Islam 101

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Islam 101

• Ahmed Mirza M.D
• Naqshbandiya Foundation For Islamic Education

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Mullah Nasruddin

• A satirical sufi figure who lived during the
  13th century in Greater Khorasanunder the Seljuq
  rule The stories are popular all over the
  world.UNESCO decided to call the year 1996-1997
  International Nasreddin Hodja Year.

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Freedom of SpeechHate
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World Muslims

• 1.2 billion, Muslims represent between 19.2 and
  22 of the world's population.
• One of every five persons in the world is a
  Muslim
• Second largest religion in the world

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World Distribution of Muslims
Source  Britannica Yearbook, 1997
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American Muslims

• 6 million (The New York Times, Feb. 21, 1989)
• About 40 Afro-American
• Not all Muslims are Arabs, Not all Arabs are
  Muslims

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First Muslim Congressman

• Regarding his Muslim faith, he said, "people draw
  strength and moral courage from a variety of
  religious traditions."

• "Mine have come from both Catholicism and Islam.
  I was raised Catholic and later became a Muslim
  while attending Wayne State University. I am
  inspired by the Quran's message of an
  encompassing divine love, and a deep faith guides
  my life every day.

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The Basics of Faith

• Belief in One God (Allah)
• Belief in Prophethood
• Belief in Divine Books
• Belief in Angels
• Belief in Life after Death and the Day of
  Judgment, Heaven and Hell

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Prophets and Scriptures

• PROPHETS Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Ishaq,
  Jacob (Israel), Joseph, Benjamin, Moses, Aaron,
  David, Solomon, Zakareya, John, Jesus, Muhammad
  (peace be on them)
• DIVINE BOOKS Torah, Zabur (Psalms), Injeel
  (Gospel), Quran
• Belief in ALL prophets of God
• Source of All Books is God
• Main Message of all Prophets Islam

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Quran The Holy Book

• Original intact as given by the Prophet in Arabic
• 23 Years of Revelations (610 - 632 C.E.)
• 114 Chapters One Chapter, Multiple Revelations

• Chapter (Surah) names
• Historic Context matters
• Verses Explain Verses
• Commentary needed in the light of Arabic,
  History, and Sunnah

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QuranTeachings

• Sincerity, Responsibility and Integrity
• Honesty, Truthfulness
• Keeping of Commitments
• Justice and Fair Dealing
• Discipline and Self Control
• Humility, Patience and Endurance
• Kindness, Helpfulness and Cooperation
• Charity, Generosity and Hospitality
• Consideration and Good Manners
• Brotherliness, Warmth and Love
• Striving and Hard Work
• Love of Knowledge

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Sunnah and Hadith

• Approvals, disapprovals of the Prophet
• Compiled in separate books, known as Hadith
  books, after the death of the Prophet
• Classified from authentic to false.

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Worship and Obedience

• Prayers (Salah)
• Charity (Zakat)
• Fasting ( Ramadan)
• Pilgrimage (Hajj)
• Any act done according to Quran and Sunnah to
  please God

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Prayers (Salah)

• Five Daily Prayers from Dawn to Late Evening
  regulate a Muslims day
• Prayers involve ablution, standing, bowing,
  prostrating, sitting postures
• Face Kabah, prayers in Arabic as taught by the
  Prophet.
• Additional Prayers optional

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Charity (Zakat)

• 024.056 So establish regular Prayer and give
  regular Charity and obey the Apostle that ye
  may receive mercy. (The Quran)
• Required 2.5 charity on yearly savings
• A Muslim must be a charitable person
• Removing a stone from the road is charity
• Greeting with a smile is a charity

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Fasting

• O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as
  it was prescribed to those before you, that ye
  may (learn) self-restraint. (The Quran 002.183 )
• Ramadan is 9th month in Islamic Lunar calendar
• Daily dawn to sunset fast for 29/30 days (no food
  or drink)
• Eidul-Fitr Holiday at the end

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Hajj (Pilgrimage)

• Pilgrimage to Makkah once in life time for able
  Muslims
• About 2-3 million Muslims perform Hajj each year
  from all over the world.
• Eidul-Adha the biggest Muslim Holiday

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Human Equality in Islam

• Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said
• "No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab,
  nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an
  Arab. Nor does a white man have any superiority
  over a black man, or the black man any
  superiority over the white man. You are all the
  children of Adam, and Adam was created from clay"

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Justice in Islam

• "Do not let your hatred of a people incite you to
  aggression." (Quran 52)
• "And do not let ill-will towards any folk incite
  you so that you swerve from dealing justly. Be
  just that is nearest to heedfulness." (Quran
  58)
• Oh you who believe, stand up firmly for justice,
  as witnesses to God, even if it be against
  yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and
  whether it be against rich or poor for God can
  best protect both. Do not follow any passion,
  lest you not be just. And if you distort or
  decline to do justice, verily God is
  well-acquainted with all that you do. (Quran
  4135)

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Suicide is a Grave Sin

• O ye who believe! Eat not up your property
  among yourselves in vanities But let there be
  amongst you Traffic and trade by mutual
  good-will Nor kill (or destroy) yourselves for
  verily God has been to you Most Merciful! (Quran,
  429)

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Islamic Art

• InnLlaha jamilun,yuhibbu l-jamal
• Verily God is beautifulHe loves beauty

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Islamic Art

• The idea dominating all Islamic Art is that
  of Unity.
• The world manifests Divine Unity in multiple
  mode,
• Unity in Multiplicity mirrors Multiplicity in
  Unity
• Titus Burckhardt

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Questions and Answers

• Surah Al-Fatehah
• (Chapter 1 The Opening)
• 1. In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most
  Merciful.
• 2. Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and
  Sustainer of the worlds
• 3. Most Gracious, Most Merciful
• 4. Master of the Day of Judgment.
• 5. Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.
• 6. Show us the straight way,
• 7. The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed
  Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath,
  and who go not astray.