Converting to Islam
There are many cultures and traditions throughout the world, which have sprung up throughout history. Along with the different traditions of each culture, there are also the different religions. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism are just a few of these religions. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam have somewhat the same beliefs in the way that they have evolved and in the customs as opposed to those of Buddhism and Hinduism. Well before going astray on that tangent on Buddhism and Hinduism that would ultimately lead away from the desired topic, let us get back to the topic at hand: the religion of Islam and whether or not to convert to it?
In order to decide whether or not one would desire to convert to Islam, one must know where, how, why it came about and what reasons would cause them to want to convert. Enable to know these things, one must read and analyze the Qur'an to learn about the religion, its beliefs and its customs. Listening to sermons given by a person of the religion would not hurt either. The Qur'an is a book containing suras sent down to Muhammad and other messengers by God. In these suras are the messages of God given to his people. These messages were something that was non-existent to the people of Arabia in these ways; therefore, it was a new religion to them. However, before it could become an actual religion, people had to believe in it and follow it. Those who follow the beliefs of the Islamic religion are an Umma. To do this, Muhammad had to preach the messages of God to the people. Getting a group of people to convert to a new religion is not an easy task, it must be done with patience and understanding for their present beliefs or it may be taken in offense and cause serious repercussions to one's self.
Now, Muhammad was a determined messenger, however, since I have never really been involved with religion, not saying that I am atheist, exactly how I would react to these new views is not quite clear. This does not mean that my views would be closed-minded or negative, what it means is that they would be open, yet cautious of these teachings. In my believing that something created all of which is on earth, both living and non-living, does not mean that my beliefs are of the supernatural.
The town of Mecca was the birthplace of Islam, at first the leaders of the city refused the changing of this new religion and forced Muhammad to leave. Muhammad returned and preached to the people about what he had heard, that there is only one god. Islam spread quickly for two main reasons they are the message and military conquest.
All three also share a common bond of being monotheistic. Islam's belief system was centered around the importance of making the God happy by your behavior (Doc 2). By the end of your life, there would be a final judgement where the God would assess your behavior and you would hopefully be granted a peaceful afterlife. Buddhism, founded by Buddha, was a religion based on staying on the right path and doing what is right to achieve nirvana. In Buddhism, there were two paths that people should not follow and there was a middle path discovered by the Perfect One that people should follow in life (Doc 4).
Islam and the worship of Allah (god) began with Muhammad and his revelations that lasted for 23 years of his life from (610 C.E.- 623 C.E.). In the Islamic religion it is believed that he was the last prophet sent by Allah (god) and this made all his teachings into to Law and are looked at as the will of God. These messages were given to him through the archangel Gabriel, in a kind of continuation to the Jewish Torah and Christian Bible, which the Qur’an shares some similarities or past “history” with them such as the belief in Abraham and Jesus as a prophet, but in the eye’s of Mohammad the Jews and Christians had fallen astray from the real teaching of god.
Islam is a religion that is based on the submission oneself to the will of God, who is called Allah. Muslims are the people believe in that, regardless of their culture, background or ethnicity. It is believed that God’s prophets brought a message for the people to worship one God without intermediaries and that prophet Muhammad was the end of G...
Throughout history it is evident that many religions have been tried, tested, and, for some, radically changed. Many religions have gone through periods of time in which the way they were run or enforced underwent changes in practice and leadership. In many cases disagreements and differing outlooks among members of certain religions were to blame for these changes. Christianity and Islam are two examples of religions that have experienced changes over the course of their existence. While these religions seem to have little in common at first glance, both have strikingly similar pasts that consist of radical splits due to disagreements among members of the Christian and Islamic churches, resulting in new branches within each religion.
Islam is a major world religion. Its origin can be traced back to 610 CE in Arabia. The basis of this religion is the revelations to the prophet Mohammad. Dissatisfied with his life, he traveled to deserts, hills, and the wilderness surrounding Mecca, where he lived, to meditate and reflect. He became a new man through his revelations, which many of his followers believe Allah transmitted to him through his angel Gabriel. Islam was originally an Arab religion, but many different beliefs and practices were added to it, making it extremely popular and aiding in its rapid spread. This new religion spread to many different areas surrounding Arabia, both under Mohammad and after his death. The Muslim Empire grew to encompass Spain and the Eastern Roman Empire as well Persia and Africa. Many different practices and methods were used to spread Islam. The religion itself was appealing to, in addition to the inhabitants of Arabia, other people in the surrounding areas because of its distinct religious beliefs and practices, such as the five pillars, as well as the humility and prayerfulness of the Islamic people. They fought cruel, vicious wars with their enemies. Many different things motivated the warriors to expand, but above all, the riches they would gain from the people of the Fertile Crescent encouraged them to expand.
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.
Comparison of Islam to Christianity and Judaism Islam has long been viewed by many in America as a fringe religion. When many Americans here the term Islam or Muslim they associate it with such groups as the Nation of Islam or the Black Muslims. However these groups and others like them often have very little in common with the true Islamic faith. They use the term Islam to generate support for their causes, but in so doing they often destroy the public’s view of the main Islamic faith. The People of the Book is an honorary title given to the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths. All three religions believe in one God and in his word, delivered through the prophets: Moses received the word of God in the Torah, Jesus and the Gospels and Muhammad and the Quran. The three religions also share a similar belief in prophethood; many Christians are stunned to hear that many Biblical prophets are also considered Islamic prophets. The Quran says in (2:136) Say we believe in God, and the revelation given to us, and the revelation given to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob and the tribes, and that given to Moses and Jesus, and that given to the prophets from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another of them, and to Him we are submitters. Islam does have many differences from the other two religions but it does preach a message of tolerance. Mohammad said, “Whoever hurts a person from the people of the book it will be as though he hurt me personally.” Islam is closer to Christianity and Judaism then they are to each other since it recognizes both as divine religions where Christians have already seen their Messiah and the Jewish people are still awaiting his appearance.(Islam ...
There are many similarities and differences between Judaism, Christianity and Islam. There are also many differences that separate the three major religions of the world. This paper will delve into all three of them.
Islam is a religion that many people believe has stirred up much turmoil and unrest, and often Christians want nothing to do with Islam traditions. The idea that Islam has nothing in common with Jewish and Christian traditions is a false assumption. The Old Testament is the link that bridges Islam to Judaism, and Christianity. Muslims acknowledge three Major Prophets that have influenced Islamic tradition and culture, Jesus, Moses, and Abraham. These men of God are looked up to and admired for the...
I wouldn’t describe myself as very religious, although I have limited exposure to various Christian beliefs. All the different denominations of Christian focused on Christ being god or part of god. Exploring Islam, I thought, would be completely alien. It would also be so much easier to learn about such a subject without ha...
On the board on Monday morning, there were numbers one through five and they each had a religion written next to them. 1 was Hinduism, 2 was Christianity, 3 was Judaism, 4 was Buddhism, and I was lucky enough to get 5: Islam. Oh, I know so much about Islam culture and their religion, are you kidding? I don’t even know where Islam is. I’m just kidding, it’s not a country. There are many differences between Islam and the United states like our religion, clothes, and food, and becoming a Christian or a Muslim, but Islam is the second largest religion in the world, so it’s important to a lot of people. The followers of Islam are called Muslims. Becoming a Muslim is not an easy process. You must do a long list of tasks. After you become a Muslim you must do everything in your power to try to have a good Muslim lifestyle.
Islam faith on the other hand, I had no knowledge of, I always thought of it as a stricter catholic faith and that was all. The history of both religions where new to me and changed some of the thoughts that I had about the past of Christianity. I did not know about some the major events that changed the religion majorly, they seemed to have left those parts out at Sunday school. The views of a Christian were about the same as the ones that I was taught along with the small amount of the culture that I had learned about as well. With the Islam faith I had learned about their values and about their culture and I did notice several similarities between the two. The ones that I have pointed out so far along with that both religions include fasting, prayer several times a day, and giving yourself to your god and putting your life in their
Islam is often viewed as a religious tradition which originates from the seventh century. An important part of Islam is based on the prophet Muhammad, and the great revelations in which he received from God, according to the Quran. However, it is most important to realize that Muslims do not view Islam as a new religion. Muslims believe that Allah is the same God who revealed himself to Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Therefore, Jews, Christians, and Muslims are all followers of the same living God. Muslims believe that the Quran is the final and complete revelation of God to all people. It is not easy for some people to accept the fact that God exists when there have been so many throughout history. You cannot also say if someone’s religion is right or wrong or the God they believe in is a “Supreme” god. Why Islam and not Christianity? Why Hinduism and not Judaism? Every one of them different and they vary from one another; they have different rules and are all passionate about their belief. But the fact still remains that there is one who is above all and he is God. God is Omnipresent, omnipotent, and Benevolent.
Religion is an important factor in many lives in today’s society. A particular western religion that is taken very seriously by many is known as Islam. Essentially, Islam means “submission”, or in other words a person is to abide by God and peace will follow. In order to comprehend the Islamic religion, it is consequential to view the major themes associated with this religion. By going through the central themes of Islam it could help others comprehend what is involved with this specific religion.