Understanding Islam and Muslims

Assalaum Alaykum brothers and sisters,

My previous post was about my story, why I reverted to Islam. I mentioned that I had a lot of questions in my mind since childhood and I was not able to find their answers in Hinduism and when I started reading about Islam, all my questions got answered!

I'll share all those questions in my upcoming posts, but in this post, I'll share some questions which helped me understanding Islam and Muslims at the very initial stage. I was actually influced when I understood the actual meaning of the word "Islam" and "Mulism".

P.S. : All the information I share here, is from the online sources and after checking the authenticity on a number of Islamic webiste. However, in case you fine anything irrelevant, please feel free to contact me.

Q1. What is Islam?

Islam, which comes from an Arabic word "Salm" which means "peace" and is derived from the word "Silm" which means "submission of your will to almighty god". Islam in short means peace acquired by submitting your will to alimighty god. Islam teaches that one can only find peace in one's life by submitting to Almighty God (Allah subhana-wa-tala) in heart, soul and deed.

Q2. Who is a Muslim?

A person who submits his will to almight god is called a Muslim.

So, the religion is called "Islam," and a person who believes in and follows it is a "Muslim."

Q3. What are the beliefs of a Muslim?

The basic beliefs of Muslims fall into six main categories, which are known as the "Articles of Faith":

Allah

Angels

Messengers

Books

Aakhirat

Taqdeer

Q4. What are the five pillars of Islam?

Faith without actions and practice is a dead end, as far as Islam is concerned. Faith by nature is very sensitive and can be most effective.

There are five pillars of Islam:

The declaration of faith: To bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Mohammad (salallahu alahi wasallam) is his messenger to all human beings till the Day of Judgement.

Prayers: Daily, prayers are offered five times a day as a duty towards Allah. They strengthen and enliven the belief in Allah and inspire man to a higher morality. They purify the heart and prevent temptation towards wrong - doings and evil.

Fasting the month of Ramadan: The Muslims during the month of Ramadan not only abstain from food, drink and sexual intercourse from dawn to sunset but also sincerity and devotion. It develops a sound social conscience, patience, unselfishness and will - Power.

Zakah: The literal and simple meaning of Zakkah is purity. The technical meaning of this word designates the annual amount in kind or coin which a Muslim with means must distribute among the rightful beneficiaries. But the religious and spiritual significance of Zakkah is much deeper and more lively. So it has humanitarian and sociopolitical values.

Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah): It is to be performed once in a lifetime, if one can afford it financially and physically. 

There are a lot of leactures in the internet, but the one that I think will help us in understand Islam and Muslims is the one below:

May allah grant you peace here and hereafter.

Jazakallah Khair.