Islam: The Essentials (Pelican Books)

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Interestingly, the Qur’an literally means “that which is recited” or more simply “the recital.” As such, the Qur’an has been and continues to be experienced first and foremost as an oral tradition through the beautiful human voice of recitation. To this day, thousands of Muslims memorize the Qur’an in its entirety. Every Muslim must memorize at least a little to carry out devotional acts. When the Qur’an is recited as it ought to be, there is nothing that comes close to its aural harmony even for non-Arabic speaking listeners. Every aya flows into the next aya to form one ocean. Listening to a professional reciter can be a very enchanting experience. So, despite the Qur’an’s shifting narratives, those who listen to the Qur’an experience it as an extraordinarily harmonious text. Content of the Qur’an

The making of the Muslim world - New Statesman The making of the Muslim world - New Statesman

The shahadah is a statement of conviction in the heart proclaimed on the tongue by a believer bearing witness to the reality of one God and accepting Muhammad as the final Messenger of God: The Qur’an speaks of a heavenly event in which God gathers all the souls that are to ever be brought into being and asks them a simple yet profound question, “Am I not your Lord?” The souls being in their pure and unveiled states gazing upon the essence of God, readily submit, “Yes! We bear witness!” This Muslims see as the primordial covenant that binds all living souls in submission to God. Testimony of Faith ( Shahadah) : The first of the five basic foundations is knowingly and voluntarily asserting that, “There is nothing worthy of worship except God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.” This statement is the basis of faith in Islam, affirming that no partners can be associated with God and Muhammad is His final prophet. As a result of this belief, Muslims seek guidance in life through God’s revelation (the Quran) and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Another major source of learning about the Prophet is through poetry and music in praise of Muhammad that is found in many different languages and most prominently in Arabic and Persian. These poems and songs draw from the Qur’an, seerah, shama’il and hadith but also take on a life of their own as art. This art form is often a celebration of the Prophet and a lament on how deeply the Prophet’s physical presence is missed. The pieces begin and end with sending prayers of peace and blessings on the Prophet ( salawat) and his family. The prayer is recited with a melodious chant that takes on its own art form altogether. Al-Nisaa’i reported that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet ? taught us Khutbat al-Haajah: Al-hamdu Lillaahi nasta’eenahu wa nastaghfiruhu, wa na’oodhu billaahi min shuroori anfusinaa wa sayi’aati a’maalinaa. Man yahdih Illaahu falaa mudilla lahu wa man yudlil falaa haadiya lahu. Wa ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasooluhu

The Five Foundational Pillars of Islam

Brydon, Lynne and Sylvia Chant. Women in the Third World. London: Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd, 1989. However, despite being a religious ceremony, the nikah does not need to take place in a masjid. That is a matter of personal choice. However, you will be required to hold a separate civil ceremony. Sometimes, men and women sit separately at the nikah. They may be in a separate room or there may be a partition between them. Again, this is a matter of preference. Sermon Signature or thumb impression of the bridegroom/Vakil/ Guardian according as the Nikah was performed in person by the bridegroom or through his Vakil or Guardian Civil condition of the bridegroom at the time of marriage whether – Unmarried Widower Divorced Married, and if so, how many wives are alive The analogy between Muhammad and Moses might be even closer as both Prophets lived parallel lives: born in the court of their enemies; tasked unexpectedly with preaching God’s Word to the mighty and powerful; leading their community on an epic migration out of tyranny and oppression; bringing both spirit and law together; serving as spiritual and political leaders. Indeed, Moses is the most mentioned Prophet in the Qur’an with his story interspersed throughout the scripture.

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You are free to have intercourse in any position you choose (but not allowed by the rear!) and as often as you choose. After sex, couples are advised to bath or shower (ghusl) or, at the very least, wash themselves (wudhu). You will note that it is not essential to have the couple present in the same room during Nikah, just so long as the Wali and the Witnesses are there and have witnessed everything and the bride has given her consent and permission. She may remain silent .. Meaning it’s a Yes! She accepts. Announcement of the Nikah There is a strict condition for a Muslim woman. She may only get married to a Muslim man and there is no Nikkah if she marries a non Muslim. If she desires to get married to him, he must convert to Islam free willingly or else her invalid nikah is zinaa! The Prophet Muhammad ? has described for us ways in which the wedding night can be fulfilling and enjoyable. The Sunnah encourages the groom to place his hands upon his wife’s head and to pray for her.

Nature of the Qur’an

This online program is self-paced, it is entirely up to you how long it will take to complete. You have lifetime access to learn and process each module at your own comfort level, or return to again and again and again. The time at which a verse was revealed is also very important in properly understanding the Qur’an as earlier verses are sometimes overruled (or “abrogated”) by later seemingly contradictory verses. For example, an early verse (4:43) only prohibits Muslims from praying while drunk while still allowing for the consumption of alcohol. However, a later verse placing a full prohibition on consuming alcohol overrules the earlier verse as understood by a consensus of scholars. The hadith (pl., ahadith) are formal narrations or reports of the doings and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad based on the memory of his closest family and companions. Hadith are the second most important source of religious guidance for Muslims and often studied alongside the Qur’an. the hadith include what the Prophet Muhammad did, what he said, and what he gave tacit approval to by watching his Companions do or say something without correcting it. The Prophet was not only a messenger conveying God’s message, but also a model to be followed in spiritual and ethical life from the manners of praying, eating and talking to the ethics of business, marriage and war. The Prophet is not considered divine or worthy of worship in anyway. It is his example that is exemplary for Muslims who seek to apply the Qur’an. He is referred to as “the walking Qur’an.” The legal verses of the Qur’an are to be applied through a sophisticated scholarly process known as fiqh with trained jurists and judges. They are not to be applied without due process of law. Can the Qur’an be translated? Praise be to Allah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger).