Islam

The word "Islam" in Arabic means submission,

commitment, acceptance, and peace.
Islam

Islam is a
Islamic Greeting
AS-SALAAM ALAY-KUM
“Peace be upon you…”

WA ALAY-KUM AS-SALAAM
“…and may peace be upon you, too”
Who is a Muslim?
A Muslim is the One who submits to Allah (God).

A person can enter Islam just by

admitting that:

“There is no God but Allah and Muhammad

(PBUH) is the messenger of Allah”

Anyone can be a Muslim, regardless of race, ethnicity,

color, or language
 Muslim Population (US)

Maryland European Other

Ohio 2% Indiana 2% 5% Arab
New York 4% 11% Texas 25%
15% 5% African-American
Illinois 30%
Virginia
13% African
9% 3%
Michigan
New Jersey South East Asian
9%
California 13% 2% South Central Asian
19% 33%

By State By Ethnic Background

(2000) (2000)
Source: Data per the Council on American-Islamic Relations
http://www.cair-net.org/mosquereport/

Today, Islam is the fastest growing religion in US

 The Holy Qur’an
For Muslims, the Holy Qur'an:

• is the Book of Allah (God).

• is the principal source of every Muslim's faith.
• is the eternal, literal word of Allah.
• was revealed to Prophet Muhammad over a period of 23 years
 Five Pillars of Islam

• Shahãda (Declaration of Faith)

• Salãh (Prayer)
• Sawm (Fasting)
• Zakãh (Almsgiving)
• Hajj (Pilgrimage)
Shahãda (Declaration of Faith)
The central belief in Islam, as well as being the first pillar, is the following
declaration of faith (the shahãda):

"There is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad

(peace be upon him) is the messenger of Allah."
Salãh (Prayer)
The second pillar in Islam is prayer.

Salãh is the name for the obligatory prayers that

are performed five times a day and are seen as a
direct link between the worshipper and God.

These prescribed prayers contain verses from the

Qur'an and are said in Arabic. Personal
supplications, however, can be offered in any
language and at any time.
Sawm (Fasting)
Fasting is the third pillar of Islam.

Every year in the month of Ramadan, Muslims,

who are healthy and able, fast from dawn until
sunset abstaining from food, drink, and sexual
relations with their spouses.

Although fasting is seen as beneficial to health, it

is mainly a method of self-purification and
restraint enhancing one's resilience against life's
hardships and temptations.

Fasting also enables the Muslim to empathize with the

poor and hungry encouraging social consciousness.
Zakãh (Almsgiving)

The fourth pillar is zakãh or charity, the financial

obligation upon Muslims.

Zakãh involves the annual payment to the poor and

needy of a fortieth of one's capital (excluding such
items as primary residence, car and professional tools).

• An important principle in Islam is that everything

belongs to God.

•In addition to zakãh, Islam encourages Muslims to

give voluntary charity. Charitableness and compassion
are among the most stressed qualities.
Hajj (Pilgrimage)
The fifth pillar, the pilgrimage to Makkah (the Hajj)
is an obligation only for those who are physically
and financially able to do so.

Over two million people from every corner of the

globe go to Mecca each year providing an
opportunity for those of different nations to meet one
another.

Pilgrims wear special simple clothes garments that

strip away distinctions of class and culture
reinforcing the basic Islamic principle of unity that
all are equal in the eyes of God.
 Pillars of Faith

• His Books
• His Angels
• His Prophets
• Day of Judgment
• Divine Destiny
 Prophets
“Lut” “Dhu’l-kifl” “Yunus”
Adam Lot Ezekiel Jonah

“Ya’qub”
Jacob “Zakariyya”
“Idris” “Dawud” Zechariah
Enonch David

“Yusuf”
Joseph
Nuh “Sulaiman” “Yahya”
Noah Solomon John the Baptist
“Ayyub”
Job

Ibrahim “Ilias”
Abraham “Essa”
“Musa” Elias Jesus
Moses

“Isma’il” “Ishaq”
Ishmael Isaac “Harun” “Al-Yasa” Muhammad
Aaron Elisha
Muslim Woman
• Islam sees a woman, whether single or
married, as an individual in her own right,
with the right to own and dispose of her
property and earnings.

• Roles of men and women are

complementary and collaborative. Rights and
responsibilities of both sexes are equitable and
balanced in their totality.
Muslim Woman
•Both men and women are expected to dress
in a way that is simple, modest and dignified;
specific traditions of female dress found in
some Muslim countries are often the
expression of local customs rather than
religious principle.

•Likewise, treatment of women in some areas

of the Muslim world sometimes reflects
cultural practices which may be inconsistent,
if not contrary, to authentic Islamic teachings.
For examples: nor allowed to drive cars.
 Islamic Holidays
• EID UL-FITR (Holiday of Fast-Breaking)
celebrated after Ramadan

• EID UL-ADHA (Holiday of the sacrifice)

celebrated after Hajj
Philosophy of Life
For Muslims, both faith and good works and practices are important.

Blind faith without good works is seen as empty, without merit.

Muslims are often very attuned to their behavior as they believe that
there is a Day of Judgment when all of mankind will be brought to
individually account for their every action.

Islam asserts that the present life is but a minute part of the totality of
existence. A human being's life in this world constitutes a test of his
faith and actions.
 Islamic Values
• Monotheism and commitment to Allah
• Education and Learning
• Purity, Modesty and Chastity
• Family as basic unit in society
• Self control and Contentment
• Honesty, Trustworthiness and Humility
• Cleanliness and Conservation
• Courtesy, Compassion, Forgiveness and
Fairness
• “The ends do not justify the means” (Purity
of intention and action)…
Questions & Answers