AN INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM

מבוא לאיסלאם

لالسالم مقدمة

with

Dr. Seth Ward

Religious Studies

University of Wyoming

Early Islamic Conquests

 “HADITH OF  GABRIEL”Muslim, Hadith Chapter 1: Book 001, Number 0001:Umar ibn al-Khattab, told me: One day we were sitting in

the company of Allah's Apostle (peace be upon him) when there appeared before us a man dressed in pure white clothes, his hair extraordinarily black. There were no signs of travel on him. None amongst us recognized him. At last he sat with the Apostle (peace be upon him) He knelt before him placed his palms on his thighs and said:

Muhammad, inform me about al-Islam (submission to God).The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Al-Islam

implies that you testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, and you establish prayer, pay Zakat, observe the fast of Ramadan, and perform pilgrimage to the (House) if you are solvent enough (to bear the expense of) the journey.

He (the inquirer) said: You have told the truth.

• He (the inquirer) said: Inform me about Iman (faith).

• He (the Holy Prophet) replied: That you affirm your faith in Allah, in His angels, in His Books, in His Apostles, in the Day of Judgment, and you affirm your faith in the Divine Decree about good and evil.

• He (the inquirer) said: You have told the truth.• He (the inquirer) again said: Inform me about al-

Ihsan (performance of good deeds).• He (the Holy Prophet) said: That you worship

Allah as if you are seeing Him, for though you don't see Him, He, verily, sees you.

• He (the enquirer) again said: Inform me about the hour (of the Doom).

• He (the Holy Prophet) remarked: One who is asked knows no more than the one who is inquiring (about it).

• He (the inquirer) said: Tell me some of its indications.

• He (the Holy Prophet) said: That the slave-girl will give birth to her mistress and master, that you will find barefooted, destitute goat-herds vying with one another in the construction of magnificent buildings.

Islamic Beliefs: the Five Pillars1. Shahada—testimony

2. Salat—Prayer

3. Sawm—Fasting

4. Zakat-Alms

5. Hajj-Pilgrimage

Shahada: Testimony There is no God but God,

Muhammad is the Messenger of God

Compare יגר שהדותא

Salat

• 5 times a day

• In the hadith of the “Night Journey and Ascent to Heaven” Muhammad goes to the 7th heaven and receives the command regarding prayer.

• Term is the same as Aramaic צלותא selotha used by Christians and Jews.

God, forgive me and have mercy upon me and guide me and give me health and strength and sustenance

Some prayers from Posture 8 omitted

Prayer Timings & Raka'as (Units)

Salat Prayer Timing

Fardh (Obligatory)

Sunnah

Raka'as

(Units) Before Fardh  After Fardh

Fajr (Morning)

Between the very beginning of dawn and sunrise

2 2 None

Dhuhr (Noon) Between the declining of the sun & Asr 4 4 2

Asr (Late Afternoon)

It starts when the shadow of an object is equivalent to its height until (just before) the

sunset; whereas in the Hanafi method it starts when the shadow of an object is twice

its height until (just before) the sunset

4 None None

Maghrib (Evening)

Soon after the sunset until the disappearance of the twilight

3 None 2

Isha (Night)After the disappearance of the twilight until

midnight 4 None

2Also prayer (Witr) after

Ishaa 3

The above table contains only Fard, Witr and emphasized Sunnah (Sunnah Muakkadah) prayers.

WORLD WIDE PRAYER TIMES: http://www.islamicity.com/prayertimes/

Zakat زكوة

• Term is the same as זכות

• Sadaqa is used for “extra” alms.

• Can be given to any deserving poor (not only Muslim).

Zakat Calculation

In order to calculate your zakat, please fill all of the fields. Please note that Women’s jewelry is not subject to Zakat unless its amount is excessive or the jewelry is not being used.

• 1. Cash on hand and in bank accounts (savings, checking)• 2. Refundable deposits (e.g. on rented apartment)• 3. Non-delinquent loans (money you loaned to others)• 4. Expected Tax refund     • 5. Gold and its certificate     • 6. Shares, stocks, bonds, IRA, pension plans, options, etc.• 7. Business cash on hand and in banks plus invoices due.• 8. Business inventory Enter $0 if less than Nisab.• 9. Net income you are entitled to as of Zakat due date.• 10. Your liabilities

Some Zakat calculators on-line: http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/zakat/zakat_calculator.shtml

http://www.hidaya.org/zakat-calculator.html

Ramadan

• http://moonsighting.com/

http://quran.com/2/185

Moon Sighting

Hajj--Pilgrimage

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaaba

Imam Hussein Mosque Karbalah

Six Beliefs

• God

• Angels

• Prophets

• Books

• Judgment

• Divine Power and Determination

Conclusions

• Many practices are “continuous” with those of Judaism• Pilgrimage has many features of the three Jewish

pilgrimage festivals (Shalosh Regalim). Ramadan comes inexhorably, like the Sabbath. Prayer, alms, and “testimony” have points of contact—and the Islamic names are all based on words commonly used in Aramaic by Christians and Jews for similar practices.

• As in Judaism, Christianity and any other system, the basic rituals – inculcate central beliefs, – shape patterns of behaving to confirm them, and – build a sense of belonging—identity as part of a group

committed to those beliefs.

The First Chapter of the Qur'an

In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate! Praise belongs to God, the Lord of the Worlds.

The All Merciful, the Compassionate,Master of the Day of Judgment.

Thee only do we serve, to Thee alone do we pray for help.

Guide us on the Straight Path. The Path of those whom Thou has graced; not of those against whom Thou art wrathful, nor of those who are astray.