Islam & Its Perspective on Interfaith Dialogue

Slide 1: Islam & Its Perspective on Interfaith Dialogue

Slide 2: What is Islam? “The religion of Islam is the acceptance of  and obedience to the teachings of God which He revealed to His last prophet, Muhammad.” “Islam” and “Muslim” are derived from the  Arabic word for “submission”.

Slide 3: Islam is intimately connected with the the Judeo-Christian tradition Muslims are strictly monotheistic.  They believe in the Judeo-Christian God.  “Allah” is the Arabic word for God. Christian and Jewish  Arabs use the same word to refer to God. Muslims believe that people fall away from God and that  He sends a new Messenger. Muhammed was God’s final Messenger. 

Slide 4: Core Islamic Beliefs  Belief in God  Belief in the Angels  Belief in God’s Revealed Books  Belief in the Prophets & Messengers of God  Belief in the Day of Judgment  Belief in Divine Predestination

Slide 5: Belief in God  “Muslims believe in one unique, incomparable God, Who has no son nor partner, and that none has the right to be worshipped but Him alone.”

Slide 6: Belief in the Angels  “Muslims believe in the existence of the angels, and that they are honored creatures. The angels worship God alone, obey Him, and act only by His command.  “Among the angels is Gabriel, who brought down the Qur’an to Muhammad.”

Slide 7: Belief in God’s Revealed Books “Muslims believe that God revealed books  to His messengers as proof for mankind and as guidance for them. Muslims believe that the Torah and the  Bible, like the Qur’an, is the word of God.

Slide 8: Belief in the Prophets & Messengers of God Muslims believe in all the Judeo-Christian prophets—  but Muhammad is the Final Prophet Belief in the prophets before Muhammad is a  cornerstone of Islam. Muslims believe in all the Judeo-Christian prophets  (peace be upon them) and their respective stories. Adam - Noah - Abraham - Ishmael - Isaac - Jacob - Joseph - Job - Moses - Aaron - David - Solomon - Jonah - John - Jesus -

Slide 9: Belief in the Day of Judgment  “Muslims believe in the Day of Judgment (the Day of Resurrection) when all people will be resurrected for God’s judgment according to their beliefs and deeds.”  Muslims hope, but do not have assurance that their sins will be forgiven.

Slide 10: Belief in Divine Predestination  “Muslims believe in Divine Predestination, but this belief … does not mean that human beings do not have freewill … This means that they can choose right or wrong and that they are responsible for their choices.”

Slide 11: Islam Today Islam is the second largest religion in the  world. There are 1.2 billion Muslims, comprising  20% of the world’s total population. There are 43 countries with Muslim-  majority populations in Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe. Arabs make up only 20% of the total  Muslim population of the world.

Slide 12: Muslims in America 3-8 million Muslims in America  The history of Islam in America  dates back to the slave trade.

Slide 13: Abrahamic Religions  Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all revere Abraham as their spiritual ancestor.  Christian and Muslim believes have many aspects in common.  Judaism too shares many beliefs with Islam.

Slide 14: The Perspective of Islam on Dialogue Jews and Christians are named "the People of the Book" in  the Qur’an. Places where the People of the Book worship are sacred to  Muslims: …if God had not driven some people back by means of  others, monasteries, churches, synagogues and mosques, where God's name is mentioned much, would have been pulled down and destroyed. God will certainly help those who help Him - God is All-Strong, Almighty. (Surat al-Hajj: 40 ) And among people of the book, Christians are named to be  closer to Muslims. … You will find the people most affectionate to those who  believe are those who say, 'We are Christians.' That is because some of them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant. (Surat al-Ma'ida, 82)

Slide 15: The message of Qur’an on Dialogue  O People of the Book! Let us rally to a common formula to be binding on both us and you: That we worship none but God; that we associate no partners with Him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than God. (Surat Al 'Imran, 64)

Slide 16: The message of Qur’an on Dialogue O God, Our Creator and Lord:  Let us rally to a common formula - "faith".  Let us love You and follow Your commands. And let us pray You to lead us to an even straighter path.  Let us understand that we are friends not enemies,  then the world will become a very different place.  Let us give an end to misconceptions, fears, enmities and fighting that has raged for ages. We “need” dialogue for establishing a future based on love,  respect and peace. Peace be upon you!  Thanks for hosting us and listening..

Slide 17: Athan Allahu Akbar Allah is Great Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah I bear witness that there is no god except the One God (Allah) Ashadu anna Muhammadan Rasool Allah I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah Hayya 'ala-s-Salah Hurry to the prayer (Rise up for prayer) Hayya 'ala-l-Falah Hurry to success (Rise up for Salvation) Allahu Akbar Allah is Great La ilaha illa Allah There is no god except the One God (Allah)