hapter three of Malise Ruthven’s book, Islam: A Very Short Introduction, is dedicated to the subject of divine unicity and the fact that, although it is a very important belief in Islam, the Muslim world is characterised by disunity. The word tawhid means unicity, and there is an “insistence that it is unicity above all that defines divinity,” which is not directly mentioned in the Quran, but is implied. The idea can be traced back to 657, when Mu‘āwiya’s soldiers placed pages of the Quran on their lances, symbolizing that they are also Muslims like ‘Alī’s supporters, calling upon this sacred unicity to reach arbitration. Throughout the history of Islam, similarly to Christianity, there have been countless breaks and divisions, ultimately leading …show more content…
Unicity exists in all three, but in Islam it is divine unicity; the idea that “there is is no god but God,” which conflicts with the present sectarianism (57). Sunni, Shī‛a, and other Islamic sects all believe in Allah as all Christians and Jews believe in God, however, division comes through interpretation, which varies from person to person and the acceptability of beliefs depended on the influence of their leaders. Each sect has different answers to particular questions, such as what qualifies a person to be Muslim, which groups like the Seceders believed that any serious sinners could no longer be Muslims but the Murjia believe “anyone making the profession of faith was a Muslim.” There is also the question of predestination and free will that coincides with whether or not the Quran was created. The Mu‛tazila believed in the Created Quran while the Ash‛aris believed in the Uncreated Quran, differing on the essence of God and his unicity, with that latter having a philosophy of acceptance without asking questions (66-67).
The Muslim world could be united should each sect accept their difference with respect and understanding that there still is only one God. Divine unicity would be better practiced as a force that brought Muslims together without generating conflict that is concerned with the finer political and theological distinctions.
Christianity has numerous sects; in comparison, Islam has only two major branches. The main sects of Islam are Sunni and Shi'a. The partition between these two sects is the disagreement over authority. For example Sunni believes authority is political. On the other hand, Shi'a believes authority is political and religion.
From this initial split other divisions and changes occurred within the religious practices and laws of Islam. While both share a belief in the Qur’an and the sunna (sayings or actions) of the Prophet Muhammad there are religious and legal differences. Imams are by the Shia definition the divinely guided ones but the Sunni defines Imaans as saints (Diffen n.d.). The Shia declared Ali and his descendants Imams with a special connection to the will of God with religious and legal authorities. The number of Imams and who were truly the divinely guided Imams would split Shias. There arose many branches but it came down to three main ones the Twelvers, the Seveners, and Zayids (Goldschmidt Jr. 2013). The Imams were mystical beings and the Twelvers believe that the 12th Imam disappeared and will one day return to set thing right for Muslims. Within the Sunni sect there are four branches of Islamic Law:
The Sunni Creed of Adud al-Din-Iji and the Zaydi creed of Imam al-Mutawakkil have some major fundamental differences, as you may expect since both come from opposite spectrums of Islam; but, after careful analysis, one may be surprised to find that both creeds hold a fair amount of similarities. In this essay, I plan to compare and contrast the Sunni creed and Zayid creed by showing you evidence of the significant similarities and differences in these two short texts. Even though one branch may have something that the other may not have, one can still see that both creeds of Islam provide the instructions and general beliefs of how a Muslim must act, how God is the most powerful. The biggest
As of today, the world’s two largest religions Christianity and Islam share an estimated 3.6 billion members, more than half of the world’s population. On the surface, they appear to have almost nothing in common, however, as one goes beyond the surface and examines the other factors such as the rituals, beliefs, ethics, founders, and convictions, the two religions share many similarities. However, in order to truly see and understand these similarities and differences, one must date back to the rise and birth of Christianity and Islam.
The message of peace is a fundamental universal concern which is relevant throughout our world today. Peace is not merely the ‘absence of war’, but a state of mind in which a sense of tranquillity comes from actively working towards right relationships with individuals and God. To understand the way in which Muslims and Christians view peace it is imperative to understand the source of the teachings for each religion. The principles teachings of peace for Both Christianity and Islam are primarily found in the sacred texts of both religious traditions. Christianity looks to the bible and specifically the New Testament for teachings about peace, whereas Islam focuses’ on the Qur’an and Hadith to guide their beliefs of peace. These sacred
We are surrounded by many religions and their way of thinking and teaching that contributes to bring peace to the world. Even though, meaning of Islam is total submission to G-d and to follow his will, Islam is divided into two groups, Shia, Sunni and their view of the religion Islam. The blood shadings between Shia and Sunni in the history of Islamic interfaith differences have affected future generations, since the death of Prophet Muhammad in A.D. 632, which have affected educational and social opportunity for future generations. So, dose believing in will of G-d bring peace or death, hate or hormone? What is the mission of Islamic groups who call themselves Sunnis and Shias, to bring peace to the world or work against the universal believes that everyone is created equal and must be treated like a human being.
Throughout the course of humanity’s history many questions have risen that have posed a problem to us as a species. Questions such as the following: What is the proper relationship between individuals and society? What is beauty, and why is it important? Is there purpose in human existence?, and many others have caused enough trouble in humanity’s short existence on the earth to cause a near identity crisis. However, all of these questions fall under the shadow of the main question that has been asked since the creation of Adam- “What exactly is the real relationship and purpose of humanity towards the divine?”
55). Not understanding this diversity could lead non-Muslims to a biased position and see all things as equal. According to Qureshi (2014) Shia make up approximately 10 to 15 percent of the world Muslims that follow after the authority of Muhammad, the Sunni’s make up about 80 percent that follow after caliphate Abu Bakr and 5 to 10 percent fall in the other category (Qureshi, 2014, p. 55). There are instances where Muslims will consider other Muslims as non-Muslims, as such where someone claims to be a prophet or places their authority above Allah. Although there is some disparity among Muslims, Qureshi believes the pillar that identifies a man as Muslim is if he exclusively declares that Allah is God and Muhammad is Allah’s messenger (Qureshi, 2014, p. 57-58). All Muslims through the practices, disciplines, and teachings of Allah share differences, but there are ambiguities among the sects and depending on which sect you believe, the others may be viewed as infidels. Where there are differences in opinion, they rely on the Ulema, which are religious Muslim scholars that are wise and experienced in Islam (Qureshi, 2014, p.
At the first glance, Islam and Christianity appear to have nothing in common, however; as you go beyond the surface, they appear to have many similarities such as their beliefs of God, their beliefs of life after death, their holy scriptures, and their prayers. These religions, although are two entirely different beliefs, share a similar origin. Like many other religions, they both claim to be the one and only true way to God. In order to truly see and understand their similarities, one must date back to the rise and birth of Christianity and Islam. Throughout the course of this essay, I will compare the many facets that show the alikeness between these two growing religions.
Muslim world, with almost a billon and a half population, and so many features of climate and geography, and natural and human resources, can establish a great and united society.
Since Muhammad received the first revelations in 610 CE, Islam has become one of the largest and most widespread religions in the world with over 1 billion followers. This spread has been supported by strong myths, rituals, and symbols that trickle into everyday life. Specifically, the five core beliefs of Islam have guided the religion throughout its existence. These beliefs are Monotheism, Prophetic Tradition, Scripture, Angels, and the Day of Judgement. Perhaps the most important belief among these is the oneness of God, commonly known as Tawhid. This strong monotheistic belief has had many impacts on the way Muslims live their life. Specifically, Tawhid has affected how Muslims understand both the God-human relationship and relationships between human beings. Because God is the only god, a human’s purpose is to obey God’s directives and live a life that furthers God’s will. In this, tawhid also serves as a uniting force between human beings because they are all treated equally before God and subject to the same edicts.
The Islamic World had a common Religion and language by the end of the tenth century. It also had three different powers in three different regions, and each region was ruled during a different period. The Abbasids, Fatimids and Salah al-Din all ruled during different times.
The holy Quran is a collection of the divinely inspired utterances and discourses (Ahmed, 16). It is composed of some 300 pages which are divided into 114 Surahs (chapters). The general tone of the holy Quran is sombre and meditative. It is a dialogue between God and humanity. At the core is a moral earnestness (Ahmed, 16). The Quran also teaches that humanity is created by God and therefore God understands its weaknesses and in Allah humans find the source of peace. Islam’s appeal lay – and – lies in the simplicity: one God, one Book, one Prophet (Ahmed, 17). Islam is a religion of balance, equilibrium, and compassion. The Islamic virtues are courage, generosity, cleanliness, and piety: and in his life the Prophet exemplifies them (Ahmed, 17).
First, it is important to note the distinctions between and differences among the various world religions. In Abrahamic monotheistic religions, regarded as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, God is the primary driver of worship and action (Young 179). In Christianity particularly, religious practices surround the teaching of the Bible, wherein Jesus and God are worshipped and lessons are taught through biblical tales. Morals are ultimately derived form God, suggesting that people must live with the purpose of loving and appeasing God (Young 210). In Judaism, the Torah acts as the foundational text for religious teachings, wherein the word “Torah” itself refers to God’s teachings and commandments. Within the Torah, Judaism professes the belief in a”promise land” that is “flowing with milk and honey,” suggestive of an ideal world to which obeying God can lead humanity (Young 195). Islam, on the other hand, derives religious practices from the Qur’an. Moreover, a central focus of Islam pertains to submission to God. Specifically, the word “Islam” itself translates to “submission,” and “Muslim” means “one who submits” (Young 235). With this in mind, along with the prevalence of peace in Islamic religions, it is clear that Islam establishes itself on the platform that true peace may only be achieved when human beings surrender themselves to God (Young
The Law of Divine Centralisation is the first principle of God's creation; it is the law of life. God created the universe based on this one great Law. This law stipulates that "All things come from God, live in God and exist for God". Outside of God there is no life, and existing without dependence on God is makes for an insignificant existence. All things made by God are centred in Him. God is the centre of Creation; everything revolves around His presence. On the first day God created light, and light was His first creative act. Note that the light of the first day did not come from any luminary, but directly from God Himself. This light was sourced from God’s inner being. Jesus is the light