9 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ISLAM

By: American Decency Staff

 Throughout the world, Muslims are observing their annual observance of Ramadan. Christians need to become more aware of Ramadan as well as the other practices and tenets of this fast-growing global religion. As an aid in that effort, here are nine things you should know about Islam.

1. Islam in Arabic is a verbal noun, meaning self-surrender to Allah (literally: "the god) as revealed through the "message and life of his prophet Mohammed." In the religious sense, Muslim means "anyone or anything that surrenders itself to the true will of God."

2. The Quran (literally meaning "the recitation") is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims believe to be the unedited revelation from Allah verbally revealed through the angel Gabriel to Muhammad while he was in a trance-like state. This "revelation" occurred gradually over a period of approximately 23 years concluding in the year of Mohammed’s death. A number of his companions who knew the Quran by heart decided to collect the book in one volume so that it could be preserved. Quranic chapters are called suras and verses are called ayahs.

 

3. For a believing Muslim, the Quran occupies the position Christ has for Christians. A Muslim should not handle the text unless they are in a state of ritual purity. Readings are preceded by the phrase "I take refuge with God from Satan, the accursed one," and followed by "God almighty has spoken truly." Certain verses are even credited with curative powers (the first sura is claimed to be good for scorpion bites).

Read More: http://thegospelcoalition.org/article/9-things-you-should-know-about-islam

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