ISLAM

Frequently Asked
QuestionsContent by http://www.islamfaq.org
What is Islam

A: Islam means “submission to the will

of God.” Islam teaches belief in only
one God, the Day of Judgment and
individual accountability for actions.
Islam greatly values peace; in fact the
traditional Muslim greeting is
”.“Salaam” which means “peace
 Q: What are the basic teachings
? of Islam
A: The basic teachings of Islam are similar to those of Christianity and Judaism.
Islam teaches the belief in one God, the Angels, the Day of Judgment,
Heaven and Hell, Adam and Eve, Prophets, Prayer, and Equality. There are
:five Pillars of Islam
Faith: Believe in one God and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as his
last messenger
Prayer: Pray towards Mecca five times each day to remember God and thank
him for his grace
Charity: Donate a portion of your wealth to the poor
Fasting: Go without food and drink from sunrise to sunset during the month of
Ramadan to empathize with the poor and learn self-discipline
Pilgrimage: Visit Mecca and perform the Hajj once in a lifetime, if you are able
and have the means
?Q: When was Islam started

A: Contrary to popular belief, Islam was not

started by Muhammad (peace be upon him) in
the 7th century. Muslims, the followers of Islam,
believe that Islam was first followed by Adam,
then by all of the prophets thereafter. Muslims
believe that the same basic message of belief
in one God was communicated through many
prophets including Noah, Abraham, Moses,
Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them)
.over time
?Q: What is a Muslim

A: A “Muslim” is one who follows Islam and

.submits to the will of God
Q: How many Muslims are
?there
A: There are currently 1.2 Billion Muslims in
the world, with 7 million in the United
States. Contrary to popular perception,
only 20% of Muslims are Arabs and live
in the Middle East. The countries with the
largest Muslim populations are India and
Indonesia with about 175 million Muslims
.each
?”Q: Who is “Allah

A: “Allah” is simply the Arabic word for

God, the same God worshiped by
Christians and Jews. It is the God of
Abrahamand Moses, not a different God.
Christian Arabs also refer to God as
“Allah ”.
?Q: What is the Quran/Koran

A: The Quran is the holy book of Islam.

Muslims believe that the Quran was
divinely revealed and is the last
testament of God. The Quran is
preserved in its original Arabic form and
.has never been changed
?Q: Who was Muhammad

A: Muslims believe that Muhammad (peace

be upon him) was a prophet and the last
in a series of messengers of God.
Muslims believe in many prophets
including Adam, Noah, Abraham,
Ishmael, Isaac, Moses, Jesus and
.Muhammad (Peace be upon them)
Q: What does Islam say about
? Christians and Jews
A: Islam teaches that Christians, Jews and 
Muslims are all descended from Abraham and
are “people of the book”. By that it means that
the three religions share the same basic beliefs
articulated through their holy books. Muslims
hold Jesus and Moses (peace be upon them)
in high regard and believe that they were
prophets blessed with the power of miracles to
.show the glory of God
Q: What is an Islamic
? Fundamentalist
A: This term has no basis in Islam. This
term is incorrectly used in the media to
refer to some Middle Eastern people and
does not represent Muslims.
Q: How does Islam view
? terrorism
A: Islam does not support terrorism under
any condition or circumstances.
Terrorism goes against every principle of
Islam. If a Muslim engages in terrorism
he is not following the religion. He may
be wrongly using the name of Islam for
.political or financial gain
Q: How does Islam view
? killing innocent people

A: Islam does not condone the killing of

innocent people under any condition or
circumstances. It is one of the greatest
. sins in Islam
Q: How does Islam view
suicide

A: Islam states that life is a gift from God

and must be cherished. Suicide is a
major sin in Islam and not permitted or
justifiable under any circumstances.
 Q: What is “Jihad
”

A: Jihad does not mean "holy war". Jihad in

Arabic means to strive, struggle and
exert effort. It is a central and broad
Islamic concept that includes struggle
against evil inclinations within oneself,
struggle to improve the quality of life in
society, for self-defense or fighting
.against tyranny or oppression
? Q: What is a “Fatwa

A: A “Fatwa” is a religious ruling to a

question based on Islamic law and
.issued by Islamic scholars
Q: How does Islam view
?women
A: Islam views women as equal to but
different from men. Islam teaches that
women must be respected and protected.
Islam does not condone oppression of
women but to the contrary provides many
rights to women. In some Middle Eastern
countries women may be limited in
certain rights. This is not due to Islam but
due to the culture of that area.
Q: Why do Muslim women
? cover their hair
A: Islam teaches modesty for women and
men. Women are required to cover their
bodies so that their figure is not revealed
and that only their face and hands are
shown. This requirement is designed to
protect women and give them respect.
The dress of Muslim women is very
similar to that of Christian Nuns who also
.cover their bodies and hair
?Q: What is a Mosque/Masjid

A: A Mosque or Masjid is a place of

worship for Muslims. Muslims pray in a
mosque in the same way that Christians
. pray in a church
Q: Where can I learn more
? about Islam

A: One way to learn about Islam is to read an

authentic translation of the Quran. Most
libraries carry an English translation by
Abdullah Yusuf Ali. You can also visit the Islam
FAQ website for more answers and information

http://www.islamfaq.org