Introducing Islam

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Introducing Islam
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In the name of Godthe most mercifulthe most
compassionate
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Islam

• The Arabic meaning of Islam is submission to
  God/Allah the creator of the universe.
• Islam provides a comprehensive concept to
  humanitys eternal question who are we?
• Islam is a comprehensive and balanced system of
  life encompassing the spiritual and the temporal
  realms.

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The Creator

• Attributes
• Genderless and beyond imagination
• Mercy
• We are his honoured creatures
• Direct relationship between God and the believers
• Worship is intimate personal

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Humanity on Earth A purpose and a design

• Trustees of God on Earth

• Relationship with Nature Environment
• Harmony
• Complementary
• Animals are like us

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Relationship with fellow humans
Relationship with other religions

• Freedom of faith no compulsion in religion
• Freedom of religious practice
• Special status for Christian and Jews (monotheist
  outlook)

• Inherent designed diversity
• Based on justice fairness
• Obligations towards the poor

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Five tenets of Islam

• 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)

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The ProphetHis 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.

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The ProphetHis 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.

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The ProphetThe 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

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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 worlds languages

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The Quran

• Appeals to the mind to reflect on creations and
  the creator
• Glad tidings for the believers
• Admonitions to the non-believers
• Stories of previous messengers of God such as
  Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Jesus, Mary, etc.
• Rulings on social and commercial issues.

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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 (145)
• 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.(342-43)
• 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.
  (345-46)

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The Muslim legal code Sharia

• 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 Muhammads prominent
  companions.
• Opinions of previous jurisprudents
• Opinions of contemporary scholars
• Importance of majority and consensus

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The Mosque

• The Muslims 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.

Islamic Foundation, Scarborough
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Friday sermon prayers
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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

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The Muslims of Canada

• Muslims in Canada 700,000-750,000 with about
  450,000 in GTA.
• 86 live in 6 metropolitan areas Toronto,
  Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary and
  Edmonton.
• Notable countries of origin Pakistan, India,
  Guyana, Somalia and Arab countries (North Africa
  in Montreal).

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The Muslims of Canada

• Young 27 of the Muslims are in age group 25 to
  44 years and have one or more university degrees,
  60 higher than the population as a whole.
• Muslim families derive only 4 of their total
  income from social security programs. The
  Canadian average is 7.
• There are only five people working to support one
  in retirement in the country, among Muslims there
  are 15 workers to support each retiree.
• The income of Muslims is below the national
  average. In Toronto, about 60 of Muslim children
  live below poverty line, compared with 14 for
  Jewish children.

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Muslims in the GTA

• Their numbers about 450,000.
• Mostly in Scarborough, Markham, north Etobicoke,
  and Mississauga.
• About 55 mosques.
• About 15 full-time schools and many weekend
  schools at mosques.
• Housing co-op, seniors home, and ISSRA.

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Muslims in the GTAMAJOR MOSQUES/ORGANIZATIONS

• Islamic Foundation, Markham
• Madina Mosque, Toronto
• Abubakr Mosque, Scarborough
• TARIC Mosque, N York
• Islamic Centre of Canada, Mississauga
• Al-Falah Mosque, north Oakville
• Khalid bin Al-Walid Mosque, Etobicoke
• Islamic Community Centre of Ontario, Etobicoke
• Masjid Toronto, Toronto downtown

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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.

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The Muslim Women

• The first to accept Muhammads 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.

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The Muslim Women

• The family/home is the focus of the majority of
  Muslim women many qualified women dont 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

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Islamic Terrorism

• The expression
• New phenomenon for Muslims.
• Politically, and not religiously, rooted.
• Grows with despair and hopelessness.
• Hijacking
• Suicide bombing
• It has only political solutions.

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Myths
Realities

1. Muslims have existed fundamentally and
   irreparably in a state of conflict with the
   Judeo-Christian civilization.
2. Islam is fundamentally aggressive or
   totalitarian.
3. Jihad can always have a radicalizing potential
   upon any and all Muslims.
4. Muslims have different sets of standards or rules
   when dealing with non-Muslims

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The Muslims Aspirations
For the past year Americans have asked why
Muslims and Arabs hate them. Now they have the
most American of tools, opinion polls, to provide
answers. The results of half a dozen surveys
show, broadly, that America is not hated for
itself, but rather widely mistrusted because of
its policies in the region that there is no
clash of civilisations between Islam and the West
since both share similar values and concerns
that Muslims would like to have better relations
with America and that even the most conservative
Muslim societies are changing fast. Here are some
highlights
The Economist, October 19, 2002
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The Muslims Aspirations
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The Muslims Aspirations
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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.

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Winning the Muslims

• While the absolute majority are law-abiding
  citizens, theyll feel uneasy about cooperation
  with the police for the following reasons
• Police in countries of origin represents the
  repression of the state and the corruption of its
  apparatus.
• The perception, growing stronger everyday, about
  a hidden agenda against Islam and Muslims.
• US policies (foreign and domestic) are perceived
  as biased against Islamic issues.
• Muslims feel under siege especially with
  increased scrutiny, stereotype and frenzy.

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Winning the Muslims

• Know them better their religion and culture(s).
• Communicate with leaders and institutions to
  build trust and cooperation.
• Solicit advice from leaders on handling issues
  and situations.
• PR directed at Muslims and participation in
  Muslim events to socialize with Muslims.
• Affirmative recruitment of Muslims to the force.
• Show respect and understanding soft approach
  works better than hard one.

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