Understanding Islam
Islam Today: Demographics There are an estimated 1.2 billion Muslims worldwide Approximately 1/5 th of the world's population Where Do Muslims Live? Only 18% of Muslims live in the Arab world 20% are found in Sub-Saharan Africa 30% in the South Asian region of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh The world's largest single Muslim community is in Indonesia The Top 9: 1) Indonesia, 2) Pakistan, 3) Bangladesh, 4) India, 5) Turkey, 6) Iran, 7) Egypt, 8) Nigeria, and 9) China
The Islamic Map
Two Main Braches of Islam There are two main branches of Islam today 1. Sunni recognize the male heirs of the first 4 elected (according to Muhammad's instruction) caliphs (or spiritual heads) after Muhammad s death. The largest branch of Islam, this faction believes that Muhammad s successor should be chosen by a consensus of Muslims. AD 611 Ali ibn Talib, Muhammad s cousin and original caliphs was murdered and started a division that continues to this day. 1. Shiite recognize the decedents of only the 4th caliphs Ali (M s sonin-law & cousin), the only true descendent of Muhammad The second largest branch of Islam, this faction believes that Muhammad s successor should be someone from his bloodline. 2. Other Factions: Sufi Islam (mystical branch); Baha I World Faith (1844 after prophet Bahauallah); The Nation of Islam (aka The Black Muslims; 1975; racially motivated by founder Elijah Muhammad.)
Understanding Muhammad: His Life and Times
The Life of Muhammad: The early years Muhammad was born in Mecca around the year 570 (A city of western Saudi Arabia) Mecca was not a kind, friendly culture. These tribes all worshiped many different gods (polytheistic); Kaaba 360 gods Muhammad began working as a merchant and was known for his trustworthiness Muhammad and Khadija (wife) had 4 daughters and 2 sons
The Life of Muhammad: The Visions and the Message Fifteen years after his marriage in AD 610, he began to have visions and hear mysterious voices (Gabriel) When Muhammad was about 40 years old an angel appeared to him in the form of a man This revelation was soon followed by others about the one true God Unlike Jesus (who Christians believe was God's son) Muhammad was a mortal, albeit with supposed extraordinary qualities and relatable moral flaws.
The Life of Muhammad: The Trouble and Battles Muhammad slowly began to attract some followers. The ruling elite feared Muhammad and his followers and began to persecute them. In AD 622, Muhammad fled to Medina (then called Yathrib) in an event called the Hijra (migration). This begins the Islamic calendar. Muslims began to grow in number and wealth after raiding merchant caravans. Battle of Badr in AD 624; Battle of the Trenches in AD 626
The Life of Muhammad: Conclusion January 11, 629 Muhammad and 10,000 warriors captured Mecca and cleansed the Kaba. Muhammad's life was cut short by his sudden death on June 8, 632 at about 60 years old Within 100 years, Islam spread across the world, occupying more territory than the Roman Empire
Glossary Terms: 1. Islam a theistic worldview centered on the life of the prophet Muhammad that derives its understanding of the world through teachings of the Quran, Hadith, and the Sunnah. Submission. 2. Islamist a Muslim who embraces the full application of shariah law and who views jihad as a call to conquer nonbelieving nations. 3. Shariah Law derived primarily from the Quran and Sunnah, shariah law is the moral and legal code that governs the lives of Muslims. Shariah addresses a wide variety of subjects such as diet, hygiene, prayer, contracts, business, crime, and punishment. 4. Jihad from the Arabic word translated as struggle, jihad is both inner spiritual battle of every Muslim to fulfill his religious duties and the outer, physical struggle against the enemies of Islam.
Glossary Terms: 5. Jihadi an Islamist who embraces the use of terrorism in pursuit of jihad. 6. Ummah from the Arabic word for nation, ummah is the collective community of Muslims around the world. 7. Quran the central holy book of Islam that Muslims believe to be the literal word of God, recited verbatim from God to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel. 8. Shirk The unforgivable sin of idolatry or polytheism in Islam; in Arabic it means to partner another with God, i.e., worship anymore or anything besides Allah. 9. Hadith The oral history of Muhammad s teachings, rulings, and actions of his early companions.
Glossary Terms: 10.Dhimmi Non-Muslims living in Islamic states. 11.Dhimmitude a provision in shariah law that allows dhimmi to live in Islamic states in exchange for paying the jizyah (i.e., tax). 12.Jizyah a tax imposed on dhimmi living in Islamic states. 13.Shahada the first pillar in Islam which is a confession of faith: There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet. 14.Salat the second pillar of Islam, salat is praying five times per day facing Mecca. 15.Sawm the third pillar of Islam, sawm is a special time set aside for fasting during the month of Ramadan. 16.Zakat the fourth pillar of Islam, zakat is the donation of 2.5% of a Muslim s annual income.
Glossary Terms: 17.Hajj the fifth pillar is Islam, hajj is the mandatory pilgrimage to Mecca for all Muslims with the ability and means to make the journey. 18.Sunnah part of the Hadith describing Muhammad s exemplary actions. 19.Mosque place of worship
Subject Islam Christianity Nature of God Allah is one. He begets not and He is not begotten and there is none like unto Him. (The term "Father" is never used in the Qur'an of God.) God is our Father. Jesus is His physically and spiritually begotten divine Son. God is working out a plan in which all humans come into the image of Jesus and become His divine children. God's Purpose and Plan What is "Spirit"? God's Spokesmen Allah does as He pleases. "Allah has created mankind primarily so that they may know their creator through his creations." An angel or created attribute. God is not spirit. OT Prophets, Jesus, culminating in Muhammad. God is currently working out a plan in which all humans come into the image of Jesus as His divine children. What He plans to do next is beyond our understanding. God is Spirit. He created angels. He can beget humans as His children by giving them His Spirit. OT Prophets climaxing in Jesus followed by the apostles
Who is Jesus? A prophet of God, born of Virgin Mary, by the word of the God as told to Mary by Angel Gabriel. He was taken up by Allah, but a phantom was crucified in his place. The "one-of-a-kind" son of God, born of Mary, begotten by the Holy Spirit (the power and presence of God.) The "Incarnation" is a NT doctrine. He descended from Heaven, became human and died for us, so demonstrating God's love for us. We now come to the Father through Jesus the Son. He is our link to God. God's Written Communication Al Qur'an (the recitation) of 114 suras (units) supported by many volumes of hadith (traditions). The Qur'an was dictated to Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel in pure Classical Arabic. It is our link to God. The Bible (Books) of 39 Old Testament books in Hebrew and Aramaic and 27 New Testament books in Greek, composed by numerous authors across many centuries under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Written in the dialect of the common people.
Nature of Man Sinless at birth with capacity for unlimited moral and spiritual progress through belief in God and faithful adherence to the teachings Sinless at birth. Obedience to the teachings of the NT provides man with that which is necessary to turn from their evil ways and become holy. Personal Accountability Life after death The activities of the wicked and of the saint, of the generous and of the grasping, are all Allah's creation. Allah may give up to seven spirits to a man. But those who choose good will be rewarded and evil punished. At the Resurrection, righteous go to the Garden of God, but do not see God. Wicked dwell forever in fire. Especially righteous do not need to await the Resurrection. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. The wages of sin is death. God calls on humans to choose life and depart from evil. While in this life all have an opportunity to obey God. At the end of time all will be resurrected with a division of the sheep from the goats.
Believers are: "My slaves" "The children of God" Destruction of the Present World Allah will destroy all the nations except Islamic ones. At the end of Jesus' and the messianic Imam's rule, the angels will be destroyed and the earth will spill out its contents. The Earth will be destroyed. Levels of Reward Seven levels of reward Not levels, but possible degrees of reward
Discussion Items: 1. In what areas do Christians and Muslims agree? 2. Are Allah and Yahweh the same God? 3. What controversial verses are found in the Quran? 4. Does the Quran condone terrorism? 5. What is the difference between a conservative and liberal Muslim? 6. What are some major differences between Christianity and Islam? 7. How can we live peaceably with Muslims? Can we coexist?
Whose body is found here?
Understanding Islam