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The Five Pillars of Islam

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

• 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. 

The Prophet

• 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.

Other Major Muslim Beliefs

• 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. 
• Jihad sometimes demands defense of Muslim territory and military aggression. 
• God will restore the world at the end of time through a coming human leader known as the Mahdi. 
• Muslim males can marry up to four wives. 

Muslim Groups

• Almost 90 percent of Muslims belong to the Sunni tradition. 
• Shi'ite Islam is popular in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and several Persian Gulf states. 
• Sufi Islam represents the mystical path. 
• The Islam practiced in most Muslim countries is heavily influenced by local folk customs.

Muslim Views of Jesus

• Jesus was a prophet of God but not the Son of God. He was a lesser prophet than Muhammad. 
• He was born of the virgin Mary. 
• He performed many miracles. 
• He was protected from a death of crucifixion. 
• He did not rise from the dead. 
• He ascended to heaven after his death, and he will return to earth. 
• He was a faithful Muslim, or follower of Allah. 

By James A. Beverley

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