Understanding Islam: Frequently Asked Q&A

I started this blog about a year ago to share the experiences and personal accounts of the reverts, or so to say the non-Muslims embracing Islam. However, in my quest to know more about how people view Islam, I came across many misconceptions about Islam which persist in minds of many non-Muslims, especially the Christians. I have been compiling such misconceptions or questions that non-Muslims need to be answered and thought of answering these based on the viewpoints / explanations by some o f the prominent Muslim scholars of all times.

I will share these questions, herein under, and will try to answer these to clear the misconceptions and answer some of the frequently asked questions, some of which I have already written about:

1. Allah:

• Who is Allah? Is He the same God as that of Jews and Christians?
• Do Muslims Worship the Moon God?
• Why Muslims are against the Christian God?
• Where is Allah?
• What are the 99 Attributes of Allah?
• Can one True God Have associated Gods
• Allah creates doors that did not exist before

2. Qur'an:

• What is Qur'an?
• Essence of Qur'an
• How was the Qur'an revealed in month of Ramadan?
• History of Compilation of Qur'an
• Exegesis / Tafsir / Summary of 114 chapters / surahs of Qur'an
• Surahs that begin with  Huroof Muqatta’at - Disjoined Letters
• Surahs that are known as Al-Musabbihat "The Praisers"
• How many Manazal Qur'an is divided into and why?
• What is Verse of Ikmal al-Din " آیَة إِکْمَال الدِّيْن‎ " about (Verse of the Perfection of the Religion)
• Importance of reading Qur'an with understanding

3. Islam:

• What is Islam? Is it mentioned in the Qur'an?
• Difference between Islam and Iman
• What are Basic Articles of Faith of Muslims
• Five facts many may know about Islam
• What is Taqwa and complete faith in Allah
• Behold! the only [true] religion in the sight of God is Islam [man's self-surrender unto Him] (Surah 3. Al-i'Imran: 19) 
• Why Islam is called a Deen, and not merely a Religion?
• What is the essence of Islamic Teachings in the light of Holy Quran?
• Why Allah Commands Muslims to Kill the Disbelievers?
• What is Status of Women in Islam?
• Basic differences between Sunni and Shia sects of Islam - a dispassionate comparison
• Does Islam Preach Racism?
• The Hijrah Calendar 
• Four Actions: Never part with these ever in your life
• Who are those  whose eyes overflow with tears

4. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:

• Who is Prophet Muhammad ﷺ?
• Why Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the most revered of all the Prophets?
• Last sermon of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) - 9 Dhul Hajjah 10 AH
• Did Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) write Quran?
• How to attend to one's daily chores - guideline by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

5. Muslim:

• Who is a Muslim? 
• What are the Traits of a Muslim?
• Whom will Allah bestow Authority on Land
• What are the qualities in a Muslim that Allah loves?
• Who are the Believers to be given Glad Tidings 
• Who are Ahmadis? Are they Muslims? 
• Seven qualities in believers that Allah loves
• Sabr: Patience with Perseverance - the best trait of a Muslim
• 10 Virtues (of Muslim Men and Women) for which Allah promises a mighty reward 

6. Hajj / Umrah:

• How to perform Umrah?
• For Hajj, refer to our Reference Page: Dhu al-Hijja (ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة): The month of Pilgrimage - The Hajj

7. Ramadan and Eid ul Fitr

• Fasting in Ramadan - a pillar of Islam
• Ramadan - Do we know enough?
• A night better than a thousand months
• Step by step guide for fasting in Ramadan
• Does taking an injection invalidates the fasting / Saum?
• Taraweeh Prayers
• What is Itikaf?
• Eid ul Fitr Day rituals

8. Zakat / Charity / Rizq:

• Concept of Charity in Islam
• Who are the Rightful Recipients of Zakat?
• System of Economic Justice in Islam
• Who are the rightful beneficiaries of Charity in Islam
• Rizq - Is it one of the most misunderstood word of Qur’an
• Understanding Concept of Sadaqah (Voluntary charity) in Islam - And its many forms

9. Other Questions:

• Daw'ah (Calling others to Islam)
• Is Da'wah responsibility of every Muslim
• How to approach people of the Book when discussing Islam
• Why Allah has not Guided All Intrinsically?
• Do Muslims worship Ka'bah and the Black Stone?
• Why life of many believers is in shadows?
• What is the Fate of Pious Non Muslims in the Hereafter?
• Why Hijab is mandatory for Muslim women?
• Who are Jinn?
• What is Qareen?
• What Islam says about Astrology?
• Why Pork is Prohibited in Islam?
• Why Muslims sacrifice animals?
• What are Laws of Inheritance in Islam? Why Muslim women are not given their share in inheritance?
• How can we earn from our daily rituals?
• Importance of Month of Muharram and Fasting on Day of Ashura?
• What does Islam says about retributive justice?
• How is patience defined as in Qur'an?
• Which category of people are you?
• Misconceptions about  form / timings of Salat / Saum / Moon sighting Answered
• Believers !! Beware of anchorites who devour the substance of men and hinder (them) from the way of Allah 

10. Relations with others

• Rules in Islam for keeping  covenant (or otherwise) with others
• Argue not with the People of the Book except in the fairest manner

11. How to?

• 10 Easy Ways to Earn Sawab - Thawab / Spiritual Rewards

We shall keep adding questions in addition to the ones quoted above and try to answer in a layman's language. 

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

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Posted in: Q and A,Reference Page: Understanding Islam