On Islam
I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name,
saying, ‘I had a dream, I had a dream!" Jer 23:25
The faith based on the teachings of a man, Muhammad, founded in the fifth century. Muhammad compilied his teachings in their holy book called the Quran intitially from a dream. His teachings united many Arab tribes under one banner, and taught a strict monotheism to a largely pagen population. He took many concepts from Judaism and Christianity as well as incorporated pagen customs to form a religion that would be the second largest in the world.
Allah: literally translated means The God. This entity in Islam is the creator, the God of the prophets and the ruler of the universe. However, his similarities with our Lord end there, as he is never seen as a Father, a lover, or personally invested in us. The Allah of Islam is a distant one, often portrayed as angry and vengeful. It should be noted that Christians in the Middle East use the term Allah in reference to the God of the Bible.
Jesus: In Islam, Jesus is recognized as a prophet, born of a virgin Mary but they cannot see him as the son of God. Nor do they recognize the crucifixion of Christ. This is a subject that is somewhat vague in the Quran as to what exactly did occur on the day of crucifixion, but the death of Jesus is flatly denied as it was seen by Muhammad as a defeat. The Quran does teach that Jesus ascended into heaven and also refers to Jesus as a Word from God. This can be seen a key point to share the Gospel with Muslims.
The issue of the Trinity is one of the biggest controversial points with Muslims as Muhammad was very adamant in his refusal to believe in a trinity. This came partially from a sect in Arabia in Muhammad’s day who worshipped a triune God in God the Father, The Son (Jesus), and the Mother (Mary). His rejection of this sect was so strong he failed to see the orthodox belief in the trinity. His refusal was based on the idea of God having physical relations with Mary in order to conceive Jesus, because of the interpretation of the word Begotten. In Arabic it has a very physical interpretation, and thus was misunderstood by Muhammad. When sharing with Muslims we have to be very strong on how we see the trinity as a mystical unity. Jesus is known as Issa to the Muslim world and is a respected prophet, acknowledged as sinless, and mentioned in the Last Day prophecies. He is supposed to return to earth, marry four wives, and set up a kingdom.
The Holy Bible and the Quran: to the Muslim has been altered and corrupted by years of Jewish influence. Their Quran is considered a text directly from the hand of Allah. It is often memorized and read in a lyrical manner. They take great pride in the Quran, and consider it sacred above all things. It will always be placed in high honor in the home and never have anything on top of it. It is not always to be perfectly understood and never to be critically analyzed.
Jihad: Jihad is a delicate and difficult topic, while it can be debated from many different angles the fact is that Jihad is a legitimate part of the Islamic doctrine. How an individual Muslim translates that into his or her life is extremely individual. Jihad literally means to struggle against, so it can be taken in the context of struggle for perfection in the spiritual realm, or struggle against others of other belief systems. We would like to stress that while these doctrines are taught, not every Muslim has the desire to become a jihadist. The following excerpts are from Jihad in Islam by Sayyeed Abdul A'la Maududi. The original text was taken from an address given by Maududi on April 13, 1939. The entire text is about 27 pages long in book form. In those pages, however, Maududi pretty much summarizes the entire Islamist plot and some of its justifications in the Quran. Therefore the text serves as an excellent (and nearly comprehensive) summary of Islamist ideology. Most of the other texts presented on IslamistWatch post-date this address, and either repeat its message or expand on it in various ways. After September 11, 2001 and the American-lead ouster of the Taliban from Afghanistan, Maududi is revered by many hundreds of thousands of Islamists in Pakistan as never before, and his foundation, which has a web interface, is one of the oldest Islamist institutions in that country.
"In reality Islam is a revolutionary ideology and programme which seeks to alter the social order of the whole world and rebuild it in conformity with its own tenets and ideals. 'Muslim' is the title of that International Revolutionary Party organized by Islam to carry into effect its revolutionary programme. And 'Jihad' refers to that revolutionary struggle and utmost exertion which the Islamic Party brings into play to acheive this objective."
--Sayeed Abdul A'la Maududi, Jihad in Islam p8
"Islam wishes to destroy all States and Governments anywhere on the face of the earth which are opposed to the ideology and programme of Islam regardless of the country or the Nation which rules it. The purpose of Islam is to set up a State on the basis of its own ideology and programme, regardless of which Nation assumes the role of the standard bearer of Islam or the rule of which nation is undermined in the process of the establishment of an ideological Islamic State."
--Sayeed Abdul A'la Maududi, Jihad in Islam p9
"No one has the right to become a self-appointed ruler of men and issue orders and prohibitions on his own volition and authority. To acknowledge the personal authority of a human being as the source of commands and prohibitions is tantamount to admitting him as the sharer in the Powers and Autority of God. And this is the root of all evils in the universe."
--Sayeed Abdul A'la Maududi, Jihad in Islam p14
"Islam is not merely a religious creed or compund name for a few forms of worship, but a comprehensive system which envisages to annihilate all tyrannical and evil systems in the world and enforces its own programme of reform which it deems best for the well-being of mankind."
--Sayeed Abdul A'la Maududi, Jihad in Islam p19
"It must be evident to you from this discussion that the objective of Islamic 'Jihad' is to eliminate the rule of an un-Islamic system and establish in its stead an Islamic system of State rule. Islam does not intend to confine this revolution to a single State or a few countries; the aim of Islam is to bring about a universal revolution."
--Sayeed Abdul A'la Maududi, Jihad in Islam p24
"Islamic 'Jihad' does not seek to interfere with the faith, ideology, rituals of worship or social customs of the people. It allows them perfect freedom of religious belief and permits them to act according to their creed. However, Islamic 'Jihad' does not recognize their right to administer State affairs according to a system which, in the view of Islam, is evil. Furthermore, Islamic 'Jihad' also refuses to admit their right to continue with such practices under an Islamic government which fatally affect the publich interest from the viewpoint of Islam."
--Sayeed Abdul A'la Maududi, Jihad in Islam p28
Muhammad: While Muslims recognize the validity of the prophets of the Old Testament and also see Jesus as a prophet, they believe that Muhammad was sent last as a seal to the age of the prophets. They see his word as the final word from God. They believe that the sacred texts of the Jews and Christians have been altered by infiltrators through the ages and thus Muhammad was sent with the true text. His status is core to the faith. Most Muslims believe that he should be emulated in even the smallest of everyday life. He is considered so sacred that his image is not even to be drawn. Thus their outrage with political cartoons that show him in compromising positions has led to killings and protests of huge proportion. Any conversation with a Muslim should take into consideration the status of Muhammad in their lives, to speak disrespectfully of him will shut doors of communication.
Call to Prayer: In most mosques there is a tall tower where the call to prayer is announced. Traditionally, the call to prayer was done from the tower by an individual who would be praised for having a beautiful voice, nowadays, most mosques sport loud speakers from which the call to prayer is broadcast so that the entire town can hear. The caller is called a Muezzin. In many Muslim cities this time of day is rather noisy, as many mosques seemingly compete to have the most audience. The prayer call says this:
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
[God is the greatest, God is the greatest]
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
[God is the greatest, God is the greatest]
Ashadu an la ilaha ill Allah
[I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but God]
Ashadu an la ilaha ill Allah
[I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but God]
Ashadu anna Muhammadan rasoolullah
[I bear witness that Muhammad is the prophet of God]
Ashadu anna Muhammadan rasoolullah
[I bear witness that Muhammad is the prophet of God]
Hayya'alas salah [Come to prayer,]
Hayya'alas salah [Come to prayer,]
Hayya'alal falah [Come to success,]
Hayya'alal falah [Come to success,]
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar
[God is the greatest, God is the greatest]
La ilaha ill Allah
[There is no deity but God.]
After the call has been broadcast Muslims perform the cleansing and line up in orderly fashion to begin the prostrations accompanied by their prayers. These are performed barefoot on rugs.
Women: The woman’s traditional place in Islam comes from the position that she held in traditional sixth century Arabia, and is also impacted by the relationship that Muhammad had with his own wives. A woman’s word in Islam is half of the value of that of a man’s, her inheritance is substantially smaller than that of her brother, and her touch is unclean before prayers. She may or may not ever attend the local mosque, if she does she will be separated from her male counterparts. She is seen as an object of seduction, and is therefore encouraged to cover herself completely in the presence of men. While the Quran is not explicit on the subject of how much to cover, Muhammad did ask his own wives to be hidden and thus a good Muslim woman will follow their good example. The Muslim woman gains value in the home by bearing sons, being modest and protecting her husband’s honor. While Muhammad never had a son of his own the customs of the culture prevail here. A Muslim husband is permitted up to four wives and is permitted to beat them if they are disobedient. His word is always law. If a Muslim woman wants a divorce she must go through an entanglement of courts, whereas a man can obtain a divorce by merely saying the words “I divorce you.” three times. Once divorced her children will only be hers until they reach seven years old where they will be exclusively belonging to their father. Muhammad also claimed that the majority of hell dwellers are women. While a Muslim woman can hope for paradise she sees herself as mostly inadequate and pleasing her husband is her only ticket to paradise. Most Muslim women do not see their position as being one of subjugation however, as they have been raised with these ideals. The veil is merely an article of proper clothing to her and her life in submission is merely obedience to God.
References
How To Understand Islam
By: Jacques Jomier
Called From Islam to Christ
By: Jean Marie Gaudeul
The Koran
Translated by JM Rodwell published by Everyman
Christian Reply to Muslim Objections
By: St. Clair Tisdall
The Five Pillars of Islam
The Shahadah or Declaration of Faith
"There is no god but the god and Muhammad is his prophet." This is the declaration that they live by, everyday with every prayer this is murmured. The first pillar of Islam is a statement of faith called the Shahada. The statement of faith is simple and is used as the beginning criteria for becoming a Muslim. While not found in the Quran it is in the Hadith traditions.
It covers the basic tenants of Islam, God is one and Muhammad is the prophet chosen to be the messenger.
Salat or Prayers
The Muslim is called to prayer five times a day, throughout the day at times prescribed. While prayer in the mosque gathering is preferable, Muslims gather on street sides, in work places, and pray using specific prostrations to say the prescribed prayers. Before these prayers are acceptable the Muslim must first perform cleansing rituals to prepare themselves to pray, these are called ablutions.These prayers are often rote but can be added to for personal requests.
Zakat or Giving of Alms
Required by all who can afford it, 2.5% is asked to be given to those less fortunate or charity organizations. There are two kinds of Zakat al Maal, one for giving throughout the year, and is highly favored, the other called Zakat Fitrah is requirement for all Muslims during the celebration of Ramadan before the prayers on Eid. The concept is similar to tithing. The word Zakat comes from the root meaning to cleanse or purify. The Muslim pays Zakat to purify the earnings made through the year. It is supposed to encourage honest business dealings, to restrain greed and discourage selfishness. It also works to raise funds for religious organizations. Zakat is to be paid on earnings or on crops, similar to tithing, but the individual has options as to where to pay the Zakat. It must never go to a non-Muslim, or it would not be considered Zakat. Zakat Al Fitrah is paid in grain and dates right before the Eid, to those in the community less fortunate. Zakat is also paid from companies and organizations throughout the Muslim world as well.
Fasting
Traditional fasting is done during the month of Ramadan. Ramadan follows a lunar calendar so it varies in it’s celebration on the Gregorian calendar. The muslim is to refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sex for the daylight hours of the entire month of Ramadan. It is usually a month of high emotions throughout the Muslim world. Ramadan is celebrated throughout the Muslim world, as a time of fasting in the daylight hours, and then celebrations and parties in the evening and night hours. Many tMuslims rise before the sun in order to get a substantial meal before the day begins, and have huge feasts through the month in the evenings. The last days of Ramadan are the greatest feast days however, as the fast ends many celebrations are held. Ironically, many Muslims gain more weight during the fasting month than in any other time of the year.
The fast is supposed to be to refocus the Muslim on God, and on the spiritual life, refraining from physical pleasures in order to focus the heart on God. It is meant to be not just one of refraining from food and drink but also on all vices, such as gossip or lust.
Muslims believe that the month of Ramadan was the month that the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Muhammad, thus marking the beginning of Islam. Many mosques, radio stations, television broadcasts are dedicated during Ramadan to broadcasting the entire Quran through the month. The Quran is traditionally memorized and chanted. It is sometimes seen as the feast of lights, as many of the celebrations are held after dark, and many decorate with special lanterns adding to the festive atmosphere.
Ramadan also specializes in many dramas and annual shows on TV that are looked forward to, similar to the viewings of “It’s a Wonderful Life” during the Christmas season here in the States. Children look forward to the abundance of traditional cookies and sweets in the evenings during the month and in the end of the month celebrations gifts are sometimes exchanged.
Hajj or Pilgrimage
All able Muslims are required to travel at least once in their lives to the center of the faith, the Ka’ba stone in Mecca Saudi Arabia. These pilgrims from all over the world encircle the Ka’ba stone and if they come during the actual celebratory time of Hajj they can take part in many ancient traditions that have been held in the same place by pagans who were there long before Muhammad rose to power. The pilgrim who returns from this journey is given an honorary title of Hajj, retaining the honor of their journey to the end of their lives.
The tradition begins with a walk, eight miles across desert heat, there they stand at the mount of Arafat, asking for forgiveness and blessings. From there they walk back towards Mecca, and gather 7 stones to carry back to throw at some stone pillars that represent Satan. They throw these stones as a representation of rejection of Satan. They then walk back to the Ka’Ba to encircle it seven times. They then have a traditional run, and then men shave their heads. Each pilgrim then sacrifices an animal, the meat is donated afterwards for charity.
These traditions are extremely similar to the ones that were practiced by the pagans of ancient Arabia.
The stone of the Ka’Ba is believed to be the stone on which Abraham was to offer his son, Muslims believe the son to be Ishmael. However, the stone of Ka’Ba was recognized to be a special holy site for pagans long before Muhammad claimed it and inserted into the faith of Islam. It is inside the cube like tent structure in the middle of the mosque.
