Understanding Islam & Muslims

"O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know one another. Truly, the most honored of you in God's sight is the greatest of you in piety. God is All-Knowing, All-Aware." — Qur'an 49:13

What is Islam?

Islam is not a new religion, but the same truth that God revealed through all His prophets to every people. For a fifth of the world's population, Islam is both a religion and a complete way of life. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the majority have nothing to do with the extremely grave events which have come to be associated with their faith.

Who are the Muslims?

Over a billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across the globe — from the southern Philippines to Nigeria — are united by their common Islamic faith. About 18% live in the Arab world; the world's largest Muslim community is in Indonesia; substantial parts of Asia and most of Africa are Muslim, while significant minorities are found across Europe and the Americas.

What do Muslims believe?

Muslims believe in One Unique, Incomparable God; in the Angels created by Him; in the prophets through whom His revelations were brought to mankind; in the Day of Judgment and individual accountability for actions; in God's complete authority over human destiny and in life after death. Muslims believe in a chain of prophets starting with Adam and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesus, peace be upon them all. But God's final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message and a summing-up of all that has gone before, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel.

How does someone become a Muslim?

Simply by saying: "There is no god apart from God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God." By this declaration — the Shahada — the believer announces their faith in all God's messengers and the scriptures they brought.

What does "Islam" mean?

The Arabic word "Islam" simply means "submission," and derives from a word meaning "peace." In a religious context it means complete submission to the will of God. "Mohammedanism" is a misnomer, because it suggests that Muslims worship Muhammad rather than God. "Allah" is simply the Arabic name for God, used by Arab Muslims and Arab Christians alike.

Do Islam and Christianity have different origins?

No. Together with Judaism, they go back to the prophet and patriarch Abraham, whose sons Ishmael and Isaac were ancestors to the prophets who followed. Abraham established the settlement which today is the city of Makkah, and built the Ka'abah — the place of worship all Muslims turn towards when they pray, and which pilgrims visit saying "At Thy service, O Lord," in response to Abraham's summons.

Who is Muhammad?

Muhammad was born in Makkah in the year 570. Since his father died before his birth, and his mother shortly afterwards, he was raised by his uncle from the respected tribe of Quraysh. As he grew up he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate disputes. He had long detested the decadence of his society, and it became his habit to meditate from time to time in the Cave of Hira, near the "Mountain of Light" outside Makkah.

At the age of 40, during one of these retreats, Muhammad received his first revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for twenty-three years, is known as the Qur'an. Despite bitter persecution, he and his followers held firm; in the year 622 they emigrated to the city of Madinah — the Hijra, which marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar. After several years the Prophet and his followers returned to Makkah, forgave their enemies, and established Islam definitively. Before he died at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia was Muslim, and within a century of his death Islam had spread from Spain in the west to China in the east.

What is the Qur'an?

The Qur'an is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad. It was memorized by Muhammad, then dictated to his companions, and written down by scribes who cross-checked it during his lifetime. Not one word of its 114 chapters has been changed over the centuries, so that the Qur'an is in every detail the unique and miraculous text revealed fourteen centuries ago. It is the prime source of every Muslim's faith and practice, dealing with wisdom, doctrine, worship and law — but its basic theme is the relationship between God and His creatures.

The Sunna — the practice and example of the Prophet — is the second authority for Muslims. A Hadith is a reliably transmitted report of what the Prophet said, did, or approved.

What are the "Five Pillars" of Islam?

They are the framework of Muslim life: faith, prayer, concern for the needy, self-purification, and pilgrimage for those who are able.

1. Faith (Shahada): There is no god worthy of worship except God, and Muhammad is His messenger.

2. Prayer (Salah): Five obligatory prayers a day, a direct link between the worshipper and God, said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall.

3. Zakat: The belief that all things belong to God, and wealth is held by human beings in trust. Most Muslims pay 2.5% of their capital each year to those in need.

4. Fasting (Sawm): Every year in the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from first light until sundown, abstaining from food, drink and marital relations, as a method of self-purification.

5. Pilgrimage (Hajj): The annual pilgrimage to Makkah is an obligation once in a lifetime for those who are physically and financially able. About two million people make the journey each year, wearing simple garments that strip away distinctions of class and culture, so that all stand equal before God.

Does Islam tolerate other beliefs?

The Qur'an says: "God forbids you not, with regards to those who fight you not for your faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them; for God loveth those who are just." (60:8) It is one function of Islamic law to protect the privileged status of minorities, which is why non-Muslim places of worship have flourished across the Islamic world throughout history.

What do Muslims think about Jesus?

Muslims respect and revere Jesus, and await his second coming. They consider him one of the greatest of God's messengers to mankind, and never refer to him without adding "peace be upon him." The Qur'an confirms his virgin birth — a chapter of the Qur'an is entitled "Mary" — and describes Mary as the purest woman in all creation. Neither Muhammad nor Jesus came to change the basic doctrine of belief in One God brought by earlier prophets, but to confirm and renew it.

How do Muslims view death?

Like Jews and Christians, Muslims believe that the present life is only a trial preparation for the next realm of existence. Basic articles of faith include the Day of Judgement, resurrection, Heaven and Hell. The Prophet taught that three things can continue to help a person even after death: charity which they had given, knowledge which they had taught, and prayers on their behalf by a righteous child.

How does Islam guarantee human rights?

Freedom of conscience is laid down by the Qur'an itself: "There is no compulsion in religion." (2:256) The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred whether a person is Muslim or not. Racism is incomprehensible to Muslims, for the Qur'an speaks of human equality directly, honoring people not by race or wealth, but by piety alone.