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Islam began between 610 and 632 C.E. in Mecca
and Medina through the revelations and teachings of Mohammed,
referred to as “The Prophet,” written in Arabic
in the Qur’an. Though translated into other languages,
the Qur’an is officially studied only in Arabic because
of its divine revelation to The Prophet.
There are five pillars in Islam:
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There is no god but God/Allah and
Mohammed is the prophet of Allah
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There is a call to ritual prayer five
times a day
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Alms are to be given to the poor and
vulnerable
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Fasting is required from dawn to sunset
during the month of Ramadan
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During one’s lifetime, a Muslim
should complete the “Hajj” if possible. “The
Hajj” is a pilgrimage to Mecca and ends with the
Festival of Sacrifice, which all Muslims celebrate. It
is a symbol of joining those who have completed the Hajj,
as well as a time to remember Ibrahim’s attempt
to sacrifice Ishmael, which was stopped by Allah, who
provided a sheep for the sacrifice instead.
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Muslims base their principles of being involved
in community health and well-being on verses of the Qur’an
and the traditions of the Prophet Mohammed (praise be unto
him). Muslims are told that all mankind are created equal
and all have basic human rights, regardless of race or religion.
The Prophet further elaborated on some of these rights when
he said, “Feed the hungry, visit the sick, and set free
the captives.” (Bukhari) So, it is a duty both for individual
Muslims and the Muslim community to take care of all people,
including the poor, sick, orphans, travellers and elderly,
and to provide them with basic humanitarian assistance, such
as food, money, shelter or health care.
In regards to health, the Prophet (pbuh)
prescribed that Muslims should be concerned with the health
of body and soul, since the body is a vessel for the eternal
soul in this temporary world. To take care of their bodies,
Muslims practice healthy eating and living and treat the body
if it happens to get ill. To nurture the soul, Muslims strive
not to be disobedient or ungrateful to its Creator.
Muslims practice two types of charity:
- Zakat is mutual aid among Muslims in the community.
Muslims and the community mosque are obligated to provide
basic needs for all Muslims, including food, shelter,
medical needs, clothing, etc. Zakat is also a donation
given yearly to the mosque to assist fellow Muslims.
- Ayah is “charity” which is given in the
larger community for all peoples.
In Canada, Muslims have established many
societies, which assist Muslims and the larger community.
These societies are often associated with mosques or universities,
often with the word “Islamic” in them. They exist
for fellowship with other Muslims, celebration of festivals,
and participation in community service projects, such as food
banks, affordable housing groups and health concerns.
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To engage Muslims in your community, check the yellow pages
under “churches” and “religious organizations”
or visit the Islamic
Finder.
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