What is Islam and its basic tenets?
during prayer in a physically and mentally purified
Islam – “a religion of peace” it encourages peaceful
coexistence between Muslims and non-Muslims
- “absolute surrender/submission to the Will
of God/Allah”
- derived from the word “Salam”, which
means “peace”
Five Pillars of Islam
1. Shahada
2. Salah
3. Zakat
4. Assiyam
5. Haji
1. Shahada (Profession of Faith)
- The first requirement for a Muslim is his
declaration of the Shahada. He says with real
conviction, “As’hadu anla ilaha ilallah wa as’hadu
anna Muhammadur rasulullah,” meaning, “I bear
witness that there is only One God and Muhammad
is a messenger of God”
Tawheed – Islamic monotheism (the belief in the
existence of only one god)
- revolves around the absolute “Oneness of
God” and “the idea of not associating partners with
God.”
2. Salah or 5 times daily prayers
- In Islam, performing the Islamic prayer is
considered a manifestation of a Muslim’s
submission to the will of God
- Each prayer is composed of several Rak’ah, which
refers to the set of reciting supplications, bowing
and prostrations. Typically, each prayer lasts five
minutes, leading to twenty-five minutes of prayer
per day.
- must pray in the direction of the holy city of Mecca
- serves as man’s constant communication with and
reminder of his Creator. the Salah reminds a Muslim
that he should not commit sins because Someone in
Heaven is constantly recording all his transgressions,
which will be dealt with on the Day of Judgment.
Salat ul Fajr – The Dawn Prayer
Salat ul Zuhur – The Noon Prayer
Salat ul Asr – The Afternoon Prayer
Salat ul Maghrib – The Sunset Prayer
Salat ul Aisha – The Evening Prayer
Before performing the salah, the Muslim must
perform a ritual ablution in order that he faces God
state. This purification is called ‘wudu’, which is
done by freeing the mind of any thoughts other than
worshipping God and by washing the hands, mouth,
nostrils, face, arms, head, ears and feet. It is
important as well for Muslims to cover their aurah
or parts of the body that should be covered when
praying or in public. The aurah of the male is from
the navel down to the knees while that of the female
is from the head, ears, neck, elbow down to the
ankle.
3. Zakat or Alms Giving
- obligatory upon all earning Muslims.
- The amount of zakat is usually 1/40; meaning one
peso goes to the poor and the needy out of the
P40.00 one earns in one year. This is approximately
2.5% of a person’s annual income. Of course, a
person can give even beyond 2.5% as additional
charity, but he cannot go below 2.5%, which is
obligatory.
- principle of social responsibility by which the
possession of wealth obligates the owner to concern
himself with the people who have little wealth
- The Islamic sanction of not giving the zakat is so
severe that those who do not pay it are “likened in
the Qur’an to the idolaters who worship false gods.”
4. As-siyam or Fasting during the Month of
Ramadan
Assiyam – fosters the value of self-restraint,
discipline and a deeper sense of spirituality.
Except for children, the sick, aged, pregnant and
menstruating women, nursing mothers and
travelers, all Muslims who have reached puberty are
required to fast during the month of Ramadan.
- do not eat from sunrise to sunset during the holy
month of Ramadan.
5. Hajj or Pilgrimage to Mecca
Hajj - refers to the exhausting and expensive
pilgrimage to the Holy land of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
- symbolizes the unity of all Muslims in the
world, regardless of language, culture or ethnic
origin.
Some issues on Islam
1. On Being Just and Harmonious with Others
- The Qur’an sets rules that command
Muslims to be just and harmonious with
other people. A concept like racism has no
place in Islam, as Muslims believe all people
are the children of Adam
2. On Religious Tolerance - Islam also
encourages peaceful coexistence among
diverse groups of various religions. The
Qur’an also makes it clear that Muslims
should let other groups practice their
religion in peace.
3. On Jihad and Terrorism - Those who
misunderstand jihad point to it as a
confirmation of Islam’s violent nature. In
recent years, jihad has caused a stir in the
non-Muslim world because of its presumed
relationship to terrorism. Undoubtedly, jihad
is part of Islam, but it is not all about
violence. Literally, it means struggle, even
mental and internal self-struggle. Some
translate it as “holy war” There are 2 types
of jihad:
1. Jihad ul Asgar (the lesser Jihad) –
refers to the physical jihad that
Muslims should wage in times of
oppression or persecution,
ejection from home and property
or violent attack because of the
practice of their religion.
Defensive war is more
appropriate to describe this type
of jihad. Jihad ul Asgar, therefore,
should never be offensive
2. Jihad ul Akbar (the greater Jihad)
– this type of jihad must be
waged every day. The holy war
against the self. The act of Jihad
ul Akbar that is made when one
imposes self-restraint and
patience during temptations and
trials. It is jihad ul akbar when one
does not steal something even if
he has the opportunity to do so;
It is jihad ul akbar when one
controls his anger and forgives
someone who has offended him;
It is called jihad ul akbar or “the
Greater Jihad,” because it is more
difficult to do, for one’s worse
enemy, it is assumed, is his own
self or his own base appetites.
Islam stresses that this type of
jihad is abundantly rewarded in
heaven.
4. On Not Eating Pork - the eating of pork is no
monopoly of Islam. The Qur’an simply mentioned
that certain foods are unclean and, therefore,
prohibited for people to eat. Along with blood,
carrion, carnivores (e.g., lions, wolves, cats, dogs
etc.), pork is mentioned also as unclean.
5. On Polygyny - the Qur’an permits or allows
polygyny. However, it should be emphasized that
permitting polygyny does not have anything to
do directly with the purpose of satisfying men’s
lust for women. Muslim men are allowed to
marry up to a maximum of four wives, so long as
they treat all of them equally and with justice.
6. On Wearing the Veil - It is a common
observation that Muslim women wear the veil,
locally known as the “kumbbong,” in public.
Actually, wearing the veil is a form of modesty in
dressing.
How did Islam reach the Southeast Asia and
eventually the Philippine archipelago?
- The rise of Islamic Institutions in SEA in the early
15th century is viewed as the culmination of
Islamization after about 30 years when Arabs
introduced Islam.
- In the case of the Philippines, Islam would arrive
through the southern islands of Sulu, Palawan and
Mindanao.
The Missionary Theory
- suggested that Islam arrived in these islands
through Muslim missionaries who were solely
motivated by a proselytizing zeal for Islam.
The Trade Theory
– suggested that it was the Muslim traders, and not
the missionaries, who introduced Islam in the
islands
- Muslim traders intermarried with the natives and,
having persuaded their wives to adopt Islam, raised
Muslim families which served as nuclei in spreading
the Faith further traders married into the ruling
families, enabling them or their descendants to
eventually have political power which served as
means to spread the Faith.
Political Theory
- the adoption of Islam by the rulers and their court
for political motives explains the growth of Islam in
Malaysia.
- Islam, too, legitimized the rule of rulers of minor
principalities in their conflict with Hindu Madjapahit
or desire to throw off its yoke.
 Economic Theory
- Complementary to the political theory, this theory
maintains that with the conversion to Islam, the
rulers of principalities were able to participate more
extensively and profitably in the international trade
in the area of the Red Sea to the China Sea.
- This theory also assumes that Muslim traders had
it in their power to patronize and enrich, or boycott
and cause to fall, any port they desired. (an affair of
the rulers)
Spiritual or Psychological Theory
- This asserts that Islam was adopted by many
natives simply because the manner in which it was
introduced to them satisfied certain spiritual
aspirations and expectations.
- To be sure, Islam gave the Malaysian a new sense
of individual worth while at the same time giving
him a sense of belonging to an international or wider
community.
- Morever, it freed him from a degrading caste
system. In brief, it was Islam’s attractive qualities as
a religion which satisfied deep spiritual longings that
constituted the main factor for its spread.
Crusader Theory
- This theory views the spread of Islam as the result
of a conscious response on the part of the
Malaysians to the coming of the Portuguese and
later on of the other Christian Europeans.
- This theory has two facets which are not
necessarily exclusive: One religious and the other
political. The first sees in the Christian zeal at
proselytizing, the Islamic response of a counter zeal
and a dramatic increase in Islamic consciousness.
This implies, therefore, that Islamic missionary
activities had become mainly the work of Malaysian
defenders of the Faith.
- The other facet of this theory is that Islam was able
to serve as an ideological force or source of identity
integrating Malaysians to present a united force to
resist the introduction of Western ideas which
have come to be regarded as alien compared to the
Islamic ones.
Crusader theory, in brief, propounds that Islam
served as a force counteracting the coming of
Western imperialism and Christian colonization.
Who introduced Islam in Minsupala?
Salsila or tarsila – written genealogies of Sulu
Tu’an Mahsai’ka – the one who brought Islam in
Sulu.
The oral traditions and tarsilas of Sulu also mention
the coming of a certain Karim ul Makhdum, an
Arabic title very common among Sufi missionaries.
It is believed that this Makhdum was responsible for
reinforcing an Islam that was already present on the
island among other foreigners and their local
families on Jolo.
Rajah Baguinda – believed to have arrived on Jolo
around late 14th or early 15th century. It is said that
Baguinda headed a fleet of warriors and settlers
who came to Jolo from Menangkabaw, Sumatra, to
carve out a new principality in the Sulu region. It is
also said that Baguinda would “insinuate himself
into Sulu leadership on the basis of his being a
Muslim like them.”
Mindanao Region
Sharief Muhammad Kabungsuan – the first
Maguindanao Sultanate
– the credit for introducing Islam on mainland
Mindanao was given to him. But, as in the case of
Sulu, Muslim traders or missionaries may have been
present already on Mindanao prior to his arrival. But
because Kabungsuan was the first to consolidate
political power in the Maguindanao and Iranun
territories, it became natural for the Maguindanao,
Iranun and even Maranao people to associate the
introduction of Islam with him. In fact, it was in the
Maguindanao and Iranun areas that the
Maguindanao Sultanate would emerge.
Sulu
- archeological evidence to show that as early as 710
AH or 1310 AD, Muslims were already present on
the island of Jolo
- old grave on Bud Dato, dated 710 AH and
venerated by the local Muslims to be the grave of a
foreign Muslim (probably an Arab) around 13th
century to 14th century C.E.
Peace Message
Apparently, Islam shares many of the same values
with Christianity, a fact that should unify rather than
a divide the two. If a Christian violated Christian
teachings, he personally and individually would be
at fault and not Christianity. The same with the
Muslim: if a “Muslim” violated Islamic teachings
(e.g. honesty, justice, etc.), the error would be his,
not Islam’s.
 Mecca
- becomes a booming oasis town and a center for
trade located at the cross-section of caravan routes.
- Also a thriving pilgrimage town for Pagans.
- Mecca became rich from religious pilgrimages and
trade.
The Prophet Muhammad
- Son of Abdullah, born in Mecca in 570 AD
- Known to his tribe, the Quraysh as al amin, “the
trusted one”
- He could neither read nor write
- At the age of 40, the angel Gabriel came to him and
began the 21-23 years of revelations which became
the Qur’an.
- In Mecca, he is a merchant and becomes known for
his honesty in business.
- Muhammad becomes troubled by the moral ills of
Mecca, specifically with the other merchants.
- One day, while meditating, he hears the voice of
the angel Gabriel (Jibrel) calling him to be the
messenger of God.
- He is terrified and feels unworthy because he is just
an illiterate merchant.
- His wife Khadija encourages him to accept the call.
Khadija will be the first person to convert to Islam.
Qur’an
- means “recitation”
- was revealed to Muhammad from Allah over a 21-
year period by the angel Gabriel.
- the sacred text of Islam and teaches that there is
one God who is all-powerful and compassionate.
- written in Arabic and this shared language has
helped to unite Muslims from many different
regions of the world.
Hijra - Muhammad fled to Medina to escape
persecution in Mecca. This became known as the
hijra.
Sharia – Islamic religious law is contained in the
Sharia, which regulates moral conduct, family life,
business practices, and government. It does not
separate religion from law but applies religious
principles to all legal situations.
2 sects or branches of Islam
1. Sunni – approximately 90%
- believe caliph should be chosen by leaders
of the Muslim community.
2. Shiite – approximately 10%
- believe that only descendants of
Muhammad should rule. Shiite groups have
further split into many sub-groups. Most
Shiites live in Iran, Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen.
Muslim Dress
- Muslims generally observe modest dress, but the
variety of styles and colors have various names
depending on the country.
- The hijab is a square or rectangular piece of fabric
which is folded, placed over the head, and fastened
under the chin as a head scarf.
How did Islam spread so quickly?
- After Muhammad’s death, Muslims chose the
caliph, Abu Bakr and set out on a series of military
campaigns,
- They began converting remaining Arabs to Islam,
which ended warfare and united the Arabs under
one leader.
- The Muslims then defeated the Byzantine and
Persian Empires.
6 articles of faith of Islam
1. Belief in one God (monotheism) – Allah is
Arabic for God
2. Belief in the Angels
3. Belief in God’s messengers – Muhammad
and the ones before him
4. Belief in the Day of Judgement & in the
Resurrection
5. Belief in the Books sent by God – including
the Qur’an, Bible & Torah
6. Belief in Destiny – whatever God does has a
purpose
Muslim Holidays
• Eid’ul Fitr – Culmination of the fasting month
of Ramadhan
• Eid’ul Adha – Feast of sacrifice
• Amun Jadeed – Islamic New Year
• Isra Wal Miraj – Nigh Journey and Ascension
of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
• Maulidan Nabi – birthday of the Prophet
Hinduism vs Islam