Understanding Islam: A Guide To The Muslim Faith

Islam is a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. With an estimated population of almost 1.9 billion followers, Muslims comprise around 25% of the world's total population. The word 'Muslim' means 'submitter [to God]' or 'one who surrenders [to God]'. Muslims believe that the Quran is the verbatim word of God and the unaltered, final revelation. The religion originated in Mecca in 610 CE when Muhammad received his first revelation.

Muslims are asked to put their beliefs into practice through the five pillars of Islam: the declaration of faith (shahada), daily prayers (salat), charity (zakat), fasting (sawm), and the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj).

Monotheism: the belief in one God, Allah, who is all-powerful and all-knowing

Monotheism is a central tenet of Islam, a monotheistic religion with an estimated 1.9 billion followers worldwide. Muslims believe in the oneness and uniqueness of God, referred to as Allah, which means "God" in Arabic. This belief in the singularity and unity of God is known as tawhid in Arabic.

Muslims believe that Allah is the creator of all things and is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by human characteristics. The Islamic concept of God is usually thought of as a precise monotheism, but it also incorporates panentheistic elements in Islamic mystical teachings. God is seen as incomparable and without multiplicity, and associating any multiplicity or attributes of God with others is considered idolatry (shirk) in Islam.

The Quran, the holy book of Islam, describes God as Al-Ghayb, meaning God is beyond human comprehension. Thus, Muslims do not attribute physical forms or images to God and instead refer to God using various names or attributes, the most common being Ar-Rahman (The Entirely Merciful) and Ar-Rahim (The Especially Merciful).

The belief in one God, Allah, is the first of the six articles of faith in Islam, which also include belief in angels, revelation, prophets, the Day of Resurrection, and divine predestination. This monotheistic belief is also reflected in the Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith, where Muslims testify that "there is no deity except God (Allah) and Muhammad is the messenger of God."

Belief in angels: angels are unseen beings who carry out God's orders and brought revelations to prophets

In Islam, angels are believed to be heavenly beings, created from a luminous origin by God. They are unseen and are conceptualized as God's servants, carrying out His orders and lacking passion and bodily desires. They are older than humans and jinn and are considered autonomous entities with subtle bodies.

Muslims believe in angels, and this belief is one of the six core tenets of the Islamic faith. The Quran is the principal source of the Islamic concept of angels, but angels are also mentioned in hadith literature, Mi'raj literature, Islamic exegesis, theology, philosophy, and mysticism.

Angels play an important role in the everyday lives of Muslims, protecting believers from evil influences and recording their deeds. They have different duties, including praising God, interacting with humans, defending against devils (shayatin), and carrying out natural phenomena.

The archangel Gabriel, or Jibreel, is the greatest of all the angels and is responsible for revealing the Quran to Muhammad, verse by verse. Other notable angels include Mika'il or Mikail, who is often depicted as the archangel of mercy, Israfil, who will blow the trumpet on Judgement Day, and Azrael, or Azrail, the archangel of death.

Angels are believed to be attracted to clean and sacred places and are described as having a beautiful appearance. They are also characterized by their purity and obedience to God and are said to be free from inferior urges, such as anger, tiredness, eating, and drinking.

Angels are believed to have different forms and abilities, including the ability to take on different shapes and human forms. They are also said to travel at incredible speeds, faster than the speed of light.

In summary, angels are a fundamental part of Islamic belief and play a crucial role in the Muslim understanding of the world and their relationship with God.

Belief in holy books: Muslims believe in the Quran, as well as previous holy books such as the Torah and the Gospel

Muslims believe that God revealed holy books or scriptures to a number of God's messengers. These include the Quran (given to Muhammad), the Torah (given to Moses), the Gospel (given to Jesus), the Psalms (given to David), and the Scrolls (given to Abraham).

Muslims believe that these earlier scriptures in their original form were divinely revealed, but that only the Quran remains as it was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad. The Quran is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims believe to be a revelation from God. It is widely regarded as the finest work in classical Arabic literature. The Quran is divided into chapters (surah), which are then divided into verses (ayah).

Muslims believe that the Quran was verbally revealed by Allah to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel (Jibril), gradually over a period of approximately 23 years, starting in late 609, when Muhammad was 39, and concluding in 632, the year of his death. The Quran is the foundational religious text of Islam and is considered by Muslims to be the verbatim word of the God of Abraham (or Allah).

The Quran mentions the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, and the Scrolls as valid revelations. The Torah is referred to as the Tawrat, the Gospel as the Injeel, the Psalms as the Zabur, and the Scrolls as the Suhuf. The Quran confirms the original revelation that was given to Prophet Moses called the Tawrah (Torah) and the Enjeel (the Gospel) that was revealed to Prophet Jesus.

The Islamic methodology of tafsir al-Qur'an bi-l-Kitab refers to "interpreting the Qur'an with/through the Bible". This approach adopts canonical Arabic versions of the Bible, including the Torah and Gospel, to illuminate and add exegetical depth to the reading of the Qur'an.

Belief in prophets: Muslims believe in prophets including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Muhammad is considered the final Islamic prophet

Muslims believe in prophets including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Muhammad is considered the final Islamic prophet.

Muslims believe that God's guidance has been revealed to humankind through specially appointed messengers, or prophets, throughout history. According to the Quran, the first man, Adam, was the first prophet. Twenty-five prophets are mentioned by name in the Quran, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last in this line of prophets, sent for all humankind with the message of Islam.

The Quran mentions that all the prophets brought the same message: that there is only one God, and that He is the only one worthy of worship. The Quran also states that these men were Muslims because they submitted to God, preached His message, and upheld His values, which included praying, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage.

Muslims believe in all the prophets sent by God and are required to respect and honour them. If a Muslim denies or disrespects a single prophet, they are considered outside of Islam. The prophets are seen as having come with one message, one that proclaims the oneness of God and the need to worship Him alone without associating partners with Him.

Muhammad is the most revered of all men in Islam. He is believed to have received direct revelations from God through the archangel Gabriel, which form the basis of the Muslim holy text, the Quran. The Quran refers to God as Allah, the Arabic word for God. Muhammad is often referred to in the Quran as the "seal of the prophets," indicating that he is the last of the prophets.

Belief in the Day of Judgment: Muslims believe that humans will be judged and sent to either paradise or hell

Muslims believe that on the Day of Judgment, humans will be judged for their actions in this life. The Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, describes the Day of Judgment as a time when people will be held accountable for their deeds and beliefs. It is believed that those who followed God's guidance and lived righteous lives will be rewarded with paradise, while those who rejected God's guidance and committed sins will be punished with hell.

The Quran mentions the Day of Judgment in several verses, emphasizing the importance of this belief in the Muslim faith. According to the Quran, the Day of Judgment is when humans will be judged for their actions and will receive their eternal reward or punishment. It is believed that God alone knows the hearts and deeds of people and will judge them fairly. The Quran states that those who believed in God, did good deeds, acted righteously, observed prayer, and gave to charity will be rewarded by God with admission to Paradise. On the other hand, those who rejected God's guidance, committed sins, and disbelieved in the Day of Judgment will face punishment in Hell.

Muslims believe that Hell, or Jahannam in Arabic, is a place of punishment for evildoers in the afterlife. It is described as having multiple levels, each more severe than the one above it, with different types of sinners assigned to each level. The Quran mentions Hell as a place of blazing fire, with intense physical, psychological, and spiritual torment. It is believed that confinement to hell is temporary for Muslims but may be eternal for non-believers, although there are differing opinions among Muslim scholars on this matter.

The belief in the Day of Judgment is one of the six articles of faith in Islam, which also include belief in God, angels, books, prophets, and divine decree. These beliefs form the foundation of the Islamic faith and are considered essential for Muslims to follow.

The Day of Judgment is a significant concept in Islam, as it encourages Muslims to live righteous and pious lives, following the guidance of God and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. It serves as a reminder of the accountability for one's actions and the consequences that await in the afterlife.

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