| Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad; in the Sacred Books including the Torah, the Gospel of Jesus, the psalms and the Qur'an; and in the Day of Judgment). b Ù To respect the moral and legal codes of Islam which permeates all areas of human life. c Ù To observe the basic duties of worship, namely: i. To proclaim the shahadah (confession of the faith). ii. To perform the mandatory five daily prayers on time. iii. To fast the month of Ramadan, the 9th in the lunar calendar, from dawn to sunset. iv. To pay (to the poor) Zakat (taxes or religious tithes on certain properties), including the zakat due at the end of Ramadan. v. To perform pilgrimage in Mecca, at least once in lifetime. The religion of Islam is based on the Glorious Qur'an, the Sacred Book of Islam. In addition, Hadith, i.e., the words and practices of the Prophet Muhammad, serve as a second source which unfolds and interprets the Qur'anic text. PRACTICES AND BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS: Islam emphasizes good conduct, chastity, charity and honest dealing. It also stresses equality and justice to all. A Muslim is to strive to always do what is good and avoid what is evil. The weekly holiday is celebrated on Friday, annually the following holiday and festivals are celebrated. (Since the Muslim (Lunar) calendar is eleven days less than the Gregorian calendar every year, these holidays do not present permanent dates on the regular calendar. The New Year's Day Ashura Maulid-An Nabi (The birthday of the Prophet) Isra' and Mi'Raj (Anniversary of the Night Journey of the Prophet and his Ascension to Heavens) Nisfu Sha'Ban (Middle of Sha'ban) Beginning of the month of fasting (1 Ramadan) Lailatul-Qadr (Eve of 27 Ramadan) Idul-Fitr (The Feast marking the end of Fasting) Waqfatu "Arafat (Pilgrims assemble on 'Arafat) Idul-Adha (The Feast of Sacrifice) During the month of fasting the meal schedule has to be adjusted, providing a predawn light meal and a post sunset breakfast meal. Muslim prefer to begin this breakfast meal with dates. At the end of the month a small charity must be given away to the poor (as alms) on behalf of each Muslim soul. (In addition, an adult Muslim needs the means to pay a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his life.) ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: There are "religious" scholars who, in view of their academic attainment, can answer inquiries and are regarded as authorities on theological questions. ROLE OF MINISTERS: "Religion" scholars, know as Imams in America, assume religious responsibilities, deliver sermons, lead in prayers, render counsel, and officiate at conversion and marriages. WORSHIP: Any Muslim can conduct the service; the deeper his knowledge the more entitled to do so. Group worship is recommended for each of the five daily prayers, but is obligatory in the case of the noon prayer on Fridays. Minimum "equipment" for worship includes a pre-prayer ablution with pure water and cleanliness of the body, clothes and place of prayers. A prayer mat or rug is desire able for prayers. During the Friday congregation at noon a platform from which a sermon is to be delivered may be needed. Friday noon prayers should be held and attended in a mosque or a suitable building. All other prayers can be carried out in any other clean facility or place as long as the worship per is facing the east while praying. DIETARY LAWS OR RESTRICTIONS: Only pork and its derivatives, as well as intoxicating liquors and harmful drugs, are forbidden. FUNERAL AND BURIAL REQUIREMENTS: The presence of any Muslim or Muslims at the Moment of death is desirable. Burial requirements include full washing of the body, shrouding, funeral prayer service and burial. Autopsy is not allowed unless required by law. Cremation is not allowed. MEDICAL TREATMENT: No restrictions, except when it entails consumption of intoxicants. OTHER: The Muslim position on service in the armed forces is that it is a duty for the purpose of defense. There are no practices or teachings which would conflict with military directives, unless a Muslim is compelled to eat during the daytime of Ramadan or is denied the chance to observe his prayer duty, and provided that no killing of innocent people or women or children occurs. Islam's relationship to other religions is cordial. Islam acknowledges past religions, teaches tolerance and respect of the adherents of other religions, guarantees safety of their blood, properties and churches, and forbids proselytizing by compulsion. No active effort is made for recruitment. Members of the faith in a locality aggregate and form societies and establish their centers. Conversion to Islam in America has been going on voluntarily as the result of the awareness by people of the merits of Islam through chance contacts or reading. GENERAL SOURCE BOOKS: Chirri, Iman Mohamad Jaw, ed. Inquiries About Islam. Detroit: Islamic Center of Detroit, 1980. 197pp. Lalljee, Yousef N. Know Your Islam. Elm Hurst, NY: Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an, Inc., 1986. 255pp. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Shi'a Association in America 108 5363 62nd Dr. Forest Hills. NY 11375 |
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| Black Rose Spiritual Center, Inc : Belief Systems |
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| Shi'a Islam |
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| ADDRESS: No central headquarters. For information: Islamic Center of Detroit 15571 Joy Rd. Detroit, MI 48228 MEMBERSHIP: Not reported. [Editor's note: The number of Shi'a Muslims, estimated from immigration figures form predominantly Shi'a Muslim nations, is in the hundreds of thousands.] HISTORICAL ORIGIN: Islam was transmitted through the Prophet Muhammad who was born in the Arabian town of Mecca in A. D. 570. He started to preach Islam in the same town in A. D. 610. In 622 he emigrated to Medina, 280 miles north of Mecca, where Islam flourished and continued to grow. By 632, when the Prophet died, Islam dominated all the Arabian peninsula. The principal point on which Shi'a Islam differs from Sunni Islam (the majority of Muslims are Sunni) is by its tracing a line of religious authority from the Prophet through the descendants of His son in law, Ali. Muslims began to emigrate to the U.S. in the beginning of the 20th century. Mostly they came from the Middle East, although some came as seamen from Asia, first settling in port cities. The number of emigrants progressively increased since the First World War, bringing in Russian and other Muslim nationalities, and soon. Muslim groups and societies began to spring up. Since then Islam also began to win local converts through zealous Americans who came into contact with Islam during the war. Islamic centers and mosques started to be established in the early 1950s. BASIC BELIEFS: a Ù To hold fast to the creed of Islam (belief in God, in His Unity and other Divine Attributes; ; in the Angels, in all the Messengers of God including Adam, Noah, |
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