Basic Facts of Islam Islam is the third in succession of the three great monotheistic faiths born in the Middle East (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) Islam.

Basic Facts of Basic Facts of IslamIslam

Islam is the Islam is the thirdthird in succession in successionof the three great monotheisticof the three great monotheisticfaiths born in the Middle East (Judaism, faiths born in the Middle East (Judaism, Christianity, Islam)Christianity, Islam)

Islam is the Islam is the secondsecond largest religion in largest religion in world (1.2 billion adherents)world (1.2 billion adherents)

There is an estimated 650 000 Muslims There is an estimated 650 000 Muslims living in living in CanadaCanada

Islam is the Islam is the fastestfastest growing religion in growing religion in the worldthe world

Islam TermsIslam Terms

Islam: Islam: an Arabic word that means an Arabic word that means “submitting to God” and “peace”“submitting to God” and “peace”

Muslim: Muslim: a person who follows the teachings a person who follows the teachings of Islam and “submits to God and finds of Islam and “submits to God and finds peace in Him”. All creation is Muslim.peace in Him”. All creation is Muslim.

Shahadah:Shahadah: “ “There is no god but God and There is no god but God and Muhammad is the Messenger of GodMuhammad is the Messenger of God”.”.

Allah:Allah: Arabic name for God. It is preferred Arabic name for God. It is preferred over other names because it has no gender over other names because it has no gender affiliation and does not have pluralityaffiliation and does not have plurality

Understanding IslamUnderstanding Islam Islam is a Islam is a rationalrational religion: religion:

““The vilest of creatures are The vilest of creatures are those who choose to be deaf those who choose to be deaf and dumb and do not use and dumb and do not use their reason.their reason.” (Qur’an 8:2)” (Qur’an 8:2)

Muhammad reminded his Muhammad reminded his followers that “followers that “The first thing The first thing God created was reasonGod created was reason”. ”. Therefore, believers must Therefore, believers must take take personal responsibilitypersonal responsibility for one’s actions and faith.for one’s actions and faith.

Freedom of ConscienceFreedom of Conscience

““There is no compulsion in religion. There is no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clearly from Truth stands out clearly from falsehood; whoever rejects evil and falsehood; whoever rejects evil and believes in God has grasped the believes in God has grasped the strongest rope that never breaks. strongest rope that never breaks. And God is All Hearing and All And God is All Hearing and All Knowing”Knowing”

Qur’an 2:256Qur’an 2:256

BeliefsBeliefs1. 1. Belief in only One GodBelief in only One God. . He is defined as Eternal, He is defined as Eternal,

Absolute, Infinite, Compassionate and Merciful, the sole Absolute, Infinite, Compassionate and Merciful, the sole Creator and Provider. Creator and Provider.

2. 2. Engage only in Righteous ActionsEngage only in Righteous Actions in all areas: in all areas: spiritual, intellectual and physical activity.spiritual, intellectual and physical activity.

3. 3. All God’s creation is “Muslim”.All God’s creation is “Muslim”. Only humans are Only humans are given CHOICE to submit (be Muslim) or reject submission given CHOICE to submit (be Muslim) or reject submission to God’s will.to God’s will.

4. 4. All children are born without sin and are MuslimAll children are born without sin and are Muslim. . As they grow older, they make their religious CHOICE.As they grow older, they make their religious CHOICE.

5. 5. God created human beings with a body and soul.God created human beings with a body and soul. The body is a temporal host for this life, whereas the soul The body is a temporal host for this life, whereas the soul is eternal. It is the soul that will survive beyond death.is eternal. It is the soul that will survive beyond death.

6.6. Universality of the call.Universality of the call. All Muslims are brothers and All Muslims are brothers and equals without any distinction of class, race or tongue. equals without any distinction of class, race or tongue. Superiority is only based on the greater fear of God and Superiority is only based on the greater fear of God and greater piety.greater piety.

PracticesPracticesPrayerPrayer worshippers line up in rows and worshippers line up in rows and

enact ritual in unison (prostration)enact ritual in unison (prostration) Friday midday prayers at mosqueFriday midday prayers at mosqueFastingFasting month of Ramadan (ninth month of month of Ramadan (ninth month of

lunar year) to test the spirit, discipline lunar year) to test the spirit, discipline the will and remind of the hungry and the will and remind of the hungry and poor poor

Numerous important events took place Numerous important events took place during Ramadan (first revelation in 610 during Ramadan (first revelation in 610 CE, flight to Mecca in 622 CE, victory in CE, flight to Mecca in 622 CE, victory in 624 CE)624 CE)

Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr (period Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr (period of spiritual and moral renewal)of spiritual and moral renewal)

MosqueMosque Muslim place of worship Muslims Muslim place of worship Muslims

come together in a mosque for come together in a mosque for prayers at midday on Friday prayers at midday on Friday (Muslim Holy Day)(Muslim Holy Day)

MIHRABMIHRAB= small arch or hole in wall = small arch or hole in wall indicates the direction of the indicates the direction of the Ka’bah in MeccaKa’bah in Mecca

MINARETMINARET= high tower or dome = high tower or dome from which a muezzin calls the from which a muezzin calls the faithful to prayerfaithful to prayer

WUDUWUDU= cleansing process before = cleansing process before prayer (water)prayer (water)

IMAMIMAM= chief officer in the mosque = chief officer in the mosque who leads prayerswho leads prayers

PROPHET’S MOSQUE in Madinah: the first mosque in Islam

Qur’anQur’an

Holy book of Islam which means “Holy book of Islam which means “recitationrecitation”” Records the revealed word of God that came Records the revealed word of God that came

through Angel Gabriel to Muhammad over 23 through Angel Gabriel to Muhammad over 23 yearsyears

Muhammad dictated revelations to scribes and Muhammad dictated revelations to scribes and companions who companions who memorizedmemorized passages passages

It is the only revealed book that has It is the only revealed book that has remained remained intact and unchangedintact and unchanged since its revelation (oral since its revelation (oral tradition)tradition)

Principle source of Muslim faith and practicePrinciple source of Muslim faith and practice Children learn to Children learn to memorizememorize the Qur’an as a the Qur’an as a

child child Divided into 114 Divided into 114 surassuras (chapters); longest (chapters); longest

chapter has 286 verses, the shortest has 3 chapter has 286 verses, the shortest has 3 verses; approximately 78 000 words in lengthverses; approximately 78 000 words in length

al-Fatihah (The Opening)al-Fatihah (The Opening)Qur’an 1: 1-7Qur’an 1: 1-7

““In the name of Allah, Most Gracious In the name of Allah, Most Gracious Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds. Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds. Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Master Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. Thee do we of the Day of Judgment. Thee do we worship and Thine aid we seek: Show worship and Thine aid we seek: Show us the straight way. The way of those us the straight way. The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose portion is not Grace, those whose portion is not wrath and who go not astray.”wrath and who go not astray.”

Ka’bahKa’bah Ka’bahKa’bah- cube shaped - cube shaped

building that was built building that was built by Abraham to honour by Abraham to honour God God

Viewed as Adam’s Viewed as Adam’s original place of original place of worshipworship

Was filled with idols as Was filled with idols as people in Arabia people in Arabia followed polytheismfollowed polytheism

Muhammad- received Muhammad- received revelations that led to revelations that led to Islam and monotheism Islam and monotheism (and removal of idols)(and removal of idols)

Site of Site of hajjhajj- pilgrimage - pilgrimage to Meccato Mecca

MuhammadMuhammad

SEAL of the Prophets (last in a line of 28SEAL of the Prophets (last in a line of 28Prophets who all preached the religion of Prophets who all preached the religion of Islam)Islam)

Born in 570 CEBorn in 570 CE Each succeeding Prophet added or improved Each succeeding Prophet added or improved

upon the cumulative message of Islamupon the cumulative message of Islam Through Muhammand (PBUH), the message of Through Muhammand (PBUH), the message of

Islam was completed and is preserved intact in Islam was completed and is preserved intact in the Qur’anthe Qur’an

In 622 CE, hijrah (migration) where In 622 CE, hijrah (migration) where Muhammad moved from Mecca to Madinah Muhammad moved from Mecca to Madinah (marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar)(marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar)

Islam spread to Arabia, Spain and as far East Islam spread to Arabia, Spain and as far East as Chinaas China

Other ProphetsOther Prophets These Prophets are regarded as These Prophets are regarded as

most significant: most significant: Muhammad, Muhammad, Moses, Abraham and NoahMoses, Abraham and Noah

JesusJesus is highly respected and is highly respected and considered as a great prophet considered as a great prophet by Muslimsby Muslims

Qur’an re-affirms the miraculous Qur’an re-affirms the miraculous birth and abilities of Jesusbirth and abilities of Jesus

Muslims believe in the Second Muslims believe in the Second Coming of Jesus before the end Coming of Jesus before the end of timeof time

Human EqualityHuman Equality

““O humankind! You were created O humankind! You were created from a single soul, male and female, from a single soul, male and female, and made you into peoples and and made you into peoples and tribes. So that you may know one tribes. So that you may know one another. Truly, the most honoured of another. Truly, the most honoured of you in God’s sight is the greatest of you in God’s sight is the greatest of you in piety. God is All Knowing, All you in piety. God is All Knowing, All Aware”Aware”

(Qur’an 49:13)(Qur’an 49:13)

Islam and Islam and WarWar Like Christianity, Islam permits Like Christianity, Islam permits

fighting in self defense, in defense fighting in self defense, in defense of religion, or on the part of those who have of religion, or on the part of those who have been expelled forcibly from their homesbeen expelled forcibly from their homes

Strict rules for combat, which includes Strict rules for combat, which includes prohibitions against harming civilians and prohibitions against harming civilians and against destroying crops, trees and livestockagainst destroying crops, trees and livestock

““Fight in the cause of God against those who Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God fight you, but do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors” (Qur’an 2:190)does not love transgressors” (Qur’an 2:190)

““And fight them unitl persecution is no more, And fight them unitl persecution is no more, and religion is for God. But if they desist, and religion is for God. But if they desist, then let there be no hosility excpet against then let there be no hosility excpet against wrongdoers” (Qur’an 2:193)wrongdoers” (Qur’an 2:193)

Day of Day of JudgmentJudgment

All humans will be bodily All humans will be bodily resurrected and assembled resurrected and assembled for final accounting of deedsfor final accounting of deeds

Soul will move on to afterlifeSoul will move on to afterlife Upon the Upon the Final JudgmentFinal Judgment = world will end = world will end

and we will stand before God to confront and we will stand before God to confront our own life and actionsour own life and actions

Desire for purified soul= Desire for purified soul= heavenheaven (eternal (eternal abode of beauty and majesty)abode of beauty and majesty)

Disbelievers and unpure soul= Disbelievers and unpure soul= hellhell (abode (abode of great torment and anguish)of great torment and anguish)

JihadJihad

Jihad does not mean “holy war”Jihad does not mean “holy war” Literally, jihad means to Literally, jihad means to strive, struggle and strive, struggle and

exert effort.exert effort. Concept includes struggle against evil Concept includes struggle against evil

inclinations within oneself, struggle to inclinations within oneself, struggle to improve quality of life in society, struggle in improve quality of life in society, struggle in the battlefield for self defense or fighting the battlefield for self defense or fighting against tyranny or oppressionagainst tyranny or oppression

There is no such thing as “holy war” in There is no such thing as “holy war” in Islam, but it is the frequent repetition in the Islam, but it is the frequent repetition in the West that many people accept it as if it West that many people accept it as if it were a factwere a fact

Women’s RightsWomen’s Rights

According to Qur’an, men and women are According to Qur’an, men and women are equal before Godequal before God

Under Islamic law, women have the right to Under Islamic law, women have the right to own property, receive an education and take own property, receive an education and take part in community lifepart in community life

Islamic rules for simple, modest and Islamic rules for simple, modest and dignified dress applies to women and men dignified dress applies to women and men equallyequally

In many Muslim countries there are cultural In many Muslim countries there are cultural practices that are inconsistent and contrary practices that are inconsistent and contrary to the authentic teachings of Islamto the authentic teachings of Islam

Islam: Controversial Islam: Controversial IssuesIssues

PolygamyPolygamy Jihad vs. Holy WarJihad vs. Holy War Hijab : liberation or suppressionHijab : liberation or suppression Muhammad Cartoons: freedom of Muhammad Cartoons: freedom of

speech vs freedom of religionspeech vs freedom of religion Appeal of Suicide BombersAppeal of Suicide Bombers Afghanistan's TalibanAfghanistan's Taliban War on IslamWar on Islam