Predestination

Predestination is a religious concept that God determines the fate of the universe throughout all time and space. In Islam, predestination is described as al-qada wa al-qader which in english means the divine decree and the predestination. This phrase describes how God has measured out the span of every person's life and what will happen during it and whether they will follow the righteous path or not. People have control over their lives but anything they do has to be done by God's will.

http://www.abrahamic-faith.com/shamoun/Predestination%20in%20Islam.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Predestination
http://www.answering-christianity.com/bassam_zawadi/predestination.htm

The Six Articles

The Islamic religion is a very flexible religion, as many people have different practices and methods of worship. However, the core beliefs of the religion are summarized in the six articles. According to these articles, a person of the Islamic faith must believe in:

1. One God
2. The angels of God
3. The prophets, the main prophet is Muhammed
4. The books of God
5. God's will, or predestination
6. The Day of Judgement in the afterlife

http://almuslimin.org/ISLAAM/six_articles_faith_Muslim
http://www.muhajabah.com/intro.htm#sixfaith

Major Islamic Holidays

Ramadan- month of fasting during daylight hours in the 9th month of the Islamic calendar.

Eid ul-Fitr- celebration for the end of Ramadan.

Eid ul-Adha- celebrates the sacrifice of Ishmael by his father Abraham.

http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=December&x=20041203104427ndyblehs7.091922e-02

http://www.colostate.edu/orgs/MSA/events/Ramadan.html

Shiite and Sunni

Sunni Islam: The majority of the Muslim community belongs to the Sunni division of the religion. They follow the Sunnah which means “the way of the prophet,” referring to the religious guidelines of Muhammad, their leader. They follow the most traditional and universal Muslim beliefs.

Shiite Islam: Shiite Islam is the next largest division of the Muslim community. They follow less traditional Muslim values and beliefs and branch off from the mainstream religion. They honor Ali ibn Abi Talib, cousins and descendants of Muhammad, whom they believe should be worshipped instead of Muhammad.

http://hnn.us/articles/934.html

The Qu'ran

The Qu'ran (القرآن) is the record of the words spoken to Muhammed by Allah.

• It is divided into sections called the surahs.
• For a long time the Qu'ran was recited orally and wasn't written until after Muhammed's death.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qur%27an

http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/ISLAM/QURAN.HTM

Prayer Rugs

• Ensures the cleanliness of a Muslim’s place of prayer.


• Helps create an isolated space to focus on their prayer.


• Usually about one meter long and often made with silk or cotton.


• The design on the rug is often geometric, flower-patterned, arabesque, or illustrates Islamic landmarks.


• The rug is made to have a “top” and a “bottom”. The rug is laid flat on the ground and is pointed towards Mecca during prayer.

http://islam.about.com/od/prayer/f/prayer_rugs.htm

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9061221/prayer-rug

Mosque(مسجد): Islamic place of worship.

Muslims(مسلم): followers of the prophet Muhammed and the religion Islam.

Monotheism: The belief that there is only one god.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosque

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslims

http://www.saudiembassy.net/Country/Islam/Isl.asp