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The name of this religion is Islam, the root of which is Silm and Salam which means peace. Salam may also mean greeting one another with peace. One of the beautiful names of God is that He is the Peace. It means more than that: submission to the One God, and to live in peace with the Creator, within one's self, with other people and with the environment. Thus, Islam is a total system of living. A Muslim is supposed to live in peace and harmony with all these segments; hence, a Muslim is any person anywhere in the world whose obedience, allegiance, and loyalty are to God, the Lord of the Universe.
What is Islam ?
Islam means submission, that is, submission to the will of God, the characteristic attitude of members of our faith. MUSLIM (also spelled Moslem) is based on the same Arabic root as Islam `(s-l-m) and means one who submits to God, that is, a believer in Islam.
It is incorrect and objectionable to call Muslims Muhammadans, as Muhammad is not worshipped in the way Christians worship Christ. In order to understand Islam it is necessary to know the meaning of certain key terms and the identity of some proper names. Most of them are in the Arabic language, and there is often no equivalent in English or in other tongues. Islam rejects characterizing God in any human form or depicting Him as favoring certain individuals or nations on the basis of wealth, power or race. He created the human-beings as equals. They may distinguish themselves and get His favor through virtue and piety only.
The Arabic term for God
Many people ask why the term "Allah" is used instead of "God" and assume it's use implies that Muslims worship a separate God. There is only ONE GOD - a belief held by followers of each of the three main world religions : Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
The Arabic word for God is "illah". "Allah" is infact a conjunction of two words (i.e. Al-Ilah):
The reasons for using the term "Allah" in favour of "God" are threefold:
- "Al" which means "The"
- "Illah" which means "God"
- "Allah" has no gender. God can be male/female i.e. God/Goddess
- "Allah" is ONE and literally means THE GOD . God may be singular and plural
i.e. God/Gods and Goddess/Goddesses
- "Allah" is the personal name of God as used in the Holy Qur'an
Concept of "God" in Islam
ALLAH is the Supreme Being, the one and only God. Allah is the same God as that worshipped by the Jews and Christians, and Arabic-speaking Christians also use this name when referring to God.
The main beliefs of this religion are called the "Five Pillars of Islam." They state:
- belief in one God, whose prophet is Muhammad,
- prayer five times a day facing Mecca,
- sharing wealth with the needy,
- rules about fasting, and
- making at least one pilgrimage to Mecca.
| INTRODUCTION | MANSA MUSA | SONGHAY | SILENT TRADE | ISLAM | HOW TO GET TIMBUKTU | HOME
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