What you need to know about Islam.

Today I am starting a look at Islam. There are many things we as followers of Jesus and non-followers need to be aware of about Islam and what the Quran teaches. I do not claim to be an expert on Islam but will try to give you the very basics.

Most of my information comes from a book written by Mark A. Gabriel, which is a name he took after converting to Christianity. Mustafa was his first name. He was a conservative Muslim in Egypt and had memorized the Quran by age 12. He went on to earn a doctorate degree from Al-Azhar University and was given a teaching position. Al-Ahar University is the oldest, and most prestigious university in the world on Islam. Mark got his degree in history and culture so he knows what he is talking about. If you want to go deeper on Islam I highly encourage you to purchase and read his book called Islam and Terrorism. 

Let’s start out today with a few terms we need to get a good grasp on:

1. Islam-the religion of the Muslims, a monotheistic faith regarded as revealed through Muhammad as the Prophet of Allah.

2. Muslim-a follower of the religion of Islam.

3.Quran-the Islamic sacred book, believed to be the word of God as dictated to Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel and written down in Arabic. The Koran consists of 114 units of varying lengths, known as suras ; the first sura is said as part of the ritual prayer. These touch upon all aspects of human existence, including matters of doctrine, social organization, and legislation.

4.Muhammad-Arab prophet and founder of Islam. Muslims regard him as God's messenger through whom the Koran was revealed. Muhammad established a theocratic state at Medina after 622 and began to convert Arabia to Islam.

5. Allah-(Islam) Islam the Muslim name for God; the one Supreme Being

Tomorrow we will look at the cultural background of where Muhammad came from as it helps us get a mindset of how the culture influenced his thought process.

Tom