[size=12][color=blue]Dear Sir

Many thanks for your reply. I'm glad that you are interested in learning
Islam. God bless you and your family. Would you please read the
following script carefully, and let me know your comments and/or
questions.

I'm very pleased to tell you or anyone who is interested in, a little about
Islam. As I wrote in my profile; I'm a Shia Muslim, so my words are
based on Shia's viewpoints.
My original aim here isn't converting the religions of people, but I just
intend to introduce real Islam to safe and logical people who due to
largely false propagandas against Islam, they haven't been able to realize
the realities of Islam.

Unfortunately, right now Islam is pretended by some extremist terrorist

groups like: Al-Qaeda or Taliban.

Many people think that Islam is actually the religion of terror, brutality
and intolerance. While in reality, Islam, as the last divine religion, is full
of peace, kindness, love, respect, logic, knowledge and all other
admirable adjectives and behaviors. This is a commandment of Islam; for
example:[/color][/size]

[size=14][color=green][b] (Holy Quran 16:90) Surely Allah

enjoins the doing of justice and the doing of good (to
others) and the giving to the kindred, and He forbids
indecency and evil and rebellion; He admonishes you that
you may be mindful.[/b][/color][/size]

The following text is a brief

[size=12][color=blue]
introduction to Islam. In spite of that, I hope this
information can be attractive, substantial, and useful to
you. Since English is my second language, you will
notice some weaknesses or mistakes in my English for
which I apologize in advance.
Please feel free and let me know your comments or
questions.
Thankfully
Hussein[/color][/size]

size=16][color=blue][b]Islam]

In the Name of God

The Most Compassionate the

Most Merciful[b][/color][/size]

[size=12][color=blue]Part one; if you are interested in learning more

about Islam, please let me know to send you the second part of this article
too.

First, here are some basics about Islam:

Islamic Greetings
Salamun Alaykum: Peace be upon you[/color][/size]

[size=16][color=purple]What is Islam and who is a Muslim?[/color]

[/size]

[size=12][color=blue]Islam literally means: Submission or surrendering

to God
Muslim is a person who believes in Islam.[/color][/size]

[size=16][color=purple]The Emergence of Islam[/color][/size]

[size=12][color=blue]Literally Islam began with the first prophet; Adam.

In its complete sense, Islam began with the first revelation to Prophet
Muhammad in 25 June 610 AD at the age of 40 (Muhammad was born in
28 April 570 AD)[/color][/size]

[size=16][color=purple]The Main Sources of Knowledge in Islam:

[/color][/size]

[size=12][color=blue]The Holy Quran .

The Hadith (sayings and practical life of the Prophet Muhammad).
[/color][/size]

[size=16][color=purple]The bedrock of Islam: [/color][/size]

[size=12][color=blue]In Theory: Faith in One God, Hereafter and
Prophets.
In Practice: Righteous Deeds.[/color][/size]

[size=16][color=purple]Main Beliefs[/color][/size]

[size=12][color=blue]Monotheism: believing in Unique God who does

not beget nor is He begotten.
Justice of God: believing that God is neither cruel nor unfair.
Prophecy: believing in all God’s Messengers from Adam to Muhammad.
Successors of the Prophet: Imam Ali and his 11 offspring.
Resurrection: believing in the Day of Judgment: Eternity in Hell or
Heaven.[/color][/size]

[size=16][color=purple]Islam in Practice[/color][/size]

[size=12][color=blue]Jurisprudence: Worshipping (Daily Prayers,

Fasting, Charity (Zakat and Khoms), Pilgrimage to Hajj, Jihad, enjoining
good and forbidding evil, befriending friends of God and dissociation
from the enemies of God), only Halal meat is permissible to eat. All types
of intoxicants are forbidden. Gambling is forbidden. Marriage is very
recommended act and divorce is permissible but detested.

The noble social rule in Islam:

“Repel evil with what is best.” (i.e. don’t repel evil with evil)[/color]
[/size]

[size=12][color=purple]Two Main Muslim Denominations:[/color]

[/size]

[size=12][color=blue]Shi’a: Those who believe Prophet Muhammad (P)-

by the divine command- appointed Ali; his son-in-law and cousin, and his
11 offspring ending with Imam Mahdi, as his caliphs.

Sunni: Those who the Prophet (P) did not appoint anyone after himself to
lead the Muslim community.[/color][/size]

[size=16][color=purple]Islamic Calendar and Main Festivals:[/color]

[/size]

[size=12][color=blue]Muslim Calendar is lunar.

Holidays in Islam are holy days.
Eidul-Fitr (celebrating successfully ending the Month of Fasting).
Eidul-Adha (celebrating successfully ending the Hajj pilgrimage).
Eidul-Ghadir (celebration of divine appointment of Imam Ali, by the
Prophet as the authority after him: 70 days prior to Prophet’s demise.).
Ashura ( Commemoration of martyrdom of the grandson of the Prophet;
Imam Husain and his loyal companions). [/color][/size]

Quran, Miracle of Finality

The Holy Qur'an is the everlasting miracle of the last Prophet. The
miracles of the former Prophets like Prophet Ibrahim, Prophet Musa and
Prophet 'Isa, each of whom had a revealed Book and also wrought
miracles, were distinct from their revealed Books. They wrought such
miracles as the transformation of a blazing fire into 'coolness and peace',
the conversion of a dry piece of wood into a serpent and bringing the
.dead to life

Obviously each of these miracles, was temporary and passing. But in the
case of the last Prophet his Book itself was his miracle. It is the proof of
his Prophethood. As such, the miracle of finality, unlike any other
.miracle, is everlasting, not passing nor meant only for the time being

The fact that a Divine Book is the miracle of the last Prophet is absolutely
in conformity with his time, the age of the advancement of science,
knowledge, culture and education. The eternity of this Holy Book is also
in consonance with the eternity of its message which is never to be
.abrogated
The Holy Qur'an in several verses of it has expressly proclaimed this
:extraordinary and superhuman aspect of itself. One of these verses says

If you are in doubt about what We have revealed to Our bondman, "
(then bring a chapter like it." (Surah al-Baqarah, 2:23

It has also expressly mentioned several other miracles wrought by the last
.Prophet
The Holy Qur'an has dwelt on a number of questions related to the
miracles. It declares that a Divine message must be accompanied by some
miracles, that a miracle is a decisive evidence and definite proof, that the
Prophets work the miracles by the will of Allah and that they work them
to prove the veracity of their claim, and that they are not bound to accede
to every request of everybody in this respect. In other words, the Prophets
are not expected to hold an exhibition of miracles or to set up a factory of
.them

As the Holy Qur'an has dealt with these questions, it has also expressly
recounted the stories of the miracles of many of the former Prophets like
Nuh, Ibrahim, Lut, Salih, Hud, Musa and 'Isa, and has categorically
.confirmed them