The religion of Islam

Q 1: On how many things does Islaam base?

A. Islaam is based on five things:
1.    To testify that there is no true deity except Allah   and that Hadrat Muhammad (may Allah’s   choicest blessings & peace be upon him) is His chosen servant and true Messenger.
2.    To establish/offer prayer five times a day.
3.    To pay poor due.
4.    To perform Hajj.
5.    To observe fasts in the holy month of Ramadan.

Q 2: What are the testifying words of Islaam?

A. “Ashhadu Allaaa Ilaaha Illal Laahu wa Ashhadu Anna Muhammadan ‘Abduhoo wa Rasooluh. (I bear witness that there is no true god save Allah and I bear witness that (Hazrat) Muhammad [peace be upon him] is the chosen servant and (true) Messenger of Allah).

Q 3: Is it enough to say Kalimah-e-shahaadat by the tongue only to be a Muslim?

A. Mere expression of Kalimah-e-Shahaadat is not enough to become Muslim but to testify and confirm it and all other essentials of Islaam with all  heart is the prerequisite to be a Muslim. He must also believe in the fact that Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) is true in all his words and deeds. His no action and word should smack of any insolence or blasphemy against Allah Almighty and the Holy Prophet.

Q 4: How a dumb man should express his embracing of
Islaam?

A. Since a dumb can not speak he should communicate by gesture that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and Hadrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His chosen servant and true Messenger and that Islaam through and through is the truth.

Q 5: What are the prerequisites of Islaam without believing therein one can not be a Muslim?

A. The prerequisites of Islaam are well-known like belief in ”Tauheed” (Oneness of Allah) Prophethood of all (true) Prophets, Paradise, hell, Doomsday, resurrection of dead etc. and to firmly believe in Hadrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the Last Prophet and that there will be no Prophet after him.

Q 6: Is he Muslim or not who claims to be a Muslim but denies any of the essentials of Islaam?

A. No, such a person who claims to be a Muslim but denies any of the essentials of Islaam or has beliefs unlike the beliefs of Islaam is neither Muslim nor he belongs to Muslim community.

Q 7: What is ”Nifaaq” (hypocrisy)?

A. To claim to be a Muslim by the tongue but to deny Islaam at heart is ”Nifaaq”. It is stark infidelity. Such people will be consigned to the worst torment in hell.

Q 8: Can anyone be called ”Munaafiq” (hypocrite) in the present time?

A. We can not identity or say anybody ”Munaafiq” with certainty. However, a sort of ”Nifaaq” is found in the present age that some disbelieving and misguided people claim to be Muslim but deny the essential (s) of Islaam.