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greater value than just what we do every day. It can help to separate a person from dependence
on material things and establish a greater purpose. Some people also see spirituality as a way of
coping with change or uncertainty whilst relying on the greater being (deity) to sooth the soul
and take care of the foreign or unbearable circumstances.
In this research however, I will be looking at one of the world’s three oldest and largest
monotheistic religions: Islam. I’ll start out with a little background/history of the religion, its
sacred text and beliefs and tenets. After doing such, I will move on the aim of the research;
firstly, to examine and see how they teach and practice spirituality, secondly, their concept of
God and eternal rewards/punishment, third and finally, how their teachings and practices
compare to those of the Christian religion.
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considered a source of blessing to his relatives who are eager to gather in honor of the Hajji and
to receive these blessings. The Zamzam16 water adds to this.
Muslims are set out to bring divinity into the center of our lives and the guidance,
inspiration, and support of a spiritual director, spiritual teacher, or spiritual friend is believed to
be crucial in the process. A “spiritual director, teacher or friend.” For them is one who is
believed to have abiding faith in the spiritual guidance abounding in the Qur’an, insights of the
Prophet Muhammad and teachings of Islamic sages.17
Their Concept of God
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being one of three of the world’s largestm
and oldest monotheistic religion,
holds a very strict and
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precise view of monotheism.
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God
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power over everything within it.
Their concept of God is not uncommon or unheard of but can be ruled unique. Islam
greatness cannot be compared to His creation. Furthermore, He is the only one deserving of any
worship and the ultimate purpose of all creation is to submit to Him. The Islamic understanding
of God is distinct from all other religions and beliefs in various respects since it is based on a
pure and clear understanding of monotheism.18
The Well of Zamzam (or the Zamzam Well, or just Zamzam; Arabic: ‫ )مزمز‬is a well located within the
Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, 20 m (66 ft) east of the Kaaba, the holiest place in Islam. See page, 22 of
this research.
17
Dr. Robert Frager. 2015. SDI World: Islamic Spiritual Direction. February 24.
http://www.sdiworld.org/find-a-spiritual-director/what-is-spiritual-direction/islamic-spiritual-direction. (accessed
October 20, 2015).
18
al-Jibouri, Yasin T. Allah: The Concept of God in Islam. Vol. One. (Bloomington, Indiana: Author
House, 2012), 25-.
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Their Concept of Eternal Reward and Punishment
Islam purports that Paradise and Hell have already been created and they will never come
to an end or cease to exist. Allah created Paradise and Hell before the rest of creation, and He
created inhabitants for each of them. Whoever He wishes will enter Paradise by His grace and
mercy, and whoever He wishes will enter Hell as a result of His justice. Every person will
behave according to that for which he was created, and his destiny will be that for which he was
created; good deeds and evil deeds are foreordained for all men.
On one hand Islam holds the belief that those who believe in the oneness of Allah and
His Messenger Muhammad, including all obligations ordered by Islam, and do the righteous
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gardens of eternity, underneath which, rivers flow, they will abideltherein
forever. On the other
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good deeds, their reward with their Rabb (Cherisher and Sustainer) is “Eden Paradise” i.e.,
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Dr. Shadiah Hamza Sheikh, Dean of the English Department of King Saud University in
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, shared a list with some of what they consider in Islam to be “good deeds”
in order to inherit “Eden Paradise.” Take a look at the list below:
1. Dying saying “La Ilah Illa Allah” will automatically enter one into Paradise.21
2. Dying on a Friday “Whoever dies on a Friday, Allah prevents him from the grave trial”
(Ahmed and Turmithi)
3. Dying in Jihad, which also includes dying guarding soldiers fighting for Allah’s cause
4. Dying giving Da’wah (guiding) to the rulers.
5. Dying defending one’s money, women or oneself.
6. Dying in child birth.
7. Dying with a plague.
Al-Mushrikun means – Polytheists, pagan, idolaters and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah and His
Messenger Muhammad.
21
La Ilah Illa Allah, means "there is no deity but God (Allah)"
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“works” is seemingly unnecessary and for others, there have to be a balance between faith and
works. For the Muslims, if you have faith in God, believe in His messengers, and obey His
commands then He shall multiply every single good deed that you do many, many times and
erase your evil deeds, until on the Day of Judgment His mercy shall cause your good deeds to far
outweigh your evil deeds and grant you passage into an ecstasy and Paradise so great that we
cannot even imagine it, to abide there eternally. In the Hereafter there is only reward and no
work.30
For Christians, it is “Heaven,” this is the place where God dwells. Heaven is the eventual
and eternal home of the Christians who are saved by God’s grace (Ps. 73:25, Is. 33:17, 60:19-20,
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unimaginable bliss (Qur’an 32:17), a garden with trees and food (Qur’an
13:35,15:45-48) and
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virgins where all the desires of faithful Muslims are
met,
(Qur’an 3:133, 9:38, 39:34, 43:71,
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53:13-15, 56:8-38, 88:8-16). Though,
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1 Cor. 2:9-10, Rev. 21:3-4, 21:10-22:5). For the Muslims it is, “Paradise,” a place of
regards their place eternal abode.
“Hell” for the Christians is a place of torment in fire out of the presence of God. There is
no escape from Hell (Ps. 63:9, Is. 30:33, Matt. 13:49-50, 25:46, 2 Thess. 1:9, Rev. 20:10).
Likewise, for the Muslims, “Hell” is a place of eternal punishment and torment (Quran. 14:17;
25:65; 39:26), in fire (104:6-7) for those who are not Muslims (3:131) as well as those Muslims
whose works and faith were not sufficient (50:24-26, 78:21-30). In Islam, Hell is known as
Jahannam. However, it is believed that Jahannam has several levels and a person may not
necessarily spend eternity there.31
30
31
Abdullah, 26-.
John & Emir, 35.
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