The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Islam

407 Pages·2008·9.24 MB·English

by  Yahiya Emerick

Understanding
Islam
by Yahiya Emerick
A Pearson Education Company
Contents at a Glance
Part 1: Introducing Islam 1
1 Why Has Islam Become So Important? 3
Get to know who Muslims are and why there has been
such a misperception about them.
2 Food for the Soul 17
Learn who Allah is, what Islam teaches about Him, and
what Islam says about genies and magic.
3 Looking at Life the Islamic Way 27
Discover how Islam views human nature and what hap-
pens to people who were good or evil in this life according
to Islam.
4 All About Allah 37
Compare Islam’s understanding of God with Judaism and
Christianity.
Part 2: The Spiritual World in Islam 47
5 The Four Stages of Life in Islam 49
Learn about the four stages of life in Islam and what
Islam says about the sanctity of life in the womb.
6 Islam on Heaven and Hell 63
Learn what will happen on Judgment Day, why everyone
must pass over a bridge to get to Heaven, and why Hell is
not forever for everybody.
7 In the Beginning … An Islamic Perspective 75
Read about the Qur’an’s version of “In the beginning ….”
8 The Measurement of Life 89
Learn why Muslims are not taught to be fatalistic, despite
popular stereotypes.
9 From Adam to Armageddon 99
Discover how Islam explains the spread of humanity all
over the Earth and what Muslims believe about
Armageddon and the return of Jesus.
Part 3: The Five Pillars of Islam 111
10 Declaring Faith in Islam 113
Become acquainted with the five pillars of Islam and what
they mean in the daily life of a Muslim.
11 Understanding Muslim Prayers 123
Discover what’s actually going on in the ritualistic Muslim
prayers and what Muslims are praying for.
12 Elevating the Soul 139
Discover why charity and fasting are an integral part of
the Islamic method for self-improvement.
13 Gathering in Mecca 151
Follow Muslims on their annual pilgrimage to the desert
city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
14 Uncovering the Real Story About Jihad 165
Learn why jihad is so misunderstood among Muslims and
non-Muslims.
Part 4: Islam and Other Religions 177
15 It’s All in the Prophets 179
Discover the way in which Islam promotes religious toler-
ance all over the world.
16 Jews in Islam 191
Learn about the history of Jewish-Muslim relations and
how Islam protected the Jews for over a thousand years.
17 Christianity and Islam 201
Rediscover Jesus—from the viewpoint of Islam.
Part 5: Regulating Life Within the Laws of Islam 215
18 Exploring the Sources of Islam 217
Read more about the Qur’an and the other sources of
Islamic teachings that Muslims consult.
19 Living Islam 233
Find out how Islam strives to build an ordered society that
is beneficial to all people in the community.
20 Looking at Women in Islam 249
Discover the role of women in an Islamic society and how
Islam has been one of the most progressive systems for
promoting women’s equality.
Part 6: The History of Islam 267
21 Muhammad in Mecca 269
Discover the man who would alter human history forever
with the cry that there is no god but God.
22 The Victory of Islam 279
Learn how (and why) Islam transformed traditional Arab
culture.
23 The Rightly Guided Successors 287
Find out why Islam was able to expand so rapidly from
Arabia into the Middle East. Learn about the first Muslim
civil war and why it occurred.
24 Islamic Civilization: The Dynastic Period 297
Explore the wonders of Islamic history and the great
achievements that were produced in the arts, literature,
and philosophy.
25 Islam in America 309
Find out how Europe came to dominate the entire Muslim
world in only 300 years and how the legacy of Coloni-
alism has shaped current world events for Muslims.
Part 7: The Legacy of Islam 319
26 Discover the Influences of Islam 321
Discover how Islam has touched your life in ways you
never would have expected.
27 Meet the Islamic Sectarian Movements 331
Meet the different sects currently flourishing in the
Muslim world.
28 Islam in World Affairs Today 343
Learn about the misuse of Islam by political factions and
how to read what’s really going on.
Appendixes
A The Islamic Calendar 355
B Common Prophets in the Qur’an 357
C Further Reading 359
D Glossary 365
Index 373
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Contents
Part 1: Introducing Islam 1
1 Why Has Islam Become So Important? 3
The Muslims Are Coming! ..................................................4
Why Didn’t I Learn More About Islam in School? ............5
Muslims, Muslims Everywhere! ..........................................7
Does Islam Encourage War? ................................................9
Muslim Missionary Efforts ................................................10
How Did Muslims Get There? Thank the British! ..............11
Is There Really a Clash of Civilizations? ..........................12
Bridging the Next Gap ......................................................13
2 Food for the Soul 17
The Core Beliefs of Islam ..................................................18
We All Have the Same God ..............................................18
The Universe Is Muslim! ....................................................20
Aladdin Rubbed the Wrong Lamp ....................................21
Touched by an Angel ........................................................22
Accepting the Burden ........................................................22
Was God Right to Make Us? ..............................................23
Soul Soup ..........................................................................24
Our Compass Points Inward ..............................................24
Can You Stand on One Leg? ..............................................26
3 Looking at Life the Islamic Way 27
The Three-Fold Journey ....................................................28
The Animal in All of Us ....................................................28
Stepping Up to the Plate ....................................................29
The Supreme Achievement ..................................................30
Sin and Redemption ..........................................................30
How Does God Forgive? ....................................................31
Law and Order ..................................................................32
Everything Counts When It Counts ....................................32
The Last Payday ................................................................33
Our Report Card ................................................................34
There’ll Be Hell to Pay ......................................................34
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Islam
4 All About Allah 37
God and Hollywood ..........................................................38
There Is Only One God ....................................................39
Does God Show Himself to Us? ..........................................39
Islam on God ....................................................................40
Pagan Arab Beliefs Before the Coming of Islam ..............41
The Qur’an Speaks ..............................................................42
Man and God ....................................................................42
Do Muslims Believe in Original Sin? ................................43
How Close Is Close? ..........................................................44
Allah Has Many Names ....................................................45
Part 2: The Spiritual World in Islam 47
5 The Four Stages of Life in Islam 49
Four Lives for Each Life ....................................................50
Life in the Womb ..............................................................50
Abortion and Islam ............................................................51
Islam and Contraception ....................................................52
When Is a Fetus a Person? ................................................52
Life in the World ..............................................................54
Does God Try to Fool Us? ..................................................55
Careful! You’re Being Watched ..........................................55
Life in the Grave ................................................................58
Spirit on a Wing ................................................................58
Soul Storage ......................................................................59
6 Islam on Heaven and Hell 63
Why Have a Judgment Day? ............................................64
The Long Arm of the Law ..................................................64
When Will It Come? ..........................................................65
The Judgment Cometh ........................................................67
Allah Is Merciful ................................................................68
The Bridge over Hell ..........................................................68
Use Your Time Wisely ........................................................70
The Gardens of Paradise ....................................................70
No Dancing with the Devil Here! ....................................72
Why Does God Punish? ....................................................74
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Contents
7 In the Beginning … An Islamic Perspective 75
The Creation of the Universe ............................................76
Allah’s Notebook ................................................................76
Creation in the Qur’an ........................................................77
Six Days and Still No Rest ..................................................78
Islam and Evolution ..........................................................79
Adam and Eve: A New Perspective ....................................81
An Implausible Theory ......................................................83
The Angels Had Us Pegged ..................................................83
The Education of Adam ......................................................84
The First Racist ..................................................................84
The Great Test ....................................................................86
Pass It On ..........................................................................87
8 The Measurement of Life 89
Destiny, Fate, or Free Will—Which Is It? ..........................90
It’s Not Written in the Stars ..............................................90
Watching Time Go By ........................................................91
All Things Great and Small ................................................92
What You Can and Can’t Do ............................................93
Living Free of All Worry ......................................................94
Peace from the Pulpit ..........................................................95
9 From Adam to Armageddon 99
No Tower of Babel Here....................................................100
The Rise of the Prophets ..................................................101
How Religion Becomes Lost ..............................................102
The Cycle of History..........................................................103
The End Is Near! ..............................................................104
Prophecies About the Muslim World ................................105
The Signs of the Hour ......................................................106
The False Prophets ..........................................................107
The Rule of Jesus ..............................................................108
Gog and Magog ................................................................109
The Last Day ....................................................................109
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The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Islam
Part 3: The Five Pillars of Islam 111
10 Declaring Faith in Islam 113
Introducing the Five Pillars of Islam ..............................114
The Shahadah ..................................................................115
Uncompromising Monotheism ..........................................115
Are Muslims Idol-Breakers? ..............................................116
And Muhammad Is His Prophet ......................................119
Expressions of Respect ......................................................120
The Welcoming Tie ..........................................................121
11 Understanding Muslim Prayers 123
Supplication Versus Prayer ..............................................124
Why Do We Pray? ..........................................................126
The Benefits of Prayer ......................................................126
The Seven Preconditions ..................................................127
Cleanliness Is Next To … ................................................128
The Muslim Call to Prayer................................................128
Humble Pie ......................................................................131
The Prayer Described ......................................................133
Remembrance of God ......................................................136
12 Elevating the Soul 139
The Burden of Wealth ......................................................140
Bah! Humbug! ..................................................................141
Who Must Pay Zakat? ......................................................143
Who Gets Zakat Assistance? ............................................144
The Sin of Denying Your Brother........................................144
The Fast of Ramadan ......................................................145
Welcoming Ramadan ......................................................146
Wake Up! It’s Time for Sahoor ..........................................146
The Month of Training ....................................................148
13 Gathering in Mecca 151
Introducing the Hajj Ritual ............................................152
The Origin of a Holy Place ................................................153
Why Do Muslims Go to Mecca? ........................................155
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Contents
The Rituals of Hajj ............................................................157
On to Mecca! ....................................................................158
Nothing Like Being There ..................................................159
Crew Cut, Anyone? ..........................................................161
Continuing the Journey......................................................162
14 Uncovering the Real Story About Jihad 165
What Is Jihad? ..................................................................166
Social Activism in Islam ..................................................167
The Myth of the Holy War ..............................................169
A Historical Misunderstanding ..........................................169
A False Alarm ..................................................................171
Islam on War ..................................................................171
What Makes a Terrorist? ..................................................172
Islam and Terrorism ........................................................174
The Rules of War ............................................................174
Part 4: Islam and Other Religions 177
15 It’s All in the Prophets 179
All Prophets Are Brothers ................................................180
Will the Real Prophet Please Stand Up ..........................181
Introducing the Prophets in Islam ..................................183
Looking at the Characteristics of the Prophets ..............185
Abraham and Muhammad ..............................................186
Moses Learns a Lesson ....................................................187
Prophethood Is a Men’s Club, but Revelation Is Equal ......187
Prophets on Judgment Day ..............................................188
The Books of God ............................................................188
16 Jews in Islam 191
The People of the Book ..................................................192
Judaism and Islam ..........................................................192
The Qur’an on Judaism ..................................................196
The Only Muslim-Jewish War ........................................197
Jews in the Muslim Empire ............................................199
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