7 Things Every Christian Should Know About Islam

Islam is fast-growing religion, especially in the Western world. Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable and the purpose of existence is to worship Allah. Christians increasingly need to be aware of Islam and, very most importantly, how to attract its adherents with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here are some things every Christian should know about Islam.

1.) The word “Islam” means submission

A Muslim is someone who submits to God. The Islamic conception of who God is, and how he is to be worship and served, is based on the teaching of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

2.) “Muslim” and “Arab” is not the same thing

“Muslim” is a religious term. A Muslim is someone who adheres to religion of Islam. While “Arab” on the opposite, is an ethno-linguistic term. An Arab is a member of the people group who speak the Arabic Language. It is true that Quran was written in Arabic and Islam originated among the Arabs.

However, some Arabs have historically been part of the ancient orthodox Christian churches. Islam spread far beyond the Arab world, and today most Muslims are not Arabs. This includes the Kurds, the Pakistanis, other South Asian Muslims, the Turks, and Indonesians, almost all of whom are Muslims but none of whom is Arab.

3.) Islamic practice can be summarized by the Basic pillars of Islam

Islamic practice are composed of the confession of Faith, prayer (the ritual prayers said in Arabic five times a day while facing Mecca), Zakat, fasting (the lunar month of Ramadan, during which Muslim believers fast during daylight hours but can eat while it’s dark) and Pilgrimage (pilgrimage to Mecca, which every Muslim believer should make once in her or his lifetime).

4.) The Muslims are not terrorists

In fact, normal Islamic religious law prohibits the international killing of non-combatants in battle. Islamic law also forbids suicide. It’s a small minority view that allows these things, and it’s also a very small minority who engage in terrorist activities.   

5.) Muslims need salvation through Jesus Christ

They are lost exactly like any other non-Christian neither more nor less than anyone else. It usually takes time, and extended exposure to the Word of God and the lives of Christians, but more Muslims are coming to faith today than at any other point in history. 

6.) Islam teachers that Jesus was a great prophet

Islam declare that Jesus was born of a virgin, that Jesus lived a sinless life, that he performed mighty miracles, and that he will also come again at the end of history. It explicity denies the deity of Christ and repudiates the title “Son of God” as sacrilegious.

It denies he died on the cross, claiming that Jesus’ visage was imposed on someone else and that Jesus was taken up into heaven without tasting death.

7.) There are two major denominations of Muslims

The two major denominations of Muslims are Shi’a and Sunni. Sunnis are the vast majority, at eighty-five percent of all Muslims. 

10 Things You Didn’t Know About The Kaaba

There is no place on Earth as central or as Holy to as Many people as Meacca. By any objective standard, this valley in the Hijaz region of Arabia is the most celebrated place on Earth. Millions of homes are adorned with pictures of kaaba and over a billion face it five times a day.

Thousands circle the sacred Kabaa at the centre of the Haram sharif sanctuary 24 hours a day. The kabaa is also epicenter of Mecca. The kabaa is the heart of the most well-known real estate in the history of mankind; kabaa is shrouded in black and its fair share of mystery. 

There are given below few things which most people may not know about the Kabaa:

1)kabaa has been reconstructed several times:

The Kaaba that people see today is not exactly the same Kabaa that was constructed by Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and Prophet Ismail (AS) from time to time, Kabaa has needed rebuilding after man -made and natural disasters. 

The major reconstruction that took place during the life of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) before he became a Prophet (PBUH). This is the occasion when the Prophet (PBUH) averted major bloodshed by his quick thinking on how to place the Black Stone using a cloth that every tribe could lift up. Then there has been major reconstruction every few centuries.

The last reconstruction took place in 1996 and was extremely thorough, leading to changeing  many of the stones and a new roof.

2) it Used to be Multicolored:

 People are so used the Kabaa being covered in the trademark black Kiswah with gold banding that people can’t imagine it being any other color. However, this tradition seems to have started at the time of the Abbasids (whose household color was black) and before this the Kaaba was covered in multiple colors including red, green and white.

3) it used to have two doors and a window

The original Kabaa used to have a door for entrance and another door for exit. For a considerable period of time it has a window situated to one side. The current Kaaba only has one door and no window. 

4) The Keys are in the hands of one family:

At the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), On the each aspect to do with the rites of Hajj was in the Hands of different sub-groups of the Quraish Mecca. On the conquest of Mecca, the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) was given the keys to the Kaaba and instead of keeping it his own possession; he returned them back to the Osman ibn Talha (RA) of the Bani Shiba family.   

 

Whenever Sultan or King, the powerful men in the world have all had to bow to the words of the Prophet (PBUH) and ask permission from this small Mecca family before they can enter the Kabaa.

5) it used to be open everyone:

The Kabaa was opened twice a week for anyone to enter into Kaaba and pray in it. However, due to the rapid expansionIn the number of pilgrims, the Kabaa is now opened only twice a year for dignitaries and exclusive guest only.

6) You used to be able to swim around kabaa:

It situated at the bottom of a valley is that when it rains valleys tend to flood. That was not an uncommon occurrence in Mecca and the cause of a lot of trouble before the days of flood control systems and sewage.  For rainy days on end the Kabaa would be half submerged in water. Muslims did not stop from the performing the Tawaf. Muslim just started swimming around the Kabaa.

7) The inside contains plaques commemorating the rulers who renovated it

The interior of the Kabaa is lined with marble and a green cloth covering and the upper walls. plaques are Fixed into the walls on each commemorating the rebuilding of the Kabaa by the ruler of the day.

8) The Black Stone is Broken

Ever wondered how the Black Stone(Hajr-e-Aswad) came to be in the silver casting that surrounds it? Some say Black Stone was broken by a Stone fired by the Umayyad army laying siege to Mecca whilst it was under the control of Abudllah ibn Zubair (RA). However, most agree that it was most damaged in the middle ages by an extreme heretical Ismaili group from Bahrain called the Qarmatians who had declared that the pilgrimage was an act of superstition. They made their mind to make their point by killing tens of thousands of Hujjaj and dumping their bodies in the well of ZamZam.As if this act of treachery wan not enough, these devils took the Hajr-e-Aswad to the East of Arabia and then Kufa in Iraq where they held it ransom until they were forced to return it by the Caliph of Abassid . On that time they returned it, it was in pieces and the only way to keep them together was by encasing them in a silver casing.

9) Its not supposed to be a cube shape

Yes, ladies and gentleman the most famous cube in the world actually started out shaped as a rectangle. TheKabaa was never meant to be a cube. The original dimensions of the The House included the semi-circular area known as the Hijr Ismail.Before the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) received first revelation, the kabaa was rebuild, then the Quraish agreed to only use income from pure sources to rebuild the Holy Kaaba. Its mean that no money from gambling looting, interest etc. In the ultimate sign of how deeply mired in wrong doing the Jahili Quraish in past, there was not enough money in this very wealthy trading city to rebuild the kaaba to its original shape and size.
The history of the Kabaa is not just an interesting story from our past. The Kabaa is also a real and present symbol that connects all Muslims together wherever they may be. It connects us to out glorious and not-so- glorious past so that we may derive lessons and feel that we are a part of an eternal mission.

10) There are two Kabaas:

Directly above the Kabaa in heaven is an exact replica. This Kabaa was mentioned in Quran and by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
 

Top 6 Introductory Books About Islam

The humanity practices the faith of Islam, but few people know about the basic belief of this faith. Interest in Islam has risen markedly due to the war with Iraq, terrorist attacks in the US 11th September, and other current issue in the world. If you are want to learn more about Islam, there are given below the best books to introduce you to the beliefs and also practices of our faith.

1) “What Everyone Should Know About Muslim and Islam,” By Suzanne Haneef 

This popular introduction answers many of the questions that people have about Islam, also including: What is its view of God? What is the religion of islam all about? What does it have to say about society, morals and women? How do Muslims regard Jesus? This book is written by an American Muslim, and also this book presents a brief yet comprehensive survey of the teaching of Islam.

2) “Islam,” by Ismai’il Al-Faruqi.

 This volume seeks to portray the practices, institutions, beliefs and history of Islam from the inside as its adherents see them. In this book the author explores the basic beliefs Islam, institutions of Islam, the Prophethood of Muhammad (Peace be upon him), an historical overview and artistic expression in seven chapter. The author is a popular Professor of Religion at Temple University, where he chaired and founded the Islamic Studies program.  

3) “Islam: The Straight Path,” By John Esposito. This book is most used
as college textbook, in this book introduced the faith, practices and belies of Islam throughout history. John Esposito author of this book is an internationally-renowned expert on Islam. This 3rd addition “ the straight path” had been updated throughout and is enhanced by new material in order to more accurately reflect the true diversity of Muslim cultures.

4)“ Islam: A short History,” By Karen Armstrong:
In this brief overview, Karen Armstrong presents Islamic history from the time of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) migration from Mecca to Madinah, up to the present day. The author of this book “ A short history of Islam”, Karen Armstrong is a former nun who wrote “ A History of God” “ Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) a Biography of the Prophet,” “The Battle for God” and “ Jerusalem: One City, three Faiths”.

5) “Islam Today: A short introduction to the Muslim world,” by Akbar S. Ahmed The focus of this is on the culture and society of Islam, not on the basic fundamentals of the faith. The author of this book Akbar S. Ahmed, tracks Islam through civilizations and history, combating many false images people have about the Muslim World.

6) “The Cultural Atlas of Islam,” by Ismail al-Faruqi In this book the author Ismail al-Faruqi rich presentation of Islamic civilization, practices, beliefs and institutions. Read More Here

How To Perform Hajj

 •        8^th Dhu-Al Hajja to 13^th days of hajj. In those days important pillar of Islam hajj completed. New English days start from twelve o’clock. But Islamic day start when sun set. Therefore evening of 7^th Dhu-al Hajja is the night of the 8^th Dhu-al Hajja the days of hajj start.

•        The day of 7^th Dhu-al Hajja make good, the nail trimming, cutting the unclean hair, according to Sunna take bath and intention of Ihram or can make ablution and apply after. After this wear the sheet of Ihram. If you have time so going harem shareef. If possible to perform tawaf tahia. After performing nafal tawaf coverer the head and perform two rakaat nafal tawaf.

•        Due to more crowds you can take sayi 8^th Dhu-al Hajja if you are old men or women.islam permit it. In this situation wearing Ahram during the tawaf. In first three circuit of tawaf take Rimil. Then after the seven circuit of tawaf perform two rakaat of tawaf. After this take sayi of safa and marwa. After sayi not shaven head, then went to Mina.

•        After sun rises go from Mecca to Mina is sunna. Due to the crowd of people pilgrims start to go Mina in night. You get information about travel time from our guidance. If you have time then wear Ihram and go to Harem Shareef. If you have not time then wear Ihram in room and perform two rakat Nefel , intention of Hajj and recite Talbea. After recite talbea all the duties of Ihram necessary.

•        Talbea first recites time Faradh and tree time’s sunaa. After recite Talbea you are “Muhrim” and all the duties of Ihram necessary for you.

•        Before journey Makah to Mina check your ID card and map of Mina take with them. The book of hajj takes with and read how to perform hajj also read “prohibited act in Ihram”. The purpose of stay in Mina that all time spend to the prayer of Allah. But people spend their time in chit chat and argue. Therefore you always kept Islamic books, tasbee etc so your time spends in getting knowledge and prayer in Allah.

•        Fifteen palaces of Harem Shareef for acceptance of dower which are given below:

•        Mata

•        Mulheim

•        Below themes rah met

•        Hakeem

•        Inside the Khana kaba

•        Near the well of Zem Zem

•        Back of the place of Ibrahim (AS)

•        Safaa

•        Marwaa

•        The place of Sayi between Safa and Marwaa Between both green pillars

•        Arfaat

•        Muzdalfa

•        Near the  small and middle of devil

•        Between Hajrey Aswed and Rukan Yamani

•        Near the Hajrey Aswed

9 Zil Hijjah- Second Day of Hajj

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) offers the dawn prayer in Mina and then goes to Arfaat. The pilgrims go to Arafat in night Due to the crowd of pilgrims.

Pause Arafat:The real hajj worship of Allah in arfaat. The day of pause Arafat start when sun fall. After the offer prayer busy in pause Arafat. Stay in Mina till dusk prayer, after offer the dusk prayer going to Muzdalifah.

Departure for Muzdalifah: A ground of three kilometer between Arfaat and Mina toward east is called “Muzdalifah”.  In Mudlifah offer Dusk prayer and night prayers together at isha time.

 First offer assume prayer of Dusk prayer with jama’at. Then say Takbir Tashriq and Talbiyah. Immediately after that you offer Fard prayer of night with class. After this offer two Sunnah of Dusk prayers. Then offer two Sunnah of isha followed by Witr prayer. Offering Nafl prayer is optional.

This is a very blessed night in which glory Allah, recite Darud Sharif, read Quran, utter Talbiyah and supplicate very humbly. Pick up forty nine pebbles of the size of big grams if Rami is to be performed for three days and seventy if for four days. At the Dawn prayer time two rakah Sunnah, offer Fard prayer with jama’at then waquf. Proceed to Mina when the sun is about to rise.

10 Zil Hijjah—Third Day of Hajj

Rami of Jamrah Aqabah: in Mina, hit Jamrah Aqabah with seven pebbles one after the other. On account of risk to life, the old, sick or weak persons can perform Rami a little before sunset or at night.

Stop Talbiyah: stop saying Talbiyah when you throw the first pebble. Also don’t stop for du’a just go to your residence and do Qurbani(animal sacrifice).

Qurbani(Animal sacrifice). There are three days designated for qurbani i.e. 10,11 or 12 Zil Hijjah. Qurabani is usually easy to sacrifice an animal on 11 Zil Hijjah. Do sacrifice ask a reliable person to do it for you or yourself.

Halq or Qasr:  after sacrifice men should preferably get their whole head shaved but it is permissible to cut the hair of their whole head equal in length to a joint of a finger. The Woman can cut about an inch long hair of one fourth of her head.

Tawaf-e-Ziarat: it can be performed anytime, from 10 Zil Hijja to the sunset of 12 Zil Hijjah. According to Sunnah this tawaf is to be performed after Rami, qurbani and triming or clipping of the hair, and every effort should be made to do that, but the Assume Stands discharged even if Tawaf-e-Ziarat is performed prior to all these practices. After this perform Sa’ey. It is the same as that of Sa’ey of Umrah. It is a Sunnah to make sure that your ablution is intact. Now return to Mina when Sa’ey is done and spend the night there.                         

   

11 Zil Hijjah- Forth Day of Hajj

Rami of Jamrarat: throw seven pebbles on each to three Jamarat after decline of the sun. Rami is easy a little before sunset and at night. Throw seven pebbles at jamrah Oalah, then through seven pebble to Jamarah Wutah, and then through seven pebbles on Jamrah Aqabah.

But this time do not supplicate at all, after Rami just return to your place. In 12 Zil Hijja, after Rami, you have also the option to return to Makkah before sunset. But if the sun sets before you are able to depart, remain in Mina for the 3^rd night and throw pebbles the next day in the same order. After Hajj, when you want to return to your country from Makkah, it is obligatory to perform Tawaf-e-Wida. Read More here about the Hajj 2014 http://islamiworld.com/category/hajj-eid-ul-adha-2014