What isIslam?
Islam derives from the Arabic word for peace. Islam is a monotheistic religion that is built upon a simple phrase, the shahada:
أشهد أن لا إله إلاَّ الله و أشهد أن محمد رسول الله
“I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”
Currently, there are nearly 2 billion people worldwide that believe in Islam. Islam is not just a belief, it is a way of life. Islam guides us in all of our affairs through Allah, the one and only Lord of the universe. The backbone of Islam consists of the 5 pillars of Islam and the 6 articles of faith.
Who areMuslims?
People who follow Islam are called Muslims (and no, it’s not muzlims). In Arabic, the word Muslim means one who surrenders or submits to Allah. The very essence of Islam is surrendering your desires, your sins, your life, and your soul for Allah. We believe that He knows what is best for us. So many find it difficult to submit to Allah, but in doing so we actually free ourselves.
Who wasProphet Muhammad(PBUH)?
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) was the last seal of prophethood and the last messenger of Allah. In Islam, we do not believe that Muhammad (PBUH) was divine, rather, he was a human being sent as an example for all of humankind.
What is the Quran?
The Quran, also known as The Book, The Criterion, The Reminder, and The Guidance, is the holy book of Islam. It is filled with 114 chapters, varying from religious laws, guidance, warnings, and historical examples to learn valuable lessons from. The Quran is one of the holy books sent down by Allah, the previous ones being the Torah, the Bible, the Psalms, and the Scrolls. However, as Muslims, we believe that these books were corrupted, and tampered with by mankind. The Quran is the ultimate miracle and book of guidance because Allah swore that he would protect it:
Many disbelievers back then argued that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) wrote the Quran. However, our prophet was illiterate! It was impossible for him to have written it, as we know the Quran brought down from Allah, through Angel Jibreel, to prophet Muhammad. There are endless scientific, phonetic, and literary miracles stated in the Quran, further proving its divinity.
How can I learnmore?
We’ve barely scratched the surface about Islam! There is so much to learn, and all Muslims, no matter how old or young, always have more to learn and apply to their lives. There are a plethora of resources, starting with MSA! We want to introduce you all to our new chaplain who will be here to answer any of your questions! Please feel free to reach out to her with any questions, regardless if you are a Muslim or a non-muslim.
MSA’s New Chaplain:Faduma Warsame
Ustadha Faduma Warsame is a University of Minnesota alumnus with a Bachelors in English. An avid volunteer and community organizer, Faduma found her passion for community service and supporting programs for Muslim women and youth at a young age. This passion led her to Dallas where she enrolled and recently graduated from Qalam Seminary’s five-year alamiyyah program. She is the Assistant Director of Strive Sisterhood, an Islamic learning center for Muslim Women and was a member of the 2018 Deeply Rooted Emerging Leaders Fellowship through the Muslim Wellness Foundation. Faduma also works as a Research Departmental Coordinator at Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research. To better serve and be an asset to herself and community, Faduma would like to pursue a graduate degree in counseling and is pursuing training and certification in chaplaincy and spiritual care as a CPE intern at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.
Gmail: chaplainfaduma@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faedubya/
The next best thing would be to contact your local mosque and find the religious leader (imam) to talk with. The Quran has plenty of information, and even just listening to a recitation can soothe your soul! Finally, there are amazing YouTube channels with loads of information, feel free to click any of the ones below. May Allah guide you on your search for knowledge!
If you’ve got time, watch this classic animated movie about how Islam began!