Islam and the Quran

The last ten nights of Ramadan

An imam at prayer reads the Quran in a mosque. The Quran is the holy book of Islam.

The five pillars. A Muslim's chief religious duties are known as the five pillars. These are the profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving (giving to the poor), fasting, and pilgrimage.
Islam the religion of the Muslims, a monotheistic faith regarded as revealed through Muhammad as the Prophet of Allah. It is the religion articulated by the Quran, a text considered by its adherents to be the verbatim word of God (Allāh), and, for the vast majority of adherents, by the teachings and normative example (called the sunnah, composed ...

The Quran is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims believe to be a revelation from God. It is widely regarded as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language…
Muslim pilgrims pray at the Kaaba. the holiest shrine of Islam. The Kaaba is a square building in the Great Mosque in the city of Mecca. According to Islamic law, every adult Muslim must, if possible, make at least one pilgrimage to mecca.

Selected videos
The History of Islam
Leadership in Islam
Accountability and Leadership

Islam is the religion that was first brought to the world by the Prophet Muhammad in the A.D. 600’s. Muham­mad was an Arab born in the city of Mecca also spelled

Makkah) about 570. He believed he had been sent to warn and guide people and to call them to worship Cod. He taught that there is only one god and that he Muhammad, was God's messenger. Those who believe in the One God and accept Muhammad as His messen­ger are called Muslims. Muslim is an Arabic word that means "one who submits (to God)." Islam is the Arabic word for "submission."

Islam is one of the world's largest and fastest-growing religions. There are about one billion Muslims in the world today. The largest Muslim communities exist in the Middle East, North Africa, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and central Asia. In Europe, Islam is the principal religion in western Turkey and Albania.

Growth of Islam

Muhammad began teaching in Mecca about A.D. 610. He made slow progress at first. Most of the rich and powerful citizens scorned him and his preaching. As his following grew and his message more strongly rejected idol worship, his preaching angered and frightened the Meccans. The Muslims were persecuted, and some of the Meccans even plotted to kill Muhammad. In 622, he and his followers fled to the city of Medina (then called Yathrib), where he already had some supporters. This emigration to Medina is called the Hegira, and Muslims date their calendar from this year. By 630, Muhammad and his followers were strong enough to return to Mecca victorious. The city surrendered peacefully. The Muslims destroyed all the idols in the sacred shrine of Mecca known as the Kaaba, and the area around it be­came the most sacred mosque (Muslim place of wor­ship). The Meccans then accepted Islam and acknowl­edged Muhammad as prophet. Mecca and Medina became the sacred cities of Islam.

The spread of Islam. From Mecca and Medina, Islam quickly conquered the Middle East. Muhammad's death in 632 brought a leadership crisis. Some Muslims elected his friend Abu Bakr as the first caliph (succes­sor). They became the majority Sunni branch of Islam. Others supported the leadership of Ali, Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law. These groups formed the Shia, or Shiite, branch. Meanwhile, Muslims carried Islam through conquest to North Africa and against the em­pires of Iran and Byzantium. By the early 700's, the Mus­lim empire stretched from India to Spain.

Muslims united millions of different people socially and culturally into one great empire. They established a splendid civilization in Iraq, Persia (now Iran), Syria, North Africa, and Spain. They encouraged learning as part of religious duty and preserved much of the classi­cal knowledge of the ancient world, translating it from Greek, Syriac, and Persian into Arabic. Muslim scholars also developed new ideas, notably in sciences such as astronomy, medicine, philosophy, mathematics, and chemistry. This work was later transmitted through Mus­lim Spain into Europe and translated into Latin. The Muslims also built magnificent mosques and other structures, such as the Alhambra in Spain and the Taj Mahal in India.

Teachings of Islam

The companions of Muhammad preserved the revela­tions (divine messages) that he received from Cod by memorizing them or writing them down. Later, the writ­ings and memorized revelations were combined to form the holy book of the Muslims, known as the Quran. This is an Arabic word meaning "recitation." Caliph Uthman, who ruled from A.D. 644 to 656, ordered the first official edition of the Quran. Muslims believe the Quran to be the unaltered word of God, recited in Arabic to Muham­mad by the angel Gabriel.

The Quran is a comprehensive guide for Muslims on all aspects of their lives-spiritual, moral, social, eco­nomic, and so on. It contains many stories about the prophets that appear in the Old Testament as well as stories from the New Testament. Abraham, Moses, and Jesus all figure prominently in the Quran, which con­firms the virgin birth of Jesus and describes him as "the word of God." However, some details of the Quranic sto­ries differ from the Biblical version. For example, the Quran denies that Jesus died by crucifixion.

Ethics and morals. The Quran denounces usury (money lending for profit), gambling, and the drinking of alcohol. Like the Bible, it forbids lying, stealing, adultery, and murder. Punishment for some offences, such as theft or adultery, can be severe. However, the Quran softens the ancient Jewish law of retaliation in cases of homicide or injury ("an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," Exodus 21:231 by permitting the payment of blood money and by urging forgiveness. The Quran lays down measures to restrict slavery. Masters are asked to allow their slaves to draw up a document to purchase their own freedom through paid labour. The freeing of slaves is recommended as a charitable deed or an atonement for certain sins. In addition, the Prophet Muhammad was insistent that slaves should be well treated. The Quran does not ban marriage to more than one wife, but limits the maximum number of wives to four. It also asks men to limit themselves to one wife if they feel they really cannot give fair and equal treatment to more than one wife.

The Quran teaches respect for parents, protection for orphans and widows, and charity to the poor. God will reward the giver of charity both in this life and in the next. It teaches the virtues of faith in Cod, kindness, hon­esty, industry, honour, courage, and generosity. In mar­riage, the husband is the head of the household, but the wife has rights that protect her from abuse. The Quran describes the ideal marriage as one in which there is love and mercy. In view of their position of authority, men are often urged to treat their wives with kindness.

Essential beliefs

The essential beliefs of a Muslim are based on what is contained in the Quran. The five essential articles of faith which a Muslim must believe in are: God, His angels, His holy books, His messengers, and the Hereafter.

Belief in God. Muslims believe that there is only one God and that the proper name of God, as He has called Himself in the Quran, is "Allah." He is the same God who is worshipped by Christians and Jews. Many qualities of Cod are described in the Quran, the most prominent of them being His mercy. The Quran asks Muslims to re­member God often. It says that He answers people's prayers, and is "closer to a man than his jugular vein." He is aware of all that people do; nothing big or little es­capes Him. He not only created the universe but He ac­tively sustains it, ensuring the smooth working of the natural laws for people's benefit. The Quran frequently reminds Muslims of God's bounty to human beings. It is God who sends down rain and causes vegetation to grow. God made men and women His representatives on earth, and gave them mastery over the beasts and over nature. According to the Quran, the worst sin a person can commit is that of ingratitude to God, by wor­shipping beings other than Him.

His angels. The angels are believed to be invisible beings made of light, who are servants of God. They are part of the unseen world. Unlike human beings, the an­gels do not have the ability or the will to disobey God. They perform various tasks such as bearing message from God to men, watching over believers and some­times helping them in adversity, recording good and bad deeds, and receiving people's souls when they die.

His books. The word "book" in the Quran is used to mean holy scripture. The Quran names the Psalms of David, the Torah, and the Gospels as holy books. All the scriptures contain essentially the same message, that people should worship only God and be just to one an­other. The Quran confirms these revelations but brings new laws in place of some of the old Biblical laws. Mus­lims believe that the Quran is God's final message to mankind, and that it contains regulations suitable for all times and all places.

His messengers. The Quran says that there is no people on earth which has not received a message from God through one of His messengers. Nearly 30 messen­gers are named in the Quran, including many of the Bib­lical prophets. Muslims believe that the prophets have no special powers of their own; the miracles performed by Moses and Jesus were done by God's leave and through His power. Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet and reject the idea that He was an incarnation of God. They believe that Muhammad was the final prophet and messenger of God. Muslims call him "the seal of the prophets."

The Hereafter. Islam teaches that life on earth is a period of testing and preparation for the life to come. God, who is able to see all things, witnesses all a per­son's good and bad deeds, and these are recorded by the angels. Muslims believe in a last day, or judgment day, when everyone will receive the record of his or her deeds on earth. Their deeds will be weighed in the scales, and those whose bad deeds outweigh their good deeds will go to hell, while those whose scales are heavy with good deeds will go to heaven. The sorrows and tortures of hell described in the Quran resemble those described in the Bible, with images of fire and ex­treme heat. As for heaven, this is described as a beauti­ful garden with rivers flowing through it and delicious fruit growing on trees, luxurious couches, and beautiful maidens. But the Quran says that we cannot appreciate the joys of heaven, for they are incomparably greater than the pleasures of this life.

Customs and ceremonies

The five pillars. A Muslim's chief religious duties are known as the five pillars. These are the profession of faith, prayer, almsgiving (giving to the poor), fasting, and pilgrimage.

The profession of faith, or shahada, consists of utter­ing the phrase; "There is no god but Allah, and Muham­mad is His messenger." Someone who wishes to be­come a Muslim can do so by the simple act of uttering this phrase in the presence of two witnesses.

Prayer. Muslims can offer personal prayers to God at any time they wish, but there are five ritual prayers to be performed each day: at dawn, at noon, in the afternoon.

I in the evening, and at nightfall. Before prayer, Muslims perform a ritual ablution known as wudu. This consists of rinsing the face, hands, and feet in clean water. This is done as a mark of respect for God and helps the be­liever prepare mentally and spiritually for the act of prayer. The salat (ritual prayer) is performed facing the direction of Mecca, so that Muslims praying all over the world will be facing the same point. It can be performed in any clean place, singly or in groups. Many Muslims use prayer mats to ensure that the spot upon which they are praying is clean. The salat consists of reciting certain phrases and passages from the Quran in combination with special bodily movements. These include standing upright, bowing, sitting, and prostrating (falling face down in an act of submission) with the forehead touch­ing the ground. Many Muslims feel that these set words and movements help them concentrate on the aware­ness of being close to God. It is customary to offer a pri­vate prayer (dua) at the end of the salat.

Muslims often go to the mosque to perform the salat with others. A crier, or muezzin, announces the time for prayer by calling out the adhan (the call to prayer) from the minaret (mosque tower).

The Friday noon prayer is the obligatory congrega­tional prayer. All Muslim men are expected to attend a mosque for this weekly event. Women are encouraged but not obliged to attend in view of their domestic du­ties, including the care of young children. The prayer leader, or imam, faces in the direction of Mecca and the men stand in rows behind him. For reasons of modesty, the women form their own rows behind the men. Before the Friday prayer, the imam delivers a reading from the Quran, and a sermon. Since it was revealed in Arabic, the Quran is always read in Arabic, no matter what the native language of the Muslims praying happens to be. The sermon, however, may be read in any language and may be used to explain the Quranic teachings to those who do not know Arabic. Muslims may go about their normal business both before and after the congrega­tional prayers. There is no day of rest in Islam equivalent to the Jewish or Christian Sabbath day.

Almsgiving. Giving to the poor and needy is a duty re­quired from every Muslim by God, and is considered to be an act of worship. It is called zakat. Those Muslims who can afford it should give a small percentage of their wealth each year to this cause. Although helping the poor and needy is the main object of the zakat, it can also be used for beneficial social purposes such as es­tablishing mosques, schools, or hospitals, and even for the essential activities of the state, such as defence. In addition to the zakat, the Quran frequently asks Muslims to spend their own wealth on others in spontaneous acts of charity. This is known as sadaqa.

Fasting. Ramadan, the ninth month in the Muslim year, is the holy month of fasting. In that month, Mus­lims give up eating and drinking during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset As the Muslim calendar is based on the lunar year (which is 11 days shorter than the solar year), Ramadan falls earlier each year and moves backward in relation to the seasons. Thus Mus­lims will fast in different seasons as the years go by. At the end of each day during Ramadan, Muslims break their fast at a joyful family evening meal.

Muslims fast in obedience to God's command in the Quran. The main aim of the fast is to please God and to draw near Him. However, Muslims receive many other moral, spiritual and social benefits from fasting. Fasting requires self-discipline and the control of one's own de­sires, and it prepares Muslims to face any hardship that may come along. It makes Muslims appreciate God's generosity in giving us the gift of food, which can all too easily be taken for granted. Fasting is something which the rich must do as well as the poor. In addition to fast­ing, the Muslim should make an extra effort to behave well. According to a saying of Muhammad, he who commits sins while fasting will achieve nothing but hun­ger and thirst from his fast (that is, he will get no reward from Codl. Ramadan is traditionally a time when Mus­lims try to devote themselves to meditation, prayer, and reading the Quran. Special extra night prayers are per­formed in the mosque. The last ten days of Ramadan are believed to be especially sacred. Muslims hold that one of them is the "Night of Power," the occasion when the first Quranic revelation came to Muhammad. Therefore during this period some Muslims will stay in the mosque in continual worship and contemplation of Cod.

The Quran allows that some people may be excused from fasting if it causes them undue hardship. These in­clude travellers, the sick, and pregnant or nursing moth­ers. However, they should make up the days missed later on. Others, such as the old and infirm or those with a permanent medical condition, are unlikely ever to be able to fast again. These people, for every day of fasting missed, should feed a poor person if they can afford it.

The final breaking of the fast after Ramadan is marked by one of the two Muslim annual festivals, known as Id al-Fitr (the Festival of the Breaking of the Fast, or the Lesser Festival). On this day Muslims go to the mosque to perform special prayers of thanksgiving. They cele­brate by exchanging visits and greetings and preparing special dishes.

Pilgrimages to Mecca. The pilgrimage to Mecca is known as the hajj. Muslims, both male and female, are required to perform the hajj at least once in a lifetime if they can afford it. The hajj takes place during the first 10 days of the 12th month of the Muslim year, Dhu al-Hijjah. At that time, Muslims from all over the world set out for Mecca, sacrificing their time, comfort, and money in order to perform this religious duty. On arriving at the outskirts of Mecca, which is considered to be sacred territory, Muslims take on the pilgrim's clothing (ihram), which consists of two simple lengths of unsewn white cloth, one to cover the lower half of the body and one for the upper half. This simple attire is worn by rich and poor alike, and symbolizes the equality of all believers before Cod. It also increases the feeling of unity among Muslims. Women are allowed to wear their own clothes, but they must not cover their faces. It is thought that this is because wearing a face-veil was once a mark of high social rank, and on the hajj all must be equal. On arrival at Mecca, the pilgrims shave or clip their hair as a symbol of entering into the consecrated state. Thereaf­ter they refrain from shaving or cutting the hair until they leave Mecca. They must also give up such worldly pleasures as wearing perfume. The pilgrim may not kill any living thing, not even a plant.

The hajj consists of a succession of rituals, which in­clude walking around the sacred shrine of the Kaaba and visiting certain sacred sites. About 2 million Mus­lims perform the hajj each year. The hajj represents the strongest symbol and expression of the unity of Mus­lims and their equality before God. For most Muslims it is a deep spiritual experience, bringing them closer to Cod. One who has performed the hajj is accorded a spe­cial respect in Muslim societies.

The hajj is concluded with Idal-Adha (the Festival of Sacrifices or the Greater Festival). This is celebrated throughout the Muslim world and lasts for three days. After performing the special Festival prayers, it is cus­tomary for Muslims to sacrifice a sheep, goat, or camel and distribute some of the meat among the poor. The pilgrims spend these three days performing further ritu­als such as the throwing of stones against three stone pillars. This symbolizes Abraham's rejection of the devil, who tried to tempt him from his faith. Muslims all over the world celebrate by wearing new clothes, exchang­ing gifts, and visiting each other.

Celebrations of many kinds take place throughout the Muslim world. Some Muslims celebrate Muham­mad's birthday. Private ceremonies in a Muslim's life occur on the occasions of birth, circumcision, and mar­riage (see Circumcision). Another traditional cause for celebration occurs at the time when a child memorizes part or all of the Quran.

Some institutions of Islam

The mosque is the most important building for Mus­lims. The word mosque comes from the Arabic word masjid, a place of prostration. A typical mosque has a mihrab (niche) that indicates the direction of Mecca, and a pulpit for the preacher. Most mosques have at least one minaret from which the muezzin chants the call to prayer. A court and a water fountain, or special water taps, are provided for the ritual ablutions before prayer. The mosque is often decorated with colourful ara­besques (ornamental figures) and Quranic verses.

Many mosques have a religious primary school where young scholars learn to read and memorize the Quran. Some mosques, especially in Muslim countries, also have a madrasah (religious college) where students may complete their religious education. The graduates of the madrasah are sometimes called mullahs or alims.

The imam is the name given to the one who leads the prayer and often acts as a chief officer of the mosque. Muslims may call on him to answer their que­ries or offer advice concerning their personal and reli­gious life. The Prophet Muhammad acted as chief imam during his lifetime and led the Muslims in their prayers. After him the caliphs undertook this duty.

Mainstream Islam does not have any organized priesthood. Any virtuous (good) and able Muslim can lead prayers in most mosques. But the regular imam, a person chosen for his piety (devotion to God and to reli­gious observance) and for his knowledge of the Quran handles the services of the mosque. On special occa­sions a distinguished visitor or religious teacher may lead public prayers.

Sects. There is only one major division within Islam, and that is between the Sunnis and the Shiites. Sunnis now make up about 90 per cent of all Muslims. The Shi­ites split from the main body of Muslims in the early pe­riod of Islam and now form the largest sect (minority grouping) within the Islamic religion. The split arose over the question of the succession to the leadership of the Muslim community after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. The Shiites believe that Muhammad was followed by a succession of divinely chosen leaders called "Imams." (This should not be confused with the Sunni usage of the word—that is, the leader of prayers in a mosque.) According to the Shiites, the first Imam was Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad. Ali was followed as Imam by his sons, Hassan and Hussein (the grandsons of the Prophet) and then by the descend­ants of Hussein. The Shiites believe that the majority of the Muslims were wrong in not recognizing these Imams as their leaders.

The split between Sunnis and Shiites is not just politi­cal. It also includes some difference in beliefs. The Shi­ites consider that the Imam is of the greatest importance and that he is divinely inspired. They also believe that the Imam is infallible (that is, he never makes a mistake). Sunnis cannot accept these beliefs because they do not even accord Muhammad such a high status. Unlike Sun­nis, Shiites have a priesthood, or clergy. They also have their own festivals, the most important of which is the Ashura, when they mourn for the death of Hussein, who was killed by Sunni forces in 680. Traditionally, there has been some hostility between Sunnis and Shiites, but today there are some attempts to achieve a reconcilia­tion between the two groups.

Today the only country which has Shiism as its official religion is Iran, but there are large Shiite populations in Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, and the Indian subcontinent.

Many other sects in Islam are offshoots of the Shiites. They include the Ismailis, who originated in Syria in the 900's and who now number about 15 million scattered throughout Asia and Africa. The Baha'i faith originated in Iran in the late 1800's, and its adherents have been much persecuted in that country. Today they have their head­quarters at Haifa in Israel and are active in the West (see Baha'is). The Ahmadiyya originated in India in the 1800's. They are particularly active in missionary work and have headquarters in the West. See the articles on Muham­mad, Muslims, and Quran.

Other related articles include:

Ali ibn Abi Talib

Allah

Amr ibn al-As

Arabs

Dervish

Fakir

Fatima

Hajj

Hegira

Islamic art

Kaaba

Khalidibn al-Walid

Mecca

Medina

Omar ibn-al- Khattab

Shiites

History of the World

(The Islamic world: The Is­lamic empires)

Quran

Muslims everywhere must learn and read at least part of the Quran in Arabic. Muslim children start to learn por­tions of the Quran by heart early in their education. The girls, are receiving in­struction in the Quran in Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh, India.

The Quran is believed by Muslims to contain the words of God as told to the prophet Muhammad. All Muslims are expected to know and read the Quran and boys and men study it particularly intensely. Some men become reciters of the Quran, a respected profession in Islamic culture.

The first page of the Quran, above, has only the first half of the fatiha (opening). The fatiha is a short prayer in praise of Allah.

Quran is the sacred book of the Muslims. It is also spelled Qur'an or Koran. The name Quran means recita­tion or reading. Muslims believe that God revealed the contents of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel. The first verses of the Quran were revealed to Muhammad in A.D. 610 and marked the start of his mission to bring Islam to the world (see Muhammad). The verses begin: "Recite in the name o£^ your Lord who created . . .'

Quranic passages of various lengths gradually came to the Prophet over the whole period of his mission. This lasted from 610 until 632, the year of his death. His companions learned the passages by heart. Some of them wrote the passages on various kinds of material, such as hide, stone, and bone. The Arabs had a long tra­dition of learning their history and literature by heart. It was particularly important for Muslims to learn the Quran by heart, and Muhammad read it to them many times throughout the years of his mission.

After Muhammad died, a series of successors ruled the Islamic world. These rulers, who were elected from Muhammad's tribe, were called Caliphs. During the reign of Caliph Abu Bakr in 632-634, all the Quranic ma­terial was collected into one volume. Twenty years later, under Caliph Uthman, scribes made a number of copies of the volume. The copies were sent to different parts of the Muslim world. The contents of these volumes repre­sent the official version of the Quran and all Muslims recognize its authority.

Muslims believe the Quran to be the words of God Himself, and in no sense the composition of Muham­mad. Muhammad's own words were recorded in other writings called the Hadith. These are the second most

important source of Islamic teachings, and are different from the Quran in style.

The Quran often addresses itself to Muhammad and gives him certain instructions: say or read so-and-so: do this: do not do that. Muslims believe that the speaker in the Quran is God. On many occasions, God says to the Prophet 'We sent down the Quran to you."

Form

The Quran was revealed in Arabic, and Muslims re­gard it as the best writing in Arabic ever produced. In­deed, they consider that no author can ever match it.

The Quran, with its language and its message, is for the Muslims the miracle that confirms Muhammad's pro- phethood.

The Arabic text of the Quran is about 500 pages long. It consists of verses called ayas, grouped together in chapters called suras. There are 114 chapters of varying length, with some very short ones coming at the end. The longest is Chapter 2. It consists of 286 verses. Each chapter begins with the words: "In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate." Allah is the Arabic word for God. Muslims refer to the chapters by their names rather than their numbers. Most chapters deal with more than one topic, and some topics are treated in more than one chapter. The names of the chapters are not titles; usually they come from a key word, an event, or a figure mentioned in the chapter. The order of chap­ters in the Quran does not run according to subject mat­ter. Muslims do not change the traditional order of the chapters, nor of the material within them. This is be­cause they believe that what is in the Quran is the Word of God.

Teaching

The Quran is the highest authority in Islam. It is the first and basic source of the Islamic creed (code of be­liefs), rituals, ethics, and laws. What Muhammad the Prophet said and did, which was reported in the Hadith, comes second to the Quran. It serves to confirm, ex­plain, or build on the Quranic principles. The Hadith never contradicts the Quran.

The central teaching of the Quran is that there is only one Cod. Allah is the creator of the universe. The won­ders we can observe around us are presented in the Quran as signs of God s existence and mercy. The Quran speaks at length about these signs and invites the reader to reflect upon them, as in the following examples:

In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the al­ternation of the night and day, and the boats at sea with their loads that benefit mankind, and the water Allah sends down from heaven to bring the earth back to life, and in the animals He spread over the earth, and in the movements of the wind and the clouds between heaven and earth—These are signs for people to reflect upon. (2:164)

He created the animals for you. In them you find warmth, food and other benefits. And in them there is content­ment for you. (16:5-6)

There is no animal on earth, nor bird that flies on its two wings, but they are communities like your own. (16:38)

Let man reflect on the food he eats: how We pour down the rain in torrents, then We open the soil for the seeds to grow. How We bring forth the corn, the grapes and the fresh vegetation; the olive trees and the palm trees, the thickets, the fruit-trees and the green pastures for you and for your cattle to enjoy. (80:24-32)

The Quran teaches that God created men and women. He requires them to conduct their lives in this world ac­cording to what He reveals in His scriptures. He will judge them accordingly on the Day of Judgment. In His mercy He revealed His message to successive prophets, the last of whom was Muhammad. Basically, they all preached the same message.

The Quran contains the stories of many earlier proph­ets. A Muslim must believe in them all and in what was revealed to them.

Say "We believe in Allah and in what has been revealed to us, and what has been revealed to Abraham, ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the tribes; to Moses and Jesus and the other Prophets. We make no distinction between them, and to Allah we have surrendered ourselves." (2:136)

This article of faith is the first of the "five pillars" of Islam. This and the other pillars—the five daily prayers, the giving of alms, fasting in the month of Kamaaan, and making the pilgrimage to Mecca—are all described in the World Book article on Islam. The Quran teaches honesty, charity, kindness, helping one another to do what is good, aiding the weak and the oppressed, acting with justice and righteousness, and keeping one's duty to God. Repeatedly God addresses the believers in the Quran, but sometimes He addresses a wider audience.

O mankind, We have created you from a male and a fe­male and made you into nations and tribes, that you might get to know one another. The noblest of you in Allah's sight is he who is most righteous. Allah is all­knowing and wise. (49:13)

We have ordained a law and a path for each of you. Had Allah wished it, He could have made you into one na­tion, but in order to test your faith in what He has given you He has made you as you are. Vie with one another in good works, for to Allah you shall all return, and He will declare to you what you have disagreed about. (5:48)

Islam is a complete system of life for Muslims. The Quran contains regulations for daily life and laws on var­ious matters such as marriage and family life, commer­cial life, government, and international relations.

The Quran and Muslim culture

The collected written text of the Quran was the first book ever produced in the Arabic language. The various branches of Arabic studies developed originally for the sake of the Quran and its correct interpretation, or un­derstanding. Arabic grammar and phonetics, for exam­ple, developed so that people might not make mistakes in reading the Quran. Calligraphy (artistic writing), which became an important Islamic art, also developed to serve in the learning of the Quran. Muslims often hang on their walls Quranic verses written out in beautiful decorative lettering.

It was the Quran that made Arabic an international language. It was adopted by Middle Eastern and North African countries in place of their original native tongues. As a result, Arabic is not only the language of the Quran, but of the whole Muslim ritual throughout the world (see Islam).

The Quran plays an important part in the daily life of all Muslims. The first chapter of the book, which begins as a hymn of praise for the one true God and an appeal for his guidance and blessing, is an essential part of the ritual daily prayers in Islam. Muslims have to memorize it, and it is read in Arabic many times a day throughout the Muslim world. Muslims everywhere must learn and read at least part of the Quran in Arabic. This is so that they can recite the holy speech which was spoken by the Prophet and his companions.

Many verses or expressions in the Quran are used in the daily lives of all Muslims. They include expressions

such as 'There is no god but Allah," "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," "Thanks be to Allah," "In the name of Allah," "By the will of Allah," "We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return."

Muslim children start to learn portions of the Quran by heart early in their education. The tradition of learn­ing the entire Quran by heart started during Muham­mad's lifetime and continues to the present day. It is a requirement for students of certain religious schools in Arab countries. A person who knows the Quran by heart is called a hafiz.

The art of reciting the Quran has become a profes­sion for some people. These professional reciters gain great fame, distinction, and international repute in the Muslim world, rather like popular musicians in some Western countries. Recitations are now available on sets of cassette tapes, either in Arabic alone or with Euro­pean translations. Muslims often give these tapes to each other as presents. The Quran is recited several times a day on the radio and television in many Arab countries. Some Arab countries set aside several hours a day on a special broadcasting channel exclusively for the reciting of the Quran.

When the Quran is recited, Muslims are required to listen to it attentively. They swear by the Quran for sol­emn oaths, not just in law courts but also on other occa­sions in normal daily life.
Since Muslims believe that the Arabic text of the Quran is the true Word of God, they consider transla­tions to be no more than renderings of the meaning of the Quran. There are many English translations of the Quran. Existing English translations of the Quran have all been the work of individuals. No native Arab who is a scholar of the Quran has participated in them. Arabs find that these translations do not begin to capture the mood or effect of the Arabic Quran. But most accept the need for them in allowing non-Arabs to understand the holiest book of Islam. See also Islam; Muhammad; and Ramadan.

THE CONCEPT OF GOD IN ISLAM.

There is none greater than the CREATOR.

 Published By:

Pertubuhan Dakwah Islamiah Pulau Pinang.

Is there a God?

There are many rational reasons for believing in God.

Three simple reasons are described below:

1. Order of the universe

Imagine walking along the beach and finding a watch in the sand. Would you believe that the watch came together by itself?

You would not conclude that the watch just happened to emerge from the sand by random chance. All the intricate working parts could not simply develop from the materials that lay buried in the earth. The watch must have a manufacturer. And if the watch tells accurate time we expect the manufacturer must be intelligent. Natural coincidences cannot produce a working watch.

Consider the planet earth. Its timing is so strictly regulated around the sun that scientists can publish in advance the sunrise and sunset times. Just as a watch has an intelligent maker to keep accurate time, so too must the earth have an intelligent maker to keep accurate time around the sun. Could this occur by itself?

In the same way, when we see the order, precise laws and systems within ourselves and throughout the entire universe, is it not rational that the universe has an organiser? This ‘organiser’ is best explained by the existence of God - the one who brought about the order in the universe.

2. Beginning of the universe

Modern science concludes that the universe has a beginning.

(Human experience shows us that something that has a beginning does not simply come out of nothing).

This is based on a recent discovery that the universe is expanding, and if we go back in time, the universe converges - which points to a beginning. There are three possible explanations for the beginning of the universe, either:

(a) The Universe came from nothing,

(b) The Universe created itself, or

( c) The Universe was created.

As for the second explanation, simple logic tells us that something cannot do anything before having existed. This leaves the third point as the only rational explanation: a higher and intelligent being, God, created the universe.

Some people may ask, “Who created God”? God, The Creator, is different to His creation. If He was the same as creation, He would also need a creator, leading to an infinite amount of creators, which is impossible. He is beyond time and the physical matter of this universe. God has always existed and has no beginning; therefore the question of who created God is irrational.

3. Revelation from God

There are clear signs that the book of Islam, the Quran, is the word of God. Below is a very brief summary of reasons that support this claim:

The Quran was revealed over 1400 years ago and contains many scientific facts that were unknown to the people of that time which have only been discovered recently by contemporary science. Examples include: water being the origin of all living things (Quran 21:30); the expanding universe (Quran 51:47); and the individual orbits of the sun and moon (Quran 21:33).

-The Quran contains many historical facts that were unknown to the people of that time as well as numerous predictions which have both proven to be correct.

-The Quran is free from any errors or contradictions.

-The Quran has been preserved, word-for-word, since it was revealed in its original Arabic language, unlike other scriptures which no longer exist in their original form.

-The simple, pure and universal message of the Quran appeals to Man’s inherent beliefs about Almighty God.

-The Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who was known in history to be illiterate. Yet, the Quran contains a unique style of language that is universally known as the pinnacle of Arabic eloquence and linguistic beauty.

(The most rational explanation for the many unique and miraculous aspect of the Quran is that it is from God).

Who is God?

“Allah” is the personal name of the One True God. Nothing else can be called Allah.

(And your God is One God. There is no god but He.” – Quran 2:163)

The term has no plural or gender unlike the English word “God” which can be made both plural and feminine (i.e. gods/goddess). The unique usage of “Allah” is a reflection of Islam’s emphasis on the purity of the belief in One God.

The main beauty of Islam is that it acknowledges the complete perfection, greatness and uniqueness of God with absolutely no compromises. This is reflected in Islam’s pure teachings of the attributes of God.

God is one & unique

-God has no partners, no equals and no rivals.

-God has no father, mother, sons, daughters or wives.

-God alone is worthy of all worship.

-Had there been more than one God, it would reflect deficiency in His power or authority as this would involve God having rivalry, making compromises or needing agreement with other gods.

God is all-powerful

-God has full authority and power over all things

-Everything is completely subservient and dependent on Him.

-Obedience to God does not increase His Power, nor does disobedience decrease His power in any way.

God is the most high

-There is nothing above or comparable to God.

-The attributes of God do not resemble that of His creation.

-No part of God is present in anyone or anything.

-God is perfect and does not have any human limitations, such as resting on the seventh day after he created the universe, as claimed by some other religions.

God is the all-just & all-merciful

-God does not need to sacrifice himself to forgive sins nor is anyone “born into sin”.

-God judges everyone based on their own deeds and everyone is accountable for their own actions.

-Humans may distinguish themselves and earn God’s favour through belief, virtue and piety only - not through race, wealth or social class.

The Nature of Jesus

Some Christians claim that “Jesus is God” - that is, he is the incarnation of God on earth and that God took on a human form.

(When explaining the concept of God in Islam it is important to discuss the status of Jews, given the widespread confusion and claims about the nature of Jesus).

However, according to the Bible, Jesus was born, ate, slept, prayed and had limited knowledge - all attributes not befitting God. God has attributes of perfection whereas Man is the opposite and lacks such perfection. So how can anything be two Complete opposites both at the same time? This is not rational.

However, some people may ask, “If God can do anything, why can’t he become a man?” By definition, God does not do ungodly acts, so ir God became man and took on human attributes, he would, necessarily, no longer be God.

Furthermore, the Bible contains many verses in which Jesus speaks and behaves as if God is a separate being to himself. For example, Jesus “fell on his face and prayed” (Matthew 26:39). If Jesus was God, then would a God fall on his face and pray? And, who would he be praying to?

Some Christians also claim that “Jesus is

the Son of God” but we should ask ourselves, what does this actually mean?

(It is not befitting for Allah to take a son; He is perfect and flawless.” – Quran 19:35)

Surely God is far removed from having a physical and literal son. Rather, we find that the term “Son of God” is symbolically used in the earliest biblical languages for a “righteous person”. It is used throughout the Old Testament for many righteous people such as David, Solomon and Israel - not exclusively for Jesus. “...Israel is my

firstborn son,” (Exodus 4:22) is one such example.

The Islamic belief about Jesus explains who the real Jesus was, whilst maintaining the pure belief about God and His Greatness. Jesus was as an honourable Prophet sent by God to call to the worship of God alone.

God Alone is Worthy of Worship

“And worship Allah and associate none with Him♦” Quran 4:36

Islam teaches that all prayer and acts of worship should be exclusively to God. Nothing else is worthy of worship: not statues, graves, the sun, the moon, animals, Prophets, saints, angels, priests or religious scholars. All of these things are created and limited, hence imperfect, whereas Allah is perfect.

God is Worshipped Directly

God does not need any partners or intermediaries. Everyone always has direct access to worship God, as He hears all who praise and call upon Him. Worshipping Allah indirectly (e.g. through idols, statues or other intermediaries) is viewed as compromising Allah’s Oneness and purity of worship that He alone, is worthy of.

All Prophets Called to the Worship of God

“And We (God) certainly sent into every nation a Messenger, saying, ‘Worship Allah and avoid false gods” Quran 16:36

Muslims believe in all the Prophets that Allah sent. These prophets include Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad. They all came with the same message - to call their people to the belief and worship of the One True God.

The Purpose of Life is to Worship God

The ultimate purpose of life is to acknowledge the greatness of God, establish a direct connection with him, and worship Him alone.

The concept of worship in Islam is not limited to rituals such as praying and fasting, it includes all actions that are pleasing to God such as having good manners, being honest, establishing justice, being patient and helping the needy.

In conclusion, the foundation of Islam is belief in the Oneness and Uniqueness of Almighty God, who is the Creator and Lord of all, perfect in all His attributes. He alone deserves all worship. Therein lies our success in this life and the next.