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Islam: Frequently Asked Questions
Is Islam a new world religion founded by Muhammad?
Islam is not a new religion, but a seamless continuation of the same basic teachings and wisdom that God revealed through all His Prophets to all people. Islam is an action word meaning 'to enter into peace through surrender' to God - (the only true author of reality).
For a fifth of the world's population, Islam is both a religion and a complete way of life. Muslims are guided by scripture to live a life of peace, mercy, and forgiveness.
Who are Muslims - where do they come from?
Over one billion people from all races, nationalities and cultures from across the globe from the southern Philippines to Nigeria - are united by their common Islamic faith.
About 18% of Muslims live in the Arab world; the world's largest Muslim community however is in Indonesia; substantial parts of Asia and most of Africa are Muslim, while significant minorities are to be found in the Soviet Union, China, North and South America, and Europe.
What exactly do Muslims believe in?
Muslims believe in One Unique, Incomparable God who created and cares for all existence, in an unseen world which includes Angels, Heavan and Hell, in the Prophets through whom God's revelations were brought to mankind; and in God's complete authority over human destiny including life after death and the Day of Judgement where all people will be held accountable for their trusts, choices and actions.
Muslims believe in a chain of Prophets starting with Adam and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesus, peace be upon them.
God's final message to man bringing a confirmation of the eternal message and summing-up of all that had come before (including the Torah and the Bible) was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (a descendent of Abraham) via the angel Gabriel in the form of the Qur'an.
Can someone choose to become Muslim? What do they have to do?
A person becomes a Muslim simply by stating, 'I witness that there is no god apart from God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.' Of course this only applies if they genuinely accept it in their hearts.
By this declaration the person forsakes the worship of all 'gods' or idols in preference of the worship of the One True God who alone is deserving of all praise, they also announce their belief in Muhammed and all God's Messengers, and the teachings and wisdom they brought in the form of scriptures (including the Torah, the Bible and the Qur'an).
The declaration of faith (shahadah) in Arabic
What does Islam mean? Why don't Muslims call themselves 'Mohammedans'?
The Arabic word 'Islam' is an action word meaning 'to enter into peace through surrender' (to the will of God), and derives from the root word 'salam' which simply means peace.
'Mohammedanism' is thus a misnomer because it suggests that Muslims worship Muhammad rather than God, (this would be an act of idolatry). 'Allah' is the Arabic name for God - it is not gender specific and interestingly the plural of Allah does not exist. It is used by Arab Muslims and Christians alike in reference to God.
Why do some Muslims seem so strange?
Islam may seem exotic or even strange in the modern world. Perhaps this is because Muslims come from so many diverse cultures and traditions and some find it difficult to separate eternal scriptural principles from cultural customs and practices.
Islam is one faith but its expressions are many and varied, this diversity is seen as a strength rather than a weakness and shows that the faith seeks not to regimentalise cultures but rather to complement and enhance them. Today Western Muslims are forging their own cultural identities to add to the many variations of customs and cultures of Muslim communities.
If Islam and Christianity both started in the Middle East, are they connected in any way?
Yes, Judaism, Islam and Christianity acknowledge the common ancestry of humanity from Adam and Eve. Similiary all three faiths hold the patriarch Abraham in high esteem, indeed the key Prophets from each are his descendents - Muhammad from his eldest son Ishmael and Moses and Jesus from Isaac.
Abraham established the settlement which today is the city of Mecca in Arabia (Bakka in the Bible), and built the ancient temple, called the Ka'bah towards which all Muslims turn towards when they pray.
Why do Muslims bow down to the Ka'bah if they are supposed to only worship God?
The Ka'bah is not an idol - it is simply a marker the word means cube which describes the large stone cube marking the spot. It is a treasured place of worship, dedicated to God from ancient times, (indeed some traditions state it was Adam hmself who first worshipped here). It simply indicates a direction for Muslims to face when they are praying. This common focus during prayer helps create a sense of spiritual unity amongst believers.
However, in the early days of Islam, prayers used to be directed towards the sacred site of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem. This focus was changed however during the course of Mohammed's Prophethood and accommodated the desire of the growing community of believers to reconnect with their forefather Abraham and his rites in relation to the sacred temple in Mecca. Jerusalem in still considered one of the three holiest places of worship due to it's own prophetic and spiritual significance.
In Muslim tradition God directly commanded Abraham and his eldest son Ishmael to build the Ka'bah over four thousand years ago in Mecca, Arabia (Bakka). The building was constructed of stone on what many believe was the original site of a sanctuary established by Adam.
God commanded Abraham to summon all believers to visit this place for pilgrimmage and for the rememberance of God, and when pilgrims go there today as part of the Hajj rites they symbolically repeat 'At Thy service, O Lord', on entering the holy precinct in response to God's command.
The Ka'bah in Mecca, surounded by thousands of pilgrims
Who was Muhammad?
Muhammad was born in Mecca in the year 570, at a time when Christianity was begining to flower in Europe.
Since his father died before his birth, and his mother shortly afterwards, he was raised by his uncle from the respected tribe of Quraysh. As he grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that he was sought after for his ability to arbitrate between people. Observers and historians describe him as calm and meditative.
Muhammad had a deeply spiritual nature, and had long detested the injustices of his society. It became his habit to meditate in a retreat from time to time in the Cave of Hira near the summit of Jaba al-Nur, the 'Mountain of Light' near Mecca.
The Prophet's Mosque, in Medina
At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad received his first revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued to be revealed over the next twenty-three years, is known as the Qur'an or 'recitation'.
Soon after Muhammad began to preach the message he heard from Gabriel, he and his small group of followers suffered bitter persecution which grew so fierce that some of them were forced to flee to Abyssinia where they were granted asylum by a just Christian ruler.
Mount Hira, where Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation.
In the year 622 the remaining Muslims migrated to Madinah, some 260 miles to the North of Mecca in Arabia. This event, the Hijra, (migration) marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.
After several years, the Prophet and his followers were able to return to Mecca, where they forgave those who had been hostile and began to sow the seeds of a vibrant civilisation by living according to scripture.
Before the Prophet died at the age of 63, the greater part of Arabia was Muslim, and within a century of his passing Islam had spread to Spain in the West and as far East as China. It is noted by historians that the rapid expansion of Islam was due in part to the character and message of those who bore this faith. A character which reflected the beautiful, generous and loving nature of Muhammed. A man who taught diverse people that humanity was equal before God and should not be discriminated on the basis of colour, sex, nationality, creed, wealth or status. Muhammed built a community on the foundations of God's eternal principles of justice, forgiveness, compassion and love towards ones fellow man and a deep respect for all creation.
