World Religions

Introduction to World Religions Study Guide

©2018 Achieve Page 76 of 96 Chapter 8: Islam Islam is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion. There is only one God, who is named Allah. Muhammad is the messenger of God. Currently, it is the world’s second largest religion; however, in the next few years, it is predicted to be the most practiced religion. There are well over 1.8 billion followers, or approximately 24%, of the worldwide population. The followers are known as Muslims and they are the majority in over 49 countries. Some Muslims live in Indonesia (13%), the largest majority country. They also live in the Middle East (20%), Sub-saharan Africa (15%), and South Asia (25%). Many also live in Russia, China, and the Americas. There are two denominations, Sunni and (75-90%) and Shi’a (10-20%). The Holy text is the Qur’an. The adherents consider the Qur’an to be the verbatim word of God and the teachings of Muhammad. Followers follow the commands of Muhammad and reject polytheism. Muslims believe their mission is to love and serve God. Muslims believe that Islam is the complete and universal version that has been handed down for centuries through Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, whom they consider to be prophets. God is merciful, all-powerful, and unique. Like other Abrahamic religions, the Qur’an teaches of a final judgment, with the righteous rewarded in paradise and the unrighteous punished in hell. The obligatory acts of worship are the Five Pillars of Islam and following Islamic law, which touches on every aspect of life and society. This includes banking, welfare to women, and the environment. The cities of Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem are the home to the three holiest sites in Islam. Islam is believed to have originated in the early 7 th century CE in Mecca. This is the historical viewpoint and is not held by Muslims who believe the faith was started with Adam in the garden of Eden. In the 8 th century, the Islamic empire extended from Iberia in the west to the Indus River in the east. The Islamic Golden Age occurred from the 8 th century to the 13 th century when the Islamic community experienced scientific, economic, and cultural growth. During this period, the Muslim world expanded and involved various caliphates, empires, and traders, and many converted to Islam by missionary activity. 8.1 Articles of Faith God Islam’s most fundamental concept is the rigorous monotheism called tawhid. God is beyond all comprehension, so Muslims are not expected to visualize God. God can be called by a certain name or attributes. The most common is the Al-Rahman , meaning, “The Compassionate”. Al-Rahim means “The Merciful”. God commanded the universe with “kun fayakoon” which translates to “be and it is.” The purpose of human existence is to love God. He is a personal god who responds when individuals call upon him in times of need or distress. They do not use intermediaries, such as clergy, to contact God on their behalf. Allah is the term (no plural or gender) that Muslims, Arabic- speaking Christians, and Jews use to refer to God.

Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online