WHO ARE THE MUSLIMS?
"And strive in His cause as ye ought to
strive (with sincerity and under
discipline): He has chosen you and has
imposed no difficulties on you in religion;
it is the cult of your father Abraham. It is
He Who has named you Muslims both
before and in this (Revelation); that the
Messenger may be a witness for you and ye
be witnesses for mankind! So establish
regular Prayer, give regular Charity, and
hold fast to Allah! He is your Protector
the Best to protect and the Best to help!"
(Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 22:76)
Muslims constitute over one billion people from a vast range of
races, nationalities and cultures across the globe -- from the
southern Philippines to Nigeria -- united by their common
Islamic faith. About 18% live in the Arab world; the world's largest
Muslim community is in Indonesia; substantial parts of Asia and
most of Africa are Muslim, while significant minorities are to be
found in the Soviet Union, China, North and South America, and
Europe.
A person becomes a Muslim simply by saying "There is no god
apart from God, and Muhammad (pbuh) is the Messenger of God." By
this declaration the believer announces his or her faith in all God's
messengers, and the scriptures they brought.
Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world.
Perhaps this is because religion does not dominate everyday life in
the West today, whereas Muslims have religion always uppermost
in their minds, and make no division between secular and sacred.
They believe that the Divine Law, the Shari'a, should be taken very
seriously, which is why issues related to religion are still so
important.
|
|
|
|
