Background
Islam is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion cantered on the Quran and the teachings of Muhammad, the religion’s founder. Adherents of Islam, called Muslims, number approximately 1.9 billion worldwide and are the world’s second-largest religious population after Christians. Due largely to a higher fertility rate than that of other religions, Islam is the world’s fastest-growing major religious group. ‘Islam’ is derived from the Arabic root “Salema” meaning peace, purity, submission and obedience. In the religious sense, Islam means submission to the will of Allah and obedience to his laws.
Shariah law (derived from the Quran and Hadith) governs prayers, business transactions, and individual rights, as well as criminal and governmental laws. This legal system is enforced by Muslims wherever they are able to. Religious debate, or ‘Shura’ is utilized for practical solutions to contemporary issues.
Founding of Islam
Islam originated with Prophet Muhammad’s mission in the 7th century AD. According to Islamic tradition Muhammad was visited by the angel Gabriel (or Jibril in Arabic) in AD 610, who informed Muhammad that he was the messenger of God. His revelations and teachings, recorded in the Qurʾān, and traditions of the Holy Last messenger Muhammad, called ‘Sunnah’ which were found in narrations or ‘hadiths’ by the men around him, are the basis of Islam.
These revelations called for submission to one god, preparation for the imminent Last Judgement, and charity for the poor and needy. As Muhammad’s message began to attract followers, he also met with increasing hostility and persecution from Meccan elites. In 622 AD Muhammad fled to the city of Yathrib (now known as Medina), where he began to unify the tribes of Arabia under Islam. By the time he died in 632 AD almost all the tribes of the Arabian Peninsula had converted to Islam.
Islam claims that the traces their ancestry back to Abraham, who they regard as a great prophet and a perfect, sinless example of the divine guidance of God. They claim that the ancestor of Prophet Muhammad is Abraham (Ibrahim) through his son Ismael.
Alongside the Quran, Muslims also believe in previous revelations, such as the Torah, the Psalms, and the Gospel. These earlier revelations are also associated with Judaism and Christianity, which are regarded by Muslims as earlier versions of Islam, and corrupted. Hence they believe that Jews and Christians should accept Muhammad as the final Prophet.
Doctrines of Islam
The doctrine about God in the Qur’an is rigorously monotheistic: God is one and unique; he has no partner and no equal. Muslims believe that there are no intermediaries between God and the creation that he brought into being. He is the sole creator and sustainer of the universe, wherein every creature bears witness to his unity and lordship. The Qur’an lays frequent stress on the design and order in the universe. It states that there will be a “Final Judgment” wherein the righteous will be rewarded in paradise (Jannah) and the unrighteous will be punished in hell (Jahannam). They believe in angels, demons, and spirits – jinn (genies).
The five pillars of the Islamic faith are: Testament that there is one God and Muhammad is his messenger (shahadah); Prayer five times daily; Fasting during Ramadan; Charity to the poor (zakat); and Pilgrimage (Hajj) to Meccas at least once during one’s lifetime.
It is a fundamental belief that everything that happens is the will of Allah. However, while everything happens with the will of Allah, it is also believed that Allah wants humans to take precautions and guard themselves from harm. This applies to both physical and spiritual aspects of life. So, even though everything is predestined by Allah, humans are still encouraged to strive for good and guard against evil. ” And know that your possessions and your children are but a trial (fitnah) and that surely with Allah is a mighty reward.” – Surat Al-‘Anfal 8:28.
Two Factions of Islam
The two main Islamic branches are Sunni Islam (85–90%) and Shia Islam (10–15%). The Sunni branch is the largest denomination of Islam. The division between Shia and Sunni dates back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad in AD 632. This event raised the question of who was to take over the leadership of the Muslim nation. Sunni followers believe that Muhammad had not appointed a specific successor and many years after his death and significant debate, their followers chose Abu Bakr Siddique. On the other hand, Shia followers believe that Muhammad did choose a successor, Ali ibn Abi Talib, his son-in-law. Throughout history Shia Muslims have not recognized the authority of elected Muslim leaders, choosing instead to follow a line of Imams which they believe have been appointed by the Prophet Muhammad or God Himself.
Their view of Jesus
Jesus was a perfect, sinless, highly revered Prophet and a messenger of God. Jesus was immaculately conceived through God, but is not God or the son of God. Jesus did not die but ascended to heaven, so there was no resurrection.
Muslims believe Jesus to be a perfect, sinless, highly revered Prophet and a messenger of God. His name in Arabic is ‘Isa’. Jesus was immaculately conceived through God, but is not God or the son of God. However they believe that Muhammad was the last and final prophet and he recorded the word of God verbatim in the Quran. They believe that God sent thousands of divinely inspired messengers – 124,000 prophets – to all the world’s nations to guide mankind. These include Adam, Solomon, David, Noah, Abraham, Ismail, Issac, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad.
The resurrection of Jesus is denied because they believe God raised Jesus to him and he will return before end of time to finish his life, correct any confusion about his teachings and restore order to the world.
Belief concerning Mary
Mary (Mariam/Miriam in Islam) receives significant admiration from Muslims. She is said by the Prophet Muhammad to be one of the four best women that God created. She is free of sin as the mother of Jesus. Mary is venerated by both Sunnis and Shiites, however Shiites venerate Muhammad’s daughter Fatima above Mary.
Righteousness
They believe that humans are born pure and innocent. Upon reaching adolescence, you are responsible for what you do, and must choose right from wrong. Islam also teaches that faith and action go hand-in-hand. There is no clear criteria for justification – Muslims have to rely on their belief in one God, remembrance of God, repentance, fear of God and hope in God’s mercy. Their view on atheism varies, but this can be very dangerous in some Muslim nations. “O Prophet! strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites, and be firm against them. Their abode is Hell, an evil refuge indeed.” – Surat At-Tawbah 9:73.
Women and clothing
Their view of women varies. Some Muslims view women as equal, while others believe women should be subservient. Women must present themselves modestly to cover hair and body shape. Men must be modestly dressed and covered from waist to knee. In most Muslim culture, women wear a form of the hijab; in some, they must wear the full-body cover known as the burqa. Clothing is usually controlled (e.g., hijab, burqa); health choices may be restricted. Surat An-Nisa 4:34 allows for “light beating” of “disobedient” wives. According to the Qur’an, men may marry more than one woman, but no more than four, as long as he can support them and treat them fairly. Divorce is easy for men, difficult for women.
On LGBT
Their view varies to some extent, but generally homosexuality is not accepted. Verses from the Qur’an condemn it and modern fatwas (Islamic law interpretation) often ban homosexuality as a crime, punishable by death in several countries. Sex change is not permitted.
A religion of peace?
Peace may be defined as a lack of conflict and a freedom from fear of violence. It’s tranquillity and harmony, and a critical component to happiness. But this is not how Islam defines ‘peace’.
The word “Islam” is derived from the Arabic root “salaam” which means “peace”. To reason that because their name means ‘peace’ they are a peaceful religion is simply circular reasoning. Furthermore, in the context of the religion, Islam is often translated as “submission” to the will of Allah. So one has to look at what Islam really means by ‘peace’.
Most Muslims consider the Quran to be the verbatim word of God and the unaltered, final revelation, and hence it is their duty to obey whatever it says, and even to enforce it, explicitly. According to Islam all of Muhammad’s actions were moral and to now claim otherwise is a giant contradiction. So let us look at what the Quran says, what their religious leaders say, and what history reveals. Note that non-Muslims are variously referred to as ‘those who do not believe’, ‘polytheist’ (referring to the Christian trinity and Hindu religion), ‘infidels’, ‘disbelievers’, ‘idolaters’ etc.
In the last 9-10 years of Muhammad’s life he personally participated in or deputised 86 battles, and they increased in intensity until he died. Islam has been made to prevail over every religion. So Chapter 9 is the most violent, it is the culmination of the Islamic message. It is the marching orders that Mohammed leaves Muslims with – which is why when he died Muslims conquered 1/3 of the known world within 150 years. So the first option was concession, the second to pay the tax, and if that did not happen then it was the sword.
(Nabeel Qureshi, a Muslim who convert to Christianity, ‘Why I stopped believing Islam is a religion of peace’.)
Surah 5:33 “Indeed, the penalty for those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad) and spread mischief in the land is death, crucifixion, cutting off their hands and feet on opposite sides, or exile from the land. This ˹penalty˺ is a disgrace for them in this world, and they will suffer a tremendous punishment in the Hereafter.”
Chapter 9 is the last chapter to have been composed and it is the most expansively violent. This is the one that starts out by saying that we disallow (cancel) all treaties we have made with the polytheists. ‘Sura 9:1: “This is a discharge from all obligations, by Allah and His Messenger, to the polytheists you believers have entered into treaties with.”
Surah 9.5 “And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah (pay alms tax) let them [go] on their way.”
Surah 9.29 “Fight those who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day, nor comply with what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, nor embrace the religion of truth from among those who were given the Scripture, until they pay the tax, willingly submitting, fully humbled (or ’utterly subdued’).”
Surah 9.33 “It is He who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion, although they who associate others with Allah dislike it.”
Surah 9.73 “O Prophet, fight against the disbelievers and the hypocrites and be harsh upon them. And their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the destination.”
The claim has more recently been made that the countless atrocities that have been committed in the name of Islam were not representative of Islam, or at least the peaceful majority of Muslims, and these acts are the result of fanatics, extremists and militants taking Islamic teaching out of context. The above quotations refute this. Furthermore polls and surveys taken of Muslims in numerous countries show that the majority have supported these atrocities, such as the Hamas attacks from Graza and the atrocities recently committed against the citizens of Israel.
This is what a leader of the Islamic faith is reported to have said
“For the orthodox Muslim, the Quran’s commands are valid for all time. Fifteen hundred years later, Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini is able to say, “Islam says: Kill all the unbelievers just as they would kill you all! Islam says Kill them (the non-Muslims), put them to the sword and scatter [their armies]. Kill in the service of Allah those who may want to kill you!” “
(Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, quoted in “Islam Unveiled” by Robert Spencer, p. 35).
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini held the position of the Supreme Leader of Iran from 1979 until his death in 1989. He was the first person to hold this position following the Iranian Revolution, which overthrew Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. As the Supreme Leader, Khomeini combined political and religious authority as a head of state. He is often referred to as the “Supreme Leader of Muslims” on his official website. In addition to his political role, Khomeini was a high-ranking cleric in Twelver Shi’ism, an Ayatollah, a Marja’ (“source of emulation”), a Mujtahid or Faqīh (an expert in Sharia), and the author of more than 40 books. His teachings and writings have had a significant influence on Islamic philosophy, law, and ethics. (Microsoft internet search).
Dr Brian Drury