I took these notes @ an American mosque open-house in 2010 where several local religious leaders came together to have an inter-faith dialogue about Islam. I do not endorse all this information, and I believe that the true teachings of the Qur'an were covered up.- Islam as a religion supports: helping the homeless, doing what is right, feeding the hungry, forbidding evil, avoiding violence, avoiding anything that "stains human integrity."
- One Muslim quoted Micah 4:5, "All the nations may walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the LORD, our God for ever and ever." She said that many Abrahamic religions are different expressions of following the same god. She said the goal of religion is peace and community unity. [I do not believe this statement is true]
- More than once, the mosque representatives pointed out that terrorism is not representative of Islamic belief or practice. [This, of course, depends on your method of Qur'anic interpretation and your definition of 'jihad']
- As'salamu alei'kum means 'peace be upon you,' a common greeting among Muslims.
- Some statistics about the Muslim world:
1) The Muslim world is made up of over 1.5 billion Muslims.
2) The 1st largest population of Muslims per capita is Indonesia.
3) The 2nd largest population of Muslims per capita is India.
4) Only 18% of all Muslims are Arab/Middle Eastern.
5) China has 50 million Muslims.
6) The Indian subcontinent is home to over 300 million Muslims.
- "Islam" means 'submission to the will of God'.
- "Islam" comes from the Arabic root word 'salam' meaning 'peace'.
- A "muslim" is a person who surrenders to God and seeks to find peace.
- Six core beliefs of Islam: 1) Almighty God "al'lah", 2) the Prophets, 3) the Revelations sent to the Prophets, 4) Angels, 5) Day of Judgment - all people are judged according to their deeds in life, 6) Divine decree - everything that happens, whether good or bad, has been decreed by God. (The Islamic version of the Bible doctrine of 'sovereignty') Once again, the speaker emphasized that the gods of Islam and Christianity are one and the same. [I completely reject this statement]
- Islam has Five Pillars:
1) shahada - the Confession: There is one Almighty God, and Muhammad is his messenger.
- This confession is the testimony of the Muslim faith.
- The single purpose in human life is the worship of the Creator.
- the word "god" is different in many languages; yet, it carries the same meaning; al'lah Arabic, god English, dios Spanish, elohim Hebrew, dieu French, dio Italian.
- Attributes of Al'lah: Creator, one, first, compassionate, merciful, just, forgiving, loving, wise, and greatest.
- Chapter 112 of the Qur'an: God does not have children. [Big problem for John 3:16]
- Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets and Prophecy - Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad.
- Jesus is the son of Mary, and a famous miracle-worker. [But not the Son of God]
2) salat: prayer
- Muslims are required to pray five times a day; 1) before sunrise, 2) mid-day, 3) afternoon, 4) after sunset, 5) night.
- Muslims are encouraged to pray together as a community.
- Community worship requires 'absolution', or "washing," and requires a quiet, clean, and dry place.
- Why do Muslims pray? To remember God, to be grateful, and to confess arrogance.
3) zakhat: charity
- All wealth is entrusted to each person from God.
- Purification and spiritual growth happens through giving to those in need.
4) siyam: fasting
- taq'wa is the "god-consciousness" that each Muslim tries to attain, which means that they are constantly fearful of the Creator, and have love for the Creator.
- When someone is fasting, if they lie, backbite, spread rumors, or gaze lustfully at someone, their fast is broken, and they must start over.
- Eid is the holiday at the end of Islamic month of fasting known as Ramadan. It is a festival where the community prays together, visits each other, and eats together.
5) hajj: pilgrimage
- This pillar means that each Muslim should try once in his/her lifetime to visit the holy city of the Prophet: Mecca.
- 3 million people make this pilgrimage every year.
- It's supposed to take place on the 12th month of the lunar year.
- The journey to Mecca involves visiting the ka'ba (the big black cube considered to have a foundation laid by Abraham and Ishmael that houses a stone descended from heaven. Muslims bow down and pray facing the stone), the hills of Safa and Marwa, the Zamzam water, Mt. Arafat, and the place of Ishmael's sacrifice.
- There are no racial barriers on the Meccan pilgrimage.
- All races, languages, colors, professions, nationalities, and economic status are welcome (Qur'an chapter 49, verse 13)
- The prophet Muhammad was superior in piety and good action.
Misconceptions about Islam:
- jihad: Jihad is not about terrorism. It is defined as "strive, struggle, or exert."
- Any struggle in life is jihad.
- Fighting is allowed only when all non-violent means of negotiation have been exhausted.
- Islam is a religion of peace: Qur'an 8:61, 5:32
- The Qur'an forbids terrorism and suicide. [Again, this perspective is only one interpretation]
- Islam is a religion of tolerance: Qur'an 2:256 "Let there be no compulsion in religion."
- Islam encourages the pursuit of knowledge: Qur'an 21:30, 23:12-14
- Islam supports women's rights: In Iran, over 50% of the university students are women with the right to vote, the right to earn/own money, the right to maintain their maiden name after marriage. A modest dress code for women is required. Modesty is an act of faith, and is to be recognized by other cultures as an act of faith and decency. Women are to be judged by their intellect instead of how they dress.
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I would encourage you to talk to a Muslim friend or mosque representative in your local community about these "facts" and see which ones they agree with and which ones they deny. It might open the door for you to share the Bible story of Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord with a Muslim.
