1. UnderstandingIslam&Muslims

2. What does Islam mean ? Arabic root word is SLM Arabic root word is SLM No vowels in classical Arabic No vowels in classical Arabic_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SLM = Salaam = Peace ISLAM = Willful Surrender = Willful Submission _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Peaceful surrendering of your ‘free will’ : Peaceful surrendering of your ‘free will’ : – to God’s will and divine guidance – to willfully, knowingly, accept and worship the one true creator of everything

3. Continue Who is “Allah” ? Allah has no gender. Allah is not masculine or feminine. Allah has no mother, no father, no children, no relatives. no children, no relatives. Allah is not part of the Creation Allah is not part of the Creation Allah is the Creator. Allah is the Creator. If you can touch it, taste it, see it, smell it, it is not Allah.

4. Muslims believe Islam is Natural ‘Everyone’ is born Muslim Islam is a natural religion : Spiritually, Mentally, Physically Islam is a natural religion : Spiritually, Mentally, Physically We are all born Muslim, pure without sin We are all born Muslim, pure without sin Our free will peacefully surrendered to God’s will Our free will peacefully surrendered to God’s will We are innately attracted (programmed) to accept our creator We are innately attracted (programmed) to accept our creator Our soul constantly reminds us of our creator Our soul constantly reminds us of our creator We are always being called by God from within We are always being called by God from within

5. Who Is Mohammad ? Born in Mecca, Arabia, in the year 570 AD. Born in Mecca, Arabia, in the year 570 AD. Descendant of Ishmael, the first son of Abraham. Descendant of Ishmael, the first son of Abraham. Received first revelation (the Qur’an) Received first revelation (the Qur’an) at the age 40 through the angel Gabriel. at the age 40 through the angel Gabriel. Died in the year 632 AD Died in the year 632 AD

6. Muslims Believe Mohammad Is: Last Messenger & Last Prophet The Last Messenger & Last Prophet The Seal Of The Prophets The Seal Of The Prophets The Truthful One, The Honest The Truthful One, The Honest A Mercy To Mankind A Mercy To Mankind The Universal Prophet The Universal Prophet

7. What Others Say About Mohammad “I wanted to know the best of one who holds today’s undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind …. “I wanted to know the best of one who holds today’s undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind …. I became convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and his followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the 2 nd volume (of the Prophet’s biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of his great life.” Mahatma Gandhi I became convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and his followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the 2 nd volume (of the Prophet’s biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of his great life.” Mahatma Gandhi

8. “ God has no mercy on one who has no mercy for others.” “ God has no mercy on one who has no mercy for others.” “None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” “None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” “He who eats his fill while his neighbor goes without food is not a believer.” “He who eats his fill while his neighbor goes without food is not a believer.” “Powerful is not he who knocks the other down, indeed powerful is he who controls himself in a fit of anger.” “Powerful is not he who knocks the other down, indeed powerful is he who controls himself in a fit of anger.” “Allah does not judge according to your bodies and appearances but He scans your hearts & looks into your deeds.” “Allah does not judge according to your bodies and appearances but He scans your hearts & looks into your deeds.” Sayings Of Prophet Mohammad

9. The “6” Articles of Faith Belief in the Oneness of Allah (God) Belief in the Oneness of Allah (God) Belief in the Angels created by Allah (God) Belief in the Angels created by Allah (God) Belief in the Revealed Books of Allah (God) Belief in the Revealed Books of Allah (God) Belief in the Messengers and Prophets of Allah (God) Belief in the Messengers and Prophets of Allah (God) Belief in the Day of Judgment Belief in the Day of Judgment Belief in Allah’s (God’s) Sovereignty (control) over Human Destiny & over all Affairs Belief in Allah’s (God’s) Sovereignty (control) over Human Destiny & over all Affairs

10. The Five Pillars Of Islam ( Forms Of Worship ) 1)Declaration of Faith (Shahadah) 2)Prayers (Salah) 3)Charity (Zakat) 4)Fasting ( Ramadan) 5)Pilgrimage (Hajj)

11. Simply by saying with conviction : Simply by saying with conviction : “ La ilaha illa Allah, Mohammedan Rasoolullah, ” one becomes a Muslim. one becomes a Muslim. This saying means : “There is no true deity to be worshipped but Allah (God), and Mohammad is the Messenger (Prophet) of Allah.” 1. The Declaration of Faith, Shahadah

12. The Five Pillars Of Islam ( Forms Of Worship ) 1)Declaration of Faith (Shahadah) 2)Prayers (Salah) 3)Charity (Zakat) 4)Fasting ( Ramadan) 5)Pilgrimage (Hajj)

13. Jesus in Islam

14. Son of Mary Messiah / Christ Servant of God Messenger of God The Word of God Spirit of God Sign of God Jesus is mentioned in 25 places in the Holy Qur’an with names of respect and honor: Titles of Jesus in the Qur’an

15. Say: We believe in Allah (God) and that which was revealed to us, and that which was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the tribes and that which was given to Moses, Jesus and to the Prophets from their Lord; We make NO distinction between any of them, and to Him (God) we submit. (Quran, 3:83) (Quran, 3:83) What the Qur’an says about Jesus

16. Behold! The angels said, ‘O Mary! God has chosen you and purified you - chosen you above all women of all nations. (Qur’an, 3:42) O Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him whose name shall be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, honored in this world and the Hereafter and one of those nearest to God. (Qur’an, 3:45) The Birth of Jesus in the Qur’an

17. She (Mary) said: ‘Oh my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?’ He said: “Even so; God creates what He wills: When He decrees a thing, He says to it, “Be!” and it is. ‘And God will teach him (Jesus) the book and wisdom, the law and the Gospel, And (appoint him) a messenger to the Children of Israel …’ (Qur’an, 3:47-49) (Qur’an, 3:47-49) Continue Birth of Jesus in the Qur’an

18. The Qur’an Says : Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust and then said to him, “Be!” and he was. (Qur’an, 3:59) (Qur’an, 3:59) Birth of Jesus = Creation of Adam

19. I (Jesus) have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as it were, a figure of a bird and breathe into it and it becomes a bird by God’s leave. And I heal the blind and the lepers, and I raise the dead by God’s leave. (Qur’an: 3:49) (Qur’an: 3:49) Miracles performed by Jesus

20. “Jesus spoke from the cradle to explain his birth” (Qur’an 19:27-33) ------------------------------------------------------------------ At length she (Mary) brought the babe to her people carrying him in her arms. They said. ‘Oh Mary! Truly an amazing thing hast thou brought! O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of evil nor thy mother a woman unchaste! Continue Miracles performed by Jesus

21. But she (Mary) pointed to the babe. They said, ‘How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?’ He (Jesus) said, ‘I am indeed a servant of God: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet.’ (Qur’an, 19:27-30) Continue Miracles performed by Jesus