For the 5 Days of Ramadan: Day 1 an Introduction to Islam and It’s Beliefs

During the weeks of Ramadan, I always like to take the time to call Christians to pray for their Muslim neighbors and the Islamic dominated part of the world.

Introduction: Islam is the second-largest religion in the world, with over 1.8 billion followers. While there are similarities between Islam and Christianity, the theological differences are significant. In this series, we will explore the key doctrines of Islam, its practices, and how a Protestant Christian might understand or approach them.

The worldview of Islam is founded upon 5 non negotiable pillars

The Five Pillars of Islam:

• Shahada: The declaration of faith – “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His prophet.”

• Salat: The five daily prayers performed by Muslims.

• Zakat: The giving of charity to help the poor.

• Sawm: The fasting during the month of Ramadan.

• Hajj: The pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim is required to make once in their lifetime if they are able.

These are the core beliefs held by every Muslim

• Monotheism (Tawhid): Islam emphasizes strict monotheism, similar to Protestant beliefs in one God.

• Prophethood: Muslims believe in many prophets, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus (Isa in Arabic). However, Muhammad is considered the final prophet.

• The Qur’an: Muslims believe the Qur’an to be the literal word of God, revealed to Muhammad by the angel Jibril (Gabriel). This is similar to the Christian belief in the Bible as the authoritative word of God, although there are significant differences in how both scriptures are viewed.

How ought we to think of Islam as Christians?

For Protestants, understanding the centrality of the Qur’an in Islam is crucial. While both Christians and Muslims believe in one God, the concept of God’s revelation is where the two faiths diverge. Protestant Christians believe the Bible is divinely inspired and authoritative, whereas Muslims hold that the Qur’an supersedes all previous scriptures.

As Christians we ought to pray for our Muslim neighbors and family members. They are not beyond redemption, know the same Old Testament, an can be evangelized by the life and example of the Partriach Abraham.

Follow me every day this week as I post short articles intended to provoke you to love and good deeds toward Muslims during the days of Ramadan.