Lesson 1: ISLAM & MUSLIMS

… Continued from the previous

week
 What is “ISLAM” ?
Structure of Islam
ISLAM = Organizing life Fulfilling the RIGHTS of all with whom/with which
one interacts

God Humans Creatures Self

Faith & Worship Social Interaction Environmental Care

Personal Developmen
Inward Aspects Inner Self
Parents Animals
- Faith (Iman)) - Morals
- Sincerity (Ikhlas ) - Manners
- God-consciousness
- (Taqwa) Relatives - Shunning evil inclinations
Plants - Cultivating good conduct
- Complete Trust (Tawakkul )
Neighbors
Outward Aspects Inanimates Outer Self
- Prayers (Salah) Muslims - Cleanliness /Hygiene
supplication (dua, dhikr , - Proper dress
istighfaar) - Proper food & drinks
- Charity (Zakah),
( (sadaqa) Non-Muslims - Acquiring knowledge /
- Fasting (Sawm) education
- Pilgrimage (Hajj)
( - Earning livelihood
 WHAT IS
“ISLAM”?
Some other perspectives:

A COURSE

A Course in self-management and in interpersonal

conduct, focusing all the while on responding to God’s
presence and submitting to His guidance, thereby
attaining peace and fulfillment in life, and making clear
the meaning to our existence in this world.
 USAGE OF THE TERM:
“ISLAM”
ISLAM refers to a historically recognized religion
As commonly understood starting from the time of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) .

s The term ISLAM is used with its functional

meaning in an abstract sense .
In a specific senseby time and place.
It is not limited
In the Islamic sense s Thus, it refers to the religion of all prophets
(The Qur’anic usage) of GOD and their followers , throughout the
history, all over the world .
In a generic sense
s ISLAM from the time of Prophet Mohammed
(pbuh) refers to its last phase.
 USAGE OF THE TERM:
“ISLAM”
ISLAM refers to a historically recognized religion
As commonly understoodIn astarting
genericfrom sense
the time of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) .
In a specific sense

s The term ISLAM is used with its functional

In the Islamic / Qur'anic
usage
meaning in an abstract sense .
It is not limited by time and place.
s Thus, it refers to the religion of all prophets
of GOD and their followers , throughout the
history, all over the world .

s ISLAM from the time of Prophet Mohammed

(pbuh) refers to its last phase.
 ISLAM: NOT A NEW
RELIGION

s God is one.
s Mankind , as a biologic species is one; the basic nature of man is the same.
s Accordingly,
- God’s message, or His guidance to mankind, has to be the same.
- The religion from the same God is expected to bethe one and the same.
 ISLAM: NOT A NEW
RELIGION
Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) was NOT the ‘founder’ of Islam

Islam was not founded or started by him:

- He did not claim to be the founder of a religion
- The Qur’an does not indicate so

On the contrary, the Qur’an asserts that ISLAM

- was the religion of all the previous Prophets of God
- is the original religion for mankind prescribed by God.
 ISLAM: NOT A NEW
RELIGION
َ‫سحَاقَ وَيَ ْعقُوبَ وَالسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِي‬ ْ ِ‫ل إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنْ ِزلَ ِإلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ َوإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإ‬
َ ‫قُولُوا آمَنّا بِالِّ وَمَا أُنْ ِز‬
َ‫سلِمُون‬
ْ ُ‫ن َأحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ وَ َنحْنُ لَهُ م‬َ ْ‫ي النّبِيّونَ مِنْ رَبّهِمْ ل نُفَرّقُ بَي‬ َ ِ‫مُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَمَا أُوت‬
Say: ‘ We believe in God, and the revelation given to us,
and to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and their
descendants, and that which was given to Moses, Jesus,
and all the other prophets from their Lord. We make no
distinction between any of them, and it is unto Him we
have surrendered ourselves. (2:136)

َ‫ع لَكُمْ مِنَ الدّينِ مَا َوصّى بِهِ نُوحًا وَالّذِي أَ ْوحَيْنَا ِإلَ ْيكَ وَمَا وَصّيْنَا بِهِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَمُوسَى وَعِيسَى أَنْ َأقِيمُوا الدّين‬
َ َ‫شَر‬

He has ordained for you that deen (religion or way of life) which He
had enjoined upon Noah – into which We gave thee [O Mohammed]
insight through revelation – and that which We enjoined upon
Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: you should remain steadfast in religion
and make no divisions therein… (42:13)
 ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE OF
OTHER MAJOR RELIGIONS

The major world religions of today are STAGES /

LINKS
to the same original religion for mankind:
“SUBMISSION TO GOD’S WILL” – ISLAM
God has sent Prophets and Messengers to every nation in the
world throughout history… The Qurán
To every people [was sent] a messenger. …(10:47)
Of some messengers We have already mentioned unto you,
of others We have not. … (4:164)
 ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE OF
OTHER MAJOR RELIGIONS

The present day major religions

Originally, ISLAM (-- in its functional/generic sense),

But with passage of time, they lost their purity

- to different degrees,
- at different places, and were identified
- with different names.

Still, we can find some striking similarities in the teachings of these

religions.
 ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE OF
OTHER MAJOR RELIGIONS

– They were identified with different NAMES

due to various historical factors.

– These names bear no religious sanctity.

-- Neither given by GOD, nor by the so called “founders”
-- Rather given by people outside that Faith
-- At a later time
-- Derived after the name of a person (‘founder’?), a tribe, or a
place, etc.
 ISLAM: BEFORE
PROPHET MOHAMMED (pbuh)
―The ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

As regards the basics and essentials : No difference

.

Basics and essentials

• Beliefs : Belief in One True God, in His Prophets and in their Messages , in the life after death ,
Day of Judgment, reward and punishment (heaven & hell), in the angels , etc.
• Practices : Worship of One True God alone , living a life of goodness and peace , moral values , etc.

As regards certain legal codes : some minor differences

This is because :
• The needs and the stages of development of the society and civilization
varied with time and place , and
• The Prophets earlier to Mohammed (pbuh) were local , for their own people ;
i.e., they were not sent for the whole world and for all times .
 ISLAM: AFTER
PROPHET MOHAMMED (pbuh)
―The ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

Islam as preached by Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) :

► In its FINAL stage

Thus,
► The final Divine Message (the Last Testament) preserved intact

► Available to all in its original,

uncorrupted, and
complete form.
 ISLAM: AFTER
PROPHET MOHAMMED (pbuh)
―The ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

The role of Islam from the time of Prophet Mohammed (pbuh):

- Corrective
- Restorative
- Culminative

NOT
- Innovative
- Competitive
 ISLAM: BEFORE
PROPHET MOHAMMED (pbuh)
―The ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but was one who
turned away from all that is false, and surrendered himself unto
God. (3:67)

Noah addressed his people saying: ‘... I have been commanded to

be one of those who submit to God’s will [in Islam].’ (10:72)

The sons of Jacob replying to him said: ‘We shall worship your
God and the God of your fathers – Abraham and Ishmael, and
Isaac – the One God; to Him we bow [in Islam]’. (2:133)
 ISLAM: BEFORE
PROPHET MOHAMMED (pbuh)
―The ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

Some statements of Jesus

(pbuh):
Whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is
my brother, and sister, and mother. (Matthew 12:50)

I can do nothing on my own. As I hear I judge; and my judgment is just,

because I seek to do not my own will, but the will of Him who sent me.
(John 5:30)

... There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the
commandments. (Matthew 19:17)
 ISLAM: BEFORE
PROPHET MOHAMMED (pbuh)
―The ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE

The role of every Prophet/Messenger of God, including

Jesus (pbuh)
 Corrective,
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law, or the prophets; I
reformative
have come not to abolish, but to fulfill.” (Matthew 5:17)

I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew
15:24)

The son of man is come to seek and save that which is lost. (Luke
19:10)
 SOME UNIQUE FEATURES
OF ISLAM

ISLAM
ITS NAME

(already discussed)

ITS SOURCES ITS TEACHINGS ITS RELEVANCE

 The Name: “ISLAM”

1. DESCRIPTIVE
Explains functionality of the religion & its
name outlook on life

2. GOD-GIVEN
Indicates that ISLAM is a religion
name prescribed by God
3. Name with NO ATTACHMENTS
Indicates that ISLAM is for all mankind – it’s
universal
4. Name with NO TIME BOUNDARIES
Indicates the presence and validity of ISLAM
across all times
5. Name with FOCUS ON GOD ALONE
Indicates that ISLAM is the true
religion of God
 Its Basic SOURCES OF
TEACHINHS
The sources are clearly sorted out and prioritized
according to their importance and validity

The first fundamental source of teachings:

•  The revealed words of God, unmixed with words of
  any human, available in one Book – the Qur’an [in one
version in the Arabic language]
The next fundamental source of teachings:
• The sayings, actions and teachings of the Prophet,
authenticated and recorded in several books [of
Hadith]
• The other sources that follow:
These include the works of scholars and historians
available in separate collections.
 Its Basic SOURCES OF
TEACHINHS
The Qur’an is unique : The Prophet is unique :
• 
Literary style & eloquence
• 
Historical figure, no myths
 •
  Transmission  across generations
• 
  Complete Record of his
 
•Preservation - life
     ­  Intact, complete
    ­  During the life time of Prophet - teachings
 historically documented with care
    ­  By memorization  +  writing
    ­  Original language  • Unlettered,
    ­   In a living language 
yet
    ­  The Qurán as literary challenge
• No contradictions in the text     ­   A living miracle 

 
 Its TEACHINHS

•    Simple & straightforward
 •    Clearly defined concepts, undistorted over time
 •   Comprehensive guidance, suitable to all 
   cultures, races and stations in life 
•   No conflict with reason, knowledge, technology 
•  Equality & brotherhood of mankind
 Its APPLICATION to LIFE

•    Applied to every activity; a complete way of life
 •    Practicable standards of life; within reach of all
 •   Balanced & moderate approach to life  
                                          (no extremes)
 Balance between:
- This world & the Hereafter (body & soul)
- Work & worship
- Faith & reason
- God’s grace & human responsibilty
 Its GROWTH

•    With remarkable speed and geographical extent
 •    Practicable standards of life; within reach of all
 •   Balanced & moderate approach to life  
                                          (no extremes)
 Balance between:
- This world & the Hereafter (body & soul)
- Work & worship
- Faith & reason
- God’s grace & human responsibility
Distribution of Muslims
THANK YOU