IslamIslamReligion of Peace Religion of Peace

OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

Islam Islam Its HistoryIts History Beliefs Beliefs Ultimate Goal of This LifeUltimate Goal of This Life Teachings of Islam Teachings of Islam

HISTORYHISTORY

ISLAMISLAM

““Say, we believe in God and that which Say, we believe in God and that which has been revealed to us, and that which has been revealed to us, and that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes and and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes and that which was given to Moses and that which was given to Moses and Jesus and to other prophets, from their Jesus and to other prophets, from their Lord. We make no distinction between Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit.” any of them, and to Him we submit.” (The Family of Ìmrán/Al-Ìmrán 83)(The Family of Ìmrán/Al-Ìmrán 83)

ISLAMISLAM

The word "Islam" The word "Islam" "submission to the will of God". "submission to the will of God".

"Islam" comes from the same root "Islam" comes from the same root as the Arabic word as the Arabic word "salam” "salam” "peace" "peace"

ISLAM = PEACEISLAM = PEACE

LoveLove PeacePeace RespectRespect

ISLAMISLAM The most important truth The most important truth

““There is nothing divine or worthy of being There is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God”worshipped except for Almighty God”

The chapter Ikhlas (Sincerety) of the Qur’an The chapter Ikhlas (Sincerety) of the Qur’an summarizes:summarizes: "Say: He is Allah, The One: Allah, the "Say: He is Allah, The One: Allah, the

Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; and there is none like unto Him." begotten; and there is none like unto Him." (Quran 112:1-4)(Quran 112:1-4)

The word The word "Muslim""Muslim" means one who submits to means one who submits to the will of Godthe will of God

SACRED TEXT IN ISLAMSACRED TEXT IN ISLAM

Two main sourcesTwo main sourcesKoranKoran

» God’s wordGod’s word» Verses revealed to prophet Muhammad Verses revealed to prophet Muhammad

(PBUH)(PBUH)Teachings of prophet Muhammad (PBUH)Teachings of prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

» Prophet Muhammad’s explanations of versesProphet Muhammad’s explanations of verses

KURANKURAN

Revealed in 23 yearsRevealed in 23 years Through Angel Gabriel to Prophet Through Angel Gabriel to Prophet

Muhammad (pbuh)Muhammad (pbuh) 114 chapters 114 chapters 6236 Verses6236 Verses ~ 600 pages~ 600 pages

KURANKURAN

Main Themes: Main Themes: Unity of GodUnity of GodMessengersMessengersResurrection & hereafterResurrection & hereafterWorshipWorshipJusticeJustice

KURANKURAN

Nature of VersesNature of VersesStories of past people & prophetsStories of past people & prophetsReflection/QuestionsReflection/QuestionsEncouragements and discouragementsEncouragements and discouragementsInjunctionsInjunctionsPrayers/WorshipPrayers/Worship

PROPHET MUHAMMAD PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH)(PBUH)

He (PBUH) was born He (PBUH) was born in 571in 571

He (PBUH) received He (PBUH) received first revelation in 610first revelation in 610

He (PBUH) died in He (PBUH) died in 632632

MUHAMMAD (PBUH)MUHAMMAD (PBUH)

By nature he was gentle and kind By nature he was gentle and kind hearted, always inclined to be gracious hearted, always inclined to be gracious and to overlook the faults of others. and to overlook the faults of others.

Politeness and courtesy, compassion and Politeness and courtesy, compassion and tenderness, simplicity and humility, tenderness, simplicity and humility, sympathy and sincerity were some of the sympathy and sincerity were some of the keynotes of his character.keynotes of his character.

TEACHINGS OF ISLAMTEACHINGS OF ISLAM

MEANING OF LIFE MEANING OF LIFE ACCORDING TO ISLAMACCORDING TO ISLAM

We stay in this life for a very short time We stay in this life for a very short time After this world we will have an eternal life After this world we will have an eternal life ““Be certain of this, that the highest aim of Be certain of this, that the highest aim of

creation and its most important result is belief in creation and its most important result is belief in God. And the most exalted rank in humanity and God. And the most exalted rank in humanity and its highest degree is the knowledge of God its highest degree is the knowledge of God contained within belief in God. And the most contained within belief in God. And the most radiant happiness and sweetest bounty for human radiant happiness and sweetest bounty for human beings is the love of God contained within the beings is the love of God contained within the knowledge of God.”knowledge of God.”

THREE MAIN POINTS OF THREE MAIN POINTS OF THIS LIFETHIS LIFE

““The highest aim of creation and its most The highest aim of creation and its most important result is belief in God” important result is belief in God”

““The most exalted rank in humanity and The most exalted rank in humanity and its highest degree is the knowledge of God its highest degree is the knowledge of God contained within belief in God”contained within belief in God”

““The most radiant happiness and sweetest The most radiant happiness and sweetest bounty for human beings is the love of bounty for human beings is the love of God” God”

ULTIMATE GOAL OF LIFEULTIMATE GOAL OF LIFE

There is nothing more enjoyable for us There is nothing more enjoyable for us than getting close to Godthan getting close to God

““To those who do right is a fine To those who do right is a fine reward, neither dust nor shame shall reward, neither dust nor shame shall cover their faces. Those are the cover their faces. Those are the companions of paradise, in it they shall companions of paradise, in it they shall live for forever” (Jonah/Yunus 26)live for forever” (Jonah/Yunus 26)

TEACHINGS ON GOD’S TEACHINGS ON GOD’S COMPASSIONCOMPASSION

The story of the The story of the mother who lost mother who lost her childher child

TEACHINGS ON PARENTSTEACHINGS ON PARENTS

““Paradise lies at the Paradise lies at the feet of your mother” & feet of your mother” & (3 x mother, father)(3 x mother, father)

““A father’s pleasure is A father’s pleasure is Allah’s pleasure. A Allah’s pleasure. A father’s displeasure is father’s displeasure is Allah’s displeasure.”Allah’s displeasure.”

TEACHINGS ON SPOUSESTEACHINGS ON SPOUSES

“The most perfect of the believers is the best of you in character, and the best of you in character are those who are best to their wives.”

TEACHINGS ON GUESTSTEACHINGS ON GUESTS

“He who believes in Allah and the last day should honor his guest.”

TEACHINGS ON TEACHINGS ON NEIGHBORSNEIGHBORS

“He is not a believer who eats his fill while his neighbor remains hungry by his side.”

TEACHINGS ON TEACHINGS ON CHILDRENCHILDREN

“He is not of us who has no compassion for our little ones and does not honor our elderly.”

� �ال إ �ا �ن ل م� ل ع� � ال �ك� ان ح� ب س��نت� أ �ك� �ن إ �ا �ن �مت ع�ل م�ا

ح�ك�يم� ال �يم� ع�ل الGlory to You, of knowledge We have Glory to You, of knowledge We have none, save what You have taught us: none, save what You have taught us: In truth it is You Who are perfect in In truth it is You Who are perfect in knowledge and wisdom. knowledge and wisdom.

(The Cow/Al-Baqarah 32)(The Cow/Al-Baqarah 32)