Beliefs and Teachings

In the name of Alláh most Merciful, most Kind

All praises do to Allah (S) (the one and eternal god of all people) for he will grant us paradise and for his last messenger Muhammad (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him).

We must respects some Islamic words, So they must be shown in their true language the Arabic language which would be in Italic form or parentheses in the page.

Islam : Intro

    Islam is the submission to Allah the complete way of life. It is the guidance provided by Allah (S), the creator of the Universe. for all mankind. It covers all the things people do in their lifetime. Islam tells us the purpose of our creation, our final destiny and our place among other creatures. It shows us the best way to conduct our private, social, political, economic, moral and spiritual affairs.

    Allah (S) , an Arabic word it is the proper name of God. Muslims thereof should use the word Allah rather than the word God it is more proper. Submission and Obedience means putting Allah's command into practice to bring peace. A person who accepts the Islamic way of life and acts upon it is a Muslim. If we look all around us we see everything are obeying the law of Allah  the oceans, mountains, sun, moon and the stars superb harmony. But Allah has given us the knowledge and will to decide between obeying and disobeying him do good or evil testing us in our lifetime till the Day Of Judgment.

Purpose of Human Creation:

    Allah, the Almighty, created mankind to do His bidding and to obey His commands. Allah(S) says in the Qur'an, His final revelation to Mankind : "I have not created Jinn and Mankind (for any other purpose) except to worship me."(51:56)    'Worship' in this verse means total obedience to Allah's commands. The Qur'anic word for worship is 'Ibadah'. Everything we do comes under 'Ibadah', if we do it for Allah's sake. Our purpose in life is to please Allah through 'Ibadah', the way to achieve success and happiness in the life after death.

Basic Beliefs:

1. Allah

2. Angels of Allah (Mala'ika)

3. Books of Allah (Kutubulla)

4. Messengers of Allah (Rusulullah)

5.The Day of Judgment (Yawmuddin)

6. Predestination or supremacy of Divine Will ( Al-Qadr )

7. Life after death (Akhirah)

    The seven beliefs can be grouped into three: 1. Tawhid (oneness of Allah) best expressed in Suratul - Ikhlas in the Qur'an   2. Risalah (prophethood)  3. Akhirah (life after death).    These three groups of beliefs summarizes the whole of the Islamic system of life. So, we must understand them.

The Qur'an:

    The Qur'an is the complete book of guidance for mankind. It is the sacred book of the Muslims and the main source of Law in Islam. The whole of the Qur'an is from Allah. Each word of it is a revealed word. It was sent down to prophet Muhammad (pbuh) through the angel Jibra'il. The Qur'an was revealed piecemeal and completed over a period of twenty three years and is in the Arabic language and can only be read in the Arabic language in order that words do not get changed like how the Bible has changed over years. The Qur'an is one of a kind the living proof of the existence of Allah (S) and in over fourteen hundred years it hasn't changed a dot because Allah (S) has taking the responsibility himself of preserving it in the Qur'an He says: "Surley, We have revealed this reminder (Dhiker (Knowledge)) and  Lo, We verily are its Guardian." (15:9) This verse clearly states that Allah(S) has revealed the Qur'an and he will protect it. A Muslim believes in all the revealed books which are mentioned in the Qur'an. They are : the Tawrat (Torah) of Musa (Moses), the Zabur (Psalms) of Dawud (David), the Injil (Gospel) of Isa (Jesus) and the Qur'an revealed to Muhammad (pbuh). The Qur'an also mentions Suhuf - i - Ibrahim (Scrolls of Abraham). 

    The Qur'an is made up of 114 Surahs (chapters) and a Muslim is required to memorize some Surahs for Salat.  When we touch the Qur'an we touch it with respect, so before we touch it we do Wudu (the cleanness and purify of the body). For the Qur'an is our source of knowledge from Allah (S).

The Prophets:

    Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was nearly 4,090 years after Prophet Noah, 3000 years after Prophet Abraham (as) the father of Ishmael (as) who built the Ka’bah in Mecca were Muslims face for Salat (prayer) and go to make Hajj (Pilgrimage), 2300 years after Prophet Moses, 1800 years after Prophet David, and 570 years after Prophet Jesus (as).  Prophet Muhammad (S) was a descendent of Ishmael (Ishmael), the first son of Prophet Abraham, born of his second wife Hajarah (Hagar). Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born in Mecca (Makkah) the holy city to the Muslims. He is the last Prophet and there will be no more and man will get punished for there sins (wrong doing and not believing in Tawhid, ( oneness of god) on the Day Of Judgment.

   According to the saying of Muhammad (pbup) there was one hundred and twenty four thousand prophets through out time. The Qur'an only mentions only the twenty-five most prominent by name:

    As Muslims, we must believe in all the prophets and messengers of Allah not more than a messenger and servant of Allah (S) for  it is a sin to say a prophet is a partner or son of Allah. All the messenger came with the same message stating: "Worship Allah and there is no god for you but He." and all the prophets preached the words "La Ilaha Ill Allah" (There is no god but Allah).

The Angels:

    Angels are a special creation of Allah (S). They have been created from divine light (Nur) to perform specific functions. By comparison Adam was created from clay, and Jinn from fire. 'Iblis', the devil is from the Jinn. Some people think Iblis was the leader of angels this is not true according to the Qur'an (18:50). Angels have been given the necessary qualities and powers to carry out their duties but they do not have free will they can never disobey Allah (S) on the other hand man has been given free will to decide from right and wrong that's why he must face the test on the Day of Judgment. A human being cannot see angels unless they want to be shown usually in a shape of a man. They are always ready to carry out Allah (S) command for they do not need sleep or any other thing a human being needs.

     There is a host of angels in the kingdom of Allah (S) Prominent among them are Jibra'il (Gabriel) brought the revelations of Allah (S) to prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and to all other prophets. 'Izra'il also called the angel of death (Malakul mawt) is responsible for ending our life. Israfil will blow the trumpet at the time of the end of the world and on the Day of Judgment and Mika'il (Michael). Some angels are busy recording all that we do. They are called the respected recorders (Kiraman Katibin). Not a single word or action we do goes unrecorded (50:18).

Akhirah:

    Belief in Akhirah is very important and is vital for all Muslims. Our life on earth is temporary and is meant to be preparation for Akhirah the never ending. Life on this earth becomes meaningless if good actions are not rewarded and bad actions not punished. Regular attendance in school would be to no purpose without an examination to decide the success of the student. In the same way our life on earth is meaningless without a test after death on the Day of Judgment (Yawmul Akhir or Yawmuddin) in the Court of Justice of Almighty Allah (S).

    To prepare ourselves for this day, we need to follow the guidance given through the prophets. Without life after death, there would have been no need for the prophets and messengers. There are people who do not care whether there is a life after death. Some do not even believe in it at all. These people will suffer terribly for their disbelief. A sensible person cannot say there is no life after death. He can be doubtful but he will always be at loss if his doubt proves untrue. So, the safe course to follow is to believe in all the prophets and messengers told people to believe. Not to care about Akhirah is a serious failing. We are certian that all human beings die, so it is quit reasonable to prepare for that eternal life which, no doubt, will follow death.

    Doubts have been expressed by unbelievers about life after death. They cannot understand how Allah (S) can raise men and women  after death. But Allah (S) can make human beings out of nothing so it is not difficult for him to raise them after death. The Qur'an says : "Does man think we shall not assemble his bones? Yes, surely, yes , we are able to restore the very shape of his fingers." (75:3,4)

Basic Duties Of Islam:

    Islam Has five basic duties which Muslims must perform.  They are known as the  five pillars of Islam (Arkan ul Islam) . These pillars are mentioned in the following Hadith ( a saying of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) ).    

    "Buniyal Islam 'ala khamsin ; Shahadati 'an la ilaha illal lahu wa anna Muhammadar rasulul lahi ; wa iqamis Salati, wa ita'iz Zakati, wal Hajji, Sawmi Ramadan." (Bukhari)

    "Islam is based on five pillars : Declaring that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his Messenger, the establishment of prayer, the payment of charity, the pilgrimage, and the fasting in the month of Ramadan."

The five pillars as mentioned in the Hadith are :

    Shahadah        (declaration of faith)

    Salah                (five obligatory daily prayers)

    Zakah              (welfare contribution)

    Hajj                  (pilgrimage to Makkah)

    Sawm               (fasting during the month of Ramadan)

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