Christians & Muslims Issue 74 | 2002 Click here to order the downloadable audio version

ARTICLE TOOLS

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1. Shahadah: Confession of faith. "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger."

2. Salat: Prayer. All Muslims are to pray five times every day, facing Mecca.

3. Zakat: Tithing. Muslims must give at least 2.5 percent of their total wealth to the poor and needy.

4. Sawm: Fasting. During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims are to refrain from food, water, and sex from sunrise to sunset.

5. Hajj: Pilgrimage. If at all possible, at least once in a lifetime Muslims are to travel to Mecca to engage in rituals of prayer and worship at the central shrine in Islam's holiest city.

• The Qur'an, in Arabic, is the perfect Word of Allah.
  
• The Qur'an contains 114 chapters, or suras.
  
• Muslims believe that the Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel.
  
• The Qur'anic material was composed from 610 through Muhammad's death in 632.
  
• The final compilation was completed about 650.
  

• Most Muslims believe that Muhammad was sinless, but not divine.
  
• Most Muslims believe that the prophet was illiterate.
  
• The prophetic status of Muhammad is not to be questioned.
  
• Muhammad provides the greatest example for all aspects of life.
  
• The traditions about the prophet are known as hadith.
  
• Allah gave the prophet permission to have 12 wives.

• Islam started with Adam, not with Muhammad.
  
• People are saved by the will of God through obedience to God's law, Shari'ah.
  
• Though humans are imperfect, they are not fallen through original sin.
  
• Those chosen by God for salvation will enter paradise. Only God knows whom he has chosen.
  
• The damned will burn in eternal torment in Hell.
  
• All countries and peoples should follow Islam and Islamic law.
• Muslims are to engage in jihad, which usually means private spiritual struggle.