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Austin Songer
Trusted Veteran | Compassionate. Aspiring. Resourceful.

Basic Islamic Teachings | For The Ignorant Ones

Islam has seven main beliefs. They are contained in the formula known as the “Iman ul Mufassal”. And they are Allah, Angels, Books, Messengers, The Last Day, Measurement, Life after death

  • Allah | This is the name for “God” in Arabic. Allah is not a human, not a male and not a female. We only say the term “He” when referring to Him because there is no “It” in Arabic. All nouns are automatically masculine or feminine. Allah created everything and was never created. He is never born, He never has children and the human mind cannot encompass His magnitude and greatness. He is loving but just, merciful but stern. Only by surrendering to His will a person come into accordance with His universal will.
  • The Angels | They are not human, nor male or female. They are the servants of Allah and never rebel against him. Muslims believe in a devil-creature called Shaytan (Satan) but he is not a fallen angel. He is a creature called a Jinn who rebelled against Allah. Angels record our good deeds and bad and are behind the events of nature and enforce Allah’s will in the universe, although He doesn’t need their help.
  • The Books | Allah has sent revelation to thousands of humans throughout history. Some of those revelations were organized bodies of teachings meant to be recorded as “books” whether written or oral to be handed on to future generations. We know the names of five of these books. They are: the scrolls of Ibrahim, (Abraham), the Taurah of Musa, (Moses), the Zabur (Psalms) of Dawud, (David), the Injeel of ‘Esa (Gospel of Jesus) and the Qur’an of Muhammad.
  • The Messengers | These are Allah’s Prophets and Message-bringers to whom Allah gave revelation. Every nation and race on earth received at least one in the past. They all taught the same message: to surrender to Allah and do right. Thus they all taught Islam. The first was Adam and the last was Muhammad. The Qur’an mentions the name of 25 Prophets and Messengers.
25 Prophets of Islam
  • The Last Day | Human history will end one day. Allah will end the earth at some future date and all human beings that ever lived will be raised up for Judgment Day. After each person’s good and bad deeds as well as their beliefs are examined, they will be sent to either Paradise (Jannah) or Hell (Jahannam).
  • Measurement | Allah has measured the length of our life in this world, our economic status, where we will die, etc… The word “Qadr” is sometimes translated as destiny or pre-destination or even fate. But the word actually means “to measure.”
  • Life after death | Eternal life in either Heaven or Hell for our souls based on what we believed and did while we lived in the world. Some people will be taken out of hell and admitted to heaven when the term of their punishment is over.