What is Islam? The Arabic word ‘ Islam’ stands for ‘Submission’ or ‘Peace’. In a religious context, it implies the peace that reaches out to one when one completely submits oneself to the will of Almighty God. This is achieved only when the individual acts in accordance with the direction of his Creator in all spheres of life.

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Who is the founder of Islam? The Almighty God who created the universe, endowed man with a special gift of intelligence and thought, to enable him to discriminate between good and bad. Man has also been given, the freedom to choose his own path by either accepting or rejecting the instructions of the Almighty Creator. The divine revelations were conveyed by God to mankind through numerous prophets who preached the ideals to all communities during different periods of human history. The thousands of prophets whom God selected for human guidance have promulgated the basic doctrine with remarkable similarity. The belief in and the profound reverence for all messengers and revealed scriptures from God forms an integral part of Islamic faith. Islam is not a religion founded by Prophet Mohammed, (Peace Be Upon Him). The Qur’an has most emphatically corroborated the fact that the Islamic conception of life was revealed to man by a long chain of prophets chosen by the Almighty Creator.

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Who is Muslim? The word ‘Muslim’ means one who has submitted oneself to the Omnipotent Creator. A true Muslim is one who has disciplined his life in accordance with the instructions conveyed by God through His messengers. A person becomes a Muslim not by birth alone, but by his faith and deeds.

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How can one be a Muslim? "I testify that there is none who deserves to be worshipped but Allah. I testify that Mohammed is the messenger of Allah". By taking this solemn oath sincerely and endeavoring to regulate one’s life following the instructions conveyed by Allah through his messengers, one becomes a true Muslim. By declaring that there is none worthy of worship save Allah, and that Mohammed is the Prophet of Allah, the believer announces his or her faith in God’s oneness, His sole right to be worshipped and that Muhammed is the last of the prophets. It also confirms his or her belief in all prophets and the scriptures they brought.

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Why does Islam seem to be strict? No prophet taught that religion is to be confined within the walls of places of worship. On the contrary, Muslims are expected to follow the instructions of Almighty Allah in the course of all their activities in life. The word ‘Muslim’ means ‘one who has submitted his self to the will of Allah’, and for the same reason a true Muslim cannot compromise on anything that stands in the way of guiding his life according to divine strictures. The view that consciousness of God is to be confined only to the place of worship is alien to Islam. Muslims always have religion foremost in their minds whereas many others consider religion as irrelevant in the present age.

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ISLAMIC BELIEFS "O people! Worship your Guardian Lord, Who created you and those who came before you that you may become righteous. Who has made the earth your couch, and the heavens your canopy; and sent down rain from the heavens; and brought forth therewith fruits for your sustenance; Then set not up rivals unto Allah when you know (the truth)." Holy Qur’an 2:21, 22 What are the Islamic beliefs? Muslims believe in one, unique, incomparable God, in the angels created by Him, in the revealed Scriptures, in the prophets through whom His revelations were made to mankind, in the Day of Judgement and life after death, individual accountability for actions, and in God’s complete authority over human destiny.

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What does faith in ‘One God’ mean? Allah, the Creator and Protector of all beings in the universe, big and small, in His essence His goodness and his deeds, remains alone and unique. One offers worship only to Him, who is Almighty, higher than everyone else and Himself being perfect in everything. By monotheism, Islam implies, not the mere belief that there is just one God, but it power the way for prayers and offerings to the one who is all Merciful and Omniscient.

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Who is Allah? The Arabic word ‘Allah’ is the shortened form of ‘al-ilah’, ‘The God, the one and only God, the first, the last, the eternal, the hidden, the manifest, the ultimate reality’. Even non-Muslim Arabs use the term ‘Allah’ when they speak of God. The basic creed of Islam is this simple formula: ‘There is no God but Allah’ (‘La ilaha illallah’). The Arabic term ‘Allah’ denoting God, is unique in many ways. It has no plural like ‘gods’; it has no gender like ‘godess’; nor does this word generate a visual image of any kind. "Allah", He is God, the One true God, He is the one who deserves all worship and there is nothing comparable to him. Nevertheless, ninety-nine different attributes of Allah are named in the Qur’an.

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Who are the angels? Angels are the servants of God and they were created from light. They are beyond the realm and reach of human comprehension. They do not have freedom of action and can only carry out the command of God.

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What are the Scriptures? The Scriptures are the sacred books containing divine revelations from God which were conveyed through His messengers for the guidance of man. Prophets were sent to all peoples of all ages, to warn them and guide them to righteousness and virtue. The names of the four known scriptures are ‘the Torah’, ‘the Zabur’, ‘the Injeel’ and ‘the Qur’an’. ‘The Torah’ was revealed to Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him) and it is the greatest among the Israelites books. The Zabur was revealed to Prophet David (Peace be upon him). ‘The Injeel’ which Allah revealed to Prophet Jesus (Peace be upon him), is a confirmation of ‘the Torah’ and a complement to it. The Qur’an, which was revealed to the last of the prophets, is but a restatement of the faith delivered to the prophets before him. The more the Qur’an is studied with an unprejudiced mind, the more this truth emerges, that the Qur’an is a confirmation of all the earlier scriptures and messages sent by God through His messengers who lived and preached among various sects of humanity.

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Who are the prophets? Prophets are men, chosen by God at various stages and under varying circumstances of history, to lead men from darkness to light. The Qur’an repeatedly states the fact that prophets with the same message were sent to each and every community. The process of revelation continued unabated, sometimes in succession, at other times in broken sequences until the period in history, when the termination of Divine revelation and messengership, with the Qur’an and Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him) became a significant milestone in the history of mankind. It is true that the lives and mission of many a prophet has been made obscure and distorted by legends that grew around them or by people with vested interests, who used the names of these prophets to exploit men and mislead them from the right faith. No prophet of God has claimed himself to be divine. They were all mortals who lived and passed away from this earth after completing their mission of conveying the basic message to mankind, which was a call for the recognition and affirmation of God’s existence, uniqueness and Lordship over all creation. It is an integral part of Islamic faith to believe in all the prophets of God.

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What does Islam say about life after death? Death does not terminate man’s life. On the other hand, Islam teaches that it is the door that opens to an eternal lifer after death. The appropriate reward for one’s earthly deeds, good or bad, is disbursed only in the Hereafter. The Islamic belief is that mankind will be resurrected, on the Day of Judgment, after every creation is destroyed. After being reborn, man will face a trial which will be in absolute control of the Almighty. Here, all the good and bad acts of man during his sojourn on earth will be unfurled before his eyes in order to be ultimately judged by God. The virtuous will be rewarded with virtue and the wrong doers punished appropriately. Those who have made sacrifices and discharges noble deeds will receive the shelter of peace in Heaven and those who have denigrated their lives through vices and evil will be condemned to suffer horrors of Hell. Islam inculcates the concept of accountability both in public and private life of a person by emphasizing the paramount importance of life Hereafter for mankind.

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What does faith in destiny mean in Islam? The Law of God, the Creator and Ruler of the worlds, is a powerful, all pervasive law which governs all that comprises the universe. No creation can lodge this Law and man’s position is no different. Even man’s environment and physical constitution are regulated on the basis of this divine law. The good and the bad that befall him happen on the basis of divine Destiny. How they befall on each one is in accordance with the predetermined decision made by the Omniscient Creator, who is aware of the ultimate good and evil of mankind. Hence, Islam directs man to believe in Destiny, whether good or bad, which Allah has measured and ordained for all creatures according to His previous knowledge and as deemed suitable by His wisdom.

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MUHAMMED (PBUH) AND THE QUR’AN "Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures), in the Taurat and the Gospel; For he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honour him, help him and follow the Light which is sent down with him, It is they who will prosper.." Holy Qur’an 37:15 What are the fundamental sources of Islamic faith? The sacred fundamental sources of Islamic faith are the Qur’an, and the practice and example of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH).

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Who is Muhammed? Muhammed (PBUH) is the last of the prophets of Islam. It is through him that the religion of absolute submission to God, was perfected. Muhammed (PBUH) is not just the successor of Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, but of all the prophets who were sent across the world, whose names are either known or unknown. His mission was not to establish new religion, but on the other hand, to perfect the Religion taught by the earlier prophets. "We have not sent thee but as a (Messenger) to all mankind, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most men know not." Holy Qur’an 37:15

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How was the life of Muhammed? Muhammed (PBUH) was born at Mecca in AD 570. Having lost his father before his birth and his mother at the age of seven, he grew up as an orphan. Despite the immoral circumstances prevailing in the Arabia of his time, Muhammed was particularly well known for his personality radiating honesty, nobility, sincerity, generosity and trustworthiness. Mohammed (PBUH), at the age of twenty five married Khadeeja, a forty year old trader. He started receiving divine revelations at the age of forty. Being chosen as a prophet, he preached the divine messages to the people of Mecca. Their response however was bitter, arrogant and violent. Beaten up, tortured, and threatened with death, he fled his motherland to Yathrib (Medin) a city in the northern side of Arabia. Consequently a Muslim nation was formed in Madina and its leadership was taken up by him. Battle after battle had to be fought while in Madina when unbelievers attacked the Muslims seeking to destroy the religion of truth. In fact, they were battles fought for freedom to practice religion. The most amazing success of the Prophet’s life is the tremendous success which he achieved in transforming the life of his followers in all aspects. In a span of just 23 years, he raised them from the depth of degradation to great moral and spiritual heights so as to make them a model for future generations. He passed away at the age of 63 in Medina, having lived a most fruitful life.

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Why is Muhammed called the last prophet? "Muhammed is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the messenger of Allah, and the seal of prophets; and Allah has full knowledge of all things." Holy Qur’an 33:40 The earlier prophets had been sent exclusively to particular regions or sects. We learn that many prophets had predicted the arrival of a great prophet who would be a blessing to the whole world. Muhammed (PBUH) is indeed a prophet to the entire world. The messages presented through him are applicable to the last of man on earth. The super human powers which were bestowed on some prophets never lasted beyond their lives. However, the Qur’an which proves the prophethood of Muhammed (PBUH), illustrates its consistency and supremacy and is open for verification by anyone. All authorities are unanimously agreed upon the fact that the life and mission of prophet Muhammed (PBUH) was realised completely under the fullest glare of documented history. The whole life of Muhammed (PBUH) has been recorded in detail and each incident, whether major or minor is worthy to be adopted as a model. It has been emphatically asserted that no messenger of God would appear after Muhammed and that all mankind ought to adopt the guidelines laid down in the Qur’an and to emulate the practice and example of Muhammed (PBUH) since the religion of Islam was perfected by them.

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What is Qur'an? The Qur’an is the final sacred scripture presented through the Last Prophet of Islam. It contains nothing but the words of God. It is the sctipture that can guide all mankind to the last day. For the same reason, the very God who presented it, promised mankind that the Qur’an will be protected and preserved to the last without any alteratoin or interpolation. The Qur’an is the only religious text that is free from any human tampering. It is at the same time a text that can guide men of all times through the right path and is also an irrefutable evidence for the prophethood fo Muhammed (PBUH).

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What does Qur'an narrate? The Qur’an contains the moral instruction, essential for man to suceed during this life on earth and during the life after death. We may say that, the central theme of the Qur’an borders on the relationship between the Creator and the created. The Qur’an is full of narrations that speak of beliefs and practices needed to guide one’s life through the path of virtue. The purpose of illustrating incidents of the past that have provided lessons for mankind, is to warn mankind against deviating from the path of God. Along with the precepts that aid to the refinement of the self, if contains the rules and regulations to be observed in life. Besides, the Qur’an also explains various universal phenomena, in a manner that convinces anyone of the existence of God. The Qur’an can also be said to be the crystallisation of one and the same religious consciousness preached by all prophets, and the collection of the essence and clarification of all the scriptures of the past.

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Why is Qur'an considered divine? The Qur’an is a unique book, the like of which is no man is capable of composing. Despite being compiled by an illiterate, who had displayed no literary flair until the age of forty, the unique literary style of the Qur’an, is one that remains absolutely inimitable. Amongst the existing scriptures, the Qur’an remains apart, for it can claim to be the only divine text that maintains the very form in which it was first presented. The moral codes laid down in the Qur’an are applicable for all times and matchless is the righteousness that they manifest. It is indeed a wonder, that over a spell of twenty three years, under varied circumstances, the Qur’an verses dealt with subjects that are vast and intense, without any disscrepancy whatsoever. Incomparable and great is the transformation that the Qur’an engendered. In such a short span, the Qur’an transformed a degraded and depraved society to a point that attained the highest levels of moral excellence, making them the models for the future generation of men. It has been proved beyond doubt that, word for word the prophecies in the Qur’an stem from a supreme source. It is a greater wonder that the Qur’an, which was revealed fourteen centuries ago, at a time when the world was in absolute darkness in the fields of science and technology, does not contain a single statement that is contradictory to modern scientific knowledge. Yet another explicit evidence that indicates the supremacy of the Qur’an is that many of the findings of modern science attest the view that the Qur’an is indeed the word of the Almighty, the Creator of the universe. "And if you are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant then produce a Sura like thereunto; And call your witness or helpers (if there are any) besides Allah, if your are truthful. But if you cannot – and of a surety you cannot then fear the fire whose fuel is men and stones, - which is prepared for those who reject faith." Holy Qur’an 33:40

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ISLAMIC RITES "Recite what is sent of the book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular prayer: for prayer restains from shameful and evil deeds; and remembrance of Alah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt and Allah ows the (deeds) that you do." What are the 'Five Pillars of Islam'? There are five compulsory acts of worship that are paramount to Islam. They are the Vow of truth, Salat (Prayer), Zakaat (Charity), Fasting and Hajj (Pilgrimage).

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What is the Vow of truth? "I testify that, none but Allah deserves to be worshipped and Muhammed (PBUH) is the messenger of Allah". It is after taking this pledge that one becomes a Muslim. The person who chants this pledge vows that he will offer worship to the One and Only creator and none else, and that he will lead his life, following the practice and example of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH).

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What is Salat (Prayer)? "A person, who does not desist from bad and unjust deeds after offering prayers, strays away from Allah." Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) It is the compulsory responsibility of every Muslim to offer Salaat five times a day. The timings to be strictly adhered to fall before sunrise, during midday, evening, after sunset and at night. The Salaat is to be performed after doing ritual ablutions which symbolises purification of body and soul. It is certain that the life of a true Muslim who sincerely takes the vow of truth and offers prayer five times, meticulously standing with folded hands, bowing, prostrating and sitting, thus involving oneself in a conversation with Creator, will be freed of all wrongs.

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What is Zakaat (Charity)? "Of their wealth take alms, that so thou mightest purify and sanctify them; and invoke Allah for them. Verily! Your invocations are a source of security for them, and Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower." ( Holy Qur’an 9:103 ) The literal meaning of Zakat is ‘to purify’. It is not just a form of charity or almsgiving. Muslims are liable to set apart a share of their own wealth for those who suffer poverty and want in the society. This compulsory charity is known as Zakaat. The Zakaat rate of per annum is fixed at the of 2.5% for goods to be traded and 10% for agriculture produce, (5% if the produce is the result of irrigation). Certain minimum limits have been prescribed for each item, above which ‘Zakaat’ is due. The Zakaat is to be collected from those liable by the government or by an institution entrusted by the community, in order to distribute to the deserving.

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What is Fasting ( Saum )? "Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and judgement (between right and wrong). So everyone of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spent it in fasting." Holy Qur’an 2:185 It is the responsibility of a Muslim to abstain from taking food and drink and also to abstain from sexual intercourse during day time for a period of one month. Ramadhan, the month in which the Qur’an was first revealed, is the stipulated month for fasting. The believer who observes fasting for a month is able to elevate his self above all temptations of a physical nature.

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What is Hajj ( Pilgrimage )? "Whoever performs Hajj solely for the sake of Allah and, in the course of it, abstains from sensuality and disobedience, he returns from there as immaculate as a child just born." Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) Every healthy and affluent Muslim should undertake a pilgrimage to Mecca, once in his life time. This pilgrimage is known as Hajj. People of different nationalities, languages and colours, gather in millions at Mecca during the month of Hajj. The concept of one humanity upheld by Islam is explicit during Hajj pilgrimage when the pilgrims have the same thought, carry the same prayer on their lips, and are uniformly dressed (the man using just two pieces of cloth – one to wear and the other to cover and the women covering all the parts of their bodies except their face and hands). A single humanity, where there is no discrimination between master or labourer, black or white, elite or lowly, native or foreigner, is symolized by the multitude of humanity that assemble for this holy pilgrimage.

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What is Ka'aba? The Ka’aba is a place of worship situated in Mecca. It is the first shrine built to worship the Almighty. It was in the premises of the Ka’aba that Ibrahim (PBUH), the prophet, abandoned his child and wife, obeying God’s command. Ka’aba was rebuilt by Ibrahim and his son Ismail following God’s command. Muslims around the world offer Salaat, facing Ka’aba. The Hajj rituals are performed in the premises of Ka’aba.

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Do Muslims worship Ka’aba? Muslims worship only the Omnipotent Creator of the universe. The Ka’aba is a creation, and being the first monument built for the worship of the One True God, Muslims revere it. The Hajj is performed around the Ka’aba, but it does not contain any prayer to the Ka’aba. This applies also to the Salaat being performed facing the Ka’aba. He who worships the Ka’aba and offers prayers to it, does not belong to the Islam.

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What is the view of Islam with regard to Virtue and Vice? Man is incapable of accurately distinguishing and understanding virtue and vice. Prophets were sent by the Almighty to enlighten man on the nature of virtue and vice. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) is the last prophet and therefore for any man after Muhammed (PBUH), the yardstick to measure virtue and vice is simply the life of Muhammed (PBUH) and the Qur’an, the sacred scripture presented through him. It is sufficient to look up the Qur’an and the ideal life of Muhammed (PBUH) to comprehend the good and bad related to any subject.

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What are the specialities of the character of a Muslim? The Qur’an and the sayings of Muhammed (PBUH) enjoins each Muslim to have the following characteristics in each of his actions. They are-honesty, justice, honouring of contracts, patience, perseverance, tolerance, mercy, humility, affection, decency, love, respect etc.   • Allah will not show mercy to him who does not show mercy • The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but strong is the one who controls himself while in anger • Modesty and chastity are the parts of the faith. • The one, who protects the honour of his brethren in his absence, will be saved from the horrible sufferings of Hell. • It is treacherous to lie to your brethren in matters that he trusts you. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH)

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What are the characteristics that ought not to be in a Muslim? The Qur’an and the sayings of Muhammed (PBUH) make it clear that, Muslims ought not to harbour feelings deceit, jealousy, greed, hatred, treachery, extravagance, miserliness, pride, hypocrisy, vainglory, mockery, falsehood, gossip, scandal-mongering and short temper.   • Anybody who speaks a lot will have a lot of mistakes, and those who commit a lot of mistakes will have a lot of sins, and those who have a lot of sins will in the Helfire. • No one will enter Paradise who has even a little bit of pride. • To be virtuous is to be morally upright. Vice is which causes doubts in your mind and which you did not wish to be seen by others. • Miserliness and immorality are two bad qualities, which can never come together in a true believer. • Gossippers and slanderers will never enter Paradise. If any one has any of the following four bad qualities, he is a hypocrite. If he has the only one of these four, there will still be signs of hypocrisy in him until he gets rid of that vice. The four bad qualities are – betrayal of trust, speaking untruth, breaking agreements and shouting foul words during quarrels. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH)

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What is the Islamic stand regard to food? Islam does not accept the stand which recommends the absolute abstinence from food and drink, in order to attain salvation. While permitting the consumption of all good food and drink, Islam strongly and particularly disapproved excesses in this field. A true Muslim is one, who completely abstains from the forbidden food and drink such as carcass, pork, blood, alcohol and the meat that is slaughtered in the name of some one other than Allah.

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What is the Islamic code of dress? Garments are for beatifying and for covering one’s body. The mode of dress should never display excess show and arrogance. Islam teaches a decent way of dressing to all women and men. The paramount purpose of clothing is to cover one’s nakedness. No man or a woman should dress in a way which rouses sexual desire in a stranger. Women ought to fully cover all the parts of their bodies except the face and hands. The aim of prescribing such a dress code for woman is to protect her honour and to ensure her safety.

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How do Muslims regard entertainments? Islam, while allowing all entertainments that cheer one’s mind and body, strictly states that they should not transgress the limits. Islam detests all those pleasures which keep man away from the consciousness of God and those that cause moral degeneration..

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What is the Islamic view of marriage? "And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): Verily in that on Signs for those who reflect.."  Holy Qur’an 30:21 It is the stern command of Islam that the sexual instinct, natural to man should attain consummation only through wedlock. Matrimony is a holy act. Celibacy has been strongly prohibited. Marriage is viewed by Islam as a sacred contract. The dos and don’ts that the two mates ought to adopt in matrimonial life have been prescribed by Islam. Obeying these stipulations, man and woman can ensure a successful and blissful married life and a peaceful life after death. • The resources of this world are for you to enjoy. The best wealth you can have in this world is a good wife. • The best wealth that a man can have in this world is a good wife. A good wife is one who is a joy to look at, one who obeys her husband’s commands and one who protects the wealth during his absence. • The best of men are those who treat their wives well. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH)

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What is Islamic wedding? When the father or the guardian of the bride offers to give her in marriage to the bridegroom and when he accepts the offer in the presence of witnesses, the marriage is solemnised. The prescription of Islam is that the bridegroom ought to give the bride ‘mahr’ (dower) on the occasion of the wedding and that the consent of the bride should be sought beforehand.

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What are the responsibilities of man and woman in a family? Going by the teachings of Islam, though the responsibilities and rights of man and woman are different in matrimonial life, they are complementary. It is the responsibility of the woman to maintain the home and their children. The man’s duty is to protect his home and earn decent livelihood. Islam, which reveres the motherhood of woman, reposes the full responsibility on man to look after her and the children.

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What is the Islamic view on polygamy? Islam permits polygamy on condition that the husband treats the wives in a just manner. However the number of wives should not exceed four. It is sinful and mean to have extra-marital relations. As per the strict code of Islam, on no account should a man stray towards another woman. A man who cannot satisfy his thirst for sex with one wife is allowed to resort to polygamy. Islam completely bans the heinous practice of disowning responsibility after having sexual relation with a woman. Instead, Islam permits, in unavoidable circumstances, a sacred arrangement for keeping wives legitimately, where they are protected and allowed their rights without any partiality. There are contexts where the practice of polygamy becomes more of a social necessary than a personal need, especially when the number of women in a society exceeds that of men. Generally women out number men. During war times the proportion varies further, as men are more likely into account situations like this, when polygamy becomes socially indispensable, and permits it conditionally.

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