human beings and examples for humanity. God reward for good believers and punishment for WHAT IS ISLAM? appointed prophets not to be worshipped but to sinners. communicate the message of God to humanity. Islam is the complete way of life for all humanity. It is the religion of submission to one WHAT ARE THE FIVE PILLARS OF God, the religion of peace, mercy, and WHO IS MUHAMMAD? ISLAM? forgiveness. It is the universal religion that calls Muhammad was the son of Abdullah and The five pillars of Islam are the practical Amina and was born in Makkah, Saudi Arabia for “ONE PEOPLE UNDER ONE GOD.” aspects of Islam. They are to make you in 570 CE. God chose him to be the last conscious of God and to bring harmony and prophet, the seal of prophets and prophecy, at peace between the physical desires and spiritual WHAT DOES ISLAM MEAN? the age of 40. He died in Madina(Saudi Arabia) needs of a human being. The world is not an Islam means submission to one God and it also at the age of 63. He communicated the message illusion to a Muslim. It is a place to work and means ‘peace.’ The word Muslim means the of Islam to humanity. He was known as enjoy; nourish physical and spiritual needs; one who has submitted him/herself to God and Amin(trustworthy), Sadiq(truthful) from his care and love; forgive and respect others. A lives with peace. If one’s life is not peaceful, childhood. He was humble and sincere, loving Muslim lives a righteous life in this world with he/she should be concerned about his/her level and caring, forgiving and showing mercy to all. a hope enter paradise in the hereafter. of submission to God. The more you submit The Pillars are: yourself to God, the more you enjoy peace, WHAT IS QUR’AN? 1. Shahada (to witness): It is to witness that tranquility, and contentment in life. Qur’an is the record of exact words revealed by there is no god but One God and God through the Angel Gabriel to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the IS ISLAM AN ARAB RELIGION? Muhammad (peace be upon him). It was messenger and servant of God. The No! Islam is a religion for all humanity. It is the revealed piece by piece over about 23 years, declaration of Shahada is necessary if one first religion, which had a universal beginning. then memorized and written down by the early is to be a Muslim and joins Muslims in The early followers of Prophet Muhammad followers of Islam. This makes Qur’an, the worship. (peace is upon him) came from Arabia, Africa, unique and miraculous text preserved as it was 2. Salat(worship). A Muslim has to worship Iran, Asia, and the West. Racism, tribalism, and revealed in the textual history of world God five times a day. It is better to worship nationalism divided the world before Islam. religions. in congregation in a mosque. One can still Some people claimed to have been chosen by perform the worship at home, at work, or God and others as inferiors. The rich WHAT DOES A MUSLIM BELIEVE? anywhere else. Friday is the sacred day of considered the poor as people of lower classes. Muslims believe in the One and the Only God. Islam. All Muslims are to leave their jobs Islam came with: “O people! God created you The Qur’an says about God, “Say, He Allah, and assemble in the central mosque of the from a single pair of male and female and made the One. Allah is the Eternal, Absolute. He area for a sermon and congregational you unto tribes and nations so that you may begetteth not, nor He is begotten. And there is worship at noon. Worship in Islam is a know one another (not to chastise one another) none like unto Him" (Ch.112). Muslims also direct communication of an individual with The best among you is the one who is the most believe in angels created by God; all prophets God. It is a highly spiritual and a conscious of God” (Al Qur’an: 49:13). and Muhammad as the seal of prophets; continuous reminder of one’s duty toward revelation and the Holy Scriptures and Qur’an God. It is also highly social, teaching unity, WHAT IS MOHAMMEDANISM? as the final Scripture to humanity. The Muslims equality, and the universality of Islam. ‘Mohammedanism’ is a misnomer. Islam is the believe in the hereafter; the day of the end of 3. Zakat(poor due). Islam is the first religion religion of Allah, the One and Only God. the world, the resurrection of humanity, the that made Zakat obligatory on rich to give Muhammad was a human being. Islam accountability and judgement by God alone, to the poor. Zakat is given two and a half considers all Prophets (peace be upon them) as and the existence of heaven and hell and the percent per year on one’s net worth at the end of year. Other than Zakat, Muslims are preaching the concept of One God and one encouraged to give charity for the well humanity. TO being of the community. Islam teaches that Does Islam respect other religions? helping the needy helps one’s spiritual Islam is the first religion that recognized the ISLAM growth. presence of other religions and faiths. Islam 4. Siyam (Fasting): Fasting in the month of honors and respects diversity. Islam asks the Ramadan is obligatory on all adult, sane, believers not to abuse or look down upon other and healthy Muslims. Muslims fast from faiths or followers of other faiths. dawn to sunset. Fasting teaches self-control and self-restraint. It is highly spiritual Why is family important in Islam? activity constantly reminding the believers Family is the foundation of Muslim society. A to be conscious of God. Fasting teaches stable family is must for the sound spiritual and Muslims to be in control of their tongue, to physical growth of our future generation. be respectful and to be forgiving. But Children are the blessing of God. Good spiritual uplifting in Ramadan is once again parenting in the light of Islam has high merits, tied with helping the needy. Before the end bringing near God. of Ramadan, every head of the Muslim household who can afford should pay an What is marriage in Islam? amount of about 5-8 dollars per member of Islam regards male and female as equals before his/her family to the poor in the area. God. Marriage in Islam is a contract between 5. Hajj(pilgrimage to the House of God at two equals. The wife does not necessarily have Makkah). Hajj is obligatory on every to carry the husband's name. Divorce is Muslim once in a lifetime who can afford permissible but is to be avoided. it. Hajj is to commemorate the works of For comments & suggestions, contact: Abraham (peace be upon him), his How does some one become a Muslim? Muhammad Shafiq, Ph.D. teachings of One God, and his sacrifices in Just say the Shahadah: "There is no God but the path of God. He and son Ishmael built Islamic Center of Rochester One God, and Muhammad (peace be upon him) 727 Westfall Road the Ka`ba(the House of God) and since is the messenger and servant of God." With its PO Box 23266 then people have been asked to perform the declaration, you become a member of the Rochester, NY 14692 pilgrimage to the House of God. When universal community of Islam. Islam is a Email:[email protected] Muhammad (peace is upon him) came, he simple religion. There is no priesthood, no http://www.rochesterislamiccenter.org recalled the commitment of Abraham to intermediary between you and God. Worship Tel: (585) 442-0117 or 7164 one God. He performed the Pilgrimage and God, be conscious of God, and enjoy the asked Muslims to follow. Hajj is highly Fax: (585) 442-9924 beauty and freedom of Islam. spiritual but at the same time highly social and universal activity of Islam. It is a practical demonstration of Islam’s call for “ONE PEOPLE UNDER ONE GOD.” When Malcolm X went on the Hajj and witnessed the universality of Islam, he INTRODUCTION returned to America as a new man, .