What is Ahmadiyya Islam?
Ahmadiyya is a relatively tiny sect of Islam, estimated to represent 1 percent of Muslims worldwide. Followers of this denomination are called Ahmadis. The group is far more influential than their numbers would suggest. This is due to three factors: first, Ahmadis hold a nearly pacifist view of jihad. Second, they place great importance on…
What is al-Qadr in Islam?
The Islamic term al-Qadr is most often associated with Laylat al-Qadr, believed to be the evening Muhammad first received a revelation from Allah. Alternatively, the terms qadr and qadar refer to the Islamic version of predestination. Laylat al-Qadr: Night of the Decree According to Islamic belief, Muhammad began to receive the words of the Qur’an…
What is Shia Islam?
Shia Islam is the second-largest denomination of Islam worldwide; it is also the state religion of Iran. Its followers are referred to as Shiites. Shia Islam is highly concentrated in the Middle East. Outside of Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Azerbaijan, Shia is a lopsided minority among Muslims. Even in nations with a relatively large Shia…
Does the Bible prophesy the coming of Muhammad?
There are three primary passages in the Bible that Muslims often point to as prophecies of the coming of Muhammad: Deuteronomy 18:15-22, Song of Solomon 5:16, and John 16:5-11. First, in regards to Deuteronomy 18:15-22, the immediate context of this passage refers back to verses 9-14. There Moses warns the people of the danger of…
What is Hanbali Islam?
Hanbali is the most fundamentalist of the main schools of Sunni Islamic law. These approaches to law, also known as Sharia, all accept the Qur’an and hadith as primary sources of doctrine and practice. Hanbali differs from schools such as Hanafi, Maliki, and Shafi’i in what secondary sources are accepted and to what extent those…
Shia and Sunni Islam – what are the differences?
The main difference between Sunnis and Shias lies in their interpretation of the rightful succession of leadership after the death of the prophet Muhammad. The declaration of faith to which all Muslims assent is this: There is no God but Allah, whose prophet is Muhammad. However, the Shiites add an extra phrase at the end:…
What is Hanafi Islam?
Hanafi is the largest of several interpretations of Islamic law, also known as Sharia. Sunni Islam is the largest denomination of Muslims worldwide. Within Sunni itself are several different approaches. These various schools of law are divided on how to best apply the principles of Islam. They disagree on what methods are appropriate for making…
What is Maliki Islam?
Maliki is one of the four main subdivisions within Sunni Islam. Maliki is a school of Islamic law, also known as Sharia. These schools are unified in allegiance to foundations such as the Qur’an and the hadith. However, Maliki differs from schools such as Hanafi, Shafi’i, and Hanbali in what other sources are acceptable for…
What is Sufism?
A movement within Islam, Sufism is the mystical side of Islam. Perhaps this is one reason traditional Muslims have distanced themselves from Sufists. Sufism focuses on giving love and devotion to God. Because Sufists believe that material possessions hinder one’s devotion, they are often considered ascetics. Although centered around Islamic doctrine, Sufism teaches that harmony…
What is Chrislam?
Chrislam is an attempt to syncretize Christianity with Islam. While it began in Nigeria in the 1980s, Chrislamic ideas have spread throughout much of the world. The essential concept of Chrislam is that Christianity and Islam are compatible, that one can be a Christian and a Muslim at the same time. Chrislam is not an…