In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
(1)
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,
(2) The
Beneficent, the Merciful. (3) Owner of the Day of Judgment, (4) Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help. (5) Show us the straight path, (6) The path of those whom Thou hast favoured.
Not (the path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray. (7)
ISLAMIC THEOLOGY
Islam is the way of life for those who
believe in God and want to live a life in worship and obedience to none but God. The reward is forgiveness from God and an
everlasting life in the Heaven.
Belief in one God, Allah in Arabic, constitutes the very foundation of Islam. There is no deity except Allah. He is indivisible and absolutely
transcendent. God is the Almighty, the Creator and the Sustainer of the universe, Who is similar to nothing and nothing is
comparable to Him. Worship and obedience belongs to Allah and Allah alone. Joining other gods with God is an unforgivable
sin. Any one who joins other gods with God has strayed far, far away from the Truth.
Prophet Muhammadwas born
in Makkah, a city in the present-day Saudi Arabia in 570 C.E. He is a direct descendant of Prophet Ishmael, the first
son of Prophet Abraham. Peace and blessings of God be on all His prophets. Muhammad received divine revelations (The Holy
Quran) over a period of 23 years in the seventh century of the Christian Era. Muslims believe that he is the last Messenger
sent by God for the guidance of mankind until the Day of Judgment. He is the model for humanity of all walks of life to follow
until the Last Hour. God sent him as a mercy for the worlds.
The primary sources of knowledge are the Holy Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad. Anyone wanting to live a life
in worship and obedience to God should follow these teachings.
The Holy Quran (also written as Koran) is the Divine Book revealed to Muhammad (peace be on him). The Holy Quran confirms what was
revealed to earlier messengers of God and serves as the Criterion of right and wrong. The Quran is the only divine Book extant
in its original text and is therefore the only source of Guidance from God for all mankind.
The Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad refers
to his sayings and actions, his approvals and disapprovals. The Sunnah is collected in books separate from the Holy Quran
and are known as Hadith books. While the Holy Quran is 100% word of God revealed to the Prophet, not every Hadith is authentic.
Early Muslim scholars have classified hadith into various categories ranging from different levels of authenticity to false
hadith.
In Sunni Islam, the Five Pillars of Islam (Arabic: أركان الإسلام)
is the term given to the five duties incumbent on every Muslim. These duties are Shahada (Profession of Faith), Salat (Prayers), Zakat (Giving of Alms), Sawm (Fasting during Ramadan) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). These five practices are essential to Sunni Islam;
THE
SHAHADA
„ASH-HADU ANLA ELAHA ILLA-ALLAH WA ASH-HADU ANNA MOHAMMADAN
RASUL-ALLAH”
„I BEAR WITNESS,THAT THERE IS NO DEITY (WORTHY TO BE WORSHIPPED),BUT, ALLAH ,AND I BEAR WITNESS
THAT MOHAMMAD IS THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH.”
WUDHU/ABLUTION/ AND THE FIVE DAILY PRAYERS
Call For Fajr Prayer/Adhan/
</DIV>
ZAKAT/THE GIVING OF ALMS/CHARITY
ZAKAT:Islamic religious tax, one of the five basic requirements (arkan or “pillars”)
of Islam. All adult Muslims of sound mind and body with a set level of income and assets are expected to pay zakat.Zakat is due yearly on certain types of property and is distributed to eight categories of individuals specified by
the Qur'an. These categories are usually defined to include orphans, the poor, travelers, beggars, debtors, slaves, and the
efforts to propagate Islam. Zakat is payable, at different rates, on crops, harvests, herds, gold and silver, and merchandise.
For gold and silver, which is understood to include all liquid assets, the rate is 2.5%.
WAJIB SAWM /FASTING DURING THE MONTH OF RAMADAN/
The fasting is done during the daylight hours of Ramadan,certainly we do not go without food and
water for thirthy days .Food and water should be taken after sunset ,and before sunrise .No sexual intercourse is allowed
during daylight hours either.
HAJJ/PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA/
EVERY MUSLIM IS TO PERFORM HAJJ,AT LEAST ONCE IN THEIR LIFETIME,PROVIDING HIS OR HER HEALTH,AND FINANCES
PERMIT THIS.
A TRUE FAITHFUL MUSLIM BELEIVES IN THE SIX FUNDAMENTAL ARTICLES OF FAITH:
