Islam Spiritual Domain

Regardless of where a person’s conscience asks him or her

to look – if guided – a seeker of truth will inevitably find
mysterious door leading to God.

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Man is weak and vulnerable; many unpredictable forces can affect him, obstructing his
desires and goals. He becomes ill, he loses things, he gets hurt, he plans - and he often
fails. As man looks at the scale of the universe around him - seas, mountains, the
grandeur of the heavens and galaxies - he must consider his insignificance and weakness.
At this point, unless he is extremely arrogant, he will begin to feel humble and helpless
next to the vastness of things around him.

When a person weighs up everything, he will realise that something is missing. He will
ask himself: ‘What is the explanation for this life; what is the purpose of living?’ This is
where FAITH begins. He will realise that there must be some great mysterious power
behind existence, something which controls the harmony and sequence of events;
something behind the mere dust and materialism of this world.

Man will then look for something ABOVE HIMSELF worthy to worship and believe in.
This is the amazing spiritual nature of man, which makes him unique and also makes him
accountable. It is the inner discussion he has with his own SOUL, which distinguishes the
human being from the ANIMALS. If he is guided, he will find the One True God, and
will fulfil his need to worship by believing in Him and obeying the Divine Inspiration
sent by Him. This is basically the meaning of Islam; surrender to the Lord and Sustainer
of the Universe - Allah.

According to Islam, everything that we see, as well as that which we don’t see, in this
immeasurable universe – including us – is the domain of one Supreme Being, Allah, the
one true God and Master. He exists without need of anything, not born or created, but
Who Himself created everything and provides for every entity; every atom. Islam is not a
new religion; it simply represents the original message and Revelation which was sent
since the appearance of man on the pages of existence, and that the original faith of unity
is this belief in One God of all creation.
This was the message of all God’s prophets, before the break up of religion into sects and
denominations

Regarding this, Allah says in the Qur’an:

"We sent no Messenger before thee but We inspired him that there is no god save Me,
so worship Me."

God is the Creator of all that exists, unique, incomparable, eternal,

absolute, perfect, and without peer or associate
God sent Messengers to humankind, of whom Muhammad was the

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 last
The Qur'an is the Word of God;
Humans are responsible to God for their actions;
On Judgment Day, an All-Knowing and Merciful God will judge all
humans according to their faith, intentions, and deeds in this life.

Muhammad (peace upon him) was the Prophet and Messenger through whom God sent
the last divine revelation to humankind. Biblical prophecies on the advent of the Prophet
Muhammad are numerous (Deuteronomy 18:18-19), (John 1:19-21 and 16:7-14).

Muhammad was born around the year 570 C.E. in the Arabian city of Makkah
(traditionally spelled Mecca). In the middle of the city stands an ancient house of worship
called the Ka'bah, which is believed to exist from the time of Adam and later rebuilt by
Abraham and his son Ishmael.

Muhammad, a descendant of Abraham, was orphaned at age six and grew up in the care
of relatives. When he was 40 years old, during his seclusion in the Mountain Hira
(Mountain of Light) just outside Makkah, God revealed the first five verses of the Qur’an
through visitation of the Arch Angel Gabriel. It called him to teach people to worship the
One God and revive the pure monotheistic faith of Abraham.

But for thirteen years Muhammad faced severe opposition and persecution from the
population of Makkah, who believed in multiple pagan deities and the worship of idols.
In the early fall of 622, Muhammad and his followers emigrated from Makkah,
northward to the town of Yathrib (later renamed al-Madinah). This emigration --
historically known as the Hijrah -- marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar, because it
was in Madinah that the followers of Muhammad developed a model society based on the
spiritual teachings of the Qur'an.

In 630 Muhammad peacefully re-entered Makkah, where he forgave his enemies and
cleared the sacred Ka'bah of idols. Two years later he died, on June 8, 632 C.E.

God has revealed various Books at different times to guide mankind, such as the Torah,
the Gospel and the Psalms given to Moses, Jesus and David. The Qur'an is the last holy
book, or scripture; the Word of God, originally transmitted to Muhammad in Arabic by
the Angel Gabriel. But it was always meant for all humanity, not for any exclusive group.
At its heart is the teaching of monotheism -- the worship of One God and no others -- but
the Qur'an also provides guidance for every part of a believer's life.

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There is only one version of the Qur'an, unchanged since Muhammad received it. A
number of his followers had carefully memorized each of God's revelations, word for
word -- an achievement still common among Muslims today. Muslim scholars regard
versions of the Qur'an in other languages to be interpretations or paraphrases, rather than
true translations, and in Arabic literature there is no work whose eloquence, clarity and
erudition approach that of the Qur'anic text.

There are five divine guidelines that the Qur'an clearly presents to Muslims for building
tolerance and understanding among differing religions.

Everyone's God-given human dignity must be respected, regardless

of his or her faith, race, ethnic origin, gender, or social status
(Qur’an 17:70). Because everyone is created by God Almighty, the
Maker of all, humans must treat one another with full honor, respect,
and loving-kindness.
Islam teaches it is by Divine Will that God's human creation follows
different religions, or no religion at all -- no religion is nevertheless
a faith, or belief-system (10:99). But God Almighty is not pleased
when some humans choose not to believe (39:7)
The Qur'an states clearly that freedom of religion is a God-given
right (2:256).
The final judgment of all humanity lies in the hands of God, the One
Almighty, their Creator, to whom we all ultimately return (22:68-
69), (42:15).
God loves justice and those who strive to practice it, especially
toward people who are different from them in any way, including in
matters of religious belief (5:8), (60:8).

A muslim Eid postage stamp by master calligrapher Mohamed Zakariya has brought his
work into probably millions of homes in the US. On it is a saying of the Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him) which translates to: “There is no facilitating or
reciprocating
harm.”

The Ka'bah is the black one-room cubical stone structure in the courtyard of the Great
Mosque at Makkah. It was built by Adam and rebuilt by Ibrahim (Abraham) and his son
Ismail (Ishmael) as the first place on earth wholly dedicated to the worship of God
Almighty, the One True Creator of all. It has been given the honorary name, Beit-Allah-
alharam, meaning "the sacred house of God."

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The interior of the Ka'bah is now completely empty, and it is not entered except for a
ritual cleaning each year. A new black cloth covering, called the Qiswah, embroidered in
gold with Qur'anic calligraphy, is made for it each year. When Muslims pray, wherever in
the world they are, they face toward the Ka'bah.

During the Hajj -- a spiritual pilgrimage that every Muslim aspires to enact at least once
in his or her life -- pilgrims circle the Ka'bah seven times in a ritual called the "tawaf," or
circumambulation, literally a walking anti-clockwise of the circumference. The tawaf is
also performed throughout the rest of the year.

Islam, in Arabic, means "submission," that is, submission to the will of God. It also
means "to enter peace," specifically, the peace one finds through submission to God's
will. Muslims accept five primary obligations in life, commonly called the "Five Pillars
of Islam." In practice, of course, Muslims can be seen observing all of these to varying
degrees, for the responsibility of fulfilling the obligations lies on the shoulders of each
individual.

1 - The profession of faith (shahadah):

This is a simple statement of the words, "There is no god but God;
Muhammad is the Messenger of God."

2 - Prayer (salah):
Muslims pray five times a day -- at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset
and evening -- facing toward the Ka'bah, which is the House of God,
in the Great Mosque at Makkah. They may pray wherever they are
when prayer-time arrives, in any clean place, preferably in the
company of other Muslims. On Fridays at noon, Muslims pray in
congregational mosques, or masjids; this weekly prayer is called the
Jumah.

3 - Charity: (zakah):
A fixed proportion (2.5%) of a Muslim's net wealth -- not just his or
her current income -- is prescribed to be donated for the welfare of
the community as a whole.

4 - Fasting (sawm):
Every day from dawn to dusk during the holy month of Ramadan,
Muslims must abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual
contact and, even more than at other times, they must also avoid
undesirable, or imperfect behaviours.

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 5 - Pilgrimage (hajj):
The journey to Makkah is obligatory once in a lifetime for every
able-bodied Muslim who can afford to make it. The Hajj proper is
made between the eighth and 13th days of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th
month of the Islamic calendar, and every pilgrim carries out
specified rituals at particular times. At any other time of year,
Muslims can perform similar prayers and rituals and thus complete
the 'Umrah, or "lesser pilgrimage."

The Islamic calendar is based on a lunar year of 12 full lunar (monthly) cycles, taking
354 days. Each new year in the Islamic calendar thus falls 10 or 11 days earlier according
to the 364 day solar calendar. The 12 months of the Islamic year are:

1- Muharram
2- Safar
3- Rabi' al-Awwal ("Rabi' 1")
4- Rabi' al-Thani ("Rabi 2")
5- Jumada al-Ula ("Jumada I")
6- Jumada al-Akhirah (Jumada II)
7- Rajab
8- Sha'ban
9- Ramadan
10- Shawwal
11- Dhu al-Qa'dah
12- Dhi al-Hijjah

The first day of Year One of the Islamic calendar was set as the first day of the Hijrah, the
Prophet's migration from Makkah to Madinah on July 26, 622 C.E. The western
convention in designating Islamic dates is thus by the abbreviation AH, which stands for
the Latin anno hegirae, or "Year of the Hijrah."

To roughly convert an Islamic calendar year (AH) into a Gregorian equivalent

(A.D./C.E.), or vice versa, use one of the following equations.
AD = 622 + (32/33 x AH)
AH = 33/32 x (AD - 622)

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Islam's golden age in science, technology and intellectual culture spanned about 500
years, from the ninth until the 14th centuries. Muslim achievements in these areas greatly
influenced the European Renaissance of the 15th and 16th centuries, as well as the birth
of modern scientific method in the 17th century.

Bertrand Russell, the famous British philosopher, has rightly claimed, it was Muslims
"who introduced the empirical method" in the study of nature and cultivated it widely
when they were leaders of the civilized world.

The scientific method, as it has been developed in modern western science, was indeed
invented by Muslims and first practiced by them on a large scale. Muslim scientists then
were not only Arabs, but also people of other racial and ethnic groups such as Persians,
East Indians, and Chinese.

Decades ago, when the Italian Orientalist, Assendro Baussani, tried to hammer home the
point that "Islam is an integral part of western intellectual culture," he was one of the few
western voices then aware of the historical role of Islam in European civilization.

Very few people today know that Ibn Sina's best medical work, The Canon of Medicine,
was taught for centuries in western universities and was one of the most frequently-
printed scientific texts of the Renaissance. When the famous 13th-century theologian, St.
Thomas Aquinas, wanted to create a new rational theology, he studied an Islamized
Arabic version of Aristotle. Aquinas realized that Aristotle had found a new home in
Islam, so he wanted to seek one in Christianity as well.

Given the fact that today some people believe in an imminent "clash of civilizations" and
a fundamental incompatibility between Islam and the west, it is worth remembering that
our two civilizations do share a precious intellectual heritage. The west takes great pride
in modern science as one of the greatest achievements of its intellect, an achievement no
one should deny or belittle. Modern science could not have developed without the
Renaissance. But without Islamic science and philosophy to build on, there would have
been no Renaissance!

There are seven Articles of Faith in Islam. These basic beliefs shape the Islamic way of
life.

1- Belief in the Oneness of God:

There is One God, Supreme and Eternal, Creator and Provider,
Who is Merciful and Compassionate. God has neither father nor
mother, and no sons or daughters. God has never fathered anyone,
nor was He fathered. God has no equals. He is God of all
humankind, not of a special tribe, race, or group of people. He is
the God of all races and colours, of believers and unbelievers alike.

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 God is Mighty and Supreme, yet is also very near to pious,
thoughtful believers, answering their prayers and helping them.
God asks us to know Him, to love Him, and to follow His Law, for
our own benefit and salvation.

2- Belief in the Angels of God

Angels are pure and spiritually obedient beings, created by God to
fulfill His commands and worship Him tirelessly.
3- Belief in the Revelations (Books) of God
Muslims believe in the Revelations sent by Almighty God to His
Prophets and Messengers including the Qur’an, the Torah, the
Gospel, the Scrolls of Abraham and the Psalms of David.
4- Belief in the Prophets of God
All Messengers and Prophets of God such as Noah, Moses,
Solomon, Jesus and Muhammad were mortal human beings
endowed with Divine Revelations and appointed by God to teach
humankind how to submit to His will and obey His Laws.
5- Belief in the Day of Judgment
Muslims believe in an appointed Day of Judgment and in Heaven
and Hell.
6- Belief in Premeasurement (Qadar)
Muslims believe that Almighty God has knowledge of, and control
over, everything that exists in all time and space.
7- Belief in Resurrection after Death
After the world ends, Muslims believe that all people who have
died will be brought back to life (or, resurrected) in order to face
the Judgment rendered to each of them by Almighty God.

Muslims belong to one of the two main branches of allegiance in Islam -- the majority are
Sunni (comprising more than 90% of believers) or Shia'. The basic difference between
the two is that the Shia' School believes in the necessity for a spiritual leader from the
Family of the Prophet Muhammad, hence a religious structure. The Sunni School on the
other hand, does not necessarily require the same.

Each local Muslim Community, whether Sunni or Shia', has one or more religious leaders
(people who have attained formal Islamic education or who are proficient in Islamic
knowledge). This kind of leader is often referred to as an Imam, Director of the Islamic
Centre, or Khateeb (one who gives the Sermon, or Khutba).

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Islamic laws distinguish among:

Halal, or that which is permitted by God the Law-Giver;

Mustahabb, that which is loved by God but is not obligatory and is
rewardable;
Makruh, that which is disliked, but is a lesser degree than Haram;
and
Haram, that which is prohibited. Anyone who engages in Haram is
liable for God's punishment and in an Islamic State may be subject
to legal prosecution and discipline.

Some supportive issues include:

The basic principle in Islamic law is that all things and actions are
allowed (Halal), except those which are specifically prohibited by
God.
Every thing or action which is Haram is very harmful to the
individual and/or the family, community, etc.
Good intentions do not make any Haram action acceptable.
Doubtful things are best to be avoided.
Whatever leads to Haram is in itself considered Haram.
God has prohibited (as Haram) all killing (except for capital
punishment), stealing, robbing, consumption of any intoxicant, all
types of gambling, sex outside marriage, all types of pornography
and prostitution, homosexuality, wasteful spending and
consumption, interest on money (usury), bribery, spreading gossip
and backbiting. Additionally art, music, movies, TV, books, or
magazines that promote any acts which are Haram are prohibited.

In Islam, clothing has two purposes; to cover the body and to modestly beautify one's
appearance. Men are to dress modestly, not imitating women. Women's clothing must
cover all of the body including the head, and should not be tight or transparent.

For a Muslim, there are two types of food and drink; Halal (lawful) and Haram
(unlawful).
Unlawful, forbidden (Haram) food and drink includes:

Meat from dead animals that died naturally through accidents

[except fish], or by strangling, falling, beating, or being killed by

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wild animals.
Blood that has poured forth (as distinguished from the blood
adhering to flesh or organs).
Flesh of swine, such as bacon or pork, including all products and by-
products (lard, pepsin, gelatin, etc.) prepared from swine. Only
vegetable oil is used for frying and in the preparation of bread, salad
dressing, desserts, muffins, other bakery products, etc.
Food upon which any other name has been invoked, besides that of
God.
Intoxicants, including all types and varieties of alcohol and
intoxicating drugs.

The Islamic method of slaughtering an animal or bird follows these

steps: First, the Muslim mentions God's name as a reminder that
God has command over the life of all creatures. Taking life from an
animal or a bird is done by God's permission for the sole purpose of
obtaining food.

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