Islamophobia:

Definition of Islamophobia = Hatred/Fear of Muslims or of their politics/culture. 


In other words Islamophobia is prejudice against Muslims and Islam in general. Islamophobia is characterised by the beliefs that Muslims are religious 'fanatics' and have violent/dangerous tendencies towards non-Muslims. 


Ever since the 8th Century, the fear and discrimination of Muslims existed to some degree. For example, the September 11th terrorism attack has lead to an increase of Islamophobial in the Western world; therefore Islam is often associated with terrorism.   

In the UK and the rest of the western world, Islamophobia is a problem; especially in the media. 

        

The Mosque

A mosque is a kind of  building where people who follow the Islamic faith worship God. The first mosques were built around 700 AD when the Arabs first conquered Jerusalem and other parts of West Asia. One of the earliest mosques is the 'Dome of the Rock' in Jerusalem. 


The architecture of Mosques really depends on where the mosque was built and there are many different styles. Most mosques have a minaret (a tall tower) where the muezzin climbs up the steps inside the tower everyday 5 times a day to sing out the call to prayer. 


The most known Mosque is probably the one in Mecca, where the Hajj starts. 

Prayer can be done privately, indoors or outdoors. Although almost every community provides a space/building for prayer. When you look through photographs of mosques around the world, you notice a lot of variation. As I've mentioned above building materials and design depend on the culture, heritage, and resources of each local Muslim community. 

In a mosque there is of course a prayer room and women and men are separated to avoid any kind of distraction. Before prayer Muslims are required to take their shoes off before entering the prayer room. To keep the Mosque clean but also to provide a 'pure' atmosphere. Most Mosques have a 'dome' shape to them and that is to remain the Mosque cool and insulated. 

Women in Islam:

Women Rights in Islam: 
In Arabia, before Islam women were treated like slaves/property. Their personal consent concerning anything relating their well-being was considered unimportant. Therefore women had no independence and were the equivalent to property and were not allowed to inherit. 


Islam gives the following rights to women: 
Islam considers a woman to be equal to a man as a human being and as his partner in life. In the words of Prophet Muhammad: ''Assuredly, women are the twin halves of men." 
Islam does not blame Eve alone for the First Sin, the Qur'an makes it clear that both Adam and Eve were tempted and therefore both sinned and both forgiven after their repentance. 


A Muslim woman gets to keep here family name after marriage; a Muslim woman also has the right to seek divorce, if necessary within the laws of Islam. 


Does a woman in Islam has the right to get and education? 
Yes, a woman in Islam has the right to knowledge and education. Allah encourages women to read and keep up the learning process. 


Why does a Muslim woman required to dress a certain way when she goes out in public? 
A Muslim woman dresses in a modest way as an expression of a universal 'sisterhood'. An Islam Hajib dress also liberates the Muslim woman, and she is then automatically respected for her mind not her body.

The Holy Book: Qur'an

The Qur'an is the holy book of Islam. It is believed to be the word of Allah (God) as told to prophet Muhammad. The Qur'an is meant to be the word of God as it was given, therefore it is in Arabic. For Muslims it is the most important book in the world. It is not translated except for study and people learn it in Arabic as well. 

Dealing with the Qur'an...

-Before one touches the book, the person has to perform a ritual washing or ablution. Beginning with washing the face, secondly the two hands up to the elbow must be washed. To be followed by washing part of the head and finally the washing of the two lelgsl up to the ankles. 

-Muslims are expected to listen attentively while the Qur'an is being read. 

-To make it easier to read so that Muslims can pay attention to the meanings of the Qur'an ad special book stand called 'rihal' is used to keep it of the floor in respect of the Holy Book. 

The Qur'an is covered with cloth to keep it clean and protect it. 

It is kept on a high shelf with nothing above it. 

Before some readers will read it they touch their forehead with the book and kiss the cover. 

The Qur'an was given to prophet Muhammad over a time period of 23 years (13 years while he was in Mecca and 10 of them while he was in Medina.) The longest chapters of the Qur'an are at the beginning of the book and shorter ones are at the end. Children start memorising the Qur'an with the smaller chapters towards the end. 

The 1st chapter of the Qur'an is recited in  every prayer. For Muslims, it is as important as the Lord's Prayer for Christians. 

Prophet Muhammad

Brief Biography Timeline: 

• 570 CE Prophet Muhammad was born 
• 575 CE Muhammad became an Orphan 
• 578 CE Muhammad came to Mecca in care of an Uncle 
• 580-594 CE (Muhammad's teenage years) while being a young boy, Muhammad worked as a shepherd to help pay his keep. In his teens he also sometimes traveled with Abu Talib who was a merchant accompanying caravans to trade centres. 
• 595-609 CE (Muhammad's marriage and family life) in 594 CE Muhammad entered the service of a wealthy Meccan merchant widow called Khadija. Later on, Khadija was impressed with Muhammad's honesty and character which led on to the two marrying. At the time he was 25 while she was almost 40. During their marriage Muhammad continued to manage Khadija's business works; and their following years were pleasant and prosperous. They had 6 children, 2 sons who unfortunately died in early, and four daughters. 
• 610 CE Muhammad received his first revelation in a mountain cave outside Mecca. It was several years until he dared to speak about it outside his family. 
• 613 CE Muhammad takes his message public. After several similar experiences, he finally began revealing the messages to his tribe. These messages were gathered verse-by-verse and later would become the Qur'an. 
• 622 CE Muhammad and the Muslims Emigrate to Medina. In 622 Muhammad and his few hundred followers left Macca and traveled to Yathrib, the Oasis town where his father was buried. Muhammad remained there for the following 6 years building the very first Muslim community and gradually gathering more and more people to Islam. 
• 625-628 CE The military period. The Meccans did not take Muhammad's new success lightly. 3 major battles in the next 3 years took place. Out of these Muslims won the first, lost the second and outlasted the third. A treaty was signed between the two sides. Meccan allies however disobeyed the treaty just a year later. 
• 630 CE The conquest of Mecca 
• 630-632 CE Muhammad's final years. Muhammad returned to live in Medina and in the next 3 years he developed most of the Arabian Peninsula under Islam. In March 632 he returned to Mecca for the last time; to perform a pilgrimage and thousands of Muslims joined him. After the pilgrimage Muhammad returned back to Medina. 3 months later on June 8th 632 CE he passed away there, after an illness. He is buried in the mosque in Medina. 

Muhammad in the Qur'an: 

Surprisingly prophet Muhammad is the least mentioned prophet in the Qur'an; he is mentioned 4 times only. 

1. "Muhammad is not but a messenger. Other messengers have passed on before him. ..." [Quran, chapter 3, verse 144]
٠
2. "Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah, of all things, Knowing. (40)" 
[Quran, chapter 33, verse 40]

3. " And those who believe and do righteous deeds and believe in what has been sent down upon Muhammad - and it is the truth from their Lord - He will remove from them their misdeeds and amend their condition. (2)" 
[Quran, chapter 47, verse 2]

4. "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves...." 
[Quran, chapter 48, verse 29] 

The Prophets:

In the Islam religion it is believed that Allah sent prophets to humans, during different time periods and places to pass on his message. In other words, God sent His guidance through these chosen people (prophets). 


Muslims believe that every single on of the prophets instructed and guided their people about how to properly worship God and live their lives. Since in Islam God is One his message has been one and the same throughout time. 


"The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one of them believes in God, His angels; His books and of course His Messengers. They say: "We make no distinction between one and another of His Messengers.' And they say: "We hear, and we obey. We seek Thy forgiveness, Our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys." (Al-Baqarah 2:285) -What the Qur'an tells about the prophets. 


In the Qur'an there are 25 prophets mentioned by name, however Muslims believe that there were many more in different times and places. Among the prophets that Muslims honour are: 

• Adam
• Idris (Enoch)
• Nuh (Noah)
• Hud
• Saleh
• Ibrahim (Abraham)
• Isma'il (Ishmael)
• Ishaq (Isaac)
• Lut (Lot)
• Ya'qub (Jacob)
• Yousef (Joseph)
• Shu'aib
• Ayyub (Job)
• Musa (Moses)
• Harun (Aaron)
• Dhu'l-kifl (Ezekiel)
• Dawud (David)
• Sulaiman (Solomon)
• Ilias (Elias)
• Al-Yasa (Elisha)
• Yunus (Jonah)
• Zakariyya (Zechariah)
• Yahya (John)
• 'Isa (Jesus)
• Muhammad

Muslims honour the prophets by reading about them and learning from them plus they respect all of the prophets. Many Muslims name their children after prophets.

The 5 Pillars of Faith (The Hajj)

The Five Pillars: 
The 5 pillars are the 5 duties each Muslim has to perform. The five pillars of Islam help them put their faith into action. 
These 5 duties are: 

• Shahadah: declaration of faith
  "I bear witness that there is no god, but God; I bear witness that Muhammad is the prophet of God." By reciting this, a person can enter the Islamic faith.
• Salah: prayer
  Muslims are required to pray five times a day, washing themselves before prayer and facing in the direction of Mecca while praying.
• Zakat: giving a fixed proportion to charity
  Muslims are required to give away a percentage of their earnings to less fortunate people, regardless of their religion.
• Saum: fasting during the month of Ramadan
  Muslims fast for one lunar month each year, a period called Ramadan. During this time, Muslims reflect on their behaviour and aim to purify their thoughts.
• Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca
  If it is financially possible, Muslims are required to travel to Mecca once in their lifetime.

Carrying the five pillars out shows that the Muslim is putting faith first.