What is Islam?

Best Definition Defines Islam like this:

"The Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said: "Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, to perform the prayers, to pay the zakat, to fast in the month of Ramadhan, and to make the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to do so."

He said: " You have spoken rightly", Jebreel (Gabriel) from Number 2 of "Al-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths." If anyone harms (others), God will harm him, and if anyone shows hostility to others, God will show hostility to him." Sunan of Abu-Dawood, Hadith 1625.

"Those who believe (in the Quran), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians...and (all) who believe in God and the last day and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord; on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." The Qur'an, 2:62

Holy Things - Subhan Allah

Results of The So Called War Against Terror

Thank you US and ALLIED FORCES for this Precious Gift

Bin Laden's idea of 'jihad' is out of bounds

Bin Laden's idea of 'jihad' is out of bounds,
Muslim Scholars say:

Saturday, September 22, 2001

By RICHARD N. OSTLING
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The concept of jihad has many shades of meaning, but the way Osama bin Laden has applied it to political violence has moved beyond the bounds of Islamic teaching on warfare, scholars say.

"Everybody who has war experience understands that sometimes civilians are going to be killed during legitimate military action," says John Kelsay, religion chairman at Florida State University and the author of "Islam and War." "But direct, intentional targeting of civilians is just off the charts."

While bin Laden, Afghanistan's Taliban rulers and other Muslims have used the term jihad to mean "holy war," Cambridge University scholar Akbar Ahmed writes that "in fact jihad means struggle and there are various forms of it; physical confrontation is just one."

The phrase "holy war" does not appear in the Quran, (also spelled Koran), the Muslim holy book, says Jamal Badawi of St. Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Badawi contends the phrase does not even make sense because Islam regards war as a necessary evil, not something that is holy in itself.

Muslims say the "greater jihad" is the personal "struggle with one's lower nature, the tendency to do wrong," while external struggles are merely the "lesser jihad," according to Jane I. Smith, co-director of the Islamic studies center at the Hartford Seminary in Connecticut.

The lesser jihad includes spreading the faith through persuasion and work for social justice, as well as warfare.

Islam has never been a pacifist creed. Unlike Jesus or Buddha, the Prophet Muhammad was at times a military leader.

But in the legal traditions of the Sunni branch, which dominates in most places except Iran, combat must be undertaken for the right reasons -- similar to those in Christianity's "just war" tradition -- ordered by competent authority and conducted through moral means.

On the means of warfare, one key text is the farewell instructions of Muhammad's immediate successor, the Caliph Abu Bakr, as his army headed for Syria.

He forbade the killing of children, women, the aged and the clergy, which is understood to mean protection for all civilians.

Charter of Human Rights Given by Islam more than 1400 years ago

Prophet Muhammad S.A.W described the Charter of Human Rights in the light of Islamic Teachings and Orders by Almighty Allah, on 9th of Zulhijjah (last month of Islamic Calender, 623A.D). The Main points are as follows:

After praising and thanking Allah the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) began with the words:

"O People! Lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore, listen carefully to what I am saying and take these words to those who could not be present here today."

"O People! just as you regard this month, this day ,this city as sacred ,so regard the life and property of every Muslim a sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you. Remember that you will indeed meet your Lord, and that he will indeed reckon your deeds."

"Allah has forbidden you to take usury, therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived. Your capital is yours to keep .You will neither inflict nor suffer any inequality. Allah has judged that there shall be no interest and that all interest due to Abbas Ibn 'Aal-Muttalib be waived."

"Every right arising out of homicide in pre-Islamic days is henceforth waived and the first such right that I waive is that arising from the murder of Rabiah ibni al-Harithiah."

"O men! the unbelievers indulge in tampering with the calendar in order to make permissible that which Allah forbade, and to prohibit what Allah has made permissible. With Allah the months are twelve in number. Four of them are holy, there are successive and one occurs singly between the months of Jumada and Shaban."

"Beware of Satan, for the safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will be able to lead you astray in big things so beware of following him in small things."

"O People it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women but they also have rights over you. Remember that you have taken them as your wives only under Allah's trust and with His permission. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well never to be unchaste."

"O People! listen to me in earnest, worship Allah, say your five daily prayers, fast during month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat .Perform Haj if you can afford it."

"All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a White has no superiority over a Black nor a Black has any superiority over a White except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood. Nothing shall be legitimate to a Muslim which belongs to a fellow Muslim unless it was given freely and willingly."

"Do not therefore do injustice to yourselves. Remember one day you will meet Allah and answer your deeds. So beware, do not astray from the path of righteousness after I am gone."

"O People! No Prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore O People! and understand words that I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray."

"All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly."

"O Allah, be my witness, that I have conveyed your message to your people."