ISLAMIC

SPIRITUALITY
Reporters:
Mohamed Rihab D. Cali
Norjana M. Minalang
 HISTORICAL ROOTS OF
ISLAM
The origin of Islam is placed around 610 CE when
Muhammad, a highly spiritual and religious man who
spent months in praying and self-contemplation in a
secluded cave near the town of Mecca, is thought to have
received divine messages. The story is that one morning
Muhammad heard the voice of the angel Gabriel and,
through him, Allah spoke words of wisdom. The words
were first recited by Muhammad, later his disciples, and
then recorded as text which came to known as the Holy
Qur’an. Thus followers of Islam consider the Qur’an not
the work of Muhammad but as direct revelations from
Allah.
 MEANING OF ISLAM
 Islam is an Arabic word meaning "submission"
and in the. religious context means "submission
to the will of God".

 "Islam" is derived from the Arabic word

"sal'm" which. literally means peace. The
religion demonstrates peace and tolerance.
 MUSLIMS
The religion demonstrates peace and tolerance.
Muslims, the followers of Islam, are worldwide
and number 1.2 billion. Indonesia has the
largest population of Muslims, two hundred
and twenty-eight million, while Saudi Arabia
has twenty-two million. Forty percent of the
seven to ten million American Muslims are
African Americans.
BELIEFS AND PRACTICES

OF
ISLAM
  
Six Major Beliefs

 
1. Belief in the Oneness of God: Muslims believe that God is the creator of all
things, and that God is all-powerful and all-knowing. God has no offspring, no
race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
 
2. Belief in the Angels of God: Muslims believe in angels, unseen beings who
worship God and carry out God's orders throughout the universe. The angel
Gabriel brought the divine revelation to the prophets.
 
3. Belief in the Books of God: Muslims believe that God revealed holy books or
scriptures to a number of God's messengers. These include the Quran (given to
Muhammad), the Torah (given to Moses), the Gospel (given to Jesus), the Psalms
(given to David), and the Scrolls (given to Abraham). Muslims believe that these
earlier scriptures in their original form were divinely revealed, but that only the
Quran remains as it was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad.
 Six Major Beliefs
4. Belief in the Prophets or Messengers of God: Muslims believe that God's guidance has
been revealed to humankind through specially appointed messengers, or prophets,
throughout history, beginning with the first man, Adam, who is considered the first
prophet. Twenty-five of these prophets are mentioned by name in the Quran, including
Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last in this
line of prophets, sent for all humankind with the message of Islam.
 
5. Belief in the Day of Judgment: Muslims believe that on the Day of Judgment, humans
will be judged for their actions in this life; those who followed God's guidance will be
rewarded with paradise; those who rejected God's guidance will be punished with hell.

6. Belief in the Divine Decree: This article of faith addresses the question of God's will. It
can be expressed as the belief that everything is governed by divine decree, namely that
whatever happens in one's life is preordained, and that believers should respond to the
good or bad that befalls them with thankfulness or patience. This concept does not negate
the concept of "free will;" since humans do not have prior knowledge of God's decree,
they do have freedom of choice.
 Major Practices/Duties
of Muslims
Muslims are asked to put their beliefs into practice by performing certain acts of worship. As in all
faiths, since adherence to religious obligations and practices is a matter of individual choice, some
people are very strict in performing these duties, while others are not.
The five pillars or acts of worship in Islam:
 
1. The Declaration of Faith (shahada): The first act of worship is the declaration that "There is no
deity except God and Muhammad is the messenger of God." Muslims repeat this statement many
times a day during their prayers. If someone wants to become a Muslim, he or she makes this
profession of faith as an entry into Islam.
 
2. Prayer (salat): Islam prescribes a brief prayer or ritual worship five times a day: at dawn, noon,
late afternoon, sunset and night. Muslims perform ablution before prayer -- a brief prescribed
washing of the hands, mouth, nose, face, arms and feet. One may pray alone or in a group in any
clean location, including a mosque. The Friday noon prayer is special to Muslims and is done in a
mosque if possible. Muslims face in the direction of Mecca when they pray.
 
3. Charity (zakat): Muslims are required to give to the poor and needy. Islam prescribes an obligatory
charity, known as zakat, based on two and a half percent of one's income and wealth. In addition to
this prescribed charity, Muslims are encouraged to give as much as they can in voluntary charity
throughout the year.
 Major Practices/Duties
of Muslims
4. Fasting (sawm): Muslims are required to fast from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan,
the ninth month of the lunar calendar. People gather in the evenings for a festive breaking of the
fast. When fasting, Muslims refrain from food, liquid, and sexual activity. During Ramadan, Muslims
are also supposed to abstain from negative behaviors such as lying, gossip, petty arguments, and
negative thoughts or behaviors, including getting angry. Muslims are required to start fasting when
they reach puberty, although some younger children may also fast. People who are sick, traveling,
menstruating, and pregnant or nursing may break their fast, but may make up the days later in the
year. The elderly and people with disabilities are excused from fasting.
 
Ramadan was the month in which the revelation of the Quran to Muhammad began. Therefore
Muslims are encouraged to read the Quran during this month and often gather in the evenings in
mosques to listen to recitations from the Quran.
 
5. Pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj): Every Muslim is required to make the pilgrimage to Mecca, located in
Saudi Arabia, once in their lifetime if financially and physically able. Mecca is home to the first
house of worship of God, the Kaaba, said to have been built by the prophet Abraham and his son
Ishmael. Muslims all over the world face towards the Kaaba when they pray. All outward symbols of
rank and wealth are erased during the pilgrimage, as Muslim from every part of the globe come
together for the purpose of worshipping God. Muslims who complete the pilgrimage are referred to as
"Hajji" and greeted with great celebration and respect in their communities when they return.
 SACRED TEXT OF ISLAM

The main sacred text of Islam is the Qur'an,

which was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad
1,400 years ago.
 Qur'an
It is subdivided into
114 chapterlike units
called “surahs,” a
word used within the
Qurʾan to designate
revelatory passages of
an unspecific length
HOW MUSLIMS VIEWED
LIFE
The Islamic view is that life and death are
given by God. Life is sacred, and a gift from
God; and it is only God, and not the human
beings, who has the right to take it back. This
willful taking of one's own life is considered a
major sin in Islam.
 SAMPLE SHORT PRAYER
“La hawla wa la quwwata illa bi Allah al ‘aliyyi
al adhim.”
(There is no change of a condition nor power
except by Allah)

“Rabana atina fi dunya hasanatan wa fil akhirati

hasanatan wa qina adhaba an-nar.”
(O our Lord, grants us the best in this life and
the best in the next life, and protects us from
the punishment of the Fire.)
What is the essence of Islam?
ISLAM is a complete religion that ensures happiness, comfort, and tranquility for people in
this life and in the afterlife, if they believe and act according to its principles and instructions.
Moreover, Islam is a perfect guide for all aspects of life—social, economic, political, and
more. It is a religion that is timelessly applicable, since it does not conflict with the
developments and progress of any time or place. It does not differentiate based on gender,
tribal origin, native language, or race, so long as there is no conflict with its essentials such
as believing in the oneness of God, justice, peace, human dignity, parity between all humans
(regardless of their race, color, ethnicity, and language), and preserving the innate nature of
humankind. There are four precepts of Islam each of which is manifested in one of four
systems: a system of beliefs, a system of jurisprudence, a system of ethics, and a system of
rights.
1. The system of beliefs
The system of beliefs is a system of theological concepts, which form the foundation of Islam.
Hence, it is vital for a Muslim to fully grasp and comprehend these concepts and believe in
them with conviction, albeit with basic and simple understanding The system of Islamic
beliefs is multifaceted and comprised of various individual details which often overlap in
many circumstances. The following are three major essentials:
Divine Unity-Oneness (Arabic: ‫وحيد‬00‫ ت‬ Tawhid): Belief that God is one, and that He has no
partner or peer. He possesses infinite attributes of perfection such as, knowledge, wisdom,
justice, and power, which are not acquired or learned but are instead intrinsic and
inseparable from His essence. Based on this fundamental understanding, many significant
questions can arise in the mind of a person, such as those related to predetermination and
free will, the reason for the existence of human suffering (i.e., diseases or natural
catastrophes), the purpose behind divine punishment, and many other queries that Islam has
best way.

Prophethood (Arabic: ‫بوة‬0‫ ن‬ Nubuwwah): Belief in all the prophets and messengers of God, their
scriptures and successors. In addition, one must accept their divine role and believe in their
attributes (e.g., infallibility, impeccable morality, and healthy physical attributes). In addition, a
Muslim must be acquainted with the authentic proofs of Prophethood and the evidence and
criteria for distinguishing divinely sent prophets from deceitful claimants. Furthermore, it is
important to study the life and characteristics of the seal of prophets and messengers, Prophet
Muhammad, his holy book (the Holy Quran), and his twelve infallible successors, especially the
twelfth and final successor, the awaited savior Imam al-Mahdi, who will fill the world with
justice after his reappearance. One must also be familiar with the reasons behind his
occultation and the role he plays during this period, as well as his deputies and their roles. For
more information about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his progeny

Resurrection-afterlife (Arabic: ‫اد‬0‫ مع‬ maad): Belief that there is an eternal life after this one (i.e.,
after death), one that persists due to God’s ever-persistence and immortality. Almighty God has
decreed that every person will be called to account for their deeds in this afterlife. God is just,
and He has obligated humankind to be obedient to Him. As such, God, by his mercy and
wisdom, will reward the people who do good and are obedient according to their righteousness
and punish the wrong doers according to their sinful actions and wickedness. Each person shall
be judged according to their respective deeds, and the righteous will be distinguished from the
evil.
 2. The system of jurisprudence

The system of jurisprudence is a defined set of divine legislations that regulate every aspect of
human life and actions. They are divided into the following:
• Acts of worship: acts that concern the relationship between a person and their Lord, such as
prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, and other acts related to spiritual growth (e.g., supplications and
remembrance) that contribute to strengthening the relationship with Almighty God and lead
to reassurance and certainty in faith, tranquility, and a sense of heartfelt happiness.
• Two party transactions: all transactions and dealings between a person and someone else,
such as buying, selling, renting, establishing a mortgage, lending, and marriage. These
include well-defined rules and codes of conduct which establish legitimacy and determine the
conditions under which a contract can be nullified or invalidated.
• One-party transactions: transactions that do not require an agreement between two persons
or parties. Instead, an individual can execute these alone with God.  Examples include such
things as making a covenant, establishing an endowment, divorce by a man, and giving a gift.
• Conditional matters: matters that may arise due to specific circumstances related to time,
geographical location, or due to the will of a tribe, faith group, or country. Such matters
generally fall under the previous three categories, but jurists classify them separately.
Conditional matters are quite broad and can be related to state governance, institutional
matters, elections, and participation in social matters related to each of these topics. Hence,
acting on these matters requires knowledge of Islam’s jurisprudential standpoint to ensure
that actions are in accordance with its laws so humankind does not exceed its limits.
 3. The system of ethics

The system of ethics is a set of principles which aims to refine and perfect human behavior so
that it emulates and lives by prophetic morality, which emanates from divine morality. Therefore,
a Muslim should adopt the path of the apostles of God, and espouse [their] ethical virtues such as
truthfulness, loyalty, love, advice, gentleness, humility, modesty, tenderness, forgiveness, patience,
compassion, affection, and so on. Furthermore, a Muslim should eliminate ethical vices like
arrogance, hypocrisy, hatred, dishonesty, argumentation, sedition, anger, heartlessness, crudity,
roughness, and so on. A person can refer to several books on ethics written by late and modern
scholars. The essential material for those books were the words of light and wisdom narrated
from Prophet Muhammad, his twelve divine successors, and the Holy lady, Fatimah, daughter of
the Prophet. In addition, some of these books include explanations of the prophetic words of
wisdom. Examples include the compilations of Shaykh Muhammad Mohsen al-Faydh al-
Kashani, Shaykh Muhammad Mahdi al-Naraqi, Shaykh Radhi al-Din al-Tabarsi, and many
others.

4. The system of rights

These include a set of duties incumbent on every individual towards

• Almighty God, His messengers and their successors;
• people in human society such as scholars and teachers, parents, kin, spouses, children,
neighbors, friends, and all segments of society;
• the world around us, including the environment, water, animals, plants, and the rest of nature.
 WHAT is the origin of the crescent moon
symbol seen throughout Islamic cultures?

ISLAM emerged in Arabia where

travel along the desert trade routes
was largely by night, and navigation
depended upon the position of the
moon and stars. The moon thus
represents the guidance of God on the
path through life. The new moon also
represents the Muslim calendar, which
has 12 months each of 29 or 30 days.
So in Islam the lunar month and the
calendar month coincide, and the new
moon is eagerly awaited, especially at
the end of the month of Ramadan
when its sighting means that the
celebrations of ‘Ed’l-Fitr can begin.