Shared
Way of Life

Now we know how humans come together to share what they know,

to work together, and to do things together just for fun.

And muslims are the same.

But underneath all the things that muslims do is their Islam,

the way of life they share with other muslims.

And the first group with which they share that way of life is of course their family,

who are the first ones to explain to them what the Islamic way of life is all about,

the difference between good and bad behaviour.

And family will be the first ones from whom they learn how to say the Shahada,

and learn those ways of acting that the muslim community were taught by Muhammad the Messenger,

how to make the Sala,

and how to say the first words that they learn from the Qur'an.

But there are usually people in the community that know more about these things than the family

so when they get a bit older children will go to mosques and to mosque schools,

madrassas,

to learn more.

And as they get older, they will learn to fast during Ramadhan,

and when they are old enough to work they will pay Zaka,

and at some time in their lives,

with God's help,

they will share in the experience of going to Makkah for the Hajj.

But there is more to the muslim Way of Life

than just the religious duties like Sala,

as life goes on all day every day.

So muslims will do their best to work together,

not just in mosques, but other meeting places,

to do the things that are also at the heart of the Deen,

the muslim Way of Life.

They will try to do what they were taught by the Messenger,

comfort the lonely

and care for the sick,

and care for orphans

and others who have no-one else to look after them.

And they will try to take care of the poor in their local community,

whether they are muslim or not.

And they will join together to do their best

to feed the poor and hungry of the world.