Download What is Islam and how is it related to Judaism and Christianity?

Islam
Origin
Judaism
Christianity
Islam
Unknown
33 AD
622 AD
Sacred Text
Torah the Religions
Bible
Comparing
Qur’an (Koran)
Adherents
Jews
Christians
Muslims
Church and State
Separated
Separated
Integrated
Major splits
Reform/Orthodox,
1800s CE
Catholic/Orthodox, Shia/Sunni, c. 650
1054Catholic/Prot CE
estant, 1500s
view of fellow
Abrahamic
religions
Islam and
Christianity are
false
interpretations and
extensions of
Judaism.
Judaism is a true
religion, but with
incomplete
revelation. Islam is
a false religion.
Means of salvation belief in God, good correct belief,
deeds
faith, good deeds,
sacraments (some
Protestants
emphasize faith
Jews & Christians
respected as
"People of the
Book," but have
wrong beliefs, only
partial revelation.
Correct belief,
good deeds, Five
Pillars
What is Islam and how is it related
to Judaism and Christianity?
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Islam = “peace,” “submission”
Muslim = “submitter”
Not “Mohammedanism”
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Abraham’s two sons:
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Isaac  the Hebrews (Judaism  Christianity)
Ishmael  the Arabs (Islam)
Islam respects the two earlier Abrahamic religions
as “Peoples of the Book”
Who was Muhammad
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b. 570 CE, d. 632 CE
Prophet/founder; human, not divine
Lived in Arabia, near Mecca
Orphaned by age 6, raised by grandfather and uncle
Worked as a caravan driver for a woman – Khadija – 15
years his senior
Age 25: accepted offer to marry Khadija
Sired six children, only one daughter – Fatimah – had
children of her own
Age 40: Revelation begins 610 CE, continues throughout
remainder of the Prophet’s life
What is the Qur’an?
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Holy book of Islam
Revealed to Muhammad by God through angel Gabriel
Written piecemeal by scribes during or shortly after
Muhammad’s life
Compiled as a whole about 20 years after Muhammad’s
death
Comprised of 114 chapters (called surahs)
Other Sources: Hadith and Sunnah (stories, sayings,
and traditions of Muhammad)
The Development of Islam
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Early persecution by Meccans
Year 619: wife and uncle both die
Year 622: Hijrah - migration to Yathrib (Medina = “City of
the Prophet”) (year 1 AH)
Success in Medina, defense against Meccan attacks
Year 630: Reclaiming of Mecca
Year 632: first Muslim pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca, led by
Muhammad who died a few months later, having united the
Arab tribes under the banner of Islam
Within 100 years, spread east toward India and west into
north Africa and Spain
Who are Muslims?
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More than one billion Muslims in the world today
Two major groups:
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Sunni: 80% in many locations throughout the world
Shi’ite: 15%, mostly in Iran
Difference is political, basic beliefs and practices
are the same
Sufis are Muslim mystics, come from both Sunni
and Shi’ite backgrounds
Most Muslims are not Arab and not all Arabs are
Muslim
What do Muslims Believe?
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One God (Allah)
Spiritual beings:
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Prophets & Messengers:
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Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus, Muhammad…
Holy Books:
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Angels, Jinn and the Devil (“Iblis,” “Shaitan”)
Torah, Psalms, Gospels, Qur’an
Decrements (destiny) – Inshallah (“if God wills”)
End Times (eschatology)
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Resurrection, Judgment day, Heaven & Hell
How is Islam Practiced?
The Five Pillars
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Shahada – Witness:
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“There is no God but The God (Allah) and
Muhammad is the Prophet of God
Salat – Prayer, five times every day
Zakat – alms giving to the poor and needy
Sawm – fasting, sun-up to sun-down during month
of Ramadan
Hajj – Pilgrimage to Mecca (at least once in a
Muslim’s life, if able)
What is the Ka’aba?
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Located in the center of Mecca
Pre-dates Islam (said to have been built by
Abraham and Ishmael as an altar to God)
Used by pre-Muslim Arabs for worship of their
many tribal gods (idols)
Year 630: reclaimed by Muhammad, cleansed and
rededicated to Allah
Center of Islam to this day – place of annual
pilgrimage and direction of prayer for Muslims from
all corners of the globe
Other Sacred Places
The Great Mosque in Mecca
The Prophet’s
Mosque in Medina
The Dome of the
Rock in Jerusalem
Islam as a Way of Life
Shariah (Islamic Law)
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Based on Qur’an + Hadith and Sunnah
Concerned with preserving human dignity through
five principles:
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preservation of life
preservation of progeny (family)
preservation of intellect (education)
preservation of wealth (property)
preservation of religion
not just for the individual but for the society
What about Jihad?
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“Struggle” not “Holy War”
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Inner: spiritual and moral struggle between good
and evil
Outer: struggle to maintain proper social setting
according to God’s will
Struggles in the Holy Land
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Palestinian vs. Israeli, not Muslim vs. Jew
(political, not religious)