Transcript Introduction to Islam

Introducing Islam
In the name of God;
the most merciful
the most compassionate
Islam
• The Arabic meaning of Islam is
submission to God/Allah; the
creator of the universe.
• Islam provides a comprehensive
concept to humanity’s eternal
question: who are we?
• Islam is a comprehensive and
balanced system of life
encompassing the spiritual and
the temporal realms.
The Creator
• Attributes
Genderless and beyond imagination
 Mercy
 We are his honoured creatures
 Direct relationship between God and the believers
 Worship is intimate & personal

Humanity on Earth
A purpose and a design
Trustees of God on
Earth
Relationship with Nature
& Environment
• Harmony
• Complementary
• Animals are like us
Relationship with fellow humans
Relationship with
other religions
• Inherent designed
diversity
• Based on justice &
fairness
• Obligations towards
the poor
• Freedom of faith; no
compulsion in religion
• Freedom of religious
practice
• Special status for
Christian and Jews
(monotheist outlook)
Five tenets of Islam
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Declaring your faith (Shahada)
Five daily prayers and one communal on Friday
Fasting one month every year
Pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia
once in a life time
• Helping the needy and the poor (Zakat)
The Prophet
His background
• An orphan of a noble, but not well-to-do, family that
lived in Mecca.
• His father died before his birth. His mother died
when he was six. His uncle raised him.
• He was known for being honest and truthful before
prophethood.
• Worked as a shepherd and later as a trader
• Married his first wife Khadija, and the mother of his
surviving children, when he was 25. She was 40.
The Prophet
His prophethood
• In 610, he received his first revelation at 43. These
revelations were compiled later into the Quran; the holy
book of Muslims
• The nobles of Mecca refused his call, ostracized and
persecuted him and his followers.
• After 12 difficult years, he immigrated in 622 to Medina
whose people welcomed him.
• In Medina, he was a prophet and a statesman.
• In 633, he died in Medina after 11 years at 63
• His personality revolves around the traits of mercy,
generosity and forgiveness.
The Prophet
The message
• The oneness of God, the creator of the whole
universe
• Islam is the continuation of divine messages that
God sent to humanity through prophets like
Abraham, Isaac, Moses, and Jesus.
• The moral principles of the ten commandments
are reflected in the message of Muhammad.
• It acknowledges the diversity of the human race
and freedom of religions
The Quran
• The revelation of God to
Muhammad
• It has been preserved as
revealed 14 centuries ago.
• It consists of 114 chapters
of various lengths. In
Arabic, it numbers about
604 pages.
• The translation of its
meaning is available in
English, French and most
of the world’s languages
The Quran
• Appeals to the mind to reflect
on creations and the creator
• Glad tidings for the believers
• Admonitions to the nonbelievers
• Stories of previous messengers
of God such as Noah, Abraham,
Isaac, Moses, Jesus, Mary, etc.
• Rulings on social and
commercial issues.
What the Quran says about
• Moses: And we sent Moses with our signs; get your people
from darkness to light and remind them of the miracles of
Allah. For in it are signs for the thankful (14:5)
• Mary: The angels said. “O Mary! Allah has chosen, purified
and chosen you among the women of this world. Mary,
worship your Lord devoutly: Prostrate and bow with those
who bow down.(3:42-43)
• Jesus: The angels said, “O Mary! Allah brings you good
news; a word from Him whose name will be Christ Jesus,
the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the
hereafter and of those nearest to Allah. He shall speak to the
people when infant and old and shall be of the righteous.
(3:45-46)
The Muslim legal code “Shari’a”
• Consists of the following
components:
• Rulings mentioned in the Quran
• Precedents in the life of Muhammad
as it explains and complements the
Quran in more details
• Opinions (fatwa) of Muhammad’s
prominent companions.
• Opinions of previous jurisprudents
• Opinions of contemporary scholars
• Importance of majority and consensus
The Mosque
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The Muslim’s house of God
Muslims are encouraged to pray their daily
prayers in congregation at the mosque.
•
Consists, in Canada, of a prayer hall,
offices, washrooms, multi-purpose hall.
The mosque is run by a board or a
committee.
The Imam (religious leader) leads the
prayers and delivers sermons. His powers
vary but normally limited to just that.
Persons entering the mosque are supposed
to have cleansed themselves.
As a courtesy, and to avoid embarrassment
or offence, non-Muslims should seek
permission before entering the mosque.
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Islamic Foundation, Scarborough
Friday sermon
& prayers
The Muslims of the world
• The number of Muslims in the world is estimated between
1.2-1.5 billions
• The fastest growing religion
• Sects: Sunni (the majority), Shia 7%, Ismaili 1%?
• Homogenous when it comes to core beliefs and essential
practices of Islam like daily prayers, fasting, etc
• Like followers of international religions, Muslims are not
homogenous in their interpretation and practice of Islam.
History, dominant culture, government, and social factors
influence them.
• Socially diverse
Why Muslims are positive about Islam?
• Islam brought liberation and justice for
the underprivileged; the poor and
women.
• No nation can claim a monopoly on
Islam. Everyone is welcome to enter.
• The Muslim clergy, in general, defended
the rights of the oppressed and
constituted the moral and vocal
opposition to tyrants and dictatorships.
The Muslim Women
• The first to accept Muhammad’s message was his wife Khadija.
Many of his followers were women who embraced Islam before
their spouses or fathers.
• Islam gave women the following rights, 1400 years ago:
– The right to decide their future Muslim husbands.
– The right to a definite share of the estate of a father, husband or
children. A will cannot take away or abrogate this right.
– The right to own property independently of their husbands or children.
– The right to education.
– The right to conduct their own commercial business.
– The right to participate in politics.
The Muslim Women
•
The family/home is the focus of the majority of Muslim women;
many qualified women don’t work, or defer work, for the sake of
looking after their children (usually longer than the Canadian
average).
•
The relationship between a man and a woman is to be established
only through marriage with mutual, mostly traditional, roles and
commitments.
•
Muslim men and women are urged “to keep the temptation away”
and to remain faithful to their spouses. To achieve this:
– Men are requested to lower their gaze when talking to women
and not to indulge in their beauty.
– Women are requested to dress modestly and cover their hair;
they display their beauty only to their near family.
•
– Separation between men and women, with various rigour and
degrees in different societies, at schools, work and social
functions
Women keeping maiden names
Dealing with Muslims
• Muslims take their religion, and its symbols, very seriously.
• Muslims invoke prayers frequently in their daily chores.
• Muslim women are required to dress modestly and not to show their
beauty except to near family.
• Muslims are not supposed to sit or meet alone with members of the
opposite sex.
• Muslims are respectful of elders, women and persons of authority.
Out of respect they may not look you in the eye, not because they are
avoiding you.
• Muslims have dietary restriction; mainly they are not allowed to eat
pork, wild animals or animal slaughtered improperly. Islam forbids
alcoholic beverages and drugs.