INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM
The literal meaning of Islam is peace; surrender of one’s will i.e. losing oneself for the sake of God and surrendering one’s own pleasure for the pleasure of God. The message of Islam was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) 1, 400 years ago. It was revealed through angel Gabriel (on whom be peace) and was thus preserved in the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran carries a Divine guarantee of safeguard from interpolation and it claims that it combines the best features of the earlier scriptures. The prime message of Islam is the Unity of God, that the Creator of the world is One and He alone is worthy of worship and that Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) is His Messenger and Servant. The follower of this belief is thus a Muslim - a Muslim’s other beliefs are: God’s angels, previously revealed Books of God, all the prophets, from Adam to Jesus (peace be on them both), the Day of Judgement and indeed the Decree of God. A Muslim has five main duties to perform, namely; bearing witness to the Unity of God and Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) as His Messenger, observing the prescribed prayer, payment of Zakat, keeping the fasts of Ramadhan and performing the pilgrimage to Mecca. Islam believes that each person is born pure. The Holy Quran tells us that God has given human beings a choice between good and evil and to seek God’s pleasure through faith, prayer and charity. Islam believes that God created mankind in His image and by imbuing the attributes of God on a human level mankind can attain His nearness. Islam’s main message is to worship God and to treat all God’s creation with kindness and compassion. Rights of parents in old age, orphans and the needy are clearly stated. Women’s rights were safeguarded 1,400 years ago when the rest of the world was in total darkness about emancipation. Islamic teachings encompass every imaginable situation and its rules and principles are truly universal and have stood the test of time. In Islam virtue does not connote forsaking the bounties of nature that are lawful. On the contrary one is encouraged to lead a healthy, active life with the qualities of kindness, chastity, honesty, mercy, courage patience and politeness. In short, Islam has a perfect and complete code for the guidance of individuals and communities alike. As the entire message of Islam is derived from the Holy Quran and indeed the Sunnah and Hadith (the traditions and practices of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings on him) it is immutable in the face of change in time and place. It may appear rigid to the casual eye, in actual fact it is most certainly an adaptable way of life regardless of human changes. Islam teaches that the path to spiritual development is open to all. Any individual who searches the One Creator can seek nearness to God through sincere and earnest worship; it is central to establishing a relationship with the Almighty. This positive message for humanity fills hearts with hope and courage. At present there are 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide and they form the majority in more than 50 countries of the world. Today Islam is the fastest growing faith in the world - its beautiful message is reaching millions in the far corner of the earth.
Attributes of AllahAllah is the proper name of God, however, we know Him generally through His attributes. These attributes describe how Allah manifests Himself to us. God's attributes are innumerable since human intellect cannot possibly comprehend every aspect of the Supreme Being. A Hadith of the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) makes mention of Ninety Nine names of Allah commonly known as al- Asmaul Husna, the Most Names. In the Holy Quran we read: "And to Allah alone belong all perfect attributes. So call Him by these. And leave alone those who deviate from the right way with respect to His Attributes." (7:181). "Allah - there is no God but He, the Living, the Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining. Slumber seizes Him not, nor sleep. To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that will intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them; and they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He pleases. His knowledge extends over the heavens and the earth; and the care of them burdens Him not;and He is the High, the Great." (2:256) Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is a lustrous niche, wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a glittering star. It is lit from blessed tree - an olive - neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would well-nigh glow forth even though fire touched it not.Light upon light! Allah guides to His light whomsoever He will. And Allah sets forth parables to men, and Allah know all things full well.This light is now lit in houses with regard to which Allah has ordained that they be exalted and that His name be remembered in them, Therein is He glorified in the mornings and the evenings (24:36-37) "He is Allah, and there is no God beside Him, the Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is Gracious, the Merciful.He is Allah, and there is no God beside Him, the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace, the Bestower of Security, the Protector, the Mighty, the Subduer, the Exalted. Holy is Allah far above that which they associate with Him.He is Allah, the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner. His are the most Beautiful Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifies Him, and He is the Mighty the Wise.(59: 23-25) Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Holy Prophet (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Allah has ninety nine Names, one hundred less one; and who memorized them all by heart will enter Paradise." (Bukhari, The Book of Tauhid.
Chronology of Events in the Life of Muhammad (PBUH)
Contributed by: Dr. Rasheed S. Aazzam
source:www.islam.comThe Holy Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, peace be upon him, born an orphan His father Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, had died a few months before the birth of his son. 0 years 9 or 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal 52 or 53 BH April 570 or 571 AD Hadrat Halima Sadiyya, may Allah be pleased with her, appointed wet nurse. 8 days Return to Mecca under the care of his mother 6 Years 46 BH 577 AD Mother, Hadrat Amina, may Allah be pleased with her, passes away 6 Years 46 BH 577 AD Grandfather, Hadrat Abdul-Muttalib, may Allah be pleased with him, died 8 Years 44 BH 579 AD First visit to Syria with a trading caravan 12 years 40 BH, 583 AD 12 Years 40 BH 583 AD Pledge of Fudul to help the needy and the oppressed 15 Years 37 BH 586 AD Second journey to Syria for trade as an agent of Hadrat Khadija, may Allah be pleased with her 25 Years 28 BH 595 AD Marriage with Hadrat Khadija, may Allah be pleased with her 25 Years 28 BH 595 AD Birth of a son, Hadrat Qasim (may Allah be pleased with him) 28 Years 25 BH 598 AD Birth of his daughter, Hadrat Zainab, may Allah be pleased with her 30 Years 23 BH 600 AD Birth of his daughter, Hadrat Ruqayya, may Allah be pleased with her 33 Years 20 BH 603 AD Birth of his daughter, Hadrat Um-e-Kalthum, may Allah be pleased with her 34 years 19 BH 604 AD Renovation of Ka'aba and the placement of Hajr-e-Aswad (Black Stone) 35 years 18 BH 605 AD Birth of his daughter, Hadrat Fatima, may Allah be pleased with her 35 years 18 BH605 AD Hadrat Jibrail bought the First Revelation in the Cave of Hira 40 Year 12 BH 610 AD Revelation of the Holy Quran continues, Ministry of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is established. Hadrat Khadija (the wife), Hadrat Abu Bakr (the best friend), Hadrat Ali (the dearest cousin) and
Hadrat Zaid (a freed slave and adopted son), may Allah be pleased with
them all, accept Islam40 Years 6 months Friday18 Ramadan 12 BH 14 August 610 AD Open invitation to the people of Mecca to join Islam under Allah's command 43 Years 9 BH 614 AD A group of Muslims emigrates to Abyssinia 46 Years 7 BH 615 AD Blockade of Shi'b Abi-Talib 46 Years 7 BH 30 September 615 AD Hadrat Hamza (paternal uncle) and Hadrat Umar, may Allah be pleased
with them, accept Islam46 Years 6 BH 616 AD Hadrat Abu Talib, (beloved uncle and guardian) and only a few days later, Hadrat Khadija, the most beloved wife, may Allah be pleased with them, passed away 49 Years Ramadan 3 BH January 619 AD Marriage with Hadrat Sau'da, may Allah be pleased with her 49 Years 3 BH 619 AD Marriage with Hadrat Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her 49 Years 3 BH 619 AD Journey to Ta'if, about 40 miles from Mecca, for calling the citizens of Ta'if
to Islam49 Years 3 BH 619 AD Journey of Mi'raj. Five daily prayers made obligatory for Muslims 50 Years 27 Rajab 2 BH 8 March 620 AD Deputation from Medina accepts Islam 50 Years 2 BH 620 AD First Pledge of 'Aq'ba' 52 Years Dhul Haj, 1 BH 621 AD Second Pledge of 'Aq'ba 52 Years 3 months BH June 622 AD Hijra (migration) from Mecca to the cave of Thaur 52 Years Friday 27 Safar 10 September 622 Emigration to Medina begins 52 Years Monday 1 Rabi-ul-Awwal 13 September 622 AD Arrival at Medina after the first Friday Prayer at Quba's Mosque 53 Years 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1st year AH 24 September 622 AD Construction of the Holy Prophet's Mosque at Medina. Hadrat Bilal's call
for Prayer (Adhan)53 Years 1st year AH 622 AD Brotherhood pacts between Ansar (Muslims from Medina) and Muhajirin (immigrants from Mecca) 53 Years 1st year AH 622 AD Treaty with Jews of Medina 53 Years 1st year AH Permission to fight in self-defense is granted by Allah 53 Years 12 Safar 2 AH 14 August 623 AD Ghazwa (Battle) of Waddan 53 Years 29 Safar 2 AH 31 August 623 Ghazwa (Battle) of Safwan 54 Years 2 AH 623 AD Ghazwa (Battle) Dul-'Ashir 54 Years 2 AH 623 AD Hadrat Salman Farsi, may Allah be pleased with him, accepts Islam 54 Years 2 AH 624 AD Revelation and change of Qibla (direction to face for Formal Prayers, Salat) towards Ka'ba Fasting in the month of Ramadan becomes obligatory 54 Years Sha'abn 2 AH February 624 A Ghazwa (Battle) of Badr 54 Years 12-17 Ramadan 2 AH March 8-13, 624 AD Ghazwa (Battle) of Bani Salim 54 Years 25 Ramadan 2 AH 21 March 524 AD Initiation of Eid-ul-Fitr and Zakat-ul-Fitr (Alms at the Eid-ul-Fitr). 54 Years 28 Ramadan / 1 Shawwal 2 AH 24/25 March 624 AD Zakat becomes obligatory for Muslims 54 Years Shawwal 2 AH April 624 AD Nikah and Marriage ceremony of Hadrat Fatima, may Allah be pleased
with her54 Years Shawwal 2 AH April 624 AD Ghazwa (Battle) of Bani Qainuqa' 54 Years 15 Shawwal 2 AH 10 April 624 AD Ghazwa (Battle) of Sawiq 54 Years 5 Dhul-Haj 2 AH 29 May 624 AD Ghazwa (Battle) of Ghatfan 54 Years Muharram 3 AH July 624 AD Ghazwa (Battle) of Bahran 55 Years Rabi-us-Sani 3 AH October 624 AD Marriage with Hadrat Hafsa, may Allah be pleased with her 55 Years Shaban 3 AH January 625 AD Ghazwa (Battle) of Uhad 55 Years 6 Shawwal 3 AH 22 March 625 Ghazwa (Battle) of Humra-ul-Asad 55 Years 8 Shawwal 3 AH 24 March 625 AD Marriage with Hadrat Zainab Bint Khazima, may Allah be pleased with her 55 Years Dhul-Haj 3 AH May 625 AD Ghazwa (Battle) of Banu Nudair 56 Years Rabi-ul-Awwal 4 AH August 625 AD Prohibition of Drinking in Islam 56 Years Rabi-ul-Awwal 4 AH August 625 AD Ghazwa (Battle) of Dhatur-Riqa 56 Years Jamadi-ul-Awwal 4 AH October 625 AD Marriage with Hadrat Um-e-Salma, may Allah be pleased with her 56 Years Shawwal 4 AH March 626 AD Ghazwa (Battle) of Badru-Ukhra 56 Years Dhi Qad 4 AH April 626 Ghazwa (Battle) of Dumatul-Jandal 57 Years 25 Rabi-ul-Awwal 5 AH Ghazwa (Battle) of Banu Mustalaq Nikah with Hadrat Jawariya bint Harith, may Allah be pleased with her 57 Years 3 Shaban 5 AH 28 December 626 AD Marriage with Hadrat Zainab bint Hajash, may Allah be pleased with her 57 Years Shawwal 5 AH February 627 AD Revelation for Hijab, rules of modesty 57 Years 1 Dhi Qa'd 5 AH 24 March 627 AD Ghazwa (Battle) of Ahzab or Khandaq (Ditch) 57 Years 8 Dhi Qa'd 5 AH 31 March 627 AD Ghazwa (Battle) of Bani Quraiza 57 Years Dhul-Haj 5 AH April 627 AD Ghazwa (Battle) of Bani Lahyan 57 Years 1 Rabi-ul-Awwal 6A H 21 July 627 AD Ghazwa (Battle) of Dhi Qard or Ghaiba 58 Years Rabi-ul-Akhar 6 AH August 627 AD Treaty of Hudaibiyya 58 Years 1 Dhi Qa'd 6 AH 13 March 628 AD Prohibition of Marriage with non-believers 58 Years Dhi Qa'd 6 AH March 628 AD Marriage with Hadrat Habiba, may Allah be pleased with her 58 Years Dhul-Haj 6 AH April 628 AD Invitation sent to various rulers to accept Islam 58 Years 1 Muharram 7AH May 628 AD Ghazwa (Battle) of Khaibar Return of Muslims from Abyssinia. Marriage with Hadrat Safiyya, may Allah be pleased with her. Ghazwa (Battle) of Wadiyul-Qura and Taim. 58 Years Muharram 7 AH June 628 AD Performance of Umra (Umratul-Qada) Marriage with Hadrat Maimuna, may Allah be pleased with her 59 Years Dhi Qa'd 7 AH March 629 AD Hadrat Khalid bin Walid and Hadrat Umar bin Al-'Aas, may Allah be pleased with both, accept Islam 60 Years Safar 8 AH June 629 AD Ghazwa of Muta 60 Years Jamadi-ul-Awwal 8 AH August 629 AD Ghazwa (Battle) of Mecca and Fall of Mecca 60 Years 10 Ramadan 8 AH 1 January 630 AD Ghazwa (Battle) of Hunain (or Autas or Hawazan) and Ghazwa (Battle) of br>Ta'if 60 Years Shawwal 8 AH January 630 AD Arrival in Ja'rana Deputation from Hawazan accepts Islam 60 Years 5 Dhi Qa'd 8 AH 24 February 630 AD Regular establishment of Department of Zakat (Alms) and Sadaqa
(Charity), and appointment of administrative officers60 Years Muharram, 9 AH April 630 AD Deputation from Ghadra accepts Islam 60 Years Safar 9 AH May 630 AD Deputation from Balli accepts Islam 61 Years Rabi-ul-Awwal, 9 AH June 630 AD Ummul-Muminin Hadrat Mariya, may Allah be pleased with her, gave birth
to a son, Hadrat Ibrahim, may Allah be pleased with him61 Years Jamadi-ul-Akhar, 9 AH August 630 AD Ghazwa (Battle) of Tabuk, the last great battle lead by the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him 61 Years Rajab, 9AH October 630 AD Ordinance of Jizya, tax on non-believers seeking protection from Muslims and exemption from military service in defense of the country they were
living in as its citizens61 Years Rajab 9 AHOctober 630 AD Pilgrimage journey of Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddique, may Allah be pleased with him 61 Years Dhi Qa'd, 9 AHFebruary 631 AD Hajj (pilgrimage of Ka'ba in Mecca) made Obligatory by Allah Interest is prohibited in Islam 61 Years Deputation Tai, Hamadan, Bani Asad and Bani Abbas, all accept Islam Deputation from Ghuttan accepts Islam 62 Years Ramadan, 10AH 631 AD Departure from Medina for Mecca for Hajjatul-Wida (Farewell Pilgrimage) 62 Years 25 Dhi Qa'd 10 AH 23 February 632 AD Entry into Mecca for Hajjatul-Wida (Farewell Pilgrimage) 62 Years 4 Dhul-Haj 10 AH 1 March 632 AD Hajjatul-Wida, departure for 'Arafat, Farewell Sermon Received the last revelation from Allah 62 Years Friday 9 Dhul Hajj 10 AH 6 March 632 AD Return from Mana, Hajjatul-Wida 62 Years 13 Dhul-Hajj 10 AH 10 March 632 AD Arrival of deputations from Nakha' Last deputation received by the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him 62 Years 15 Muharram 11 AH 11 April 632 AD Sarya Usama bin Zaid, may Allah be pleased with him, last successful military mission during the Holy Prophet's life 62 Years 28 Safar 11 AH 24 May 632 AD The Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, falls ill 62 Years Monday 29 Safar 11 AH 25 May 632 AD The Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, lead the last Salat four days before his departure from this world 62 Years Wednesday 8 Rabi-ul-Awwal 11 AH 3 June 632 AD The Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, offered his last Prayer in
congregation in the Mosque lead by Hadrat Abu Bakr, may Allah be
pleased with him63 Years Monday 12 Rabi-ul-Awwal 11 AH 7 June 632 AD The Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, passed away 63 Years Inna lillahe wa inna elaihe rajioon Janaza (funeral) Prayer and burial 63 Years Wednesday 14 Rabi-ul-Awwal 11 AH 9 June 632 AD
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