WHAT IS ISLAM? Part 1
What do Muslims believe?
Islam is considered one of the three Abrahamic faiths (along with Judaism and Christianity), is the world's second-largest religion, and was founded in the seventh century by Muhammad. More than one billion people around the world are considered Muslim.
Islam's origin is told as follows: Muhammad claimed the angel Gabriel visited him some 500 years after Christ. During these angelic visitations, which continued for about 23 years until Muhammad's death, this angel purportedly revealed to Muhammad the words of Allah (the Arabic word for "God" used by Muslims). These dictated revelations were collected in the Muslim holy book, called the Qur'an, that consists of 114 suras (or surahs, meaning chapters).
While there are many subgroups within Islam, the three major groups include Shia (or Shiite), Sunni, and Sufi Muslims. Each practices Islam somewhat differently, yet all hold to the five pillars of Islam, the Qur'an as its holy book, and six key doctrines of Islam.
These five pillars include:
1. The testimony of faith (shahada): "la ilaha illa allah. Muhammad rasul Allah." This means, "There is no deity but Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." A person can convert to Islam by stating this creed. The shahada shows that a Muslim believes in Allah alone as deity and believes that Muhammad reveals Allah.
2. Prayer (salat): Five ritual prayers must be performed every day.
3. Giving (zakat): This almsgiving is a certain percentage given once a year (2.5 percent of one's income).
4. Fasting (sawm): Muslims fast during Ramadan in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. They must not eat or drink from dawn until sunset.
5. Pilgrimage (hajj): If physically and financially possible, a Muslim must make the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia at least once. The hajj is performed in the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar.
Here are some additional facts about Islam:
1. Muhammad was Allah’s principle prophet, which essentially placed Jesus on the same level as Muhammad, rather than being God’s Son.
2. Islam doesn’t believe in original sin. To them, man is not pre-disposed toward sin, but DO commit sins.
3. Allah has NO son, making the Trinity a false teaching.
4. They viewed Jesus as a spiritual guide; a prophet like Muhammad.
5. The Holy Spirit, rather than being the 3rd person of the Trinity, is in fact, the Angel Gabriel.
6. Salvation is by the will of Allah thru man’s obedience to his law.
7. To escape Allah’s judgment man must fulfill the works of the Five Pillars listed above.
8. The Holy Bible is considered by them to be corrupted and full of falsehoods. The Qur’an is the only perfect Word of Allah.
9. The Bible is a wise book, but the Qur’an is the final authority.
As stated in point 6 above, a Muslim's entrance into paradise is based on one's level of obedience to these five pillars. Still, Allah may reject them. Even Muhammad was not sure whether Allah would admit him to paradise (Surah 46:9; Hadith 5.266). While Islam is considered a world religion and not technically a ‘cult’ as defined in THE KINGDOM OF THE CULTS, the Quran directly contradicts the teachings of Jesus. They adhere to anti-biblical theology, which brings their status as a religion into question.
Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.
In His Name & for His Glory,
RL Keller
Bread of Life Ministries
Source: www.compellingtruth.org; The Kingdom of the Cults by Dr. Walter Martin.
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