MUSLIM RELIGION Islam is just another religion. Islam is similar to christianity in that anyone of any race can join. Islamic people don't care about color or race. You could say that we are colorblind. We believe in the day of judgement. Muslims believe that when you die ALLAH will judge you of the right and wrong things you did in life. That will determine if you go to Heaven or Hell. Muslims believe that you should be kind and courteaous to everbody. You sould pay to the needy and you should help them. In the Quaren (muslims holy book) it says that muslim women are allowed to wear anything they want unless they're at a mosque. At a mosque both men and women have to cover their head and legs or shirts that only go to your elbows. All islamic weddings are different. Some are the same but some are new. That is just one of the celebrations. MUSLIM 5 PILLARS Islam is built on five pillars. These acts are obligatory on every Muslim adult. Some are done daily, monthly, anually, while one is only required once in a lifetime. Prayer-Salat In prayer, every muscle and bone of the body joins the soul and the mind in the worship and glory of Allah(swt). Offering of prayers is obligatory upon every Muslim who is sane, mature and in the case of women free from menstruation and confinement due to child birth. some requirements must be met in oreder for the prayer to be valid. These include but are not limited to: Performing wudu - ritually cleaning the body clothes and ground used for prayer. Clothing - one must be covered in the manner according to his gender. Facing the Ka'ba (refered to as the Qibla) Intention - merely saying in your mind that you are attempting to pray and gain the benifits from it. Prayers are required at least five times a day. Other obligatory prayer include the Friday congregational prayer, Eid prayers and the funeral prayer. Times of the five daily obligatory prayers: 1.Fajr-Before sunrise. 2.Zuhr-After the sun begins to decline from its zenith. 3.Asr-Mid-afternoon. 4.Magrib-Just after sunset. 5.Isha-night. In addition one is also encouraged but not required to perform prayers during the day and night. Prayer should be offered in its due time, unless there is a reasonable excuse. Delayed obligatory prayers must be made up. In addition to the prescribed prayer, a Muslim expresses gratitude to Godand appreciation of His favours and asks for His mercy all the time. Especially at times of, childbirth, marriage, going to or rising from bed, leaving and returning to his home, starting a journey or entering a city, riding or driving, before or after eating or drinking, harvesting, visiting graveyards and at time of distress and sickness. Fasting-Sawm Fasting is abstaining completely from eating, drinking, and intimate sexual contacts from the break of dawn till sunset. It is a matchless Islamic institution which teaches man the principle of sincere love to God, creative sense of hope, devotion,patience, unselfishness, discipline, etc. Obligatory fasting is done once a year for the period of the month of Ramadan. Fasting during this time is obligatory on every muslim adult if he is mentally and physically fit and not on a journey. Women are allowed to skip a fasting day due to menstruation, and while nursing a baby. MUSLIM QURAN HAS 114 CHAPTERS IN THE QURAN HERE THEY ARE The Chapters of the Qur'an: AL-FATIHA (THE OPENING) AL-BAQARA (THE COW) AAL-E-IMRAN (THE FAMILY OF 'IMRAN, THE HOUSE OF 'IMRAN) AN-NISA (WOMEN) AL-MAEDA (THE TABLE, THE TABLE SPREAD) AL-ANAAM (CATTLE, LIVESTOCK) AL-ARAF (THE HEIGHTS) AL-ANFAL (SPOILS OF WAR, BOOTY) AT-TAWBA (REPENTANCE, DISPENSATION) YUNUS (JONAH) HUD (HUD) YUSUF (JOSEPH) AR-RAD (THE THUNDER) IBRAHIM (ABRAHAM) AL-HIJR (AL-HIJR, STONELAND, ROCK CITY) AN-NAHL (THE BEE) AL-ISRA (ISRA', THE NIGHT JOURNEY, CHILDREN OF ISRAEL) AL-KAHF (THE CAVE) MARYAM (MARY) TA-HA (TA-HA) AL-ANBIYA (THE PROPHETS) AL-HAJJ (THE PILGRIMAGE) AL-MUMENOON (THE BELIEVERS) AN-NOOR (THE LIGHT) AL-FURQAN (THE CRITERION, THE STANDARD) ASH-SHUARA (THE POETS) AN-NAML (THE ANT, THE ANTS) AL-QASAS (THE STORY, STORIES) AL-ANKABOOT (THE SPIDER) AR-ROOM (THE ROMANS, THE BYZANTINES) LUQMAN (LUQMAN) AS-SAJDA (THE PROSTRATION,WORSHIP, ADORATION) AL-AHZAB (THE CLANS, THE COALITION,THE COMBINED FORCES) SABA (SABA, SHEBA) FATIR (THE ANGELS, ORIGNATOR) YA-SEEN (YA-SEEN) AS-SAAFFAT (THOSE WHO SET THE RANKS,DRAWN UP IN RANKS) SAD (THE LETTER SAD) AZ-ZUMAR (THE TROOPS, THRONGS) AL-GHAFIR (THE FORGIVER (GOD) ) FUSSILAT (EXPLAINED IN DETAIL) ASH-SHURA (COUNCIL, CONSULTATION) AZ-ZUKHRUF (ORNAMENTS OF GOLD, LUXURY) AD-DUKHAN (SMOKE) AL-JATHIYA (CROUCHING) AL-AHQAF (THE WIND-CURVED SANDHILLS, THE DUNES) MUHAMMAD (MUHAMMAD) AL-FATH (VICTORY, CONQUEST) AL-HUJRAAT (THE PRIVATE APARTMENTS, THE INNER APARTMENTS) QAF (THE LETTER QAF) ADH-DHARIYAT (THE WINNOWING WINDS) AT-TUR (THE MOUNT) AN-NAJM (THE STAR) AL-QAMAR (THE MOON) AR-RAHMAN (THE BENEFICENT, THE MERCY GIVING) AL-WAQIA (THE EVENT, THE INEVITABLE) AL-HADID (THE IRON) AL-MUJADILA (SHE THAT DISPUTETH, THE PLEADING WOMAN) AL-HASHR (EXILE, BANISHMENT) AL-MUMTAHINA (SHE THAT IS TO BE EXAMINED, EXAMINING HER) AS-SAFF (THE RANKS, BATTLE ARRAY) AL-JUMUA (THE CONGREGATION, FRIDAY) AL-MUNAFIQOON (THE HYPOCRITES) AT-TAGHABUN (MUTUAL DISILLUSION, HAGGLING) AT-TALAQ (DIVORCE) AT-TAHRIM (BANNING, PROHIBITION) AL-MULK (THE SOVEREIGNTY, CONTROL) AL-QALAM (THE PEN) AL-HAAQQA (THE REALITY) AL-MAARIJ (THE ASCENDING STAIRWAYS) NOOH (NOOH) AL-JINN (THE JINN) AL-MUZZAMMIL (THE ENSHROUDED ONE, BUNDLED UP) AL-MUDDATHTHIR (THE CLOAKED ONE, THE MAN WEARING A CLOAK) AL-QIYAMA (THE RISING OF THE DEAD, RESURRECTION) AL-INSAN (MAN) AL-MURSALAT (THE EMISSARIES, WINDS SENT FORTH) AN-NABA (THE TIDINGS, THE ANNOUNCEMENT) AN-NAZIAT (THOSE WHO DRAG FORTH, SOUL-SNATCHERS) ABASA (HE FROWNED) AT-TAKWIR (THE OVERTHROWING) AL-INFITAR (THE CLEAVING, BURSTING APART) AL-MUTAFFIFIN (DEFRAUDING, THE CHEATS, CHEATING) AL-INSHIQAQ (THE SUNDERING, SPLITTING OPEN) AL-BUROOJ (THE MANSIONS OF THE STARS, CONSTELLATIONS) AT-TARIQ (THE MORNING STAR, THE NIGHTCOMER) AL-ALA (THE MOST HIGH, GLORY TO YOUR LORD IN THE HIGHEST) AL-GHASHIYA (THE OVERWHELMING, THE PALL) AL-FAJR (THE DAWN, DAYBREAK) AL-BALAD (THE CITY, THIS COUNTRYSIDE) ASH-SHAMS (THE SUN) AL-LAIL (THE NIGHT) AD-DHUHA (THE MORNING HOURS, MORNING BRIGHT) AL-INSHIRAH (SOLACE, CONSOLATION, RELIEF) AT-TIN (THE FIG, THE FIGTREE) AL-ALAQ (THE CLOT, READ) AL-QADR (POWER, FATE) AL-BAYYINA (THE CLEAR PROOF, EVIDENCE) AZ-ZALZALA (THE EARTHQUAKE) AL-ADIYAT (THE COURSER, THE CHARGERS) AL-QARIA (THE CALAMITY, THE STUNNING BLOW, THE DISASTER AT-TAKATHUR (RIVALRY IN WORLD INCREASE, COMPETITION AL-ASR (THE DECLINING DAY, EVENTIDE, THE EPOCH) AL-HUMAZA (THE TRADUCER, THE GOSSIPMONGER) AL-FIL (THE ELEPHANT) QURAISH (WINTER, QURAYSH) AL-MAUN (SMALL KINDNESSES, ALMSGIVING, HAVE YOU SEEN) AL-KAUTHER (ABUNDANCE, PLENTY) AL-KAFIROON (THE DISBELIEVERS, ATHEISTS) AN-NASR (SUCCOUR, DIVINE SUPPORT) AL-MASADD (PALM FIBRE, THE FLAME) AL-IKHLAS (SINCERITY) AL-FALAQ (THE DAYBREAK, DAWN) AN-NAS (MANKIND)

MUSLIM QURAN "Alif Laam Raa. A book which we have revealed to you (Muhammad) so that you may lead the people from out of the darknesses into the light by their Lord's leave to the path of the All-Mighty, the Praiseworthy." The Qur'an ("Qor-Ann") is a Message from Allah to humanity. It was transmitted to us in a chain starting from the Almighty Himself (swt) to the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad (saas). This message was given to the Prophet (saas) in pieces over a period spanning approximately 23 years (610 CE to 622 CE). The Prophet (saas) was 40 years old when the Qur'an began to be revealed to him, and he was 63 when the revelation was completed. The language of the original message was Arabic, but it has been translated into many other languages. The Qur'an is one leg of two which form the basis of Islam. The second leg is the Sunnah of the Prophet (saas). What makes the Qur'an different from the Sunnah is primarily its form. Unlike the Sunnah, the Qur'an is quite literally the Word of Allah, whereas the Sunnah was inspired by Allah but the wording and actions are the Prophet's. The Qur'an has not been expressed using any human's words. Its wording is letter for letter fixed by no one but Allah. Prophet Muhammad (saas) was the final Messenger of Allah to humanity, and therefore the Qur'an is the last Message which Allah has sent to us. Its predecessors such as the Torah, Psalms, and Gospels have all been superceded. It is an obligation - and blessing - for all who hear of the Qur'an and Islam to investigate it and evaluate it for themselves. Allah has guaranteed that He will protect the Qur'an from human tampering, and today's readers can find exact copies of it all over the world. The Qur'an of today is the same as the Qur'an revealed to Muhammad (saas). Witnessing-Shahadah To do this one must simply state publicly "Ashadu alla ilaha illa Allah, wa ashadu anna Muhammed ar-rasool Allah". This means, "I bear witness that there is no God other than Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammed is His messanger." It should be a genuine belief from one's heart. The witnessing of the Oneness of Allah is the rejection of any form of deity other than Allah, and the witnessing that Muhammad is His Messenger is the acceptance of him being chosen by Allah to convey His message of Islam to all humanity and to deliver it from the darkness of ignorance into the light of belief in, and knowledge of, the Creator. Charity-Zakah Obligatory charity giving is an act of worship and spiritual investment. Zakah does not only purify the property of the contributor but also purifies his heart from selfishness and greed. It also purifies the heart of the recipient from envy and jealousy, from hatred and uneasiness and it fosters instead good-will and warm wishes for the contributors. It also frees society from welfare, distrust and coruption. Zakah is paid on the net balance after paying personal expenses, family expenses, due credits, taxes, etc. Taxes paid to government do not substitute for this religious duty. The contributor should not seek pride or fame but if disclosing his name and his contribution is likely to encourage others, it is acceptable to do so. The recipients of Zakah are: - the poor, the needy, - the new Muslim converts, - the Muslim prisoners of war (to liberate them), - Muslims in debt, - employees appointed to collect Zakah, - Muslims in service of research or study or propagation of Islam, - wayfarers who are foreigners in need of help. Note that Zakah is obligatory. Muslims can also go above and beyond what they pay as Zakah, in which case the offering is strictly voluntary (blessing will come to those who wish for his brother what he wishes for himself). Pilgrimage-Hajj It is obligatory to make the pilgrimage to Mecca, at least once in a lifetime. Muslims from all walks of life, from every corner of the globe assemble in Mecca in response to the call of Allah. It is to commemorate the Divine rituals observed by the Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael, who were the first pilgrims to the house of Allah on earth: the Ka'bah. It is also to remember the great assembly of the Day of Judgement when people will stand equal before Allah. Muslims go to Mecca to glorify Allah, not to worship a man. The visit to the tomb of Prophet Muhammad at Madena is highly recommended but not essential in making the Hajj valid and complete.