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Part two of four: Islam's teachings and practices
Editor's Note: Dr. Davis has had extensive contact with the Arab world and Islam through his participation in 10 archaeological expeditions to the Middle East. He is the author of 17 books and is professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake. He also writes the weekly column, "Outdoor Scene," for the Times-Union.
With the widely publicized declarations of Muslim extremists calling for holy war (Jihad) against the United States and the Western world, many are wondering just what kind of religion Islam really is.
Remember that it was in the name of Allah, the God of Islam, that terrorists crashed domestic airliners into the Trade Towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
The result of this momentous catastrophe in the name of religion has left many Americans wondering just what Islam teaches, and to what extent its more than one billion followers practice this kind of theology.
The authority for the Islamic faith resides in four bodies of literature. The most important of these is the Quran, which is believed by them to have been revealed to Mohammad beginning in A.D. 610 while meditating in a cave outside Mecca. The total time of revelation is regarded as 23 years and it all came in the Arabic language. This book is understood to be the earthly version of that which exists in heaven and, therefore, is referred to as un-al-kitab (Mother of all books).
The Quran is divided into 114 chapters (suras) and each chapter contains verses known as ayat. Only the Arabic version is regarded as the authoritative word of God by all schools of Islamic thought, and this text contains no variants.
Muslim children are encouraged to memorize the Quran in Arabic, even if this is not the language of their country. It is clear that Muhammad was deeply influenced by biblical history and theology.
There are in the Quran many references to biblical personalities and events, but often with a different twist.
Additional Law
When certain issues are left undisclosed in the Quran, the Muslims have the sunnah and hadiths for final authority in their spiritual and social life. The practices and traditions of Islam (sunnah) are records of his actual life and his sayings (hadiths). These were collected and recorded in the early years of Islam.
Also important to the life of the Muslim is a body of religious law called al-Shari'ah, which is written in Arabic. This collection of laws helps the Muslim apply the various principles of the Quran.
Between A.D. 750 and A.D. 850 four schools of interpretation of the Shari'ah developed. These are not distinctively different schools of theology, but they represent different ways of defining morals and practices.
Mystical traditions in Islam have been preserved in Sufi texts. In an attempt to discover spiritual realities behind the various laws and traditions, Islamic mystics called Sufis appeared in the eighth century and their teachings continue to be a force in parts of Islam today.
So what do Muslims really believe? Central to their faith is the belief in only one God, who in Arabic is known as Allah. Muhammad's notion of monotheism was rooted in ideas which were taught by Judaism, Christianity and some Arabic sects.
While the monotheism of the Muslims has historical roots that are related to Christianity, their definition of God in many important aspects is quite different. For example, the God of Christians is one, but exists in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The tri-unity of God is totally foreign to Islamic thought.
The Muslim view of God is focused on His transcendence and absolute power. All theists attribute to God both transcendence ( He is above the universe and not limited by it) and imminence (He is present in the world).
The Muslim faith is deeply rooted in what is commonly called theological determinism (taqdeer). In other words, God is the absolute ruler of the universe and He determines all that is to happen. The Qur'an and the Hadith are clear that nothing can happen in the world without the will of God. For most Muslims, this means that everything is predetermined and man is essentially helpless.
For some in Muslim societies, this can lead to apathy and less than a strong commitment to succeed in business or other enterprises.
But many Muslim clerics, like Christian theologians, struggle with the issue of divine will and human responsibility. The question simply is, "How can God judge an individual for an act he or she could not resist doing?" Angels and Prophets
Islam believes in the existence of angels and the ministry of prophets. The Quran regarded Jesus as a prophet. Even though he was born of a virgin (3:45-47), did many miracles (3:49) and ascended to heaven (4:158), He was not God (5:117).
Muslims believe in a general judgment of both the living and the dead when they will appear before God and be confronted with the deeds done in life. The day when this will occur is unknown.
Each individual will receive a book which records all their deeds. Those who have lived wickedly will receive their book in the left hand (the unclean hand), while those who are righteous will hold their books in their right hands.
Only those who have lived by total submission to Allah's will can expect to survive the judgment. Heaven is seen as the reward for piety and hell as final punishment for the wicked.
Islam has at its core of belief and behavior five pillars: faith, prayer, care for the needy, self-purification and the pilgrimage to Mecca.
The faith of the Muslim is centered in the word "shahada," which carries the idea of a confession. At the heart of this is the declaration, "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His prophet."
Prayer (salat) is one of the most visible and well-known rituals in Islam. Each Muslim is required to pray five times each day: at sunrise, at noon, in mid-afternoon, at sunset and one hour after sunset. Worshippers can pray anywhere, but when possible, the mosque is preferred.
These five prayers contain verses from the Quran and they are spoken in Arabic. Provision is made for personal supplication, however, that can be made in one's own language.
Care for the needy (zakat) or almsgiving is based on the principle that all things belong to God, and that wealth is, therefore, held by human beings in trust. The word zakat means both "purification" and "growth." One's possessions are purified by setting aside a portion for those in need, and like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth.
The fast (sawm) relates to the month of Ramadan, when all Muslims abstain from food, drink and sexual relations from first light until sundown. This month commemorates the month in which Muhammad received his first revelations. Daylight is defined as that time when a white thread can be distinguished from a black one.
Those who are sick, elderly or on a journey, and women who are pregnant or nursing, are permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number of days later in the year.
The final pillar, the Pilgrimage or hajj, is the journey to Mecca that is the obligation of every Muslim who is physically and financially able to go. It is expected that each Muslim will visit Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime. Mecca is the principal holy city of Islam. Medina, where Muhammad is buried, is second, and Jerusalem, where he ascended to heaven, is third.
Ethical Norms
Muslim ethical norms fall into three categories: (1) fard - actions that are firm obligations such as obedience to the five pillars of the faith; (2) haram - practices that are expressly prohibited, such as idolatry; and (3) halal - actions that are permissible.
Both men and women are to dress modestly, but no specific guidelines are given to guide in the selection of special clothes. Most Muslim tradition in this area is strongly influenced by Arab Middle Eastern cultures.
While some Islamic states require a woman to be partially shrouded (allowing only the eyes to be seen) or completely covered, the Quran does not specify such dress. Women are admonished in the Quran to dress in public in such a way that she does not draw attention to her physical beauty (24:31).
Drinking wine and eating pork are both forbidden in Islam. The Quran allows men to have up to four wives, but this is rarely practiced in most countries because of the high cost of dowries that are required for each wife.
Divorce is allowed in Islam (2:228-242; 115:1-7) and according to the al-shari'ah, or religious law, a marriage is dissolved when the husband says, "I divorce you" three times in public. These statements cannot be made at one time, however. The final recitation must wait for a period of three months.
The big question on the minds of Americans these days, however, is, "What does Islam teach about war, terrorism and suicide?" Tomorrow we will look into these and other issues.
