Islam 101 (1 Viewer)

[Mr. Know-It-All]

We have had threads that discuss the beliefs of other religions, but I am interested in knowing more about the religion of Islam. I know some people will take this as an opportunity to be haters, but I am interested in learning more about this religion. I am a Christian and have no intention of converting to Islam, but I do have an interest in learning more about other people's religions.

That said, here is what I have learned so far. So if we have any Muslims that can correct what I have learned so far or confirm what I have learned so far that would be great.

So, here is what I have pieced together -

1. Muhhamad was born around 570 a.d. in the vicinity of Mecca. His father was Abdallah and his mother was Amina. There is a story that his father had a white aura (white light between the eyes indicating prophecy) prior to the conception and that once Muhhamad was concieved this light left him. his father died prior to his birth and his mother died when Muhhamad was 6 years old.

2. Muhhamad was illiterate and a shepherd (this is striking in that it shows humility and has resemblance to some of the stories in Judaism and Christianity with regard to great people coming from humble roots). At some point in time he is hired as a purchasing agent fro a rich widow (Khadija). He is successful in his endeavors and eventually Khadija proposes to him and they are married. Her wealth allows him to spend more time exploring his growing spirituality which to this point has been influenced by Nestorians (a Christian sect) and he is also exposed to Judaic teachings in and around Mecca.

3. In 610 a.d. while in a secluded cave where he went to pray, he had a vision of the angel Gabriel. Gabrielk tried to recite to him what would be the Qu'ran, but Muhhamad resisted by saying he could not read. Gabriel persisted and wrestled with the prophet until the prophet relented and recieved the words of the Qu'ran. At some point in time (and I am not sure where this fits in), Gabriel also opened the prophet's chest and removed sin from his heart.

4. After the prophet recieved the Qu'ran from Gabriel he went to Mecca to share it with the people of Mecca. His intent was that when he made his revelation that it would bring the various religions together under one true monotheistic religion. However, he was rejected and soon fled to Medina due to persecution.

5. So up until that point he was trying to spread the message he had received through peace. When that failed he realized that his approach would have to be through force.

That is as far as I have gotten so far.

Some questions -

1. Where does the Hadith fit into this?

2. Is the Old testament considered valuable by Muslims (based on the knowledge of Judaism that the prophet was exposed to prior to the revelation of the Qu'ran)?

3. Does Islam teach of a Heaven and/or a Hell and how one is assigned to either of those places?

4. How is Jesus viewd? Is he a prophet but not the son of God? Is he a heretic? An infidel?

5. I came across a topic that said something about Muslims should not speak truth of their beliefs or intentions to non-Muslims. Is there truth to that or can I get a clarification?

Thanks, and please let's not turn this into a running fight between religions - but instead lets use this as an opportunity for learning and not judgement.

 

[adonis]

So when did he receive the golden tablets?

 

[The Z Machine]

So when did he receive the golden tablets?

I'm glad you're taking the time to learn more about the faith.You can get some info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam and here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad

 

[LHUCKS]

I took two NES courses in undergrad, both were heavily centered around Islam...much more peaceful in tone than is Christianity.

 

[Jayrod]

I took two NES courses in undergrad, both were heavily centered around Islam...much more peaceful in tone than is Christianity.

for some good information (not just by LHUCKS here)I'm in the same boat as Mr. KIA.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

1. Where does the Hadith fit into this?

Dunno.

2. Is the Old testament considered valuable by Muslims (based on the knowledge of Judaism that the prophet was exposed to prior to the revelation of the Qu'ran)?

Yes. Muslims claim to practice the "true" religion of Abraham. The bottom line is that Jews, Christians and Muslims all worship the same god, although obviously they understand his nature differently.

3. Does Islam teach of a Heaven and/or a Hell and how one is assigned to either of those places?

Yes. You get to heaven by doing good deeds, and you go to hell for doing bad deeds. There is a very heavy strain of predestination in Islam, much moreso than in Christianity.

4. How is Jesus viewd? Is he a prophet but not the son of God? Is he a heretic? An infidel?

Jesus is considered one of the greatest prophets. They consider him a Muslim. They do not consider him to be the son of God, because that would be polytheism in their view, which is basically the single worst thing there is according to Islam.

5. I came across a topic that said something about Muslims should not speak truth of their beliefs or intentions to non-Muslims. Is there truth to that or can I get a clarification?

There is apparently some sanction for that in the life of Muhammed. I don't remember any specifics, but yes this is true at least to some extent.

Thanks, and please let's not turn this into a running fight between religions - but instead lets use this as an opportunity for learning and not judgement.

Good luck with that.

 

[Saints-Man]

IK answers many of these questions. However, if you are interesed, I found this great book at the library about Islam.

'A Muslim Primer: Beginner's Guide to Islam' by Ira Zepp Jr.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

One of the things that I found interesting (and maybe I heard it wrong) -

after hearing the revelation of the Qu-ran from Gabriel, the prophet wanted to hurl himself from a cliff (I assume because he was overwhelmed what had just happened to him or perhaps he felt unworthy to be the messenger). Gabriel held him back from throwing himself off of the cliff.

This reminded me of the story where Jesus was in the desert and Satan tempted him to throw himself off the temple and surely God would send angels to save him.

Obviously two entirely different scenarios, it just struck me.

 

[TheIronSheik]

We have had threads that discuss the beliefs of other religions, but I am interested in knowing more about the religion of Islam. I know some people will take this as an opportunity to be haters, but I am interested in learning more about this religion. I am a Christian and have no intention of converting to Islam, but I do have an interest in learning more about other people's religions.That said, here is what I have learned so far. So if we have any Muslims that can correct what I have learned so far or confirm what I have learned so far that would be great.So, here is what I have pieced together -1. Muhhamad was born around 570 a.d. in the vicinity of Mecca. His father was Abdallah and his mother was Amina. There is a story that his father had a white aura (white light between the eyes indicating prophecy) prior to the conception and that once Muhhamad was concieved this light left him. his father died prior to his birth and his mother died when Muhhamad was 6 years old.2. Muhhamad was illiterate and a shepherd (this is striking in that it shows humility and has resemblance to some of the stories in Judaism and Christianity with regard to great people coming from humble roots). At some point in time he is hired as a purchasing agent fro a rich widow (Khadija). He is successful in his endeavors and eventually Khadija proposes to him and they are married. Her wealth allows him to spend more time exploring his growing spirituality which to this point has been influenced by Nestorians (a Christian sect) and he is also exposed to Judaic teachings in and around Mecca.3. In 610 a.d. while in a secluded cave where he went to pray, he had a vision of the angel Gabriel. Gabrielk tried to recite to him what would be the Qu'ran, but Muhhamad resisted by saying he could not read. Gabriel persisted and wrestled with the prophet until the prophet relented and recieved the words of the Qu'ran. At some point in time (and I am not sure where this fits in), Gabriel also opened the prophet's chest and removed sin from his heart.4. After the prophet recieved the Qu'ran from Gabriel he went to Mecca to share it with the people of Mecca. His intent was that when he made his revelation that it would bring the various religions together under one true monotheistic religion. However, he was rejected and soon fled to Medina due to persecution.5. So up until that point he was trying to spread the message he had received through peace. When that failed he realized that his approach would have to be through force.That is as far as I have gotten so far.Some questions -1. Where does the Hadith fit into this?2. Is the Old testament considered valuable by Muslims (based on the knowledge of Judaism that the prophet was exposed to prior to the revelation of the Qu'ran)?3. Does Islam teach of a Heaven and/or a Hell and how one is assigned to either of those places?4. How is Jesus viewd? Is he a prophet but not the son of God? Is he a heretic? An infidel?5. I came across a topic that said something about Muslims should not speak truth of their beliefs or intentions to non-Muslims. Is there truth to that or can I get a clarification?Thanks, and please let's not turn this into a running fight between religions - but instead lets use this as an opportunity for learning and not judgement.

Read "No God, But God." Really good book that's easy to read and goes into all the details of Islam, from before Mohammed to present day.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

We have had threads that discuss the beliefs of other religions, but I am interested in knowing more about the religion of Islam. I know some people will take this as an opportunity to be haters, but I am interested in learning more about this religion. I am a Christian and have no intention of converting to Islam, but I do have an interest in learning more about other people's religions.That said, here is what I have learned so far. So if we have any Muslims that can correct what I have learned so far or confirm what I have learned so far that would be great.So, here is what I have pieced together -1. Muhhamad was born around 570 a.d. in the vicinity of Mecca. His father was Abdallah and his mother was Amina. There is a story that his father had a white aura (white light between the eyes indicating prophecy) prior to the conception and that once Muhhamad was concieved this light left him. his father died prior to his birth and his mother died when Muhhamad was 6 years old.2. Muhhamad was illiterate and a shepherd (this is striking in that it shows humility and has resemblance to some of the stories in Judaism and Christianity with regard to great people coming from humble roots). At some point in time he is hired as a purchasing agent fro a rich widow (Khadija). He is successful in his endeavors and eventually Khadija proposes to him and they are married. Her wealth allows him to spend more time exploring his growing spirituality which to this point has been influenced by Nestorians (a Christian sect) and he is also exposed to Judaic teachings in and around Mecca.3. In 610 a.d. while in a secluded cave where he went to pray, he had a vision of the angel Gabriel. Gabrielk tried to recite to him what would be the Qu'ran, but Muhhamad resisted by saying he could not read. Gabriel persisted and wrestled with the prophet until the prophet relented and recieved the words of the Qu'ran. At some point in time (and I am not sure where this fits in), Gabriel also opened the prophet's chest and removed sin from his heart.4. After the prophet recieved the Qu'ran from Gabriel he went to Mecca to share it with the people of Mecca. His intent was that when he made his revelation that it would bring the various religions together under one true monotheistic religion. However, he was rejected and soon fled to Medina due to persecution.5. So up until that point he was trying to spread the message he had received through peace. When that failed he realized that his approach would have to be through force.That is as far as I have gotten so far.Some questions -1. Where does the Hadith fit into this?2. Is the Old testament considered valuable by Muslims (based on the knowledge of Judaism that the prophet was exposed to prior to the revelation of the Qu'ran)?3. Does Islam teach of a Heaven and/or a Hell and how one is assigned to either of those places?4. How is Jesus viewd? Is he a prophet but not the son of God? Is he a heretic? An infidel?5. I came across a topic that said something about Muslims should not speak truth of their beliefs or intentions to non-Muslims. Is there truth to that or can I get a clarification?Thanks, and please let's not turn this into a running fight between religions - but instead lets use this as an opportunity for learning and not judgement.

Read "No God, But God." Really good book that's easy to read and goes into all the details of Islam, from before Mohammed to present day.

Author? I will check it out from Barnes and Nobles tomorrow and purchase it if it looks interesting. I want to make sure that I am getting a fairly unbiased look at Islam, as opposed to the attack books offered up by anti-Islamic authors or fluff pieces by pro-Islamic authors. I run into the same problem when trying to research various other religions including all of the various -isms of Christianity.

 

[TheIronSheik]

We have had threads that discuss the beliefs of other religions, but I am interested in knowing more about the religion of Islam. I know some people will take this as an opportunity to be haters, but I am interested in learning more about this religion. I am a Christian and have no intention of converting to Islam, but I do have an interest in learning more about other people's religions.That said, here is what I have learned so far. So if we have any Muslims that can correct what I have learned so far or confirm what I have learned so far that would be great.So, here is what I have pieced together -1. Muhhamad was born around 570 a.d. in the vicinity of Mecca. His father was Abdallah and his mother was Amina. There is a story that his father had a white aura (white light between the eyes indicating prophecy) prior to the conception and that once Muhhamad was concieved this light left him. his father died prior to his birth and his mother died when Muhhamad was 6 years old.2. Muhhamad was illiterate and a shepherd (this is striking in that it shows humility and has resemblance to some of the stories in Judaism and Christianity with regard to great people coming from humble roots). At some point in time he is hired as a purchasing agent fro a rich widow (Khadija). He is successful in his endeavors and eventually Khadija proposes to him and they are married. Her wealth allows him to spend more time exploring his growing spirituality which to this point has been influenced by Nestorians (a Christian sect) and he is also exposed to Judaic teachings in and around Mecca.3. In 610 a.d. while in a secluded cave where he went to pray, he had a vision of the angel Gabriel. Gabrielk tried to recite to him what would be the Qu'ran, but Muhhamad resisted by saying he could not read. Gabriel persisted and wrestled with the prophet until the prophet relented and recieved the words of the Qu'ran. At some point in time (and I am not sure where this fits in), Gabriel also opened the prophet's chest and removed sin from his heart.4. After the prophet recieved the Qu'ran from Gabriel he went to Mecca to share it with the people of Mecca. His intent was that when he made his revelation that it would bring the various religions together under one true monotheistic religion. However, he was rejected and soon fled to Medina due to persecution.5. So up until that point he was trying to spread the message he had received through peace. When that failed he realized that his approach would have to be through force.That is as far as I have gotten so far.Some questions -1. Where does the Hadith fit into this?2. Is the Old testament considered valuable by Muslims (based on the knowledge of Judaism that the prophet was exposed to prior to the revelation of the Qu'ran)?3. Does Islam teach of a Heaven and/or a Hell and how one is assigned to either of those places?4. How is Jesus viewd? Is he a prophet but not the son of God? Is he a heretic? An infidel?5. I came across a topic that said something about Muslims should not speak truth of their beliefs or intentions to non-Muslims. Is there truth to that or can I get a clarification?Thanks, and please let's not turn this into a running fight between religions - but instead lets use this as an opportunity for learning and not judgement.

Read "No God, But God." Really good book that's easy to read and goes into all the details of Islam, from before Mohammed to present day.

Author? I will check it out from Barnes and Nobles tomorrow and purchase it if it looks interesting. I want to make sure that I am getting a fairly unbiased look at Islam, as opposed to the attack books offered up by anti-Islamic authors or fluff pieces by pro-Islamic authors. I run into the same problem when trying to research various other religions including all of the various -isms of Christianity.

Can{t think of his name off hand. He{s an American Muslim who's been on The Daily Show several times. Very unbiased and reads fairly easy. The guy differently has a knack for writing.

 

[Mr. Know-It-All]

We have had threads that discuss the beliefs of other religions, but I am interested in knowing more about the religion of Islam. I know some people will take this as an opportunity to be haters, but I am interested in learning more about this religion. I am a Christian and have no intention of converting to Islam, but I do have an interest in learning more about other people's religions.That said, here is what I have learned so far. So if we have any Muslims that can correct what I have learned so far or confirm what I have learned so far that would be great.So, here is what I have pieced together -1. Muhhamad was born around 570 a.d. in the vicinity of Mecca. His father was Abdallah and his mother was Amina. There is a story that his father had a white aura (white light between the eyes indicating prophecy) prior to the conception and that once Muhhamad was concieved this light left him. his father died prior to his birth and his mother died when Muhhamad was 6 years old.2. Muhhamad was illiterate and a shepherd (this is striking in that it shows humility and has resemblance to some of the stories in Judaism and Christianity with regard to great people coming from humble roots). At some point in time he is hired as a purchasing agent fro a rich widow (Khadija). He is successful in his endeavors and eventually Khadija proposes to him and they are married. Her wealth allows him to spend more time exploring his growing spirituality which to this point has been influenced by Nestorians (a Christian sect) and he is also exposed to Judaic teachings in and around Mecca.3. In 610 a.d. while in a secluded cave where he went to pray, he had a vision of the angel Gabriel. Gabrielk tried to recite to him what would be the Qu'ran, but Muhhamad resisted by saying he could not read. Gabriel persisted and wrestled with the prophet until the prophet relented and recieved the words of the Qu'ran. At some point in time (and I am not sure where this fits in), Gabriel also opened the prophet's chest and removed sin from his heart.4. After the prophet recieved the Qu'ran from Gabriel he went to Mecca to share it with the people of Mecca. His intent was that when he made his revelation that it would bring the various religions together under one true monotheistic religion. However, he was rejected and soon fled to Medina due to persecution.5. So up until that point he was trying to spread the message he had received through peace. When that failed he realized that his approach would have to be through force.That is as far as I have gotten so far.Some questions -1. Where does the Hadith fit into this?2. Is the Old testament considered valuable by Muslims (based on the knowledge of Judaism that the prophet was exposed to prior to the revelation of the Qu'ran)?3. Does Islam teach of a Heaven and/or a Hell and how one is assigned to either of those places?4. How is Jesus viewd? Is he a prophet but not the son of God? Is he a heretic? An infidel?5. I came across a topic that said something about Muslims should not speak truth of their beliefs or intentions to non-Muslims. Is there truth to that or can I get a clarification?Thanks, and please let's not turn this into a running fight between religions - but instead lets use this as an opportunity for learning and not judgement.

Read "No God, But God." Really good book that's easy to read and goes into all the details of Islam, from before Mohammed to present day.

Author? I will check it out from Barnes and Nobles tomorrow and purchase it if it looks interesting. I want to make sure that I am getting a fairly unbiased look at Islam, as opposed to the attack books offered up by anti-Islamic authors or fluff pieces by pro-Islamic authors. I run into the same problem when trying to research various other religions including all of the various -isms of Christianity.

Can{t think of his name off hand. He{s an American Muslim who's been on The Daily Show several times. Very unbiased and reads fairly easy. The guy differently has a knack for writing.

Thanks, IS. Stay safe in Ecuador.

 

[TheIronSheik]

We have had threads that discuss the beliefs of other religions, but I am interested in knowing more about the religion of Islam. I know some people will take this as an opportunity to be haters, but I am interested in learning more about this religion. I am a Christian and have no intention of converting to Islam, but I do have an interest in learning more about other people's religions.That said, here is what I have learned so far. So if we have any Muslims that can correct what I have learned so far or confirm what I have learned so far that would be great.So, here is what I have pieced together -1. Muhhamad was born around 570 a.d. in the vicinity of Mecca. His father was Abdallah and his mother was Amina. There is a story that his father had a white aura (white light between the eyes indicating prophecy) prior to the conception and that once Muhhamad was concieved this light left him. his father died prior to his birth and his mother died when Muhhamad was 6 years old.2. Muhhamad was illiterate and a shepherd (this is striking in that it shows humility and has resemblance to some of the stories in Judaism and Christianity with regard to great people coming from humble roots). At some point in time he is hired as a purchasing agent fro a rich widow (Khadija). He is successful in his endeavors and eventually Khadija proposes to him and they are married. Her wealth allows him to spend more time exploring his growing spirituality which to this point has been influenced by Nestorians (a Christian sect) and he is also exposed to Judaic teachings in and around Mecca.3. In 610 a.d. while in a secluded cave where he went to pray, he had a vision of the angel Gabriel. Gabrielk tried to recite to him what would be the Qu'ran, but Muhhamad resisted by saying he could not read. Gabriel persisted and wrestled with the prophet until the prophet relented and recieved the words of the Qu'ran. At some point in time (and I am not sure where this fits in), Gabriel also opened the prophet's chest and removed sin from his heart.4. After the prophet recieved the Qu'ran from Gabriel he went to Mecca to share it with the people of Mecca. His intent was that when he made his revelation that it would bring the various religions together under one true monotheistic religion. However, he was rejected and soon fled to Medina due to persecution.5. So up until that point he was trying to spread the message he had received through peace. When that failed he realized that his approach would have to be through force.That is as far as I have gotten so far.Some questions -1. Where does the Hadith fit into this?2. Is the Old testament considered valuable by Muslims (based on the knowledge of Judaism that the prophet was exposed to prior to the revelation of the Qu'ran)?3. Does Islam teach of a Heaven and/or a Hell and how one is assigned to either of those places?4. How is Jesus viewd? Is he a prophet but not the son of God? Is he a heretic? An infidel?5. I came across a topic that said something about Muslims should not speak truth of their beliefs or intentions to non-Muslims. Is there truth to that or can I get a clarification?Thanks, and please let's not turn this into a running fight between religions - but instead lets use this as an opportunity for learning and not judgement.

Read "No God, But God." Really good book that's easy to read and goes into all the details of Islam, from before Mohammed to present day.

Author? I will check it out from Barnes and Nobles tomorrow and purchase it if it looks interesting. I want to make sure that I am getting a fairly unbiased look at Islam, as opposed to the attack books offered up by anti-Islamic authors or fluff pieces by pro-Islamic authors. I run into the same problem when trying to research various other religions including all of the various -isms of Christianity.

Can{t think of his name off hand. He{s an American Muslim who's been on The Daily Show several times. Very unbiased and reads fairly easy. The guy differently has a knack for writing.

Thanks, IS. Stay safe in Ecuador.

Gracias, mi amigo.And I think the cat's first name is Reslan. If that helps.

 

[tommyboy]

http://www.challenging-islam.org/articles/...ate-muslims.htm

 

[bueno]

Why don't you start by reading the koran? There are several ecxcellent English translations.

 

[bigfun54]

The author is Reza Aslan. He's been on Real Time several times. I think he also is one of the "middle east correspondents" for CBS or CNN, I'm not sure. He's a tremendously entertaining and insightful speaker. I wouldn't be surprised that he's a quality writer.

 

[bueno]

I took two NES courses in undergrad, both were heavily centered around Islam...much more peaceful in tone than is Christianity.

What means NES? And I don't recall anything in the NT that gives Christians permission to kill unbelievers.

 

[bueno]

The author is Reza Aslan. He's been on Real Time several times. I think he also is one of the "middle east correspondents" for CBS or CNN, I'm not sure. He's a tremendously entertaining and insightful speaker. I wouldn't be surprised that he's a quality writer.

It is hard to understand Islam out of context. Read Patai's The Arab Mind.

 

[Micon]

So why are most terrorists Muslim?

And why are radical muslim leaders trying to start a Jihad against Christians and Jews so that Muslims will rule the world?

Why did Muslims go crazy when a cartoon of Muhammed was shown, yet they regularly have mass demonstrations where they burn the American flag or chant "death to Israel"? Seems like they have some kind of double standard.

 

[bueno]

Why don't you start by reading the koran? There are several ecxcellent English translations.

How ironical.

Cheap shot artist!

 

[Kleck]

http://www.freekoran.com/

 

[bueno]

So why are most terrorists Muslim?

And why are radical muslim leaders trying to start a Jihad against Christians and Jews so that Muslims will rule the world?

Why did Muslims go crazy when a cartoon of Muhammed was shown, yet they regularly have mass demonstrations where they burn the American flag or chant "death to Israel"? Seems like they have some kind of double standard.

Bernard Lewis, a Middle Eastern scholar ahs two great books out on this topic: What Went Wrong and Crisis in Islam.

 

[Micon]

So why are most terrorists Muslim?

The guy who ordered the only atomic bombings was a Christian.Most serial killers are white men in their 30s-40s.Notice the kids who go all "Columbine"...middle class white kids.Same for 'spree killers'.

Ive never really heard of any of those people being called terrorists, so I dont really see your point

 

[Micon]

So why are most terrorists Muslim?

The guy who ordered the only atomic bombings was a Christian.Most serial killers are white men in their 30s-40s.Notice the kids who go all "Columbine"...middle class white kids.Same for 'spree killers'.

Ive never really heard of any of those people being called terrorists, so I dont really see your point

How unfortunate.

So you really think there are more serial killers and spree killers than Muslim terrorists in the world?

 

[Micon]

I asked legit questions, why do you have to dumb up this thread with your idiotic remarks?

 

[Footballhead]

My question is, and those who are Jewish and Christian may answer too....why will we get rewarded or punished for eternity for the good/evil deed we did in a short span of our lifetime?

 

[On The Rocks]

My question is, and those who are Jewish and Christian may answer too....why will we get rewarded or punished for eternity for the good/evil deed we did in a short span of our lifetime?

"we"? I won't be punished or rewarded for anything I have done in my lifetime.I believe I will be permitted to heaven and the presence of God becaue of my faith in what Jesus did in the span of his lifetime.

 

[prosopis]

I took two NES courses in undergrad, both were heavily centered around Islam...much more peaceful in tone than is Christianity.

Yes and it shows to.

 

[Jayrok]

Some questions -1. Where does the Hadith fit into this?

The Hadith is a collection of books separate from the Quran that contain the sayings and actions of Muhammad. The books also contain his philosophy, his approvals and disapprovals. Think of this like Islam's "Gospel of Thomas", which contains the sayings of Jesus. Muslims believe the Quran is 100% pure word of God revealed/preserved to Muhammad, but not every "Hadith" is authentic. Some of them are even considered false Hadith to some Muslims.

2. Is the Old testament considered valuable by Muslims (based on the knowledge of Judaism that the prophet was exposed to prior to the revelation of the Qu'ran)?

Yes. Muhammad was (believed) a descendent of Ishmael, Father Abraham's first born son. Muslims value the lineage of prophets like Moses, Noah, Abraham and Jesus. The caveat with the OT for Islam is that they believe the Jews tainted the Torah (First 5 books containing the Law) and the Christians tainted the NT or Gospels. The Quran, on the other hand, is 100% pure unedited text straight from Allah (God).

3. Does Islam teach of a Heaven and/or a Hell and how one is assigned to either of those places?

Yes, both. They believe in a total resurrection of the dead for Judgment and disposition of souls after this life. God will judge based on deeds (not believe in Jesus or Muhammad BTW). If there is no life after death, then what is the point of believe in any god?

4. How is Jesus viewd? Is he a prophet but not the son of God? Is he a heretic? An infidel?

Jesus is revered as a great prophet. From the Muslim viewpoint, Jesus never claimed to be God. His mission was one of peace and to teach about God and his kingdom. They believe his followers, Christians, completely mischaracterized his life and mission on earth. They believe Jesus, like Muhammad, and every other man or prophet, was created by God. God (Allah) is the one and only God and there is no other equal or like him. He created man, Jesus, Muhammad, Satan, etc.. for a purpose. While Jesus is a blessed prophet, it is Muhammad who is the last earthly prophet of God (The seal of prophets). Perhaps when Christianity took off in the wrong direction (to them) God decided to send Muhammad, his last messenger. The Quran, therefore, is the last and only true text revealing God's plan for humanity. IOW, the Bible was tainted by Human inventions, but the Quran was preserved by God in its entirety.So, Jesus was certainly no heretic or Infidel... it was his followers that turned him into something he never claimed to be when they wrote the greek NT. Him claiming he was God encarnate was a silly notion to Islam. But they believe it was the writers who claimed this, not Jesus himself.

5. I came across a topic that said something about Muslims should not speak truth of their beliefs or intentions to non-Muslims. Is there truth to that or can I get a clarification?

Muhammad taught that Muslims must consider other muslims brothers. But I don't know about trying to keep non-muslims out of the loop with God. It really doesn't make sense, especially if God sent Muhammad to show mankind his grace. It seems they would try and gather converts... but I could be mistaken.

 

[Gold Dragon]

If you are interested about how modern muslims practice Islam, this site has been helpful to me in the past.

Islam Q & A

Thousands of questions from muslims and non-muslims answered by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid, an Islamic lecturer and author.

 

[Saints-Man]

Jayrock's answers are consistent with the book I read.

Good job, Jayrock.

 

[Statorama]

Lots of good info in here

 

[jamny]

bump....and Saints-Man ... :( I remember making that avatar for him...he loved it!

 

[Greggity]

1. Where does the Hadith fit into this?

Dunno.

2. Is the Old testament considered valuable by Muslims (based on the knowledge of Judaism that the prophet was exposed to prior to the revelation of the Qu'ran)?

Yes. Muslims claim to practice the "true" religion of Abraham. The bottom line is that Jews, Christians and Muslims all worship the same god, although obviously they understand his nature differently.

3. Does Islam teach of a Heaven and/or a Hell and how one is assigned to either of those places?

Yes. You get to heaven by doing good deeds, and you go to hell for doing bad deeds. There is a very heavy strain of predestination in Islam, much moreso than in Christianity.

4. How is Jesus viewd? Is he a prophet but not the son of God? Is he a heretic? An infidel?

Jesus is considered one of the greatest prophets. They consider him a Muslim. They do not consider him to be the son of God, because that would be polytheism in their view, which is basically the single worst thing there is according to Islam.

5. I came across a topic that said something about Muslims should not speak truth of their beliefs or intentions to non-Muslims. Is there truth to that or can I get a clarification?

There is apparently some sanction for that in the life of Muhammed. I don't remember any specifics, but yes this is true at least to some extent.

Thanks, and please let's not turn this into a running fight between religions - but instead lets use this as an opportunity for learning and not judgement.

Good luck with that.

Correct me if i am wrong but isnt the end times night and day for Christians as it is for Muslims? I believe the anti-christ in the bible is their savior. I believe Jesus is suppose to come back as the false prophet and pretty much trick Christians into converting saying "you guys had it wrong" or something to that effect? Not sure where i read that?

 

[cstu]

Some questions -1. Where does the Hadith fit into this?

The Hadith are things said by Muhammad or to him that he agreed or disagreed with that were passed on orally after his death and later written down. Unlike the Koran these are not actually the word of God (some are considered so but that is debated).

Many parts of the Hadith contradict the Koran and some scholars claim that the Hadiths are fabrications and shouldn't be followed at all.

IMO the use of the Hadith is the biggest problem with Islam since many things contradict the Koran and allow extremists to convince people to follow ideas that are not in the Koran.

 

[StrikeS2k]

Religion of peace.....

 

[cstu]

More on the Hadith:

Muslims must remember that the Quran is the only Book that was revealed to the Prophet by Allah. No other document can be used to supplement or add to the Quran. This is what the Quran says about using other sources to add to the Quran. Muslims must follow the Quran. No other document should be used to add or distort the teachings shown in the Quran.
Chapter (45) sūrat l-jāthiyah (Crouching)

Sahih International: These are the verses of Allah which We recite to you in truth. Then in what statement after Allah and His verses will they believe?(Quran 45:6)
In main stream Islam of all sects, the Hadith is considered second in authority only to the Qur'an. The Hadith have been used by some Muslims to cause misery and conflict for centuries within the Muslim world. Many Muslims leaders use it to force an extremist medieval form of Islam upon their subjects both Muslim and non Muslim. It is claimed to be a record of the Prophet Mohammed's (pbuh) life, actions, and deeds. A saying in the Hadith is called a sunnah. These sunnah were transmitted by word of mouth down through the centuries having been memorised first by prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) companions and then later by subsequent Muslims. Therefore, the hadith is the written record of the oral traditions passed down from Muslim to Muslim of what the prophet Mohammed (pbuh) was supposed to have said and done.

The Hadith are split into two categories, "Hadith Qudsi (sacred hadith) in which Allah (God) himself is speaking in, as it were, a complementary revelation through the prophet, and Hadith Sharif (noble hadith), the prophet's own acts and utterances."

There are more than 50 recognized Hadith books containing 1000 of Hadith.

IMAMS OF SUNNI HADITH:
• Imam Muhammad Ismail Bukhari 256 AH (870CE)
• Imam Muslim Bin Hajjaj Al-Qasheeri 261 AH (875 CE)
• Abu Abdullah Ibn Yazeed Ibn Majah 273 AH (886 CE)
• Suleman Abu Dawood 275 AH (888 CE)
• Imam Abu Musa Tirmizi 279 AH (883 CE)
• Imam Abdur Rahman Nisai 303 AH (915 CE)

The most famous and universally accepted among the six main Sunni collections of Hadith are those of Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

IMAMS OF SHI'A HADITH:
• Sheikh Muhammad Bin Yaqoob Bin Ishaq Al-Kaleeni 329 AH (941 CE)
• Sheikh Saddooq Abu Ja'far bin Ali Tabrasi 381 AH (993 CE)
• Sheikh Abu Ja'far Muhammad Ibn-e-Hasan Toosi 460 AH (1071 CE)

IMAMS OF FIQH (JURISTS - AH YEAR OF DEATH):
• Imam Malik Bin Anas 179 AH (795 CE)
• Imam Abu Hanifa 150 AH ( 767 CE)
• Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal 241 AH (855 CE)
• Imam Shafi'i 204 AH (819 CE)

As you can see Imam Muhammad Ismail Bukhari 256 AH (870CE) was the first to collect the Hadith. It is said that he collected over 600,000 and found most to be false. From this 600,000 he selected around 7,300 to be valid and included them in his works.

Many Muslims these days spend more time studying the Hadith than they do praying or studying the Quran! If we look at the Muslim world today we are a divided Umma bickering over small details in this Hadith or that. What one Muslim takes as a true Hadith another Muslim rejects as week or false.

Many Muslims say the Quran is not clear on many things and needs further clarification so turn to there Imams who turn to the Hadith. The Quran is very clear on these matters.

 

[Christo]

They don't like snowmen.

 

[Jim11]

Religion, the opiate of the masses.

http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/

Islam's Latest Contributions to Peace "Mohammed is God's apostle. Those who follow him are harsh
to the unbelievers but merciful to one another" Quran 48:29

2015.01.11 (Potiskum, Nigeria) - Six others are killed when two female suicide bombers detonate in succession at a popular market. 2015.01.10 (Sheikh Zuweid, Egypt) - Two people are beheaded by Islamic extremists. 2015.01.10 (Tripoli, Lebanon) - Two calipahte suicide bombers at a Shiite cafe blows eight patrons to bits. 2015.01.09 (Rawalpindi, Pakistan) - Eight worshippers are blown to bits by a suicide bomber at a Shia mosque. 2015.01.09 (Paris, France) - Four hostages are taken and killed by an Islamic gunman at a Jewish grocery. 2015.01.08 (Baghdad, Iraq) - A Sunni suicide bomber wades into a Shiite mosque and slaughters at least eight worshippers.