Islam

Carolina Papademetriou

The history of Islam● Islam is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion articulated by the Qur'an,

a book considered by its adherents to be the verbatim word of God and by the teachings and normative example of Muhammad, considered by them to be the last prophet of God. An adherent of Islam is called a Muslim. "Muslim" is an Arabic word meaning "one who submits to God". Islam, began in Mecca, claimed to be the revelation of God (Allah) through the angel Gabriel to a man named Muhammad

● Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable and the purpose of existence is to love and serve God. Muslims also believe that Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed at many times and places before, including through Abraham, Moses and Jesus, whom they consider prophets.

The teaching of islam No-one can be a Muslim without having a specified Faith, Iman, and adhering to certain Practices, Deen.

Deen: The Practice of Islam

● The basic essentials in "The Practice of Islam" are summed up in the six pillars of faith.

1/The confession of faith (Shaháda), i.e. the recitation of the 'Kalima' (= word). "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger (apostle) of Allah".

2/Prayer (Salat) [in arab. the 't' at the end is not pronounced]. This is the duty of every Muslim (able to do so). The prescribed ritual prayers five times daily, at prescribed times, with the prescribed posture, have to be observed. During these five prayers a fixed prayer-text must be recited seventeen times altogether (twice in the morning; four times at noon; four times in the afternoon; three times in the evening and four times at night). This is called by many Persian and Indian Muslims 'namaz'. The wording of this prayer is found in the appendix.

3/The giving of alms (Zakat) [again the 't' is not pronounced] is a religious duty and should amount to not less than 2.5% of the income above ones needs.

4/Keeping the Fast during the month of Ramadaan (Sawm) is a duty for all, except the sick, travellers, pregnant women, nursing mothers and children. The fast is to last from the rising of the sun until sunset.

5/Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) is required once in a lifetime during the month of Zu'l-Hijjah, if the means allow this. There is also a minor pilgrimage (Umra), which is performed at other times. We ought to realize that very considerable cost is involved in a pilgrimage, quite apart from the travel fare.

6/The Holy War (Jihaad):was only a means of defence and was never used as an offensive act

Some countries where Islam is popular

● Indonesia● Pakistan● Nigeria● Egypt● Turkey● Algeria● Oman● Marocco

Sources

● http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Islam● http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam● http://answering-islam.org/Nehls/tt1/tt6.html● http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Muslim-

majority_countries● http://answering-islam.org/Nehls/Ask/war.ht

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