Islam

Islam means ‘submission to God’ and the followers of Islam are known as Muslims. Muslims believe its founder, Mohammed (571-632 CE) was the last prophet of the succession of Jewish and Christian prophets and, as such, not really the architect of a new faith; rather, he is the ‘seal of the prophets’; he renews and completes the teachings of Abraham, Moses and Jesus.

Mohammed was born in the Arabian City of Mecca. Over a period of twenty-three years, from the age of forty, through the Angel Gabriel, he received God’s revelation, known as the Qur’an (Koran). Soon after he began receiving revelations he attracted followers, but because of resistance to his message in Mecca, he migrated to Medina. This migration is known as the Hijra, the date from which the Muslim calendar begins.

From Arabia, Islam spread rapidly throughout the Middle East, into Persia and eastwards to the Indian sub-continent and beyond, and later into Africa and Europe. With the establishment of the Mogul Empire (1550-1707 CE) Islam thrived in India through active proselytising. During Muslim rule in India, hundreds of Hindu and Jain temples and their images were destroyed. From India it spread to Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. During the twentieth century it has spread in North America and other parts of the world.

Islam has a great deal in common with the Jewish religion: it is strictly monotheistic, God (Arabic: Allah), is believed to be the creator and sustainer of the universe, and merciful, powerful, omniscient and omnipresent, and he has prescribed Islam as the only path. To become a Muslim, a convert makes a declaration (Sahada) that ‘there is no god but God and that Mohammed is his prophet’ and that ‘Qur’an was revealed through the Prophet Mohammed’, and that ‘human accountability occurs on the Day of Judgement’. Absolute submission to God is regarded as the pious duty of all Muslims. Muslim life is regulated by the Qur’an, which teaches ethics and service to humanity; opposes polytheism, ritualism, image worship, and priesthood. It believes in benevolent angels and in one fallen angel, Iblis (ruler of hell), and good and bad jinns (demonical spirits). Islam believes in life after death, resurrection of the dead on the day of judgement, and reward or punishment by God.

Islam is emphatic about its monotheistic character. Each chapter (surah) of Qur’an reminds us that there is no God but Allah. Every Muslim prayer is preceded by the words that ‘There is no God but Allah, and Mohammed is his Prophet (La ilaha ila’ ilahu, Mohammad rasulu’ llah)’.

Because the Qur’an is viewed as the actual words of God (in Arabic), the learning and recitation of the Qur’an is the duty of all Muslims. The framework within which Muslim life has evolved is the Shari’ah (law).

Muslims believe that humans are created by God and absolutely dependent upon him, and they should serve God in humble submission. Islamic prayers are reverential and not petitionary. Islam believes the human being has a soul and it will be united with the body on the Day of Judgement by the grace of God. Righteous individuals will ascend to heaven, while the wicked will descend to hell.

Islam can be regarded as a religion of legalistic ethics and inner spiritual piousness, as it teaches its followers religious and ethical disciplines simultaneously. The five essential duties of a Muslim are known as ‘Five Pillars’ of Islam:

Sahadah: repetition of faith in the absolute oneness of ‘Allah’ and Mohammed as his messenger
Salat: observance of five daily prayers
Zakat: giving alms to the poor, as a religious tax, usually two and half percent of annual income
Ramadan: a month of fasting and spiritual discipline in the ninth month of the lunar calendar
Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca and the Ka’bah (the house of God) at least once in a lifetime
Sometimes a ‘Holy War’ (jihad) against unbelievers is described as the sixth pillar, and immediate entry to paradise is promised to those who die in a holy war; modern Islam interprets jihad as a war against sins and sinners in the cause of religion. Sincere observance of the above duties and leading a life in accordance with the Qur’an seems to be sufficient guarantee of heaven.

Muslim ethics are mainly social: such as hospitality; obedience to one’s parents; avoidance of adultery, cheating and lying; and refraining from stealing, killing and murder. Islam forbids violence except in the name of religion, or self-defence. It teaches individual virtues such as refraining from intoxicating drinks and from the use of perfumed oils; and cultivates renunciation and non-attachment towards worldly possessions. It also regulates marriage, divorce, dowry, inheritance, funeral ceremonies, and practically every sphere of life including economics, family life and the behaviour of rulers.

Dietary rules are also an important aspect of Muslim values and ethics. The Qur’an prohibits the consumption of meat or the by-products of pigs and carnivorous animals, finned or scaly marine animals, meat of unlawfully (haram) slaughtered animals, and alcohol. Meat obtained from the animals slaughtered, according to the teachings of Qur’an is deemed lawful (halal) meat, but when halal meat is unavailable, kosher meat is acceptable to some Muslims. All Muslims accept vegetarian food. Food, which contains by-products of non-halal meat, such as cheese containing animal rennet, is prohibited.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims do not consume food or drink between dawn and sunset, although exceptions are made for children, the sick, pregnant women, the elderly and travellers.

Islam confers equal dignity, the same religious duties and legal rights on both men and women. It views marriage and procreation positively and celibacy is discouraged, but Islamic law allows a man to have up to four wives, but because of strict regulations and financial constraints this is practically impossible in modern times. Social contact with persons of the opposite sex, other than in one’s own family, is restricted.

Obligatory prayers (namaz) for a Muslim take place five times a day at dawn, mid-day, late afternoon, after sunset and late evening, from puberty onwards, except for menstruating and post-natal women. Friday is the day for congregational prayers, and most male Muslims attend the mosque for this Salat al-Jum’ah, although it is optional for women who may pray at home.

Muslim religious prayer halls are known as mosques. They provide a number of services such as the channelling of alms (zakat) to the poor; providing Imams to visit Muslims who are sick in hospital or inmates in prison, instruction in Arabic, the solemnisation of marriage and burial rites. Women do not attend the mosque regularly, and when they attend they sit separately.

Muslims have many festivals, principal among them are Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan), Eid al-Adha (end of hajj), fast of Muharam (Islamic New Year) and fasting during Ramadan.

Muslims are divided into many sects, for political rather than doctrinal reasons. Important among them are Sunni, Shi’as, Ismaili, Khojas, Zaidi: Wahhabi, Ahmadiyya and Sufi.