The Six Articles of Faith

In Arabic, Allah means “god”, “only god”, “one god”.

Muslims believe in Allah who is the one true god and the only god.

Allah is known through his 99 names (though the Qur’an lists 104).   

Some Muslims pray using a set of 33 beads (similar to a Catholic rosary) touching each bead while naming one of Allah's names. 

They go through the circle of beads three times.  

Allah changes his mind so one’s eternal destination is uncertain. 

The exception to this doubt is when death occurs in a holy war in which case automatic entrance to paradise is granted.

Misconception that Muslims hold about Christians

Christians worship three gods. 

Truth

Deuteronomy of the Torah (Bible) says, “The Lord Our God, The Lord is One.” 

Christians worship one Allah (YHWH) who is known as three persons called Father, Spiritual Son and Holy Spirit with each person operating differently. 

The Father stayed in Heaven while the Spiritual Son, Jesus Christ, took on flesh and lived among us then leaving His Holy Spirit to abide in those who believe in Him.

Misconception that Muslims hold about Christians

Allah (YHWH) had physical relations with Mary and created a son. 

In Arabic this physical son would be called a wuld.

Truth

Allah (YHWH) sent Himself by His Spirit to live in bodily form so that Jesus Christ was 'birthed' through Mary but He was not created through physical intimate relations.  

In Arabic this spiritual son would be called an ibin.  

Allah (YHWH) became fully man in Jesus but He was still fully Allah (YHWH). 

So while Mary is called the mother of Jesus, she is not called the mother of Allah (YHWH).

Angels help carry out Allah’s will on earth.

Angels are:

• Spiritual beings that do good.
• Created from light.
• Have no free will.

Jinn / Demons are:

• Spiritual beings that do bad.
• Created from smokeless fire.
• Have free will.
• Can inhabit anything (like a spoon). 
• Seek to manipulate your actions.

Iblis:

• Refers to the jinn that disobeyed Allah’s command to bow before Adam and was cast out of heaven. 
• Classical scholars say Iblis was an angel that became a jinn when he disobeyed Allah and turned to do evil.  
• He seeks to mislead mankind but has no power over Allah’s servants. 
• The meaning of the name Iblis refers to ‘confusion, despair and grief’. 

Shaytan can refer to: 

• Iblis or his offspring
• Demons
• Any opposition to Allah

  Misconception that Christians hold about Muslims

Shaytan is the same being as the devil or Satan in Christianity.

Truth

Shaytan is often used to describe the equivalent of the devil in Christianity, but it can be any opposition or opposing force to Allah.

Misconception that Muslims hold about Christians

Angels or Demons can do anything they want. 

Truth

Angels choose to do Allah’s (YHWH) bidding.  

Demons choose to do the satan's bidding.  

Allah (YHWH) is all-powerful and no one can do anything that Allah (YHWH) does not allow so angels and demons are limited in their power.

Allah (YHWH) does give man free will to choose to follow Him or choose evil. 

Allah (YHWH) is also all-knowing and is greater than man’s choices so He uses our choices to bring about His purposes.

The Book of Moses was brought by the prophet Moses and is the first message that Allah sent to mankind (known by Jews and Christians as the Torah but it normally refers to the entire Old Testament except for the Psalms.)

The Book of David was brought by the prophet David and is the second message from Allah (known by Christians as the Psalms)

The Injil—Arabic for Gospel—was brought by the prophet Jesus Christ and is the third message sent from Allah (known by Christians as the New Testament but often only referring to the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).

The Quran was brought by the prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and is Allah’s final message sent to maknind.

Each successive book sent replaced the one before it making the Quran the final say.

The word Quran means “to recite”.

It is comprised of 114 chapters (suras) and 6,200 verses (aleyas).

The chapters are in order of decreasing chapter length.  There is no chronological order or logical sequence of chapter placement other than length.

It is very rhythmic & poetic in its original language, Arabic.

It is considered the seal to the Holy Books meaning it is the last message of Allah and not corrupted. 

No other message will be sent.

It cannot be translated or it loses its meaning so a true Quran is only written in Arabic.

It was collected and compiled 300 years after Mohammed’s (PBUH) death.

The Hadith is also called “Sunnah” which means example.  It is a collection of the traditions of the teachings, and life practices of Mohammed (PBUH). 

Muslim life is patterned more from the Hadith and following Mohammed’s (PBUH) example than the Quran.

Mohammed (PBUH) is considered the model Muslim that all Muslims must follow.  He is known as ‘the perfection of Allah’s creation.’

Sunnis and Shiites have different versions of the Hadith.

  Misconception that Muslims hold about Christians

All the Holy Books (whole Bible) are corrupted except the Quran. 

Truth

Imams teach that each time a holy book was given by Allah, it was corrupted by its people so Allah would send another one. However, the Quran itself does not say this.

The Holy Books (whole Bible) was penned by 44 writers over approximately 1500 years and is divided into two large sections called the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The Old Testament was written before Jesus Christ’s birth and prophesied about His coming. Moses wrote the first 5 books which are called the Torah (known by Muslims as the Book of Moses).   

King David wrote a large part of the book of Psalms but there were other writers as well (known by Muslims as the Book of David).

There are also books written by prophets, and chronicles of kings in the Old Testament.

The New Testament writers are mostly the disciples and Paul.

Christians believe the Holy Book (Bible) is divinely inspired by God and is called the Word of God just as Jesus is also called the Word of God.

  Misconception that Muslims hold about Christians

The Holy Book (Bible) has been changed which is why there are four different gospels.

Truth

Each gospel had a different writer who penned what he experienced with Christ. Some stories are the same because the writers were all together. 

Different stories are in different gospels depending on which writer was present.

All four gospels together give a fuller picture of Jesus’ life.

Islam is a religion based on works where eternity is decided by weighing on a scale a man’s good works against his bad works. 

The hope is that by doing more good works than bad works throughout one’s life, the scale will weigh in one’s favor so that Allah might grant entrance to paradise.

Allah is all righteous and all merciful; however, there is no guarantee that he will let anyone into paradise even if their good works outweigh the bad.

The soul awaits in the grave for this day of judgement.

Paradise is a sensual place about which the Quran speaks of gardens, banquets, wealth and virgins. 

It will be a place of pure delight without pain and suffering; and everything that one longs or wishes for will be found here.

There are different levels of paradise depending on who you are and what you have done.

There is no mention of good women being found in paradise.

Hell is a place of fire & perpetual torture by angels.

According to the Quran, it is the dwelling place of most women.