23?September?2013

16?Dhul?Qadah?1434

The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand - FIANZ



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Ten Frequently Asked Questions About Islam And Muslims


By Javed Khan.
Published in The Dominion Post Newspaper, March 9, 2006

Since the events of September 11, and the bombings in Bali, Madrid and London, the religion of Islam has been consistently associated with terrorism and violence. However, to confuse people of Muslim faith with terrorism is a dangerous oversimplification.

The Muslim community in New Zealand is relatively small, and so it is not surprising that little is known about Muslims or about Islam. However, ignorance can often lead to stereotyping and suspicion. Following are answers to ten questions that people often ask about Islam.

  1. What do Muslims believe?

    Like Jews and Christians, Muslims are monotheists. We believe in one God. Allah is the name of God in Arabic. Muslims also believe in prophets - not just the Prophet Muhammed, but also the prophets of the Torah, including Abraham and Moses, and the New Testament, Jesus and John the Baptist. We also believe in heaven and hell, and the Day of Judgement. Islam teaches that God's revelation was received in the Torah, the New Testament and the Holy Qur'an. Muslims view Jews and Christians as 'people of the book' - communities of believers who received revelations from God through Prophets which are recorded in scriptures.

  2. Are all Muslims the same?

    Like other major religions, there are different human interpretations of Islam. Sunni Muslims and Shite Muslims make up 85 per cent and 15 per cent of Muslims respectively. Within these two major branches are diverse schools of theology and law. Islam also has a rich mystical tradition.

  3. Are all Muslims Arab?

    A common misconception is that all Muslims are Arabs and all Arabs are Muslim. In fact, only about 20 per cent of the world's 1.3 billion Muslims live in Arab countries - the remaining 80 per cent of Muslims are non-Arabs. Indonesia is the home to the largest number of Muslims (20 per cent), followed by Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. Islam is a faith and not a racial identity and as such the Muslim community in New Zealand, estimated to be about 40,000 people, is drawn from around 40 different nationalities, including Maori and Pakeha.

  4. What religious obligations do Muslims have?

    There are five parts to a Muslim's religious life, which are also known as the Five Pillars of Islam.

    1. The first pillar is to declare with conviction that "there is none worthy of worship but Allah (God), and that Muhammed is the Messenger of Allah." This marks a person's entry into Islam.

    2. The second pillar is to pray (salat), five times a day - at sunrise, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and evening. Prayers can be performed individually or in congregation with others. They last for around 10 minutes and engage body, mind and soul.

    3. The third pillar is charity (zakat) (meaning 'purification'). Muslims are expected to donate a minimum 2.5% of their annual wealth to assist those in need.

    4. The fourth pillar is fasting (saum) during the month of Ramadhan. During the month, Muslims must externally abstain from eating smoking and sexual activity between dawn and sunset whilst internally abstaining from anger, spite and selfishness. Meals are taken before dawn and then after sunset. Not only does fasting teach good discipline, it is a form of worship that draws one closer to God and helps strengthen community ties.

    5. The fifth pillar is the pilgrimage to Makkah (hajj). Every Muslim who is physically and financially able should visit Makkah at least once in his or her lifetime during the Hajj month in order to participate in the rituals which recall the life of the Prophet Abraham and emphasise the unity of humankind.

  5. What does Islam mean?

    The word Islam means "submission" [to the will of God], and is derived from the word "peace".

  6. What is the Holy Qur'an?

    The Holy Qur'an is the scripture of the religion of Islam. It is a record of the exact words that God spoke through the Angel Gabriel to Muhammad, who then memorised them and dictated them to his companions. It was then transcribed by scribes, who confirmed it during the Prophet's lifetime. It has remained unchanged throughout the past 14 centuries.

  1. What role does Muhammad play in Muslim life?

    During his lifetime and since, Muhammad has been the model for other Muslims to follow. Muslims understand that Muhammad was entirely human, but see that he had great spiritual and social insight and was guided by God. We look to his example in all aspects of our life - from religious observances through to the practical activities of life, such as how we treat our family and friends, how we allocate our money and how we interact with our environment.

  2. Does the Qur'an condone terrorism?

    The Qur'an absolutely does NOT advocate or condone terrorism. Islam, like all world religions neither supports nor requires the illegitimate use of violence or acts of terrorism. Islam is a religion that espouses peace and teaches the importance of doing good work in the community. The vast majority of Muslims are politically moderate and, like other New Zealanders, are focused on meeting the needs of their families, and the communities in which they live. They condemn a perverted interpretation of the Qur'an.

  3. Why do Muslim women wear a head scarf?

    The Qur'an's provides guidance for men and women on dressing with modesty. Many Muslim women in New Zealand wear a form of head scarf, or hijab, by choice and in accordance with their beliefs. It is a matter of personal preference, not subjugation. The hijab in this context is often an empowering choice which allows women to present themselves on the basis of their intellect and personality, rather than their appearance.

  4. Does Islam treat men and women differently?

    Many people wrongly think that Muslim women are 'second class' citizens. Within Islam, equal rights are given to all human beings. Men and women are regarded as spiritual and intellectual equals. However equality does not mean sameness and as such differences between the sexes are seen as being complimentary in nature and should not be a source of negative discrimination.

    Discrimination is something many women still face in a number of both Muslim and non-Muslim countries but this is most often not because of Islam but in spite of its teachings. Oppressive systems that condone acts such as honour killings, genital mutilations and forced marriages, are all contrary to Islamic principles. Throughout the last century, there have been significant reforms for women's rights in the public and private spheres of life, with women pursuing education, careers and taking up public offices. There have also been major reforms in marriage and divorce laws.

by Javed Khan, President of FIANZ

First published in the Dominion Post. Reproduced with permission from both the author and publisher.

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