My Guide to Understanding Islam vol.1

This book is an effective guide for our young readers in their quest to attain the truths of belief, Islam, and good character.

Growing in faith, and exemplary conduct, are essential for any Muslim on the path to intellectual, social, and spiritual maturation and perfection. My Guide to Understanding Islam is a three-volume compendium of rules and standards for today’s Muslim youth. It can serve as a self-study manual, and is suitable as well for the curriculum of Islamic education.

As the eminent Muslim scholar Bediuzzaman stated, “Belief is both light and power. Those who attain true belief can challenge the universe, and, in proportion to their belief’s strength, be relieved of the pressures of events…Belief requires affirming Divine Unity; affirmation of Divine Unity requires submitting to God; submission to God requires relying on God, and reliance on God yields happiness in both worlds.”

This is the definitive handbook for young readers seeking to learn and uphold the tenets of Islam.

Table of Content

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1
The Importance of Reading
Why a Student Should Read
Books as Faithful Friends
Wasn’t Reading Unique to Those Who Could See?
BELIEVING IN GOD
Believing in God Is the First Condition to Becoming a Muslim
Every Piece of Work Requires a Craftsman
Nothing Can Come into Existence by Coincidence
Story: Who Do You Think We Are With?
Our Cells Do Not Exist by Chance
Qur’anic Verses
Prophetic Traditions
Questions

CHAPTER 2
BELIEF
Stepping down from the Pulpit
The Whole Creation Speaks of Him
WORSHIP
What is Worship?
Story: Don’t Underestimate Any Act of Worship
The Human Being Finds Peace and Attains Maturity through Worship
Qur’anic Verses
Prophetic Traditions
Questions

CHAPTER 3
THE PRESCRIBED PRAYER
Why Must We Observe the Prescribed Prayer?
I Thought You Weren’t Coming to the Mosque!
Story: Life as Short as the Distance between a Call to Prayer
without Prayer and Prayer without the Call to Prayer
Daily Prayer Is the Pillar of Religion
Prayer Is So Easy To Do and So Profitable
Prayer Is the Second Most Important Truth after Faith
Prayer Is the Symbol of Loyalty to God
Prayer Shows Trust in God
Story (by Ömer Seyfettin): The First Prayer
Negligence Is in Wakefulness
By Means of Much Prostration
Qur’anic Verses
Prophetic Traditions
Questions

CHAPTER 4
THE RIGHTS OF PARENTS
Such Sacrifice
What God’s Messenger Enjoins about the Rights of Parents
Gratitude towards the Creator and then towards One’s Parents
The Prayers of Those Who Please Their Parents Are Acceptable
What Are the Benefits of Reading in Learning?
Qur’anic Verses
Prophetic Traditions
Questions

CHAPTER 5
BELIEF IN THE BOOKS AND THE HOLY QUR’AN
The Qur’an Will Intercede on Judgment Day for Those Who Recite It
Angels, Mercy and Tranquility Descends Where the Qur’an Is Recited
Satan Flees from Houses Where the Qur’an Is Recited
How Could I Refrain from the Qur’an?
Many Rewards Are Recorded for Each Letter of the Qur’an
Going Back to the Beginning
What Should Be Kept in Mind Whilst Reciting the Qur’an?
Qur’anic Verses
Prophetic Traditions
Questions

CHAPTER 6
NOBLE CHARACTER (FRIENDSHIP, SHARING, INTEGRITY)
Two Close Friends
Sharing Bread Is Sweeter than the Bread Itself (Adapted from a Hadith)
The Honest Boy
Truthfulness, Lies and Vain Speech
The Muslim Is Honest and Trustworthy
God’s Messenger Refrained from Idle Conversation
Qur’anic Verses
Prophetic Traditions
Questions

CHAPTER 7
HISTORICAL CONSCIOUSNESS
The Writing of the Turkish National Anthem
Should Your Father Come (From the Epic of the Dardanelles)
The Sound of the Call to Prayer (From the Epic of the Dardanelles)
The Humility of Sultan Selim I
Questions

CHAPTER 8
THE MERCY AND COMPASSION OF GOD’S MESSENGER
The Messenger of God Was a Paragon of Mercy and Compassion
God’s Messenger and the Little Girl
The Elevated Morality of God’s Messenger
Our Prophet Was the Gentlest of People
The Modesty of God’s Messenger
God’s Messenger was Unequaled in Mercy
Special Compassion of God’s Messenger towards Orphans
Kindness towards Women
Extraordinary Love for Children
The Forgiveness of God’s Messenger
God’s Messenger: The Paragon of Grace
God’s Messenger Kept His Word
The Politest of All People
God’s Messenger Was Dignified
God’s Messenger Was Always Just
Importance Given to Youth
Qur’anic Verses
Prophetic Traditions
Questions

CHAPTER 9
HONORING PARENTS
Story: Don’t Forget the Needle
THE COMPANIONS’ LOVE FOR GOD’S MESSENGER
Why Are You Walking Like That?
Tears in the Cave
The Women Companions’ Love for God’s Messenger
Companions Who Sacrificed Their Lives for God’s Messenger
Special Guests
Qur’anic Verses
Prophetic Traditions
Questions

CHAPTER 10
SENSITIVITY REGARDING THE PROHIBITED
AND THE PERMISSIBLE
The Levy of Abu Bakr’s Slave
God’s Messenger and the Date
HISTORICAL CONSCIOUSNESS
Story: Sultan Selim I and the Apple
Story: A Bunch of Grapes
Qur’anic Verses
Prophetic Traditions
Questions

ADDITIONAL TOPICS
SOCIAL ETIQUETTE
The Etiquette of Eating and Drinking
Cleanliness
Friendship and Fellowship in the Hadith
Respect for the Elderly
The Etiquette of Greeting
He Always Remained True to His Word
The Ethics of Speech
Translation of the Qur’anic Chapter Al-Hujurat
Visiting the Ill
Gratitude
On the Rights of Others
The Sensitivity of God’s Messenger in Relation to the Rights of Others
Being Saved from Injustice to Others
The Situation of Those with the Rights of Others upon Them
Will Those with the Rights of Others upon Them Enter Paradise?
The Language of Order
Days of Forgiveness and Reward
Days of Brotherhood, Unity and Solidarity
On This Day Nobody Should Be Forgotten
Modest Dress
Avoiding Extravagance in Clothing and Dress
Starting with the Right Side
Advising His Companions to Dress Well
Recommendations Regarding the Length of Clothing
The Blessed Days and Nights
The Night of Power
Signs of the Night of Power
The Mawlid
The Night of Salvation (Laylat al-Bara’a)
The Night of Ascension
The Night of Raghaib
The Day of Ashura
The Day of Jumu’a (Friday)
The Three Sacred Months
The Month of Rajab
The Month of Sha’ban
The Month of Ramadan