Islam - more detail
What do Muslims believe?
Islam is based on six basic principles. Of these, the most important principle is that there is only one God – or Allah (peace be upon him). Muslims believe Allah created the world and Islam is the correct way of life for the people who live in it. Allah remains in control of historical events and eventually everyone will be accountable to him, whether or not they choose to follow Islam.
Muslims also believe in the books revealed by Allah, the prophets, the angels, the day of judgement and life after death.
The literal meaning of the word Islam is peace and submission, suggesting a tranquil way of life based on total devotion to the will of Allah. According to Muslim beliefs, the purpose of life is to exercise khilafa, which means authority and trust.
Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born in Makkah (Mecca), Saudi Arabia. The Holy Qur’an is Islam’s holy book, and Muslims believe it is the divine revelation from almighty Allah. Other holy books include the Torah and Injil (the gospel of Jesus).
Before the end of time, Muslims believe a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad will come down to earth and establish justice. On the Day Of Judgement, each person’s actions will be weighed on the scales of good and bad. In the meantime, Muslims believe human beings have a duty to manage the world in a responsible way, according to Allah’s will.
Six principles
To be a true Muslim, a person must believe in:
- Allah, the one and only God
- The angels
- The prophets
- The scriptures
- The Day of Judgement
- Pre-destination
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Islamic diversity
Islam is followed by millions of Muslims throughout the world, and incorporates various schools of thought.
Different Islamic traditions, and some of their distinguishing features, include:
Sunni
Around 90% of Muslims worldwide follow the Sunni tradition. There are several movements within this tradition, but they can sometime crossover.
Barelwis
Originating on the Indian sub-continent, this tradition holds the Prophet Muhammad in particularly high esteem.
Deobandos Another movement originating in India, this tradition places heavy emphasis on the close study of texts such as the Qur’an and Hadith.
Tablighi Jamaat
Associated with the Deobandi tradition, members of this movement travel widely, encouraging stronger religious devotion among Muslims.
Ahl-e-Hadith Followers of this movement confine their beliefs strictly to the teaching of the Qur’an and the Hadith’s earliest teachings.
Jamaat-I-Islami
Founded in India, this movement has followers across the sub-continent. They advocate a return to traditional Islamic doctrines.
Shi’a
Representing around 10% of the world’s Muslim population, this branch of Islam believes that Imans or Hujjah (Proofs of God) have authority from Allah to interpret the Qur’an and give advice. In the Shi’a tradition, the term Iman applies to spiritual leaders rather than those who lead prayers at a local mosque.
Tasawwuf (Sufism)
This tradition emphasises the more esoteric aspects of Islam. Followers engage dancing, chanting and singing to foster their spiritual relationship with Allah.
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How Islam developed
The development of Islam began with the Prophet Muhammad (570-632CE), the last Prophet of Islam. The greatest of these prophets are regarded as Abraham, Moses and Jesus. Muslims do not believe that the Prophet Muhammad introduced a new faith. Instead, he simply repeated his predecessors’ message, calling people back to the ways of Allah.
When he was forty, the Prophet Muhammad began to receive a series of revelations from Allah through the Angel Jibreel, or Gabriel. These revelations form Islam’s holiest book, the Qur’an. In 622CE, the Prophet Muhammad welcomed all those who believed in the Qur’an to the first Islamic community – or ‘Ummah. This community followed the Prophet from Makka to Medina in a migration known as the Hijra.
This event was a defining point in Islam’s development and marks the start of the dating system used in the Muslim calendar.
Muhammad’s death was followed by the emergence of two distinctive Islamic traditions – Sunni and Shi’a.
The spread of Islam into Africa, Europe and the Indian sub-continent dates from 750CE. In Europe, the earliest Muslim communities were established in the Balkans, Sicily and Spain. Here, it developed peacefully alongside the Jewish and Christian cultures for over four centuries.
Between 1516 and 1707CE, the Mogul Empire spread Islam deep into India and eastwards towards Malaya, Indonesia and the Philippines. Following the end of British rule in India in 1947, the Muslim-majority state of Pakistan was established.
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Islamic leaders
Each mosque is run by a management committee or board of trustees. The religious head of the mosque, known as the Imam, is responsible for leading prayers among other duties. The best point of contact with a mosque is through its president or secretary.
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How Muslims worship
There are five basic Muslim practices, known as the Five Pillars of Islam:
Shahadah (declaration of faith)
Muslims make this declaration by saying: ‘I bear witness that there is no god but God, and that Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was his prophet and messenger.’
Salat/Namaz (five daily prayers)
Adult Muslims are expected to pray five times each day: before sunrise, at noon, midway between noon and sunset, at sunset and at night. These prayers are obligatory, which means they can be offered anywhere. They are also offered by congregations in mosques at set times.
Congregational prayer takes place on Friday afternoon.
Ramadan
During Ramadan month, Muslims abstain from food and drink from just before dawn to sunset. Ramadan falls during the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Muslims exempt from fasting include seriously ill, pregnant or breastfeeding mothers; menstruating women; people on a journey; and elderly people in poor health.
Zakat (giving of alms)
To help those in need, Muslims are expected to give around two-and-a-half percent of their untouched annual savings over a certain threshold.
Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)
Muslims who can afford it are expected to visit Makkah at least once in their lifetime. During Hajj, pilgrims visit the kaba (see above) and perform set rituals around Makkah.
Diet
Muslims are not permitted to drink alcohol or eat pork. Nor are they allowed to eat meat, fat, gelatine or rennet from animals that have not been slaughtered according to the correct ritual.
Muslims are permitted to eat all forms of vegetarian food, which many of them regard as their safest and simplest option.
Fasting
See Ramadan (above)
Dress
Muslims are required to dress modestly, especially during public meetings and events attended by both sexes. Women are required to cover their head with a veil, known as hijab, and wear loose dress. In some Muslim traditions, women also cover their faces.
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