9. Islam

Founded: Islam began 1,400 years ago in Arabia.

Founder: Prophet Mohammed.

Major Scriptures: The Holy Koran.

Adherents: Over 1 billion, mostly in Arabia, India, Pakistan, Africa, China, Indonesia and Russia.

Sects: There are two main divisions within Islam. The Sunnis are followers of the political successors of Prophet Mohammed. The Shiites are followers of Prophet Mohammed's family successors, all martyred at an early age.

Islam means "submission," surrender to the Will of God, called Allah. Those who submit are called Moslems. Islam is based upon five "pillars" or principles of faith to which every Moslem in the world adheres.

These are:

1. Faith in Allah: There is no God but Allah; Mohammed is His Prophet.

2. Praying five times daily.: kneeling in the direction of Mecca, the holy city.

3. Giving of alms.: A share of each Moslem's income is given to support the mosque and the poor.

4. Fasting.: Throughout Ramadan, the nineth month of the moslem calendar, the faithful fast from sunrise to sunset.

5. Pilgrimage.: the binding force of the peoples who have embraced Islam. At least once in life time every believer must go to Mecc, the holy city. They go dressed in simple seamless white garments.

Islam teaches absolute monotheism and Mohammed's primacy as the last Prophet. Stress is on the brotherhood of believers, non-difference of religious and secular life, obedience to God's Law, abstinence from alcohol, good conduct and the limitation of all except Allah. Today, Islam is the world's fastest growing religion.

Islamic Beliefs:

1.I believe that Allah is the Supreme Creator and Sustainer, all-knowing and transcendent and yet the arbiter of good and evil, the final judge of men.

2. I believe in the Five pillars of Faith: i. praying five times daily; ii. charity through alms giving; iii. fasting during the nineth month; iv. pilgrimage to Holy Mecca; & v. profession of faith by acknowledging "There is no God but Allah, Mohammed is His Prophet."

3. I believe in the Koran as the word of God and sacred scripture mediated through the Angel Gabriel to Mohammed.

4. I believe in the direct communion of each man with God, that all are equal in the eyes of God and therefore priests or other intercessors are unneeded.

5. I believe in the pure transcendence of God, great beyond imagining -- no form or idol can be worshipped in His Name.

6. I believe that the soul of man is immortal, embodied once on earth then entering Heaven or Hell upon death according to its conduct on earth.

7. I believe in the Last Judgement and that man should stand in humble awe and fear of God's wrathful and vengeful power.

8. I believe that truthfulness should be observed in all circumstances, even though it may bring injury or pain.

9. I believe that salvation is only obtained through God's Grace and not through man's efforts, yet he should do good and avoid all sins, especially drunkenness, usury and gambling.

The Goals of Islam:

The primary goal of Islam is to enjoy eternal life, both physical and spiritual, in Heaven with Allah. Heaven is a paradise in which all the joys and pleasures abound, in which one lives amid beautiful gardens and fountains, enjoying the choicest foods served by sweet maidens. Man is the noblest creation of God, ranking above the angels.

Paths of attainment:

Total submission to Allah is the single path to salvation, and even that is no guarentee, for Allah may desire even a faithful soul to experience misery. The good Moslem surrenders all pride, the chief among sins, and follows explicitly the will of Allah as revealed in the Koran by His last and greatest prophet, Mohammed. This and this alone brings a full and meaningful life and avoids the terrors of the hell which sinners and infidels. He believes in the five doctrines and observes the five pillars. The virtues of truthfullness, temperance and humility before God are foremost for Islam, and the practices of fasting, pilgrimage, prayer and charity to the Moslem community are most necessary to please Allah.