I speak as a Muslim.
I was told by Christians that they judge a tree by its fruits. I agree, but all trees go to heaven. the fruits of Islam arfe not what Muslims do. The fruits of Islam, acquirable in this world are intimacy with God, and knowledge of God; not just from one side, to a God that you don't see, but from both sides, a relationship with one's Creator. Judge Islam therefore by its fruits.
Islam is not what some people think it is. Ask any given Muslim about what are the ultimate essentials of Islam. He is likely to tell you about the 5 pillars of Islam.
Islam features what is known as the 5 pillars of Islam:
-to testify that there is only one God (this leads to Remembrance of God, Dhikr of God in Arabic) and that Muhammad is His Messenger (Peace be upon him and his family)
-prayer, 5 times a day
-Alms giving, giving out of your money to the poor. Not just giving to an alms-collector, but actually going to the poor and giving them personally, so as to build a relationship with them. Islam wants us to build this relationship.
-Fasting, to abstain from food and drink and falty deeds in the sacred month of Ramadan from dawn to sunset. This ought to teach one to discipline himself.
-pilgrimage to Mecca, once in a lifetime, if one is able
Five Pillars of Islam - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
So if you want to be precise about Islam, Islam would be the 5 pillars of Islam; not wars, not Islamic constitutions, not oppression of women, not uneducation, not oppression of minorities, not honor crimes and stoning, not monastic life and ascetism.
About Prayer
When Muslims pray they must turn towards the Kaaba, which is inside the Sacred Mosque of Mecca. The Kaaba, in a way points to Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family). Indeed Muhammad was born in Mecca and received the first revelations there. He is a Meccan. The Muslims used to turn towards Jerusalem when they prayed. At one point Muhammad received a revelation from God telling him that God wants to turn him towards a direction that will please him, so God ordered him to turn towards Mecca. This is in the Qur'an. That is why Muslims pray towards the Kaaba, in the Sacred Mosque, in Mecca.
Kaaba - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
It's not idol worship. The Kaaba points to Muhammad. God is one, and Muhammad is the one beloved of the God that is one (not the only beloved but the one beloved).
I was told by Christians that they judge a tree by its fruits. I agree, but all trees go to heaven. the fruits of Islam arfe not what Muslims do. The fruits of Islam, acquirable in this world are intimacy with God, and knowledge of God; not just from one side, to a God that you don't see, but from both sides, a relationship with one's Creator. Judge Islam therefore by its fruits.
Islam is not what some people think it is. Ask any given Muslim about what are the ultimate essentials of Islam. He is likely to tell you about the 5 pillars of Islam.
Islam features what is known as the 5 pillars of Islam:
-to testify that there is only one God (this leads to Remembrance of God, Dhikr of God in Arabic) and that Muhammad is His Messenger (Peace be upon him and his family)
-prayer, 5 times a day
-Alms giving, giving out of your money to the poor. Not just giving to an alms-collector, but actually going to the poor and giving them personally, so as to build a relationship with them. Islam wants us to build this relationship.
-Fasting, to abstain from food and drink and falty deeds in the sacred month of Ramadan from dawn to sunset. This ought to teach one to discipline himself.
-pilgrimage to Mecca, once in a lifetime, if one is able
Five Pillars of Islam - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
So if you want to be precise about Islam, Islam would be the 5 pillars of Islam; not wars, not Islamic constitutions, not oppression of women, not uneducation, not oppression of minorities, not honor crimes and stoning, not monastic life and ascetism.
About Prayer
When Muslims pray they must turn towards the Kaaba, which is inside the Sacred Mosque of Mecca. The Kaaba, in a way points to Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family). Indeed Muhammad was born in Mecca and received the first revelations there. He is a Meccan. The Muslims used to turn towards Jerusalem when they prayed. At one point Muhammad received a revelation from God telling him that God wants to turn him towards a direction that will please him, so God ordered him to turn towards Mecca. This is in the Qur'an. That is why Muslims pray towards the Kaaba, in the Sacred Mosque, in Mecca.
Kaaba - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia
It's not idol worship. The Kaaba points to Muhammad. God is one, and Muhammad is the one beloved of the God that is one (not the only beloved but the one beloved).