Answer: “NO” Nature is a created thing and God is its Creator. The two cannot be the same.

Answer: He is son of Abdullah and Amina, from the clan of Hashim, tribe of Quraish, in Makkah. He is the Last of the Prophets sent by Allah to lead mankind onto the right path. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him & his progeny) was born in Makkah in A.D. 570 and died in Madinah in A.D. 632. To learn more about him, please follow the link: https://books.findtruth.co.uk/ebooks/the-life-of-muhammad-the-greatest-liberator-the-holiest-prophet

Answer: Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him &his progeny) began his mission of prophet hood at the age of 40 by divine wisdom and command. This timing allowed the people of Arabia to witness and fully appreciate his impeccable character, integrity, and truthfulness before he proclaimed his divine mission. For 40 years, he lived among them, earning their trust and admiration through his honesty, justice, and exemplary behaviour. This foundation ensured that, when he announced his prophet hood, no one could credibly accuse him of being untrustworthy or an imposter.

Even after he declared his mission, some of his opponents in Makkah accused him of being a poet, a sorcerer, or a man influenced by magic. However, none could deny his reputation as Al-Ameen (the Trustworthy) or Al-Sadiq (the Truthful). Remarkably, even as they plotted against him, many of his adversaries continued to entrust their valuables to him, confident in his reliability. This profound level of trust and respect would not have been possible if he had declared his prophet hood at an earlier stage in life when such trust had not yet been firmly established.

The timing also ensured that his community could not dismiss his claim as a youthful ambition or impulsive endeavour. Instead, his years of demonstrated wisdom, patience, and leadership became a testament to the authenticity of his message. Thus, Allah's decision to reveal his prophet hood at the age of 40 was a strategic choice that strengthened the credibility and effectiveness of his mission to guide humanity.

Answer: A Muslim should practice all duties set by God in the holy Quran and explained by the holy Prophet. There are 10 main obligatory acts in Islam known as “Furu’ al-Deen” (Branches of Islam):

1.  Salat (Prayer): The mandatory daily prayers performed five times a day, which serve as a direct link between the worshipper and Allah.
2. Sawm (Fasting): Observing fasts during the month of Ramadan, refraining from eating, drinking, and other specific actions from dawn until sunset.
3. Hajj (Pilgrimage): The pilgrimage to Mecca, which is required at least once in a lifetime for those who are physically and financially able.
4. Zakat (Almsgiving): Giving a fixed portion of one's wealth to the poor and needy, purifying one’s wealth and aiding those in need.
5. Khums (One-fifth Tax): An annual tax of 20% on surplus income, given to religious authorities to be used for community welfare and the support of religious scholars.
6. Jihad (Struggle): Striving in the way of Allah, this can be through fighting against oppression and injustice, as well as personal struggles for self-improvement and piety.
7. Amr bil Ma'ruf (Enjoining Good): Encouraging others to perform righteous and good deeds, promoting moral and ethical behaviour.
8. Nahy anil Munkar (Forbidding Wrong): Preventing and discouraging evil and sinful actions within the community.
9. Tawalla (Loving the Ahl al-Bayt): Expressing love and loyalty towards the family of the Prophet Muhammad and following their teachings.
10. Tabarra (Disassociating from the Enemies of Ahl al-Bayt): Disassociating from those who oppose or show hostility towards the family of the Prophet Muhammad.

Answer: The most God-fearing person is the one who obeys all the commands of God and abstains from all forbidden things.

Answer: The Furu' al-Deen provides a comprehensive framework for Muslims to practice their faith in their daily lives, covering aspects of worship, social justice, and moral conduct. Engaging in these practices is believed to enhance one’s spirituality, strengthen one’s relationship with Allah, and contribute to personal and communal well-being. Many of these principles emphasize social welfare, justice, and community support, highlighting the interconnectedness of individual and collective duties in Islam.

In summary, the Furu' al-Deen represents the essential practical duties that Shia Muslims are expected to follow, guiding their worship, ethical behaviour, and social responsibilities.

Answer: Salah, or daily prayer, is first of the ten branches of Islam; Salah is the foundation of a Muslim's practices, reflecting the faith on only one God who deserved to be worshipped. Daily prayer is the best form of remembering God and to thank Him for His unlimited favours bestowed to the humans. It is a ritualistic form of prayer that is prescribed to be performed five times a day by Muslims. Each prayer consists of a sequence of movements and recitations from the Quran, the holy book of God, and is performed facing the Ka’aba in Makkah.

The five daily obligatory prayers are:

1. Fajr - the dawn prayer.

2. Dhuhr - the noon prayer.

3. Asr - the afternoon prayer.

4. Maghrib - the sunset prayer.

5. Isha - the night prayer.

These prayers serve multiple purposes in the life of a Muslim:

- They are a constant reminder of the importance of faith in God and the role that spirituality plays in one's life.

- They offer structured moments throughout the day for spiritual reflection and meditation.

- They foster a sense of community and common identity among Muslims, as they are performed in a similar manner around the world.

Performing Salah involves physical acts of standing, bowing, and prostration which symbolize humility before God. The prayers can be performed individually or in a congregation and offer a way to seek guidance, ask for forgiveness, and express gratitude towards God. For Muslims, Salah is both a demonstration of faith and a disciplined practice to renew one's spiritual vitality. 

To learn how to pray the daily prayers, please follow the link: https://findtruth.co.uk/how-to-perform-the-daily-prayers

The practice of praying five times a day (Salah) is a cornerstone of Islamic faith and worship, prescribed by Allah in the Qur'an and demonstrated by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It serves spiritual, moral, and social purposes, as explained below:

1. Cleansing the Soul: The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) likened the five daily prayers to a man bathing in a river five times a day. He said:

"If a man had a river at his door and bathed in it five times a day, would any dirt remain on him?"
The companions replied: "No, O Messenger of Allah, he would be completely clean."
The Prophet said: "The five daily prayers are like that river. Allah erases sins through them."
(Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim)

This analogy emphasizes that Salah purifies the soul from sins and keeps believers spiritually clean and focused on Allah.

2. Connection with Allah: Praying five times a day fosters a continuous connection with Allah, reminding Muslims of their purpose and dependence on Him. It reinforces:

• Gratitude for His blessings.
• Humility and submission to His will.

3. Moral Discipline and Focus: Christian writers like Rev. James Muller and Mr. C.M. King have praised this practice, acknowledging its moral and psychological benefits. Mr. C.M. King noted:

"When a man is engaged in worldly affairs or entertainments, he pays no attention to his moral development. Some entertainments, by their nature, make man forget God. The obligation of Muslims to pray five times daily in all conditions reminds them to turn their hearts back to God, removing unhealthy thoughts from their minds."

4. Unity and Equality: When Muslims gather to pray, especially in congregational settings:

• They stand shoulder to shoulder, rich and poor, showing the equality of all people in Islam.
• The collective act of worship fosters sincerity, love, and unity among Muslims.

5. Humility and Modesty: Salah instills humility as Muslims bow and prostrate before Allah, acknowledging their dependence on Him. This repeated act develops a sense of modesty and mindfulness in daily life.

6. A Divinely Prescribed Act: The obligation of five daily prayers was established during the Night Journey (Isra and Mi'raj) of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), where Allah directly ordained it. Allah says in the Qur'an:

"Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times."
(Surah An-Nisa, 4:103)

Summary

Muslims pray five times a day because it is a direct command from Allah and a means of spiritual purification, moral discipline, and social harmony. It keeps believers grounded in their faith, connected to Allah, and focused on leading a life of righteousness and humility. The practice serves as a constant reminder of their purpose and accountability to their Creator, enriching their daily lives with peace and guidance.

Answer: Before performing the daily prayers (Salah), there are several requirements and steps that a Muslim must undertake to ensure that their prayer is valid and accepted. These preparations involve both physical and spiritual readiness:

1. Purification of body, clothes and the place: The whole body, clothes worn during prayer and the place of prayer must be clean. This includes being free from impurities such as urine, faeces, blood, and other Najasaat (items considered impure). To learn the impure items, please follow the link: https://findtruth.co.uk/what-are-the-types-of-impure-things
2. Performing Wudu – (Ablution) This is an obligatory act prior to perform daily prayers. If certain conditions apply, such as sexual impurity or post-menstrual state, a full-body purification called “Ghusl” may be required.
3. Covering the 'Awrah’: Men and women must cover their private areas during prayer. For men, this is from the navel to the knees, and for women, it covers the entire body except for the face and hands (and feet according to some interpretations).

1. Facing the Qiblah: The direction of prayer must be towards the Ka’aba in Makkah, known as the Qiblah. Muslims must orient themselves in this direction during the prayer.

1. Intention (Niyyah): Before beginning the prayer, the individual must make a sincere intention of “Qurbatan ilallah” (Only for the nearness to Allah) in their heart about which prayer they are going to perform. This intention does not need to be spoken aloud but must be made mentally.

1. Timing: Each of the five daily prayers has a specific time window during which it can be performed. These times are based on the position of the sun and include Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (after midday), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (immediately after sunset), and Isha (night). Prayers should be performed within their respective time frames. However, according to the authentic Shia and Sunni books of hadiths, Asr prayer can be performed right after the Dhuhr prayer and the Isha prayer can be performed right after performing the Maghrib prayer. 

These steps help in preparing a Muslim physically and spiritually to stand before God in prayer, reflecting a state of cleanliness, respect, and sincerity.

Answer: In Islam, there are certain things which are considered to be ritually unclean (Najis). We are commanded by our Lord to stay away from these impure things. There are 9 types of ritually unclean things (najaasat):

1. Urine.
2. Faeces.
3. Human semen.
4. Corpse.
5. Blood.
6. Dogs
7. Pigs
8. Intoxicating drinks as an obligatory precaution.
9. Those who do not believe in any of the heavenly religions (kuffar).

Attention:“Everything is deemed to clean except what divine Jurisprudence has decreed to be najis (ritually impure)”

1 & 2. Urine and faeces: of human beings or any animal whose meat is haram to eat and whose blood spurts when its jugular vein is cut, e.g. mice, cats, and dogs etc. except birds.

The urine and faeces of animals whose meat is halal to eat, including birds such as sparrows and pigeons, mammals, such as cattle and sheep, and animals whose meat is not halal to eat but their blood does not spurt when their major veins are cut, such as snakes and scale less fish, as well as the urine and faeces of birds whose meat is not halal, such as crows and parrots, are considered tahir (ritually clean).

1. Semen: The semen of human beings and animals whose meat is forbidden to eat and whose blood spurts when they slaughtered, are considered impure (najis). The semen of animals, whose meat is halal to eat, is also considered impure as per precaution.
2. Corpse: The corpse of a human being is najis. Similarly, the corpse of any animal whose blood gushes spurts is najis, irrespective of whether it dies a natural death or is killed in a manner other than that prescribed by Islam, except for parts of that body that Islam considers to be without a soul, such as the nails, hair, and teeth.

Note: The corpse of a martyr who is killed in the way of Allah in the battlefield as well as that of a Muslim which is given three ghusls, is considered as Clean (tahir).

1. Blood: The blood of a human being, and animals whose blood spurts when a large vein is cut whether their meat is halal or haram to eat is najis. The blood of an animal like a fish, or an insect like mosquito, is tahir because it does not spurt.

6 &7. Dogs & Pigs: Dogs and pigs are najis and this includes their hair, bones, nails and body fluids.

8.Intoxicating drinks: All alcoholic beverages that are intoxicants, are najis based on obligatory precaution. If an intoxicating object is not a liquid, such as cannabis, opium, or cocaine, it is not considered najis even if it is mixed with water or another liquid and becomes a liquid.

1. Those who deny God or Fundamentals of Belief (kuffar): Anyone who denies the existence of God Almighty, denies the resurrection or does not believe in any heavenly religion is an infidel and is impure (najis).

Note: the people of divine books such as Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, and Sabaeans are considered tahir.

 To learn the impure items, please follow the link: https://findtruth.co.uk/what-are-the-types-of-impure-things