islam 101

Islam

• “Salima”

• Way of Life

• Muslim

Demographics: Islam Around the World

1.5 Billion Muslims worldwide

7 Million Muslims in America

Source: US State Department, using Statistics from Hartford Institute for Religious Research

Ethnicity of Muslims in the US

Quran

• Preserved in Arabic• Revealed over a 23-year period

• Completes and perfects previous revelations

• Tradition of the Prophet

• “Be merciful to those on earth,

the One in Heaven will

show mercy to you”

Hadith

Articles of Faith

• God• Angels

• Prophets• Divine Scriptures• Day of Judgment

• Divine Destiny

God

• Allah in Arabic

• Most Compassionate, Most Merciful

Angels

• Created from light

• Angel Gabriel• Convey God’s

message

Prophets• Chosen by God

• One message

Divine Scriptures

• Scrolls revealed to Abraham• Torah revealed to Moses

• Psalms revealed to David• Gospel revealed to Jesus

• Quran revealed to Muhammad

Day of Judgment

• Accountability• Absolute justice• Heaven and Hell

Divine Destiny

• Everything happens according to God’s plan

• God has knowledge of everything• Free will

Articles of Faith

• God• Angels

• Prophets• Divine Scriptures• Day of Judgment

• Divine Destiny

Five Pillars• Shahada- Declaration

of Faith• Salah- Prayer• Zakah- Obligatory Charity• Sawm- Fasting• Hajj- Pilgrimage to Mecca

Shahada- Declaration of Faith

• No deity worthy of worship but God and Muhammad is the messenger of God

• Oneness of God• Repeated in prayers

Salah- Prayer

• Five times daily• Shield from sins

• Direct connection with God

Zakah- Obligatory Charity

• 2.5% of accumulated wealth/year• Welfare system

• Separation from materialism

Sawm- Fasting

• Ramadan– Daily fast– Spirituality

• Separation from worldly desires

• Self discipline• Eid ul Fitr

Hajj- Pilgrimage

• Once in a lifetime

• Ka’ba• Unity

• Eid ul Adha

Five Pillars• Shahada- Declaration

of Faith• Salah- Prayer• Zakah- Obligatory Charity• Sawm- Fasting• Hajj- Pilgrimage to Mecca

To exert utmost effort, to strive,

struggle

“Juhd”

Jihad

a sincere struggle to attain perfection in faith; the unselfish striving for

good and righteousness