EsinIslam
Ramadan
Ramadan Explorer
A Holistic Vision
The word 'Islam' comes from the Arabic root 'aslama', which means peace and
submission; a practicing Muslim strives to submit wholeheartedly to God,
thereby achieving peace in this life and the Next. Submitting to God's will
does not mean that a person need no longer think, or that he must give up his
free will to choose; rather, like a law abiding citizen, a person who observes
Gods commands benefits himself and others by respecting Divine laws and using
his freedom wisely.
The Islamic concept of submission is thus an active one; a Muslim struggles to
increase his knowledge, develop his character, and do what is right to the
best of his ability after which he accepts that the outcome of his affairs is
ultimately in God's hands.
Who are Muslims?
Think you can recognise a Muslim by dress or nationality? Think again Almost
one-fourth of the world's population is Muslim. And although some people
mistakenly believe that all Muslims are Arab (or vice versa). Arabs make up
only 18%, of the world's Muslim population. Muslims are found everywhere from
West Africa to Eastern Europe to China and the Philippines, and they are
establishing a growing presence in the West. Muslims come in all races and
colours, are found in all professions and walks of life, and have made
significant contributions to every field of human endeavour since the
beginning of Islam, from science and mathematics to art and the humanities.
In today's global village, there is no place on earth that they are not making
an impact. Furthermore, despite media bias, the vast majority of Muslims
belong to stable, loving families, and have nothing to do with terrorism or
other acts of violence.
Islam is based on faith in a higher Power, the Gracious lord and Creator of
the Universe, without family or partners, called "Allah". Muslims prefer to
use the Arabic word Allah for God, because it has no plural, feminine or
diminutive form that could be associated with idolatry ( i,e, gods, goddesses
or ''demi-gods'). Although Allah is referred to as; "He", it is understood
that God is Self-Sufficient, and transcends both duality and gender, the 99
Names of Allah mentioned in the Qur'an contain various attributes such as the
Compassionate, the Forgiving, the Protector, Allah is Merciful and Just,
All-knowing and All-Seeing, Friend and Guide, and the only one worthy of our
worship and devotion.
Prophethood
Islam teaches that belief in a Higher Power coupled with a universal code of
ethics (summarized in the simple maxim 'believe in God and be good'), is the
natural religion of mankind. This religion (or way of life), in its diverse
manifestations, has been taught by prophets, who were sent by Allah to every
nation and tribe at some point in time. Prophets called people to a personal
relationship with their Lord, and set a blessed example of how to live. When
people forgot or corrupted the message. He sent another prophet to restore it.
The Quran mentions 25 prophets by name, of these, five were especially great
Messengers: Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad. Each prophet received
Divine revelation, and some were given books of Scripture. Muslims believe
that Allah revealed Jewish and Christian Scriptures in their original
versions, but that their texts have since been corrupted. The Quran, revealed
to Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel, holds the unique position of being
God's final message to humanity, and He has promised to preserve it intact
until the end of time. Interestingly, scholars have verified that the Qur'an
is the only world scripture that has but a single version (in Arabic),
identical to the text that was revealed more than 1400 years ago. It is also
the only scripture that can be committed to memory by people of all ages,
regardless of their native tongue.
Life after Death
Although people are inclined to forgetfulness and sin, Islam affirms an
overall positive view of man, who has been created as God's representative on
earth, and teaches that faith and appreciation of goodness is inherent to
human nature. Furthermore, children are born in a state of purity and do not
inherit' sin. Life's test is to do one's best and to resist evil in the world
and within oneself, so that one can stand before Allah with a clean heart on
the Day of Judgment. Those who are successful will be rewarded in Paradise,
but those who have neglected their souls will be doomed to Hell. Each
individual is responsible for his own actions, and cannot rely on the goodness
of others to absolve him of his sins. Although in the end, no one can attain
salvation except by Allah's grace, the normal prerequisites will be faith
accompanied by good works that, together, weigh heavier in the balance than
the wrong that one has done. Reward will be granted in proportion to effort.
Paradise is a place of physical and spiritual beauty and perfection, where
people will have their hearts' desires and will be blessed with the vision of
Allah Most High.
What religious obligations Muslims have?
1- Declaration of Faith (Shahadah)
The first
step is to declare with conviction that:
''There is none worthy of worship but Allah (God), and Muhammad is the
Messenger of Allah''
This is the first 'pillar' of Islam, and when said before witnesses it marks a
person's entry into Islam, A sincere Muslim also undertakes to perform four
acts of worship that complete the Five Pillars. These are:
2- Prayer ( Salat)
Every believer should offer
five prayers daily, at certain times of the day (dawn, noon afternoon, sunset
and evening); the obligatory prayers take 5-10 minutes, engage body, mind and
soul, and are offered in congregation whenever possible. Regular prayers help
one to establish a direct link with Allah and are a means of purifying the
heart; they can be likened to connecting to a power source and recharging
one's being. Group prayers, In which believers stand humbly, shoulder to
shoulder, also help people to transcend false barriers of race, ethnicity, and
class.
3 – Charity ( Zakat)
Muslims are expected to
donate a minimum of 2.5% of their net yearly savings to charity, in the form
of money or goods. This is collected by the community annually and distributed
to those in need. The word zakat means purification and growth; one's wealth
is not pure for one's own use until it has been shared with those less
fortunate; being charitable leads to spiritual growth.
4 - Fasting (Sawm Ramadan)
During the lunar
month of Ramadan, the faithful abstain from, drink and sexual relations
between dawn and sunset, and are also expected to control their tongue and
temper. Meals are taken before dawn and after sunset. Fasting in Ramadan
teaches self-restraint and empathy for the poor, builds willpower and
God-consciousness, and it is a time during which Muslims strengthen their ties
with the community and their Creator.
5- Pilgrimage to Makkah (Hajj)
Every Muslim who
is financially and physically able must visit Makkah once in his or her
lifetime, during the Hajj season. The Pilgrimage puts the reality of human
life into perspective; it serves as a vivid reminder of the struggles and
sacrifices made by the prophets; it strengthens the bonds of brotherhood among
the international community of Muslims, who come from every corner of the
world to join in this unique 'annual convention; and it prepares the pilgrim
for the profound journey that each of us must undergo from this life to the
Next.
Not just a religion, but a way of life
There are many other acts of worship that are recommended in Islam. Such as
offering personal prayers and supplications, reading the Qur'an, volunteering
in service of the community, etc.. Besides which everything a person does with
the intention of pleasing God is considered an act of worship. In contrast,
there are things that God has prohibited because of the harm they engender to
individuals and society; these include lying, stealing, disrespecting one's
parents, extra-marital affairs, drugs, alcohol, gambling, and other
destructive or unethical behaviours. The guidelines for these commands and
prohibitions are found in the Shari'ah, or Sacred Law, which is derived from
the Qur'an and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. The Shari'ah is unique
in that it provides guidance not only on 'religious matters' but addresses
every aspect of life. Including issues of social justice, politics, trade,
international relations, family life, and even animal rights and the
environment.
A solution to today's problems
Despite the negative manner in which Muslims are often portrayed by the media.
Many people are surprised to find, upon deeper investigation, that Islam
provides a solution to their spiritual, personal and social needs. It offers a
faith based on reason, free of superstition or the need for intermediaries
between oneself and God; it actively promotes racial brotherhood and harmony;
and its economic guidelines encourage fair exchange between rich and poor,
capital and labor. Its political system (in the original, pure form) is based
on a deep concern for justice and human rights, and it provides guidelines by
which people of different faiths can live with one another in harmony.
Furthermore, its model for family life offers an alternative to the current
breakdown of the family in Western society, and the ensuing social
disintegration and chaos.
The image of a healthy tree, evergreen, giving shade and bearing delicious,
fragrant fruit all year round, is a parable of a balanced Muslim, the source
of this parable is the Qur'an, which says,
{See you not how Allah sets forth a parable? - A goodly word as a goodly tree,
whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the sky (i.e. very
high)} [Ibrahim 14:24]
{أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ ضَرَبَ اللَّـهُ مَثَلًا كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً كَشَجَرَةٍ
طَيِّبَةٍ أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌ وَفَرْعُهَا فِي السَّمَاءِ} إبراهيم: 24
Transliteration: Alam tara kayfa daraba Allahu mathalan kalimatan
tayyibatan kashajaratintayyibatin asluha thabitun wafarAAuhafee alssamai
If we imagine that the tree represents a Muslim who is sincerely striving to
embody Islamic ideals, then the seed of this tree is the shahadah. This
affirmation of God's unity permeates and colours every cell, so that his every
thought, word and action is formed within the matrix of this understanding.
The roots, which nourish the tree and grant it stability, can be likened to
the Articles of Faith: belief in God, His angels, holy books, prophets, the
Day of Judgment and Divine destiny. The trunk grows through faith in Allah and
His Messenger, which extends from the seed to the branches. Five branches
represent the Five Pillars: they give the tree its shape and habit.
Furthermore, the leaves represent Islamic manners and customs (such as
greeting with 'salam' or wearing modest dress). They are what make the tree
attractive and recognizable from a distance, and provide shade to other
creatures. In the end, However, a tree's purpose remains unfulfilled until it
bears fruit. The fruits of the tree are good character, qualities such as
truthfulness, patience, courage. Empathy, love, and compassion, along with all
the other things that we desire in a friend, spouse or colleague; namely, the
things that make us human.
EsinIslam
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