Islamic Beliefs

Muslim Beliefs

What Are the Beliefs of Islam? As the Jews believed in the Old Testament and the Christians put their faith in both the Old and New Testaments, the Muslims believe the Quran* is the divine word of God.Muslims also believe that Allah has revealed himself through Scripture, including the Old Testament, the Gospels (though not believing them to be accurate), the Quran, and the traditions not contained in the Quran called the Hadith.Besides the five basic beliefs, Muslims also have five pillars or observances that follow as part of their faith.Islam’s basic teaching, called the Islamic creed, consists of six basic beliefs, found throughout the Quran.To the Muslims, the Quran is God’s last word to the world.Islam also holds a strong belief in the prophets, Mohammed being the greatest since he was sent to the entire world.This is used to spread Islam.Finally, Muslims view God as an absolute deity whose will is law.Muslims will enter paradise (though some must first be purged for their sins); non-Muslims will be condemned forever to a pit of fire.Of the above sources, only the Quran is totally trusted by Muslims.Another cherished belief of the Muslims is the belief in angels as messengers of Allah.



Daily Life of Prayer


Some sayings of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) concerning prayer are: Prayer is the essence of worship.Prayer averts misfortune.Beg of Allah all that you stand in need of, even the salt you need or the shoelace that has snapped.He who is desires that Allah should accept his prayers when is distressed and hard-pressed, should pray constantly when he is at ease.The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) advised his followers that offering the required prayers at their proper times is especially pleasing to Allah.The Holy Qur'an contains many short prayers for all kinds of situations, and the prayers used by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) are well documented.A woman is not permitted to perform salaat during their monthly period, nor enter the prayer area of a mosque, until she has taken a ritual bath (see under Hygiene).Therefore, as a Muslim woman, your day begins and ends with the worship of Allah and glorifying Him as the only Master of everything in the Heavens, the Earth, and the whole Universe.Salaat is the central and principal form of Islamic worship, and must be observed with all its rituals and etiquettes including a ritual ablution (wudhu) before performing salaat.This need is fulfilled by reciting prayers and remembrance of Allah (Zikre Illahi) at any time.Salaat is offered five times daily, at the appointed times of Fajr (at dawn);Zuhr (after midday); Asr (late afternoon); Maghrib (after the sun sets) and Isha (at night).However Islamic worship is not limited to salaat alone, for the need to communicate with one's Creator arises constantly during the day.He further instructed that recitation of the Holy Qur'an after Fajr prayer every morning is also pleasing to Him, even if only a few verses are read.




Muslim Hygine


The Holy Qur'an says: "O you who believe! When you rise up for prayer, wash your faces and your hands as far as the elbows, and wipe your heads, and (wash) your feet up to the ankles." (5:7) The way in which the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) performed wudhu is as follows: The hands are washed to the wrists three times.The mouth is rinsed with water three times.The nostrils are cleaned three times by snuffing a little water into them and blowing the nose if necessary.The complete face is washed with water three times.The right arm, and then the left, is washed from wrist to elbow.The head is wiped over with wet hands, and the inner side of the ears wiped with the forefingers and the outer side with the thumbs.Finally, the feet are washed to the ankles, the right one first.Allah says: "Allah desires not to put you in a difficulty: but desires to purify you and complete His favors unto you that you may prosper." (Holy Qur'an, 5:7) The concern here is for the purification of the mind and soul, and Islam emphasizes that external purity leads to internal purity, just as external impurity leads to internal impurity.It is also a sunnah of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to take a bath in preparation for religious occasions, such as Friday (Juma) prayers and holiday (Eid) prayers.Allah states in the Holy Qur'an: "Allah loves those who keep themselves clean." (2:223) There are certain activities after which Muslims are instructed to take a ritual bath in order to purify themselves for salaat.The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) stressed the importance of cleanliness.He said: Cleanliness is half of faith.Purification is the key of prayer.When you visit your brethren tidy up your clothes and your mounts for Allah does not like dirt and untidiness.Wudhu (Ablution) Cleanliness is particularly emphasized in connection with salaat (prayer), as a Muslim is expected to try to be in a prayerful state at all times.In accordance with the Islamic belief that the condition of the body affects the mind, physical cleanliness is essential for spiritual well-being.As Islam encourages one to be in a constant state of cleanliness, it goes without saying that bathing should be part of a Muslim's daily hygiene.Acquiring the habit of wudhu not only fulfills the religious injunction, it also helps you maintain habitual cleanliness and self discipline.


Islamic Sisterhood

Some tried and tested suggestions for enhancing sisterly relations are: Remembering Allah much throughout the day.Paying attention to the five daily prayers, memorizing them in Arabic and with translation, reading and understanding the Holy Qur'an, memorizing and practicing hadith.Studying about Islam with your sisters in faith.Attending regularly the Jamaat meetings and volunteering your services for Islam.Paying Jamaat dues, making donations to the needy.Praying with and for your sisters that misunderstandings and cultural differences be lovingly overcome.Dressing modestly in an Islamic manner.Accepting and returning sisterly social invitations that establish mutual respect and affection.Learning and using phrases in the language of your sisters.Some of these ladies were Hadhrat Khadija and Hadhrat Ayesha, wives of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him); Hadhrat Nusrat Jehan, the wife of the Promised Messiah; Hadhrat Amtul Hai Sahiba, Hadhrat Umme Nasir Sahiba, Hadhrat Maryam Sahiba and Hadhrat Maryam Siddiqa, who were wives of the late Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II.Lajna Imaillah, which means "maidservants of Allah," tries to follow the example of these women, and encourages its members to do good works.


The Quran


There are in total 6,348 verses in the Holy Quran.The text of the Holy Quran has remained unchanged over the past 1400 years.The Holy Quran is the Holy Book or the Scriptures of the Muslims.But it also contains directives for its followers, historical accounts of certain prophets and peoples, arguments for accepting Muhammad as a genuine Prophet and good news for the believers and warnings for the disbelievers.The millions of copies of the Quran circulating in the world today are all identical down to a single letter.Much of the Quran is about God, His attributes and man's relationship to Him.The language of the Quran is Arabic.