Islam

The misunderstood
faith
 5 pillars of Islam
• Shahadah =faith/testimony
• Salat =prayer
• Seyaam=fasting Ramadan
• Zakkah=obligatory charity
• Hajj=pilgrimage
 1st Pillar: Shahadah
faith/testimony
• La Elaha Ella Allah, • Mohammed Rasool
• La = no Allah.
• Elaha= god • Mohammed=Arabic
• Ella = except man ,
died~1400years ago
• Allah=God
• Rasool=prophet
• No god but God
• Allah=God
• Mohammed is the
prophet of God
 Allah
Holy Quran chapter 114
In the name of Allah, Most
Gracious, Most Merciful.
[1] Say: He is Allah, the One
and Only;
[2] Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
[3] He begetteth not, nor is He
begotten;
[4] And there is none like unto
Him.
 Allah :name in the bible

• ALLELUYA = YA ALLA HU = OH! Allah

• Elohim =Eloh +im (pleural), translated to
Allah in Arabic bible.
 Allah
• Arabs called Allah , the God of their father
Ibrahim, the God of gods.
• Mohammed’s (PBUH) father name is
Abdullah, meaning slave of Allah
• Jews used the name Abdullah before
prophet’s birth.
• The word Allah is used in Arabic
translation of the bible. Also it exists in
some old versions of English translations.
 It doesn’t matter
He has many names, they all mean
the same.
• [Holy Quran 17:110]
Say: "Call upon Allah, or
call upon Rahman: by
whatever name ye call
upon Him, (it is well): for
to Him belong the Most
Beautiful Names. “
 Allah
• [22] Allah is He, than Whom there is no
other god; Who knows (all things) both
secret and open; He, Most Gracious,
Most Merciful.
• [23] Allah is He, than Whom there is no
other god; the Sovereign, the Holy One,
the Source of Peace (and Perfection),
the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver of
Safety, the Exalted in Might, the
Irresistible, the Supreme: Glory to Allah!
(High is He) above the partners they
attribute to Him.
• [24] He is Allah, the Creator, the
Evolver, the Bestower of Forms (or
Colours). To Him belong the Most
Beautiful Names: whatever is in the
heavens and on earth, doth declare His
Praises and Glory; and He is the
Exalted in Might, the Wise.
 Story of Prophet Mohammed
(PBUH)
• He was born to Arab parents from the tribe of
Quraish, in Makkah.
• Quraish worshiped ~360 gods they had in
Makkah. They believed these gods will get them
closer to the God of gods (Allah, Ibrahim’s Lord).
• His parents died very early.
• He never worshiped Idols, drank Alcohol or lied.
• He worked as a shepherd and then as a trader.
• Known to people in Makkah as “the Honest”.
 Cont-story of Mohammed (PBUH)
• Mohammed searched for the truth but
couldn’t find it in the polytheistic religion of
Quraish.
• He started worshipping Allah following
what he had of the teachings of Ibrahim.
Being an illiterate man, he had no real
access about Ibrahim’s monotheistic faith.
 Cont-story of Mohammed (PBUH)
• At the age of 40, Gabriel appeared to him,
the first revelation of Quran was given to
him.
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most
Merciful.
[1] Proclaim! (or Read!) In the name of thy Lord
and Cherisher, Who created,
[2] Created man, out of a (mere) clot of
congealed blood:
[3] Proclaim! and thy Lord is Most Bountiful,
[4] He Who taught (the use of) the Pen,
Correct translation:
[5] Taught man that which he knew not.
Alak=leach
[6] Nay, but man doth transgress all bounds,
[7] In that he looketh upon himself as self-
sufficient.
[8] Verily, to thy Lord is the return (of all).
 Cont-story of Mohammed (PBUH)
• Mohammed started teaching people.
• His close family members, friends and
those who knew him well, believed him
immediately , knowing he doesn’t lie.
• Many slaves and poor people believed in
Islam, being attracted to its revolutionary
social system and to the true monotheistic
religion.
 Cont-story of Mohammed (PBUH)
• Mohammed (PBUH) and his followers
suffer a lot so they started finding a safe
place.
• The Christian king of Abyssinia , gave
Mohammed followers a safe place to hide.
• Later, Arab tribes in Medina heard about
the prophet. Being informed about the
soon coming of a prophet by their Jewish
neighbors, they listened to him and then
believed him.
 Cont-story of Mohammed (PBUH)
• Arab tribes had multiple wars with the
prophet and Muslims.
• Finally, victory was for Islam and Makkah
fall in hands of the prophet.
• He forgave all his enemies and soon, his
followers became in hundreds of
thousands.
• He died at the age of 63.
 Song of Solomon 5
Name Muhammed is mentioned in
original Hebrew text
16 His mouth is most sweet; yea, he is altogether lovely.
This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of
Jerusalem.'
,‫ מַחֲמַדִים; זֶה דודִי וְזֶה רֵעִי‬,‫ וְכֻלו‬,‫ מַמְתַקִים‬,‫טז חִכו‬
‫בְנות יְרושָלִָם‬
Source http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt3001.htm
• ‫= מ‬m ֲ‫ ח‬h=‫= ד‬d ‫= י‬e ‫= ם‬final m
• ‫ = די ם מ חֲ מ‬Mhmdem, remember em means pleural in
Hebrew which indicates respect e.g. Elohem (one god
with full respect), so Mhmdem is Mhmd with full respect.

• Solomon 5:10 he is mentioned as “pre-eminent above

ten thousand.” indicating his concurrence of Makkah
leading 10000 Muslims.
 Mohammed
• The New Testament says, in the words of Jesus: "And I will Pray the
Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide
with you for ever" (John 14:16);
• "But when the Comforter is come, whom i will send unto you, from
the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, which proceedeth from the
Father, he shall testify of me" (John 15:26);
• "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go
away; for that if I go not away , the Comforter will not come unto
you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you" (John 16:7) ;
• "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them
now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will guide you
into all truth : for he shall not speak of himself: but whatsoever he
shall hear, that he shall speak: and he will show you things to come.
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it
unto you" (John 16:12-14).
 1    MUHAMMAD
570-632
• My choice of Muhammad to lead the
list of the world's most influential
persons may surprise some readers
and may be questioned by others, but
he was the only man in history who
was supremely successful on both
the religious and secular levels.
• It is probable that the relative
influence of Muhammad on Islam has
been larger than the combined
influence of Jesus Christ and St. Paul
on Christianity.
• It is this unparalleled combination of
secular and religious influence which
I feel entitles Muhammad to be
considered the most influential single
figure in human history.
• http://www.adherents.com/adh_influ.html
 Mohammed PBUH
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW said about him:

• "He must be called the Savior 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."

• "I have studied him — the wonderful man — and

in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ he
must be called the savior of humanity."
(The Genuine Islam, Singapore, Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936)
2nd pillar = Salaat
 Wuduu=Ablution
• "O you who believe! When you
rise up to prayer, wash your
faces and your hands as far as
the elbows, and wipe your
heads, and wash your feet to
the ankles."-(HOLY QURAN
5:7)
• "And Moses and Aaron and his
sons washed their hands and
their feet thereat; when they
went into tent of the
congregation they washed as
the Lord commanded Moses."-
(EXODUS 40:31-32).
 Salaat=prayer
• "So turn thy face toward the
Sacred Mosque, and (O
Muslims), wheresoever ye
may be, turn your faces
toward it."- (HOLY QURAN
2:144).

• "Now when Daniel...went into

his house; and his window
being open in his chamber
towards Jerusalem, he
kneeled upon his knees three
times a day, and prayed, and
thanks before his God, as he
did aforetime."-(DANIEL 6:10).
 Opening of the book= Fatiha
[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.
 Sojood= prostration
• "O you who believe! Bow down
and prostrate yourselves and
serve your Lord, and do good
that you may prosper."-(HOLY
QURAN 22:77).
• "And he (Jesus) went a little
further, and fell on his face, and
prayed..."-(MATTHEW 26:39).
• "And Joshua fell on his face to the
earth, and did worship..."-
(JOSHUA 5:14).
• "And he (Elijah) cast himself down
upon the earth, and put his face
between his knees."-(1 KINGS
18:42).
• "And they (Moses and Aaron) fell
upon their faces..."-(NUMBERS
20:6).
• "And Abraham fell on his face..."-
(GENESIS 17:3).
3 pillar Seyaam
rd

Fasting
 Fasting
• [Holy Quran 2:183]
O ye who believe!
Fasting is prescribed
to you as it was
prescribed to those
before you, that ye
may (learn) self-
restraint.
 Fasting
• According to Islamic resources; Prophet David
used to fast every other day. Prophet Noah
fasted for his whole life .
• Prophet Mohammed used to fast 2 days every
week; Monday and Thursday.

• Jesus "fasted forty days and forty nights“

(Matthew 4:2).
• Disciples were fasting: "they fasted and prayed"
(Acts 14:23).
 Fasting
• Means abstinence from eating and drinking from
dawn to sunset time on the day of fasting
• Obligatory only in Ramadan(9th month of Islamic
lunar calendar) : healthy individuals able to fast.
• No fasting: Pregnant, nursing, ill, old, child and
traveler.
• Fasting in days other than Ramadan: breaking
oath, single unable to get married, optional.
 Fasting
Benefits
• Piety: Help believers to reach piety.
• Learn self-control: especially helpful to control
bad habits like smoking, excessive eating and in
the case of single unmarried persons; control
sexual desire.
• Feel the pain of poor starving people.
• Feel the weakness of one’s body and the
continuous need for God’s support.
• Bring Muslim families, and Muslims allover the
world together, when they fast then brake the
fasting at the same time.
4 pillar Zakaah
th

obligatory charity
 Zakaah
• [Quran 2:177] It is not
righteousness that ye turn your
faces towards East or West; but it
is righteousness to believe in
Allah and the Last Day, and the
Angels, and the Book, and the
Messengers; to spend of your
substance, out of love for Him, for
your kin, for orphans, for the
needy, for the wayfarer, for those
who ask, and for the ransom of
slaves; to be steadfast in prayer,
and practice regular charity, to
fulfill the contracts which ye have
made; and to be firm and patient,
in pain (or suffering) and
adversity, and throughout all
periods of panic. Such are the
people of truth, the God-fearing.
 Zakaah
• 2.5% of savings go to the
poor.
• Savings should be in
hand for a full year.
• Not calculated on basis
of income like tax.
• Personal obligation.
• Example: You make 60,000$ per year.
You spend most of this money but
saved 5,000 over the last year and
added them to your 100,000 savings
you had since last year.
Zakaah=2.5% X 100,000= 2,500$ paid
in full. Notice that your income and your
savings over the past year were not
used to calculate Zakaah.
 Zakaah
What is the solution?
• 3 billion people are
poor.
• 1.1 billion are
extremely poor
<$1/day.
• World donations: $30
per person annually.
• Solution: rich nations
should give to the
poor ones.
 5 pillar Hajj
th

Pilgrimage to Makkah
Story of Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim)
• Ibrahim’s (PBUH) 2nd wife , Hajar delivers
Ismael, Ibrahim’s 1st son.
• God orders Ibrahim to leave his wife and her
baby in a valley that had no water or food,
known as Bakkah (later known as Makkah).
• Ibrahim obeys the order and leave his family
there.
• Hajar and her baby had no water. She starts
looking for water going back and forth between
two plains, Safa and Marwa. She walks 7 times
between them with no success.
 Continue-story of Ibrahim
• God sends the angel, Gabriel, to dig a well
of water under the feet of Ismael.
• Hajar comes to the water and start holding
the water between her hands saying zam-
zam, meaning stop stop.
• Arab tribes come to Bakkah and ask Hajar
to use her water and since she liked to
have people around her, she agrees.
 Continue-story of Ibrahim
• Ibrahim comes back to visit his family
many times. One time, he is ordered in a
dream to sacrifice his son, Ismael.
• Satan try to convince Ibrahim not to kill his
son, so Ibrahim starts throwing stones on
Satan.
• Ibrahim obeys but God saves Ismael
through a miracle and orders Ibrahim to
sacrifice a lamb instead.
 Continue-story of Ibrahim
• Ibrahim and Ismael are ordered to build
the house of God in Bakkah, called
Kaabah.
• Ibrahim is ordered to make a call for Hajj.
Ibrahim makes the call and every human
being hears the call and those who are
destined to respond will keep coming until
the last hour.
Kaabah
• [3;96] The first House (of
worship) appointed for men
was that at Bakka; full of
blessing and of guidance for
all kinds of beings:
• [3;97] In it are Signs
manifest; (for example), the
Station of Ibrahim; whoever
enters it attains security;
pilgrimage thereto is a duty
men owe to Allah, those who
can afford the journey; but if
any deny faith, Allah stands
not in need of any of His
creatures.
Makkah in the Bible.
Psalm 84-NIV
al·tar P n.
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, An elevated place or structure
O LORD Almighty! before which religious
2 My soul yearns, even faints, ceremonies may be enacted or
for the courts of the LORD ; upon which sacrifices may be
my heart and my flesh cry out offered.
for the living God. Source: The American Heritage®
3 Even the sparrow has found a home, Dictionary of the English
and the swallow a nest for herself, Language, Fourth Edition
where she may have her young- Copyright © 2000 by Houghton
a place near your altar, Mifflin Company.
O LORD Almighty, my King and my Published by Houghton Mifflin
God. Company. All rights reserved.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your
house;
they are ever praising you.
Selah
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in
you,
who have set their hearts on
pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with
pools.
Arafat
 Forbidden in Islam
• Shirk: worshiping anybody/anything other than God.
• Treating parents badly: not obeying there orders,
speaking to them in loud voice even if they have a
different faith.
• murder, suicide.
• Stealing.
• Adultery, homosexuality.
• Usury: Mortgage, credit card with interest, bank interest.
• Gambling.
• Treating neighbors badly even if they have a different
faith.
• Backbiting.
• Drinking Alcohol.
• Eating pork.
 Behavioral aspects
 Muslims should:
• Love Allah, his messengers and the believers.
• Be honest.
• Be generous.
• Visit the ill.
• Help the weak.
• Smile to others.
• Be clean.
• Remove dirt from the road.
• Dress conservatively.
 World Muslims

• 1.2 billion, Muslims represent

between 19.2% and 22% of the
world's population.
• One of every five humans in the
world is a Muslim
• Second largest religion in the world
• Fastest growing including Europe
and America
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

 American Muslims
• 5.8 million Muslims in the USA
(World Almanac 2001)

• About 40% African

Americans.
• Not all Muslims are
Arabs, Not all Arabs are
Muslims.