What do Muslims Believe:

Do you know any Muslims? Have you seen a Muslim in America? Have you ever been watching the news and heard the news reporters talk about Muslims around the world and wonder what they believe? Did you know that 23% of the population claim to be Muslim and there are 2.6 millions Muslims in America? Christians are called to take the good news of Jesus Christ to everyone which includes Muslims. We are called to share the Gospel and pray for Muslims; to do this effectively we need to have a working knowledge of what Muslims believe. In this post I will attempt to walk you through the 5 pillars or the basic beliefs of Islam. Every Muslim varies in how they live out their faith; therefore, never hesitate to talk with your Muslim friends about their religion.

There are five things that a Muslim must do. Muslims call these duties the five pillars of Islam. A pillar is a strong pole or piece of wall which supports a house. A Muslim must do these five things in order to be a strong Muslim. If he stops doing them, he becomes weak in his religion.

Five pillars of Islam:*

1. Shahada: Say the Creed
2. Salat: Pray
3. Zakak: Give alms
4. Saum: Fast
5. Hajj: Do the pilgrimmage

Shahada: Say the Creed

The first religious duty is: Say the creed. The creed is called the shahada in Arabic. Muslims say this creed in Arabic. Here are the words in English. There is no god but God, and Muhammad is his messenger. There are many times Muslims say this creed. They say it quietly in the ear of a new baby. They say it near death. They say it at every prayer time. The Qu'ran says that the greatest sin a person can do is to say that there is more than one God (Qur'ran 4:48).

Salat: Pray

The second religious duty is: pray. I am sure you know Muslims pray. The Arabic word for these prayers is salat. Muslims always wash certain parts of their bodies before they pray. The house of worship for Muslims is called a mosque. At the entrance of the mosque there are often taps or drums of water. Muslims wash their face, hands, head, and feet before going into the Mosque. Muslims wash first to clean themselves so God will hear their prayers. Muslims bend their bodies when they pray to show respect, obedience, and submission to God. Muslims first stand to praise God. Then they bend with their hands on their knees. Then they bend all the way down so the forehead touches the ground. In this way their whole body is in submission to God. Finally they sit with their hands on legs and eyes down. Again they praise God and ask for his blessing. 

In the salat there are two kinds of words: 1) Praise to God. 2) Asking for God's blessing. The first words Muslims say when they stand are "Allah Akbar". These words mean, "God is greater." They say these words many times in prayer. The second words are asking for mercy for themselves and Muhammad's family. While Muslims stand they also repeat the first chapter of the Qur'an. This is called the Fatihah. Here are the first four lines: Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds, The Kind, the Merciful, Owner of the day of judgment. We worship only you. We ask only you for help. When a Muslim finishes the Arabic words, he can speak to God in his own language. He can bring his own needs to God. This time of personal prayer is called du'a in Arabic. 

After the salat, some Muslims sit with a string of 99 beads. These beads help them remember the 99 names of God. Many Muslims think that if they repeat these names they will get special help from God. One name is Ar-rahim, or the Merciful. If someone repeats this name 100 times after each morning prayer, everyone will be friendly to him. Another name is Al-haqq, the Truth. Someone who repeats this name will find what he is lost. Not all Muslims use the names of God in this way. Different Muslims have different beliefs. Please take the time to talk with your Muslims friends about what they believe.

Zakat: Give alms to the poor

The third religious duty is give alms. To give alms is to give gifts to the poor. One kind of Muslim giving is the zakat. In Muslim law, Muslims should pay the zakat once a year. The amount depends on how rich a Muslim is. He must give one-tenth of his harvest and one-fortieth of his money and goods. The purpose of the alms is to collect from the rich and help the poor. The Qur'an tells who should receive the money. First, the alms are for the poor. Teachers of the Qur'an get some of it. Some of the zakat goes to those who collect it. Some goes to those in trouble because they have just become Muslims. Some of the money can be used to spread Islam. So it can be used to build mosques, fight holy wars, or start schools. The Qur'an says Muslims receive special rewards if they give for God's work. The man who give is like a person who plants one grain of corn. Each ear makes 100 grains (2:261). Also, giving alms cleanses a man from his sins (9:103). Alms which Muslims give once a year by law are called zakat.

There is another kind of alms called sadaqat. Muslims can give sadaqat at any time. They can give as much as they want. The Qur'an says that Muslims must give alms in the right way. They must do it with real kindness (2:264). They must give for God. They may tell someone what they have given. But if they do not tell and give to the really poor, that is better. God will reward them (2:227).

Saum: Fast

The fourth religious duty is to fast. Muslims can fast at almost any time. But there is a special month when all grown Muslims fast together. Muslim law says they must fast during this month. They must not eat or drink or sleep with their wives from sunrise to sunset. Muslims fast during this special month to learn self-control (2:183). There are times a man wants to eat or drink. But because he is fasting he controls himself and refuses. In Muslim belief, this helps a man be strong in keeping away from sin. If he controls himself and keeps away from food, he will learn to control himself and keep away from sin. Muslims believe that in the month of Ramadhan God revealed the Qur'an. Muslims spend much time repeating the Qur'an during this month. They believe that studying the Qur'an will help them keep away from evil. Muslims give other reasons for fasting also. The month for fasting unites all Muslims around the world. The rich and poor feel the same pain of hunger. While fasting, many Muslims repeat special prayers. God sent the Qur'an in one Night of Power. If a person repeats the Qur'an this night, God will forgive his sins.

Hajj: Make the pilgrimage

If a Muslim is healthy and has enough money, he must go to Mecca. Mecca is a very important place for Muslims. When they do their prayers, they must turn to Mecca. Muhammad started his preaching there. In Mecca Muslims visit the Kaaba. This is the most holy place for worship. Muslims believe that Adam and Eve first built the Kaaba. Later Abraham and his son repaired it. On one side of the Kaaba is the "Black Stone" which Muslims believe came down from God. They want to touch this stone to receive a special blessing from God. When Muslims visit the Kaaba, they all wear the same kind of simple white robes. They do this to show equality before God. Muslims go around the Kaaba seven times. They also visit a certain spring of water. They believe God made this for Hagar, wife of Abraham. They stand on Mount Arafat one whole afternoon. They pray and repeat verses from the Qur'an. They believe God will surely hear them at this holy time and place. At another place they throw stones at three pillars. They place this is where Satan tempted Abraham. Abraham drove Satan away with stones. If a Muslim makes the pilgrimage to Mecca his sins will be forgiven. Every Muslim desires to make the pilgrimage.

I have attempted to provide a brief overview of Islam. Please take time to befriend Muslims and talk with them about what they believe.

*Taking the Good News to Muslims pages 61-84