World Religions

Introduction to World Religions Study Guide

©2018 Achieve Page 77 of 96 (Gospels) have been distorted in interpretation and/or in text. The Qur’an is divided into 114 suras (chapters) and there are 6,236 verses. The earlier suras are revealed at Mecca and focus on ethical and spiritual topics. The later Medinan sura focused on the social and moral issues that concern their community. The Qur’an is a holy text of morals and values; it also holds the law. The Muslim jurists consult the hadith , which is the written life of Muhammad. The only “accepted” text is the original scripture that is written in Arabic. The translations into other languages are considered inferior. Prophets In Arabic, when even the prophets are referred to the honorific, “peace be upon them” is stated. Prophets were chosen by God and they are human. They are descendants of Abraham and their mission is to bring the “will of God” to the people of all nations. At times, God gave them power to perform miracles so that others would know He is working through them. Their message is to submit to the will of God. The Qur’an lists those who are the prophets of old: Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. The “normative” example of Muhammad’s life is called the Sunnah. The example he set is preserved in the traditions that are known as the hadith (reports). The hadith tells his words, actions, and personal characteristics. The Hadith Qudsi is a portion of the hadith and these are the words of God. These differ from the Qur’an in that they are expressed in Muhammad’s words whereas the rest is from the word of God. Muslims are encouraged to emulate the life of Muhammad. The Sunnah is the crucial piece to understanding and interpreting the Qur’an. Angels Muslims believe in angels and it is fundamental to the faith of Islam. The Arabic word for angel is malak and means “messenger”. The Qur’an states that angels do not have free will and they fully obey God. Angels have the duty of communicating revelations from God, glorifying God, recording the actions of every person, and taking the soul at the time of death. They are also believed to intercede on a person’s behalf. The Qur’an describes angels as having wings. They are messengers with two, three, or four pairs of wings. God adds angels anytime he pleases. Pictures of angels are not allowed in Islam. Attempting to depict anything that is conceptual or immaterial is not accepted in Islam. The pictures of angels in Western art is not allowed in Islam, nor do they believe angels adhere to that image. Revelations The Islamic holy books are the records which all Muslims believe were dictated by God to the prophets. Muslims believe the verses were revealed to Muhammad by God through the archangel Gabriel (Jibril). There were many communications between 610 CE until his death of June 8, 632. Muhammad’s companions (sahabah) wrote down the revelations while he was still alive; however, most of the information continued to be handed down orally. The Qur’an is viewed as the final book of God, a revelation. It is the literal word of God and the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language. They believe parts of the Qur’an, the Tawrat (Torah), and the Injil

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