poultry should be slaughtered humanely with suffering minimised, and God’s name should be mentioned during slaughter.
Evolution: God created the first human being, Adam, in his final form – as opposed to evolving gradually from advanced apes. This cannot be directly confirmed or denied by science because this was a unique and singular historical event – a miracle. As for living creatures other than humans, Islamic sources are silent on the matter and only require us to believe that God created them in whatever manner He wanted, using evolution or otherwise.
A Muslim’s Outlook on Life
Balance of hope in God’s Mercy and fear of His punishment.
I have a noble purpose.
If good happens, be grateful. If bad happens, have patience.
This life is a test and God sees everything I do.
Put my trust in God – nothing happens except by His permission.
Everything I have is from God.
Genuine hope & concern for non-Muslims to be guided.
Focus on what is in my control & try my best.
I will return to God and be accountable.
INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM
THE TESTIMONY OF FAITH
THE REMAINING 4 PILLARS OF ISLAM
THE PILLARS OF FAITH/IMAN
Allah says about Noah,
“…and I have been commanded to be of the Muslims.” [10:72]
Allah describes Ibrahim,
“Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christain. He was upright, a Muslim, never an
idolater.” [3:67]
Islam is the religion of Allah that was sent with all of
the Prophets, starting with Prophet Adam and which
was followed by subsequent Prophets, from Noah
to Abraham, Moses to Jesus and all the way to our
Prophet Muhammad ( صلى الله عليه وسلم). This is why we believe
in and love all of the Prophets and Messengers.
They all came with the same message to worship
Allah alone. They came with Islam.
Linguistically, the word ‘Islam’ means to humble and
submit. Therefore, as Muslims we completely and
willingly submit ourselves to Allah alone. This means
we worship Him alone, obey His commands and
follow His path, hoping for His reward and fearing
His punishment. Islam means to give precedence to
Allah’s commands and orders over and above our
own wants and desires. The word ‘salam’ or ’peace’
comes from the same root word as peace requires
humbleness.
• This is why Islam means to wake up and pray Fajr rather than sleep in.
• It means to give obligatory annual charity (zakah) rather save that money and spend it elsewhere.
• It means to fast the long hours of Ramadan instead of eating and drinking.
For the believers, submitting to Allah and showing humility before Him is done out of love for Allah and with
reverence for Him.
This was the way of all the Prophets who came from the time of Adam until our Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم). Allah describes
many of the Prophets in the Qur’an as being Muslim or following Islam.
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However, over time those teachings were corrupted and the followers of those Prophets changed their
teachings and began to worship others besides Allah. Allah then sent His final Messenger to all of
humankind. Our Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) came with Allah’s final teachings. Thus, he was the final one in a long line
of Prophets and Messengers who all came with the same call and message.
It is therefore important to understand that Islam is not a ‘new’ religion or the last one to come along,
but the original religion and the first. This is why we should be proud of the way of life that Allah has
chosen for us.
Allah chose Islam for you and there is no greater honour or blessing.
To be Muslim means to know Allah, know who the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) was, know the Qur’an, understand how
to worship Allah and live your life in a way pleasing to Allah, and to work for the everlasting life of the
Hereafter by preparing for the Day of Judgement and using this life to build for the next. It is the only
religion Allah will accept and the only path that will bring salvation in this life and the next.
The Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) said,
“My example and the example of those Prophets who came before me is like the example
of a person building a house. He builds it well except for one missing brick in the corner.
As people walk around and admire the house they say, ‘If only there wasn’t a missing brick.’
I am that brick and the seal of the Prophets.” [Bukhari & Muslim]
Therefore, every Prophet came with that same
essential message of submitting to God and
worshipping Him alone, and every person who
followed the pristine teachings of their Prophets
were called Muslims.
Allah says,
“Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My blessings upon you,
and chose as your religion Islam.” [5:3]
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Allah chose Islam for you and there is no greater
honour or blessing.
To be Muslim means to know Allah, know who the
Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) was, know the Qur’an, understand
how to worship Allah and live your life in a way
pleasing to Allah, and to work for the everlasting
life of the Hereafter by preparing for the Day of
Judgement and using this life to build for the next.
It is the only religion Allah will accept and the only
path that will bring salvation in this life and the
next.
The beauty of this religion comes from it being a religion of justice and beauty. It is a religion which focuses
on the spiritual as well as physical, it gives every person their due rights and encourages every praiseworthy
attribute and characteristic. It tells us to:
• Stay away from evil
• Sin
• Poor Character
• Oppression and harming others.
Its beauty also comes from its ease and how Allah has placed a solution for every difficulty and
challenge we may face.
Allah says,
“So [you believers], say, ‘We believe in God and in what was sent down to us
and what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and
what was given to Moses, Jesus, and all the prophets by their Lord. We make no
distinction between any of them, and we devote ourselves to Him.” [2:136]
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02
THE TESTIMONY
OF FAITH
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Islam is based on five pillars.
‘Pillars’ essentially means that they are the fundamental actions that all Muslims must perform. They are
obligatory and not optional. It is the bare minimum Muslims must do.
1. The Shahaadah
2. Salah (prayer)
3. Alms (Zakat)
4. Fasting (Sawm)
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage)
We can therefore imagine Islam to be like a building. Any building requires a strong foundation and pillars
so that the building will stand for decades. Islam is our house that gives us shelter and protection
from Satan and his armies, it provides warmth and comfort for us because in it we follow Allah’s religion.
However, if a single pillar is missing, the house becomes weak and unstable. It is no longer a solid structure.
The Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) said,
“Islam is built upon five; to testify that Allah alone deserves all worship and that Muhammad
is His Messenger, to pray, give zakah, fast Ramadan and perform pilgrimage for those
able to do so.” [Bukhari & Muslim]
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The Shahadah
The main foundation of Islam is the testimony of faith. This is what is uttered by people who convert
to Islam. It is the declaration that summarises and encapsulates Islam. That is to declare that only Allah
alone is worthy of all worship and that Muhammad is His servant and final Messenger.
Let us first look more closely at the first half of this testimony of faith:
We deny something and affirm something else. We negate anyone or anything from being God, no
matter who or what, how great or big, how pious or righteous. This includes angels, humans, inanimate
objects and celestial bodies. Having negated this, we affirm Allah alone as the One who deserves all
worship.
This is why the first part of the testimony is often translated as ‘There is no god but Allah’, but what
is actually meant is, ‘None has the right to be worshipped except Allah.’ That’s because people have
claimed many things as their gods.
The Quraysh at the time of the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to have 360 idols in and around the Ka’bah. Yet, all of
these other deities are false gods.
In Arabic, it is to say ‘ La ilaha illa Allah ’ = لا إله إلا الله
It consists of two parts;
• Negation
• Affirmation.
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In order for us to really understand and internalise the meaning of the first part of the testimony of faith, it
needs to be based on seven conditions:
1) Knowledge – we have to know what this testimony means and entails, so we live according to it. If we say
the testimony of faith but still perform acts of worship towards others, such as believing they can answer
our supplications, we have not really based our testimony on knowledge. The Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, Certainty
The Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) said,
“Whoever dies knowing that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, will
have Paradise” [Muslim]
The Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) said,
“Whoever you meet testifying to worshipping Allah alone with certainty, then give
them glad tidings of Paradise. [Muslim]
2) Certainty – we have to be certain in what we’re saying and have no doubt. The Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to his
Companion, Abu Hurayrah,
3) Submission – this means we accept Allah’s right to be worshipped alone in our hearts, and we say it upon
our tongues. We accept therefore everything which Allah has told us.
4) Acceptance – we must submit ourselves to Allah, giving preference to Him and His commands over and
above our desires and wants.
5) Truthfulness – we have to be truthful and honest in our acceptance of Allah’s right to be worshipped
alone. This honesty is found in the heart before it is found elsewhere.
6) Sincerity – we purify our hearts and actions from any form of associating partners with Allah. We believe
Allah alone is the Creator, Provider and the One who grants life and death. We therefore pray to Him,
supplicate to Him, take oaths by His name and worship Him alone.
7) Love – we love this testimony of faith and everything it represents more than anything else.
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The second part of the testimony of faith - محمد رسول الله - is to believe that Muhammad is the final
Messenger. This means that we believe in the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) as a Messenger that Allah sent as a
guide for us. We accept his teachings and commandments, following what he told us to do and
staying away from what he forbade. We follow his path and example, learning about his life and
teachings as this is a sign of our belief in him and love for him.
We love him more than we love our family and our wealth, and even more than we love ourselves.
We believe in his truthfulness, in all of the information he gave to us, whether from the stories of
the past or the prophecies of the future. We therefore sacrifice our own wants and desires for what
the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) said and commanded.
All of the above is what it means to say the testimony of faith.
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03
THE REMAINING
4 PILLARS OF
ISLAM
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The second pillar of Islam is the prayer.
It is the most important action in Islam after the
testimony of faith. It was the first of the remaining
four pillars of Islam to be obligated and the only one
to have become an obligation before the Prophet
صلى الله عليه وسلم) ) migrated to Madinah.
The prayer is the connection we have to Allah at
least five times a day where we stop whatever we
may be doing and turn to our Lord and Creator,
humbling ourselves before Him.
The prayer was obligated during the Night Journey
wherein miraculously the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) went from
Makkah to Jerusalem to the heavens and back.
This journey came at a time when the Prophet ( (صلى الله عليه وسلم
had lost his wife Khadijah, and his uncle Abu Talib.
Allah gave the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) a way in which he could
directly connect to Allah through the prayer.
That’s why the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) told us,
“The closest a person is to their Lord is during prostration.” [Muslim]
That’s why the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) told us,
“The example of the five prayers is like the example of a river running outside
your house that you bathe in five times a day.” [Muslim]
The Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) would spend much of his day and night in prayer. He wouldn’t only offer the obligatory
prayers, but would offer the voluntary prayers too such as the night prayer. When we pray, we turn to
Allah and He turns to us. When we recite the opening chapter of the Qur’an in prayer, Allah responds
to us. When we humble ourselves before Allah by bowing and prostrating, He raises us in reward and
honour. When we offer the prayer, Allah rewards us and forgives our sins.
The prayer has many virtues and rewards. It safeguards us from sin, washes away our sins, gives us a
light from Allah that guides us, it raises our ranks and makes heavy our good deeds. In fact, the prayer is
so virtuous and rewarding that actions which come before the prayer such as ritual ablution (wudu) and
waiting for the prayer in the mosque are also rewarding.
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Due to its importance it is one of the first things that Allah will question us about on the Day of
Judgement. There are five obligatory daily prayers;
The prayer consists of a set number of rituals performed in order, from standing, to bowing, prostrating
and sitting. Within each position there are set verses recited or supplications and remembrances which
we say.
If we understand from the above that the prayer is extremely important, the opposite is also true, i.e. that
abandoning the prayer is an extremely grave issue. It is from the most major of sins. The Prophet ( (صلى الله عليه وسلم
told us that the prayer is the difference between a Muslim and a disbeliever. [Muslim]
• One at dawn (Fajr)
• One just after midday (Dohr)
• One in the afternoon (Asr)
• One at sunset (Maghrib)
• One at night (Isha)
Allah says in the Qur’an,
“But there came after them generations who neglected prayer and were driven
by their own desires. These will come face to face with their evil.” [19:59]
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Allah says,
“[O Muhammad], in order to cleanse and purify them, accept from their wealth a
charity and pray for them.” [9:103]
Giving charity in this way allows us to empathise with our less fortunate brothers and sisters,
and makes us more appreciative and grateful of Allah’s blessings upon us.
Zakah is only due if a person has reached a minimum amount of wealth and a lunar year has
since passed. Also, zakah is not due on all wealth but on money, gold and silver, certain livestock
and agricultural produce and on business profits. It is given to certain eligible groups; the poor
and needy, administrators who work to collect and distribute zakah, new Muslims, slaves wishing to
buy their freedom, people in debt, to spread the religion and destitute travellers.
Not paying zakah is from the major sins.
Allah speaks of its punishment in the Qur’an,
“…tell those who hoard gold and silver instead of giving in God’s cause that they will have
a grievous punishment: on the Day it is heated up in Hell’s Fire and used to brand their
foreheads, sides, and backs, they will be told, ‘This is what you hoarded up for yourselves!
Now feel the pain of what you hoarded!” [9:34-35]
The third pillar of Islam is paying zakah or the
obligatory charity. From the beauty of Islam is that
we do not look to benefitting ourselves individually
or our families alone, we also care deeply about
others in our communities. Those who are less
fortunate than we are or who have specific financial
burdens, have rights upon us. We fulfil this right by
paying zakah if it is eligible upon us.
Allah often mentions prayer and zakah together in
the Qur’an to show its importance. It is a means by
which we purify ourselves and our wealth. Zakah
literally means purification.
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Allah says,
“O you who believe, fasting has been prescribed for you as it was for those who
came before you that you may attain piety.” [2:183]
Fasting this month is extremely virtuous and has great rewards.
The month of Ramadan begins with the sighting of the moon. We then fast each day of this month from
dawn until sunset. During that time, it is forbidden to consume anything orally, whether, eating, drinking
or smoking. It is also forbidden to engage in sexual intercourse. Menstruation and post-natal bleeding
also break the fast for women.
Every healthy Muslim over the age of puberty must fast. However, there are concessions available
for certain groups who can break their fast. These people are;
• The sick for the duration of their illness
• Travellers
• The old and infirm
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women.
The Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) told us that:
“Whoever fasts this month with sincere faith and hoping for reward will have all
of their sins forgiven” [Bukhari & Muslim]
The fourth pillar of Islam is fasting the
month of Ramadan.
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Women who are on their menses or post-natal bleeding must also break their fast. These groups of
people make up their fasts at a later date once their concessions finish. For those who cannot physically
fast at any time such as the elderly, they feed one poor person for each day of fasting missed.
The fifth pillar of Islam is Pilgrimage. There are two types of pilgrimage, the smaller form which is known
as ‘umrah and the greater form which is known as hajj. Pilgrimage is a journey which is made to Makkah,
the holiest city in Islam, to visit the first house of worship built; the Ka’bah. Pilgrimage is only an obligation
once in a lifetime, and then only if someone has the physical and financial ability to do so.
Makkah is a special place, one which many Prophets came to, including Adam, Ibraham, his son Isma’il
and our Prophet Mohammad ( .(صلى الله عليه وسلم
During pilgrimage we visit Makkah and some of its surrounding areas, performing a series of rituals
which show our submission to Allah. It is a journey of the body and soul to worship Allah, and people in
the past would spend years saving up for it, and then travel for weeks and months in order to complete
this pilgrimage.
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04
PILLARS OF
FAITH / IMAN
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As a person is fulfilling the pillars of Islam, they can then start to work on the pillars of Iman or faith. Where
the pillars of Islam deal primarily with outward actions and duties, the pillars of faith pertain to the inner
actions of the heart and particularly, matters of belief. The pillars of faith are therefore complimentary to
the pillars of Islam but also of a higher level.
There are six pillars of faith as the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) mentioned. They are belief in;
1. Allah
2. His angels
3. His divinely revealed books
4. His prophets
5. the Day of Judgement
6. belief in divine decree.
7.
- Let us look at the first of these six pillars: Belief in Allah means to believe in Allah’s existence.
Allah tells us that we know of His existence when we look at the creation of the heavens and earth and
all within it, and when we look at ourselves and the many abilities Allah has placed within us.
How can all this come except from a Creator? That Creator must then be perfect in every sense. He must
be the One who controls everything. Therefore, He is the ultimate provider and sustainer. He is the One
who controls everything in the heavens and earth and nothing happens except by His permission. He
also gives life and death to all creatures. Allah tells us that we all know deep down that we call for divine
help at times of most need.
Allah therefore has the most perfect names and attributes. He is perfect in every way. He can see all, hear
all and He knows all. None of his attributes have any weakness or deficiency. He is Most Merciful, Most
Kind and Most Generous yet also severe in His punishment. Allah mentions in the Qur’an a number of His
names and attributes so that we can learn about Him, increase in love for Him and worship Him better.
Allah says,
“Have they not contemplated the realm of the heavens and earth and all that
God created…” [7:185]
Allah says,
“When trouble befalls man he cries out to Us, whether lying on his side, sitting
or standing, but as soon as We relieve him of his trouble he goes on his way as
if he had never cried out to Us to remove his trouble.” 10:12]
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If Allah is therefore the Creator of us, He alone is worthy of all worship. It makes sense that we should
then obey Him and listen to Him, especially when He has told us that life on this earth is a test and that
we were not created for no reason.
It is therefore wrong to pray to other than Allah, supplicate to other than Him, sacrifice for other than Him,
or divert any act of worship to anything else for whatever reason.
The disbelief of the Quraysh during the time of the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) was not that they refused to believe in
Allah’s existence. In fact, they accepted Allah as the Creator and Lord, but they believed that there were
other lesser gods that could be worshipped which would then act as intermediaries.
Allah needs no partner. He does not need a spouse or son. He does not need helpers or assistants. He
is All-Powerful and the Almighty. Allah tells us in the Qur’an that if He wants something to happen, He
commands it to ‘be’ and it is. The whole message of Islam, the reason for the coming of all the prophets
and the revelation of all the scriptures was to explain to us this one fundamental issue.
Therefore, believing in Allah and worshipping Him alone is the essence of what makes someone a
Muslim, and worshipping other than Allah takes a person outside of the fold of Islam.
- The second pillar of faith is to believe in the angels. This is a creation that Allah created from
light. They have no free will but do as Allah commands. They exist only to worship and obey Allah. This
is why when Allah commanded that they prostrate to Adam they did so except for Satan who was not
from them.
There are some angels that have specific roles, like the archangel Jibril who brings revelation to the
Prophets. There are angels who are entrusted with the rain, the mountains, blow life into babies in the
womb, record our actions all the way to the gatekeepers of Paradise and Hellfire. It is from the pillars of
faith to believe in all of the angels and what we have been told about them.
- The third pillar of faith is to believe in the divinely revealed scriptures. We believe that Allah
revealed books to some of His prophets. These books contained guidance for those nations and were
Allah’s commands for those people so that they would know how to worship Him, what to do and what
to avoid.
For example, Musa had the Torah, Isa the Injeel and our Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) the Qur’an. We accept and believe
in all of these books and others which we do not know the names of. Many of the scriptures however,
were lost or changed over time.
Allah says,
“I created jinn and mankind only to worship Me.” [51:56]
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We also believe that the Qur’an is the last of these books revealed to the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم). As such, it is
Allah’s final revelation and abrogates everything which came before it.
The Qur’an is unique in that it is perfectly preserved, having been memorised by millions of Muslims
throughout history, which is why there is only one version of the Qur’an. As such, part of belief in this
pillar is to accept the Qur’an, believe in it, love and honour it, follow its teachings and not go against it.
- The fourth pillar of faith is belief in the Prophets of Allah. Allah sent many Prophets throughout
the ages, beginning with the Prophet Adam and ending with our Prophet Mohammad ( صلى الله عليه وسلم). The Prophets
were guides and examples for their nations, clarifying the path which leads to Allah, and explaining what
Allah has allowed and what He has forbidden. They came warning of Allah’s punishment for those who
disbelieve and giving the glad tidings of His reward for those who believe.
Allah chose these individuals and gave them divine revelation which we call prophethood.
As Muslims, we believe in all of the Prophets of Allah, those who we know of by name such as Ibrahim,
Musa, Isa and the many others mentioned in the Qur’an, as well as the many others whom we do not
know about in detail.
Thus, we believe that they were all sent by Allah to their nations calling them to worship Allah alone. We
love and honour all of them. We believe that they were humans and we believe that Allah favoured them
and gave them a higher status than others. We believe that some prophets had a higher status than others
such as the Prophets of the highest determination;
• NuhIbrahim
• Musa
• Isa and
• Prophet Mohammad ( (صلى الله عليه وسلم
We believe that our Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) is the best amongst them. As such, we understand that the Prophet ( (صلى الله عليه وسلم
came with the Qur’an and explained it through his life and teachings. One cannot be understood without
the other. Therefore, there is a crucial relationship between the two in correctly understanding our religion.
Allah says,
“The Messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his Lord, as do the
faithful. They all believe in God, His angels, His scriptures, and His messengers. ‘We make
no distinction between any of His messengers,’ they say, ‘We hear and obey. Grant us
Your forgiveness, our Lord. To You we all return!’” [2:285]
Allah says,
“We have sent other messengers before you – some We have mentioned to you
and some We have not.” [40:78]
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- The fifth pillar of faith is belief in the Day of Judgement.
We believe that Allah will resurrect everyone who has ever lived and hold them to account for their deeds
on the Day of Judgement.
Allah is All-Just, and from His justice is that people who have done wrong and evil in this life should be held
to account for this, especially if they had no accounting in this world.
We believe therefore that we shall all die one day, after which our ability to do more good generally ceases.
The timing of the Day of Judgement is known only to Allah, but there are signs which are mentioned in the
Qur’an and by the Prophet ( صلى الله عليه وسلم) that show the closeness of that Day.
When the Day of Judgement does come, we will all stand before Allah and await our accounting. Allah will
judge on that Day with complete justice, even the smallest of good or bad deeds will be weighed. Unlike
this life, the next life will be eternal and there will be no death. For the good doers, they will have the reward
of Paradise with all of its pleasures and honours. In it, they will not experience sadness, pain or illness but
will have all that they desire and more. For the evil doers, they have the punishment of Hellfire with all of
its torments and horrors. In it, they will have no happiness or joy, but only pain, being endlessly burned and
scorched in the Fire.
Allah says,
“Goodness does not consist in turning your face towards East or West. The truly good are
those who believe in God and the Last Day, in the angels, the Scripture, and the prophets…”
[2:177]
Allah says,
“We will set up scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection so that no one can be wronged
in the least, and if there should be even the weight of a mustard seed, We shall bring it out-
We take excellent account.” [21:47]
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- The sixth and final pillar of faith is belief in divine decree. This is to believe that Allah as the All-
Perfect Creator has knowledge of everything which takes place in the universe and only that which He
allows can take place. Allah has wisdom in His decree. As the Creator, Allah has knowledge of everything.
Allah has allowed people free will and so they have the choice to do good or evil. Ultimately, Allah
knows what they will do and allows them the ability to do it so that they can exercise their free will. His
knowledge is complete. Allah then wrote everything down in the Preserved Tablet.
It is important to remember when discussing Allah’s decree, that firstly, Allah is just and does not oppress
anyone. They are our deeds and choices, Allah records them and he will give us the consequences of
them. Secondly, the decree of Allah can have ease or it can have hardship. However, for the believer
even the hardship, which may be in the form of difficulties and trials, are good as they bring that person
closer to Allah through patience and worship.
We ask Allah to guide us to the straight path, ameen.
Allah says,
“Are you [Prophet] not aware that Allah knows all that is in the heavens and earth? All this
is written in a Record” [22:70]
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