Each year, all the participating faiths in the Glasgow Sharing of Faiths group used to hold an exhibition in one of the main Glasgow Museums, visited by school groups from across the city. As a spin-off from that, one year I was asked to prepare an exhibition about Islam to tour around the City Libraries. What we have here are the texts from the central display boards for each section of the exhibition. I have some photos of the exhibition somewhere which may end up on the site if ever they turn up.
 

Glasgow City Libraries - Exhibition


WHO ARE THE MUSLIMS?

One in five of all the people in the world call themselves muslim.  They live on every different continent, are black, brown, yellow, and white, come in all shapes and sizes, dress in many different fashions, and speak many different languages.  They not only live in the desert sands of Africa, but also in the jungles of Indonesia.  They may live in boats in Bangladesh and Kashmir, or in tents in Sudan and Afghanistan, but mostly they live in houses and apartments in villages, towns and cities around the world, not just Cairo, Tehran and Lahore, but also Tokyo, New York and Glasgow.  The variety of our tongues and colours is one of the signs of God mentioned in the Qur’an, which also tells of our being created as different races and tribes so that we can learn from knowing one another.


GOD

When muslims all seem so different, what is it that makes them the same?  The most important thing is that they believe in God!  Do you wonder what life is all about, and if the laws that move the sun and stars have a reason or are just an accident?  Muslims think the world makes sense, and the power that made it that way is known as 'God'.  Muslims say there is only one God, and God is not an ‘it’ but a ‘who’!  So if we talk to God we talk to ‘You’.  The muslim name for God is an Arabic word ALLAH!  Muslims also use other names for God - the All-Creator, the All-Knowing, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise and lots of others, but the qualities that muslims most commonly associate with Allah are Mercy and Compassion.  When we die, an event which unites not only muslims but mankind, it is to God we are returned.


FOLLOWING THE MESSENGER

God’s existence is not obvious to everyone, nor is the best way of living our lives to harmonize with Creation.  But throughout history some people have been given a special ability to see and understand God’s purpose for us all, and from the time of Adam these special people have passed on a message of understanding to those around them.  They tell of One God and of the signs of God to look for, and that our actions in this life have consequence when judged according to their goodness, with our good deeds being rewarded and what is done with evil intent attracting punishment.  Each day, from minarets around the globe an echoing reminder is called to the people, so that they may remember the Message and bow their heads in wonder at God’s glory and in acceptance of God’s will.


THE GOOD LIFE

What is good and what is bad?  How do we know which is which?  Muslims follow the example of a man named MUHAMMAD.  He Lived 1400 years ago, but the principles he lived by are just as valid for mankind today.  What sort of things are good for you, make your life easier and better?  How can we be more like Muhammad, who was the happiest and most smiling of men?  He said: Tell the truth, be tolerant, patient, open-hearted and generous.  Be faithful and keep your promises.  Control your temper and your tongue.  Fight for justice yet be merciful.  Muhammad was “a mercy to all beings”.  Muslims remember Allah when they respect their parents, keep themselves clean and healthy, when they are honest in business and do the best job they can, or show kindness to others and give to those with less than themselves.


MAKING THE EFFORT

If we look at our lives as a test of our goodness, we can see it must be best for us to practise being good as much as possible.  But being good is more than just making prayers, and muslims try to remember God through all their waking hours, whatever they are doing.  Each day while muslims work or play they try to do the best they can for no reason other than the service of God, and such service is considered to be an essential part of worship.  They may be working as surgeons or scientists, poets or carpenters, cooks or gardeners, all muslims know their work is to be judged on whether they are doing the best they can.  Concentrating on the perfection of each stitch, or cut with a chisel, takes away boredom and creates beauty, and “God is Beautiful and loves beauty” said the Prophet.


LOOKING FOR ANSWERS

Not all that we learn is for immediate practical use, and some things we study out of curiosity and fascination.  The search for knowledge is not idle but a sacred duty for muslims who are urged to “seek knowledge as far as China”.  We must use our imaginations to humbly explore the Signs of God in Creation in order to learn our part in it, to discover and tell of God’s glory and wonder, and to use our knowledge in the service of mankind.  As well as mosques and minarets, the world of Islam has hospitals, libraries, schools and universities.  A thriving society needs many talents.  Accountants and astrophysicists both have their parts to play, as well as inventors and T.V. presenters.  For knowledge is not to be equated with intelligence when what matters before God is our reverence and piety.


UNPROVABLE TRUTHS

There are certain things which it seems are quite impossible to prove, such as whether God exists or not, and whether we have souls that will live on after our bodies eventually die. But provable or not, our views on such issues are important as they affect our present lives and hopes, and determine our decisions and actions.  To restrict our beliefs to what can be measured or captured in a jar, is to imprison ourselves in a cage which excludes the spirit, moral values, and experiences such as love and loss.  For a more subtle understanding of life muslims turn to Muhammad’s message, the Qur’an, words so precious that calligraphy is the highest Islamic art.  Scientific truth is rewritten in time, as we search beyond our present understanding, but God is the One Eternal and Absolute Truth to be discovered.


ISLAM

When muslims try to follow the example of Muhammad, they find that he passed on five essential practices known as the Pillars of Islam.  Firstly we must admit the existence of God and the messengership of Muhammad, an understanding that lies at the root of all our actions, and an awareness that must be with us each moment.  Each day, as a reminder, we make five formal prayers.  Each year, in the month of Ramadan, we give to the poor while tasting a little of their hardship by fasting from dawn to sunset.  Finally, at least once in their lives, muslims try to make Pilgrimage to the Ancient House in Makkah.  Leaving everything behind, even their usual clothes, dressed in white winding sheets rich and poor all look the same, standing together side by side to face the truth of God alone.


THE AFTERLIFE

Have you ever wondered what happens after you die?  Is that the end of everything?  If there is nothing after death this world seems very unfair.  Some are rich, some are poor, some are sick, some are healthy, some starve, and some get fat.  Muslims believe that when you die you will be brought to life again, and then - Justice is done!  The rewards for doing good or bad are known as Heaven and Hell.  Muslims call them the Garden & the Fire.


JUMMAH SALAAT

Each week on Fridays just after mid-day, muslims join with their neighbours together in prayer.  It is a special prayer called the Jummah.  For this prayer muslims first bathe, so that they are clean and sweet smelling when they gather together.  Then when the call to prayer goes out from the minaret, they meet in the mosque to listen to stories of Muhammad's way of life, and hear how his example can still be followed.  The leader of the Jummah Salaat is called the Imam, and to be seen when he talks to the people he stands on some stairs known as the Minbar.  In large mosques the minbar can be very tall and is often richly decorated.


CELEBRATIONS

At the end of Ramadan, the first day without fasting is called the Eid ul Fitr.  Muslims cook lots of food, send greetings cards, and visit their families, friends and neighbours.  In the morning, families go to the mosque together and make the special Eid ul Fitr prayer.  Another time of festivity with a special prayer is at the end of the time of Hajj, and this is known as the Eid ul Adha.


THE ANCIENT HOUSE

In Makkah stands the Ancient House.  It was built by Abraham in the dawn of mankind, a house for the worship of the One God.  It is built on a square base, its corners to the compass points, and as high as it is wide.  In Arabic it is called Ka’bah - the cube.  Mosques around the world show the direction of Ka’bah by an alcove called the Mihrab.  In circles stretching round the globe muslims face Ka’bah when they pray, walk around Ka’bah during pilgrimage, and lie facing Ka’bah in their graves.


SALAAT

Each day, muslims make a special kind of prayer to greet Allah.  This is known as the Salaat.  Muslims make Salaat 5 times a day, at dawn before sunrise, after mid-day, in late afternoon, after sunset, and in the dark of night.  Before they begin they must be clean, and wash themselves in a special way called Wudu.  In the Salaat muslims stand, bow, place their heads on the ground, and sit.  They face Makkah, make a good intention, start by saying God is Great, and end by wishing peace on everybody.  In Salaat muslims remember Allah while they recite the Qur’an, the Message of Allah as read by Muhammad.  The words are in the Arabic language, and first heard fourteen hundred years ago, but they can be guidance for anyone, anywhere and any time.  The Qur’an is “a healing and a mercy to the believers”.