Islam
From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change
| Part of a series of articles on Islam |
| Beliefs and practices |
|
Oneness of God |
| Important people |
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Abu Bakr • Ali |
| Texts & Laws |
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Qur'an • Sunnah • Hadith |
| Types of Islam |
| Muslim culture |
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Academics • History |
| See also |
|
Vocabulary of Islam • Islamophobia |
Islam (Arabic: 
الإسلام (info • help)) is the name of a religion founded by Muhammad in ancient Arabia in the 7th century. People who follow Islam are called Muslims. They believe in only one God, That God is called Allah, which is the Arabic phrase for "the (only) God". Muslims believe that Muhammad was the last prophet (or messenger) of God. Muslims read a holy book called the Qur'an. Muslims also look to other writings, the Sunnah and Hadith, as important guides.
Like Judaism, Islam is called an "Abrahamic religion", because both Jews and Muslims believe they are descendants of Abraham. (Christianity is also an "Abrahamic religion" because it grew out of Judaism.) Islam has more followers than Roman Catholicism with 1.3 billion followers[1]. It is also is the fastest growing religion in the world.
As well as having religious laws, Islam has laws on how the government should be run. These laws are called "Shariah Law".
Contents |
[change] Meaning of the word "Islam"
In Arabic, the word Islam means "Peace". The word Islam comes from the Arabic word that means "Peace."
Therefore the religion Islam means "submission to Allah". The way to submit to Allah is through worshipping him, obeying him, following the rules in the Quran [Koran], and trying to follow the life of the prophet Muhammad(S.A.W). The Arabic word Assalam-u-alikum also comes from the root meaning "Regards of Allah," although the word salaam actually means "peace".
[change] Holy Books
[change] Quran
The most holy book in the religion of Islam is the Quran.The Holy Quran is The Sayings of Allah. Islam teaches that the Quran was revealed by Allah, or God, upon prophet Muhammad. It also teaches that the Quran is in heaven and that it is a perfect book. Muslims show respect to the Quran . The Quran has a total of 114 chapters." In each chapter there are many verses. Many Muslims try to memorize the entire Quran and ones that do are respected in their Muslim community. Other important books are the Sunnah and Hadith.
[change] The Five Pillars of Islam
There are five things that Muslims should do. They are called "The Five Pillars of Islam".
1. Faith: The Testimony (al-Shaada in Arabic) is the Muslim belief that there is no god but Allah Himself, and that Muhammad is His messenger.
2. Prayer: Muslims pray five times at special times of the day.[2]
3. Charity: Muslims who have money must give alms (Zakah or Zakat in Arabic) to help poor Muslims in the local community .
4. Fasting: Muslims fast during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic year. They do not eat or drink from sunrise till sunset for one lunar month. After Ramadan, there is a holiday called Eid al-Fitr (English: Festival of end-fast). Muslims usually have a party with families and friends and go to the mosque in the morning for a special service.[3]
5. Hajj (Pilgrimage): During the Hajj season, many Muslims go to Makkah, the holiest city of Islam, which is in Saudi Arabia. Muslims must make the hajj at least once in their life if they can afford to do so. There is no need if a Muslim does not have the money to make the Hajj. At the end of Hajj season, there is a holiday called Eid al-Adha (English: Festival of Sacrifice). Muslims in general who can afford or who have made the Hajj must buy an animal according to the İslamic criteria to sacrifice and cook as food or give away to the poor, if they have the money for it. Muslims believe that Abraham, one of Allah's earliest messengers, was told by Allah on the day of Eid al-Adha to sacrifice his son in Jerusalem. But the angel Gabriel congratulated Abraham's obedience to Allah and gave him a lamb instead.
[change] Place of Worship
Muslims, the people who follow the religion of Islam, pray in a holy place called the mosque. Most mosques have at least one dome and some have one or more towers. But a mosque does not need to have a dome or tower. Muslims take their shoes off before entering the mosque to pray. Prayer is one of the most important things that a Muslim does.
[change] Different movements and beliefs
Like with other religions, over the time different movements have developed in Islam. These movements are based on different interpretations of the scriptures.
[change] Sunni
The Sunni are the biggest movement in Islam.
[change] Shia
The Shia are the second largest movement in Islam. They believe, that before Muhammad died, he chose Ali to come after him as a leader of the community. Shia Muslims think Ali was the first Imam. The children of Ali were the next Imams.
[change] Kharijite
Kharijites were a movement during the early years of Islam. This movement has no followers today. At first they accepted the rule of Ali, but rejected him to later support the view that Abu Bakr, and his successors were the rightful Caliphs. The only group of Kharijites that still exists are the Ibadi. The Ibadi do not consider themselves to be Kharijite. Most Ibadis live in Oman. Smaller numbers live in Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Zanzibar.
Sometimes, the term Kharijite (or Neo-Kharijite) is also used for some islamic terrorist groups. Examples of such groups are the Groupe islamique armé in Algeria, or the Takfir wal-Hijra in Egypt.
[change] Sufism
The Sufi are not a movement like the Sunni or the Shia. They focus more on the spiritual and mystic elements of Islam. Some followers of Sufism are Sunni, others are Shia.
[change] Criticism
Islam has also been criticised. The earliest people who criticised Islam in writing were Christians, like John of Damascus (born about 676).[4] In the medieval period, some Arab philosophers like the poet Al-Ma'arri also criticised Islam.[5] The Jewish philosopher Maimonides compared Islamic views of morality to the Jewish approach that he himself believed in.[6] Medieval Christian writers thought that Islamic beliefs were not valid. They tried to show Muhammad was possessed by Satan.[7] In the 19th century, the Orientalist (eastern countries and beliefs) scholar William Muir wrote harshly about the Qu'ran.[8]
In modern times, critics also say that Islam does not tolerate the view that Islamic law may be too harsh on some accounts. This is especially the case when punishing those Muslims that reject or criticize the accepted views of Islam.[9] Other critics see Muhammad's personal life negatively.[10] Others question how authentic the Qu'ran is and if it can impose moral guidelines.[11] These reports also say that women may be treated badly by Islamic law and practice.[12]
Some people have responded to these forms of criticism. Montgomery Watt and Norman Daniel say that some of the criticisms are the product of old myths and polemics,[13][14]. Carl Ernst writes that Islamophobia has played a part in establishing those myths.[15]
[change] Notes
- ↑ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article3653800.ece Times Online
- ↑ Prayer is called salah in Arabic and namaz in Persian, Turkish and Urdu.
- ↑ Fasting is called saum in Arabic.
- ↑ Sahas (1997), pp.76-80
- ↑ Warraq (2003), p.67
- ↑ Novak (February 1999)
- ↑ "Mohammed and Mohammedanism", Catholic Encyclopedia
- ↑ Toby Lester. "What Is the Koran?", The Atlantic Monthly, January 1999.
- ↑ Bostom, Andrew. "Islamic Apostates' Tales - A Review of Leaving Islam by Ibn Warraq", FrontPageMag, July 21, 2003.
- ↑ Warraq (2000), p. 103
- ↑ Ibn Warraq. "Virgins? What virgins?", Special Report: Religion in the UK, The Guardian, 2002-01-12.
- ↑ Timothy Garton Ash. "Islam in Europe", The New York Review of Books, 10-05-2006.
- ↑ Watt (1974), p.231
- ↑ Seibert (1994), pp.88-89
- ↑ Ernst (2004), p.11
[change] Books and journals cited
- Ernst, Carl (2004). Following Muhammad: Rethinking Islam in the Contemporary World. University of North Carolina Press. ISBN 0-8078-5577-4.
- Novak, David (February 1999). "The Mind of Maimonides". First Things.
- Sahas, Daniel J. (1997). John of Damascus on Islam: The Heresy of the Ishmaelites. Brill Academic Publishers. ISBN 978-9004034952.
- Seibert, Robert F. (1994). "Review: Islam and the West: The Making of an Image (Norman Daniel)". Review of Religious Research 36 (1).
- Warraq, Ibn (2000). The Quest for Historical Muhammad. Prometheus. ISBN 978-1573927871.
- Warraq, Ibn (2003). Leaving Islam: Apostates Speak Out. Prometheus. ISBN 1-59102-068-9.
- Watt, W. Montgomery (1974). Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman, New, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-881078-4.
[change] See also
[change] Other websites
- Haq Islam web portal
- Islam Quran Sunnah
- Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs
- A Simple site to Learn Islam
