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Islam's basic belief is that there is only ONE God, who is unique, incomparable, eternal, absolute, perfect, and without peer or associate.

Other important tenets of Islam are:

• that God is the Creator of all that exists;
• that God sent Messengers to humankind, of whom Muhammad was the last
• that the Qur'an is the Word of God;
• that humans are responsible to God for their actions;
• and that, 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.

Muhammad was born around the year 570 C.E. in the Arabian city of Makkah (traditinally 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 Abraham and his son Ishmael.

Muhammad was orphaned at age six and grew up in the care of relatives. When he was 40 years old, God called him to teach people to worship the One God and revealed to him the text of the Holy Qur'an. But Muhammad faced severe opposition and persecution from the population of Makkah, who believed in multiple pagan deities.

In the early fall of 622, Muhammad and his followers emigrated from Makkah, northward to the town of Yathrib (later renamed al-Madinah, or Medina). This emigration -- historically known as the Hijrah -- marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar, because it was in Yathrib that the followers of Muhammad developed a society organized along the teachings of the Qur'an.

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

The Qur'an is the holy book, or scripture, of Islam. It is 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.

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'an text.

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."

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 kiswah, 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 of the circumferance 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 "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. I - 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."

II - 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.

III - Charity: (zakah):

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

IV - 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.

V - 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 cycles, taking exactly 354 and 11/30th days. Each new year in the Islamic calendar thus begins 10 or 11 days earlier in the 364 and one-quarter-day solar calendar. The 12 months of the Islamic year are: Muharram, Safar, Rabi' al-Awwal ("Rabi' I"), Rabi' al-Thani ("Rabi II"), Jumada al-Ula ("Jumada I"), Jumada al-Akhirah (Jumada II), Rajab, Sha'ban, Ramadan, Shawwal, Dhu al-Qa'dah, and Dhy 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 Hegira."

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)

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

1. Everyone's God-given human dignity must be respected, regardless of his or her faith, race, ethnic origin, gender, or social status (17:70). Because everyone is created by God Almighty, the Maker of All, humans must treat one another with full honour, respect, and loving-kindness.

2. 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. (11:118), (10:99), (18:29). But God Almighty is not pleased when some humans choose not to believe. (39:7)

3. The Qur'an states clearly that freedom of religion is a God-given right (18:29), (10:99).

4. 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).

5. God loves justice and those who strive to practice it, especially toward people who are different from them in any way, particularly in matters of religious belief (5:8), (60:8).

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 in common. 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!

The list below, chosen by Islamic art historians Jonathan M. Bloom and Sheila S. Blair, includes only 10 symbolic "pages" or glimpses from the vast "manuscript" of Islamic civilization, but they offer a vibrant cross-section of the riches contained in the whole.

1. The Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, built in 692 C.E. The first great work of Islamic architecture. It was built over the rock from which the Prophet Muhammad made his miraculous ascent to heaven, described in Chapter (Sura) 17 of the Qur'an.

2. The Malwiya minaret, Samarra, Iraq, mid-ninth century C.E. This 50-metre (160-foot) helicoidal tower of sun-dried and baked brick, was probably modeled on ancient ziggurats. It symbolizes the power of Islam at the zenith of the Baghdad-based Abbasid caliphate.

3. The Mughira pyxis, carved at Cordoba, Spain, 968 C.E. This small and exquisite box, carved from a cylindrical section of elephant tusk, is the most beautiful of the handful of known Islamic ivory carvings. Now in The Louvre at Paris.

4. The minbar from the Kutubiyya Mosque, Marrakesh, Morocco, 1137 C.E. This wooden pulpit, nearly four metres (13 feet) tall, was carved in Cordoba by descendants of the workmen who carved the Mughira pyxis. Hundreds of thousands of pieces of wood and bone are carved and fitted together with consummate artistry.

5. The mihrab from the Maydan Mosque, Kashan, Iran, 1226 C.E. (A mihrab is a niche in the wall of a mosque or masjid, indicating the direction of the Ka'bah.) Composed of glazed ceramic slabs fitted into a complex, harmonious ensemble of calligraphy and arabesques, this is the acme of the difficult luster technique of overglaze decoration, perfected by Persian ceramicists. Now in the Islamic Museum of Berlin.

6. The Baptistere of Saint-Louis, Cairo, 1300 C.E. This hammered bronze basin, inlaid with silver and gold, is decorated on both the interior and exterior with marvelous figural scenes showing hunters, servants, and warriors. First made to catch water after hand-washing before prayers, it was only later used as a baptismal font by the French court. Now in The Louvre.

7. The Ahmad al-Suhrawardi Qur'an manuscript, Baghdad, 1307 C.E. This is arguably the finest display of the calligrapher's art. The paper was polished to an impeccable smoothness, allowing the pen to glide effortlessly across its pearly surface. This was a multi-volume manuscript created for an anonymous patron, but the original set is now dispersed. The colophon is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

8. The Ardebil Carpets, Iran, 1539-40 C.E. These two enormous carpets were worked in 10 colors of silk and wool. Each has more than 25 million knots, making them one of the most splendid examples of the weaver's art. This one is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London; the other is in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

9. The Selimiye Mosque, Edirne, Turkey, 1574 C.E. The breathtaking interior of this mosque is the masterpiece of Ottoman architect Sinan, who created a huge and uninterrupted space under a towering dome. The centralized space of the prayer hall literally and symbolically embraces the community of believers and unites them under God's radiance.

10. The Taj Mahal, Agra, India, 1647 C.E. This enormous white marble monument is set in a garden along the banks of the Paulk River, the centerpiece of a complex designed to evoke the gardens of Paradise that await faithful believers.

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. 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 purely spiritual beings created by God.

3. Belief in the Revelations (Books) of God

   Muslims believe in the Revelations sent by Almighty God to His Prophets and Messengers.

4. Belief in the Prophets of God

   All Messengers and Prophets of God 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 Judgement

   Muslims believe in a foreordained the Day of Judgment and in Heaven and Hell.

6. Belief in Predestination (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.

Some additional Islamic beliefs include:

1. The purpose of human life is to worship God by knowing Him, loving Him, and following His Laws in every aspect of living. Worshipping God does not mean we spend our entire lives in continual seclusion and absolute meditation, but rather to live life according to His will, not to run away from it.

2. Every person is born free from sin and endowed by God with spiritual potential and the intellectual inclinations that will make him or her a good Muslim. Salvation can only be achieved through the grace and guidance of God, to which the believer responds with faith and by doing good deeds.

3. A Muslim believes that humanity enjoys an especially high status in the hierarchy of all God's creations. Humanity occupies this distinguished position because human beings alone are gifted with rational faculties and spiritual aspirations, as well as freedom of choice and the power of action.

4. A Muslim believes that every person is born a "Muslim." That is, every person is endowed by Almighty God with spiritual potential and intellectual abilities that can make him or her a good "Muslim," i.e. someone who submits in trusting obedience to the Will of God.

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

Each local Muslim Community, whether Sunni or Shia', has one or more religious leaders (people who have attained formal Islamic education or who are self-taught 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 Khotba).

In Islam, worship is an active part of daily life.

• There are five obligatory daily prayers (Salaah) performed at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and evening. These can be done at home, in the workplace, outdoors, or in a mosque/masjid. One can pray individually or in a congregation.

  Muslims attend obligatory weekly congregational worship (Salat-ul-Joma) every Friday at noon. In addition to congregational prayers, a sermon (Khotba) is given during this time.

  Islamic prayer requires that one first performs ablutions (Wudu) with water, washing the hands and face, wiping the head, and washing the feet. One is also responsible for ensuring the purity of the whole body, the clothing, and ground used for prayer, as well as dressing properly and facing Makkah. If water is unavailable, or if its use would endanger health, the ritual of Taymmun replaces Wudu. It is done by striking the hands on pure earth and passing them over the face and the hands, up to the elbows.

• Obligatory fasting (Seyam) occurs once a year during Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar Islamic Calendar. Islamic daily fasting, from the break of dawn until sunset, requires complete abstention from eating, drinking, intimate sexual contacts and smoking. The fast is broken at sunset.

• Charitable giving (Zakah).

• An obligatory pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah must occur at least once during one's life-time. This journey is mandatory for every Muslim man or woman. (Exceptions are made if a Muslim's physical, mental or financial condition makes such a trip impossible.)

Prayer Room: In hospitals and other public institutions, a prayer room should be provided for Muslims. This room should be quiet, clean, and carpeted. Islamic reading material, including the Qur'an, as well as suitable audio and videotapes should be provided. The direction of Qiblah should be determined and marked in the room, with help from leaders of the local Islamic Centre or mosque.

In addition to the prescribed prayers, a Muslim expresses gratitude and appreciation for God's favours, asking for His mercy at all times; but especially during childbirth, marriage, retiring at night and rising from bed, leaving and returning home, beginning a journey or entering a city, riding or driving, before and after eating or drinking, harvesting, visiting graveyards, and at times of distress, sickness and death.

Birth: After childbirth, the Call of Prayer (Adhaan) is recited softly in the newborn's right ear and the Prayer Commencement Call (Iqaamah) is recited in his or her left ear. Male infants are circumcised. A dinner reception and a prayer of Thanksgiving and Gratitude to God ('Aqeeqah) is held with relatives and friends present.

Marriage: Nikaah is the ritual performed to marry two Muslims, one male and one female. After a marriage ceremony has been conducted by a qualified Muslim, a reception (Waleemah) is held, to which relatives and friends are invited.

Islamic laws distinguish among:

(i) Halal, or that which is permitted by God the Law-Giver;
(ii) Haram, that which is absolutely prohibited; and
(iii) Makruh, that which is considered detestable, but to a lesser degree than Haram. Anyone who engages in Haram is liable for God's punishment, as well as legal Islamic punishment if any.

The basic principle in Islamic law is that all things and actions are 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 to be avoided.

Whatever leads to Haram is in itself 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 songs, music, movies, TV, books, or magazines which promote any acts which are Haram are prohibited.

Smoking is either Haram (prohibited) or Makruh (detestable).

Marriage is a religious duty for all who are capable of meeting its responsibilities. Each member of the family has rights and obligations.

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, or by strangling, falling, beating, or being killed by 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.

Lawful (Halal) food includes:

• Meat from an Islamically slaughtered animal which has not fed on meat (with the exception of pigs, which are entirely Haram). Examples of such lawful animals are cows, sheep and goats.
• The meat of an Islamically slaughtered bird which has not fed on meat, such as chicken and ducks.
• All seafood from rivers, lakes, seas or oceans, as long as the water is not polluted.

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.

The animal is slaughtered with a sharp knife. The neck is slit from vein to vein, inflicting a minimum of pain on the animal. The blood must be drained completely.

Halal meat (from animals or birds, Islamically slaughtered) is widely available fresh, frozen or processed. Contact your local mosque/masjid or Islamic Centre for more information.

Halal meals: In most communities there are several places where Halal meals are sold. Inquire about quality and locations at your local Islamic Centre.

Privacy:

• Only female doctors, nurses, medical aides, technicians, or any other medical professionals should deal directly with Muslim girls and women in hospitals. Only in life or death situations is this rule waived.
• Only women can share a hospital room or ward with a female Muslim patient.
• Privacy should be carefully observed by all (knock on the door, announce your arrival, etc.).
• Muslim women should be provided with hospital gowns that are long, with long sleeves. If such clothing is unavailable, a Muslim woman should be allowed to use her own gown.
• Privacy should be observed during physical examinations, massage, therapeutic treatments, etc., exposing only necessary parts of the body. The rest of the body remains covered.

Childbirth:

• If the husband cannot be present at the delivery of a child, a female friend or relative of the woman should be allowed to attend.

Abortion:

• In general, abortion is forbidden in Islam. It is allowed only if the life of the mother would be at great risk otherwise.
• Islamic counselling should be made available to Muslim girls and women in all cases where abortion is being seriously considered.

Medical emergencies:

• In case of an emergency, try to get help first from a female Muslim doctor. If this is not possible, then see a male Muslim doctor; if one is not available, then accept aid from a female or male non-Muslim doctor.

Patients should be counselled through their local mosque/masjid, Islamic centre, or a knowledgeable Muslim from the local or nearby community.

Islam does not allow euthanasia, or mercy killing, and considers it a crime.

Beliefs:

Humans consist of body and soul, or the inner self (Al-Rouh, or Al-Nafs). The soul has the capacity to be both good and bad, so it is up to the individual person to direct it either way. At the moment of death, the soul separates from the body. The soul feels God's rewards or punishments and is kept in a transitional state (Barzakh) until the Day of Resurrection and the Day of Judgment.

Humankind was not created in vain. Each person is held accountable for the faith, actions, and blessings which God has given in this life. God calls on this accountability on the Day of Judgment. Those with a good record will be generously rewarded, showered with God's mercy and warmly welcomed into Heaven. Those with a bad record will be suitably punished and cast into Hell. The real nature of Heaven and Hell are known to God only, but God describes them in familiar human terms in the Qur'an. The time of the Day of Judgment is known to God, and God alone.

Practices:

As the moment of death approaches, the dying person (if he or she can) should recite, with help from others, the Islamic Creed, or Shahadah (La Ilaha Illa-Allah Muhammadur Rasuulullaah), meaning "there is no god but Almighty God/Allah and Muhammad is His messenger." A Muslim near the dying person should recite some chapters from the Qur'an, especially the Surah Ya-seen (Chapter 36), and ask God to extend mercy and forgiveness to the dying person.

After death, the individual's eyes should be gently shut, his or her mouth closed with a bandage running under the chin and tied over the head, and arms and legs straightened. The surrounding people can grieve and shed tears, but are forbidden to wail, beat the breast, slap the face, tear their hair or garments, or complain or curse.

With minimum delay the body should be thoroughly washed, shrouded and buried. If possible, the washing (Ghusl) is to be performed by a close Muslim relative or friend, but may be performed by any other Muslim who knows the procedure. A man can wash a man and a woman can wash a woman, except in the case of husband and wife, where the husband can wash his wife and vice-versa. After washing, the body is shrouded in white cloth sheets.

A funeral prayer (Salaatul Janaazah) is held for the deceased by the local Muslim community, asking for God's mercy and blessings. Preferably, this prayer service is held with the whole congregation, and led by a close relative of the deceased. Any Muslim who knows how to perform it may do so.

As soon as the prayer is over, the body should be taken on a bier to the graveyard for burial. The grave should be positioned so that the body, when turned on its right side, faces Mecca (Makkah). The body is gently lowered into the grave with utmost respect and dignity. If it is feared that a portion of the body might be exposed while lowering (especially if it is a woman) then a curtain is used. The grave is filled with earth, starting from the head. Every person helps, using both hands. Finally, water should be sprinkled over the covered grave.

The Muslim community offers condolence, sympathy and support to the bereaved family and prays for the deceased's forgiveness.

---

Any of the Above Inforomation Can Freely be Used Giving Reference to the Source:
The Canadian Islamic Congress
email: np@canadianislamiccongress.com
www.canadianislamiccongress.com

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