Islam questioned

[be_fateh]

[In The Name Of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female, andmade you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know oneanother. Truly, the most honored of you in God's sight is the greatestof you in piety. God is All-Knowing, All-Aware.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Islam is not a new religion, but the same truth that God revealed through all Hisprophets to every people. For a fifth of the world's population, Islam is both a religionand a complete way of life. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, andforgiveness, and the majority have nothing to do with the extremely grave eventswhich have come to be associated with their faith.
WHO ARE THE MUSLIMS?

One billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across theglobe -- from the southern Philippines to Nigeria -- are united by their common Islamicfaith. About 18% live in the Arab world; the world's largest Muslim community is inIndonesia; substantial parts of Asia and most of Africa are Muslim, while significantminorities are to be found in the Soviet Union, China, North and South America, andEurope.
WHAT DO MUSLIMS BELIEVE?

Muslims believe in One Unique, Incomparable God; in the Angels created by Him; inthe prophets through whom His revelations were brought to mankind; in the Day ofJudgment and individual accountability for actions; in God's complete authority overhuman destiny and in life after death. Muslims believe in a chain of prophets startingwith Adam and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses,Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesus, peace be uponthem. But God's final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message and asumming-up of all that has gone before was revealed to the Prophet Muhammadthrough Gabriel.

HOW DOES SOMEONE BECOME A MUSLIM?

Simply by saying 'there is no god apart from God, and Muhammad is the Messengerof God.' By this declaration the believer announces his or her faith in all God'smessengers, and the scriptures they brought.
WHAT DOES 'ISLAM' MEAN?

The Arabic word 'Islam' simply means 'submission', and derives from a word meaning'peace'. In a religious context it means complete submission to the will of God.Mohammedanism' is thus a misnomer because it suggests that Muslims worshipMuhammad rather than God. 'Allah' is the Arabic name for God, which is used by Arab Muslims and Christians alike