Q. what is your name?

A. My name is Chantale.

Q. What is name of your religion?

A. Islam. And I am a Muslimah.

Q. What does Islam teach?

A. Islam teaches that Allah is one, and He alone should be worshipped. Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa (peace be on him) is Allah's worshipper and His Messenger and the Holy Qur'ãn is the Book of Allah.

Islam is true religion. It teaches all good things about the here and hereafter.

Q. What is the Kalima of Islam? (Kalima literally means "words" or utterance)

A. The Kalima of Islam is:

Là-ilà-ha il-lal-là-hu mu-ham-ma-dur-ra-sù-lul-lah

There is no god but Allah, Muhammad (peace be upon him) is His Messanger.

   This Kalima is also called Kalima Tauhìd and Kalimà Taiyyeba.

Q. What is Kalima Shahàdat?

A. Kalima Shahàdat (testification) is :

As-hadu al-là ilà-ha il-lal-là-hu wa ash-hadu an-na Mu-hamma-dan 'ab-du-hù wa ra-sù-luh.

I testify that there is no god but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is Allah's worshipper and His Messenger.

Q. What is Imàn (Faith)?

A. Iman is to have faith in something and to proclaim it.

Q. What is 'Iman Mujmal' (faith in a nutshell)?

A. à-man-to bil-là-hi ka-mà hu-à bi as-mà-i'hi-wa si-fà-ti-hi wa qa-bil-tu ja-mia'  ah-kà-mi-hi.

I believe in Allah as He is with all His names and qualities and I accept all of His orders.

Q. What is 'Iman Mufassal' (elaborate Faith)?

A. Iman Mufassal is :

à-man-to bil-là-hi wa ma-là-i-ka-ti-hi wa ku-tu-bi-hi wa ru-su-li-hi wal-yau-mil àkhi-ri wal-qad-ri khai-ri-hi wa shar-ri hi minal-là-hi ta'-à-la wal-ba 'the ba 'dal maut.

I believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messenger, in the Day of Judgment, and that good and evil is ordained by Allah, and the life after death.

Q. Who created you?

A. Allah created us, our fathers and mothers, the skies and the earth, this universe and everything in it.

Q. How did Allah create the universe?

A. By His power and order.

Q. what are people called who do not believe in Allah?

A. They are called Kàfir (Unbelievers).

Q. What are the people called who do not worship Allah but worship other things, or those who believe in two or three gods?

A. Such people are called Kàfir and Mushrik.

Q. Will Allah pardon the Mushrik and kàfir?

A. Kàfir and Mushrik will never be pardoned. They will always be kept in great pain and trouble.

Q. Who was Hadrat Muhammad (peace be on him)?

A. Hadrat Muhammad (peace be on him) was Allah's worshipper and Prophet and Messenger of Allah. We belong to his Ummat.

Q. where was our Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) born?

A. He was born in Makkah, a city in Arabia.

Q. What were the names of his father and grandfather?

A. 'Abdullah was the name of his father and Abdul Muttalib was the name of his grandfather.

Q. Was our Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) greater or lesser in position than the other prophets?

A. Our Prophet (peace be on him) was the greatest of all prophets. He is the holiest of all creation.

Q. Where did Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) live all his life?

A. He remained in the city of his birth, Makkah, for 53 years. Then he went to the Holy City of Madina in obedience to Command of Allah. There he lived for 10 years. He left for his heavenly abode at the age of 63.

What about a person who does not believe in Prophet Muhammad(peace be on him)?

A. One who does not accept Hadrat Muhammad (peace be on him) as Allah's Prophet, is a Kafir.

Q. What is meant by believing in Hadrat Muhammad (peace be on him)?

A. To believe in hadrat Muhammad (peace be on him) means that we accept his as the Prophet and messenger of Allah, and that we should love him above everything except God, and obey his orders.

Q. How do we know that Hadrat Muhammad (peace be on him) is Allah's Prophet and Messenger?

A. It is because the Holy Book testifies his prophethood and he, in his words and deeds maintained a standard of life to which only prophets can rise.

Q. How to know that the Holy Qur'an is Allah's Book?

A. Because Hadrat Muhammad (peace be on him) said: it is a Book of Allah and it was revealed to him by Allah. Its teachings and its style of expression are unparalleled and elude human's skill and wisdom.

Q. Was the Holy Quran revealed to Hadrat Muhammad (peace be on him) all at once or in parts?

A. The Holy book was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) in parts, Sometimes one Àyat (verse), sometimes two or more Àyat and sometimes one whole Sùra (chapter) was revealed. This was done according to the need.

Q. How long did the Holy Book take for its complete revelation?

A. 23 years.

Q. How was the Holy Quran revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him)?

A. The holy Quran was revealed through the Angel Gabriel. He would come to Prophet (peace be on him) and recite before him one Àyat or one Sura which the Prophet would remember and then get it written by some one.

Q. Why did the Holy Prophet not write himself?

A. Because the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was Ummi.

Q. What is Ummi?

A. A person who did not learn to read and write from any human being is called Ummi. Though the Prophet did not receive any customary schooling yet Allah bestowed upon him the knowledge, the like of which is not to be found in the world.

Q. Who is Angel Gabriel?

A. An Angel who brought Allah's order to His Prophets and messengers.

Q. How do Muslims adore Allah?

A. They say Namaz (prayers), keep Fasts, give Zakat and perform Haj.

Q. What is Namaz?

A. Namaz is special way of worship taught by Allah in the Holy Quran elucidated and explain practically by Muhammad (peace be on him), His Apostle in Ahadith (traditions).

Q. How is Namaz observed?

A. Namaz is observed by standing before Allah facing Qibla, with hands crossed on the belly, in the Mosque or at home, reciting Holy Quran, praising Allah's greatness, bowing to Him in respect and putting the forehead on the ground to show humility to Him.

Q. Which direction one turns his face while observing prayer___ in the Mosque or at home?

A. Allah is Omnipresent (present everywhere). Whether man presents himself before Allah in the vicinity of a Mosque or within the four walls of his house. You can say your prayers at home or in the Mosque, Allah is everywhere. But there is a greater reward in observing the prayers in a Mosque.

Q. One has to wash his face, hands, and feet before the Namaz; what is that called?

A. It is called Wudu, (Ablution). Namaz said without Wudu is not acceptable.

Q. To which direction a Muslim should turn his face while offering   prayer?

A. Towards Makkah.

Q. Why has it been ordered to turn one's face to Makkah?

A. Since it is in Makkah that the sacred house of Allah is situated. It is called Kaba. One must turn one's face towards Kaba while offering Namaz.

Q. What name do we give to the direction of our prayers?

A. It is called Qibla.

Q. How many times the Namaz is offered during the whole day and night?

A. It is compulsory to say Namaz five times during the day and night.

Q. What are the names of those five Namaz?

A.

1. The first that is said before the sunrise is called Fajr.

2. The second offered in the afternoon is called Zuhur.

3. Third said nearly two hours or so before sunset is 'Asr.

4. The fourth, said just after sunset, is Maghrib.

5. The fifth, said one and a half or two hours after sunset, is called 'Isha.