Preface Transliteration of the Arabic Sounds Table of Contents Chapter1 - Islam and Muslims The Declaration of Faith Islamic Beliefs The Holy Qur’an Traditions of the Prophet The Tradition of Gabriel 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 Islam Fasting in General The Islamic Fasting The Month of Ramadan Optional Fasting Benefits of Fasting Chapter 4 - The Islamic Lunar Calendar The Islamic Holidays Summary of the Islamic Holidays Chapter 5 - The Charity Tax in Islam What is Zakat? 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 Quran 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 Allah love me? Do Muslims believe in Jesus? What is the status of Mary in Islam? What is the position of Islam on Terrorism? List of References/Reading Material List of Mosques and Islamic Centers in The Greater Washington DC Area The District of Columbia Maryland Virginia List of Islamic Words and Expressions 2 .