ISLAM

Islam Creation Story

-Allah created the heavens and the earth within 6 days.

- Allah created the world and the heavens

-made the creatures which walk, swim, and fly

- made angels, sun, moon, and stars

- Allah poured down the rain in torrents which broke up the soil, creating vegetation

- Allah took 7 kinds of earth and made man.

- Named the man Adam and the woman Eve

- Ibilis, one of the angels refused to bow down to Adam and began to disobey God’s will

- Adam and Eve disobeyed Allah by eating the forbidden fruit- Allah sent them to earth

Monotheistic and Abrahamic religion

Based on the teachings of the prophet Muhammad

An advocate of Islam is called a Muslim

Believes that people are born free of sin

There is no original sin

No soul is responsible for the sins of others

Forgiveness is available through repentance

Salvation is only though belief and practice

People are created equal in the eyes of Allah

BASIC BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

‘5’ Pillars of FAITH:

• Shahadah-“There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger.”• Salat• Zarkat• Sawm• Hajj

‘6’ Articles of FAITH:

• Belief in God (Allah) • Belief in Mala-eka (Angels) • Belief in the Books of Allah • Belief in the Prophets of Allah • Belief in Yawm al-Qiyama (Day of Judgement)

• Qada wal-Qada (Destiny, Divine Decree)

BELIEFS

Oneness of God: "Tawheed”A) Oneness of Lordship: To believe that Allah is The ONLY Creator, Provider, and The Commander. B) Oneness of Worship: To believe that Allah is the ONLY God who should be worshipped, and obeyed as Allah prescribed.C) Oneness of Allah's Names and Attributes: ◊ Muslims believe that NO one shares Allah's divinity that is neither angel nor human. Allah says: "And Allah makes none to share in His decision and His rule." (Holy Quran 18:26)

Oneness of Mankind

Oneness of The Message

Innocence of mankind at Birth.

There is no original sin in Islam.

Muslims believe that no soul is responsible for the sins and faults of others

Muslims believe that forgiveness is always available through repentance.

Salvation in Islam is only through belief and practice.

What is the most important point Islam teaches about belief?

-It is this, that belief does not just mean believing something in one's heart, but also acting on the belief. Mere faith counts for nothing if not carried into practice. The purpose of belief is to show us what to do in practice. No 'belief' by itself can bring salvation.

What are the basic practices a Muslim has to perform?

In order to submit to God, and to be at peace with fellow beings, a Muslim has to perform certain duties to God and to fellow-beings. The duties to God are:

• Prayer (salaat)• Fasting (saum)• Pilgrimage to Makka (hajj).• The duty to fellow beings is to spend one's resources, time,

energy, money, etc. for the welfare of others; in particular, to give a part of one's wealth to help those in need (known as giving zakaat, a charity-tax).

• Islam faith itemsPrayer rugsSubha (prayer beads)

• Qur’an must be kept off the ground

• Islam Prayer5 times each dayTaharah, meaning purification

PRACTICES

What is the main point to remember about these practical duties?

-It is that the purpose of performing these duties is to draw us closer to God, and to lead us to do good to others and refrain from wrong-doing in our daily lives. Therefore, we should carry out these duties, not as rituals, but remembering God from the bottom of our hearts. Performing these acts of worship can only benefit us if we use them as the basis for improving our character and conduct in daily life. If a person prays and fasts, but fails to do good and give up bad habits, his prayer and fasting will be useless.

• The Muslim call to prayer or adhaan ("God is great, there is no God but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Come to prayer.”).

• The baby's first taste should be something sweet

• After seven days the baby's head is shaved (a tradition also carried out by Hindus).

• Muslim baby boys are circumcised when they are seven days old although it can take place any time before puberty.

• It is also tradition to choose a name for the baby on the seventh day.

• The aqeeqah

BIRTH:

MARRIAGE:

• Once a child attains puberty, according to Shari’ah, he or she may marry.

• The nikkah

• mehr

• walimah

• Arranged Marriage Customs

• Polygamy

• Divorce

DEATH:• shaheed (equivalent to a martyr in battle)

• Miscarried fœtuses over four months into term should also be buried ceremonially.

• Suicide is condemned by Islam

Speedy Burial

Respect for the Corpse

Preparation for Burial

Funeral Prayer

Burial

Cremation

Feasts and Festivals in Islam

3 main Holidays:

Eid Al-Fitr-which is celebrated at the end of Ramadan,Distinguished by the performance of communal prayers (salat) on the first day at dawn. Traditional greeting is "Id – Mabarak”.

Ramadan-month of fasting

During Ramadan, one must be able to abstain fromevil thoughts and deeds, food and drink (including water), and sexual intercourse from dawn until dusk for the entire month.

Eid Al-Adha-

celebrated at the end of Hajj. The festival commemorates God's gift of a ram in place of Isma'il (Ishmael), whom God had commanded Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice.

Feasts:

Ashura: "The Tenth" It is a voluntary fast day observed on the tenth of the month of Muharram.

Maulid: The birthday of Muhammad, which is known as Mau-Ildu 'n-Nabi, is celebrated on the 12th of Rab'iu'l-Awwal.

LAILATU'N-NISF MIN SHA'BAN: On this night, Muhammad said, God registered annually all the actions of mankind which they are to perform during the year; and that all the children of men who are to be born and to die in the year are recorded. The night is often devoted to the memory of the dead.

RAMADAAN: Those who observe the fast with pure motives will obtain remission of their sins.

LAILATU'L-QADR: "The night of power”

IDU'L-FITR: "The Festival of the Breaking of the Fast", actually "The minor feast".

IDU'L-ADHA: This is also called "the great festival" (as opposed to Idu'l Fitr being the "minor festival")