for any muslims out there???

Question

i have this friend at school who is muslim. i just wanna know some of the basic facts or beliefs about this religion. also, im curious about ramadan. please dont give me a website to look at cause i wanna hear it in peoples own words. whats it like to grow up being a muslim if youre 13?

thanx!

Answer 1

As you can see, asking this question here is, unfortunately, a bad idea. I hate to say it, but you're WAY better off with a web page. Try wikipedia--it tries to be neutral, at least. Sorry, I know you didn't want to hear this response, but you won't get good answers on Y!A--too many jerks like me who want to give fake answers.

Answer 2

Muslims believe that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is His prophet. Islam stresses that there is one God (the same God of Judaism and Christianity) and that Muhammad is the last prophet in a long line of prophets that includes Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. The first sentence of this response is also known as the shahada, the basic belief of Islam (also one of the five pillars of Islam). The second pillar is salah, which is the requirement to pray five times a day at set times. The third pillar is zakat, where individuals give one fortieth of their accumulated wealth to charities (specifically to help widows and orphans). The fourth pillar is sawm, that one should fast from sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramadan. The fifth pillar is hajj, in which one makes a pilgrimage to Mecca is one can afford it.

I am glad that you are trying to understand the religious background of your classmate. If more people had your attitude, the world would be a better place.

Answer 3

We believe in the One God(Allah)who is not begot or begotten and has nothing like HIM.We believe in holy books Torah,Bible and Koran as revealed by God(Allah).We believe in all prophets of Allah beginning with Adam then Noah,Abraham,Ishmael,Issac,Jacob,Moses,Jesus ,Mohammed and others(peace be upon them all).We believe in Jesus as a prophet and messenger of God not a God or a son of God.We believe that He didn't claim that.Wee believe in the Angels and the day after.These are 5 columns of faith.There are also 5 columns of worshiping:Admitting no God but Allah and Muhammed is his messenger,Praying,Fasting,Giving poor Zak at and Hagg(visiting Kaaba in Mac ca).Fasting means to fast in Ramadan,which is The 9th month in the Arabic calender(used by all Muslims) .It begins-like other Arabic months -by the appearance of the Moon cres-cent.The aim of fasting is to have pity on the poo rs.

Answer 4

note: ignore the troll right above

Basic beliefs : we believe in all the Prophets of God (Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammed).

We believe in all the Holy Books (the Torah, The Bible and the Quran)

We believe in the Day of Judgement.

We Worship The One God (The God of Abraham)

We don't worship Jesus as God, but we worship GOD as God, and we believe that Jesus did not claim to be God but that people have changed his message through the years, God tells us in the Quran that Jesus was a messenger and a Prophet of God:

People of the Book, do not go beyond the bounds in your religion, and say nought as to God but the Truth. The messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only the messenger of God, and his word (Fulfilment of his word (Fulfilment of His command, through the word "Be", for the creation of Jesus) that he committed to Mary, and a spirit originating from Him (was given life by God). So believe in God and His Messengers, and say not 'Three'. Refrain, better is for you. God is only one God. Glory be to him-that He should have a son! To Him belongs all that is in the Heavens and in the Earth; God suffices for a guardian.

"And when God said, 'O Jesus, son of Mary, did you say unto men, "Take me and my mother as gods, apart from God"? He said, 'To you be glory! It is not mine to say what I have no right to. If I indeed said it, you would have known it, knowing what is within my heart, though I do not know your knowledge; you know the things unseen. I only said to them what you did commands me: "Serve God, my God and your God." (Al-Maida 5-116)

and we don't believe that Jesus was crucified, because God tells us in the Quran that he saved Jesus from the Romans Soldiers:

"And for their unbelief, and their uttering against Mary a grave false charge, and for their saying, 'We killed the messiah, Jesus son of Mary, the Messiah of God"…yet they did not slay him, neither crucified him, only a likeness of that was shown to them. Those who are at variance concerning him are surely in doubt the following of conjecture; and they did not kill him of certainty…no indeed; God raised him up to Him; God is Almighty, Allwise. There is not one of the people of the book but will assuredly believe him before his death, and on the Resurrection Day he will be a witness against them." (An-Nissa 4:156-159)

As for what it's like being muslim and 13, I'm 18 so I can't really answer that but I don't think there's a specific description that one can give, that's like asking ''what's it like being a Christian if you're 13''... when you're 13 you're a kid ! but Muslim parents usually encourage their children to read the Quran / perform Prayers at a young age.

If you're really interested you can actually get a free Copy of the Quran to read :

http://www.freekoran.com/

Answer 5

Islam means "Submission to the will of Allah". Muslims accept the Quran as the

word of God revealed to Prophet Mohammaed (peace be upon him). Islam states that

Allah sent messengers and prophets throughout theages with the message of the

Unity of God and accountability in the Hereafter. Islam thus makes it an article

of faith to believe in the earlier prophets starting with Adam and including

Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, John, Jesus and many others

(may peace be on them all).

The Most Concise Definition of God is Islam is given in four verses of Surah

Ikhlas which is Chapter 112 of the Holly Qur'an:

1. "Say: He is Allah, The one and Only.
2. "Allah, the Eternal, Absolute.
3. "He begets not, nor is He begotten.
4. "And there is none like unto Him."
[Holy Qur'an 112:1-4]

The word 'Assamad' is difficult to translate. It means 'absolute existence'

which can be attributed only Allah, all other existense being temporal or

conditional. It also means that Allah is not dependent on any person or thing

but all persons and things are dependent on him.


The Muslims prefer calling Allah, instead of the English word 'God'. The Arabic

word Allah is pure and Unique, unlike the English word 'GOD' which can be played

around with.

If you you add 's' to the word GOD, it becomes 'Gods', that is the plural of

God. Allah is one and singular, there is no plural of Allah. If you add 'dess'

to the word God, it become 'Goddes' that is a female God. There is nothing like

male Allah or Female Allah. Allah has no gender. If you pre-fix tin before the

word God, it become tin-God i.e. fake God. Allah is unique word and which does

not conjure up any mental picture nor can it be played around with.Therefore the

Muslims prefer saying 'Allah'.

But sometimes while speaking to non-Muslims we may have to use the inappropriate

word God for Allah.


GOD DOES NOT BECOMES A HUMAN BEING
Some people argue that God can do everything, then why can't He take human from?

If God wishes He can become a human being. But then He no longer remains God

because the qualities of God and Human beings in many respects are completely

incompatible. The following paragraphs will show the absurdity of the idea of

the idea of God becoming a human being.

God is immortal and human beings are mortal. You can't have a God-man i.e. an

immortal being, and at the same time and in the same entity. It is meaningless.

God does not have a beginning while human beings have a beginning. You can't

find a person have a beginning and at the time no beginning. Human being has a

end. You can't have a being which has no end and an end at the same time. It is

meaningless. God Almighty does not require to eat whereas human being require

nourishment to sustain life.

"And He it is that Feeds but is not fed."
[Holly Qur'an 6:14]

But He - the Living, The Self-subsisting, Eternal.
No slumber can seize Him Nor sleep. His are all things In the heavens and on

earth." [Holly Qur'an 2:255]


The Five Pillars of Islam

1) Faith | 2) Prayer | 3) The 'Zakat'
4) The Fast | 5) Pilgrimage (Hajj)



They are the framework of the Muslim life: faith, prayer, concern for the needy,

self-purification, and the pilgrimage to Makkah for those who are able.

1) FAITH

There is no god worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is His messenger. This

declaration of faith is called the Shahada, a simple formula which all the

faithful pronounce. In Arabic, the first part is la ilaha illa Llah - 'there is

no god except God'; ilaha (god) can refer to anything which we may be tempted to

put in place of God - wealth, power, and the like. Then comes illa Llah: 'except

God', the source of all Creation. The second part of the Shahada is Muhammadun

rasulu'Llah: 'Muhammad is the messenger of God.' A message of guidance has come

through a man like ourselves.



Shahada inscribed at Ottoman Topkapi Palace, Istanbul.
2) PRAYER
Salat is the name for the obligatory prayers which are performed five times a

day, and are a direct link between the worshipper and God. There is no

hierarchical authority in Islam, and no priests, so the prayers are led by a

learned person who knows the Quran, chosen by the congregation. These five

prayers contain verses from the Quran, and are said in Arabic, the language of

the Revelation, but personal supplication can be offered in one's own language.

Prayers are said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall, and thus

determine the rhythm of the entire day. Although it is preferable to worship

together in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost anywhere, such as in fields,

offices, factories and universities. Visitors to the Muslim world are struck by

the centrality of prayers in daily life.

A translation of the Call to Prayer is:

God is most great. God is most great.
God is most great. God is most great.
I testify that there is no god except God.
I testify that there is no god except God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Come to prayer! Come to prayer!
Come to success (in this life and the Hereafter)!
Come to success!
God is most great. God is most great.
There is no god except God.
New Mexico, U.S.A.
Prayer Call from Abiquiu Mosque.

Adhan


3) THE 'ZAKAT'
One of the most important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God,

and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The word zakat means

both 'purification' and 'growth'. Our possessions are purified by setting aside

a proportion for those in need, and, like the pruning of plants, this cutting

back balances and encourages new growth.

Each Muslim calculates his or her own zakat individually. For most purposes this

involves the payment each year of two and a half percent of one's capital.


Zakat keeps the money flowing within a society, Cairo.
A pious person may also give as much as he or she pleases as sadaqa, and does so

preferably in secret. Although this word can be translated as 'voluntary

charity' it has a wider meaning. The Prophet said 'even meeting your brother

with a cheerful face is charity.'

The Prophet said: 'Charity is a necessity for every Muslim. ' He was asked:

'What if a person has nothing?' The Prophet replied: 'He should work with his

own hands for his benefit and then give something out of such earnings in

charity.' The Companions asked: 'What if he is not able to work?' The Prophet

said: 'He should help poor and needy persons.' The Companions further asked

'What if he cannot do even that?' The Prophet said 'He should urge others to do

good.' The Companions said 'What if he lacks that also?' The Prophet said 'He

should check himself from doing evil. That is also charity.'

4) THE FAST
Every year in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from first light until

sundown, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations. Those who are sick,

elderly, or on a journey, and women who are pregnant or nursing are permitted to

break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year. If they

are physically unable to do this, they must feed a needy person for every day

missed. Children begin to fast (and to observe the prayer) from puberty,

although many start earlier.

Although the fast is most beneficial to the health, it is regarded principally

as a method of self purification. By cutting oneself off from worldly comforts,

even for a short time, a fasting person gains true sympathy with those who go

hungry as well as growth in one's spiritual life.

5) PILGRIMAGE (HAJJ)
The annual pilgrimage to Makkah - the Hajj - is an obligation only for those who

are physically and financially able to perform it. Nevertheless, about two

million people go to Makkah each year from every corner of the globe providing a

unique opportunity for those of different nations to meet one another. Although

Makkah is always filled with visitors, the annual Hajj begins in the twelfth

month of the Islamic year (which is lunar, not solar, so that Hajj and Ramadan

fall sometimes in summer, sometimes in winter). Pilgrims wear special clothes:

simple garments which strip away distinctions of class and culture, so that all

stand equal before God.


Pilgrims praying at the mosque in Makkah.
The rites of the Hajj, which are of Abrahamic origin, include circling the Ka'ba

seven times, and going seven times between the mountains of Safa and Marwa as

did Hagar during her search for water. Then the pilgrims stand together on the

wide plain of Arafa and join in prayers for God's forgiveness, in what is often

thought of as a preview of the Last Judgment.

In previous centuries the Hajj was an arduous undertaking. Today, however, Saudi

Arabia provides millions of people with water, modern transport, and the most

up-to-date health facilities.


Pilgrim tents during Hajj.
The close of the Hajj is marked by a festival, the Eid al-Adha, which is

celebrated with prayers and the exchange of gifts in Muslim communities

everywhere. This, and the Eid al-Fitr, a feast-day commemorating the end of

Ramadan, are the main festivals of the Muslim calendar.

Answer 6

i'm a muslim..err..but i'm really bad in english so i don't know how to say it...

sorry..

Answer 7

I am 64 old Muslim with 2 daughters, 2 sons and five grand children. Because I am retired and have plenty of time, I try to help those who wants to know about Islam. I give only right information about Islam who wants to know.

I and my wife grew up in Muslim country but all my children were born and raised in USA. For children it is absolutely important to learn Islam at Sunday schools of a Islamic Center. My daughters and sons had no problems gorwing up in this country because we gave them strong faith in believing one and only God, praying God five times a day, and taught them all what is right and what is wrong to observe and to avoid. Gone chose Mohammad a man from highest noble family in Mecca Saudi Arabia 1400 years ago when he was 40 years old. God made Mohammad Messenger of God to teach his followers all what God sent him the knowledge of Islam through an Angel named Gabriel. We worship God and not Mohammad. We believe he was Messenger of God to teach us what God wanted Mohammad to teach the messages that God sent him. Muslims believe that what ever we do good and bad, we will face consequences of our bad deeds and God will rewards us by letting us live in heaven eternally for ever and ever if we lived our life on earth by rules of God and did good deeds and were always good to other people, never hurt any one physically or abuse verbally. We must also worship God five times a day. It is usually short prayer of to to 15 minutes. One can pray any where in a clean place. We do not need to go to Mosque to pray five times. There are few more things that a Muslim must do in his life which either I will teach you or if you get to Islamic School they will teach you.
My daughters never dated with any one and married whom we suggested. They are living happily wih their husbands and their children in USA.
For every child in USA it is extremely important that their parents take them to Islamic school run by Islamic Centers in most large and medium cities. There are full time schools and nearly all Masjids(Mosques) have Sunday Schools to teach children all about Islam and daily religious prctices in life. It is the simplest religion. It teaches that there is only God worthy to be worshiped and Mohammad is Messenger of God, Divine Revelation (the Book ) God sent to Mohammad is called Quran which means 'TO READ'. Every word of Quran is God's word. As God revealed to Mohammmad slowly litle at a tike in 23 years, he memorized every word of Quran and had his companions memorized and written down. Greatest miracle of Quran is the language and the way God speaks in it in Arabic. Even if one doesn't know Arabic language he/she can memorize the messages in Quran. This is the greatest miracle of Quran. We are not Arabic speaking people. But we all can memorize parts of Quran to read during our daily prayers or entire Quran if we make an effort to memorize it. We read Quran with English translation to understand what God instructs us to do and what He prohibits us to do. Quran was completed in 23 years of Prophethood of Mohammad. He was given Prophethood at age 40, and ended at his age 63, when he died. But Quran was completed and memorized by hundreds of believers before Prophet Mohammad died.

You asked about Ramathan. God commands in Qurn to all Muslims to observe fasting for one month every year. We eat what ever we like nearly two hours before sun rises. We get a timing sheet from Islamic Centers OR from Islamic web sites on internet that tells exact time to eat for starting the fast and at what time to end the fast. We break our fast when sun sets in evening and eat and drink what ever we like. Because timings of sun rise an sun set change by a minute or two in a day depending of the months of year. We use the time sheet available in Islamic centers. All day we can not eat or drink any thing at all. We break our fast every day when sun sets.

We fast for God so God gives us patience and perseverance to our body and mind and our soul. First one or two days we feel little hunger or thirst or forget we are fasting and drink innocently which is OK as long as we didn't eat or drink intentionally knowing that we are fasting today. Our bodies adjust very quickly and rest of the month we never feel even slightest difficulty fasting every day. God has prohibited Muslims for using alcohols, eating Pork- the meat of pig and drinking blood of any animals. Also the meat of animals that eat other animals is prohibited. For example meat of cat, dog, lion and also meat of birds that eat other birds. We can eat meat of only birds and animals that are vegeterians. Muslims observe dietary regulations very strictly. We can eat poultry, lamb, fish, beef etc., and all vegetables that we like. Nothing else is prohibited out of all four good groups. In Muslim countries alcoholic beverages are not even available for Muslims. Muslims observe the rules no matter in which country they live.

Muslim girls and boys are not supposed to flirt, kiss or have sex with boys any one older until they are maried. Breaking this rule is a great sin punishable by Gkod on the Day of Judgment. I shall explain more about Day of Judgement later. Girls are supposed to dress modestly covering themselves from head to toe. Modest dressing protects them from vulchers. I mean boys who want to prey on girls. .
Most boys and men give special respect to girls who dress modestly obeying commands of God to whom they believe to be the creator of heavesn and earth and every thing in between. Such females get special blessings from God and that makes all people respect them and they never try to bather such females younger or older.

When my son was growing in school, he never used swearing words, respected all boys and girls. For this reason he was well respected student in school. He never dated or had sex with any girl. He liked a girl in our own community and asked us to marry with her and we arranged entire marriage for him buying jewellry and wedding dresses etc. for our grand daughter. We married our girls whom they were introduced and happen to like. Forcing sons and daughters to marry whom they choose is prohibited in Islam. Some uneducated parents violate the God's laws and force their children to marry whom they like. But that is against the teaching of God in Quran and our Prophet Mohammad also.
Such parents will have to face God and answer God for marrying their sons and daughters against their wishes.

Boys are not supposed to wear shorts higher than their knees and dress themselves properly. They must respect all people older than them no matter what religion they belong to. Islam teaches us that all girls must be looked at like our sisters except whom we marry. Girls look and address to boys when necessary calling them Brother...so and so. So boys don't get any wrong ideas. If a Muslim boy and a Muslim girl happens to like each other, they get married with the blessing of their parents as long as both are Muslims.
What ever you want to know about Islam, write me or chat with me on yahoo Messenger at: [e-mail]
Every girl or boy to me are like my children. God willing I will help you in what ever help you need learning Islam.

You need to havve your parents contact me first, so they know me and you have their permission to learn Islam from me. As I said it is best that you attend a Sunday School near by to Learn Islam. I will show a web site, in which you can find a Mosque or Islamic School in your area by writing on the search strip your home address. This is Islamic tradition that you address a male calling him Brother or Uncle if he is older than you. So when you write me or address on phone call me Uncle Majeed. Since you are not adult yet, It is better you let your parents read my this post and get their permission to talk to me.

May Allah (God) protect you and show you the right path that leads to heaven in hereafter. Wasalam.