Islam - Brief Introduction

Exploring Islam Mrs. and Dr Yahya Mubashar

Explore Islam • God & Religion – a logical debate • Islam – Beliefs and Practices – Faith,Quran,Prayer,fasting & celebrations

• Current hot topics – Marriage, Shariah Law & Jihad

• Women & Dress code in Islam • 3 short clips & Summary

Religion • Definition –a sacred engagement with that which is believed to be a spiritual reality of a superior being.

• A set of beliefs and practices guided in most cases by the superior being or its appointed persons that implement discipline and meaning to ones life.

Superior Being – Is there any?

• Man’s existence & world around us indicate His presence.

• Organisation, discipline and creativity in universe speaks for its creator.

Origin of Universe • Steady state theory – Materialistic philosophy – Theory of evolution • Matter is the absolute reality • Everything – matter & energy – by chance

• Science confirms – Everything – matter, energy & information – Information can not originate by chance – e.g. DNA

Origin of universe • Big bang theory – 1948 Cosmic background radiations were identified – 1964 they confirmed big bang theory

• Universe had an origin • Origin was not by chance but by a superior being who created universe

Theory of Creation • Theory of evolution is refuted • Invertebrates descended fish then in to reptiles & into birds • Fossil records of many thousands of life forms have been identified • Half fish half reptile or others • No fossil record of intermediary forms for any species ever found

Fossil Records 20 – 100 Million years old

• Confirms that all living forms were created in their original and current forms from the beginning • Proves that some superior being created all forms of life

Superior Being ? – Do we need HIM • Complex nature and working of world – poor & rich, disadvantaged & privileged • People may not get justice in the world • Need for Day of Judgement & a Superior being to do justice • People will be asked about their actions in the life of this world

Purpose of Man’s Creation • Not for fun • Lead a life pleasing to that superior being • Religion is a guide and answer • Good codes of living, behaviour and caring

I don’t want to follow codes

Do we need religion?

• Yes • Misfortune, bad luck can happen to anyone

Do we need religion?

• If having good life and good fortune - OK • All misfortune leads to feelings of despair • Feeling of being treated unjustly • With religion & a belief on a Superior being – Believe that misfortunes can be avoided by righteous deeds – Tests or exams from the creator – Helps focus on life and produces positive attitude

Islam • Mohammad (PBUH) • Quran – Revelation from Allah in Arabic • Various Translations and Interpretations available • Kaaba – A Cubical empty building known as the House of Allah in Mecca

Five Fundamental Pillars Haj

Faith Prayers

Charity Fasting

Faith • Oneness of God

– Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; – Allah, the Eternal, Absolute (lives forever and is above all needs); – None is born of Him nor is He born; – And there is none like Him.

Faith • Mightiness of Allah – Allah! There is no God but Him, the ever-living, the One Who Sustains and Protect all that exists.

– Neither slumber nor sleep overtake Him. – To Him belongs whatever is in Heavens and on earth.

– Who is he that can intercede with Him except with his permission?

– He knows what happens to them (His creatures) in this world and what will happen to them in the Hereafter.

– And they will never compass anything of His knowledge except that which he wills.

– His throne extends over the Heavens and the earth, – And He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them.

– And He is the most High and the Most Great.

Faith • • • • •

Prophets 124,000 to different regions Holy Books – Quran, Bible, Torah Angels The judgment day Allah’s absolute control over all things and events

Prayers • Time for meditation • Five times a day • Spiritually & Psychologically keeps you connected with the creator • Physically gives your body an exercise of stretching of muscles and joints.

Fasting • Eating, drinking & sexual activity is forbidden from dawn to dusk for a month • Spiritually & Psychologically - a self disciplining exercise OR • Annual refresher course of self disciplining behavior • Physically/medically helps body in repair process by providing a break from a well fed state • Also restores & recharges body’s defense mechanisms – internal catharsis

Charity • Benefits to the whole society

Hajj / Pilgrimage • Once in a life time if affordable • Rituals that follow the actions of Prophet Abraham and his family in & around Makkah • Act of Sacrifice for those who don’t or can’t perform Hajj

Celebrations days • Two Eid Days (according to Lunar Calendar) • Eid ul Fitr – at the end of month of fasting (RAMADAN) • Eid Ul Azha – the day of Hajj/Pilgrimage

Purpose of Mankind • To live a life pleasing to God • Voluntary Submission to Allah and His will • The life of this world is an examination • Day of Judgment is a logical end of this exam • Everyone has been given different test settings • All individuals are responsible for their own deeds in response to the setting they are given • Rewards of good deeds are both in this life and success in the life hereafter.

Muslim life style • • • •

Not very much different Good values are same in all cultures Islam accepts all cultures.

Muslims are expected to adapt the good values of the culture they are living in • Islamic culture of that country begins • Difficulties faced by Muslims

Alcohol • Social aspect – Domestic & Street violence • Personal aspect – – – –

Brain depressant & letting go effect High BP & Brain stroke liver disease Varicose veins in stomach

• Can we have small amount? NO • Small theft, little over speeding or small amount of drugs

Pork • Other religions also prohibit pork eating • The Old Testament: In Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 of the Holy Bible • Quran Chapter 16 verse 115 • Adverse Influence of Pork Consumption – By Prof. Hans-Heinrich Reckeweg, M.D. • Biological Therapy Vol 1 No 2 1983

• Health aspects of Consumption of Pig meat – by Prof. Dr. M. Abdussalam

Halal Food • Halal meat – Slaughtered in Islamic way – Name of Allah should be spoken – No stunning involved – Islamic slaughtering process involves • Less pain, blood free meat

• No Liquor or alcohol • No gelatine

Open or Illegal Sexual behaviors • Open behavior towards sex degrades women and men equally • Lustful attitudes, trends and behaviors prohibited to avoid exploitation of sex • Illegal sexual relations not acceptable too • It breaks the family life.

• Children grow in single parent or broken families • Ideal circumstances will be where both parents have created a healthy atmosphere at home • Overall not healthy for the society in general

Gambling • • • •

Exploits the person’s greed sense Most people will loose money Small number of people will gain Only people who have the guarantee of benefiting from it are the rich people who have invested in its setup.

• Overall bad for the society in general

Positive aspects of Britain • Freedom of Speech • Police and Justice system • Free Healthcare & Education • Willingness to understand cultural diversity

Spread of Islam

Classification of Muslims • Fundamentalist

– Follow Fundamental principles of Islam literally according to 1st century

• Radicals

– Twist meanings & malpractice the religion, Misinterpret and misrepresent Islamic principles

• Traditionalist

– Follow the traditions of 1400 years of their nation without change. ? Spiritual, Cultural and Religious heritage

• Modernist

– Keep the fundamental principles of Islam but will adapt and acknowledge the time and society they are living in.

– Interpret the principles into practical solutions for today’s society.

Marriage • Blessed contract between man & woman • Based on love, cooperation, harmony & tolerance • Each spouse finds tranquility, contentment and comfort in the company of other • Establishes a family for children to live and grow up • Help children to develop good character and behavior towards moral values • Arranged marriages – third party introduces two families • Love marriages – acceptable if no adultery • Forced marriage - unacceptable

Shariah Law • Implemented in overwhelming majority of Muslims in community • Leader implementing it should be honest and trust worthy • Implementation on equality and justice. No scope for misuse

Shariah Law • Capital punishments

– Victim wishes a punishment – No reason for crime – Criminal not remorseful or repenting or seeking forgiveness – No hope for the criminal to improve

• Capital punishment should

– Be severe enough to deter similar crime by others – Ensure safety and security of the community

Violence & Terrorism • And do good as God has been good to you. And do not seek to cause corruption in the earth. God does not love corrupters (Qur'an 28:77) • O You who believe! Show integrity for the sake of God, bearing witness with justice. Do not let hatred for a people incite you into not being just. Be just. That is closer to faith.

Heed God (alone). God is aware of what you do (Qur'an 5:8) • The repayment of a bad action is one equivalent to it. But if someone forgives and puts things right, his reward is with God. Certainly He does not love wrongdoers. Those who give in times of both ease and hardship, those who control their rage and forgive other people - God loves the gooddoers (Qur'an 42:40 & 3:134) • Help one another in benevolence and piety. Do not help each other to wrongdoing and enmity. And fear God. God is severe in retribution (Qur'an 5:2)

Jihad or Struggle • Jihad is not a war to force the faith on others • Jihad is to strive for one’s rights or to defend against oppression or injustice • Contrary to common belief and the regrettable practices of some Muslims • The principles and reasons for jihad are clearly defined by Prophet Mohammad in his first armed encounter with non Muslims • “Fight in the cause of Allah with those who fight you, but do not transgress limits: for Allah does not love transgressors” (Qur'an 2:190) • “God does not forbid you from being good to those who have not fought you over religion or driven you from your homes, or from being just towards them. God loves those who are just”.

(Qur'an 60:8)

Religion • A religion should not be judged by the actions of its followers alone, because there are good and bad followers in every religion.

• The correct thing to do is to judge a religion by its documented revelation from God and the Prophet who brought that revelation.

• This applies to Islam, Christianity, Judaism and all religions.

Message Say: O people of the Book!

Come to common terms as between us and you: Al Quran (Al'Imran: verse 64)