They are among the treasures of mankind, not merely Muslims.’Gandhi in his foreword to ‘The Sayings of Muhammad,’ by Sir Abdullah Suhrawardy,John Murray Publishers Ltd, London, 1941.
Just The Basics
Islam: A peaceful religion of worship and submission to God.
Muslim: A person who believes in and practices Islam. There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world today from all races and backgrounds.
Allah: Arabic word for God. Allah is the God of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. He is the Creator of all human beings.
Prophet Muhammad : The Last Prophet sent by God to deliver His message to all of humanity. He was born over 1400 years ago in the city of Mecca.
Quran (or Koran): The sacred book of Islam. The Quran is the Speech of God that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad and written down during his life.
Are We Sure That the Prophet Muhammad Said That? (Collection & Preservation)
Terminology
Hadith: Every report about the Prophet Muhammad is called a “hadith.” Sunna: the teachings and way of life of the Prophet Muhammad.
The teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (Sunna in Arabic) are contained in the books of ‘hadith.’The ‘Sunna’ is central to the understanding of Islam because without it one cannot really understand how to implement the faith.
During the life of the Prophet Muhammad and shortly after his death, his companions preserved his sayings and actions by collecting and writing them down. Muslim scholars developed a very sophisticated system to investigate the transmitted material or the ‘hadith’:
● They examined the names of the people who heard or saw the Prophet Muhammad themselves
● They examined the chain of narrators to determine if any of the narrators were considered untrustworthy or had a weak memory
● The text of the hadith itself was examined for contradictions against the Quran and other verified traditions
Based on the results of this examination, hadiths were classified into four different types:
● Authentic
● Good
● Weak
● Fabricated
Only the first two categories are considered authoritative by Muslims scholars.
What Did The Prophet Muhammad Teach?
Here is a sample of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad .
(The names in the footnotes are books written by different scholars of hadith in which the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad are collected. Most of these books are translated into English and some are available online free of charge.)
Mercy
Show mercy to those on earth and God will show mercy to you
Tirmidhi
Mindfulness
Be mindful of God, and you will find God in front of you. Acknowledge God in ease, and God will acknowledge you in distress. And know that what misleads you will never enable you to do right, and what enables you to do right will never mislead you. And know that help comes with patience, and that relief comes with distress; and with difficulty comes ease.
compassion
Whoever has no compassion for people, God has no compassion for him
Tirmidhi
Being in the World
Be in the world as if you were a stranger, or a traveler
Bukhari
Humility in Practice
God has inspired me that you should be humble so that so no one despises anyone, and no one oppresses anyone.
Muslim
The just
The just will be on platforms of light in the presence of God; those who are just in their decisions, with their families, and with what they are in charge of
Muslim
Injustice
Injustice will be layers of darkness on the Day of Resurrection
Bukhari
Kindness
God is Kind, and loves kindness in all things.
Tirmidhi
Housing in Paradise
I guarantee an abode on the edge of Paradise for whoever gives up disputation, even when in the right; and an abode in the middle of Paradise for whoever gives up telling lies even in jest; and an abode on the heights of Paradise for whoever is of good character
Abu Dawud
Killing
If two Muslims meet with their swords drawn, both the killer and the killed will be in the Hell-Fire.’ Someone asked, ‘O Messenger of God, this befits the killer, but what about the one killed?’ The Prophet said, ‘He was in fact trying to kill his companion
Bukhari
(Of the) major sins are: to ascribe partners to Allah, disobey parents, murder someone, and to take a false oath (intentionally)
Bukhari
Jesus and Muhammad (peace be on them)
I am the closest of all people to Jesus, son of Mary, in this world and in the Hereafter; for all prophets are brothers, with different mothers but one religion
Musnad
Patience
Never is a believer stricken with a discomfort, an illness, an anxiety, a grief or a mental worry - even the pricking of a thorn - except that Allah will expiate his sins on account of his patience
Bukhari, Muslim
Good Conduct
The best of people is one whose life is long and his conduct is good
Tirmidhi
Desiring Good for Others
None of you becomes a true believer until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself
Bukhari, Muslim
Orphans
"I will be like this in Paradise with the person who takes care of an orphan." The Prophet then raised his forefinger and middle finger by way of illustration
Bukhari
Anger
The strong is not the one who overcomes people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger
Bukhari, Muslim
Smiling
Smiling at your brother is charity
Tirmidhi
Hearts & Appearances
God does not judge you according to your appearance and your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and looks into your deeds
Muslim
Who Wrote It Down?
Among the more notable scholars who collected hadith are Imam Bukhari from Bukhara (a city in modern-day Uzbekistan) and Imam Muslim of Persia (modern-day Iran). Their collections of hadith are considered to be the most authentic. The English translations are easily available on the Internet. They are the collected sayings and actions of the Prophet, categorized by topic (such as faith, works, testimony, prayer, fasting, charity, marriage, finance), that were compiled in the early centuries of Islam.
What Books of Hadith Do Muslims Read Most Frequently?
The most frequently read and taught book in mosques across the world is called the ‘Gardens of the Righteous,’ by a Muslim scholar named Imam Nawawi. Its translation is available online free of charge.
‘I wish Westerners who misunderstand Muslims could have seen Syed Abbas in action that day. They would see that most people who practice the true teachings of Islam…believe in peace and justice, not in terror… the Koran instructs all Muslims to make caring for widows, orphans, and refugees a priority.Greg Mortenson, Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time, Chapter 17, pg. 219
Just The Basics
Islam: A peaceful religion of worship and submission to God.
Muslim: A person who believes in and practices Islam. There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world today from all races and backgrounds.
Allah: Arabic word for God. Allah is the God of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. He is the Creator of all human beings.
Prophet Muhammad : The Last Prophet sent by God to deliver His message to all of humanity. He was born over 1400 years ago in the city of Mecca.
Quran (or Koran): The sacred book of Islam. The Quran is the Speech of God that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad and written down during his life.
Islam is a complete way of life, a religion that provides clear guidance to its followers on how to conduct themselves in their daily lives. Islam attaches so much importance to the love of God and love of man that it has laid down some universal fundamental rights for humanity.
Islam provides the standard by which a particular mode of conduct is judged and classified as good or bad. Before laying down any moral injunctions, Islam seeks to firmly implant in man’s heart the conviction that his dealings are with God, who sees him at all times and in all places. By setting God’s pleasure as the objective of man’s life, Islam has furnished the highest possible standard of morality.
Kindness
● The Prophet Muhammad commanded his followers to treat everyone with kindness, especially parents and women.
● The kindness of a Muslim for the poor shows through zakah (required charity and an essential practice of Islam) and voluntary charity.
● God instructs
And We enjoined man (to show kindness) to his parents, For with much pain his mother bears him
Quran 31:14
To live with wives in kindness
Quran 4:19
And speak kindly to people
Quran 2:83
Repel evil with what is better
Quran 41:34
The Prophet of Mercy put it beautifully
Kindness is not to be found in anything but that it adds to its beauty and it is not withdrawn from anything but it makes it defective
Muslim
Equality and Tolerance
● Islam regards all people, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or language as equal.
● Diversity is a beautiful sign of God’s creation as
the Quran states
And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the variations in your languages and your colors. Indeed, in that are signs for those who know
Quran 30:22
● Equality is realized in daily worship where Muslims from different backgrounds stand next to each other in prayer.
● Equality is also seen in Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in which all Muslim men dress in simple white clothes. All their worldly differences are eliminated in the eyes of God.
FACT: The Hajj radically transformed the life and perceptions of the famous African American leader, Malcolm X, in 1964 in racially segregated America. He wrote in his autobiography, a book that has influenced and touched the lives of many:
"There were tens of thousands of pilgrims, from all over the world. They were of all colors, from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans. But we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and the non-white…During the past eleven days here in the Muslim world, I have eaten from the same plate, drunk from the same glass and slept in the same bed (or on the same rug) - while praying to the same God with fellow Muslims, whose eyes were the bluest of the blue, whose hair was the blondest of blond, and whose skin was the whitest of white. And in the words and in the actions and in the deeds of the ‘white' Muslims, I felt the same sincerity that I felt among the black African Muslims of Nigeria, Sudan and Ghana.” (Autobiography of Malcolm X)
Justice and Forgiveness
● Islam instructs Muslims to seek justice and encourages forgiveness as the high road.
The Quran instructs
O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin; and whether it be against rich or poor. For Allah can best protect both. Follow not the desires of your own hearts, lest you swerve, and if you distort justice or decline to do justice, indeed God is well acquainted with all that you do
Quran 4:135
● Even with the rules of justice, the Quran reminds Muslims of the value of forgiveness. For example:
Let them forgive and overlook. Do you not wish that God should forgive you? For God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful
Quran 24:22
Show forgiveness, Speak for justice And avoid the ignorant
Quran 7:199
Honesty & Trustworthiness
● The Quran describes believers as being truthful and upright who keep their promises and fulfill their trusts. (Quran 4:58; 23:8; 23:10-11)
● God commands Muslims to be with those who are truthful, “
O you who believe! Be mindful of God and be with those who are truthful
Quran 9:119
● Giving false testimony is counted as a serious sin.
● Muslims are advised to
practice what they preach
Quran 61:2-3
● One should not advise people to do things that they themselves would not do. It is a sign of hypocrisy: “
O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Grievously hateful is it in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do
Quran 61:2–3
● Rejecters of faith are described as liars and hypocrites, and Muslims are warned not to be like them.
Modesty and Humility
● Being humble means acting modestly and avoiding arrogance.
● Muslims strive toward humility in their worship of God and in their conduct with others on earth.
● In prayer, Muslims humbly prostrate to the ground, in recognition that without God's constant guidance, people would be lost.
The Quran advises
Call on your Lord with humility and in private, for Allah loves not those who transgress beyond bounds
Quran 7:55
● Both men and women should be modest in clothing and behavior. Foul language, backbiting, and gossip are forbidden.
Fact: A Muslim woman covers herself in hijab as an act of obedience to God, modesty, decency, and respect. It has nothing to do with male domination or oppression.
Visiting the Sick
● Visiting the sick is from the clearest signs of mutual love, mercy, and empathy.
● The great reward awaiting those who visit the sick was mentioned by the Prophet Muhammad :
A visitor walking to visit a sick person will be wading in the mercy of God. When the visitor sits with the sick one, they will be immersed in mercy until they get up
Musnad, Ibn Hibban
● As with every other virtuous deed and moral action, the Prophet Muhammad led by example. He would personally visit the sick and enquire about them through others
● The visitor must show compassion by choosing appropriate words, conduct, and making his stay brief.
Generosity
● God is Generous (one of His names in Arabic is al-Kareem, “The Most Generous”). The Prophet Muhammad was extremely generous, and Muslims are taught to be generous.
● The Prophet was said to be the most generous in the fasting month of Ramadan.
● One time the Prophet of Islam prayed in the mosque, hurried to his house, and returned quickly. When asked why he left so suddenly,
he replied
I left a piece of gold at home which was given for charity and I did not like to leave it in my house for a night, so I brought it to the mosque to distribute
Bukhari
● Muslims are encouraged to be generous with their time, talent, and money as God says in the Quran that He will repay the generosity of a believer,
And whatever you spend in good, it will be repaid to you in full, and you shall not be wronged
Quran 2:272
God instructs us
And what will explain to you what the steep path is? It is the freeing of a slave from bondage; Or the feeding, in a day of famine, of an orphan relative, or a needy one in distress. Then will he be of those who believe, enjoin fortitude and encourage kindness and compassion
Quran 90:12-17
Just The Basics
Islam: A peaceful religion of worship and submission to God.
Muslim: A person who believes in and practices Islam. There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world today from all races and backgrounds.
Allah: Arabic word for God. Allah is the God of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. He is the Creator of all human beings.
Prophet Muhammad : The Last Prophet sent by God to deliver His message to all of humanity. He was born over 1400 years ago in the city of Mecca.
Quran (or Koran): The sacred book of Islam. The Quran is the Speech of God that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad and written down during his life.
The Six Articles of Faith
Muslims share a common set of basic beliefs known as the “Articles of Faith”
1. Belief in One God
● The fundamental teaching of Islam is that only God is to be served and worshipped.
● The greatest sin in Islam is to direct worship to other objects or beings, either in association with God or towards them entirely.
o It is the only sin that God will not forgive if a person dies without repenting from it.
2. Belief in Angels
● Angels are made from light.
● Angels bring the messages of God to His prophets.
● Angels carry out God's commands in nature and the universe.
● Angels watch over mankind and every human has them as constant companions.
● Angels keep a record of everyone’s good and bad deeds.
3. Belief in the Prophets of God
● God communicates with us through prophets that were sent to all races and peoples at different times.
o The line of prophets started with Adam and includes, among many others, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.
o The series of prophets ended with Muhammad , peace be upon them all.
● Every prophet brought the same truth from God.
● Muslims honor and believe in all the prophets of God.
● The main message all the prophets brought was always that there is only One true God and that He alone deserves to be worshipped.
● Islam teaches that Jesus was a prophet of God like the prophets before him.
o Jesus was not the son of God as God has no children.
4. Belief in Revealed Books
● Muslims believe that God revealed His Wisdom and instructions through ‘books’ to some of the prophets.
o God revealed the Psalms to David, the Torah to Moses, and the Gospel to Jesus.
o Over time, however, the original teachings of these books was changed or lost.
● The “Quran” is God’s final revelation that was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad .
o The Quran has been fully preserved in its original language, Arabic.
5. Belief in Day of Judgment
● Life does not end with death.
o Islam teaches that this world and the human race will end at an appointed day.
o At that time God will bring every person back to life from the dead.
● God will examine each person’s life and judge according to two criteria: faith and deeds.
● The good and bad we have done in this life will determine our final destination.
● God will show mercy and fairness in judgment.
● Those who submitted themselves in worship to God and performed good deeds will be rewarded with Paradise.
● Those who rejected faith in God and cared less for good will be punished in Hell.
6. Belief in Destiny
● Muslims believe that nothing in our life happens by chance.
● Everything happens with the full knowledge and permission of God.
o Belief in destiny does not contradict the idea of free will.
● God does not force us to make the choices that we make.
● Our choices are known to Him beforehand because His knowledge of the future is complete.
● Belief in destiny helps a Muslim through difficulties and hardships.
The Five “Pillars” of Islam
A pillar is a support, something that holds up a structure. Islam is like a house built on a rock of submission and supported by these five ‘pillars’ or fundamental practices. The implication is that everything else depends upon them. They are: the declaration of faith, prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage.
1. The First Pillar: Declaration of Faith
● Entrance into Islam begins with reciting a simple statement:
“None deserves worship except God (Allah), and Muhammad is His Messenger (Prophet) of God”)
● A person from any race, country, or ethnicity can accept Islam and become a Muslim.
● The doors of God’s acceptance and forgiveness are open to every human being.
● When you accept Islam, following God’s will and doing what pleases God becomes more important than anything else.
● When you accept Islam, you acknowledge Muhammad as God’s last messenger and pledge to follow his teachings because they come from God.
2. The Second Pillar: Daily Prayer
● Prayers are central to Muslim life.
● Prayers provide spiritual strength and peace of mind in daily life.
● Prayers are a direct link connecting a Muslim with God,
● Formal prayers are performed five times a day at specific times.
● A mosque (also known as a masjid) is where Muslims gather for prayers, even though they can be offered at any place.
● Friday is the most important day of the week when Muslim men are required to attend the mosque in the afternoon to listen to a short sermon and attend a group prayer.
● Muslims throughout the world perform all the daily prayers facing the Ka’ba, situated in the city of Mecca.
3. The Third Pillar: Charity (Zakah)
● In Islam, it is the duty of the rich to help the poor.
● Zakah is a charity required of every Muslim who has sufficient means to pay it.
● It reminds a Muslim that all things come from God and all things belong to God, including wealth. We are only the custodians of what God has given us.
● Zakah purifies one’s wealth.
● Zakah is paid only once a year.
● Zakah is generally 2.5% of one’s savings.
4. The Forth Pillar: Fast of Ramadan
● Muslims who are able to do so are commanded to fast one month every year from dawn to sunset.
● Ramadan is the name of the Islamic month in which Muslims fast.
● Ramadan is a period of intense spiritual devotion in which no food, drink, or sexual intimacy is allowed while fasting. There is special emphasis not to fight or argue.
● Ramadan is a month to practice self-control and focus on prayers and devotion.
● During the fast, Muslims learn to sympathize with those who have little to eat.
● Muslims are encouraged to be more charitable in Ramadan following the example of the Prophet Muhammad.
5. The Fifth Pillar: Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj)
● All Muslims are required to make pilgrimage to Mecca, known as the Hajj, if they can afford to do so.
● Mecca is a city located in present day Saudi Arabia.
● The Ka’ba, a black cube at the heart of Mecca, is the most sacred place in Islam.
● The Ka’ba was built by the Prophet Abraham and his son, Ishmael.
● The Hajj is the most intense spiritual experience for a Muslim.
● Every year between two to three million Muslims from around the world perform the Hajj pilgrimage.
● The actual Hajj lasts for about 5 days, but a typical visit for Hajj is 2-3 weeks long.
