A lot of what most people think they know about Islam is found in the media, where tales of fundamentalism and violence are the norm. The five pillars – the declaration of faith (shahada), prayer (salah), alms-giving (zakat), fasting (sawm) and pilgrimage (hajj) – constitute the basic norms of Islamic…

Zakat is a charity God obligates Muslims to pay yearly on their money and property. Its payment is made to the poor, vulnerable, and deserving as their divinely established right. The Prophet Muhammad, on him be peace, established Zakat as the third of the five pillars that Islam is built…

Merits of Dhikr The merits of remembrance of Allah Most High are highlighted in the following Qur’anic verses: [Then do ye remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and reject not Faith.] (Al-Baqarah 2: 152) [Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down…

Muhammad is the prophet and founder of Islam. Who Was Muhammad? Muhammad was the prophet and founder of Islam. Most of his early life was spent as a merchant. At age 40, he began to have revelations from Allah that became the basis for the Koran and the foundation of…

Sunnah means the way of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). It includes everything he said, did, and approved of. We know the Sunnah from the statements called Hadiths that have been handed down from the Companions of the Prophet. Islamic Law is taken from the Qur’an…

Muharram is celebrated as the advent of the Islamic New Year by participating Muslims around the globe. It is regarded as a pious and important festival by the community. It is one of the four sacred months of the year for Muslims. According to traditional customs, Muharram is the first…