Islam for Non-Muslims

Previous Book Reviews have discussed “Buddhism for Non-Buddhists” and “Hinduism for Non-Hindus.” I delayed writing “Islam for Non-Muslims” because I did not want to recommend an introductory book on Islam, one of the world’s great religions, primarily through the lens of 9/11 or the War on Terrorists. Newer introductory books frequently fall into that simplistic trap, engaging in religious or political blame games.

One way to escape the propaganda is to ignore introductions to Islam published or revised since 9/11. Earlier books offer better scholarship with less bias or outright fabrication. For that reason, I recommend Alfred Guillaume’s little book Islam, first published in 1954. The book was revised in 1956 and reissued many times thereafter, so copies are readily available through public libraries and used-book outlets.

The word Islam means “submission” or the total surrender of oneself to Allah (God). An adherent of Islam is known as a Muslim, meaning “one who submits to Allah.” Muslims number between 0.9 and 1.4 billion worldwide, making Islam the second largest religion after Christianity. Interestingly, only about 20 percent of Muslims are Arabs.

Islam is the predominant religion throughout the Middle East, as well as in parts of Africa, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. Large communities are also found in China, Western Europe, the Balkan Peninsula, and Russia.

Muslims believe that God revealed the Qur’an (Koran) to Muhammad (c.570–632 CE), God’s final prophet, and regard the Qur’an and the Sunnah (Muhammad’s words and deeds) as the fundamental sources of Islam. They do not consider Muhammad the founder of a new religion but as the restorer of the original monotheistic faith of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets.

Almost all Muslims belong to one of two major denominations, Sunni or Shi’a. The schism developed in the late 7th century following disagreements over the religious and political leadership of the Muslim community. Roughly 85 percent of Muslims are currently Sunni, and 15 percent are Shi’a.

Adherents of Islam generally observe the Five Pillars, the five traditional duties of every Muslim: (1) Shahadah is the Muslim declaration of faith--there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His Prophet. (2) Salah is the requirement to pray five times a day. (3) Zakah, to practice alms-giving. (4) Sawm, to fast during the month of Ramadan. (5) Hajj, to make a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime.

Shi’a Muslims add three additional practices to the Five Pillars. The first is jihad (“struggle”), which has multiple meanings ranging from individual spiritual development to military conflict. The second practice calls for Muslims to live a virtuous life, and the third to refrain from vice and evil actions.

In addition to the pillars, Islamic law (Sharia) has developed a tradition of rulings that touch on virtually all aspects of life and society, encompassing everything from practical matters like dietary laws and banking to warfare.

As in all great world religions, Islam has an outer (or exoteric) practice and an inner (or esoteric) practice. For example, part of the Shahadah means “There is no god but God.” Exoterically, the phrase supports absolute monotheism. In the minority esoteric (mystical) view, Shahadah means that ultimately there is only one Absolute Reality; the underlying essence of life is eternal unity rather than the apparent separateness of things in the physical world.

I first met Islam face-to-face in graduate school through the study of Sufism, the mystic tradition. Sufism encompasses beliefs and practices dedicated to divine love and the cultivation of the heart. Through Sufi dancing, “whirling dervishes” report spiritual experiences of oneness with their partners and with God.

A particularly appealing Islamic practice is prostration—praying fives times a day while lying flat on one’s face. Prostration is an effective reminder of how hard we human beings must work to defeat our pride and selfishness and, instead, to cultivate submission to God. This struggle is INNER jihad. All of the world’s great religions agree that overcoming egoism is essential to a good life, a good death, and a good afterlife if there is one.