Islamic Invitation Centre
Worship
Q: Do muslims worship Muhammad (pbuh) ?
A: No! Muslims worship Allah alone.
The label "Mohammedans" which implies that Muslim worship Mohammad is therefore misleading and blasphemous. Muslims respect Mohammad as the final messenger of Allah.
A: The Kaaba is the first house built for the worship of God. It is in Macca. The Kaabah is used as a focal point for prayer only, to unify the muslims in prayer. Not as an object of worship.
It was the FIRST house of worship built:
"Verily, the first house (of worship) appointed for mankind was that in Bakka (Mecca), full of blessing, and guidance for all people." Qur'an 3:96
Q: Is the Kaaba mentioned in the Bible?
A: YES.The Kaaba was the FIRST house of worship built, it is also called Bakka:
"Verily, the first house (of worship) appointed for mankind was that in Bakka (Mecca), full of blessing, and guidance for all people." Qur'an 3:96
Bakka is mentioned by the prophet David (PBUH) in the Bible:"Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well, the rain also filleth the pools." (Psalm 84:6)
The well here is the well known well of Zam-Zam, still present now, close to the Ka'bah; after thousands of years.
A: The black stone that sits in the corner of the Ka’bah in Mecca
Q: Do muslims worship the black stone?
A: No! The Kaabah is used as a focal point for prayer only, to unify the muslims in prayer. Not as an object of worship.
Q: What is the house of worship for Muslims called?
A: A Muslim's house of worship is called a masjid, in the Arabic language. It is recommended that Muslim men attend the masjid to pray in congregation all of the five daily prayers, and it is required for them to attend the weekly congregational prayer, which is held on Friday, the holy day for Muslims.. Women also can attend prayers at the masjid if they wish.
Q: Is there a difference between masjid and mosque?
A: Not really. However, the proper term, is masjid. Mosque, originates from the Inquision, as a derogarotory term. Hence, the proper term should be used.
Q: Can muslims only pray in a masjid?
A: No. It is recommended that Muslim men attend the mosque to pray in congregation all of the five daily prayers.
The religion of Islam is a simple religion, that doesn't order people to perform or do what is over their limitations. An indication of this ease is that a man can pray anywhere that is pure, when the time of prayer is current. However, the ruling to build masjids is to encourage Muslims to meet for congregational payers.
Q: What objects are found in a common masjid? What do they symbolize and why are they important?
A: Objects in masjids do not represent any great significance. The masjid itself signifies great importance because it is a place of worship and a house of God.
The characteristics of a masjid are:
That it must be purified from dirt and impure things.It would be preferred to have the mosque face in the direction of Mecca.
It is not favored to decorate mosques excessively, but moderately — the simpler the better.
Mosques are places of worship; therefore, people must abstain from raising their voices and refrain from uttering obscenities.
Q: Can muslims worship anything else apart from Allah?
A: No, Allah does not accept that a cow, a person, an angel, a prophet, a stone, or anything be worshipped in place of him, or even along with Him. Worship must be to Allah the creator of them.
Q: Is there a trinity in Islam?
A: No. Allah is One, the Perfect.
For more information, go to [A Concise Reply to Christianity - A Muslim View]
Q: What is it that keeps us from entering Heaven?
A: Worship of anyone other than Allah is the greatest sin. It is called shirk, and this is not forgiven except through repentance.
Q: Why do Muslims have to pray towards Ka'aba in Makkah?
A: Allah chose Ka'aba as a source of Unity for all the Muslims all over the world. Ka'aba was the First House of Worship to Allah on this planet earth. Adam and Eve were instructed to build Ka'aba. Angel Gabriel was sent by Allah to show them the way and to help them build the Ka'aba.
Muslims all over the world are being blessed by Allah, that Ka'aba has become a source of Unity five times a day. It is also a source of Unity during Pilgrimage (Hajj). Ka'aba brings Muslims in their memories with Adam and Eve, and later with Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail who reconstructed it again.
A: Muslims pray five times a day, Allah prescribed it, and accordingly we do it as a matter of worship. For those who do not know the values of prayer may think it is too much. For those who practice the prayer, do enjoy it. They wish to have more. Some usually pray extra to receive happiness, peace and tranquillity.
Q: Do all muslims have to pray?
A: Yes.
Q: What are the 5 daily prayers?
A: The 5 daily prayers signify the relative position of the Sun, during the 24 hour cycle. These 5 prayers are:
- at first dawn
- when the sun moves across the meridian
- when the shadow reaches its length
- when the sun goes down
- when the last light of the sun moves out of the sky
Q: Why is prayer important in Islam?
A: Prayer is important and essential in Islam because it develops taqwa[God regardfulness] and reminds the believer, who may be distracted or caught up in the ramifications of the temporal world, his true purpose of existence; the worship of and the obedience to God[Allah].
A: Muslims all over the world are to practice fasting for a whole month from Dawn to Sunset. This month is the 9th lunar month, it is called Ramadan. Fasting the whole month of Ramadan is the fourth pillar in Islam. Muslims do abstain from eating, drinking and chewing gums. They are to control their egos, their appetites, and their lusts. They are also to control their senses.
Fasting has been prescribed on other people before Islam too. It was prescribed on Jews and Christians too.
Fasting has many religious, social, cultural, economic, and educational benefits to all. It needs people to understand and to practice fasting in order to enjoy its benefits.
Q:Why do muslims go on pilgrimage?
A: The fifth pillar in Islam is to perform Pilgrimage to Makkah once in a life time of each person if means allow him/her. That place was selected by Allah Himself He selected Makkah for Adam and Eve after coming from Heaven to live there. They were guided by Allah through the help of Angel Gabriel to build the first place of worship on this planet earth. That place is called Ka'aba.
Later in history, it was destroyed by flood. Allah sent Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail to rebuild the Ka'aba. Since that time Muslims have been instructed in the Qur'an that their pilgrimage place is Ka'aba in Makkah.
Q: Iraq is in the news alot, and there are alot of pilgrims to Iraq? Is that part of Islam?
A: No, it is not part of Islam. Islam has only one pilgrimage, to Maccah, once a year, called the Hajj. There are no other pilgrims. Everything is considered bida'h (innovation) and accrues God's wrath, not his pleasure.
For example, in Baghdad, pilgrims will call out various songs and praises to humans, eg "Ya Rasul Allah hey ya Nabi Allah ", which is basically tantamount to shirk (association with God, the greatest sin within Islam), because it is attributing qualities of God to humans eg only God has infinite hearing, and hears the prayers of men and has the ability to fulfill one's needs, and humans are only allowed to pray to God and ask God for things, and not to humans, not even to the prophet of Islam, nor to angels.