Difference between revisions of "Islam"

Revision as of 16:25, 18 March 2005

This article deals with Islam as it relates to NationStates. For more general information, see the Wikipedia article on this subject. Islām is a monotheistic faith. Followers of Islam, known as Muslims, believe that God (or, in Arabic, Allāh) revealed His Will to Muhammad (c. 570–632) and other prophets, including Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. However, that which was revealed to Muhammad was considered to be the final and ultimate revelation, and corrective of Jewish and Christian traditions. The Muslims hold that the main written record of revelation to mankind is the Qur'an.

In Arabic, Islām means "submission" and is described as a Dīn, meaning "way of life" and/or "religion." Etymologically, it is derived from the same root as, for example, Salām meaning "peace" (also a common salutation). The word Muslim is also related to the word Islām and means "one who surrenders" or "submits" to God, or a "vassal" of God.

Muslims hold that it is essentially the same belief as that of all the messengers sent by God to mankind since Adam, with the Qur'ān (the one definitive text of the Muslim faith) codifying the final revelation of God. Islam sees Judaism and Christianity as derivations of the teachings of certain of these prophets - notably Abraham - and therefore see them as fellow Abrahamic religions, and People of the Book. Unlike Christianity, Islam has not undergone any period of reformation; however, that is essentially the goal of various liberal movements within Islam. Islam has two primary branches of belief, based largely on a historical disagreement over the succession of authority after Muhammad's death; these are known as Sunnite and Shi'ite.

The basis of Muslim belief is found in the shahādatan ("two statements"): lā ilāhā illā-llāhu; muhammadur-rasūlu-llāhi — "No deity (god) is worshipped in truth except God; Muhammad is the messenger of God." One needs to recite and believe these statements in order to become a Muslim. All Muslims agree to this, although Sunnis further regard this as one of the five pillars of Islam.

Beliefs

Six articles of belief

There are six basic beliefs shared by all Muslims:

• Belief in God, the one and only one worthy of all worship.
• Belief in the Angels.
• Belief in the Books (sent by God).
• Belief in all the Prophets and Messengers (sent by God).
• Belief in the Day of Judgment (Qiyamah) and in the Resurrection.
• Belief in Fate (Qadar)

The Muslim creed in English:

I believe in God; and in His Angels; and in His Scriptures; and in His Messengers; and in The Final Day; and in Fate, that Good and Evil are from God, and Resurrection after death be Truth.

I testify that there is nothing worthy of worship but God; and I testify that Muhammad is His Messenger.

Relevance to Nationstates

Islam is the religion of New imadistan, The Lightning Star, The Theocracy of Islamic Provinces, and many other religions. Unfortunaty, many of these nations are radical terrorist states. There are a few that are level headed, such as TLS, but most are not. The Democratic Republic of Navi Bharat, a 'new India' NationState, also has a large Muslim population.

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