About Islam

[MonopthalmusLXXXVIII]

I have a question for the Islamic members of TWC. Is it true that Islam teaches that Jews and christians are actually Muslims, because we uh are supposed to believe in the same god? I am confused about this and would appreciate an answer from someone.

Thank you for your time.

[Chaigidel]

I am not muslim; but I have been told that Islam simply means submission to god; and that in Islams eyes; anyone who truly submits to god is following Islam.(from the Islamic point of view as I understand it-- minus the prayer etc etc the word islam just means the submission part)

[AngryTitusPullo]

Yes.

[MonopthalmusLXXXVIII]

Well, no offense Chaigidel, but I would like to hear from a muslim...its just that I ought to learn more about it. It would be an education to a lower class southern state american. Not to mention that I once considered converting to Islam, so I am naturally curious about its teachings.

But thank you much for the info Chai.

[Chaigidel]

well I am partial to religions despite the flaws they have; so I do know something about a few of them--- but no offense taken of course

[AngryTitusPullo]

Etymology: from Arabic muslim, literally ‘one who submits', from salma to submit (to God).

So those who submit to God are technically a muslim (or believer).

From a muslim understanding, Islam did not arrive with Muhammad but has been the religion of all prophets since Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus etc.

[The Prophet]

Etymology: from Arabic muslim, literally ‘one who submits', from salma to submit (to God).

So those who submit to God are technically a muslim (or believer).

From a muslim understanding, Islam did not arrive with Muhammad but has been the religion of all prophets since Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus etc.

So if a Muslim tells you that Jesus is the Son of God is he still Islamically kosher?

[AngryTitusPullo]

So if a Muslim tells you that Jesus is the Son of God is he still Islamically kosher?

Then he's not a 'muslim' since he no longer believes in the 'original' message.

What I said was muslims are the followers of previous prophets also, but since they deviate from the teachings of previous prophets (in this case the Christians) then they are no longer 'muslim'.

[The Prophet]

Then he's not a 'muslim' since he no longer believes in the 'original' message.

What I said was muslims are the followers of previous prophets also, but since they deviate from the teachings of previous prophets (in this case the Christians) then they are no longer 'muslim'.

So why did you answer 'yes', when clearly a Christian is not regarded as "Muslim" in Islamic thought.

[AngryTitusPullo]

So why did you answer 'yes', when clearly a Christian is not regarded as "Muslim" in Islamic thought.

Yes if they follow the teachings of Jesus. No if they follow the teachings of Paul and those who 'worship' Jesus.

[Serious Spamurai]

In short, yes.

Justification for this can be found in this verse of the Quraan:
Believers, Jews, Sabeans and Christians; whoever believes in God and the last day and does what is right, shall have nothing to fear or to regret.
5:69
Of course some "Muslims" seem to ignore this, meaning they are either illiterate or foolish.

[Chaigidel]

not muslim but if they submit to god they are within Islam-- to be a muslim you must be within Islam and follow the teachings of mohammed

[The Prophet]

Basically this is all semantics. The term Muslim is not an adjective its a specific religious group. Only people who adhere to the Quran and the teachings of Muhammad and declare it so can be regarded as "Muslim".

Everything else is a game of semantics and religious evangelising.

[Chaigidel]

of course -- but from the Muslim perspective to submit to god is all that is required to follow Islam; but to be muslim you must acknowledge mohammed as his last prophet and the quran as the word of god; but again I am an outsider.

[Sher Khan]

Technically, the person who says Jesus is the Son of God is more a grave sinner.

That would depend on what he means by Son of God anyway.

[The Prophet]

But even if they didn't worship Jesus but merely followed his teachings... isn't there still the problem that they have not embraced Muhammad as the last messenger? Don't all those who reject the prophethood of muhammad go straight to hell?

[AngryTitusPullo]

But even if they didn't worship Jesus but merely followed his teachings... isn't there still the problem that they have not embraced Muhammad as the last messenger? Don't all those who reject the prophethood of muhammad go straight to hell?

How would they follow Muhammad when Muhammad wasn't even born yet ? I'm talking about the followers of Isa al-Masih (or Jesus the Messiah) during his time. They may (or may not) exist still during the time of Muhammad but if they do then I believe thhere wont be any complications if they choose to follow the laws of Jesus (and Moses) instead of following the new law since the core beliefs are still the same.

Again, I'm speaking from Islamic (Qur'anic point of view).

[The Prophet]

Oh you mean basiclly the "christ followers" before Islam came. Sorry didn't realise that.

[AngryTitusPullo]

Oh you mean basiclly the "christ followers" before Islam came. Sorry didn't realise that.

Yup. So did the Jews who follows the laws of Moses and other prophets. In fact 'Islam' as a noun is only when it's translated to other languages and were only used later to further differentiate between previous 'muslims' (who were led astray) then the 'current' muslim.

During Muhammad prophethood it was simply called Ad-Deen (religion=way of life) with no specific name and the followers were called muslims, from the word islam.

[MonopthalmusLXXXVIII]

So, in the Islamic point of view, the bible is corrupted, and jesus never actually claimed that he was the son of god? But, if you simply saw him as a prophet and followed his teachings, then you would be considered a muslim?

interesting.