SelectSmart.com's ISLAM description for SELECTSMART'S SPIRITUAL BELIEF SYSTEMS SELECTOR - a comparative WORLD RELIGIONS quiz. Explore your spiritual path.
This description is generally aligned with the topics addressed in SelectSmart.com's entertaining yet educational Spiritual Belief Systems selector quiz, comparing more than two dozen world religions/belief systems.
ISLAM
by SelectSmart.com Staff
Belief in Deities: There exists only one personal God Almighty - Creator, all-powerful, ever-present, and all knowing -- formless, incorporeal spirit.
Incarnations: None, as only God is worshipped. Muhammad is revered as the last and greatest of about 124 Prophets/Messengers. Jesus Christ was a Prophet/Messenger of miraculous birth who performed miracles, ascended to heaven before crucifixion, and will return as a Muslim -- but he was not an incarnation of God.
Origin of the universe/life: God created the heavens and earth in six days but the Qur’an refers to a “day” as equal to thousands or tens of thousands (or any large number) of years. In the West, some Muslims allow for the belief in evolution but only as controlled by God.
After death: Saved souls will experience the bliss of heaven and unsaved souls the torture of hell. On Judgment Day, God will resurrect the dead, unite body and soul, and judge all for eternity in heaven or hell. There are 7 layers of heaven.
Why evil? People are not inherently sinners but are, by God’s design, free to choose right or wrong, including belief or non-belief in God. Satan and his spirits inhabit the planet and rule the non-believers while Satan cannot touch believers.
Salvation: Obey God’s law and Muhammad’s doctrine. The path to heaven includes confessing faith in one God, Allah, and that Muhammad is His Messenger; recitation of five prayers daily; giving alms; fasting throughout Ramadaan, pilgrimage to Mecca. Confessing and repenting one’s sins is between the person and God, made only to Allah and for Allah. Strict obedience to God's laws (conveyed in the Qur’an) and His prophet's doctrine is required.
Undeserved suffering: Suffering is desired by Allah to erase one's sins. Some suffering is
Satan's doing or is the work of his spirit world cohorts ("Jinn"), and is
allowed by Allah as a test of humility and faith; suffering/adversity
strengthen one's faith, as pain often leads to repentance and prayer.
Issues: Abortion is prohibited. Homosexual behavior is condemned. Gender roles are prescribed. Marriage is a sacred contract (but not regarded as a sacrament), and although divorce is permitted, strong reconciliation attempts and measures are expected to be taken first, per the Qur'an, and there are some waiting periods and restrictions on multiple remarriage to the same woman. Remarriage is not prohibited...
RECOMMENDED LINKS:
Books on Religion & Spirituality from Amazon.com
Recommended Website:
Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Recommended Website:
ReligionFacts.com
