What Do Muslims Believe?

The most visible and most notable religious resurgence has occurred in Islam.  The increased exposure of oil-producing nations in the press has shown the struggle between traditional Islamic values and the changes precipitated by secular technology.  The leaders of Islamic countries do want their people to have the latest technology.  However, many are afraid that the secularization that accompanies new technology will erode traditional values.  As a result, a number of leaders have injected a new religious fervor, which often leads to social activism.  Rather than affirming what they do believe, however, this fervor has accentuated an “enemy stance” toward other world religions.  “Holy war” has been endorsed as the legitimate “sixth pillar” of Islam.

Islam is one of the three missionary religions (e.g. Buddhism and Hinduism) that spread rapidly.  It began about 630 in Arabia.  By 640, Islam had conquered the Middle East extending to the borders of India.  By the 700s, all of North Africa was in the hand of Islam as well as Spain.  In 732, Charles Martel of France stopped the Arab invasion of his country.

The History of Islam

Muhammad was born around 570 in Mecca of the tribe of Quraish, keepers of the Ka’bah (an ancient black meteorite venerated by many in North Arabia).  His father died before he was born and his mother died six years later.  He lived with his grandfather, Abd al-Muttalib, for two years.  In 578 he went to live with his uncle Abu Talib.

It was in 595 that he married a wealthy widow, Khadijah, who was fifteen years older than he was.  They had six children together.  Two sons died in childhood.  Fatima, one of his four daughters, married ‘Ali (Mohammed’s cousin).  ‘Ali is acknowledged as the founder of the Shi’ah branch of Islam and the legitimate successor of Mohammed.

Occasionally, Mohammed spent nights in a cave near Mecca thinking about the social ills of the city.  At the age of 40 (610) he received his first revelation, later believed to have been delivered by the angel Gabriel.  The revelation began with the word “recite” (Surah 96:1) meaning “recitation.”  It was this experience of a call that he began leading people to the worship of one god.  Mohammed’s words and the revelations in the Koran are distinguished.  His teachings are called the sunnah (path) of the prophet.  Numerous collections of hadiths (traditions) contain these teachings.

It did not take long before Mohammed gathered disciples who regarded him as God’s prophet.  In 613 he began his public preaching in Mecca.  He preached the worship of one god in contrast to the Arab practice of polytheism.  Mohammed accomplished a pure, uncompromising monotheism.  This new religion came to be called Islam meaning “submission to God.”  Islam is now the largest of the non-Christian world religions.

The Meccans did not accept the new religion of Islam.  Those who were polytheistic feared that their shrines would be demolished.  In 622, at the age of 52, he and his followers migrated to Medina.  This flight is called the hijrah, and is the decisive date for the beginning of Islam.  It marks year one in the Muslim calendar.  In Medina, the Muslims set up a community (umma).  This community no longer followed blood or tribal practices, but rested on faith in God and that Mohammed is his prophet.

In 624 the Muslims began raiding caravans to Mecca.  The Muslims continued numerous battles and caravans until the Meccans surrendered to Islam in 630.  Mohammed cleansed the Ka’bah of all the idols except for one, Allah (the moon god).

Within two years all of Arabia was united under Islam.  Mohammed died in Medina, from a severe headache, at age 62 on 8 June 632.  His father-in-law, Abu Bakr, became his successor.  Mohammed was buried in Medina.  The Muslims do not believe Mohammed was divine, but continue to recognize him as “God’s prophet.”1

The Teachings of Islam

The Muslim confession of faith, the shahadah, proclaims that “Muhammad is the prophet of God.”  Muslims, followers of Islam, believe that God sent many prophets to the world and gave inspired words of Scripture to prophets like Moses, Jesus, Muhammad, and others.  Muslims even call Jews and Christians “people of the Book.”

Muhammad taught that these Scriptures, including the Koran (Qur’an), all come from the “Mother of the Book” (Surah 13:39).  This book is said to have existed from all eternity in heaven as the uncreated words of God.  Muhammad taught that the Koran not only verified all previous revelations but also supplanted the other revelations.  Muhammad is called the “Seal of the Prophets” (Surah 33:40) which means he is the last and greatest of all the prophets.

Muhammad is believed to be the final prophet and therefore has the final word.  The words of Muhammad supersede anything that Jesus had spoken.  Furthermore, Muhammad was a prophet to the Gentiles, whereas Jesus was a prophet to the Jews.2  The Koran ascribes to only Jesus (the distinction) as the perfect man, the sinless one.  It does not ascribe that to Muhammad or to any other prophet.3  Islam does not believe that Jesus is God’s Son based on Surah 23:91 which reads, “Neither has Allah begotten a son , nor is there any other god besides Him.”

The slave-like submission of Islam is reflected in five basic beliefs and ritualistic practices.  The first belief maintains the unity of God.  It was Mohammed’s rigid insistence that enabled him to wipe out completely any trace of polytheism.  Islam is characterized by a radical monotheism.  Secondly, the belief in the existence of angels is necessary.  However, angels are not to be worshipped.  Thirdly, the books of Allah must be obeyed.  Fourthly, the prophets of Allah are special messengers.  Lastly, all men are accountable to God and there will be a day of judgment.

There are five ritualistic practices, or five pillars, of Islam.  The main tenet of the Islamic faith is the declaration that “Allah is one and Muhammad is his prophet.”  Muslims participate in five prayer sessions in the direction of Mecca.  Each year devout Muslims will keep a fast during the month of Ramadan.  Muslims give a charitable contribution of 2.5% of their total income.  Most Muslims hold to the once-in-a-lifetime dream of going on a pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.4

The Muslims believe that the Koran is a holy book directly dictated by God through the angel Gabriel to Mohammed.  Although Muslims respect the Bible, the Koran is valued as the last and the final revelation of God.  Muslims declare that the Koran cannot be translated and ought to be studied in Arabic.  It is due to a tradition that Mohammed was uneducated and illiterate and yet able to utter the sayings for the holy book, the Koran, that it is often called “the miracle of Mohammed.”  The Koran is the supreme validation of the Islamic faith.

The goal of Islam is the rules and principles laid down in the Koran, which is to bring all of mankind into submission and to kill all infidels, or those who do not worship Allah (Surah 2:190-192; 4:76; 5:33; 9:41; 47:4).  Allah declares, “Believers, take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends…slay the idolaters wherever you find them….  Fight against such of those to whom…neither believe in Allah nor the Last Day” (Surah 5:51; 9:5, 29).  All Muslims may not believe in this manner, but the above quotes are the clear teaching of Islam.

According to Islamic tradition, the complete military subjugation of the earth is mandated by Allah….  In the Hadith [Islamic written tradition], Mohammad said:  “Hear, O Muslims, the meaning of life.  Shall I not tell you of the peak of the matter; its pillar, and its topmost part?  The peak of the matter is Islam itself.  The pillar is ritual Rakatin prayer.  And the topmost part is Ji’had—holy war.”5

Islam hopes to mature man morally and enable him to live in peace and happiness in this world, thus reaching eternal happiness in the next world after death.  Muslims are commanded in the Koran to “invite [all] to the Way of the Lord with wisdom (Surah 16:125).  Various organizations have been organized to fulfill this commandment and to make Islam the dominant faith that brings all people under Islamic law.

One of the problems for Israel is that the Koran teaches that if Muslims ever occupied a land in the past, then Jihad, or holy war must recover it.  The potential for lasting peace in the Middle East is remote.  The hatred of the Arabs is the true cause of the last four wars against Israel.  The Arab nations tried to annihilate Israel in three wars (1948, 1956, and 1967) long before the Jews possessed the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and the Golan Heights.

The introduction of Iranian nuclear weapons and the growing possibility of Libya, Syria, and Iraq joining the ranks seriously alter the strategic balance of the Middle East.  The present leaders of Israel realize that an unstable Arab regime, such as Iraq or Libya, might be tempted to use their nuclear weapons even though they know it would result in mutual destruction. According to Islamic religious philosophy, Muslims believe they will gain paradise if they die in Jihad to cleanse the “infidels” from Jerusalem.

The Sects of Islam

Although there has been a high degree of cohesiveness within the Islamic community around the central tenets of the faith, differences about the question of leadership did arise after Mohammed’s death.  Mohammed had functioned as both a religious and political leader.  Since there was no consensus within the community as to the means of selecting a successor, a major dispute arose among Mohammed’s followers over who should succeed him and how the choice was to be made.

The leading members of the community ultimately chose Abu Bakr as successor.  It was this decision that marked the beginning of a division among Muslims between those who approved the election of a successor and those that felt that the leadership should reside in the “House of the Prophet.”  Mohammed’s cousin ‘Ali was the chosen candidate of the latter group.  Although he was elected as the fourth Caliph, ‘Ali was murdered and a rival member of another family assumed his title.

The members of the party (shi’ah) of ‘Ali argued that ‘Ali should have been succeeded by his son Hasan.  It was this point of contention that drew the clear lines of the dispute.  In 680 ‘Ali’s second son, Husayan, was killed on the plain of Karbala in present day Iraq.  Every year on the tenth of Muharram, Shiite Muslims commemorate not only the martyrdom of Husayan but also the subsequent suffering of the Shiite community.

According to the Ithna ‘Ashari Shiites, the twelfth imam, or divinely appointed leader of the community, went into seclusion.  The twelfth imam is believed to be present in the world and that he will manifest himself at the end of time as the leader who will unite the Islamic world.  Shiites have stressed the ability of learned scholars to discern the will of the hidden imam.  Among the most eminent of these scholars is the Ayatollah.

For centuries, Shiites were regarded as quietest and fatalistic.  The impact of developments in Iran drew the revolutionary potential from the Shiite tradition.  Similarly persistent injustices in other Muslim societies have energized believers to apply religious standards of justice and truth to their societies.6

Conclusion

Islam appeals to the human nature of man, promising all kinds of sensual delights in an afterlife.  However, those who follow Islam in its purity maintain a pious lifestyle, abstaining from liquor and pork.  Islam spread by force—through the Jihad, or holy war—and it seemed as if there was no power to check it.  In Islam the sword is considered the key to heaven.  If one died fighting for Islam, he had immediate access into heaven.

1 Dale E. Bishop, “Profile of Islam,” New World Outlook, Nov.-Dec. 1989, pp. 243, 245.

2 See Mufti Afzal Hoosein Elias, Hadhrat Esa (Alaihis Salaam):  The Truth Revealed and Major Signs of Qiyamat, (http://islam.tc/ask-imam/index.php).

3 Mikail Juma Tariq, “Islam:  A Brief Introduction to the Muslim Faith” (Gainesville:  Alachua County Dawah Society, n.d.), p. 19.

4 Ibid., p. 6.

5 George Grant, The Blood of the Moon (Brentwood:  Wolgemuth and Hyatt, 1991), p. 41.

6 Tariq, “Islam,” p. 14.