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Preface

Transliteration of the Sounds

Table of Contents

Chapter1 - and

The Declaration of Faith Islamic Beliefs The Holy Qur’an Traditions of the The Tradition of Muslims in the World

Chapter 2 - The Islamic Prayers

The Ritualistic Cleansing The Call to Prayer The First Two Basic Prayer Units (Rak^as) Prayer Recitation Requirements The Obligatory Daily Prayers The Optional Daily Prayers The Friday Prayer (Jumu^a) and the Feast (^Eid) Prayers Other Optional Islamic Prayers Perpetual Daily Prayer Calendar Final Words

Chapter 3 -

Fasting in General The Islamic Fasting The Month of Optional Fasting Benefits of Fasting

Chapter 4 - The Islamic Lunar Calendar

The Summary of the Islamic Holidays

Chapter 5 - The Charity Tax in Islam

What is ? The Zakat Rates Who Benefits from Zakat? Other Charity Taxes

1 Moral Standing

Chapter 6 - The Islamic Law

The Sunni Schools of Law Basics of the Islamic Law (Sharia) The Shia School of Thought How About Now?

Chapter 7 - The Lawful and the Forbidden

What is Lawful? What is Forbidden? Islamic Etiquette

Chapter 8 - Excerpts from the A Few Short Suras A Few Supplications

Chapter 9- Frequently Asked Questions

If events in my life are set in advance, why should I make any effort? My “non-Muslim” mother just died. Can I pray for her? Would only Muslims go to heaven? Why do Muslim women wear a veil? Isn’t that unfair to them? Why should this misery happen to me? Does love me? Do Muslims believe in ? What is the status of Mary in Islam? What is the position of Islam on Terrorism?

List of References/Reading Material

List of and Islamic Centers in The Greater Washington DC Area

The District of Columbia Maryland Virginia

List of Islamic Words and Expressions

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