Islam-part II

Muhammed taught that God had revealed the Qur'an as a sacred guide for all humanity.

The Qur'an was not quickly translated into other languages, because the muslims feared that translations may alter the purity of the language.

Muslims, much like the Jewish people, memorize and recite their holy book in its original language.

This is a bit harder, for example, for Christians, who did allow their holy books to be translated into multiple languages.

The Five Pillars of Islam

Every Muslim must comply with the following if he is to be a true muslim:

1.(Shahada) Recite the profession of Faith: "I bear witness there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammed is his servant and messenger.

2. (Salah) Pray five times a day facing Mecca, the holy city of Islam.

3. (Zakat) Give alms to the poor. (Money or food).

4.(Sawm) Fast from first light to sunset during the month of Ramadan (Ninth month of the muslim year- Muslims hold this moth sacred, because it is the month of the first vision).

5. (Haji) If possible, make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime. (at least).

The Muslim Virtues

Temperance

Humility

Justice

Generosity

Tolerance

Obedience to law.

Courage.

Haraam

Muslims are forbidden to eat pork (like the Jewish, they believe pigs to be unclean creatures -BTW, this is also found in the bible).

Man was restricted only to four wives. (ONLY!) And the man was required to treat them equally.

Islam urged freeing slaves as a sign of good faith.

If a man decided to keep his slaves, he must treat them well.

Islam discourages images of animals and people and specially images of God and Muhammed.

Many scholars argue that due to the restriction of artistic reproductions of God's creation, muslim arabs developed instead the most elaborate and beautiful designs in calligraphy.

The designs we call 'arabesques' are an example of how human creativity blossomed in spite of a religious restriction.

Jihad

In its definition, Jihad means a 'struggle' to defend the faith.

Anyone dying in Jihad will be rewarded in heaven.

The greatest Jihad, said Muhammed, was against oneself.

Jihad refers to the struggle to be a proper muslim.

Mosque

The mosque is the place of worship for muslims. (like a Church for a christian or a Synagogue for a Jewish person).

There are no formal priesthood in Islam.

Imam and the Call to Prayer

Instead of 'priests', muslims rely on matters of faith on Imams, religious leaders who interpret the Qur'an and are scholars of the faith.

On every Friday, at noon, male muslims are called to gather together for prayer and a sermon (delivered by an Imam).

Women would say the same prayers at home.