Understanding Islamic Religion Is Key to Resolving Religious Conflicts
Islam is one of the world’s three major monotheistic religions, with its origins in the Middle East. It is considered an Abrahamic faith, akin to Christianity, with both tracing their lineage back to Abraham. Islam is thus one of the three Abrahamic religions, following Judaism and Christianity. This article examines the global significance of Islam and its impact across the world.
What is Islamic Religion?
As mentioned in the introduction, this religion is currently the second-largest in the world. Its followers number approximately 1.9 billion, compared to Christianity’s 2.4 billion as of 2020. It is one of the three Abrahamic faiths originating from the Middle East and has now spread worldwide, aiming to grow its global following.
This religion teaches the existence of heaven and hell, with good deeds being the potential path to heaven. In contrast, an excess of bad deeds may lead to damnation in hell. This differs from some Christian teachings where salvation is not solely based on deeds, as all humans are inherently sinners.
Paul in the Bible suggests that to avoid breaking laws, one must have no laws to break. To him, salvation comes through God’s grace, coupled with faith, which is an individual act. Is faith a form of work? It could be considered so.
The Islamic faith has two primary sects, differing mainly in their views on leadership succession after the Prophet Mohammed’s (peace be upon Him) passing. The Shi’a sect believes authority was left to the Prophet’s family, while the Sunni sect believes it passed to a non-relative. These differences persist to this day.
In summary, the Islamic faith shares roots with Christianity and Judaism, drawing from similar scriptures. However, it diverges from African traditional religions, which, despite some connections to Judaism, are distinct. For instance, Islam acknowledges the existence of Satan, whereas African traditional religions do not, viewing God as the source of both good and evil, without the personification of Satan.
Islam is divided into two primary sects: Sunnis and Shi’as. Despite these distinctions, Islam is recognized as a singular religion, akin to Christianity and Judaism. Conversely, African spiritual practices were collectively labeled as African Traditional Religions (ATR), a term that is considered pejorative by some.
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How Did the Islamic Religion Come to Us?
History shows that Islam began with a man named Mohammed from Saudi Arabia. There is much to learn from the history of Islam, despite the existence of various versions. Indeed, Islam as a religion has its own distinct history, which includes both factual and altered narratives.
In Africa, the Islamic Religion was introduced with the arrival of Arabs, whether through conquest or peaceful settlement. Historical records indicate that Islam reached Africa in the early 7th century CE. Prior to this, Christianity had already made its way to the continent, yet indigenous African religions predated any foreign religious influences.
Thus, both Islam and Christianity were introduced to Africa from abroad. To many Africans, especially those from traditional African families and communities, these religions were foreign and often not fully comprehensible. This could be why polygamy persists among some Africans, regardless of their conversion to Christianity.
Africans’ pre-existing beliefs in supernatural forces, not necessarily identified as Satan, made them receptive to both Islam and Christianity. These new religions were perceived as offering protection against malevolent spirits believed to harm people’s lives, which also led to the emergence of various forms of Christianity across the continent.
How Do Muslims Use Islamic Religion?
Islam, like any religion, serves to interpret the unknown future and the destiny of humanity. Religion offers hope for the uncertain future, including the state beyond death. We hope for a better existence beyond death, but can we be certain? Religion provides explanations for the supernatural that lie beyond our human comprehension.
While natural sciences elucidate the observable natural world, religion addresses the unobservable, the immeasurable, and the unstudyable through scientific methods and human-crafted tools. This gap often makes it challenging to believe in what we cannot empirically verify.
As human understanding evolves, so does religion, appearing more modern and almost rational in its ideologies. Yet, historically, such rationality could have led to persecution, as was the case with Jesus Christ.
Muslims, in particular, use their faith to make sense of the world, shaping their identity, purpose, and dignity. It offers them a place in this life and possibly in an afterlife. The uncertainty of what occurs post-mortem leads us to depend on religious teachings.
The question of an afterlife, of eternal rest post our final breath, remains answered solely within the realm of religion. Even pre-Islamic Africans held beliefs in life after death. Whether these are mere human hopes or reality is unknown to our physical consciousness.
Why Do Muslims Use Their Islamic Religion?
Religion serves many purposes, including providing hope. Hope is crucial, even if it’s based on uncertain beliefs, as it helps us cope with life’s challenges and offers a sense of immunity to illness and other natural events.
Islam, for instance, offers hope and guidance through life’s hardships, promising a better existence. It shapes our identity and gives us a reason to live according to certain principles. Religious doctrines guide us to live as humans, not animals, contrasting with what some perceive as the flawed concept of human rights.
Paul the Apostle noted that humans often fail to uphold laws, yet laws are necessary to distinguish us from animals. Without them, we might behave indiscriminately, as animals do. Islam strictly regulates attire, influencing behavior and interactions. For example, men’s reactions to seeing a scantily clad woman are well-known, suggesting a need for a dress code to prevent inappropriate conduct, sometimes referred to as rape. The Bible also historically mandates gender-specific clothing, indicating a long-standing practice of clothing exchange.
Beyond religion, societal laws deter actions like theft. In East Africa, theft can lead to severe punishment, yet understanding the reasons behind theft, such as hunger, could lead to more compassionate solutions, like providing food to those in need.
What Is the Importance of Using the Islamic Religion?
The Islamic faith, alongside Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and African traditional religions, holds significance in our human existence and purpose. As previously mentioned, living as Muslims, if that is our belief, provides us with reasons for our existence. Therefore, it is crucial to recognize Islam as one of the most followed religions in history.
For instance, if Islam, or any religion, provides hope, then its importance is undeniable. Earlier, we discussed the value of hope, even if it may be unfounded, because it encourages us to persevere rather than surrender. In such scenarios, relying solely on human effort can lead to depression and resignation.
If Islam encourages us to be self-reliant rather than engaging in theft or harm to obtain what others have earned, then it is vital to incorporate its teachings into our daily lives. If it offers us a purpose for living, then indeed, Islam and other religions play a crucial role in our lives.
Research has shown that individuals who believe in a higher power tend to have more hope and resilience than those who do not. This is a scientific observation, suggesting that faith in God is significant, even if we struggle to articulate its meaning in our limited human language.
My Final Words
Finally, we have explored the Islamic Religion, its origins, applications, reasons for use, and its significance, even here in Africa. Here are my concluding thoughts. Religion is a framework of beliefs, doctrines, teachings, and traditions. These beliefs may or may not reflect reality.
Despite its peculiarities, religion is an integral part of human existence. We cannot simply dismiss it because it provides answers to questions that natural sciences have yet to address. Therefore, we must exercise discernment in distinguishing between confirmed religious ideas and mere beliefs.
This necessitates greater wisdom as you engage with religion. Flexibility and balance are essential as we navigate these perspectives on life. As mentioned before, no human knows what occurs after death. However, this does not prevent us from anticipating or contemplating the afterlife.
I trust this article has been beneficial to you. I invite you to share your views in the comments section below. Your feedback is highly valued and will contribute to the improvement of future articles. I also hope that God (Allah? Nhialic? Kuoth? Jwok? Nguun?) will bless you and protect you during and beyond the pandemic. Shalom!
Further Readings
- 10 Things to Know About Islam—Teachmideast.
- Why Religious Education Matters—Taylor & Francis Online.
- What Is Islam?—BBC.co.uk