BRIEF ANSWERS
TO COMMON QUESTIONS
BY NON-MUSLIMS ABOUT ISLAM
1. Brief Definitions of Major Islamic Terms.
2. Why do Muslims pray five times a day?
3. Why is the eating of pork forbidden in Islam?
4. Why do Muslim women wear hijab (veil)?
5. Who is Jesus in Islam?
6. Why do Muslim men can marry up to four wives?
7. Does Islam teach terrorism?
8. Why does beard important to Muslim men?
1. Brief Definitions of Major Islamic Terms
Allah: the
proper name of the one true God, the Creator. Allah is the true God of all
mankind (Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, etc.).
Muhammad: the last Prophet of the one true God (Allah).
Islam: submission to the Will of the Creator, the true God (Allah). One can
attain real happiness and peace of mind only through submission and obedience to
the true God.
Muslim: one who submits to the Will of the true God, Allah (the Creator).
Qur’an: the Word of God revealed to Prophet Muhammad.
Hadith: the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), also includes
his actions and decisions. Back to Top
2. Why do Muslims pray five times a day?
Allah has ordered
the Muslims to pray the five daily prayers (Salah). It is something obligatory
for every Muslim male and female. There are many virtues and benefits of the
prayers.
Among these benefits is that the prayer is obedience to Allah. When a Muslim
obeys Allah and His Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him), Allah in turn shows
mercy to that person. In the Qur-an, Allah says: "And obey Allah and the
Messenger (Muhammad peace be upon him) that you may obtain mercy." [Surah Ali-Imran
3 : 132]
Allah’s mercy is something we are all in need of because it is the only way we
will be saved from His punishment.
By performing the Salah, the Muslim maintains a link between himself/herself and
his/her Lord throughout the day. In the prayer, we can speak with Allah, and ask
Him for guidance and make other duas. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"Indeed, when one of you prays, he speaks privately with his Lord." [Reported by
Al-Bukhari].
The prayer allows us to get closer to Allah and it prevents us from committing
evil during the rest of the day.
It is also a manner of thanking Allah for all the blessings He has bestowed upon
us. Allah has given us everything we have and often we forget about the bounties
we enjoy, thanks to Allah, our Creator and Sustainer. Allah says in the Glorious
Qur-an: "Is then He, Who creates as one who creates not? Will you not then
remember? And if you would count the graces of Allaah, never could you be able
to count them. Truly! Allaah is oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Surah An-Nahl 16
: 17-18]
So we can see that it is Allah's right upon us that He be worshipped. And He,
our Creator, deserves that we show gratitude to Him. If Allah had willed, He
could have ordered us to pray all day long. But He has only ordered five prayers
during the day. This really is not asking for much considering Allah has given
us life, our health, our families, guidance to Islam, and countless other
bounties!
There are many other benefits and wisdoms behind the prayers. The prayer in
itself is a blessing from Allah.
The fact that
consumption of pork is prohibited in Islam is well known. The following points
explain various aspects of this prohibition:
1. Pork prohibited in Qur’an
The Qur’an prohibits the consumption of pork in no less than 4 different places.
It is prohibited in 2:173, 5:3, 6:145 and 16:115. “Forbidden to you (for
food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been
invoked the name of other than Allah.” [Surah Al-Maidah 5:3]
The above verses of the Holy Qur’an are sufficient to satisfy a Muslim as to why
pork is forbidden.
2. Pork prohibited in the Bible
The Christian is likely to be convinced by his religious scriptures. The Bible
prohibits the consumption of pork, in the book of Leviticus “And the swine,
though he divide the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he
is unclean to you”. “Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye
not touch, they are unclean to you.” [Leviticus 11:7-8]
Pork is also prohibited in the Bible in the book of Deuteronomy. “And the swine,
because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you.
Ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass.” [Deuteronomy
14:8] A similar prohibition is repeated in the Bible in the book of Isaiah
chapter 65 verse 2-5.
3. Consumption of pork causes several diseases
The other non-Muslims and atheists will agree only if convinced through reason,
logic and science. Eating of pork can cause no less than seventy different types
of diseases. A person can have various helminthes like roundworm, pinworm,
hookworm, etc. One of the most dangerous is Taenia Solium, which is in lay man’s
terminology called tapeworm. It harbours in the intestine and is very long. Its
ova i.e. eggs, enter the blood stream and can reach almost all the organs of the
body. If it enters the brain it can cause memory loss. If it enters the heart it
can cause heart attack, if it enters the eye it can cause blindness, if it
enters the liver it can cause liver damage. It can damage almost all the organs
of the body. Another dangerous helminthes is Trichura Tichurasis. A common
misconception about pork is that if it is cooked well, these ova die.
In a research project undertaken in America, it was found that out of
twenty-four people suffering from Trichura Tichurasis, twenty two had cooked the
pork very well. This indicates that the ova present in the pork do not die under
normal cooking temperature.
4. Pork has fat building material
Pork has very little muscle building material and contains excess of fat. This
fat gets deposited in the vessels and can cause hypertension and heart attack.
It is not surprising that over 50% of Americans suffer from hypertension.
5. Pig is one of the filthiest animals on earth
The pig is one of the filthiest animals on earth. It lives and thrives on muck,
faeces and dirt. It is the best scavenger that I know that God has produced. In
the villages they don’t have modern toilets and the villagers excrete in the
open air. Very often excreta is cleared by pigs. Some may argue that in advanced
countries like Australia, pigs are bred in very clean and hygienic conditions.
Even in these hygienic conditions the pigs are kept together in sties. No matter
how hard you try to keep them clean they are filthy by nature. They eat and
enjoy their own as well as their neighbour’s excreta.
Source: Dr. Zakir Naik's book, "Non-Mulims' Common Questions About Islam".
Back to Top
4. Why do Muslim women wear veil?
Allah says in the Holy Qur-an: “ And say to the believing women that they
should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display
their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that
they should draw veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to
their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons...” [Surah
An-Nur 24:31]
A Muslim woman wears hijab for the reason that God has commanded it in the Qur-an
and Sunnah. Allah told women to protect their modesty, beauty and their virtues.
Muslim women only cover themselves in front of men who are not direct relatives
(brothers, fathers, and uncles) to prevent indecent acts or thoughts. People
have to understand that we (males and females) are not equal in body image but
we should be equal in rights, in justice. A woman taking off her shirt will not
make her equal to a man; it'll make her lower. Why? Because the woman's body is
created differently.
It is also a benefit to society, as a protection for women, and as a source of
inner peace. Several women, especially converts who started covering, felt men,
even non-Muslim men, approached them more respectfully, did not try to flirt
with them or make “leering” comments, and treated them as ‘persons’ not
‘sex-objects.’ Hijab is a mode of decorous behavior as well, when you're
covered, you're not going to be a flirtatious person.
In the past women were degraded and used as objects of lust. The history says
the fact that the status of women in earlier civilizations was very low to the
extent that they were denied basic human dignity. Islam uplifted women and gave
them equality and expects them to maintain their status.
Suppose two sisters who are twins, and who are equally beautiful, walk down the
street. One of them is attired in the Islamic hijab. The other sister is wearing
western clothes, a mini skirt or shorts. Just around the corner there is a
hooligan or ruffian who is waiting for a catch, to tease a girl. Whom will he
tease? The girl wearing the Islamic hijab or the girl wearing the skirt?
Naturally he will tease the girl wearing the skirt. Such dresses are an indirect
invitation to the opposite sex for teasing and molestation. The Qur-an rightly
says that hijab prevents women from being molested.
Also, it will also reduce the rate of rapes. Hijab does not degrade a woman but
uplifts a woman and protects her modesty and chastity. USA has one of the
highest rates of rape. It is supposed to be one of the most advanced countries
of the world. It also has one of the highest rates of rape in any country in the
world. According to an FBI report, in the year 1990, every day on an average
1756 cases of rape were committed in U.S.A alone. Later another report said that
on an average everyday 1900 cases of rapes are committed in USA. The year was
not mentioned. May be it was 1992 or 1993. May be the Americans got ‘bolder’ in
the following years. Western society falsely claims to have uplifted women. On
the contrary it has actually degraded them to the status of concubines,
mistresses and society butterflies who are mere tools in the hands of pleasure
seekers and sex marketeers, hidden behind the colorful screen of ‘art’ and
‘culture’. Western talk of women’s liberalization is nothing but a disguised
form of exploitation of her body, degradation of her soul, and deprivation of
her honor.
Note: The statistics shown here is from Dr. Zakir Naik's book, "Non-Mulims'
Common Questions About Islam".
Back to Top
5. Who is Jesus in Islam?
Jesus "Isa"
(peace be upon him) in Islam
Muslims do believe that Jesus or Isa (in Arabic language) was sent down as a
Prophet of Allah (God), but he (Jesus) is not God or Lord, nor the son of God.
Muslims do not believe that Isa, also known as Jesus by Christians and others,
is dead or was ever crucified. We believe that he was raised to heaven and is
there, and will descend at the appointed time, end all wars, and bring peace to
the world. Like Jesus, Muhammad (peace be upon him) is also a Prophet and
Messenger. Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the last Prophet, though, and there
is none after him.
What the Holy Qur'an says about Jesus:
"That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the
Apostle of God";- but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made
to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no
(certain) know ledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed
him not. Nay, God raised him up unto Himself; and God is Exalted in Power,
Wise." [Surah An-Nisa' 004:157-158]
As such, Muslims believe that Isa was raised to heaven. According to Hadith, he
is on the second heaven. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned, "During
the Mi'raj(Ascension), I met Isa on the second heaven. I found him of medium
stature, reddish white. His body was so clean and clear, that it appeared as
though he had just performed ghusl (ablution, cleansing of the entire body) and
come." In another Hadith, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned to the
Jews that, "Isa is not dead, he will most surely return to you before the Day of
Judgement (Qiyamat)."
May Allah guide us to the Truth. Amin.
Allah permitted
Muslim men to marry up to four wives, He said in the Holy Quran : “Marry
women of your choice, two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be
able to deal justly (with them), then only one, or (a captive) that your right
hands possess, that will be more suitable, to prevent you from doing injustice.”
[Surah An-Nisa' 4 : 3]
World female population is more than male population. In the USA, women
outnumber men by 7.8 million. New York alone has one million more females as
compared to the number of males, and of the male population of New York
one-third are gays i.e sodomites. The U.S.A as a whole has more than twenty-five
million gays. This means that these people do not wish to marry women. Great
Britain has four million more females as compared to males. Germany has five
million more females as compared to males. Russia has nine million more females
than males. God alone knows how many million more females there are in the whole
world as compared to males. The average life span of females is more than that
of males. By nature males and females are born in approximately the same ratio.
A female child has more immunity than a male child. A female child can fight the
germs and diseases better than the male child. For this reason, during the
pediatric age itself there are more deaths among males as compared to the
females. During wars, there are more men killed as compared to women. More men
die due to accidents and diseases than women. The average life span of females
is more than that of males, and at any given time one finds more widows in the
world than widowers.
Also, restricting each and every man to have only one wife is not practical.
Even if every man got married to one woman, there would still be more than
thirty million females in U.S.A who would not be able to get husbands
(considering that America has twenty five million gays). There would be more
than four million females in Great Britain, 5 million females in Germany and
nine million females in Russia alone who would not be able to find a husband.
Suppose my sister happens to be one of the unmarried women living in USA, or
suppose your sister happens to be one of the unmarried women in USA. The only
two options remaining for her are that she either marries a man who already has
a wife or becomes 'public property'. There is no other option. All those who are
modest will opt for the first.
In Western society, it is common for a man to have mistresses and/or multiple
extra-marital affairs, in which case, the woman leads a disgraceful, unprotected
life. The same society, however, cannot accept a man having more than one wife,
in which women retain their honorable, dignified position in society and lead a
protected life. Thus the only two options before a woman who cannot find a
husband is to marry a married man or to become 'public property'. Islam prefers
giving women the honorable position by permitting the first option and
disallowing the second.
There are several other reasons, why Islam has permitted Muslim men to marry up
to four wives, but it is mainly to protect the modesty of women.
Source: Dr. Zakir Naik's book, "Non-Mulims' Common Questions About Islam".
Islam does not
teach any act of terrorism. Islam teaches submission to the will of one and only
God (Allah), peace, love and charity. The Almighty Allah says in the Glorious
Qur-an: "If any one slew a person - unless it be for murder or for
spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the whole people: and
if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole
people." [Surah Al-Maidah 5:32]
Although there are some Muslims who practice terrorism, it doesn’t mean that
Islam tolerates this bad act. Someone who is truly aware of the world history
will notice that the world’s worst acts of terrorism is not done by Muslims,
here are just some of them:
a. The estimated 21-26 million genocides of Nazi Germany under Hitler, including
the Holocaust during 1933-1945.
b. The estimated 15 million of native Americans killed by Christopher Columbus’
1492 arrival in the New World (America).
c. The estimated 6–30 million war crimes of Imperial Japan during 1930’s–1945.
d. The estimated 6-20 million Atlantic slave trade in Africa and America from
1600’s-1900s.
e. The estimated 27-40 million victims of political repression and forced labor
in China during 1945-1975.
f. The estimated 4-20 million number of Stalin’s victim of Soviet Union during
1932-1953. This is Stalin’s act of genocide, Gulag, political repression.
g. The estimated 3-8million victims of killings, forced labor, tropical diseases
done by Leopold of Belgium in Congo from 1877-1908.
h. The estimated 1-5 million killed Chinese Muslims from 1856-1873.
i. Who started the World War 1 and 2, which killed millions and millions of
soldiers and destroys families and lives? It’s the Germany isn’t it?
And in this present time, what did America doing to Iraq? Afghanistan? They are
destroying many lives and lives everyday, since America hasn’t proven that Osama
bin Laden is the man behind the September 11 attack. And Israel’s acts of
terrorism to Palestine? And to Lebanon? Have you also heard or read the history
of Chechen?
All the terrorism acts mentioned above is very far away compared to what they
are trying to claim that Muslims did this or did that, and remember that most of
what they try to accuse to Muslims are still not proven until now like the
September 11 attack.
The beard is
important to Muslim men since the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) enjoined
them to do so, and it is one of his Sunnah. In Sahih Muslim, Ibn Umar
narrated: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Act against the
polytheists, trim closely the moustache and grow beard.”