Prague, Czech Republic
March 2002
As
believers we are under mandate to express our faith to all peoples. We can do
this best when we have an enlightened understanding of the peoples around us
with whom we work and live. This three-part lecture series is meant to be a
brief introduction to the religion of Islam including history and understanding
of Islamic society.
A. Word association (student
participation): When I say the word "Muslim",
what do you think of?
B. See "Terms and Definitions" prepared by
Professor Woody Wilkinson for a list of fifty words and names associated with
Islam. At this point we will consider only seven of them.
Islam is an Arabic word meaning submission, or the peace which comes as the result of submitting to God.
Muslim means one who submits. Islam is the religion, and Muslim is the one practicing that religion.
Allah is an Arabic word meaning
"The God". There is no
other word for God in that language.
Islam, like Judaism and Christianity, is monotheistic.
Muhammad is the Prophet of Islam
(A.D. 570-632) who was born in Mecca and
died in Medina (Yathrib) in what is now known as Saudi Arabia. Muslims
believe that God has spoken through many prophets, but the last and final one
is Muhammad.
Quran is the holy book of Islam.
The Arabic word Quran means "recite". It is believed that the word of God was
revealed over a twenty-three year period to Muhammad by the angel Gabriel in
Arabic. Muslims universally recite its words in Arabic, no matter what their
native tongue may be.
Hadith refers to a body of
literature second only to the Quran in its authority to Muslims. These include
the sayings (hadith) and the
practices and traditions (sunnah) of
the Prophet.
Mosque is a house of worship. The
word Masjid means "a place for
bowing down".
II.
Islam Today
A. Although this religion began in the Middle East
it has spread across the globe. It comprises approximately 20% of the world’s
population, over one billion people.
B. It is one of the fastest growing religions in the
21st Century.
1. The largest number of
Muslims are in Indonesia.
2. It is the second largest
religion in both Europe and North America.
3. Muslims are a majority in
forty-five African and Asian countries.
4. According to the United Nations, Muslims will
represent at least half of the global birthrate after the year 2055.
5. Saudi Arabia considers itself to be the caretaker
of Mecca and the center of the world-wide Islamic community
III.
The Five Pillars of Islam
A. Shahadah The
affirmation of the faith: "There is no god but God (Allah) and Muhammad is
the Messenger of God."
B. Salat Prayers five times a day facing
Mecca.
C. Zakat Almsgiving or welfare contribution
of 2.5 percent of one’s total assets.
D. Sawm Fasting from dawn to sunset for the
entire month of Ramadan.
E. Hajj The pilgrimage
to Mecca which is expected of every adult at least once in his lifetime.
IV.
The Seven Basic Beliefs of Islam
A. Allah Faith in God (Allah) is the
most important. There is only one
God who must be worshipped and
served.
B. Angels Angels serve God constantly
and are sometimes sent to protect
us.
C. Books God
has revealed the Taurat (Torah) to
Moses, the Zabur (Psalms) to David,
the Injil (Gospels) to Jesus and many
other books found in the Bible. Muslims believe the Quran is the final book God
has revealed.
D. Messengers God
has sent numerous prophets. Most of the prophets
mentioned
in the Quran are also found in the Bible.
E. Judgment We will all stand before God on
the final day to give an
account of what we have done, both good and bad.
F. Hereafter Muslims
believe in both an eternal heaven and an eternal hell.
G. Predestination Muslims have a strong sense of fate (Turkish "kismet").
