


              FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE RELIGION OF ISLAM

               This section of the program is meant to be used for
          basic background information on Islamic religion.  It is by
          no means complete, but should give the reader a quick
          overview of some of the practices of the religion of Islam.

               Q.   What is the religion of Islam?

               A.   It is a belief in Allah as the one and only deity
          and that Muhammad (570 - 632 A.D.) is the last Messenger of
          God.

               Q.   How many Muslims are there?

               A.   More than 800 million in the world and
          approximately two million Muslims in the United States.

               Q.   What nations have Muslims making up a majority of
          their populations?

               A.   Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt,
          Libya Algeria, Turkey, Pakistan, Sudan, Nigeria, Syria,
          Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.  Many more nations have
          large Muslim minorities or pluralities, e.g. India, Peoples
          Republic of China, Commonwealth of Independent States to
          name a few.

               Q.   Are there Muslims in America?

               A.   Yes. Immigrants from the nations noted above, and
          the Nation of Islam which is active among blacks.

               Q.   Do Muslims believe in racial superiority?

               A.   No.  Racial superiority of any kind has no
          substantiation in the Quran or the reliable traditions of
          the Prophet.  Islam works very hard to eliminate
          differences based upon race or economic standing.  The
          requirement for Muslims to dress in the same manner on the
          hegira is an example of the faith to treat all equally.

               Q.   Is there a group called "Black" Muslims?

               A.   There are many blacks who are Muslims but they
          are not appropriately referred to as "Black Muslims."  The
          Nation of Islam used to be erroneously referred to as
          "Black Muslims" but they are Muslims as any other followers
          of Islam.  Many Black Americans are members of "The
          American Muslim Mission," also known as, "The World
          Community of Islam in the West."

               Q.   Do Muslims worship Muhammad?

               A.   No.  He is considered a prophet, a vehicle for
          Allah's word.

               Q.   Do Muslims have dietary restrictions?

               A.   Yes.  Muslims are forbidden to eat pork or its
          by- products.  They can eat all seafood.  Muslims can eat
          food-prepared by Christians and Jews as long as they
          pronounce the name of God over it before eating.  Muslims
          are forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages of any kind.

               Q.   What is the Quran?

               A.   The Quran is the sacred scripture of Islam.  It
          was revealed to the Prophet in a series of visions over a
          period of twenty years.  It was originally written in
          Arabic.  The Quran, Hadith, and Sunnah are the foremost
          authorities for Muslims in all matters of faith and
          practice.  The Quran is approximately the size of the
          Christian New Testament.  It is divided into 114 chapters,
          each called a "sura."

               Q.   What are the major tenets of Islam?

               A.   There are five major tenets or "Pillars." They
          are: (1) Belief in Allah as the one and only deity and that
          Muhammad was the last Messenger of God, (2) Prayer five
          times a day, (3) Alms to the poor, (4) Daytime fasting
          during the lunar month of Ramadan, and (5) Pilgrimage to
          Mecca.

               Q.   Are there religious denominations or major
          divisions in Islam?

               A.   Yes.  Islam is divided into two major divisions,
          Sunnites and Shiites.  Most Muslims are Sunnites.  The
          Shiite minority numbers about 20 million.  At present, over
          fifteen Islamic groups exist in the United States.  The
          World Community of Islam in the West, also known as the
          American Muslin Mission, and the Hanafi Muslim movement are
          two of the larger Islamic groups drawing primarily on the
          black or African-American community.  Other groups include
          the Moorish Science Temple, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Movement,
          and the Nubian Islamic Hebrew Mission.

               Q.   What are some of the conditions governing prayer
          (salat)) in Islam.

               A.   Some include: Have the intention of prayer, be in
          a state of cleanliness, face the direction of the Kaaba in
          Mecca, and exalt Allah.

               Q.   Are there other prayers made in Islam?

               A.   Yes.  Formal prayer called salat and
          extemporaneous prayer called dua.

               Q.   Is there a sabbath?

               A.   Not in the Judeo-Christian concept of the term.
          Muslims have a day of congregational prayer (Salat
          al-Jumah) on Friday.  In Muslim countries, shops are closed
          during Salat al-Jumah and later reopened.  Work is
          permitted as usual before and after the time for Friday
          prayer.  Friday has not been prescribed as a day of rest
          but rather of obligatory worship.

               Q.   Can Muslims pray in congregation at any other
          time?

               A.   Yes.  Muslims may pray in congregation during any
          of the five daily periods of prayer, or they may pray
          individually. It is preferable to pray in congregation.

               Q.   Are there Muslim priests or ministers?

               A.   Not in the Christian sense.  There are leaders of
          prayer who are called imams who are chosen by the community
          because of their attributes and knowledge of the Quran.
          Muslims in Iran and central Asia give the general title of
          Mullah to Islamic religious practitioners, scholars and
          dignitaries.  They have other titles for senior religious
          leaders.

               Q.   Are there levels or degrees of Muslims?

               A.   Generally no.  The Quran teaches that all men are
          equal.  In Shia Islam and some other sects that may not be
          the case. Many of their adherents revere their religious
          leaders.  There are hierarchies of religious leaders in
          Shia Islam.

               Q.   Are Muslim men allowed more than one wife?

               A.   Yes, the Quran states that a man may have up to
          four wives, if they can be provided for in all ways
          equitably. Monogamy is most common.

               Q.   What is a mosque?

               A.   A mosque, which can also be called a masjid, is a
          place for congregational worship.

               Q    Which is the correct term, Moslem or Muslim?

               A.   Muslim is more correct because there is no short
          vowel "o" in the Arabic language.

               Q.   What is the Sunnah?

               A.   Sunnah denotes the written work containing the
          model behavior of the Prophet Muhammad and the practices he
          endorsed and the precedents he set.

               Q.   What are the major Islamic holy days?

               A.   There are two major holy days.  (1) Id al-Fitr
          celebrates the end of the month of fasting during Ramadan
          and is usually 3 to 4 days in duration, and (2) Id al-Adha
          which celebrated the end of the pilgrimage in Mecca and is
          usually three days in duration.


