Introduction to

Islam
Islamic Center of
Pittsburgh
www.icp-pgh.org
icp@icp-pgh.org
Islam: An Overview
 Prophet Muhammad and the Birth
of Islam
 The Muslim Community
 Islam—A Formal Definition
 To Hot to Touch:
 Women
 Jihad

 Resources for the Interested

15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 2
What is in the Name?
 “Islam” derived from an Arabic
word, meaning “to surrender”, with
shadow meanings of “purity” and
“peace”
 Not a religion, in the sense of the
English word—It’s a way of life
 No duality—Everything is from God
and for God
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 3
The Birth Place
 The world’s
three
monotheistic
faith—
Judaism,
Christianity
and Islam—
were born
and
developed inIslamic Center of Pittsburgh
15 Oct. 2002 4
the Middle
The Birth Place
 The Middle East—Historical Context:
 Inhabited by Semites (and other races) who
spoke many languages, including Hebrew
(language of Torah) and Arabic (language of
Qur'an).
 Cradle of many ancient civilizations, e.g.,
Egyptian, Sumerian and Babylonian 
 1st Century: Occupied by Greeks and Romans
 7th - 18th Century: Islamic Civilization and
culture spread through the rest of the world
 11th Century: Several waves of Crusades
 19th - 20th Century: Partitioned among major
Western powers
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 5
The Birth of Islam
 The Arabian Peninsula, currently known
as Saudi Arabia and other Gulf
countries; mostly desert
 Populace of Arabian Peninsula:
 Mostly nomadic tribes
 three Jewish tribes in Yathrib and Yemen
 Some Christians in the north and west
 Mostly pagan, idol worshipers
 Extensive trade between East and West
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 6
Prophet Muhammad
 Born in 570 AD, in Makkah, for the
most powerful and honorable tribe
of the Arabia (Quraysh)
 Lost his father, then mother, then
grandfather; lived with his uncle
 Was illiterate, but respected by all
for his truthfulness, generosity and
sincerity.
 Known
15 Oct. 2002 to beIslamic
trust-worthy
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Prophet Muhammad
 Known to meditate in solitude of
desert, in a cave called Hira’
 Human, but chosen to fulfill divine
mission
 Received 1st revelation from God,
through angel Gabriel, at age of 40
 Revelation continued for 23 years
 Died soon after (632 AD)

15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 8

Qur’an 96:1-5,
First Revelation

In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Proclaim! (or Read!) In the name of thy Lord
and Cherisher, Who created—
Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed
blood:
Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,—
He Who taught (the use of) the Pen; Taught
man
15 Oct. 2002that which he knew
Islamic Center ofnot.
Pittsburgh 9
Fast Forward—Muslims
Today
 Muslim Community World-wide
 Over 1.3 billion people from a vast range of
races, nationalities and cultures across the
globe
 Muslims allover the world are united by their
common Islamic faith
 About 14% live in the Arab world
 Indonesia, the largest Muslim country, is
non-Arab country
 Significant minorities allover the world
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 10
Fast Forward—Muslims Today
 About 7-8 millions in the USA
 From all walks of life, mostly
professionals
 About 40% African-American, 60%
from all other ethnic and national
backgrounds
 About 7-10 thousands in Pittsburgh
 About the same distribution in the
USA
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 11
 Five Islamic centers/mosques
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 12
Islam in Religious Context
 Islam recognizes all prophets, starting
with Adam, peace be upon him:
 Ibrahim (Abraham), founder of first temple
(Ka’ba)
 Father of Ishaq (Isaac)  Judaism
 Father of Isma’il (Ishmael)  Islam
 Muhammad is the seal of prophets
 Special relation with “the people of the
book”
 Prophets are humans chosen for divine
mission
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 13
 The Word “Islam”: To Surrender, to
Islam in Religious Context
 Three Fundamental Unities
 God
 Humankind
 The Message
 Islam Not a New Religion; it’s the Religion
of all Prophets
 Historical Evolution Lead to an All-
Encompassing Religion—Islam
 Universal Message for All Times, All Places
and All People
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 14
Islam in Religious Context
 Islam is a “way of life”, which
regulates relationships
 Between the Creator and the Created
 Among all created (humans, animals
& things)
 Establishes basis of accountability

15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 15

Islam—Formal Definition
 Binding Sources on Every Muslim
 Qur’an
 Tradition of Prophet Muhammad
(Sunnah)
 Oness or Unity of God (Tawheed)
 Creed or Belief (Iman)
 Pillars of Islam
 Testimony  Prayer  Paying
Charity
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 16
 Fasting  Pilgrimage
Islam Binding Sources:
Qur’an
 The literal word of God, in its
Arabic text; unchanged since
revelation
 Preserved—The promise is built-in
 Comprehensive and Integrated
Guide to Live—The Miracle of Islam
 Translations are only human
efforts to approximate of the
meaning of Qur’an
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 17
Islam Binding Sources:
Qur’an
 Structure of Qur’an
 Organized in 114 chapters, called
Suwar (plural of Surah)
 Each chapter (Surah) consists of
smaller units, called Ayaat (plural of
Ayah)
 The meaning of the word Ayah

 Chapters vary significantly in length

15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 18

Islam Binding Sources:
Sunnah
 Tradition of Prophet Muhammad,
described in his sayings (Hadith)
 A hadith is a reliably transmitted
report of what the Prophet said, did,
or approved
 Exemplificationof Qur’an
 Example to aspire for and imitate
 Qur’an and Sunnah are
complementary
15 Oct. 2002 sources
Islamic Center of Pittsburgh of Islam; 19

Binding on every Muslim

Qur’an 49:13

O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a

male and a female, and made you into nations and
tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye
may despise each other). Verily, the most honored
of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most
Righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is
15 Oct. 2002 well-acquainted
Islamic Center(with all things).
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Prophetic Hadith
On the authority of Abu Huraira (may God be
pleased with him), the Messenger of God
(peace and blessings of God be upon him)
said:
“Whoever believes in God and the Last Day
should speak good things or keep silent.
Whoever believes in God and the Last Day
should be courteous and generous to his
neighbor. Whoever believes in God and Last
Day should be courteous and generous to his
[traveling] visitor.”
Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 21
Once or Unity of God
(Tawheed)
 There is no deity worthy of worship but
God; One, Unique, Incomparable God
(or Allah); Nothing is like unto Him; The
Creator
 Pluralism exists only in the domain of
the created
 Beautiful Names (attributes) of God
 Let’s see how God describes Himself

15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 22

Qur’an 112
The Sincerity

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the
Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He
begotten; And there is none like unto Him.
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 23
Islamic Creed or Belief
(Iman)
 Angels created by Allah
 Chain of prophets through whom Allah
sent His revelations to mankind, starting
with Adam, including Moses and Jesus,
and concluding with Muhammad, peace
be on all of them
 Day of Judgment, resurrection, Heaven
and Hell
 Individual accountability for one’s deeds
 Allah's final message to man, revealed to
Prophet Muhammad
15 Oct. 2002
through Angel
Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 24
Gabriel
Pillars of Islam
 Prophetic Hadith:
"Islam is built on five (pillars) testifying
that there is no god but Allah and that
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,
performing the prayers, paying the
charity, making the pilgrimage to the
House, and fasting in Ramadan."

15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 25

Pillar 1: Testimony
(Shahada)
“I testify that there is no deity
worthy of worship but Allah, and I
testify that Muhammad is the
Messenger of Allah”
 One becomes Muslim when one
utters Shahada with
understanding and conviction—No
other rituals required
 Being of becoming a Muslim is not
a2002
15 Oct. destination;Islamicit’s
Center ofa journey or a 26
Pittsburgh
Pillar 2: Prayer (Salat)
 Required Prayers:
 Establishes a direct connection
between The Creator and the created
 Five times a day: Dawn, Afternoon,
Late Afternoon, Early Night, Night
 Each taking 5-10 minutes reciting
ayaat from Qur’an—in Arabic
 Personal supplications (after prayer)
offered in one’s own language
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 27
Pillar 2: Prayer (Salat)
 Required Prayers:
 Five prayers may be offered
individually, but congregation is
encouraged
 Congregation led by learned man
(Imam), usually selected by the
congregation.
 A woman may lead a congregation of
women
 Required congregation is Friday
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 28

Afternoon prayer—takes about an hour

Pillar 2: Prayer (Salat)
 Face Ka’ba in Makkah in all prayers
 Prayer symbolizes equality and
humility before Allah
 Physical cleansing (ablution),
followed by spiritual cleansing
(prayer)
 No acceptable excuse for missing
required prayers
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 29
Pillar 2: Prayer (Salat)

A Moroccan in Prayer
Muslims Praying in Jerusalem
Outside The Dome of the
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh Rock 30
Pillar 3: Religious Charity
(Zakat)
 A Muslim either pays Zakat or gets
Zakat
 All things, including wealth, belong to
Allah
 Wealth is held by hands of human
beings as trust—Should be spent in ways
that please Allah
 Paying Zakat is a “purification” of wealth
and causes its “growth”
 Actually two forms: Zakat is tangible, but
Sadaqa tangible and intangible (kind
word or smile)
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 31
Pillar 4: Fasting During
Ramadan (Siyam)
 Ramadan is 9th month of the lunar
calendar
 Complete fast from dawn to sunset
 No food, drinks or sexual activities
 Exempt: Sick, elderly, on a journey, a
pregnant or nursing women. Should make
it up later in the year.
 If physically unable to fast, one must feed
a needy person for every day missed
 Emphasis on piety and religious
observancesIslamic Center of Pittsburgh
15 Oct. 2002 32
Pillar 4: Fasting During
Ramadan (Siyam)
 Children begin to fast, observe
prayer from puberty, although many
start earlier
 Ramadan is like an annual Islamic
workshop of proper conduct—An
exercise in self-control
 Eidul Fitr commemorates end of
Ramadan
 Allah specifies what is Lawful (Halal)
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 33
and what is unlawful (Haram)
Pillar 5: The Pilgrimage
(Hajj)
 Visit the Sacred Mosque in Makkah
(at least) once in a lifetime if
physically and financially capable
— 12th month of lunar calendar
 Rituals have Abrahamic origin
 Largest human (peaceful)
gathering, 2+ million from every
corner of the globe
 Eidul
15 Oct. 2002 Adha overlaps the Hajj rituals34
Islamic Center of Pittsburgh
Pillar 5: The Pilgrimage
(Hajj)

The Sacred Mosque,

at Makkah al-
Mukarramah
(”Makkah the
Honored”) during a
regular prayer. At
the center of the
Sacred Mosque is the
focal point of Islamic
prayer worldwide—
the Ka'ba.
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 35
Qur’an 2:256

Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth

stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil
and believes in Allah hath grasped the most
trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And
Allah hearethIslamic
15 Oct. 2002 and knoweth
Center of Pittsburgh all things. 36
The Religion of Islam
 Acts of Worship:
 Mandated by Qur’an, but details described by
Prophet Muhammad
 Revolves around the community
 An Important Question: Why do we
engage in these acts of worship?
 Because they make sense?!
 Because they have good social values?!
 Because they are likely to build a good
society?!
 Because we know Allah has commanded
us
15 Oct. 2002to do so. Period.
Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 37
Islam—Formal Definition
 Binding Sources on Every Muslim
 Qur’an
 Tradition of Prophet Muhammad
(Sunnah)
 Oness or Unity of God (Tawheed)
 Creed or Belief (Iman)
 Pillars of Islam
 Testimony  Prayer  Paying
Charity
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 38
 Fasting  Pilgrimage
Why is Islam so Attractive?
 Clarity, simplicity and logic of faith
and religious practices
 Complete way of life, not only acts
of worship
 Emphasis on individual
responsibility and commitment
 No hierarchy or any organized
clergy
 Insists on equality, justice and
peace for allIslamic Center of Pittsburgh
15 Oct. 2002 39
Women in Islam
 Equal rights and responsibilities in
terms of religious, ethical, moral, civil,
economic and legal matters
 Same religious expectation of both men
and women
 Full economic freedom achieved 1400
years ago
 Education is essential
 Must maintain family heritage

15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 40

Women in Islam
 In family context, husband given
overall responsibility for family:
 Respect for wife and/or mother is
enormous
 Husband’s decision arbitrates
disagreements that cannot be
resolved otherwise
 Objective is safeguarding the family

15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 41

Women in Islam
 Inheritance: Guiding principles are:
 Social and economic responsibilities – a
son (who is now responsible for family)
inherits twice a daughter (who has no
social or economic obligations)
 Financial obligations not fulfilled yet –
daughter inheritance is larger than
mother’s
 Human needs – father and mother of a
deceased inherit equal amounts
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 42
Women in Islam
 Giving Testimony
 Every Muslim is expected to be
honest and trust-worthy
 On expert professional matters, a
woman’s testimony is equal to a
man’s testimony
 On family and children matters, a
woman’s testimony takes precedence
over a man’s
 On financial and commerce matters,
two women’s
15 Oct. 2002
testimony are required,43
Islamic Center of Pittsburgh
lest one forgets, the other reminds
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 44
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 45
Jihad in Islam
 Holy War?!
 The expression/concept is foreign to
Islam
 There is nothing “holy” about what
Muslims do; “holiness” is reserved for
Allah, not humans
 The expression was coined and used
extensively before and during the
crusades
 Injustice – the
15 Oct. 2002
victims are charged with46
Islamic Center of Pittsburgh
Jihad in Islam
 Jihad means “exerting effort” to:
 Resist sinful behavior or tendencies
 Spread correct information about
Islam by peaceful means
 Fight in defense against an aggressor;
but do not transgress – don’t kill a
woman, child or even uproot a tree
unnecessarily
 Being Muslim is not a destination;
it is a journey
15 Oct. 2002
– Jihad
Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 47
Resources
 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh
 www.icp-pgh.org
 icp@icp-pgh.org
 Humanity Day: Saturday, 23 Nov. 2002,
4:30 PM—Everyone is invited!
 Web Sites:
 <need a good site for non-Muslims>
 <need a good site for women in Islam>
 http://www.islamicity.com/
15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 48
Islam: An Overview
 Prophet Muhammad and the Birth
of Islam
 The Muslim Community
 Islam—A Formal Definition
 To Hot to Touch:
 Women
 Jihad

 Resources for the Interested

15 Oct. 2002 Islamic Center of Pittsburgh 49