A Guide for The Young Muslim - Assad Nimer Busool.

Having read that the biggest University in the world is Islamic University, was keen to know what is taught here.  And the first book I lay my hand in 2021 happen to be A Guide for The Young starters who want to learn about Muslim culture by Assad Nimer Busoold was my 2nd of 2022

The series consists of four books each for different age group including the principles of Tawhid (Oneness of God), fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) and Akhlaq (Science of ethics - practice of virtues)

 It was interesting to know the meanings of Arabic-Islamic common terms like:

A Muslim is a person who believes in Islam, Islam, Islam is a religion which teaches us to worship only Allah (Subhanahu wa-ta'ala), and to obey Him, and to do what He wants us to do. 

A person becomes a Muslim when he/she says the Shahadah, the first pillar of Islam, which means, believing in Allah as the only god, and in Muhammed as His messenger.  It says:

"Ash/hadu an la ilaha illa Allah, wa-Ash/hadu anna Muhammadan raulu I-Lah" : This means, "I believe there is no god but Allah, and I believe that Muhammed is the Messenger of Alah."

The Qur'an is a book, which Allah sent to Prophet Muhammad from the heavens through the Angel Jibril, Gabriel, to teach people Islam and good manners and behavior. It is in Arabic.

There are 114 Surah or chapters in Qur'an. Any of your readings start with "Bi-smi I-Lahi r-Rahmani r-Rahim. This needs to be said even before Wudu. 

Adhan : Call for prayer. A Mu'adhdhin announces for every Salah, five times a day, it says:

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar (2)

Ash/hadu an la ilaha illa Allah(2)

Wa-ashhadu anna Muhammadan Raulu I-Lah Allah(2)

Hayya 'ala s-salah (2)

Hayya 'ala l-fala(2)

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar

La ilaha illa Allah

Which means:

Allah is the greatest, 

I say: There is no god except Allah

I say: Muhammad is the messenger of Allah

Hurry to prayers!

Hurry to success!

Allah is the Greatest,

There is no god except Allah. 

At-Tahiyyat :The first Tashahhud which is read twice in each Salah.

Imam: The man who leads the prayers.

Iman: Faith, belief in Allah (Subhanahu wa-ta'ala)

Istinshaq: Cleaning the inside of the nose with water

Jama'ah: A group of people praying together

Jibril: The Angel who brought The Qur'an to Prophet Muhammed (Salla Allahu 'alaihi wa-sallam)

Ka'bah: The holiest mosque in Islam at makkah

Khutbah: The sermon which the Imam gives at Salatu l-Jumu'ah and Salatu l- Eid

Madmadah : Washing and rinsing the mouth with water

Mu'adhdhin: The man who calls for prayer

Qiblah: Direction of prayer toward the ka'bah

Ruku: Bowing down in the prayers, while putting the hands on the knees

Sadaqah : Charity to the poor

Salam or grettings is important when you meet someone and it is done by saying 'As-Salamu 'Alaikum', and when you are greeted you return it better, the response is "Wa-'alaikum s-salam wa-rahmatu I-Lahi wa-barakatuh".

Salah: Prayers - 2nd pillar, 

When - Salah:

1. In the morning before sunrise (Fajr) - 2 Rak'ah
2. At noon(Zuhr) - 4 Rak'ah
3. Mid-afternoon ('Asr) - 4 Rak'ah
4. Evening, after sunset (Maghrib) - 3 Rak'ah
5. Night ('Isha') - 4 Rak'ah

How - Salah:

1. Facing Qiblah, raise hands to the direction to the level of ears and say "Allahu Akbar"
2. Fold hands over chest, putting right hand over the left, read Surat al-Fatihah, say Allahu Akbar 
3. Bend down putting hands on knees - called Ruku and say 'Subhana Rabiya l-Azim =I praise my Lord the Great' 3 times; 
4. Raise from Ruku and say "Sami'a Allahu li-man hamidah; Rabbana Wa-laka l-hamd = Allah hears who praises him; our Lord the praise is Yours"; 
5. Say 'Allahu Akbar' and prostrate - Sujud say" Subhana Rabbiya I-A'la =I praise my lord the supreme"Three times
6. Say 'Allahu Akbar' and sit up straight. In this position say "Rabbi ghfir li=My Lord forgive me"
7. Say 'Allahu Akbar' and make Sujud again saying "Subhana Rabbiya l-A'la" three times
8. Then say 'Allahu Akbar' and stand up. 

This finishes the first Rak'ah - Rak'ah is a complete act of Salah which includes, standing, takbir, reading The Qur'an, bowing down and prostration.

At the end of second Rak'ah, you read the first Tashahhud or at-Tahiyyat

The Tashahhud (التَّشَهُّدَ) is an arabic word which literally means 'testimony' or 'witness' and it is also known by another name called at-tahiyyat (التَّحِيَّاتُ) which literally means 'greeting' or 'salutation'. It is recited when a person sits or kneels down during second rakah or last rakah of the prayer (salah).

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+are+two+Tashahhud&rlz=1C1GCEA_enIN982IN982&oq=what+are+two+Tashahhud+&aqs=chrome..69i57j33i160l4.5129j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=_jp_hYYugB7ue4-EP1467mA014

This is mandatory when there is 2 or more Rak'ah and is the pillar of the 4th. 

After reading the two Tashahhud, turn face toward right shoulder and say "as-Salamu 'alaikum warahmatu I-Lah."; then turn face towards left shoulder and say "as-Salamu 'alaikum wa-rahmatu I-Lah" - This act is called 'Taslim', and it should be said at the end of each Salah. 

At the end of third Rak'ah you read al-Fatihah,

Sura Al-Fatiha (, Sūratu al-Fātihah, "The Opening") is the first chapter of the Muslim holy book, the Qur'an. Its seven-7 verses are a prayer for God's guidance and stress the lordship and mercy of God. This chapter has a special role in daily prayers (Salat), being recited at the start of each unit of prayer, or rak'ah.

The 7 verses of Al-Fatiha and their meaning are:

First:

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ۝‎‎

Bismi l-laahi r-Rahmani r-Raheem

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

Second

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِينَ ۝‎

Al-hamdu lil-laahi rabbi l-’alameen

[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds -

Third

ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ۝‎

Ar-Rahmani r-Raheem

The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,

Fourth

مَالِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ ۝‎

Maaliki yawmi d-Deen

Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. (recompense - compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered or effort made.)

Fifth

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ۝‎

Iy-yaaka na’budu wa iy-yaaka nasta’een

It is You we worship and You we ask for help.

Sixth

ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَاطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ ۝‎

Ihdina s-siraata l-mustaqeem

Guide us to the straight path -

Seventh

صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ ۝‎

Siraata l-ladheena an’amta ’alayhim Ghayril maghduubi ’alaihim wala d-daal-leen

The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned [Your] anger or of those who are astray.

Fourth Rak'ah is like the second, but read al-Fatihah only and the last Tashahhud or as-Salatu I-Ibrahimiyah after the first Tashahhud

Salatu l-Jumu'ah is The Friday-noon prayer

Shahadah: Declaration of faith - 1st pillar

Surah: Qur'anic chapter

Taslim: Saying (as-Salamu 'alaikum wa-rahmatu Allah), at the end of the Salah.

Wudu: Ablution, cleanliness for Salah. One need to perform Wudu. Wuḍūʾ (Arabic: الوضوء al-wuḍūʼ [wʊˈdˤuːʔ]) is the Islamic procedure for cleansing parts of the body, a type of ritual purification, or ablution. The 4 Fardh (Mandatory) acts of Wudu consists of washing the  arms, mouth three times, called Madmadah, nose 3 times called istinshaq, face 3 times, hands and forearms to the elbow starting with right,  then wiping the head, ears and finally washing the feet from ankles, starting with right, with water.

Though I had my Quran since 2000 and had been reading and taking notes from it, could understand it better now.

The early Muslims fulfilled their duties to their Lord and to their society before asking about their rights, because they put their trust for the reward any human being looks for, Jannah, Paradise, where they would come to live an eternal, peaceful, luxurious life. For this life, willing to sacrifice their short worldly life to benefit the whole of humanity. 

Allama l-insana ma lam ya'lam : "He taught the human that which he knew not"

at-Tahrim 66/6 asks believers to protect themselves and families from a fire whereof the fuel is people and stones.

One need to pray regularly, memorise 10 short Suras and the Ayahs and the prophetic hadiths, attend mosque for Salat al-Jama'ah, Salat al-Jumu'ah, Salat al-'Eid and Salat at- Tarwih in Ramadan.