Islam 101
What is Islam all about?
Islam is not a new religion. Rather, it is the same truth that God revealed through all His prophets to every people. For over a fifth of the world’s population, Islam is both a religion and a complete way of life. Muslims are taught to cultivate truthfulness, justice, helping the needy, respect for parents, love for children, and good relations with neighbors and relatives.
The Quran tells Muslims to say:
“We believe in God and what was revealed to us, and what was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Tribes, and what was given to Moses and Jesus and to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we submit.” (3:83)
This concept is how Islam sees itself and how Muslims see themselves in relation to all other religions. The Message which was revealed to Muhammad is considered God’s True Religion in its final form. So Muslims see Muhammad as the final successor to Jesus, Moses, Abraham, and all the prophets, and Muslims see the Quran as the final Testament from God to humanity. Just as God sent inspiration to Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them), Muslims believe God sent inspiration to Muhammad (peace be upon him) to confirm, correct, and complete all previous Scriptures.
The Quran says that God sent prophets to every community in history. These prophets taught their people about their duty to God and their fellow man. The Quran teaches that this duty was always “submission and obedience to God.”
“Islam,” is simply the Arabic word for this duty to obey God. “Muslim” is the Arabic word for one who submits to God and obeys Him.
Would you like to learn more?
The Islamic Society of Boston holds an ongoing class to educate all who wish to attend about the basic beliefs and practices of Islam. You can visit us at one of two convenient locations:
Our main mosque is at 204 Prospect Street in Cambridge. Meets every Thursday at 7 pm.
Our cultural center is at 100 Malcolm X Blvd in Roxbury. Meets every Monday at 7 pm.