Principles of Islam
http://www.watchislam.com/videos/index.php?catid=13
OPENING BRIDGES 1
In recent days, we see many attacks against Islam. Some people attack and insult the prophet of Islam, book of Islam, everything which is divine to Islam. But these are not new actually, they occurred at the time of prophet himself, and continued to happen during the history. But, even when people attack prophet physically and insult him, his attitude was always positive, and he didn’t show any sense of anger, aggression and hostility. He only prayed for them to be guided to the right path. Then, we see those people, the very enemies, eventually became Muslims. So, this is an important road map for us, showing us how to behave in such difficult circumstances.
Additionally, for every occasion in our lives we have the opportunity to have a positive attitude about things that are happening around us. Even the circumstances might seem bad; many bad-words and bad propaganda, terror-islam talks might be going on, but we can still see it from the positive side: This is a free advertising for us. We didn’t do our job of promoting true message of Islam, so God is doing it for us. And He is giving us the chance to speak up and tell the truth about Islam.
So, what is truth about Islam? The basic principles, so-called pillars, of Islam give us a brief idea about it. They are good principles for life and show us the way of living a good and righteous life.
1. declaration of faith: openly declare one’s faith. Faith that there is only one God. This is the belief that exist in all divine religions. There really is one God, one Supreme Being that governs all.
People, in different parts of the world, in different times, no matter they were developed or under-developed societies, always had a need to believe in God and believed in God. The unbelievers were always a minority. This is nature of human beings that they need a Supreme Being who is free from all weaknesses and errors of human beings and has power over everything.
And the messenger who brought the message is the one to follow.
2. Prayers - five times a day: Prayers are way of communicating with God and remembrance of God. People might think that it is too much for one person to pray five times a day and especially at certain times of the day, as we are overwhelmingly busy in our daily lives nowadays.
Though, nobody can say remembrance of God is not good. More we remember God, the better people we will be.
3. Fasting: In the month of Ramadan, we are not allowed to eat, drink or have sexual relationship during the daylight hours (from the sunrise to the sunset). We see the act of fasting existed in other religions too in the past, people were fasting in the past, so it is instituted in every great religion.
Beside its physical requirements, there exist some spiritual obligations too. And to fulfill a perfect act of fasting, they are essential. Although the bad actions of backbiting, lying (A liar cannot be a believer.) or cursing –not to mention big ones such as adultery, theft, etc- are totally prohibited in Islam, in month of Ramadan, they are obviously violations of requirements of fasting. One who looks like doing fasting physically but omitting these spiritual obligations isn’t fasting in fact.
Fasting teaches us self-restraint, control of one’s desires, both physical and spiritual.
4. Charity: Wealthy Muslims are required to give 2.5% of the surplus of their wealth to the poor once a year. It is important no note that money doesn’t go to any institution, mosque or church but directly to the needy members of the society.
5. Pilgrimage. Wealthy Muslims, once in their lifetime, are required to make a pilgrimage to Mecca.
It is celebration of diversity of human beings and celebration of God’s greatness. When you go there, you see thousands even millions of people, from all around the world. You understand that there is one Great Power who can create all those people. And there is one Great Power who can gather them all in one place. All, with different colors, positions, backgrounds, in one place and all equal in front of One Great God.
It is a clear indication to the universality of message of Islam.
OPENING BRIDGES 1
In recent days, we see many attacks against Islam. Some people attack and insult the prophet of Islam, book of Islam, everything which is divine to Islam. But these are not new actually, they occurred at the time of prophet himself, and continued to happen during the history. But, even when people attack prophet physically and insult him, his attitude was always positive, and he didn’t show any sense of anger, aggression and hostility. He only prayed for them to be guided to the right path. Then, we see those people, the very enemies, eventually became Muslims. So, this is an important road map for us, showing us how to behave in such difficult circumstances.
Additionally, for every occasion in our lives we have the opportunity to have a positive attitude about things that are happening around us. Even the circumstances might seem bad; many bad-words and bad propaganda, terror-islam talks might be going on, but we can still see it from the positive side: This is a free advertising for us. We didn’t do our job of promoting true message of Islam, so God is doing it for us. And He is giving us the chance to speak up and tell the truth about Islam.
So, what is truth about Islam? The basic principles, so-called pillars, of Islam give us a brief idea about it. They are good principles for life and show us the way of living a good and righteous life.
1. declaration of faith: openly declare one’s faith. Faith that there is only one God. This is the belief that exist in all divine religions. There really is one God, one Supreme Being that governs all.
People, in different parts of the world, in different times, no matter they were developed or under-developed societies, always had a need to believe in God and believed in God. The unbelievers were always a minority. This is nature of human beings that they need a Supreme Being who is free from all weaknesses and errors of human beings and has power over everything.
And the messenger who brought the message is the one to follow.
2. Prayers - five times a day: Prayers are way of communicating with God and remembrance of God. People might think that it is too much for one person to pray five times a day and especially at certain times of the day, as we are overwhelmingly busy in our daily lives nowadays.
Though, nobody can say remembrance of God is not good. More we remember God, the better people we will be.
3. Fasting: In the month of Ramadan, we are not allowed to eat, drink or have sexual relationship during the daylight hours (from the sunrise to the sunset). We see the act of fasting existed in other religions too in the past, people were fasting in the past, so it is instituted in every great religion.
Beside its physical requirements, there exist some spiritual obligations too. And to fulfill a perfect act of fasting, they are essential. Although the bad actions of backbiting, lying (A liar cannot be a believer.) or cursing –not to mention big ones such as adultery, theft, etc- are totally prohibited in Islam, in month of Ramadan, they are obviously violations of requirements of fasting. One who looks like doing fasting physically but omitting these spiritual obligations isn’t fasting in fact.
Fasting teaches us self-restraint, control of one’s desires, both physical and spiritual.
4. Charity: Wealthy Muslims are required to give 2.5% of the surplus of their wealth to the poor once a year. It is important no note that money doesn’t go to any institution, mosque or church but directly to the needy members of the society.
5. Pilgrimage. Wealthy Muslims, once in their lifetime, are required to make a pilgrimage to Mecca.
It is celebration of diversity of human beings and celebration of God’s greatness. When you go there, you see thousands even millions of people, from all around the world. You understand that there is one Great Power who can create all those people. And there is one Great Power who can gather them all in one place. All, with different colors, positions, backgrounds, in one place and all equal in front of One Great God.
It is a clear indication to the universality of message of Islam.
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8:28 AM
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