Allah's Apostle said, "When the month of Ramadan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained." [Bukhari]
Islam literally means ‘to submit to the Will of God’. Islam is not a new religion. We believe that Islam is inherent to human nature and indeed all creation. In fact every child is born with this nature and is thus a Muslim. It is through subsequent conscious means that humans exert their own will in defiance of the Will of God.
We believe that God has sent many prophets and messengers to guide mankind. Examples include Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus. We acknowledge there were many more prophets and messengers than we know of. Through their submission to the Divine Will, all prophets (may God’s peace be upon them all) were Muslims. Muhammad (Peace be upon him) was the last of all prophets and messengers. He affirmed and confirmed the message brought by his predecessors.
A Muslim’s creed includes each of the following five ‘pillars’ of Islam-
1.The statement of faith in the oneness of God and the prophethood of Prophet Muhammad (‘Shahadah’)
2.Five daily prayers (‘Salah’)
3.Pay a portion of accumulated/excess wealth to the poor (‘Zakat’)
4.Fasting during the month of Ramadan (‘Sawm’)
5.If able to afford it, a once in lifetime journey to Mecca to perform the pilgrimage (‘Hajj’)
Muslims believe in the oneness of God, His prophets & messengers, the angels, the life in the hereafter and in pre-destination.
The Muslims draw their code of conduct from two sources: the Quran which is the revealed word of God; and the words and actions of the Prophet as he lived his life (also called the sunnah).
Muslims believe that God sent similar revelations to other prophets. Thus Moses was revealed the Torah, David received the Zuboor (according to some the Psalms), and Jesus was revealed the Injeel (some would call this the Gospel). Muslims must honor and revere all prophets.
