Beards, Turbans, and Jihad:
The Truth about Islam.
ISLAM-Explained
What is Islam
Islam is based on the worship of One God (Allah). Muslims believe that everything in the world was created by God and that as the creation of God, it is our duty to worship our Creator. Allah is the same God of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad (may peace be upon them all). With more than 1.2 BILLION followers world-wide, Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion.
Why Islam
There is a God. He is fair and just, and He wants us to achieve the reward of paradise. However, God has placed us in this worldly life as a test, to weed out the worthy from the unworthy. And we will be lost if left to our own devices. Why? Because we don’t know what He wants from us. We can’t navigate the twists and turns of this life without His guidance, and hence, He has given us guidance in the form of revelation.
The Five Pillars of Islam
- Testimony of faith as one has to sincerely believe in the Oneness of God and the Prophethood of Muhammad (Sm).
- Prayer as Muslims pray to Allah five times a day.
- Charity to those less fortunate.
- Fasting the month of Ramadan where Muslims abstain from food, water, and sexual intercourse from dawn until dusk.
- Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca to commemorate Prophet Abraham. Hajj is only required to be done once in a lifetime if one has the means and ability to go.
Some Questions
Q. Aren’t Muslims violent, terrorists and/or extremists?
A. This is due to the constant biased review media show about Islam. Politics in so called “Muslim countries” may or may not have any Islamic basis. One should remember to go to the source of Islam and separate what the true religion of Islam says from what is portrayed in the media. Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because religion doesn’t dominate everyday life in the West, whereas Islam is considered a ‘way of life’ for Muslims and they make no division between secular and sacred in their lives. Like Christianity, Islam permits fighting in self-defense, in defense of religion, or on the part of those who have been expelled forcibly from their homes. It lays down strict rules of combat which include prohibitions against harming civilians and against destroying crops, trees and livestock. Nowhere does islam enjoin the killing of innocents. The Quran says: “Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors.” (Quran 2:190) War, therefore, is the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous conditions laid down by the sacred law.
Q. Doesn’t Islam oppress women?
A. Although some Muslim countries may have laws that oppress women, this should not be seen as coming from Islam. Islam gives men and women different roles and equity between the two is laid down in the Quran and the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him). In Islam both men and women are expected to dress in a way that is modest and dignified. The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said: “The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife.” Violence of any kind towards women and forcing them against their will for anything is not allowed. According to Islam, a Muslim girl cannot be forced to marry against her will.
Q. Aren’t most Muslims just Arabs?
A. No, actually Arabs only comprise about 20% of the Muslim population. The largest Muslim country in the world is actually Indonesia. There are more Muslims in China than Egypt! The largest race of Muslims in the United States is that of African-Americans.
Q. Don’t Muslims worship a different God?
A. Allah is simply the Arabic word for God. It is exactly the same word which the Jews, in Hebrew, use for God (eloh), the word which Jesus Christ used in Aramaic when he prayed to God. God has an identical name in Judaism,Christianity, and Islam; Allah is the same God worshiped by Muslims,Christians and Jews.
Jesus in Islam
Jesus is greatly loved and respected in Islam. The belief in Jesus in Islam is that he was a Prophet of God, not the son of God. Jesus’ birth was a miracle as his mother was the Virgin Mary. Mary was a righteous servant of God and is considered one of the best women in history. Jesus preached the truth, the belief in One God as his message was distorted after his birth. In fact, Jesus mentions the coming of Muhammad by name in the Gospel of Barnabas. In Islam, the concept of one person dying for another person’s sins in unacceptable as Muslims don’t believe in ‘original sin’ as the Holy Quran states “No bearer of burden can bear the burden of another” (53:38).
Where to get more Information?
Search Google for “Islam”, “Introduction to Islam”, “Misconceptions about Islam”
Search Youtube for “What Is Islam? Brief Intro to Non-Muslims”
Search Wikipedia for “Islam”
Note from the author: Please share this message with at least ten non-muslims through email/facebook/twitter/blog etc.