An Overview of Islam

A) Where did it start? - 7th century Mecca

B) Is it practiced today? - World's second-largest religion.

1. Where? - Middle East, Africa, India and others.

2. By whom? 1 to 1.8 billion Muslims.

C) What were the original values and beliefs? One God, Muhammad as the final prophet of God, Five Pillars of Islam.

D) Is there a spiritual leader(s)

1. What is his/their title? Muhammad

2. Controversy over spiritual leader. Controversy over Muhammad's successor led to Shi'a - Sunni denomination schism in Islam.

A) Is the belief atheistic, monotheistic or

polytheistic? - Rigidly monotheistic.

B) What name is used for god(s)? God, Allah

C) Is god benevolent or malevolent? Benevolent protector who punishes sinners.

D) Common beliefs held. God is the One God. Muhammad is God's prophet. Jesus was just a man, not the son of God. Belief in angels, preordination, soul, afterlife and Day of Judgment.

E) How do these beliefs influence everyday

life? - Act as guide on behavior and lifestyle, promote charity toward others, and define daily religious rituals.

F) How is god worshipped? - Variety of ways including daily p

. . .
'" (Islam 1). Muslims believe that through the angel Gabriel, God revealed his final message to humans to Muhammad. Muhammad is viewed as the spiritual leader of Islamic religion. Muslims believe that prophets like Muhammad are chosen by God to receive and spread His message, but they view prophets as human, not divine. However, Islamic prophets are "considered to be the closest to perfection of all humans, and are uniquely the recipients of divine revelation" (Islam 2). Some controversy over the spiritual leadership of Islam arose after Muhammad's death. This created the Sunni and Shi'a denominations of Islam. Sunnis believe that the first of the four caliphs was the rightful successor to Muhammad, but Shiites maintained that Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, was the rightful successor. God The Islamic religion is a strictly monotheistic religion with the concept of there being only one true God one of the most significant of all Islamic belief. As Fisher (344) notes, Islam offers a direct and simple monotheistic creed: "there is no god but God, and Muhammad is his Messenger." The word Islam itself refers to one's complete submission to one God. God is also referred to as "A
. . .

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Approximate Word count = 2011
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)

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