This is not intended to be an official publication but excerpts from "Our Neighbors Faith" booklet from Augsburg Fortress Publishing house and thoughts from Pr. Doug Givan.
Our Neighbors Faith by Pr. Doug Givan
St. Andrew's and Faith Lutheran, Summer 2023
*The info here comes from “Our Neighbors Faith” by Augsburg Fortress and is not meant to be an authoritative report of any religious tradition.
ISLAM: *It is estimated that more than 1/5 of the world’s population follow Islam and over 40 countries around the world have Muslim populations. This is a word that means “Peace” or “submission” in Arabic. One who practices Islam is called a Muslim.
*Islam based on teachings of Muhammad ibn Abdullah, who lived around 570-632. When he was around 40 years of age he received a revelation from Allah (means “the One, the Only’ and is one of many names of God).
*These revelations were eventually compiled in a book called Qur’an (Koran) and these serve as a guide to the lifestyle of a Muslim. They are to hold to the 5 Pillars of Islam:
1) Faith-recite the creed “There is none worthy of worship except God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God.”
2) Prayer-performing ritual prayers at sunrise, noon, midafternoon, evening, and sunset.
3) Charity-Muslims expected to give 2.5% donation after taking care of necessities of life.
4) Fasting-between sunrise and sunset during Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar calendar. (Children, and those who are sick or pregnant are exempt.)
5) Pilgrimage-traveling to Mecca (Muhammad’s birth city in today’s Saudi Arabia) performing rituals seeking Allah’s forgiveness and mercy once in a lifetime.
*Islam believes Jesus was created, was Messiah of Israel, a prophet, not God, neither crucified nor resurrected and will return in the last days.
*Muslim men and women urged to dress modestly in garments that do not reveal their physical attributes. The woman covers her hair because it is the crown of her beauty and covering dignifies her, her husband, and her family decreasing the attention of men.
*Muslims are required to worship in person on Friday at noon in their Mosque (denotes their house of worship. In Arabic means “place of prostration” because during prayer Muslims briefly kneel and touch their foreheads to the ground as a sign of submission to the will of God.).
Unlike a church or synagogue, the Mosque has no pews or seats, no artwork just an open carpeted area. Any Muslim is free to stand in any place in the mosque, there is no set sacred space. Prayers services are led by an “Imam” (means “authority figure”) and a sermon is given on Friday’s. The Imam usually has some form of Islamic theological education. The Imam faces a mark or “niche” on their wall that marks the direction of Mecca for prayer.
*Muslims believe that life is just temporary and that if you do more good than bad deeds you will enjoy paradise, if the opposite you will suffer the wrath of hell!
*Lutherans compare with our Holy book, the Bible compared to their Koran. We have Ten Commandments or other teachings of Jesus to guide our lives. Muslims have the 5 Pillars of Faith. They believe in one God, we understand the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
For more information: Islam: A short story by Karen Armstrong (Modern Library 2002)
www.islamreligion.com A website for any faith tradition to learn about Islam/Muslims.
