ISLAM FOR BEGINNERS BRS 107.pdf - CUEA

*The unbeliever is also marked with certain characteristics: immoral, evildoer, wrongdoer,polytheist, falsehood, transgressor, committing excesses, proud, haughty, insolent,rebellious, hypocrisy, disloyal, who feels no need of God.Response by obedienceMuslims are called to obey God, the prophets and authorities among them. They,therefore, exercise their obedience through good works. Nevertheless they are guided bytwo major principles as to what should be obeyed and what should not: halaal andharaam. (s. 2: 84-85, 168, 172, 230; 3:50, 87; 4: 160-161). *Halaal : that is what islegitimate because it is good, pure like life, wives, properties. *Haraam: that is forbiddenor untouchable or unclean like idols, forbidden meat, wine. From these principles flow agood number of acts of obedience. Commitment to Piety (2:177; being good to parents(6:151-152, avoiding killing, unchaste acts, killing a life that God has made sacred,appropriation of what belongs to orphans,…There are some requirements of obedience*Beliefs: Muslims believe in one God ( la ila illa allah), then they believe in hismessengers, in the book, the angels and the last day. These are the basic elements oftheir faith. But faith must be practiced through the five pillars.*The pillars: Salaat – prayer- (2:177); Sawm –fasting- (2:283-287); Zakat –almsgiving-(2:177); Hajj –pilgrimage- (2:296-203).3 Judgment on the last day (yaum ad-din or yaum al-kiyaamaGod’s initiative, Muslim response by Islam and obedience, acts of faith and practices areall directed to the end of time where everyone will be judged. This means that at the end,there is God’s judgment; there is a reward or a punishment; paradise or hell. So the gooddeeds will be weighed against the bad ones. “The best among you Muslims are thosewho learn the Qur’an and teach it to others ” (Sahih al-Bukhari on the Book of the virtuesof the Qur’an).Frederic N. Mvumbi,OP Page 58 of 85