Muslim

	Muslim Islam, also referred to as the Muslim faith, is one of the world's fastest growing religions. Almost 1 Billion people around the world practice Islam today, with more converting daily. Muslims follow the law of their holy book, The Koran (or Qur’an), which reveals the will of Allah as narrated to his chosen prophet, Muhammad. The chief pennant of Islam is the statement, “There is no other God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet." Muslims believe that Muhammad, who lived from 570 to 632 A.D., was a chosen prophet and is to be revered but not worshiped. Islam also recognizes that there were other prophets before Mohammad -- Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus – but strongly believe that no other prophets will follow Muhammad. There are six basic beliefs in Islam: 1. Belief in God – Allah as the one true all-powerful God with no partner, equal, or son. No other God is to be worshiped but Allah. 2. Belief in the Angels – Honored creatures that do Allah’s work. Gabriel was the angel that brought the Qur’an down to Muhammad. 3. Belief in God’s Revealed Books – Muslims believe that God sent his message to prophets to record in books to serve as guidance for all mankind. 4. Belief in the Prophets and Messengers of God – Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus (among others). Muhammad is the last of these chosen prophets. 5. Belief in the Day of Judgment – A day of judgment will take place when all people that have ever lived will be resurrected and judged by God according to their deeds and beliefs. 6. Belief in Al-Qadar – Al-Qadar is Divine Predestination. Although Allah has given man freewill, we are free to choose right and wrong and will be held responsible for our actions. Predestination includes four main facets: God knows everything that has happened and will happen, God has recorded all that has and will happen, What God wills to happen will happen and what he does not will, will not happen, and God is the Creator of everything. Along with these basic beliefs that Muslims hold, there are ‘Five Pillars of Islam’. These five pillars represent the blueprint that a proper Muslim is to follow in their life. These five pillars are: 1. The Testimony of Faith – Saying with conviction, “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah.” Translated to mean, “There is no true god but God (Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God.” 2. Prayer – Muslims pray directly to Allah five times per day. 3. Giving Zakat – Zakat is the giving of a percentage of one’s property and wealth to the needy. A Muslim may give as much as he or she sees fit to charity. 4. Fasting During the Month of Ramadan – Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar Islamic calendar. The fast takes place from dawn until sundown and Muslims abstain from all food, drink, and sex. 5. The Pilgrimage to Makkah – Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca to visit the Ka’ba. All Muslims that are able should make the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. Allah said in the Qur’an, “But those who believe and do good deeds, We will admit them to gardens (Paradise) in which rivers flow, lasting in them forever...” (Qur’an, 4:57) For those that follow the believe in the oneness of God and do good works, God has prepared an everlasting Paradise. Anyone who follows and believes this may enter Paradise - Muslims, Christians, Jews, and others. Muslims believe that this world is their one and only chance to earn this gift. Life involves preparing the soul to become worthy to pass through death, which is a transition, and progress to eternity in Paradise. Allah will judge each person according to his or her beliefs and acts during this life. Each person will be judged according to their individual situation, beliefs, and acts towards others. Those who live according to the truth and Qur’an to the best of their ability will achieve the reward of Paradise. However, Allah warns us: those who were shown the truth of Islam and rejected it, will be shown no mercy and shall face hellfire. Just as Paradise is a place of delight, Hell is a place of eternal torment. The Qur’an states, “If you could but see when they are set before the Fire (Hell) and say: ‘Would that we might return (to the world)! Then we would not reject the verses of our Lord, but we would be of the believers!’” (Qur’an, 6:27) No one will have a second chance to accept the faith. In Islam, your fate is completely contingent on what you do in this life.

Islam, also referred to as the Muslim faith, is one of the world's fastest growing religions. Almost 1 Billion people around the world practice Islam today, with more converting daily. Muslims follow the law of their holy book, The Koran (or Qur’an), which reveals the will of Allah as narrated to his chosen prophet, Muhammad. The chief pennant of Islam is the statement, “There is no other God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet." Muslims believe that Muhammad, who lived from 570 to 632 A.D., was a chosen prophet and is to be revered but not worshiped. Islam also recognizes that there were other prophets before Mohammad -- Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus – but strongly believe that no other prophets will follow Muhammad.
There are six basic beliefs in Islam:
1. Belief in God – Allah as the one true all-powerful God with no partner, equal, or son. No other God is to be worshiped but Allah.
2. Belief in the Angels – Honored creatures that do Allah’s work. Gabriel was the angel that brought the Qur’an down to Muhammad.
3. Belief in God’s Revealed Books – Muslims believe that God sent his message to prophets to record in books to serve as guidance for all mankind.
4. Belief in the Prophets and Messengers of God – Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus (among others). Muhammad is the last of these chosen prophets.
5. Belief in the Day of Judgment – A day of judgment will take place when all people that have ever lived will be resurrected and judged by God according to their deeds and beliefs.
6. Belief in Al-Qadar – Al-Qadar is Divine Predestination. Although Allah has given man freewill, we are free to choose right and wrong and will be held responsible for our actions. Predestination includes four main facets: God knows everything that has happened and will happen, God has recorded all that has and will happen, What God wills to happen will happen and what he does not will, will not happen, and God is the Creator of everything.
Along with these basic beliefs that Muslims hold, there are ‘Five Pillars of Islam’. These five pillars represent the blueprint that a proper Muslim is to follow in their life. These five pillars are:
1. The Testimony of Faith – Saying with conviction, “La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah.” Translated to mean, “There is no true god but God (Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of God.”
2. Prayer – Muslims pray directly to Allah five times per day.
3. Giving Zakat – Zakat is the giving of a percentage of one’s property and wealth to the needy. A Muslim may give as much as he or she sees fit to charity.
4. Fasting During the Month of Ramadan – Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar Islamic calendar. The fast takes place from dawn until sundown and Muslims abstain from all food, drink, and sex.
5. The Pilgrimage to Makkah – Hajj is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca to visit the Ka’ba. All Muslims that are able should make the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.
Allah said in the Qur’an, “But those who believe and do good deeds, We will admit them to gardens (Paradise) in which rivers flow, lasting in them forever...” (Qur’an, 4:57)

For those that follow the believe in the oneness of God and do good works, God has prepared an everlasting Paradise. Anyone who follows and believes this may enter Paradise - Muslims, Christians, Jews, and others. Muslims believe that this world is their one and only chance to earn this gift. Life involves preparing the soul to become worthy to pass through death, which is a transition, and progress to eternity in Paradise. Allah will judge each person according to his or her beliefs and acts during this life. Each person will be judged according to their individual situation, beliefs, and acts towards others. Those who live according to the truth and Qur’an to the best of their ability will achieve the reward of Paradise. However, Allah warns us: those who were shown the truth of Islam and rejected it, will be shown no mercy and shall face hellfire. Just as Paradise is a place of delight, Hell is a place of eternal torment. The Qur’an states, “If you could but see when they are set before the Fire (Hell) and say: ‘Would that we might return (to the world)! Then we would not reject the verses of our Lord, but we would be of the believers!’” (Qur’an, 6:27) No one will have a second chance to accept the faith. In Islam, your fate is completely contingent on what you do in this life.