Islam

1) Articles of Faith

• God. There is only one true God and his name is Allah. Allah is all-knowing, all powerful and the sovereign judge. Yet Allah is not an interacting personal God, for he is so far above man in every way that he is not personally knowable.
• Angels. The existence of angels is important to Islamic teaching. Gabriel, the leading angel, appeared to Mohammed and was instrumental in delivering the revelations in the Qur'an to Mohammed. Al-Shaytan is the devil and most likely a fallen angel of jinn. Jinn are those creatures between angels and men which can be either good or evil. Each man or woman has two recording angels - one who records good deeds, the other bad deeds.
• Scripture. There are four inspired books in the Islamic faith. They are the Torah (Taurat) of Moses, the Psalms (Zabur) of David, the Gospel of Jesus (Injil) and the Qur'an. Muslims believe the former three books have been corrupted by Jews and Christians and little of the originals are extant today. Also sinde the Qur'an is God's most recent and final word to man, it supersedes all the other works.
• Prophets. In Islam God has spoken through numerous prophets down through the centuries. The six greatest are: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed. Mohammed is the last and greatest of God's messengers.
• Last Days. The last day will be a time of resurrection and judgment. Those who follow and obey Allah and Mohammed will go to the Islamic heaven, called Jannah (Paradise), a place of pleasure. Those who oppose them will be tormented for a time in Hell.
• Belief in the decrees of God. He decides the fate of men and angels and is responsible for good and evil.

Five Pillars of Islam

1. Creed (Kalima). "There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is the Messenger/Prophet of Allah." Is the confession of faith in Islam. One must state this aloud publicly in order to become a Muslim.
2. Prayers (Salat). Prayer as a ritual is central to a devout Muslim. The practice of prayer happens five times a day (upon rising, at noon, in midd afternoon, after sunset and before retiring). The worshipper must recite the prescribed prayers (the first Surah and other sections from the Qur'an in Arabic while facing the Ka'aba in Mecca. The Hadith (book of tradition) has turned these prayers into a mechanical procedure of standing, kneeling, hands & face on the ground and so forth. The call to prayer is sounded by a muezzin (a Muslim crier) from a tower called the minaret which is a part of the mosque.
3. Almsgiving (Zakat). All Muslims are required to give one fortieth of their income for the destitute. There are other rules and regulations for donating produce, cattle, etc. Freewill offerings can also be exercised.
4. Fasting (Ramadan). Faithful Muslims fast from dawn (before sunrise) to sundown each day during the holy month of Ramadan. No food or drink may be consumed during the daylight hours; no smoking or sexual pleasures may be enjoyed. Many Muslims eat two meals a day during Ramadan, one before sunrise and one shortly after sunset.
5. Pilgrimage (Hajj). The pilgrimage is expected of all Muslims (preferably in person but also by proxy) at least once in their lifetimes. The trip is an essential part of a Muslim's salvation. It involves a set of ceremonies and rituals many of which centre around the Ka'aba shrine, to which the pilgrimage is directed.

There is a sixth religious duty often associated with the five pillars. This is the Jihad, the Holy War. This duty requires that when the situation warrants, men are required to go to war to spread Islam or defend it against infidels. One who dies in a Jihad is guaranteed eternal life in Paradise (heaven) and is considered a Shahid, a martyr for Islam.

Major issues of difference between Muslims and Christians

1) Muslims believe Christians have corrupted the biblical texts. This is not however a Koranic belief:

'If thou (Mohammed) art in doubt concerning that which we reveal unto thee, then question those who read the Scripture that was before thee (i.e. Jews and Christians). ' Surah 10.95

'How come they (i.e. the Jews) turn unto thee for judgement when they have the Torah (Taurat) wherein Allah hath revealed judgement?' Surah 5.43

'Let the people (i.e. Christians) of the Gospel (Injil) judge by that which Allah hath revealed therein.' Surah 5.47

2) Jesus a Prophet, but not the Son of God and not crucified.

'O people of the scripture! Do not exaggerate in your religion nor utter aught concerning God save truth. The Messiah, Jesus Son of Mary, was only a messenger of God and His Word which he conveyed into Mary and Spirit from Him. So believe in God and His messengers and say not three - Cease. It is better for you.' Sura 4. 157-158.

3) Mohammed the last of the Prophets. The problem for Muslims is the complete absence of any prophecy concerning another prophet coming after Jesus Christ whith another book. Two Bible passages they refer to are Deuteronomy 18.18, saying Mohammed is the Prophet like unto Moses, and the references in John's Gospel to the Comforter (John 14. 16-17, 14.26, 15.26, 16.7). they say the original Greek word we have translated as comforter (paracletos) is not the original word Jesus used. Jesus in fact foretold the coming of Mohammed by name and that the translation of his name into Greek (or at least the meaning of this name in Greek) of his name into Greek is 'Periklutos' that is the 'Praised one' (Arabic Ahmed/Mohammed).

4) Islam spread by War

"Believers, make war on the infidels who dwell around you. Deal courteously with them. Know that Allah is with the righteous." (N.J Dawood translation, the Koran. Penguin books, p333)

Information from Josh McDowell 'The Islam Debate' and Abdul-Haqq 'Sharing your faith with a Muslim'.

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