SSE Group 3 Blog

“Be like the Star which never wavers from the Crescent and is ever fixed in steady faith.” - BABA -

INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM

The Islamic religion is the youngest of man’s great religions. The birthplace of this faith was Arabia. The word Islam means submission, and a Muslim is one who submits to the Will of God. For Islam the individual is not so much the image of God as the representative of God in creation. In the world today there are an estimated 860 million Muslims.

Belief in one God, Allah is the cornerstone of Islam. Islam’s purpose from the outset has been to uphold the Oneness of God. Muslims regard their holy book, the Qur’an, as the final, unchanged word of God. However, they also believe that the Jewish Torah and Psalms and the Christian Gospels are important too, being God’s Revealed Word.

Muslims, believe in eighteen Old Testament Jewish Prophets and in John the Baptist and Jesus, and honour them as genuine Messengers of God. They do not follow Christians in believing that Jesus is the Son of God. There is also a belief in various classes of angels, who rank below the Prophets and above humankind. Their duties include guarding the gates of hell and recording the thoughts and actions of every individual while on earth.

Muslims believe in five basic observances, called the Five Pillars of Islam. They are :1) Islamic Profession of Faith, 2) Prayer, 3) Almsgiving, 4) Fasting, 5) Pilgrimage. In addition to the Five Pillars, there is Jihad or striving in the path of God. This is not simply, or even primarily Holy War against infidels. It can take on many forms including learning, good works, and self control. Jihad as Holy War is not a Pillar of Islam because it is a duty imposed on the community as a whole, not on every individual.

Islam has not escaped a fate common to all religions : sectarian divisions. Although there are numerous sub-sects, the two main branches of Islam are the Sunni and the Shi’ite. They split over the question of the line of succession from Prophet Mohammed. The Sunni, by far the major and the Orthodox branch of Islam, recognise the first four Caliphs as true successors of Prophet Mohammed. Which were Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali. The Shi’ite, a minority group which represents the Liberal branch of Islam and is mainly concentrated in Iran and India, disregard the first three Caliphs who were not related to Prophet Mohammed, uphold family succession only and regard Ali (son-in-law and cousin of Prophet Mohammed) and his successors as divinely ordained Caliphs. A Shi’ite sub-group, known as the Twelvers, recognises twelve Imams or religious leaders since the death of the Prophet Mohammed. The members of this sect believe that there is yet one more Imam to come who may appear at any time to conquer the world and usher in justice and righteousness.

From architecture to literature and law, traditional Muslim culture has been a seamless whole.

THE LIFE & MISSION OF MOHAMMED

Mohammed ibn Abdullah was born in Mecca into the tribe of Quraish. His father died a few days before His birth. His mother died when He was six years old. His grandfather who took care of Him after his parents passed away, also died three years later. So at the age of nine, His uncle Abu Talib was entrusted with Mohammed’s care.

As a young man, Mohammed conducted business in the trade caravans of Mecca. At the age of twenty-five Mohammed entered the services of a wealthy widow named Khadijah. Their relationship flourished to a point where they finally wed. This union gave Mohammed freedom from economic burdens and a chance at pursuing his spiritual pursuits. However, Mohammed’s full ministry did not begin until fifteen years after he was wed to Khadijah.

Often Mohammed would wander off into the hills and caves outside Mecca, to seek solitude for his meditation. It was on one such outing, that Mohammed received instructions from the Archangel Gabriel to begin preaching in the name of Allah. Upon receiving instructions, the now Prophet Mohammed was fired by an overwhelming desire to proclaim his revelations to his countrymen. When preaching Prophet Mohammed focused on three main points. They were : 1) The Oneness of Allah, 2) The Moral Responsibility of Man Towards Allah, and 3) The Judgement Day of Humanity. Prophet Mohammed also stressed constantly that he was not divine, but merely chosen to be a spokesman of Allah.

Despite all kinds of opposition, Prophet Mohammed proceeded to preach against Idolatry and called men to recognise the worship of Allah only. Prophet Mohammed claimed for Allah the attribute of being God. Allah was not a God, or even the greatest of Gods; Allah was what his name literally claimed : The One and Only God Without Rival.

As Prophet Mohammed’s fame spread, so did the opposition of what he was preaching. A delegation from Yathrib, later renamed Madina, offered Prophet Mohammed protection in return for his mediation skills to calm tribal feuds. So, Prophet Mohammed and some of his disciples fled on September 24, 622 A.D. This migration is known in Arabic as the Hegira and is the year from which all Muslim calendars are dated.

Although the people of Medina were more interested in a political figure than in a religious leader, Prophet Mohammed won over the people to his faith. He became the city’s political chief as well as religious leader. Thus, under his direction, civil and religious authority were fused. For the next ten years, until his death, Prophet Mohammed struggled to unite his countrymen into a coherent politico-religious group; and he succeeded! At the time of his death in 632 A.D. virtually all of Arabia was under his control. No other Arab had ever succeeded in uniting his countrymen as Prophet Mohammed had.

THE FIVE PILLARS IN ISLAM

1. CREED - Shahadah

The Creed or Islamic Profession of Faith is : La ilaha illa’llah muhammadun rasulu’llah. When translated reads : There is no other God but Allah and Mohammed is the Prophet of Allah. This Creed is recited once a week in a formal service, but many times a day by countless devoted Muslims as they go about their work. Five times a day, a similar, though somewhat longer formula, is proclaimed by the Muezzin. A Muezzin is one who calls people to prayer from the tower or Minaret of the Mosque, the Islamic place of worship.

2. PRAYER - Salat

A faithful Muslim is to show his gratitude to Allah through prayer five times a day. The periods during the day at which a Muslim must pray are : at daybreak, at noon, in mid-afternoon, after sunset, and before retiring to bed. Of course, Muslims are supposed to go to the Mosque; but if that is not possible, then it does not matter where the religious duty is performed, as long as it is observed.

Prior to praying, a Muslim must follow a certain bathing ritual. This ritual requires the individual to wash head, hands, and feet with water. If no water is available, then the individual must wipe hands and face with fine, clean sand. Upon completion of this bathing ritual, the individual spreads a prayer mat on the ground facing Mecca, and kneels to pray. Regardless of the spoken language of the individual, prayer is recited in Arabic. Naturally, this schedule is not absolutely binding during times of sickness and travelling. Under such circumstances the Qur’an recognises the difficulties and hence prescribes a more relaxed ritual. One day during the week is set aside for public prayer. Every Friday noon, all Muslims join together in the Mosque and its surrounding area for communal prayer. There are no images of any kind in the Mosque; no paintings or pictorial windows, for Muslims dislike such representations. Instead, many Qur’anic verses are written on the walls in Arabic. There are no seats or pews in the Mosque, simply because everyone must spread his carpet for prayer. Qur’anic texts are chanted and the service lasts half an hour.

3. ALMSGIVING - Zakat

Together with prayer the Qur’an stresses the giving of alms as the outward sign of true piety. In the early years of the Islamic religion, almsgiving was a free-will offering, but what began as a voluntary act of charity soon evolved into an obligatory tax, the Zakat. The money collected in this way was used for the care of the poor, the building and support of Mosques, and at one time during the great Islamic Empire, for expenses incurred in the administration of the empire. Naturally, with the disruption of the empire, the Zakat has become a voluntary gift once more. Many devout Muslims regard it as a loan made to God, which He will repay many-fold.

4. FASTING - Sawm

The most carefully observed of all Muslim religious duties is to fast during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Muslim calendar which is the month in which Prophet Mohammed is supposed to have received his first revelations. In order to commemorate this occasion, the faithful are commanded to fast, without anything to eat or drink, from dawn till sunset for this whole month. However, since it is a month in a lunar calendar, Ramadan rotates around the year. When Ramadan falls in the winter months, a religious fast does not seem too demanding, but during the summer months, and in hot countries especially, this duty becomes particularly rigorous.

5. PILGRIMAGE - Hajj

No religious ritual has done more to unite the Muslims than the rite of pilgrimage. Every true Muslim must make a pilgrimage to the sacred city of Mecca at least once in his lifetime. Each year and during the same period each year, thousands of Muslims, from all walks of life and of different colour, race or nationality meet on common ground and realise their equality before Allah. Before entering the holy precincts, all pilgrims wear white seamless garment and abstain from shaving or cutting hair. However simply visiting Mecca is not enough. Three main rituals and various other duties are prescribed :

Before entering the very large open-air centre, where the Ka’aba the sacred cube shaped shrine in Mecca, is located, pilgrims stop to perform their ablutions, put on the white seamless garment, remove their footwear, and approach the Ka’aba barefoot. Then they walk counter-clockwise around the Ka’aba seven times; three times quickly and four times slowly. On each round they either kiss or touch the Southeast corner of the Ka’aba where the Black Stone is located. Next, pilgrims walk quickly seven times between two points five hundred yards apart. This is done in a valley between two mounds referred to as Safa and Marwa. The climactic ritual is a march to the Mount of Mercy, in the Plain of Arafat, fifteen miles East of Mecca. This ceremony is a day’s journey on foot but many stop to rest at the Sanctuary of Mina, the half-way point. All pilgrims must however arrive the next morning at the Mount of Mercy. Once there, pilgrims stand before Allah from noon to sunset, absorbed in pious meditation. The night is then spent in the open. The following morning, pilgrims return to Mina, where they follow animal sacrifices and three days of feasting. A final round of the Ka’aba back in Mecca, and the discarding of the seamless garment completes the pilgrimage. The pilgrim is now permitted to assume the special title of Hajj, or : One Who Has Made Pilgrimage to the Holy City, which is Mecca.

TEACHINGS OF ISLAM

Allah : The Only God : Tauhid

Allah is regarded as Creator, Provider, and Determiner of Man’s Destiny by Muslims. He is the Lord of the Universe, the Only One that should be worshipped. It is impossible for Allah to have a body because that would limit Him, and Allah is infinite. Allah has no parents, no children and no partners : no one can share in His being, His power or his personality. Allah has created everything and everyone but there was nothing and no one to create Him.

Islam’s Holy Law : Shari’a

Muslims believe that the Shari’a, the Law of Islam, sets out a divinely ordained way of living. This is because it derives primarily from the Holy Book of the Qur’an and then from sound tradition, or Hadith, a body of literature consisting of the sayings and practices of Prophet Mohammed, his companions, and other notable Muslims. Islamic Law differs from Western law in that it is, in principle, immutable. It regulates how Muslims relate to the state and their fellow citizens and also determines their conscience and relationship with God. Because the Qur’an and Hadith are applied to particular situations, law rather than theology is the most important area of Islamic scholarship. As a result, Islamic Jurisprudence displays great diversity.

Life After Death : Akhirah

Belief in Akhirah is definite in Islam and vital for all Muslims. The life we have now is a preparation for eternal life after death. The things we do; only have meaning if good is rewarded and bad punished. Muslims believe that there will be a Day of Judgement - Yawmuddin - in the Court of Justice of Almighty Allah.

Universal Islam Philosophy : Sufism

Sufism is Islam’s Universal Philosophy. Its message of Suh-i-kul, meaning Peace With All, has endeared it to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. It appeals to all Muslim sects and social classes. Sufis see the unity of God, Tauhid, in everything and everyone. Sufism has acquired distinctly un-Islamic practices, its origin is unimpeachable, tracing back to Prophet Mohammed himself. The Sufi must first master the Shariah, the True Path of Islam, before venturing on to the Tariqah, the Sufi Way.

FESTIVALS OF ISLAM

The two most important festivals of the Islamic year are the Hari Raya Haji, also called Eid-ul-Adhar, which marks the successful conclusion of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The highlight of the event is the sacrifice of lambs, an enactment of the sacrifice made by the Prophet Abraham who, at the last moment, was instructed to replace the lamb for his son, Ismail in sacrifice to Allah. The meat from this sacrifice is distributed to the poor and deserving. Hari Raya Puasa, also known as Eid-ul-Fitr, marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Hari Raya Puasa, is celebrated for the whole month of Syawal. The day begins with congregational prayers in the morning, unlike normal Friday prayers held in the afternoons. And no celebration is complete without food. Dishes like Ketupat, which is rice cooked in packets of coconut leaves, and Rendang, which is a spicy beef dish, are specially prepared for this occasion. On both occasions the day starts with mass prayers in the Mosques, followed by the provision of cakes and sweet meats in the homes. During Hari Raya Puasa everyone wears new clothes, and the home itself is decorated and cleaned. Visiting other houses also takes place on a large scale. A moving part of Hari Raya Puasa is when, on return from the Mosque, the children formally approach their parents and ask their forgiveness for their sins and omissions during the previous year. Another practice associated with Hari Raya Puasa but perhaps not of Islamic origin, is that of putting up lights around the house for the seven days preceding the festival known as the Malam Tujuh Likur, the lights are there to welcome the angels who, so it is said, visit earth during this period. These displays of lights are very attractive, particularly in certain districts, and in Kuala Kangsar they provide the basis for a competition of the best display every year.

Hari Raya Haji is a much quieter occasion. Of course the fasting month itself, though not a festive occasion, is of very great significance in the life of a Muslim and is marked by a number of religious observances including special prayers, called Sembahyang Tarawih, at night in the Mosques.

MORE IMPORTANT FESTIVALS OF ISLAM

Maulud Nabi : The birthday of the Prophet Mohammed is marked by special prayers and lectures in the Mosques. "Birthday parties" are also normally held for orphans and underprivileged children.

Awal Muharram : The start of the Islamic New Year, also known as Maal Hijrah.

Israk and Mikraj : Commemorating the night journey of the Prophet Mohammed and his ascension, is normally marked by public lectures.

Nuzul Quran : This festival commemorates the first revelation of the Al-Quran to the Prophet Mohammed. It takes place during the holy month of Ramadan.

THE QUR’AN : SCRIPTURES OF ISLAM

The Holy Book of Islam is the Qur’an also spelled Koran, a word frequently translated as, “to recite”. Prophet Mohammed believed the revelations contained within the book came from a well-guarded tablet concealed in heaven. For Muslims, the Qur’an is the completion of God’s Message to humankind and the culmination of all previous sacred scriptures. The Qur’an is one of the main sources of the comprehensive system of Islamic Law. Although the revelation were given to Prophet Mohammed at intervals, Muslims believe that the Qur’an is a holy book which contains all that has happened and will happen in the universe

The Qur’anic Revelations, which may not be altered by anyone, are written in the Arabic language, and copies of the book may only be touched by the ceremoniously pure. The book is divided into 114 chapters, or Suras according to length, the longer chapters were placed first. The Qur’an addresses the central Concerns of Islam : The Oneness of God; The Need to Obey God; God’s part in history : from creation to the end of the world; and Judgement and the After Life.

Although they exist in complete form in the heavenly book, the revelations were communicated to Prophet Mohammed in Mecca and some in Medina. Since Prophet Mohammed received revelations throughout his life, the Qur’an was not finalised by the time of his death. This led to disputes among his followers.

According to tradition, Caliph Abu Bakr began the process of collating the various revelations and having them written down, and this task continued under his successor Caliph Umar. However, what emerged were several divergent versions, and it was left to Caliph Uthman to rule on which were authentic. Copies of the authorised version, were then made, and one was kept in Medina and others sent to Mecca, Kufa, Basra, and Baghdad.