ABOUT AL-ISLAM

Allah is the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth. He has no gender. He is all powerful. He knows all things. He hears and sees all things. He has no beginning or end. He does not eat, sleep or drink.

Al-Islam is the complete way of life that reflects submission to the will of God.

Muhammad the Prophet was born in Mecca, the holiest city to Islam in Arabia in the year 570 or in the 6th Century.

1. Muslims مسلمون believe in one incomparable God that has no partners or associates.
2. Muslims believe in all the Prophets from God, from Adam down through the chain of prophets to Muhammad, the Last.
3. Muslims believe in all the scriptures that the Prophets came with from God.
4. Muslims believe in the angels, the most notable in the Quran being Jibril (Gabriel).
5. Muslims believe in life after death or the resurrection. Muslims believe in the day of judgment, when everyone will be called to reckon for their deed before God.
6. Muslims believe in God’s decreee.

The Qur’an is the last revealed scripture from God to Prophet Muhammad and is the primary source of the Muslim’s faith.

The Sunnah and Hadith are the life examples and practices of Prophet Muhammad and constitute the second most important source of Islamic practice. The Sunnah are the sayings, deeds, decisions, and silent approvals of Prophet Muhammad. The Hadith are authentic compilations of these life traditions.

1. Belief in One God (Allah),
2. Salat الصلاة or prayer five times a day to the One God 
3. Siyaam الصيام or Fasting in the month of Ramadan
4. Zakat الزكة or giving in charity
5. Hajj الحج or Pilgrimage to the Sacred House, the Kabah, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, at least once.

No. 30 percent of Muslims live in the Indian subcontinent; 20 percent in Sub-Sahara Africa; 17 percent in Southeast Asia; 18 percent in the Arab/world. There is a significant Muslim population in China, North America and Australia.

Worldwide there are just over 1 billion Muslims. In the United States, there are approximately 8 million Muslims; 35 percent are recognized as indigenous, with the remainder by way of immigration.

Jummah جمعة literally means in Arabic “congregation” and is the most important day of all days to Muslims. Jummah Prayer is on every Friday, just past midday.

Eid عيد in Arabic literally means “recurring happiness.” There are two celebrations every year observed by all Muslims, Eidul Fitr celebrating the completion of Ramadan and Eidul Adha celebrating the completion of Hajj.

So, you probably heard someone say I am going to Hajj or maybe they expressed a desire to complete their Hajj obligations.

According to Yaqeen Institute, Hajj is a sacred pilgrimage, performed annually by Muslims, to Masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque erected by Prophet Abraham) in Mecca. It is the 5th pillar of Islam and is expected to be completed once in a Muslim’s lifetime.

Click the link below to learn more about what happens during Dhul-Hijjah and expand your knowledge.

What is Dhul-Hijjah | Yaqeen Institute | Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research 

According to Wikipedia, in the Islamic religion, the sacred or inviolable months are four months of the Islamic calendar (Dhu al-Qadah, Dhu’l-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab).

So what are Muslims supposed to be doing during these months? 

Its blessings are little known relative to the month of Ramadan. Still, in many ways, it’s even more full of opportunities to benefit and achieve a full roster of deeds through increased remembrance of your Creator (dhikr), charity, prayer, and good works (Yaqeen Institute, n.d.).

Check out this resource below to learn what happens during the month of Dhu’l-Hijjah.

Virtues of Dhul Hijjah | Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research

A great resource you will find is the Yaqeen Institute. On this page, you’ll find a quick and comprehensive catalog of answers to common questions that arise from misconceptions about Islam. Each answer has been reviewed by Yaqeen’s research team and approved by qualified scholars. 
Click the link to learn “What Islam Says About…”