Islam is a monotheistic religion. Belief in Allah is central. There are several main movements within the religion, namely the Sunna and the Shia (Sunnis and Shiites). Important sources are the Quran and the hadith, which contain stories about the prophet Mohammed. An important concept for Muslims is the ,five pillars,.
Meaning Islam
Islam means surrender to Allah, the All-Merciful. The letters slm also form the word salam, which means peace. It’s about finding peace in surrendering to (the will of) God. People who follow this path are called Muslims. Islam sees itself as a return to the original true religion, which has been distorted time and again.
Origin
Muhammad was born in Mecca around 570. He received a prophetic calling from Allah. It’s mainly about three things.
- Belief in one god and rejection of all kinds of other gods and goddesses.
- Call to righteousness and duties towards God and fellow human beings.
- The final judgment.
Main currents
Disputes over the successor to Muhammad after his death have led to the emergence of two main movements in Islam:
- The sunnah (= example of the prophet): those who, according to Arabic tradition, appoint the successors in democratic consultation between the tribal representatives.
- The Shi’a (= party): the legitimists who were against the principle of elections, because they regarded succession as divine right. Nowadays we mainly find the Shiites in Iran and southern Iraq
There is conflict between these movements.
The sources: Quran and hadith
Two sources play a major role in the lives of Muslims: the Quran and the Kadith. Sharia, the theory of behavior, is based on these two sources in particular.
Quran
Quran is the central holy book. The original spelling, Quran, means recitation. The Quran consists of 114 suras (chapters) of varying sizes. In Islam the Word of God has become a book. The Quran takes the place that Jesus occupies in Christianity. In the Quran you will find many references to texts and stories from the Bible.
Hadith
Hadiths are stories about the words and actions of Muhammad and sometimes other prophets that are not included in the Quran. The hadiths and the Quran form the basis for the Sharia.
Foundations of Islam: The Five Pillars
The religious life of Muslims is largely shaped by the five pillars: confession of faith, ritual prayer, material assistance, fasting and pilgrimage.
Confession of faith – shahada
The shahada states: There is no god but Allah (God) and Muhammad is His servant and messenger. Anyone who makes this declaration of faith joins the Ummah, the Muslim community. Great reverence is very important. Criticism of Mohammed is not tolerated.
The ritual prayer – salat
From puberty onwards, every Muslim must perform the ritual prayer five times a day at set times, in the direction of Mecca. On Friday afternoon, Muslims prefer to go to the mosque to pray together. Women are not required to go to the mosque, although there is a separate prayer room for women. They may also pray in the house. The salat is a ritual prayer. In addition, Muslims have other ritual prayers.
Poor relief – zakat
Zakat means purification. The Muslim must give money to the poor, to be precise 2.5% of their income. On the Day of Judgment, the Muslim must be accountable for performing Salat and Zakat.
Lent – saum
Muslims must fast in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is mainly about inner purification before God and solidarity with fellow human beings, especially the poor and guests. Ramadan is the month of fasting, because it was in that month that Mohammed first received revelation from God. Fasting is mandatory from puberty. After the month of fasting, Eid-al-Fitr follows, a festive celebration in which all kinds of sweets are consumed.
The pilgrimage – hajj
Every Muslim is expected to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his or her life. Two parts play a major role, namely the stay on the plain of Arafat (where Mohammed delivered his farewell sermon) and walking around the Kaaba seven times counterclockwise. The sacrificial feast takes place on the tenth day. The pilgrimage ends with a visit to the mosque and the tomb of the Prophet in Medina. Those who complete the pilgrimage are called hajji.
Shari’ah – the legal system
The Sharia is the legal system. Religion and politics belong together, according to Muslims. The Sharia is sacred. Good and evil are also determined by the concepts of halal (permissible) and haram (forbidden). In addition, clean and unclean play an important role.
Jihad
Jihad has four meanings. It is effort and zeal for the cause of God, jihad as a fight against all evil tendencies and aspirations that arise in your own heart, the military significance and all fight against unbelievers. The final battle is being waged by Muslim fundamentalists.