Understanding Your Islamic Neighbour

On October 25th, The Rev. Dennis Becker, minister at Faith Lutheran Church, welcomed Hajji Muhammad S. Shaikh and Elizabeth Rahman, who shared information on the Muslim Faith. Hajji Muhammad started the session with a prayer spoken in Arabic, followed by Elizabeth giving the English translation. Those attending were then taught a traditional greeting:  "Assalaam-o-aleikum," which means "Peace be upon you." The traditional response is "Wa-aleikum-assalaam", which means "peace be upon you too."

Brief Profiles 
Hajji Muhammad Saleem Shaikh: Muhammad was raised among Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims in India; he moved to Pakistan in 1947, then to Canada in 1959. Read more...

Elizabeth F. Rahman: Elizabeth was born in Cornwall, England, and is a Certified Translator by profession, specializing in texts of a religious nature. Read more... 

Muslims Believe In:
-  One true God for all people - Allah
-  Prophets to all people: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus & Muhammad are major prophets
-  Resurrection & individual judgment of all mankind by Allah on judgment day

Elizabeth then spoke of her faith journey on becoming a Muslim. Elizabeth was raised in an Anglican family in England but attended a Methodist Church. She was aware of God from an early age, however in her teens she had some questions about some of the doctrines of the Methodist faith, for example how could the loving God she knew bring a baby into the world bearing the sin of a long ago ancestor? She discussed her dilemma with the Minister of her church who told her to 'seek her own truth'. To help her understand her inner spiritual turmoil, he supplied her with books about the beliefs of various Christian sects, plus other religions. One of the books was about the Muslim Faith, and she immediately felt she was 'going back to her roots' - she felt that the simple beliefs of Islam such as one God with no partners, every baby is born pure, as well as the rights accorded to women 1400 years ago were what she believed. In university, she met a Muslim from Pakistan, and from him she learned more about the Muslim beliefs, traditions and way of life. The more she learned the more comfortable she felt with her spiritual inner self and so she became a Muslim at the age of 18. Elizabeth eventually married the young Muslim. Elizabeth is quick to point out that she did not 'abandon' her Christian upbringing, and she credits it for giving  a very sound basis to her faith; rather she felt becoming a Muslim was a completion of her faith. The following is an article explaining how her faith helped her come to terms with the death of her husband in 2002. Click here.

Glimpses Of Islam (Basic Principles) - Click here to read more.

Haji Muhammad distributed some copies of "A Brief Illlustrated Guide To Understanding Islam". Click here for an online version.