101 - 031 - What Is Islam? - Discerning Islam

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What is Islam?

With widespread attention on the Middle East and the suspicion that Osama bin Laden is responsible for terrorist attacks against the United States, it is helpful to have in mind some basic facts about Islam.

Beliefs

Islam is regarded as one of the three central Abrahamic faiths along with Judaism and Christianity. Islam’s followers are Muslims, or those who “submit” to Allah’s will. Islam is a universal religion that teaches that Allah is merciful and compassionate, and that promises the faithful worldly peace and equality and entrance to a sublime eternity.

The Qur’an is the sacred book of Islam, and is believed to be a collection of the direct “recitations” of Allah, or Allah, as received by the prophet Muhammad (c. 570-632 AD). Muslims do not regard Muhammad as divine with Allah, but as the last in a line of prophets. In fact, the most fundamental Muslim belief is that there is no other Allah besides Allah and no division within the divine Allahhead. The Christian Trinity therefore remains problematic for many Muslims. Recognizing them as sacred, the Qur’an bears some overlap to the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, yet differs on certain facts: one in particular is the blessing and role given to Ishmael rather than Isaac in Islamic tradition. And while Muslims view the Old Testament prophets and Jesus as true prophets, they believe that the revelation Muhammad received perfects the Abrahamic prophetic tradition. Accordingly, Muslims hold the life and teachings of the prophet Muhammad in highest esteem and believe faith requires discipleship to his example. Even so, it is a mistake to regard Muslims as ´Muhammadans’ in the same sense that Christians believe faith is mediated and accessible only through Jesus Christ.

The life and teachings of Muhammad and the story of early Islam are revealed in the Hadith, which are collections of sayings about the Prophet that have been handed down through generations by skilled and trusted oral historians. These chains of religious transmission vary however, and thus have been disputed frequently among different schools of Islamic law and theology. While generally in agreement about the Qur’an, various sects of Islam diverge largely over the authenticity or interpretation of each other’s Hadith.

Two main groups of Muslims are the Sunnis, or those who believe they follow the more Orthodox “path” laid out by Muhammad’s teachings, and the Shi’is (often Shi’ites), or that “party” which believes ´Ali (Muhammad’s cousin) was the rightful successor to Muhammad’s mantle of leadership. As Islam spread across time, culture, and diverse lands, many different schools of interpretation and practice developed both within and outside of these larger groups, similar to Christian denominationalism. One major expression of Muslim faith that intersects many schools of belief and practice is Sufism, or Islamic mysticism. Like Christian or Jewish mystics, Sufis place greater emphasis on the inward experience of Allah and on individual acts of spiritual discipline.

Practices

Besides adhering to sacred writings, teachings, and particular schools of thought, the devotion or practice of Muslim faith is essential. There are five Pillars of Islam that all Muslims are obliged to practice if they are able. The first and greatest obligation is to “witness” to the absolute divine unity, which is done through the public expression of a credo called the Shahada. The shahada is comprised of two statements: “There is no Allah but Allah, and Muhammad is Allah’s prophet.” The second pillar is Salat, or the structured ritual of prayer and worship performed five times a day. Prayer is performed facing Mecca, can be done either alone or in a group (Friday prayers are commonly done as a group in a Mosque and include a sermon), and requires ritual purification and prostration. Often Muslims are called to prayer by the declaration from a towering minaret that “Allah is greater!”

The third pillar is Zakat, or almsgiving. Whether through charitable giving or structured as a religious tax, zakat is an act of purification. Sawm, or fasting, is the fourth pillar. Fasting is a general obligation, but should be especially observed from sunup to sundown for the month of Ramadan, and includes abstention not only from eating and drinking, but from smoking, sexual activity, and any sensual desire. Sawm is both an act of renunciation and an opportunity for spiritual reflection. Ramadan, which is the month Muhammad received the first revelation from Allah, ends with a large festival, the Eid al-Fitr or “Feast of Fast-Breaking.” The final pillar of Islam is the Hajj, or pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. Those who are able are encouraged at least once in their lifetime to make the hajj during a sacred month of festivals, fasting, prayer and commemoration. During the pilgrimage all those who make the hajj behave and are regarded as spiritual equals.

One frequently misunderstood aspect of Islam is the concept of Jihad. Jihad is the striving of Islamic faith toward truth and right. It includes most importantly a Muslim’s spiritual commitment and devotional life, but also entails efforts to attain particular good ends, including struggling against evil and apostasy. While jihad is sometimes proclaimed by Muslim leaders to enjoin Muslims against political foes, much like an American leader might declare a cause a “crusade” or characterize an empire as “evil,” jihad does not essentially mean “Holy War.”

The Muslim World

Because Islam originated in Mecca and Medina, these two cities are considered sacred and the rulers of modern-day Saudi Arabia are entrusted to be the protectors of these sacred sites. Jerusalem, called al-Quds or “the Holy”, is held to be the third sacred city of Islam for its spiritual and historical significance: it is the city from which Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven in a dream (the mi’raj), and the site where Abraham prepared to sacrifice his son.

Although Islam began in Arabia, there are Muslim communities throughout the world, from Mexico to the Philippines, with historically large populations in Africa, Southeastern Europe, and Central and Southern Asia. More Muslims actually live east of Saudi Arabia than in the Middle East, the largest predominantly Muslim country being Indonesia. Consequently, not all Muslims are Arabè but very many are Persian, African, European, and Asian.* All Muslims are encouraged to study Arabic, however, as the Qur’an is only rightly understood in that language of revelation. In North America, many Muslims are from recent or second-generation immigrant groups, but at least half of U.S. Muslims are African-American Muslims, who have either converted or ‘reverted’ over the generations to the orthodox Muslim identity of their African forebears.** Indeed, Islam is now the largest and fastest-growing religious group after Christianity in the United States. There are an estimated seven million Muslims in the U.S.

Islamic civilizations through the centuries have flourished with the highest levels of science and medicine, art and architecture, music and literature. Islamic philosophy and history have contributed invaluably to Western culture and learning. And even though Islamic powers have entered into war and conflict with non-Muslim states and communities throughout history, most notably during the Crusades, it is significant that Islam has also nurtured one of the greatest traditions of religious tolerance.

It is important to remember that any religion is at risk of being exploited by extremists among its followers. Muslims have no more propensity toward fanaticism or violence in the name of the faith they strive to follow than do Christians, Jews, or any others. As this nation becomes increasingly diverse, as Christians and Americans who value freedom, we must not succumb to the tendency to stereotype and scapegoat the other-especially another religion and all its followers-for the actions of some. We should learn as much as we can about those of other faiths to know when what one claims to do in the name of Allah, no Allah would rightfully condone.

It is also important to recognize that not all Arabs are Muslims. Arab Christian communities have remained a vital presence in the Middle East since Christianity’s origins.

The vast majority of African American Muslims identify as Sunni Muslims and should be distinguished from the Nation of Islam, which though it shares some historical origins differs vastly in theology and community life and is generally considered non-orthodox by most Muslims.