1. Islam

2. Comparing the Religions
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Origin
Unknown
33 AD
622 AD
Sacred Text
Torah
Bible
Qur’an (Koran)
Adherents
Jews
Christians
Muslims
Church and State
Separated
Integrated
Major splits
Reform/Orthodox, 1800s CE
Catholic/Orthodox, 1054Catholic/Protestant, 1500s
Shia/Sunni, c. 650 CE
view of fellow Abrahamic religions
Islam and Christianity are false interpretations and extensions of Judaism.
Judaism is a true religion, but with incomplete revelation. Islam is a false religion.
Jews & Christians respected as "People of the Book," but have wrong beliefs, only partial revelation.
Means of salvation
belief in God, good deeds
correct belief, faith, good deeds, sacraments (some Protestants emphasize faith alone)
Correct belief, good deeds, Five Pillars
Comparing the Religions

3. What is Islam and how is it related to Judaism and Christianity?
Islam = “peace,” “submission”
Muslim = “submitter”
Not “Mohammedanism”
Abraham’s two sons:
Isaac  the Hebrews (Judaism  Christianity)
Ishmael  the Arabs (Islam)
Islam respects the two earlier Abrahamic religions as “Peoples of the Book”

4. Who was Muhammad b. 570 CE, d. 632 CE
Prophet/founder; human, not divine
Lived in Arabia, near Mecca
Orphaned by age 6, raised by grandfather and uncle
Worked as a caravan driver for a woman – Khadija – 15 years his senior
Age 25: accepted offer to marry Khadija
Sired six children, only one daughter – Fatimah – had children of her own
Age 40: Revelation begins 610 CE, continues throughout remainder of the Prophet’s life

5. What is the Qur’an? Holy book of Islam
Revealed to Muhammad by God through angel Gabriel
Written piecemeal by scribes during or shortly after Muhammad’s life
Compiled as a whole about 20 years after Muhammad’s death
Comprised of 114 chapters (called surahs) Other Sources: Hadith and Sunnah (stories, sayings, and traditions of Muhammad)

6. The Development of Islam
Early persecution by Meccans
Year 619: wife and uncle both die
Year 622: Hijrah - migration to Yathrib (Medina = “City of the Prophet”) (year 1 AH)
Success in Medina, defense against Meccan attacks
Year 630: Reclaiming of Mecca
Year 632: first Muslim pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca, led by Muhammad who died a few months later, having united the Arab tribes under the banner of Islam
Within 100 years, spread east toward India and west into north Africa and Spain

7. Who are Muslims? More than one billion Muslims in the world today
Two major groups:
Sunni: 80% in many locations throughout the world
Shi’ite: 15%, mostly in Iran
Difference is political, basic beliefs and practices are the same
Sufis are Muslim mystics, come from both Sunni and Shi’ite backgrounds
Most Muslims are not Arab and not all Arabs are Muslim

8. What do Muslims Believe?
One God (Allah)
Spiritual beings:
Angels, Jinn and the Devil (“Iblis,” “Shaitan”)
Prophets & Messengers:
Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, Muhammad…
Holy Books:
Torah, Psalms, Gospels, Qur’an
Decrements (destiny) – Inshallah (“if God wills”)
End Times (eschatology)
Resurrection, Judgment day, Heaven & Hell

9. How is Islam Practiced? The Five Pillars
Shahada – Witness:
“There is no God but The God (Allah) and Muhammad is the Prophet of God
Salat – Prayer, five times every day
Zakat – alms giving to the poor and needy
Sawm – fasting, sun-up to sun-down during month of Ramadan
Hajj – Pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once in a Muslim’s life, if able)

10. What is the Ka’aba? Located in the center of Mecca
Pre-dates Islam (said to have been built by Abraham and Ishmael as an altar to God)
Used by pre-Muslim Arabs for worship of their many tribal gods (idols)
Year 630: reclaimed by Muhammad, cleansed and rededicated to Allah
Center of Islam to this day – place of annual pilgrimage and direction of prayer for Muslims from all corners of the globe

11. Other Sacred Places The Great Mosque in Mecca
The Prophet’s Mosque in Medina
The Great Mosque in Mecca
The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem

12. Islam as a Way of Life Shariah (Islamic Law)
Based on Qur’an + Hadith and Sunnah
Concerned with preserving human dignity through five principles:
preservation of life
preservation of progeny (family)
preservation of intellect (education)
preservation of wealth (property)
preservation of religion
not just for the individual but for the society

13. What about Jihad? “Struggle” not “Holy War” Struggles in the Holy Land
Inner: spiritual and moral struggle between good and evil
Outer: struggle to maintain proper social setting according to God’s will
Struggles in the Holy Land
Palestinian vs. Israeli, not Muslim vs. Jew (political, not religious)