Islam

Islam burst on the scene in the seventh century CE by distilling Western thought down to three simple concepts: 1) God is one, and He is great; 2) humans are forgetful and need to be reminded how great God is; and 3) Muhammad is God’s messenger.

In 610 CE, forty-year-old MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more declared that God had called him to be a prophet to proclaim His message to the world. From Islam’s viewpoint, this was not a new message but the same message delivered by the earlier Jewish and Christian prophets, such as AdamAccording to Jewish, Christian and Muslim scriptures, Adam was the first human being created by God out of the dust of the earth as the last step of creation. All humans descended from Adam and his wife, Eve, after they... more, AbrahamAbraham (c. 1800 B.C.) The founding figure of the world’s three monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He is the first person in recorded history to introduce into a polytheistic world the concept of one true God, however the Bible... more, Moses(Died c. 1400 B.C.) Moses was a Hebrew prophet who led his people out of slavery in Egypt. He instituted the Mosaic Law consisting of both ritual and moral elements. Many Christians believe that this law is part of God’s... more, David(c. 1000 B.C.) David is known for killing the giant Goliath when he was a young shepherd and later when he was king of Israel expanding the territory and glory of the kingdom. He wrote a number of the poetic... more, and Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more, who Muslims believed to be a prophet but not the son of God. MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more, however, was called by God to be the last prophet to confirm this ancient message. Indeed, MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more originally expected the Jews and Christians (the “People of the BookAn Islamic term for Jews and Christians, and to a lesser degree others who base communities of faith from written divine revelation such as the Torah and the Bible. more”) to recognize him as a prophet and embrace his message.

When this did not happen, he was undeterred. He aggressively proclaimed that the citizens of MeccaIs the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad in Saudi Arabia and is the most sacred city of Islam. more needed to submit to the one and only God and prepare for his imminent last judgment. His message involved submission to God in all aspects of one’s life, political and economic as well as spiritual. However, once he started to gather a following, the leaders of the city did not relish the thought of relinquishing their power, so they chased him out. MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more retreated to Medina, where he was successful in converting and unifying many of the tribes of the Arabian Peninsula. He returned and took control of MeccaIs the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad in Saudi Arabia and is the most sacred city of Islam. more in 622 and immediately destroyed all its idols. Before he died two years later, he had taken control of nearly all of the peninsula.

Upon Muhammad’s death, there was an immediate power struggle over who should succeed him as their civil and religious leader, or caliphThe political, military, and religious leader of the Islamic community following the death of Muhammad in A.D. 632 . Sunni Muslims maintained that the most righteous man in the community should be the caliph while the Shi’ites believed the closest... more. MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more had no living sons to inherit control, but one of his daughters had two sons. Some believed that the right to rule ran in Muhammad’s sacred family bloodline, so Muhammad’s cousin and the father of these two boys, Ali, should be Muhammad’s rightful successor. This group became the Shiites (Shi’ah or Shia meaning partisan, follower or party referring to Shiat Ali, or followers of Ali). The vast majority of the Muslims, however, felt that the most righteousA translation of the Latin term justitia meaning “justice.” For Luther, righteous and justice refer to exactly the same thing, being justified or right in the sight of God independent of our actions. See justification. more individual should be their leader. This group became the Sunnis (from Ahl-as-Sunnah, the people of the traditionThis word comes from a Latin term meaning “to hand down,” that originally referred to the teaching of the apostles as handed down in the churches they founded, which led to these churches gaining authority of other locations due to... more, or the Orthodox). This was initially purely a political division and power struggle, but over time additional differences evolved.

The Sunnis selected Muhammad’s close companion Abu Bakr to be their first caliphThe political, military, and religious leader of the Islamic community following the death of Muhammad in A.D. 632 . Sunni Muslims maintained that the most righteous man in the community should be the caliph while the Shi’ites believed the closest... more. But he was assassinated, as were his two successors. Ali then became the caliphThe political, military, and religious leader of the Islamic community following the death of Muhammad in A.D. 632 . Sunni Muslims maintained that the most righteous man in the community should be the caliph while the Shi’ites believed the closest... more, but he and his sons were also killed, along with many of their relatives. After the Sunnis regained control, the Shiites mourned Ali as a martyr. This new Sunni-based caliphate (similar to a dynasty) continued the Muslim conquest at an alarming rate. By 654, this caliphate had conquered the Persian Sasanian Empire and most of the Byzantine Empire. They ruled the Middle-East and the eastern half of North Africa. By the year 750, IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more, under various caliphates, ruled from the border with India on the east, half of Turkey to the north, all across northern Africa, and the entire Iberian Peninsula in the west. They were finally pushed back to Spain after advancing halfway through France.1

Today, IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more is the world’s second-largest religion and is growing rapidly. Even though IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more was initially spread by conquest, there had to be more to this religion than political control in order for it to resonate with its believers and grow to what it has become today. So what are their basic beliefsare so basic of a belief that they form the foundation of the structure of all other related beliefs so that they do not require evidence from other beliefs to establish their truth. more and practices that continue to attract converts and tie generations to its traditions?

According to Islamic traditions, AbrahamAbraham (c. 1800 B.C.) The founding figure of the world’s three monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He is the first person in recorded history to introduce into a polytheistic world the concept of one true God, however the Bible... more taught his pure monotheistic religion to his son Ishmael, who passed it on to his descendants who lived on the Arabian Peninsula, principally along the Persian coast.2 This group of monotheist Arabs, one of whom was MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more, are referred to as hanifs in the Quran.3 During Muhammad’s life, Christianity was taking root along the Persian coast while Judaism had become the traditional Arabian polytheism. When MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more was forty years old, the trade routes had become very dangerous, putting economic pressure on the cities of the Arabian Peninsula.4

During this time of religious and political upheaval, MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more spent time in seclusion on Mount Hira praying and meditating. One day the angel Gabriel appeared to him and requested that MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more repeat a verse that became part of the QuranThe most sacred text of Islam that Muslims believe is the literal Word of God revealed through his prophet Muhammad. more. According to the SunniThe largest branch of Islam comprising of approximately 80 to 85 percent of the Muslim world. The title comes from the term “Sunna” meaning the model of Muslim life as lived by the prophet Muhammed, and refers to those who... more traditionThis word comes from a Latin term meaning “to hand down,” that originally referred to the teaching of the apostles as handed down in the churches they founded, which led to these churches gaining authority of other locations due to... more, at first, MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more was shocked that he had been called to be Almighty God’s prophet. He felt unworthy and unprepared because he could not even read or write. He ran home and told his wife that he might be losing his mind because of what had happened. His wife believed him and took him to see her ten-year-old Christian cousin who proclaimed that he had been called to be a prophet.5

The visions continued, with the angel Gabriel giving him many more verses to recite over the next month. Muhammad’s followers later wrote down these sayings, which form a major part of the QuranThe most sacred text of Islam that Muslims believe is the literal Word of God revealed through his prophet Muhammad. more. His close associates continued to write down additional verses revealed to MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more over the next twenty-three years, which were assembled into the QuranThe most sacred text of Islam that Muslims believe is the literal Word of God revealed through his prophet Muhammad. more soon after his death. During these angelic visitations, the angel delivered the message that God had called MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more to be the final biblical prophet to declare a pure monotheistic religion to the city of MeccaIs the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad in Saudi Arabia and is the most sacred city of Islam. more and warn them of the urgent need to correct the injustices in the city because of God’s fast approaching Judgment Day. On another occasion, MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more was spirited away in a night vision to pray with AbrahamAbraham (c. 1800 B.C.) The founding figure of the world’s three monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He is the first person in recorded history to introduce into a polytheistic world the concept of one true God, however the Bible... more and the other ancient patriarchs at Jerusalem, and from there, he ascended up to heaven and received a vision of paradise. This is referred to as Muhammad’s night journey. The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is next to the place where this miraculous experience is purported to have occurred. Most Christians are shocked to learn that the QuranThe most sacred text of Islam that Muslims believe is the literal Word of God revealed through his prophet Muhammad. more speaks of the great works of AbrahamAbraham (c. 1800 B.C.) The founding figure of the world’s three monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He is the first person in recorded history to introduce into a polytheistic world the concept of one true God, however the Bible... more, Moses(Died c. 1400 B.C.) Moses was a Hebrew prophet who led his people out of slavery in Egypt. He instituted the Mosaic Law consisting of both ritual and moral elements. Many Christians believe that this law is part of God’s... more, King David(c. 1000 B.C.) David is known for killing the giant Goliath when he was a young shepherd and later when he was king of Israel expanding the territory and glory of the kingdom. He wrote a number of the poetic... more, John the BaptistJohn the Baptist (c. 1 B.C.–c. A.D. 30) was a Jewish preacher and prophet, Jesus’s cousin, he taught salvation through a coming messiah, and he used baptism as a major sacrament to symbolize the beginning of a person’s new life... more and even the virgin birth of Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more.

Muslims believe that the QuranThe most sacred text of Islam that Muslims believe is the literal Word of God revealed through his prophet Muhammad. more is the literal word of God. They point to the beauty of the language and message of the QuranThe most sacred text of Islam that Muslims believe is the literal Word of God revealed through his prophet Muhammad. more as proof of the divinity of the calling of the illiterate MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more as God’s prophet. The importance of studying and understanding the correct meaning of the QuranThe most sacred text of Islam that Muslims believe is the literal Word of God revealed through his prophet Muhammad. more to a devote Muslim cannot be overemphasized. Additionally, MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more was viewed as the perfect exemplar of the faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more. Consequently, his close associates wrote down many of the things he said and did, consisting of thousands of pages of material. This collection is a second source of authority under Islamic lawIs a fundamental concept of Luthernism and is contrasted by Luther with the Gospel. For Luther, the law consists of God’s commands regarding how one should live which no one can fully obey. Consequently, the law functions to condemn and... more and is referred to as the hadithIs a collection of sayings and actions, based on oral traditions, of the prophet Muhammad, and form the second highest authority in Islamic law behind the Qur’an, and is the source for determining the ideal Muslim life, the Sunna. more.

Part of the foundation of IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more is the belief that MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more is God’s prophet. However, to Muslims, he is more than the previous prophets like AbrahamAbraham (c. 1800 B.C.) The founding figure of the world’s three monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He is the first person in recorded history to introduce into a polytheistic world the concept of one true God, however the Bible... more, Moses(Died c. 1400 B.C.) Moses was a Hebrew prophet who led his people out of slavery in Egypt. He instituted the Mosaic Law consisting of both ritual and moral elements. Many Christians believe that this law is part of God’s... more and Jesus(c. 4 B.C.–A.D. 30-33) Also known as Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and Savior of the World. He is the founding figure of Christianity and accepted by Christians as the Son of God in the flesh. He taught... more. MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more is the last prophet who confirms the messages of all his predecessors and embodies the attributes of God better than any other human. So one of the best ways to understand God is to study Muhammad’s life and emulate his example. It is like seeing God in a mirror.

The Five Pillars of IslamThe five basic devotional duties required of all Muslims consisting of shahadah, salat, zakat, sawm, and hajj. more are the basic principles and activities that are considered mandatory by believers and are the foundation of Muslim life:

Faith (shahada): The foundational principle of IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more is the belief that “there is only one God, and Muhammad is God’s messenger.” IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more is the purest form of monotheism. Indeed, its greatest sinIs violation to God’s Law, and implicitly includes disobedience to God’s the command to love God and one’s neighbor. See mortal sin, original sin. more is to associate anyone or anything with God (shirkAn Islamic term referring to the most heinous sin in Islam, and the source of all other sins, of associating something (idols, possessions, yourself, another person) with God or worshiping something (a leader, wealth) other than God. more). God is the creator, sustains us every moment of our life, and will be our judge. A believer’s greatest obligation is to submit one’s will to God. Even the word IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more means submission to God in Arabic, and the word Muslim means a personDerived from the Latin term persona and the Greek term prosopon. It is a technical term in Christian theology for the concept that the Trinity consist of three separate persons united as one essence with one of the persons (the... more who fully surrenders himself or herself unconditionally to God’s will.

Prayer (salatIs the second Pillar of Islam and is the term for the prayers prescribed to be offered five times a day beginning at dawn and ending in the evening. Muslims engage in a ritual cleansing, orient themselves towards Mecca and... more): There are five daily prayers: dawn, noon, afternoon, evening, and night. These prayers are recited while facing in the direction of MeccaIs the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad in Saudi Arabia and is the most sacred city of Islam. more and incorporate a series of set positions involving bowing, standing, prostrating, and sitting in a specific position. This pillar is related to another foundational principle of Islam―that all humans were born pure but we are forgetful―so prayer and the other pillars of IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more are designed to remind humans of the greatness of God. The second part of this affirmation of faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more is acknowledging that God has not abandoned us on earth but has provided many prophets and teachers to direct us to God, and Muhammed is God’s last and greatest mouthpiece.

Charity (zakatIs the third Pillar of Islam wherein Muslims are expected to give each year 2.5 percent of their total wealth to charitable causes. more): The practice of giving alms based on the wealth one has accumulated goes to the heart of the religion. It is a personal responsibility of each Muslim to help ease the financial hardship of others and eliminate inequality. The official charitycomes from the Latin word “caritus” that was a translation of the Greek term “agape.”, which refers to a pure love of god and neighbor. It should not be confused with the modern usage of this term which is equivalent... more giving consists of spending 2.5 percent of one’s wealth each year for the benefit of the poor or needy.

Fasting (sawmIs the fourth Pillar of Islam and refers to the fast during the daylight hours of the month of Ramadan. more): is an important component of IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more because of its effectiveness in promoting submission to God. There are three types of fasting mentioned in the QuranThe most sacred text of Islam that Muslims believe is the literal Word of God revealed through his prophet Muhammad. more: ritual fasting, fasting as a means to compensate for one’s sins during repentanceTurning away from sin and to God in hopes of obtaining forgiveness and is associated with a change of mind and heart.  more, and ascetic fasting. Ritual fasting is an obligatory act during the month of RamadanIs a sacred month in Islam during which Muslims are expected to fast from sunrise to sunset. more, which commemorates the month after MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more was called to be a prophet when he received most of the revelations for the QuranThe most sacred text of Islam that Muslims believe is the literal Word of God revealed through his prophet Muhammad. more. The fast is designed to help Muslims draw closer to God to better realize and acknowledge his greatness and our dependence on Him, to seek forgiveness for their sins and atone for them, and to remind them of those in need.

Pilgrimage to MeccaIs the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad in Saudi Arabia and is the most sacred city of Islam. more (the Hajj): Every able-bodied Muslim is supposed to make the pilgrimage to MeccaIs the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad in Saudi Arabia and is the most sacred city of Islam. more at least once in their lifetime. The main parts of the Hajj involve walking seven times around the Kaaba (a small stone building), touching the Black Stone, traveling seven times between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah, and symbolically stoning the devil in Mina. This pilgrimage emphasizes the equality among all Muslims, rich and poor, powerful and meek, Arab and non-Arab, and is often a life-changing experience for those involved.6

Both Sunnis and Shiites uphold the five pillars of IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more and share the same essential beliefs. Within each of these two sects, the approach to Islamic beliefs and practices varies from secularOf the world in contrast to the divine. more to fundamentalist. Regardless, they recognize each other as Muslims and jointly participate in Islamic traditions such as the annual pilgrimage to MeccaIs the birthplace of the prophet Muhammad in Saudi Arabia and is the most sacred city of Islam. more. The differences are primarily about which aspects of their faithIn word for belief and faith is the same in Latin and most European languages, but in English faith often denotes an active believe, one that inspires action based on a belief. For Luther, faith and belief generally meant the... more should be emphasized over others.

Today, over 85 percent of Muslims around the world are SunniThe largest branch of Islam comprising of approximately 80 to 85 percent of the Muslim world. The title comes from the term “Sunna” meaning the model of Muslim life as lived by the prophet Muhammed, and refers to those who... more. Shiites are primarily found in Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, and Bahrain with a minority population in Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen. The major differences between them are a byproduct of their origins. The Sunnis do not have a hierarchical clergyconsists of the priest, ministers and pastors of Christian churches. In the medieval church this term referred to both regular priest who were monks subject to a rule (regula) of a monastic order and secular priest who were not monks... more. Anyone can become the national caliphThe political, military, and religious leader of the Islamic community following the death of Muhammad in A.D. 632 . Sunni Muslims maintained that the most righteous man in the community should be the caliph while the Shi’ites believed the closest... more or the local cleric (imam, or prayer leader). However, Shiites have a more complex religious hierarchyComes from a Greek word that literally means “rule by priests,” and is used to identify churches with strong top down organization or episcopal polity such as the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches whereas as opposed to Baptist and... more based on inherited authority. Their imans are deemed to be infallible manifestations of God. This difference informs the approach each sect takes to understand the will of God. Remember, this is a central concern for Muslims because their primary duty is to submit to God’s will. The Sunnis emphasize the importance of understanding the QuranThe most sacred text of Islam that Muslims believe is the literal Word of God revealed through his prophet Muhammad. more and interpreting it correctly. Even though the Shiites value the QuranThe most sacred text of Islam that Muslims believe is the literal Word of God revealed through his prophet Muhammad. more, they also heavily rely on the words and deeds of the Prophet MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more and his genetic successors as the embodiment of God’s teaching and the means of understanding God’s will. Shiites revere the sacrifice and martyrdom of their progenitors and stress the importance of applying these principles in everyday life. Consequently, the Shiites venerate their saintsIs a term used in the New Testament for Christian believers. In Roman Catholicism it refers to officially canonized, deceased holy men and women who can intercede with God on behalf of ordinary men and women and whose ascension to... more and martyrs and try to emulate them. During the first month of the Islamic new year, Shiites make pilgrimages to the holy shrines of their saintsIs a term used in the New Testament for Christian believers. In Roman Catholicism it refers to officially canonized, deceased holy men and women who can intercede with God on behalf of ordinary men and women and whose ascension to... more in memory of Muhammad’s grandson. Sunnis do not generally believe that this level of veneration and pilgrimages are appropriate under Islam’s laws. Instead, they emphasize the power of God in the world, including its political and other public expressions.7

To distill the differences down to one word for each, Shiites emphasize the importance of emulating the lives of MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more and their saintsIs a term used in the New Testament for Christian believers. In Roman Catholicism it refers to officially canonized, deceased holy men and women who can intercede with God on behalf of ordinary men and women and whose ascension to... more while Sunnis emphasize the importance of studying the QuranThe most sacred text of Islam that Muslims believe is the literal Word of God revealed through his prophet Muhammad. more; however both are importance aspects of each branch of IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more.

There is another major traditionThis word comes from a Latin term meaning “to hand down,” that originally referred to the teaching of the apostles as handed down in the churches they founded, which led to these churches gaining authority of other locations due to... more within SunniThe largest branch of Islam comprising of approximately 80 to 85 percent of the Muslim world. The title comes from the term “Sunna” meaning the model of Muslim life as lived by the prophet Muhammed, and refers to those who... more Islam that is called Sufism, and in some respects, it overlays the Sunni-Shiite divide.8 This traditionThis word comes from a Latin term meaning “to hand down,” that originally referred to the teaching of the apostles as handed down in the churches they founded, which led to these churches gaining authority of other locations due to... more is also referred to as Islamic mysticismIs a form of religious experience that is found in one form or another in nearly all religious traditions. In early Christianity, Pseudo Dionysius referred to it as “mystical theology” because it referred to aspects of an incomprehensible God that... more. The SufiRefers to Muslims who follow a mystical understanding of Islam and include followers from both the Shi’ite and Sunni branches of Islam. more traditionThis word comes from a Latin term meaning “to hand down,” that originally referred to the teaching of the apostles as handed down in the churches they founded, which led to these churches gaining authority of other locations due to... more focuses on increasing an individual’s personal union with the Divine. This is realized through self-purification by learning and doing one’s duty perfectly and for the right reason. Unlike other Muslims who look forward to a close relationship with God in the afterlife, Sufis seek to more fully experience the divine presence in this life. “The ultimate aim of Sufis is to seek the pleasure of God by endeavoring to return to their original state of purity and natural disposition, known as fitra.” 9

Fitra encompasses a wide range of concepts and circumscribes them into one concise interrelated principle. It is viewed primarily as our primordial human divine essencethe English word generally used for the Greek term ousia, that is also translated as “being” or “substance” and refers to that which makes something what it is such as human nature is the essence of a human being. This... more connecting us with the oneness of God. Recall that the primary doctrineis derived from the Latin word for teaching, doctrina, and is an important aspect of Christianity more so than other world religions because Christianity focuses on the teachings and nature of Christ. more of IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more is the principle that God is one. Beyond a prohibition of polytheism, Muslims generally associate it with the Greek philosophical concept of simple that was adopted by Christians in their understanding of God the Father, in that God does not have parts or a body yet is the source of all things. Sufis, however, apply more of a pantheistic perspective that the essence of all things is divine and that there is no existence besides that found in God. This divine essencethe English word generally used for the Greek term ousia, that is also translated as “being” or “substance” and refers to that which makes something what it is such as human nature is the essence of a human being. This... more of all things is also indirectly associated with the concept of fitra.

Muslims believe that God created the divine essencethe English word generally used for the Greek term ousia, that is also translated as “being” or “substance” and refers to that which makes something what it is such as human nature is the essence of a human being. This... more or spirit of all humans before AdamAccording to Jewish, Christian and Muslim scriptures, Adam was the first human being created by God out of the dust of the earth as the last step of creation. All humans descended from Adam and his wife, Eve, after they... more, the first man, was created. This pure and innocent primordial state of human existence in unity with God is the innate human nature of each individual and is referred to as fitra. This is the divine spirit that God breathed into AdamAccording to Jewish, Christian and Muslim scriptures, Adam was the first human being created by God out of the dust of the earth as the last step of creation. All humans descended from Adam and his wife, Eve, after they... more, and is what makes all of us human. Furthermore, God placed all of us under a premortal covenant acknowledging Him as our Lord, leaving an indelible imprint on our soul, which is also part of the concept of fitra.

This pretemporal recognition of God’s Lordship can be understood as creating an innate disposition in human beings toward recognizing and worshipping God during earthly life and toward accepting the prophets and the messages they bring as “reminders” of what human beings already know inwardly, but have merely forgotten.10

Consequently, we have an innate desire to believe in God, but we have the ability to rebel and reject God and our true nature, which is often what happens. Over time, people become distracted by worldly things and tend to ignore this uplifting aspect of their innate nature, resulting in this covenant becoming obscured and forgotten. However, because of the imprint of this covenant on our nature, we will have no excuse on Judgment Day because our disobedience was a result of our own willful laziness, distraction and disbelief. Accordingly, our life mission is to restore our innocence to that primordial state of purity and unity with God. In that regard, IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more is the vehicle to achieve this. One Islamic scholar described this concept thus:

[The message of Islam] is a call for recollection, for the remembrance of a knowledge kneaded into the very substance of our being even before our coming into this world. In a famous verse that defines the relationship between human beings and God, the QuranThe most sacred text of Islam that Muslims believe is the literal Word of God revealed through his prophet Muhammad. more, in referring to the precosmic existence of man, states, “‘Am I not your Lord?’ They said: ‘Yes, we bear witness’” (7:172). The “they” refers to all the children of AdamAccording to Jewish, Christian and Muslim scriptures, Adam was the first human being created by God out of the dust of the earth as the last step of creation. All humans descended from Adam and his wife, Eve, after they... more, male and female, and the “yes” confirms the affirmation of God’s Oneness by us in our pre-eternal ontological reality. Men and women still bear the echo of this ‘yes’ deep down within their souls, and the call of IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more is precisely to this primordial nature, which uttered the “yes” even before the creation of the heavens and the earth. The call of IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more therefore concerns, above all, the remembrance of a knowledge deeply embedded in our being, the confirmationis a term derived from the Latin word for “strengthening,” and is one of the seven sacraments of Roman Catholic Church and of the Eastern Orthodox Church. In Catholicism and Orthodoxy this sacrament involves anointing with oil and the laying... more of a knowledge that saves, hence the soteriological [doctrineis derived from the Latin word for teaching, doctrina, and is an important aspect of Christianity more so than other world religions because Christianity focuses on the teachings and nature of Christ. more of salvation] function of knowledge in IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more.

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Study and emulation are important aspects of Islamic efforts of submitting to God. All Muslims affirm that the Quran is the literal word of God. However, Sufis believe that more importantly, in addition to its obvious outward meaning, this divine text is pregnant with deeper hidden inward meanings waiting for devout followers to discover. This inner symbolic meaning is typically associated with repentance, purification, the inculcation of virtues and the development of good character. Sufis stress the need to overcome pride, envy and evil impulses. This is usually done through the tutelage of a Sufi master, who not only teaches strict obedience to the law but also instills a portion of his divine light and love for the law into the student’s heart, which in reality is the only way for one to progress and submit to God.

Unlike other Muslims who stress a systematic approach to obtaining knowledge of God, Sufis believe that real knowledge of God can only be realized through a personal spiritual experience. In that regard, they view Muhammad’s night journey to Jerusalem as the model for spiritual discovery and achieving unity with God. They teach that this is the journey we all must take to realize our goal of true union with the Divine. The love of God is the path to increased unity with our creator who daily sustains us. He also extends His love to us by sharing his word and blessing us when we obey.

The spread of Sufism contributed to the conversion and assimilation of the conquered people into a cohesive Islamic culture. It also contributed to a growing intellectual movement referred to as the Islamic Golden Age.

The Quran stresses the importance of learning. After the early conquests, life in the Islamic world started to settle down and educational activity increased. Around the year 800, the caliphThe political, military, and religious leader of the Islamic community following the death of Muhammad in A.D. 632 . Sunni Muslims maintained that the most righteous man in the community should be the caliph while the Shi’ites believed the closest... more of the empire established the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, which functioned like a library, a translation center, and a school. There was a major effort to translate scholastic Greek and Latin materials from around the known world into the Arabic and Persian languages. These Muslim scholars were assisted by the Nestorian Christians living in Persia who translated Greek materials into Syriac, which was then translated into Arabic. This movement attracted top scholars from around the Muslim world and beyond, giving rise to new research into mathematics, astronomy, philosophy, and medicine, which drove even more demand to the point that Baghdad became the center of learning in the Western world. During this same time, Europe entered the Middle Ages when most Greek classical scholastic material became unavailable and academic knowledge declined dramatically. Many of the advancements in the Islamic world would later spark the rise of scholasticismRefers to the rational approach to theology that dominated Roman Catholic ideas in the High and Late Middle Ages that developed in the universities in contrast with the more devotional form of theology found in the monasteries during the early... more in Christianity contributing to the European Renaissance(c. A.D. 1350) The Renaissance begins in Italy after the highly disruptive Black Plague, renewing interest in the arts, culture, humanism, and classical (pre-Christian) antiquity. more.

AvicennaAvicenna (c. A.D. 980–1037) was a Muslim Persian scholar and prolific thinker on a wide range of topics, contributing significantly to the Islamic Golden Age. His most enduring contributions were in the fields of medicine and philosophy, including theological works... more, Alhacen(c. A.D. 965–1040) Alhacen was a Muslim polymath during the Islamic Golden Age. He explained the basics of the scientific method approximately 500 years before its expression in Europe. more and AverroesAverroes (A.D. 1126–1198) was a Muslim Andalusian scholar and thinker on numerous topics during the Islamic Golden Age. Although his influence in the Muslim world was limited by his geographical isolation, his commentaries on Aristotle served as a major means... more are three fascinating Muslim scholars whose contributions to medicine, science and philosophy spread beyond the borders of the Islamic civilization to the medieval Christian world and beyond. By the time AvicennaAvicenna (c. A.D. 980–1037) was a Muslim Persian scholar and prolific thinker on a wide range of topics, contributing significantly to the Islamic Golden Age. His most enduring contributions were in the fields of medicine and philosophy, including theological works... more (980–1037) turned ten, he had memorized the Quran. At age thirteen he began his serious study of medicine. After mastering medicine, he studied lawIs a fundamental concept of Luthernism and is contrasted by Luther with the Gospel. For Luther, the law consists of God’s commands regarding how one should live which no one can fully obey. Consequently, the law functions to condemn and... more and then at age sixteen he moved on to philosophy. Two of his medical treatises, The Book of Healing and The Canon of Medicine, became foundational works in medieval medical schools throughout the Western world into the modern era. He also contributed to the philosophical ideas regarding the distinction between essencethe English word generally used for the Greek term ousia, that is also translated as “being” or “substance” and refers to that which makes something what it is such as human nature is the essence of a human being. This... more and existence, the problem of evil, and the relationship of human consciousness with the soul.12

Most people credit Sir Francis Bacon with creating the scientific method of proposing a hypothesis, then conducting experiments to prove or disprove the hypothesis. Alhacen(c. A.D. 965–1040) Alhacen was a Muslim polymath during the Islamic Golden Age. He explained the basics of the scientific method approximately 500 years before its expression in Europe. more (965–1040), however, was the first recorded personDerived from the Latin term persona and the Greek term prosopon. It is a technical term in Christian theology for the concept that the Trinity consist of three separate persons united as one essence with one of the persons (the... more to test his theories by rigorous controlled experiments and is acknowledged as the real father of scientific methodology.13 He made major advancement in optics and concepts regarding vision by varying his controlled experiment to test different aspects of his ideas. Some of his mathematical solutions to practical problems intrigue mathematicians to this day. He traveled to Islamic Spain (Al-Andalus) and thrived at this oasis of civilization and education that flourish under the tolerance found in the fusion of IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more, Christian and Jewish cultures.14

AverroesAverroes (A.D. 1126–1198) was a Muslim Andalusian scholar and thinker on numerous topics during the Islamic Golden Age. Although his influence in the Muslim world was limited by his geographical isolation, his commentaries on Aristotle served as a major means... more (1126–1198) became a bridge between the golden age of IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more and medieval Europe and, through this process, reconnected the Western world with their roots in classical Aristotelean philosophy. Think of Aristotle’s philosophy and teachings about logic and the physical world as a baton that the Eastern and Western Roman Empire(27 B.C.) After a period of unrest and competing generals jockeying for power, Octavian, the adopted son of Julius Caesar, becomes the first official Emperor of Rome, being known as Augustus. Octavian’s rule initiated an approximately 200 year period of... more carried together, but when they split and the western half of the empire fell, Europe lost hold of the baton and their connection with Aristotle’s ideas. When the Muslims conquered most of the Byzantine Empire (the eastern half of the Roman Empire(27 B.C.) After a period of unrest and competing generals jockeying for power, Octavian, the adopted son of Julius Caesar, becomes the first official Emperor of Rome, being known as Augustus. Octavian’s rule initiated an approximately 200 year period of... more), IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more got hold of the baton and ran with these ideas during their golden age. AverroesAverroes (A.D. 1126–1198) was a Muslim Andalusian scholar and thinker on numerous topics during the Islamic Golden Age. Although his influence in the Muslim world was limited by his geographical isolation, his commentaries on Aristotle served as a major means... more passed the baton back to the west where his ideas revived intellectual discussions in the Western Christian world leading to the creation of the world’s first universities while, at the same time, the golden age of IslamIs one of the three Abrahamic religions (Christianity and Judaism the other two) that stresses the importance of the only one true God and man’s forgetfulness as source of sin. The religion was founded by Muhammad in the early 7th... more faded away.

When AverroesAverroes (A.D. 1126–1198) was a Muslim Andalusian scholar and thinker on numerous topics during the Islamic Golden Age. Although his influence in the Muslim world was limited by his geographical isolation, his commentaries on Aristotle served as a major means... more was a young man, the fame of his philosophical insights reached the Muslim caliphThe political, military, and religious leader of the Islamic community following the death of Muhammad in A.D. 632 . Sunni Muslims maintained that the most righteous man in the community should be the caliph while the Shi’ites believed the closest... more, who summoned AverroesAverroes (A.D. 1126–1198) was a Muslim Andalusian scholar and thinker on numerous topics during the Islamic Golden Age. Although his influence in the Muslim world was limited by his geographical isolation, his commentaries on Aristotle served as a major means... more to his court. When the caliphThe political, military, and religious leader of the Islamic community following the death of Muhammad in A.D. 632 . Sunni Muslims maintained that the most righteous man in the community should be the caliph while the Shi’ites believed the closest... more began questioning him on a number of nuanced philosophical/religious issues, he became concerned that the caliphThe political, military, and religious leader of the Islamic community following the death of Muhammad in A.D. 632 . Sunni Muslims maintained that the most righteous man in the community should be the caliph while the Shi’ites believed the closest... more was trying to trick him into saying something heretical, which could cost him his life. But the caliphThe political, military, and religious leader of the Islamic community following the death of Muhammad in A.D. 632 . Sunni Muslims maintained that the most righteous man in the community should be the caliph while the Shi’ites believed the closest... more reassured AverroesAverroes (A.D. 1126–1198) was a Muslim Andalusian scholar and thinker on numerous topics during the Islamic Golden Age. Although his influence in the Muslim world was limited by his geographical isolation, his commentaries on Aristotle served as a major means... more of his sincere interest and commissioned him to review and correct the translations of important Greek philosophical works and to write commentaries on them. AverroesAverroes (A.D. 1126–1198) was a Muslim Andalusian scholar and thinker on numerous topics during the Islamic Golden Age. Although his influence in the Muslim world was limited by his geographical isolation, his commentaries on Aristotle served as a major means... more was able to reconcile Aristotelean philosophy, which maintained that matter was eternal, with the QuranThe most sacred text of Islam that Muslims believe is the literal Word of God revealed through his prophet Muhammad. more which declared that God created everything. He accomplished this by pointing out that God exists outside time, and humans are only able to understanding creation through the lens of time. Therefore, this whole apparent conflict was moot, enabling Aristotelian philosophy to be explored and taught in the Islamic world.

For much of his life, AverroesAverroes (A.D. 1126–1198) was a Muslim Andalusian scholar and thinker on numerous topics during the Islamic Golden Age. Although his influence in the Muslim world was limited by his geographical isolation, his commentaries on Aristotle served as a major means... more lived in Seville and Cordoba, which were centers of scholarship in regular contact with medieval Europe. AverroesAverroes (A.D. 1126–1198) was a Muslim Andalusian scholar and thinker on numerous topics during the Islamic Golden Age. Although his influence in the Muslim world was limited by his geographical isolation, his commentaries on Aristotle served as a major means... more commentaries on AristotleAristotle (384–322 B.C.) was a greek philosopher, founder of the sciences of logic, physics, and biology, whose writings were a major conceptual resource for medieval scholastic theologians, especially Aquinas. He studied under Plato, and in turn educated Alexander the Great.... more contained brilliant analyses and new insights which provoked intellectual debates among Europe’s Christian elites for centuries.

Because of Islam’s singular focus on the greatness of the one and only true God and our devotion to him, there is a tendency for devotees to become myopic and lose a clear view of reality, leading to extremism. Muhammad himself struggled with this natural human tendency and described in the QuranThe most sacred text of Islam that Muslims believe is the literal Word of God revealed through his prophet Muhammad. more how he learned the lesson of moderation. In his seminal night journey to pray with the ancient patriarchs in Jerusalem, MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more was caught up to paradise. He was so excited while in the presence of God that he promised God that his people would pray to God fifty times a day. However, on his way back down to earth, MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more met Moses(Died c. 1400 B.C.) Moses was a Hebrew prophet who led his people out of slavery in Egypt. He instituted the Mosaic Law consisting of both ritual and moral elements. Many Christians believe that this law is part of God’s... more who advised him to return and renegotiate this commitment because his followers might not be as pious as MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more thought they were. Moses(Died c. 1400 B.C.) Moses was a Hebrew prophet who led his people out of slavery in Egypt. He instituted the Mosaic Law consisting of both ritual and moral elements. Many Christians believe that this law is part of God’s... more told MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more about his experience returning from Mount SinaiIs the mountain in the Sinai Peninsula where Moses received the Ten Commandments. more with the Ten Commandment to find the Israelites engaged in horrific sinful activity. So Muhammad returned to God and lowered the number of daily prayers his people would offer. However, he met Moses(Died c. 1400 B.C.) Moses was a Hebrew prophet who led his people out of slavery in Egypt. He instituted the Mosaic Law consisting of both ritual and moral elements. Many Christians believe that this law is part of God’s... more again on his way down to earth, and Moses(Died c. 1400 B.C.) Moses was a Hebrew prophet who led his people out of slavery in Egypt. He instituted the Mosaic Law consisting of both ritual and moral elements. Many Christians believe that this law is part of God’s... more repeated his advice. This happened a few times until MuhammadMuhammad ibn Abdullah (c. A.D. 570–632) founded the Islamic faith, based on the Quran and the belief that he was the final prophet sent by God to confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets and... more finally lowered the number of daily prayers to five, which was finally in the zone of reasonableness.15

Unfortunately, this lesson of the importance of moderation has been overlooked by some of Muhammad’s followers, leading to extremism, which in turn creates a distorted view of Islam for many outsiders.

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