Frequently Asked Questions
Islam means submission to the will of Almighty God.
Islam teaches belief in only one true God and that only He is only worthy of worship. One who submits to Allah (Almighty God) is called a Muslim – this being the precondition to enter Paradise.
In Arabic the word ‘Allah’ is a word of rich meaning, denoting the one and one true God.
Muslims believe that only He is worthy of worship and reject the idea of Him having any partners, equals or being part of a trinity. And that to be the Creator he must be different and not part of His creation.
These are known as the 5 pillars of Islam and they are:
1 – The Testimony of Faith: That there in nothing worthy of worship except Allah and the Prophet Muhammad is his last and final messenger.
2 – The 5 daily prayers
3 – To give Zakah (annual charity to the poor)
4 – Fasting the month of Ramadan
5 – Once in a lifetime make the Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah.
The Qur’an is the holy book of Islām.
Muslims believe that the Qur’an was divinely revealed and is the last and uncorrupted revelation from Almighty God. The Qur’an is preserved in its original Arabic form and is unanimously accepted that it has never been altered – preserved both orally and in written form.
The five daily prayers form the most important ritual of worship in a Muslim’s life.
Prayer establishes a personal and spiritual connection between the person and his Creator, based on faith, love, hope and reverence. It is the centre of a Muslim’s life and is the best way to achieve submission to Allah.
The Ka’bāh is the first house built for the worship of Almighty God on earth.
It was built by Prophet Abraham and his son Prophet Ishmael. Allah has chosen the Ka’bāh as a focal point of unity and direction of prayer for Believers all over the world.
A Mosque or Masjid is a place of worship for Muslims.
The word ‘Masjid’ in Arabic literally means a place people congregate to prostrate.
Prophet Muhammad was the last and final prophet sent by Almighty God.
He completed the lineage of prophets which included Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Moses and Jesus. He was born in Makkah in the year 570 C.E., during the period of history Europeans call the Middle Ages. As he grew up, Muhammad became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, earning the title of al-Amin, the trustworthy one.
Muslims are obligated to believe in Jesus and Mary.
They deeply respect them and consider them to be amongst the greatest of human beings with Jesus being one of the greatest Messengers of Almighty God and His mother the greatest of all women. In the Qur’an there is one chapter (Surah) in the name of Mary herself – Surah 19. No other woman’s name was revealed explicitly in the Qur’ān except that of Mary.
In Islam, both men and women are viewed as equals before Almighty God, in terms of both receiving equal reward and accountability for their actions.
The only thing that makes one better than another in the sight of Allah is their level of piety. Women are given the utmost respect and honour and no form of oppression is condoned against them.