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Islam: A Brief Introduction

By Hassan A. El-Najjar *

Al-Jazeerah, May 20, 2007

On the authority of Abu Abdul Rahman Abdullah, the son of Umar Bin Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with both of them), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say:

"Islam has been built on five (pillars) ¹: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammed is the Messenger of Allah, performing the prayers, paying the zakat ², making the pilgrimage to the House ³, and fasting in Ramadhan." ⁴

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     The word "Islam" means believing in Allah (the God) ⁵ to the extent of surrendering your will to Him. In this sense, the previous messengers of God such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus Christ and their righteous followers are considered Muslims. It is one religion, revealed to people for thousands of years to guide them in this life and reward them in the hereafter. Muhammed, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him (pbbuh),  was the last one of these prophets and messengers of God.

The Arabic verb root of the word is salema, meaning kept safe. The Prophet (pbbuh) said, "The Muslim is the person from whose tongue and hand people are kept safe." In other words, a Muslim does not harm people with his tongue or hand.

A derivative of the verb is salam, or peace. Thus, Islam is peace, and Paradise is referred to as Dar es Salam, or the House of Peace.

Finally, Islam the first level of faith, attaining it is required to gain the mercy and contentment of God, in order for a person to enter Paradise. A higher level is Iman, and the highest is Ihasan. For more about these three levels of faith, see: Three Levels of Faith: Islam, Iman, and Ihsan

Sources of the Islamic teachings:

1. The Holly Book, the Qur'an (pronounced as two separate syllables Qur - an, sometimes referred to as Koran) is the first source of Islamic teachings. It was revealed, in the 7^th century, to the Prophet Muhammed (pbbuh) in 23 years, through the angel Jibril (Gabriel), peace to him.

It includes the basic teachings found in the Old Testament and the New Testament, as well as former messengers of God. It also includes clarifications about the differences between Jews and Christians such as the nature of Jesus and his message to the Israelites and the world.

The first word uttered by the angel Jibril, peace to him, to the Prophet Muhammed (pbbuh) was iqra', or the command verb: Read. Thus, a direct translation of the word "Al-Qur'an" may be "The Reader." This means that God, the Knowledgeable, wants his beloved human creation to be as knowledgeable as they can, through reading, writing, and accumulation of knowledge.

The Qur’an in its Arabic original version and its translations into other languages can be found in many libraries and internet sites, such as http://quran.al-islam.com/, which has indexes of the Qur'an subjects in various languages.

2. The traditions of the Prophet, or the Sunna ⁶ (Hadith). It includes sayings, actions, and approval of the Prophet (pbbuh). The Sunna explains the Qur’an in more details, and includes teachings of the Prophet about various aspects of life.

The Sunna in its Arabic original version and its translations into other languages can be found in many libraries and internet sites, such as http://hadith.al-islam.com/ , which has indexes of the Sunna subjects in various languages. However, only the Arabic original version is working currently (May 2009).

3. Research conducted by Islamic scholars concerning contemporary issues. Their investigations, discussions, and arguments are guided by the first two sources.

Five Islamic Obligations:

A Muslim is obligated to perform the following five obligations. They are considered the pillars of Islam.

1. In order to be a Muslim, a person has to announce the Declaration of Faith, which states: "There is no other God but Allah, and Muhammed is His messenger."

2. A Muslim has to perform Prayers five times a day, before the Sun rises, at noon, mid afternoon, after the Sun sets, and at twilight (about one and a half hours after the Sun sets).

Prayers include reciting certain verses from the Qur’an accompanied by doing certain movements that range between standing, bowing down, prostrating, and sitting down on the floor.

Before performing prayers, a Muslim has to make Wudu' , washing and cleaning of hands, mouth, nose, face, head, ears, arms, and feet. A shower or bath is required after sexual intercourse.

Thus, the Creator, praise to Him, wants people to be healthy by cleaning themselves of dust, sweat, and microbes five times a day. Moreover, the unique movements performed in prayers function as exercise for various body organs on daily basis.

3. A Muslim has to give Zakat. The word Zakat is often translated as "alms-tax" or "poor-due" but it is more than that. It is calculated as 2.5 percent of a person's wealth annually. This includes income, profits, and commercial property (not used for necessity, like dwelling, tools, women's jewlery, and cars).

In an Islamic state, it is a tax levied on a man's wealth and spent by the state. In absence of an Islamic state, Muslims as individuals have the responsibility to calculate and spend it annually. Whether it is collected by the state or calculated by individuals, Zakat should be spent on the areas prescribed by the Holy Qur'an (Chapter 9, Al-Tawbah, Verse 60).

إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

Alms (charity or charitable offerings) are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage, and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is Knowledgeable and Wise.

4. A Muslim has to fast during the month of Ramadhan. This means that Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and having sexual intercourse during the day time. This extends from about one hour before the Sun rises until it sets. The objective is to train one’s spirit to resist body desires and to feel for the hungry poor. It also has numerous benefits to the body. Many articles can be found on the internet about the benefits of fasting, such as: reaping_the_benefits_of_ramadan, Fasting health benefits ramadan .

5. A Muslim has to go to Makkah (Mecca) in pilgrimage, Haj, at least once in one’s lifetime. This is a visit to the first House of God on Earth. It is now in Saudi Arabia. There, about several million Muslims gather every year to confirm their faith, remember, and act out the story of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, when he left his son, Isma'il, and his wife Hajar (Hagger), there.

Then, when Ismail grew older, Ibrahim came to slaughter him in obedience to God. It was a test for the three of them. They passed the test by expressing obedience to God and disobedience to Shaitan (Satan) by throwing stones at him. As Ibrahim put his knife on Isma'l's neck, Jibril came with the good news that they passed the test  and Ibrahim was given a sheep to slaughter instead. 

Then, Ibrahim and Isma'il built Al-Ka'aba, the House of the Lord, the most sacred place of worship for Muslims. Pilgrims perform rituals resembling the various parts of the story, which can be watched in many videos in the internet, such as: how-to-make-hajj-45 min with explanation , Haj, 5min, with a song ,

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* Dr. Hassan Ali El-Najjar has a Ph.D. in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Georgia, USA.

Notes:

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1. The word "pillars" does not appear in the Arabic text but has been supplied for clarity of meaning. Pillars (arkan) is the generally accepted term in this context.

2. Zakat is often translated as "alms-tax" or "poor-due" but it is more than that. It is calculated as 2.5 percent of a person's wealth annually. This includes income, profits, and commercial property (not used for necessity, like dwelling, tools, women's jewlery, and cars).

In an Islamic state, it is a tax levied on a man's wealth and spent by the state. In absence of an Islamic state, Muslims as individuals have the responsibility to calculate and spend it annually. Whether it is collected by the state or calculated by individuals, Zakat should be spent on the areas prescribed by the Holy Qur'an (Chapter 9, Al-Tawbah, Verse 60).

إِنَّمَا الصَّدَقَاتُ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَالْمَسَاكِينِ وَالْعَامِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا وَالْمُؤَلَّفَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَفِي الرِّقَابِ وَالْغَارِمِينَ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ وَابْنِ السَّبِيلِ فَرِيضَةً مِنَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ

Alms (charity or charitable offerings) are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage, and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is Knowledgeable and Wise.

3. The House is a reference to the House of God, the honorable Ka'aba and the Nobel Sanctuary, Al-Masjid Al-Haram, surrounding it in Makkah.

4. This Hadith was translated by Ezzeddin Ibrahim and Denys Johnson-Davies (Abdul Wadoud), "An-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths." 1976. Dar Al-Manar.

5. Allah is the name of God in Arabic. It means "the God," or "Al-Ilah." In addressing God, a Muslim may say in Arabic "Ilahi" (my God). However, Muslims usually refer to God with the definite article, as Allah; thus addressing Him with "Ya Allah."

The definite article (the) in Arabic takes two forms: "El" and "Al." Almost all usage of the definite article in the Holy Qur'an is in the "Al" form. However, there are three words in the Holy Qur'an, which include the "El" form. These are used in reference to the Prophet "El-Yass" (Elijah or Idris), his house (family) "El-Elyassin," and Prophet "El-Yassa'a," with the Hamza under the Alef, for which the English vowel "E" is the correct translation (The Holy Qur'an: Chapter 6, Verse 85 and Chapter 37, Verse 130).

The definite article "El" was also used in in the ancient Arabic dialect of Aramaic, spoken in the Holy Land of Baitul Maqdes, which was called Palestine at the time of Jesus Christ (Peace and blessings of God be upon him. The Bible tells us that Jesus addressed God the same way Muslims address Him today (Ilahi, or my God).

In Mark 15, Verse 34, Ps. 22:1, and Mat 27: 46, the Bible says: "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying Eloi, Eloi, la ma sabchtani? which is being interpreted, My God, My God, why has thou forsaken me?"

The current (21st Century) Arabic form of the question attributed to Jesus Christ in the Bible may be "Ilahi, ilahi, li ma sayabtani?

While "Ilahi, Ilahi li ma" are standard Arabic words, which can be understood by the average educated Arabs, the word "sayabtani" is most spoken in Egypt but understood by most Arabic speakers.

Apparently, the sound "h" in "ilahi" was missed during one of the successive translations of the Bible from Aramaic to Greek, Roman, old European languages, middle languages, to modern European languages. 

It is noteworthy that Christian Arabs also refer to the word God as Allah, and a famous Christian Arab phrase is "Allah Mahabah," or "God is love."

This should be enough evidence for non-Muslims to know that the name of God (Allah) was used by messengers of God who preceded Muhammed (peace and blessings of God be upon all of them).

^6. Allah, praise to Him, says: "Whatever the Messenger came to you with, take it; and whatever he prohibited you, abide by it (The Holy Qur'an, Al-Hashr (59): 7). Yusuf Ali's translation of the same verse: "Take what the Apostle assigns to you, and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you."

The Messenger of Allah (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said, "You need to follow my Sunna (path) and that of the guided successors after me. Stick to it strongly." (This was a translation of the meaning of the Hadith, the Arabic text of which can be found in "Riyadh Al-Saliheen," Hadith Number 157.

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Other Articles by Hassan El-Najjar about Islamic issues:

Six Questions About Islam, Muslims and Jews By Hassan El-Najjar and Andee Goldman

Food Islamic Rules and Teachings By Hassan El-Najjar

Five Islamic Issues, predestination and choice, position toward other religions, angels, and the End of Days, by Hassan El-Najjar and Chris Hatcher

Are Muslim women second-class citizens By Hassan El-Najjar, Donna Jmsn, and Tim Symonds

The French Ban on Islamic Headscarf, an Interview with Hassan El-Najjar, By Paula Montebruno