by Ishaq Zahid

The 'Five Pillars' of Islam are the foundation of Muslim life:

* Faith or belief in the Oneness of God (Allah) and the finality of the Prophethood of Muhammad (pbuh);
* Establishment   more...of the daily prayers;
* Concern for and almsgiving to the needy;
* Self-purification through fasting; and
* The pilgrimage to Makkah for those who are able.

Iman or Faith

"There is none worthy of worship except God (Allah) and Muhammad is the messenger of God." This declaration of faith is called the Shahadah, a simple formula that all the faithful pronounce. The significance of this declaration is the belief that the only purpose of life is to serve and obey God, and this is achieved through the teachings and practices of the Last Prophet, Muhammad (pbuh).

Salah or Prayer

Salah is the name for the obligatory prayers that are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshipper and God. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam and there are no priests. Prayers are led by a learned person who knows the Qur'an and is generally chosen by the congregation.

Prayers are said at dawn, mid-day, late-afternoon, sunset and nightfall, and thus determine the rhythm of the entire day. These five prescribed prayers contain verses from the Qur'an, and are said in Arabic, the language of the Revelation. Personal supplications, however, can be offered in one's own language and at any time.

Although it is preferable to worship together in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields, offices, factories and universities. Oftentimes visitors to the Muslim world are struck by the centrality of prayers in daily life.

A translation of the Adan or Call to Prayer is:

God is Great.
God is Great.
God is Great.
God is Great.
I testify that there is none worthy of worship except God.
I testify that there is none worthy of worship except God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Come to prayer!
Come to prayer!
Come to success!
Come to success!
God is Great!
God is Great!
There is none worthy of worship except God.


Zakah. The financial obligation upon Muslims.

An important principle of Islam is that everything belongs to God, and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The word zakah means both "purification" and "growth." Our possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need and for the society in general. Like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth.

Each Muslim calculates his or her own zakah individually. This involves the annual payment of a fortieth of one's capital, excluding such items as primary residence, car and professional tools.

An individual may also give as much as he or she pleases as sadaqa-h, and does so preferably in secret. Although this word can be translated as "voluntary charity" it has a wider meaning.

The Prophet said, "Even meeting your brother with a cheerful face is an act of charity." The Prophet also said: "Charity is a necessity for every Muslim." He was asked: "What if a person has nothing?" The Prophet replied: "He should work with his own hands for his benefit and then give something out of such earnings in charity." The Companions of the Prophet asked: "What if he is not able to work?" The Prophet said: "He should help the poor and needy." The Companions further asked: "What if he cannot do even that?" The Prophet said: "He should urge others to do good." The Companions said: "What if he lacks that also?" The Prophet said: "He should check himself from doing evil. That is also an act of charity."

Sawm or Fasting

Every year in the month of Ramada-n, all Muslims fast from dawn until sundown--abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations with their spouses.

Those who are sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are menstruating, pregnant or nursing, are p  less

Arabic song...

Very important message. A must see. By Da'ee Ahmad Moait, USA. Details on www.noora1.com

A Must see video on Marriage in Islam by Da'ee Ahmad Moait from USA. A real eye opener. Dont miss it!!! www.noora1.com

Docu...

Error on translation of Sura 109 : It should read: "In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful"

Say: O disbelievers! I worship not that which ye worship; Nor worship ye that which I worship.   more...And I shall not worship that which ye worship. Nor will ye worship that which I worship. Unto you your religion, and unto me my religion.  less

who

Know your creator, the almighty. A must see video by da'ee Ahmad Moait USA. www.noora1.com

This video is a MUST SEE for all, Muslims and Non-Muslims alike. Great to open our hearts and mind. To know our goal and destination. By Da'ee Ahmad moait USA. www.noora1.com

http://www.islamic-invitation.com
Brian was born as a Roman Catholic.
At the age of 20, something clicked
inside him and he learned about the beautiful
religion of Islam. Find out what happened.
http://www.islamic-invitation.com

http://www.islamic-invitation.com
Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens)

All I have to say is all what you know already, to confirm what you already know, the message of the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam"peace   more...be upon him") as given by God - the Religion of Truth. As human beings we are given a consciousness and a duty that has placed us at the top of creation. Man is created to be God's deputy on earth, and it is important to realize the obligation to rid ourselves of all illusions and to make our lives a preparation for the next life. Anybody who misses this chance is not likely to be given another, to be brought back again and again, because it says in Qur'an Majeed that when man is brought to account, he will say, "O Lord, send us back and give us another chance." The Lord will say, "If I send you back you will do the same."

MY EARLY RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING
I was brought up in the modern world of all the luxury and the high life of show business. I was born in a Christian home, but we know that every child is born in his original nature - it is only his parents that turn him to this or that religion. I was given this religion (Christianity) and thought this way. I was taught that God exists, but there was no direct contact with God, so we had to make contact with Him through Jesus - he was in fact the door to God. This was more or less accepted by me, but I did not swallow it all.

I looked at some of the statues of Jesus; they were just stones with no life. And when they said that God is three, I was puzzled even more but could not argue. I more or less believed it, because I had to have respect for the faith of my parents.

POP STAR
Gradually I became alienated from this religious upbringing. I started making music. I wanted to be a big star. All those things I saw in the films and on the media took hold of me, and perhaps I thought this was my God, the goal of making money. I had an uncle who had a beautiful car. "Well," I said, "he has it made. He has a lot of money." The people around me influenced me to think that this was it; this world was their God.

I decided then that this was the life for me; to make a lot of money, have a 'great life.' Now my examples were the pop stars. I started making songs, but deep down I had a feeling for humanity, a feeling that if I became rich I would help the needy. (It says in the Qur'an, we make a promise, but when we make something, we want to hold onto it and become greedy.)

So what happened was that I became very famous. I was still a teenager, my name and photo were splashed in all the media. They made me larger than life, so I wanted to live larger than life and the only way to do that was to be intoxicated (with liquor and drugs).

IN HOSPITAL
After a year of financial success and 'high' living, I became very ill, contracted TB and had to be hospitalized. It was then that I started to think: What was to happen to me? Was I just a body, and my goal in life was merely to satisfy this body? I realized now that this calamity was a blessing given to me by Allah, a chance to open my eyes - "Why am I here? Why am I in bed?" - and I started looking for some of the answers. At that time there was great interest in the Eastern mysticism. I began reading, and the first thing I began to become aware of was death, and that the soul moves on; it does not stop. I felt I was taking the road to bliss and high accomplishment. I started meditating and even became a vegetarian. I now believed in 'peace and flower power,' and this was the general trend. But what I did believe in particular was that I was not just a body. This awareness came to me at the hospital.

One day when I was walking and I was caught in the rain, I began running to the shelter and then I realized, 'Wait a minute, my body is getting wet, my body is telling me I am getting wet.' This made me think of a saying that the body is like a donkey, and it has to be trained where it has to go. Otherwise, the  less

Professor Tejatat Tejasen is the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy at Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Previously, he was the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the same university. During   more...the Eighth Saudi Medical Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Professor Tejasen stood up and spoke.

from: http://www.islamic-invitation.com  less

The Underworld: A Video recommendation.

A Good overview of the Islamic view of the underworld and punishments. See Video from Islamme1 in my favorites on YouTube. I'm not sure if the user has an account   more...on here. If not; Click here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjNRkx89_No  less

Islamic song...

http://www.islamic-invitation.com Beauties of Islam Equalities of Men and Women in Islam http://www.islamic-invitation.com

3ILM (Arabic word for knowledge) is a hip-hop group that was established in 2006 by five Muslim Brothers who grew up together in Tampa, FL. They saw the need for an alternative form of music from which   more...Muslims could benefit Islamically and mentally. Combining a wide array of instrumental flavors and lyrical styles, 3ILM hopes to reach all people with music that is both enlightening and entertaining.  less

http://www.islamic-invitation.com
NBC NEWS: 20000 Americans Convert To ISLAM Each Year, 75% Of Them are Women.
The number of Europeans, Americans, Latinos and Africans converting to Islam is growing rapidly   more...
check it out !!
islam muslim convert revert christ christianity quran bible mohammed terrorism women misconception Allah God
CNN WORLD NEWS: Islam is the fastest-growing religion
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9704/14/egypt.islam/
Islam is Fastest Growing Religion in United States:
http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/a100501b.html
Times on line: Thousands of british people convert to islam every year
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1026534.ece
Why European women are turning to Islam:
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/1227/p01s04-woeu.html
Washington-Report: The Nation's Fastest Growing Religion
http://www.washington-report.org/backissues/0596/9605013.htm
Washington Post: Islam Luring More Latinos
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A27758-2001Jan6¬Found=true
Islam is spreading among Thousands black South Africans
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=139&art_id=qw1100423885802B264
Washington Post: Islam Attracting Many Thousands Survivors of Rwanda Genocide
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53018-2002Sep22.html
Many Converts to Islam Homepage:
http://www.islamawareness.net/Converts/
http://www.islamic-invitation.com  less

Very useful video to get closer to the Creator, Allah Subhaan wa Ta'ala.
Informs about few keys of happiness. By Da'ee Ahmad Moait USA. www.noora1.com

Provider: <a href="http://www.thenasheedlyrics.com">TheNasheedLyrics.com</a>

Information: Video of "All For You" from Noor.

Copyrights: All contents provided are property   more...and copyright of their owners. All contents are provided for educational purposes only.  less

http://www.islamic-invitation.com
The Christ in Islam Lecture by Sheikh Ahmed Didat third part of 12 .
http://www.islamic-invitation.com

http://www.islamic-invitation.com
The Christ in Islam Lecture by Sheikh Ahmed Didat second part of 12 .
http://www.islamic-invitation.com

http://www.islamic-invitation.com
The Christ in Islam Lecture by Sheikh Ahmed Didat first part of 12 .
http://www.islamic-invitation.com

hijab muslim women

http://www.islamic-invitation.com
Sister Tanya discusses her journey
http://www.islamic-invitation.com