Jumat, 09 Desember 2011

[daarut-tauhiid] What is Islam ?????

 

Islam is not a new religion, but the same truth that God revealed through all
His prophets to every people. For a fifth of the world's population, Islam is
both a religion and a complete way of life. Muslims follow a religion of peace,
mercy, and forgiveness, and the majority have nothing to do with the extremely
grave events which have come to be associated with their faith.
Who are the
Muslims?
One billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities and
cultures across the globe -- from the southern Philippines to Nigeria -- are
united by their common Islamic faith. About 18% live in the Arab world; the
world's largest Muslim community is in Indonesia; substantial parts of Asia and
most of Africa are Muslims, while significant minorities are to be found in the
Soviet Union, China, North and South America, and Europe.

What do
Muslims believe?
Muslims believe in One, Unique, Incomparable God; in the Angels created
by Him; in the prophets through whom His revelations were brought to mankind; in
the Day of Judgment and individual accountability for actions; in God's complete
authority over human destiny and in life after death. Muslims believe in a chain
of prophets starting with Adam and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac,
Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the
Baptist, and Jesus, peace be upon them. But God's final message to man, a
reconfirmation of the eternal message and a summing-up of all that has gone
before was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him] through Gabriel.

How does someone become
a Muslim?
Simply by saying, 'there is no god apart from God, and Muhammad is
the Messenger of God.' By this declaration the believer announces his or her
faith in all God's messengers, and the scriptures they brought.

What
does 'Islam' mean?
The Arabic word 'Islam' simply means 'submission', and
derives from a word meaning 'peace'. In a religious context it means complete
submission to the will of God. 'Mohammedanism' is thus a misnomer because it
suggests that Muslims worship Muhammad [peace be upon him] rather than God.
'Allah' is the Arabic name for God, which is used by Arab Muslims and Christians
alike.

What
is the Ka'aba?
The Ka'aba is the place of worship which God commanded
Abraham and Ishmael to build over four thousand years ago. The building was
constructed of stone on what many believe was the original site of a sanctuary
established by Adam. God commanded Abraham to summon all mankind to visit this
place, and when pilgrims go there today they say 'At thy service, O Lord', in
response to Abraham's summons.

Who is Muhammad?
Muhammad [PEACE BE UPON HIM] was
born in Makkah in the year 570, at a time when Christianity was not yet fully
established in Europe. Since his father died before his birth, and his mother
shortly afterwards, he was raised by his uncle from the respected tribe of
Quraysh. As he grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and
sincerity, so that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes.
The historians describe him as calm and meditative.
Muhammad [PEACE BE UPON
HIM] was of a deeply religious nature, and had long detested the decadence of
his society. It became his habit to meditate from time to time in the Cave of
Hira near the summit of Jbal al-Nur, the 'Mountain of Light' near
Makkah.

How did he become a prophet and messenger of God?
At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad PEACE BE
UPON HIM] received his first revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This
revelation, which continued for twenty-three years, is known as the
Qur'an.
As soon as he began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel, and to
preach the truth which God had revealed to him, he and his small group of
followers suffered bitter persecutions, which grew so fierce that in the year
622 God gave them the command to emigrate. This event, the Hijra, 'migration',
in which they left Makkah for the city of Madinah some 260 miles to the north,
marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.
After several years, the Prophet
[PEACE BE UPON HIM] and his followers were able to return to Makkah, where they
forgave their enemies and established Islam definitively. Before the Prophet
[PEACE BE UPON HIM] died at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia was
Muslim, and within a century of his death Islam had spread to Spain in the west
and as far east as China.

What is the Qur'an?
The Qur'an is a record of the
exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad
[PEACE BE UPON HIM]. It was memorized by Muhammad [PEACE BE UPON HIM] and then
dictated to his Companions, and written down by scribes, who cross-checked it
during his lifetime. Not one word if its 114 chapters, Suras, has been changed
over the centuries, so that the Qur'an is in every detail the unique and
miraculous text which was revealed to Muhammad [pbuh] fourteen centuries ago.

What is the Qur'an
about?
The Qur'an, the last revealed word of God, is the prime source of
every Muslim's faith and practice. It deals with all the subjects which concern
us as human beings: wisdom, doctrine, worship, aand law, but its basic theme is
the relationship between God and his creatures. At the same
time it provides guidelines for a just society, proper human conduct and an
equitable economic system.

Are
there any other sacred sources?
Yes, the sunna, the practice and example of
the Prophet [pbuh], is the second authority for Muslims. A hadith is a reliably
transmitted report of what the Prophet [pbuh] said, did, or approved. Belief in
the sunna is part of the Islamic faith.
Examples of the Prophet's sayings The
Prophet [PEACE BE UPON HIM] said:
• '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'.
• 'He who eats his fill while his neighbor goes
without food is not a believer.'
• 'The truthful and trusty businessman is
associated with the prophets, the saints, and the martyrs.'
• 'Powerful is
not he who knocks the other down, indeed powerful is he who controls himself in
a fit of anger.'
• 'God does not judge according to your bodies and
appearances but He scans your hearts and looks into your deeds.'
'A man
walking along a path felt very thirsty. Reaching a well he descended into it,
drank his fill and came up. then he saw a dog with its tongue hanging out,
trying to lick up mud to quench its thirst. The man saw that the dog was feeling
the same thirst as he had felt so he went down into the well again and filled
his shoe with water and gave the dog a drink. God forgave his sins for this
action.' The Prophet [pbuh] was asked: 'Messenger of God, are we rewarded for
kindness towards animals?' He said, 'There is a reward for kindness to every
living thing.'

What are the 'Five
Pillars' of Islam?
They are the framework of the Muslim life:
FAITH
PRAYER
ZAKAT
ROZA
HAJJ

FAITH There is no god worthy of worship except God and
Muhammad is His messenger. This declaration of faith is called the Shahada, a
simple formula which all the faithful pronounce. In Arabic, the first part is la
ilaha illa'Llah - 'there is no god except God'; ilaha [god] can refer to
anything which we may be tempted to put in place of God -- wealth, power, and
the like. Then comes illa'Llah: 'except God', the Source of all Creation. The
second partof the Shahada is Muhammadun rasulu'Llah: 'Muhammad is the messenger
of God.' A message of guidance has come through a man like
ourselves.
A translation of the Call to Prayer is:
God is most
great. God is most great.
God is most great. God is most great.
I
testify that there is no god except God.
I testify that there is no god
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 [in this life and the Hereafter]! Come
to success!
God is most great. God is most great.
There is no god except
God.

PRAYER Salat is the name for the obligatory prayers which are
performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshipper and
God. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam, and no priests, so the prayers
are led by a learned person who knows the Qur'an, chosen by the congregation.
These five prayers contain verses from the Qur'an, and are said in Arabic, the
language of the Revelation, but personal supplication can be offered in one's
own language.
Prayers are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and
nightfall, and thus determine the rhythm of the entire day. Although it is
preferable to worship together in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost anywhere,
such as in fields, offices, factories and universities. Visitors to the Muslim
world are struck by the centrality of prayers in daily life.

THE 'ZAKAT' One of the most important principles of
Islam is that all things belong to God, and that wealth is therefore held by
human beings in trust. The word zakat means both 'purification' and 'growth'.
Our possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need,
and, like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new
growth.
Each Muslim calculates his or her own zakat individually. For most
purposes this involves the payment each year of two and a half percent of one's
capital.
A pious person may also give as much as he or she pleases as sadaqa,
and does so preferably in secret. Although this word can be translated as
'voluntary charity' it has a wider meaning. The Prophet [pbuh] said: 'Even
meeting your brother with a cheerful face is charity.' The Prophet [pbuh] said:
'Charity is a necessity for every Muslim.' He was asked: 'What if a person has
nothing?' The Prophet [PEACE BE UPON HIM] replied : 'He
should work with his own hands for his benefit and then give something out of
such earnings in charity.' The Companions asked: 'What if he is not able to
work?' The Prophet [pbuh] said: 'He should urge others to do good.' The
Companions said, 'What if he lacks that also?' The Prophet [pbuh] said: 'He
should check himself from doing evil. That is also charity.'

THE
FAST Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from first light until
sundown, abstaining from food, drink and sexual relations. Those who are sick,
elderly, or on a journey, and women who are pregnant or nursing are permitted to
break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year. If they
are physically unable to do this, they must feed a needy person for every day
missed. Children begin to fast [and to observe the prayer] from puberty,
although many start earlier.
Although the fast is most beneficial to the
health, it is regarded principally as a method of self-purification. By cutting
oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a short time, a fasting
person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry as well as growth in one's
spiritual life.

PILGRIMAGE (HAJJ) The
annual pilgrimage to Makkah -- the Hajj -- is an obligation only for those who
are physically and financially able to perform it. Nevertheless about two
million people go to Makkah each year from every corner of the globe providing a
unique opportunity for those of different nations to meet one another. Although
Makkah is always filled with visitors, the annual Hajj begins in the twelfth
month of the Islamic year [which is lunar, not solar, so that Hajj and Ramadan
fall sometimes in summer, sometimes in winter]. Pilgrims wear special clothes:
simple garments which strip away distinctions of class and culture, so that all
stand equal before God.
The rites of the Hajj, which are
of Abrahamic origin, include circling the Ka'aba seven times, and going seven
times between the mountains of Safa and Marwa as did Hagar during her search for
water. Then the pilgrims stand together on the wide plain of Arafat and join in
prayers for God's forgiveness, in what is often thought of as a preview of the
Last Judgment.
In previous centuries the Hajj was an arduous undertaking.
Today, however, Saudi Arabia provides millions of people with water, modern
transport, and the most up-to-date health facilities.
The close of the Hajj
is marked by a festival, the Eid al-Adha, which is celebrated with prayers and
the exchange of gifts in Muslim communities everywhere. This, and the Eid
al-Fitr, a feast-day commemorating the end of Ramadan, are the main festivals of
the Muslim calendar.
Why is the family so important to Muslims?
The
family is the foundation of Islamic society. The peace and security offered by a
stable family unit is greatly valued, and seen as essential for the
spiritual growth of its members. A harmonious social order is created by the
existence of extended families; children are treasured, and rarely leave home
until the time they marry.

What about Muslim Women?
Islam sees a woman, whether single or married, as an individual in her own
right, with the right to own and dispose of her property and earnings. A
marriage dowry is given by the groom to the bride for her own personal use, and
she keeps her own family name rather than taking her husband's.
Both men and
women are expected to dress in a way which is modest and dignified; the
traditions of female dress found in some Muslim countries are often the
expression of local customs.
The Messenger of God [pbuh] said: 'The most
perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to
his wife.'

How
do Muslims treat the elderly?
In the Islamic world there are no old people's
homes. The strain of caring for one's parents in this most difficult time of
their lives is considered an honor and blessing, and an opportunity for great
spiritual growth. God asks that we not only pray for our parents, but act with
limitless compassion, remembering that when we were helpless children they
preferred us to themselves. Mothers are particularly honored: the Prophet [peace
be upon him] taught that ' Paradise lies at the feet of mothers.' When they
reach old age, Muslim parents are treated mercifully, with the same kindness and
selflessness.
In Islam, serving one's parents is a duty second only to
prayer, and it is their right to expect it. It is considered despicable to
express any irritation when, through no fault of their own, the old become
difficult.
The Qur'an says: Your Lord has commanded that you worship none but
Him, and be kind to parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you,
do not say 'uff' to them or chide them, but speak to them in terms of honor and
kindness. Treat them with humility, and say, 'My Lord! Have mercy on
them, for they did care for me when I was little.'

How do Muslims view
death?
Like Jews and Christians, Muslims believe that the present life is
only a trial preparation for the next realm of existence. Basic articles of
faith include: the Day of Judgment, resurrection, Heaven and Hell. When a Muslim
dies, he or she is washed, usually by a family member, wrapped in a clean white
cloth, and buried with a simple prayer preferably the same day. Muslims consider
this one of the final services they can do for their relatives, and an
opportunity to remember their own brief existence here on earth. The Prophet
[peace be upon him] taught that three things can continue to help a person even
after death: charity which he has given, knowledge which he had taught, and
prayers on their behalf by a righteous child. 

What does Islam say about war?
Like Christianity, Islam permits fighting in
self-defense, in defense of religion, or on the part of those who have been
expelled forcibly from their homes. It lays down strict rules of combat which
include prohibitions against harming civilians and against destroying crops,
trees and livestock. As Muslims see it, injustice would be triumphant in the
world if good men were not prepared to risk their lives in a righteous cause.
The Qur'an says:
Fight in the cause of God against those who fight you, but
do not transgress limits. God does not love transgressors. [2:190]
If they
seek peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that heareth
and knoweth all things. [8:61]
War, therefore, is the last resort, and is
subject to the rigorous conditions laid down by the sacred law. The term jihad
literally means 'struggle', and Muslims believe that there are two kinds of
jihad: The other 'jihad' is the inner struggle which everyone wages against
egotistic desires, for the sake of attaining inner peace

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
====================================================
Pesantren Daarut Tauhiid - Bandung - Jakarta - Batam
====================================================
Menuju Ahli Dzikir, Ahli Fikir, dan Ahli Ikhtiar
====================================================
       website:  http://dtjakarta.or.id/
====================================================
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___

Tidak ada komentar: