An Introduction to Islam
Islam started in Saudi Arabia and moved outward. There is still a huge population
of Muslims in that area.
Islam means peace, submission and obedience. A Muslim is a follower of the
Islamic way of life and tries to organise his or her life according to God's word.
The moon and star is a symbol often used on flags or buildings of Islamic
countries. Where the religion originated the days are so hot that the people often
moved by night. The stars led the way and the moon lit the way. This symbol is
sometimes used to show how Islam guides and lights a Muslim's way through life.
Muslims believe that there is only one God, whose name in the Arabic language is
Allah. God had special messengers or prophets. Abraham, Moses, Jesus and
Muhammad (peace be upon them all) were God's prophets. People playing an
important role in the lives of these prophets are also highly thought of. Mary,(God
be pleased with her) Jesus'(pboh) mother was considered very highly because she
had given birth to the Messiah, one of God's prophets. These prophets or
messengers told people how to live by giving messages from God. There are no
pictures of the prophets because they consider that the message is more
important than the messenger.
Muhammad - Peace Be Unto Him
Muhammad (PBUH) was the main prophet of Islam. He was born in the Arabian
Peninsula, what is now known as Saudi Arabia in a city called Makkah in 570.
Makkah is sometimes called Mecca by non-Muslim people.
After Muhammad's name Muslim people recite a small prayer asking God to bless
him and give him peace. This is often shortened to PBUH ( Peace be upon him).
Muhammad (PBUH) was poor, both of his parents died by the time he was six years
old. He grew up honest and trustworthy. He did not like conditions where he lived
and often went out into the mountains to think about life. One day while he sat
and thought, God's messenger the Angel Gabriel came and gave him a message
from God. This happened regularly over a period of years. The words sent by God
were recorded and are the content of the Qur'an, the Muslim holy book.
All Muslims believe that Islam existed from the day Adam and Eve were sent down
to earth. Other prophets were Abraham, Noah, Ismail, Isaac, Joseph, Moses,
David, Solomon and Jesus. They all spread the word of God. Muslims believe that
Muhammad (PBUH) is the last prophet of God to be sent to the world.
Muhammad started to teach the local community but the people who listened to
him were persecuted and eventually forced to leave the area. They all went to
Medina. This marks the start of the Islamic calendar because Muhammad (PBUH)
founded the first Muslim community there. Their numbers were strong and they
were looking for somewhere else to live. There had been some upset in Makkah,
the people there had broken the peace treaty (attacking and killing some nonmuslim allies in Makkah) and the Muslims consequently marched into Makkah and
met no opposition. The people from Makkah became Muslims.
There is no picture of Muhammad (PBUH), Muslims do not worship any image
because pictures are of man and they take great care they only worship God who
has no image.
The Qur'an
The Qur'an is the Muslim's holy book. It is the word of Allah (God) as told to the
prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). The Qur'an is the word of God as it was
given, in Arabic. Muslim's believe that it is the most important book in the world.
It is not translated except for study, and people learn it in Arabic.
There is a set of rules for dealing with the Quran.
1. Before one touches the book one must must perform ritual washing or
ablution i.e. beginning with the intention of ablution and the washing of the
face, followed by the washing of 2 hands up to the elbows, to be followed
by washing part of the head and finally the washing of the 2 legs up to the
ankles.
2. Muslims are to listen in attentively whilst the Qur'an is being read.
3. For the ease of reading so that we can pay attention to the meanings of
the Qur’an) a special book stand (rihal) is used to keep it of the floor in
respect of the Holy Book.
There are various customs in different areas - these include:
1. The Qur'an is covered with cloth to keep it clean and protect it.
2. It is keep on a high shelf with nothing above it.
3. Before some readers will read it they touch their forehead with the book
and kiss the cover.
The Quran was given to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh - peace be upon him) over 23
years (13 years whilst he was in Makkah and 10 years while he was in Medinah).
The longest chapters are at the beginning of the Holy Book and the shorter ones
at the end of the Quran.
Children start with memorising the smaller chapters at the end.
The first chapter is recited in every prayer. It is as important to Muslims as the
Lords prayer is for Christians. It can be translated as follows:
All praise is for God, the Lord of the worlds, The most kind, the most merciful,
Master of the Day of Judgement, You alone we worship and You alone we ask for
help.
Guide us along the straight path,
The path of those whom you rewarded,
not those who earned your anger, nor those who went astray.
The Five Pillars of Wisdom
There are five duties that one must live by if one is a Muslim, these are often
called the Five Pillars of Islam.
SHAHADA This is the main religious belief of all Muslim people and it is a
declaration of their faith. The English words are;
There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Or as some
muslims prefer... "There is no god but the One God" meaning there is only one God
for all mankind.
Anyone who says these words and means it can become a Muslim.
SALAH This is prayer. Muslims pray five times a day and follow a special ritual to
do so. Firstly they wash (wudu). This is a special process...
 Wash hands up to the wrist three times
 Wash mouth three times
 Wash nostrils, breathing in and out through the nose three times
 Wash one's face three times
 Wash arms up to elbows three times
 Wipe head with wet hands, forehead to back, back to forehead
 The inside of the ears are cleaned with the wet forefinger then the back
of the ears with the thumb
 Wash feet up to the ankles three times
 Raise one's face to the sky, pointing up with the index finger.
The water must be pure, if there is no clean water symbolically, the face and arms
are just wiped with the hands. The prayers are all said at the same times each
day:
1. Fajr- Morning, between dawn and sunrise
2. Zuhr - Mid-day or early afternoon
3. Asr - Late afternoon
4. Maghrib - Evening, around sunset
5. Isah - Night, before going to bed
ZAKAT
This is about looking after other people. Each Muslim gives up a share of his
wealth each year to provide for those less fortunate. The word zakat means to
purify or cleanse. As the person gives up a share of his or her wealth they become
cleansed from selfishness and greed. This money might be to provide education,
keep up or build mosques or help the needy.
HAJJ
All Muslims have a duty to try to make a pilgrimage to the Ka'aba in Makkah at
least once during their lifetime. Very often whole families will save to send one
person at a time. The men who make the pilgrimage wear an ihram which is made up
of two sheets. They must not be sewn. Also they wear special open shoes. This
clothing is a symbol of peace and obedience to God. The pilgrimage follows a set
pattern.
There is a day of preparation. The person bathes, dresses in the ihram and tells
everyone that he intends to perform Hajj. He walks round the Ka'aba seven times
and usually kisses the black stone. The Ka'aba is a cube covered in a black cloth
(kiswa) and it has a special black stone in the corner where Abraham stood.
Day 1, the pilgrims move to Mina about three miles away to get here for the
prayers at noon. They stay there over night.
Day 2 sees the journey from Mina to Arafat by noon. A sermon is preached and
pilgrims stay there until sunset. The day is spent standing in the open on the large
plain praying to God. It symbolises the Day of Judgement when Muslims have to
answer for their deeds. This is the most important part of a pilgrimage. After
sunset they travel to Muzdalifa for the evening and night prayers.
Day three is the Day of Sacrifice. Pilgrims collect a bag of tiny pebbles which they
carry back to Mina.
They throw seven stone on Jamara 'Agba in memory of the time that Abraham
dismissed Satan in this way. When that is complete a sacrifice of a goat or a
sheep is made, again that is in memory of when Abraham was going to sacrifice his
son as God had ordered. Once that is complete the pilgrim cuts off a lock of his
hair.
They walk once again round the Ka'aba on the way back to Makkah and then dress
in their normal clothes.
Days four, five and six are for relaxation.
The effect of the pilgrimage is to bring together the community and strengthen
it.
SAUM
This is all about Ramadan. The ninth month of the Islam calendar. It is special
because it is when Muhammad (Pbuh) began receiving the messages from God. For
thirty days Muslims fast, they do not eat or drink during daylight hours. It start
when the new moon is seen at the start of the month and ends when the new moon
is seen again at the end of the month. The fast is to remind them how difficult it
is to be poor, hungry and thirsty in a hot place. It reminds them to thank God for
his gift of the Qur'an. It also serves to make them think about the essentials and
luxuries of life and so not be greedy.
Family Life
Most Muslims live in the developing world. Many of them live in villages, many
tending the land. In these villages the mosque is the most important building.
It is usual for the men to meet at cafes or meeting places and women to meet
together at one of their homes. It is rare for men and women to meet publicly. In
the home visitors will be met by the man of the house, women stay in the
background.
Children learn about Islam from birth. As soon as a baby is born the first words it
will hear are the Shahadah (the declaration of faith). Muslim baby boys are
circumcised whilst young. This is very often done at the same time as the head
shaving ceremony. On the seventh day of a baby's life his or her hair will be
shaved off and the equivalent weight of gold given to the poor. An offering
follows. Two sheep if it is a boy and one if it is a girl. The meat is cooked and
shared between the whole family and visitors.
Muslim children learn the faith from watching their parents. The rituals of
washing and praying will be practised as soon as the child is old enough to take
part. The fasting in Ramadam will be practised just for a day at the start and
building up until by the time the child is about thirteen he or she can carry out
their religious duties as well as an adult.
If the child goes to a muslim school then they will learn part of the Qur'an as part
of their schooling, if not they will learn it in special classes at the mosque. They
are expected to work hard in school, can be treated quite strictly, (especially the
girls), and expected to spend time with their families.
Arranged marriages are usual with in a muslim community. Most young people are
happy that their parents will make a good choice for them. Family opinion, social
standing, similarity of interests, background and personality will be taken into
consideration when a partner is being chosen.
It is very unusual for a Muslim man to have more than one wife. He is able to have
up to four but he must be able to provide fairly and equally for all of them.
Occasionally it might happen that if a Muslim man's wife cannot have children or
she becomes very ill and needs looking after, then the man will take a second wife
but it is not common.
The marriage ceremony is often held in the bride's home or the mosque. Muslims
in different places around the world have developed their own customs, many of
them are for fun and not necessary.
On the day of the wedding the groom will lead his family to the bride's home. The
groom may wear a special head-dress of flowers. He gives a present of money to
his bride. This is sometimes called a bridle price. Occasionally the men will go to
one room and the ladies to another but this is quite rare now. In some places the
bride might wear red and white the symbols for fertility and purity, in other
places green for luck. There is no rule about dress people do what pleases them
and their family. Often the ceremony is conducted by the imam, (a religious
leader) if not it may be any of the men who knows the process. The bride is asked
(very often three times) is she wishes to marry the groom. Then he is asked and
he recites some words from the Qur'an. When everyone agrees the imam declares
them to be married and they all sign the wedding contract. They are given a
marriage certificate.
Once a Muslim lady become a wife her first responsibility is to look after the
home and family. Traditionally she does not go out to work though very often in
this country they do. In those cultures where women do not go out to work
providing for the family is the responsibility of the husband. She will help to teach
her children about Islam. These days many Muslim women work and have careers
much the same as western women.
Divorce is not really acceptable to Muslims. It is considered to be the worst
possible occurrence, it is distasteful and only allowed only in extreme
circumstances though of course it is a legal option even if not a cultural one. If
she is divorced a woman becomes the responsibility of the men in her family.
Death
Muslims are always buried and never cremated because they believe that their
body will live again at the time of resurrection. Before the funeral the body is
washed and wrapped in a shroud of clean cloth. Women do not usually attend the
funeral but will often visit the grave after and take flowers.
Daily Life
The Family
Family life is the basis of an Islamic community and marriage is the basis for
family life. Marriage unites families in the community and the whole group support
each other in living according to the laws of God. Halal is the right way to live as
opposed to Haram which is wrong. The family keeps up high moral intentions of
tolerance, understanding, patience and decency.
Food and Drink
Muslims have strict rules on the food that they eat, especially thinking about
meat. They do not eat anything that is from a pig. Pork, bacon and sausages are
out as is anything made from lard like ice-cream or biscuits. Any meat that they
do eat has to be prepared in a special way. This is called halal. Very often
favourite Muslim meals are curries, kebabs and rice.
Muslims wash and pray before meals. The eldest person present always eats first.
Drinking alcohol is strictly forbidden. They do not provide it for non-muslim guests
and they are not allowed to sell it for a profit.
Clothes
Muslims have several rules about clothes. Men must cover their bodies between
the waist and knees, even when swimming or showering. A woman must cover
herself from head to toe with the exception of her hands and face. Ladies often
wear long tunics over loose trousers. The clothes should neither be transparent
nor show up the shape of the woman's body. In this country a few Muslim women
wear western dress but they still dress very modestly. It is quite common to see
women and girls here wearing trousers and blouses with the traditional head shawl.
Language and Dates
The natural language of Islam is Arabic as spoken by the Arabs in Arabia. Even if
people live here and speak English they still learn the Qur'an in Arabic.
The calendar is lunar (according to moon months). Each month starts when the new
moon appears so their months are shorter than ours but they still have twelve
months in the year which makes their year shorter than ours. Our calendar
started from the time Jesus Christ was born, Muslims date their calendar from
when
Muhammad
(PBUH)
left
Makkah
to
go
to
Medina.
The Islamic months are: 1. Muhar-Ram, 2. Safar, 3. Rabi-ul-Awwal, 4.Rabi-ul-Akhir,
5. Jumada Al-Ula, 6. Jumada Al-Akhirah, 7. Rajab, 8. Sha'baan, 9. Ramadan, 10.
Shawwal, 11. Dhul-Qu'dah, 12. Dhul-Hijjah.