Good Afternoon,

I greet you with the universal greeting of peace AsSaalam Alkuim:
Today marks our first of many daily blogs (inshaAllah), and I hope that you find them useful in your day to day activity. Todays blog will be the first in the series of Islam 101. This is to help our future Brother and Sister with understanding the fast growing relgion in the world. May Allah bless us, the readers and all past, present and future muslims. Ameen. Without further ado:

What is Islam & who are the Muslims?
Islam is a monotheistic religion based on the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him). The word ‘Islam’ is Arabic and literally means ‘surrender’
or ‘submission.’ As a faith, it means total and sincere submission to the One Almighty God
(Allah). A ‘Muslim’ is therefore one who has voluntarily submitted his or her will to God.
Islam is not named after a tribe of people or an individual as is the case with other religions;
rather it is a global faith and a universal call, preached not by just one individual but by all of
the Prophets and Messengers of God throughout the history of humanity, starting with
Adam (peace be upon him). The teachings of Islam dictate a complete way of life, and its
core message is found in the two testimonies of faith: Laa ilaha illallah; Muhammadur rasulullah
– “There is no god worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of
Allah.” A person who willingly makes this testimony and truly believes in the meaning of
these words becomes a Muslim.
How Does a Person Practice Islam?
Once a person accepts Islam as his or her religion and way of life, it is obligatory upon
that person to observe the five pillars of Islam that make up the fundamentals of practicing
Islam. These five pillars are:

1) Testimony of Faith – This is to openly declare: Laa ilaha illallah; Muhammadur rasulullah
– “There is no god worthy of worship except Allah (God), and Muhammad is the
messenger of Allah.” In order for a person to become a Muslim, a person must recite
this testimony willingly and sincerely.

2) Regular Daily Prayers – Muslims observe 5 required prayers that are spread
throughout the day during the following times: Dawn, Noon, Afternoon, Sunset, and
Night.
3) Fasting in Ramadan – Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic (lunar) Calendar.
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims observe fasting beginning at dawn and ending
when the sun sets. During the fasting period, Muslims do not drink or eat anything and
refrain from sexual relations with their spouses.
4) Annual Charity (Zakat) – Each year Muslims are required to give 2.5% of their savings
to the needy.
5) Pilgrimage to Makkah – Muslims who are physically, mentally, and financially able are
obligated to journey to Makkah and perform the Hajj (pilgrimage) and all of its rituals.
The pilgrimage to Makkah is one of the most rewarding and spiritually fulfilling
experiences a Muslim can ever embark on. It compels the pilgrims to break down the
racial, economical, and social barriers that may still plague their society, and invites each
pilgrim to practice patience, self-restraint, and piety.

Who is Allah?
‘Allah’ is the proper name for the One True God in Arabic and is the greatest and most
inclusive name for God. The name has no plural or gender and refers to the God of Noah,
Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad and the rest of the Prophets and Messengers of God
(peace be upon them). The 112th chapter of the Quran describes Allah in the following
words:
Say, “He is Allah, (the) One. The Self-Sufficient Master. He begets not, nor was He begotten;
And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.” (Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4)
Everything in Islam is based upon belief in the Oneness of God and getting closer to
Him (through righteous deeds). Islam’s creed is founded upon strict and absolute
monotheism termed as Tawheed in Arabic. Tawheed consists of three aspects:
1) Oneness of Allah in His Lordship –
2) Devotion of all Worship to Allah alone –
3) Oneness of Allah in His Names & Attributes –
These will be explained in greater length at another time (inshaAllah)

He is Allah, whom there is none worthy of worship except He, the All-Knower of the unseen
and the seen (open). He is the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. He is Allah, whom there is
none worthy of worship except He, the King, the Holy, the One Free from all imperfections, the
Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the All-Mighty, the Compeller, the Supreme.
Exalted is He above all that they associate [in worship] with Him. He is Allah, the Creator,
the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Best Names. All that is in
the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

Next week inshaAllah will talk about the six articles of faith. Until then AsSaalam Alkuim. If you have any suggestions or comments please feel free to send us a email at: haqqdawahgroup@gmail.com.

The Haqq Dawah Group