Islam
No Compulsion
Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth
stands out clear from Error. Whoever rejects
evil and believes in God has grasped the
most trustworthy hand-hold, that never
breaks. And God hears and knows all things.
(The Holy Quran, 2.256)
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
World Distribution of Muslims
Africa 308,660,000 27.4%
Asia 778,362,000 69.1%
Europe 32,032,000 2.8%
Latin America 1,356,000 0.1%
North America 5,530,000 0.5%
World 1,126,325,000 100%
Source: Britannica Yearbook, 1997
The Basics of Faith
Belief in One God (Allah)
Belief in Prophethood
All the Divine Books as revealed by God to
various prophets
Angels, Jinns(Demons), Life after Death and
the Day of Judgment, Heaven and Hell
Allah – the One God
Allah is the Arabic name for God used by
Muslims of the world as well as Arab
Christians.
Say: He is God, the One and Only; God,
the Eternal, Absolute; He begets not, nor is
He begotten; And there is none like unto
Him. (The Quran, Chapter 112)
Prophets and Scriptures
SOME 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
Prophet Muhammad
Descendant of Ishmael, the first son of Abraham.
Born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in the year 570 C.E.
Received first revelation at the age 40 through angel
Gabriel.
Died in the year 632 C.E, after preaching Islam for 23
years.
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW said about him:
"He must be called the Saviour of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to
assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its
problems in a way that would bring it much needed peace and happiness."
(The Genuine Islam, Singapore, Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936)
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
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.
Quran: Verse 8:12
Often misinterpreted Verse by Islam bashers:
Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the
message): "I am with you: give firmness to the
Believers: I will instill terror into the hearts of the
Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite
all their finger-tips off them."
(The Quran, 8.12)
Quran: Verse 8:61
008.061 But if the enemy incline towards peace, do thou (also)
incline towards peace, and trust in God: for He is One that hears
and knows (all things).
060.008 God forbids you not, with regard 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 loves those who are
just.
060.009 God only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you
for (your) Faith, and drive you out of your homes, and support
(others) in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship
and protection). It is such as turn to them (in these
circumstances), that do wrong.
Worship and
Obedience
Prayers (Salah)
Charity (Zakat)
Fasting ( Ramadan)
Pilgrimage (Hajj)
Any act done according to Quran and Sunnah to
please God
Prayers (Salah)
Five Daily Prayers from Dawn to
Late Evening regulate a Muslim’s day
Prayers involve ablution, standing,
bowing, prostrating, sitting postures
Face Kabah, prayers in Arabic as
taught by the Prophet.
Additional Prayers optional
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
Fasting
002.183 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)
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
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
Muslim Non-Muslim
Relations
A Christian King of Ethopia
Treaty with Jews of Madinah
Letter to Moncks of St. Catherine
A Christian King Negus of
Ethiopia
Negus gives Protection to
migrated Muslims
First Muslim-Christian
Governmental Interaction
Treaty with Jews of Medina
Prophet has to migrate to Medina (about
200 miles from Mecca)
Signs a treaty with Jews of Medina
No compulsion in Religion
Letter to Moncks
Verily,I defend them by myself, the
servants, the helpers, and my followers,
because Christians are my citizens; and by
Allah! I hold out against anything that
displeases them. No compulsion is to be on
them.
Their churches are to be respected.
Some Quotations from
Quran and Hadith
• Food
• Mothers
• Daughters
• Human Equality
• Justice
• Repel Evil with Goodness
• Suicide is a grave sin
Food
002.172 O ye who believe! Eat of the good things
that We have provided for you, and be grateful to
God, if it is Him ye worship.
Forbidden:
• Meat of animals found dead
• blood
• the flesh of swine
• Alcoholic beverages (such as beer and wine) and
intoxicants
• Meat on which name of God is not invoked at time of
slaughtering or meat on which some one else’s name is
invoked
Permitted: food of the People of the Book
MOTHERS
The Qur'an elevates kindness to parents (especially
mothers) to a status second only to the worship of Allah.
Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him and
that you be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them
attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of
contempt nor repel them, but address them in terms of
honor. (Qur'an 17:23)
And We have enjoined on every human being (to be good)
to his/her parents: in travail upon travail did his/her
mother bear him/her and in years twain was his/her
weaning: (hear the command) "Show gratitude to me and
to your parents: to Me is (your final) destiny." (Qur'an
31:14)
DAUGHTERS
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be on him) said,
Whosoever has a daughter and does not bury her
alive, does not insult her, and does not favor his son
over her, Allah will enter him into Paradise.
(Ahmad)
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"
Justice in Islam
"Do not let your hatred of a people incite you to aggression."
(Quran 5:2)
"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 5:8)
‘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
4:135)
Repel Evil with Goodness
041.034 Nor can goodness and Evil be equal.
Repel (Evil) with what is better: Then will he
between whom and thee was hatred become
as it were thy friend and intimate!
003.134 Those who spend (freely), whether
in prosperity, or in adversity; who restrain
anger, and pardon (all) men; for God loves
those who do good.
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,
4:29)
