All the facts and data are as of 17th March 2018 and may change in the future COURSE OUTLINE ARTICLES OF FAITH Iman in Islamic theology denotes a believer's faith in the metaphysical aspects of Islam. Its most simple definition is the belief in the six articles of faith, known as arkan al-iman. "Iman is that you believe in God and His Angels and His Books and His Messengers and the Hereafter and the good and evil fate [ordained by your God]” (Hadith) 1- Belief in Allah: This article means to believe that Allah is the One God, to whom worship is due; that He is the Creator and the Sustainer of everything; that it is He who gives life and causes death, and that He is Unique in Himself, His Names and Attributes. 2 - Belief in His Angels: Allah has created the angels from light. They are honorable slaves of Allah; they obey Him and execute His Commands Allah describes them by saying: "…They do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded." [Quran: 66:6] Prominent Angles (Archangels) are :- i. Jibrael :- the Angel of revelation ii. Mikail :- responsible for bringing rain and thunder to Earth and providing rizq iii. Israfil:-responsible for signaling the coming of Qiyamah (Judgment Day) by blowing a horn. iv. Izrail :- Archangel of death (also known as Malak al-maut) 3 - Belief in His Books: Belief in His Books is believing that Allah the Exalted did in reality reveal Books to His Messengers to convey them to their people. Those Books comprise the Speech of Allah. These were doubtlessly pure at the point of revelation, and whenever a Book or Scripture was revealed, it abrogated the preceding one. The known Divine Scriptures are: 1. Taurat, the Book that Allah revealed to Moosa (A.S) 2. Zabur, the Book revealed to Daawood (A.S) 3. Injil, revealed to Isa (A.S) 4. Quran,revealed to Muhammad (S.A.W.W) 4 - Belief in His Messengers: Muslims attest that Allah did send Messengers to every nation inviting them to worship Him Alone. All Prophets and Messengers were human beings. Allah distinguished them by commissioning them as Prophets and Messengers and supported them with miracles. They had no Divine qualities, and had no access to the Unseen world. Allah sent Prophet Muhammad to all mankind; Allah says “Say [O Muhammad]: 'O mankind! I am the Messenger of Allah to you all....” [Quran: 7:158] 5 - Belief in the Last Day: Allah has not created His creation in vain. He created men and jinn to worship Him and promised paradise as a reward to those who obey Him and His Messengers, and promised Hellfire to those who disobey Him or His Messengers. He has set a certain period for the whole universe, whose end will be the Final Hour. During the Final Hour, humans will be questioned about their deeds in this world. Those deeds will be weighed for them. 6 - Belief in the Divine Preordainment and Divine Decrees (Qadhaa' and Qadr): Doom (Qadhaa') is the general Decree of Allah that every human shall die, whereas a Divine Decree (Qadr) is a particular Decree of Allah or the execution of Qadhaa', that a certain person is to die at a particular time and place. Hence, believing in this article entails believing that Allah has created everything and has foreordained its proper measure. PILLARS OF ISLAM Shahada: Faith Shahada is a declaration of faith and trust that professes that there is only one God (Allah) and that Muhammad is God's messenger. It is a set statement normally recited in Arabic: lā ʾilāha ʾillā-llāhu muḥammadun rasūlu-llāh Salah: prayer Salah is the Islamic prayer. Salah consists of five daily prayers according to the Sunna; the names are according to the prayer times: Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (noon), ʿAṣr (afternoon), Maghrib (evening), and ʿIshāʾ (night). All of these prayers are recited while facing in the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and form an important aspect of the Muslim Ummah. Muslims must wash before prayer; this washing is called wudu ("purification"). The prayer is accompanied by a series of set positions including; bowing with hands on knees, standing, prostrating Zakat: charity Zakat or alms-giving is the practice of charitable giving based on accumulated wealth. The word zakat can be defined as purification and growth because it allows an individual to achieve balance and encourages new growth. Zakat consists of spending a portion of one's wealth for the benefit of the poor or needy, like debtors or travelers. A Muslim may also donate more as an act of voluntary charity (sadaqah), rather than to achieve additional divine reward Sawm: fasting Fasting is an obligatory act during the month of Ramadan.[19] Muslims must abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk during this month, and are to be especially mindful of other sins. Fasting is necessary for every Muslim that has reached puberty The fast is meant to allow Muslims to seek nearness and to look for forgiveness from God, to express their gratitude to and dependence on him, atone for their past sins, and to remind them of the needy. Fasting during Ramadan is obligatory, but is forbidden for several groups for whom it would be very dangerous and excessively problematic. These include pre- pubescent children, those with a medical condition such as diabetes, elderly people, and pregnant or breastfeeding women. Other individuals for whom it is considered acceptable not to fast are those who are ill or traveling. Missing fasts usually must be made up for soon afterward,. Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca The Hajj is a pilgrimage that occurs during the Islamic month of Zilhajj to the holy city of Mecca. Every able-bodied Muslim is obliged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifeWhen the pilgrim is around 10 km (6.2 mi) from Mecca, he/she must dress in Ihram clothing, which consists of two white sheets. Both men and women are required to make the pilgrimage to Mecca. The main rituals of the Hajj include walking seven times around the Kaaba termed Tawaf, touching the Black Stone termed Istilam, traveling seven times between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah termed Sa'yee, and symbolically stoning the Devil in Mina termed Ramee. IMPORTANT RELIGIOUS PLACES 1) MASJID E HARAM Masjid al-Haram ("The Sacred Mosque"), is a large mosque in the city of Mecca, and the largest in Islam. It surrounds the Kaaba, the place which all Muslims turn towards each day in prayer, considered by Muslims to be the holiest place on Earth. The current structure covers an area of 356,800 m2 (3,841,000 sq ft) including the outdoor and indoor praying spaces and can accommodate up to 820,000 worshipers during the Hajj period. The site of the Kaaba, which (according to Muslim belief) was established by Abraham and Ismail, was used by non-Muslim Arabs who worshiped multiple gods. And remember Prophet Abraham and Isma'il raised the foundations of the House (With this prayer): "Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: For Thou art the All- Hearing, the All-knowing. — Quran, Sura 2 (Al-Baqara), ayah 127 2) MASJID E NABWI Al-Masjid an-Nabawi or the Mosque of the Prophet, located in Medina, is the second holiest site in Islam. The edifice was originally the house of Muhammad; he settled there after his migration to Medina, and later built a mosque on the grounds. He himself shared in the heavy work of construction. The original mosque was an open-air building. The mosque also served as a community center, a court, and a religious school. Subsequent Islamic rulers greatly expanded and decorated the mosque. The most important feature of the site is the green dome over the center of the mosque, where the tomb of Muhammad is located.. Medina is also home to the historically significant Quba Mosque and Masjid al- Qiblatayn. 3) MASJID E AQSA Al-Ḥaram al-Šarīf ("the Noble Sanctuary"), also known as the Temple Mount located in the Old City of Jerusalem and widely regarded as the Temple Mount. It includes the al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock.The term Al-Aqsa Mosque was coined in the Quran: Glory to (Allah) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless,- in order that We might show him some of Our Signs: for He is the One Who heareth and seeth (all things). — Quran, Sura 17 (Al-Isra) ayah 1 MEMORIZATION OF TEN SURAHS IMPORTANT STEPS IN NAMAZ 1. Stand upright facing the direction of Al-Ka'bah. 2. Make Niyyah (intention) 3. Raise your hands to your ears and say: "Allahu Akbar.” (Takbir) 4. Sanah followed by Tawudh and Tasmiyya 5. After this, recite Suratul Fatihah 6. Now recite any other passage from the Noble Qur'an. 7. Now bow down saying: "Allahu Akbar" and place your hands on your knees and say silently: "Subhana Rabbiyal AdhimThis position is called Rukoo'. Keep your head in line with your back, and look downward to the place of Sujood. 8. Stand up from the bowing position saying: "Sami'Allahu liman hamidah" (Allah hears those who praise Him)"Rabbana lakal hamd. 9. Prostrate on the floor saying: "Allahu Akbar" Then recite silently: "Subhana Rabbiyal A'la." 10. Sit up from the floor saying Allahu Akbar. Sit upright with your knees bent and palms placed on them and say: “Rabbighfir li.” 11.