INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM
...Zaboor (Psalms) revealed to Prophet David; Injeel (The Gospels) revealed to Prophet Jesus; and finally Al-Quran revealed to Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon them all). The Holy Quran contains the essence and the sum total of all the previous revelation. (iv)BELIEF IN ANGELS: There are many things in creation, which are beyond the reach of human perception. Angels are one of these creations. God uses the angels to carry out HIS work in creation. Each angel is entrusted to convey God’s message (REVELATION) through the Prophets of mankind. All Muslims believe in the existence of Angels. (v)BELIEF IN THE LIFE HEREAFTER: Life in this world, according to Islam, is a temporary sojourn, and is a place of test and trial for humankind, and one day it must come to an end. Everything in creation will perish (Quran CH55:V26). However, this will not be the end of life, but it will continue in the HEREAFTER. What form or shape it will take place is unknown to us at this stage. It will be in the Hereafter, that there will be a DAY OF JUDGEMENT, wherein every soul will be accountable to God, for his or her deeds in this world. Every soul will be judged with absolute justice, and will reap the fruits of his or actions. Every good deed will be justly rewarded and every evil deed will be justly punished. (Quran CH99:V7/8). God, however has the power to forgive whom ever HE pleases and punish whom ever HE pleases. (Quran CH2:V284). These are the basic principles of Islam, and whoever wishes to follow Islam has to believe in and accept these principles. However, merely to believe in these principles will no be enough to be a Muslim, but one has to constantly and consciously live the Islamic way of life. FOUNDATION OF ISLAM: The foundation of ISLAM is based on five pillars: These are: (i)DECLARATION OF FAITH Whoever wishes to enter Islam has first to declare voluntarily and openly with full sincerity and conviction belief in ONE GOD, who is the Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe, and it is HIM alone that we all must worship and HIM alone we all must obey. And that Muhammad (P.B.U.H) is the final and the seal of the Messengers of and it is his example that we must follow. (ii)PRAYERS (SALAAH) The second pillar of Islam is to offer prayers five times a day at appropriate times as a duty towards God. Each of these prayers does not take more than 10 to 15 minutes. The prayers strengthen and refresh our belief in God and inspire us to a higher morality. The prayers purify the hearts and protect us from the temptation towards wrong doings and events. In prayers a person addresses God directly without any intermediary or intercessor, between man and God. (iii)FASTING Once a year, during the whole month of Ramadaan, all Muslims are required to observe the fast from dawn to sunset. Fasting requires one to abstain from food, drink, smoke, sexual relations, and all evil intentions and desires. Fasting inculcates in a person God-consciousness. It tenders love sincerity and devotion. It develops in a person sound social responsibilities, patience, perseverance, generosity and will power. (iv)ZAKAAH Zakaah is the economic pillar of Islam. It is based on the principle that everything belongs to God, and wealth therefore is held by human beings in trust. The term ‘Zakaah” means purification and growth. Our possessions are purified by setting aside a portion of our wealth for the needy, the indigent, the widows and the orphans and for the welfare of the society in general. Thus by sharing our wealth with the needy members of the society, the general wealth and welfare of the society and the individual grows. Annually each Muslim must calculate his or her Zakaat. This involves 2.5% of ones nett asset value, over and above the individual needs. Zakaat is the minimum a Muslim has to spend in the path of God. Over and above this a Muslim is encouraged to spend as much as possible of his or her wealth in the path of God. (Quran CH2:V261-274). (v)HAJJ/PILGRIMAGE: Pilgrimage or Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam. It establishes the universal brotherhood of man. Once in a lifetime, every Muslim who is physically and financially able to do so, must perform the Pilgrimage to MAKKAH, which is held once annually. On the day of HAJJ, Muslims from all corners of the world, both men and women, from all strata of society, from all races and cultures, the rich and the poor, the rulers and the ruled, all stand equal before God, on the plain of ARAFAT, wearing common garments of two pieces of unsown cloth, thus effectively wiping out all distinction between them. To perform HAJJ is a lifetime ambition of every Muslim. These five pillars are the foundation of Islam. If any one of these pillars is neglected or removed, the whole foundation collapses and there is no ISLAM. However, just as the foundation of a building cannot reflect its grandeur and its beauty, so the mere Observance of this pillar cannot truly reveal the grandeur and beauty of Islam. One has to go beyond the observance of the five pillars to fully realize the potentials of the Islamic civilisational goals. THE CIVILISATIONAL GOALS OF ISLAM: (i)UNITY OF LIFE Unlike secular societies, Islam does not see life in a fragmented way. Arising out its emphasis on TAWHEED, (Oneness of God) and Oneness of Creator, Islam reviews life as one integrated whole. In Islam, the sacred and the secular, the scientific and the spiritual are not conflicting aspects of human life, but complimentary parts of one integrated whole. The Islamic goal is to develop all the different aspects of human life in a just balance way to bring about harmony and the ideal human society. (ii)UNITY OF MANKIND According to the Quran, human beings are the highest creations of God, having been created in the best mould. Every human being has been created out of the same essence and from a single male and a single female. Hence all human beings belong to one human family. They have been made into different nations and tribes, so as to recognize and understand each other and to co-operate with each other. No one individual or tribe is superior to another individual nation or tribe except in matters of piety and righteous conduct. Every human being has been endowed with dignity and respect and to uphold and enhance this dignity and mutual respect for each other is the ultimate goal of Islam. GENDER EQUALITY In Islam no discrimination is made on the basis of sex. According to the Quran both the male and female are created from the same essence. The Quran states: “We have honoured the children of Adam (BANI-ADAM)” (Quran CH17V:70). The term bani Adam includes both men as well as women; hence both are equally honourable. Without any distinction of sex. The Quran assigns equal rights and responsibilities on men and women: “. but in accordance with justice the rights of the wives (with respect to their husbands) are equal to the rights (of the husband) with regard to them.” (Quran CH2:V228). On the relationship between husbands and wives, the Quran states: “They are as a garment for you, and you are as a garment for them.” (Quran CH2:V187). This clearly implies that, like garments, both men and women need each other, and one cannot be complete without the other. Hence when men and women play a complimentary role to each other, there cannot be any question of inequality. However, Islam recognizes the difference in the physical and biological make-up of men and women. Hence the difference in their role in society. Their roles are complimentary, not contradictory to each other. Islam, thus, seeks to strike a just balance between men and women in their role in society. THE ROLE OF SOCIETY The Islamic society plays a very crucial role in the development of its members. An individual cannot alone and in isolation develop to his or her fuller potential. This can best be achieved in a collective environment by living in a community. The Quran states: “ You are indeed the best community that has been raised for (the good of) mankind: You enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong, and you believe in God,” (Quran CH3:V110). Thus the Quran places the responsibility on the society as a whole to create the conditions conducive for the growth and development of its members. This in turn can only be achieved if all the individual members of the society play a constructive and meaningful role towards the betterment of each other. Thus Islam does not only grant rights to individual but also places responsibility on them. Islam seeks to achieve a balance society, free of conflict and strife based on JUSTICE and equality. MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE Family is the smallest unit and the corner stone of any society. A stable and healthy family produces strong stable and healthy individuals. Disintegration of family life leads to disintegration of individuals. Islam therefore emphasizes and encourages every individual to marry and have a family life. Islam places mutual responsibility on the husband and the wife in the preservation of family life and the development of each other and their offspring. Islam totally prohibits: (i)All sexual relationship out of wedlock. (ii)It prohibits sodomy, homosexual and lesbian relationship and same-sex marriages. It considers these acts as unnatural and as perverting human dignity. ISLAM AND POLITICS Islam does not distinguish between religion and politics. It does not subscribe to the precept: “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s. Based upon its fundamental belief in TAWHEED (Oneness of God) it treats life as our integral whole. The political and the religious life of a Muslim is based upon sound spiritual and moral foundation and is at all times guided by DIVIDNE REVELATIONS.” Islam does not prescribe any particular form of government or state. It is neither theocratic nor proletariat. The type and the form of government that is best suited to the needs and the circumstances of the community are left to the people to choose. In an Islamic state sovereignty, belongs to God, and not to any particular group of people or to the state. The ultimate purpose of an Islamic state is to provide a political framework for unity and co-operation among its citizens. An Islamic state is not a goal or an end in itself but only a means by which it ensures the growth of a community of people who stand up for equity and justice, for right and against wrong. ISLAM AND ECONOMICS 1)Islamic economics is based upon the principle that whatever is in the heavens or earth belongs to God and man is merely a trustee. 2)Every human being has five (5) basic needs: food, clothing, shelter, education and health maintenance. 3)It is the responsibility of the state or the community to ensure that...