By Jolene Farley
The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon have prompted global curiosity about Islam. Many people have no contact with the religion and wonder what Islamic sects really believe.
Pastor Lowell Berg of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Hills, knew his parishioners were also curious, so he invited Mike Zaske, pastor of the Lutheran churches in Adrian and Kenneth, to speak Sunday on the fundamental beliefs of Islam.
"I certainly don't come here to advertise myself as a great scholar of Islam," Zaske said. "I've never visited an Islamic country. I have no Islamic friends."
With all the media attention on Islam in recent months, Zaske realized that even though he attended a seminary for four years, he really knew little about Islam.
Zaske wanted to be able to watch the news and know what the announcers were talking about. He set out on a search for information about Islam, and what he learned he is now sharing with anyone who will listen.
"Probably what surprised me the most were the similarities between Christianity and Islam," he said "I didn't expect as many as there were."
Zaske condensed his information into a presentation detailing the history of Islam, its main beliefs and a comparison between Christianity and Islam.
Islamic history
Muhammad, born in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) in the year 570 A.D., was the founder of Islam.
The popular "religion" of the time was idol worship, and people involved in the "religion industry" made lots of money selling idols and running shrines.
When Muhammad was 40, he claimed the archangel Gabriel appeared to him in a cave and told him to tell the people about the one and only God that exists.
Preaching this message made Muhammad unpopular with the religious leaders of the time, and he was forced to leave Mecca in 622.
Two years later, Muhammad and his followers defeated the troops from Mecca in battle.
Muhammad returned victorious to Mecca and forgave his former enemies. His forgiveness won him many followers.
Muhammad believed it was his responsibility as a prophet to reveal God to the people. As a prophet, he also believed he was not "superhuman" but rather a lowly servant of God.
In 653 A.D., GodÕs revelations to Muhammad were gathered in a text, the Qur'an.
In addition, many stories and traditions about Mohammed's life were collected, written down, organized and codified into the Sharia.
Similarities between
Islam and Christianity
Both Muslims and Christians trace their roots back to Abraham, according to Zaske. Muslims descend from Abraham's son Ishmael and Christians from Isaac.
"Muslims see themselves as related to us Christians through Abraham," Zaske said. "In some respects weÕre kind of feuding cousins."
Zaske points out the many parallels between the Qur'an and the Bible: creation story, Cain and Abel, Noah (flood), Abraham, Joseph (coat), Moses (exodus), 10 Commandments, King David, birth and work of John the Baptist, virgin birth of Jesus and the miracles and teachings of Jesus.
Important differences
There are, however, many differences between Muslim and Western world legal systems.
"Our legal system looks at religion and civil society as being separate," said Zaske. "In the Islamic world that split simply doesn't exist."
Islamic law holds all people bound by God's law (as given to Muhammad) in every aspect of their lives.
Islamic law (the Sharia) was considered "fixed for all time" back around the year 800 A.D. Many legal issues exist today that were never considered in the year 800.
"There is huge tension in the Islamic world itself between those who want to take the Sharia literally and those who want to adopt it to more modern situations," Zaske said.
Zaske attributes much of toda's unrest in the Islamic world to the history of interactions between Christians and Muslims.
During the Crusades (1095 A.D. to 1291 A.D.) European Christian soldiers re-conquered Jerusalem and slaughtered its inhabitants (1099). The armies invaded the Holy Land eight times. The cross soon became a symbol of Western or Christian barbarism.
This explains the worldwide alarm when President George W. Bush stated in an address after the Sept. 11 tragedy that the United States was on a crusade, according to Zaske.
"To a Muslim person, to hear that word 'crusade' ...it would be the same as saying the word Gettysburg to someone in the South," he said.
Several developments during the mid-20th century have escalated the tension among Muslim countries to the point it is today.
The creation of Israel after World War II, which Palestinians saw as the theft of their land, was monumental.
It also hasn't helped that the U.S. government supported the Shah of Iran, "a very unpopular leader in his own country." In addition, the behavior of oil companies and U.S. pressure to adopt western practices has strained relations with the Middle-eastern countries.
Muslims believe ...
God's words are brought to prophets by the angel Gabriel. Gabriel is highly esteemed as the "Trustworthy Spirit."
Jesus was a highly-esteemed, honored messenger of God, but he was only human.
The crucifixion didn't happen. God wouldn't allow his messenger to be killed. It appeared Jesus was killed, but actually God rescued him miraculously.
God will multiply good deeds of those who have faith in God, believe his messengers and obey his commands. If the good deeds outweigh evil ones, heaven is given.
The writings in the Bible were tampered with by humans (translations). Biblical writings are only accepted if confirmed by the Qur'an. The Qur'an is never translated out of Arabic.