What do Muslims believe?

I am interested to know the basic beliefs of the Muslim religion? Could someone please share what they know? I know that they are mono-theistic, believing in the existence of only one God which they call Allah. Also, I think they believe that Muhamad was Allah’s only true prophet. Do they believe in the old testament also? How about Jesus Christ? I know they do not believe that Jesus Christ was not Allah or God incarnate like the Christians do. But do they believe that Jesus Christ was a legitimate teacher of Allah or God?

Why don’t the Muslim’s divert their energies to proselytization like the Christians rather than destruction? I heard that there is something to the effect that if you kill non-Muslims, then Allah awards you with more wives in the after life, or something think like that. I know that in Christianity there are different degrees of conservativism or literal adherence to the Bible. There must be varying degrees of conservativisms in Islam also. But ignoring conservativism, what does the Koran say about killing, non-Muslims?

Actually, what the Koran says about Christians

45. Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah.

46. "He shall speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. And he shall be (of the company) of the righteous."

47. She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: Allah createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is!

48. "And Allah will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel,

49. "And (appoint him) an apostle to the Children of Israel, (with this message): "'I have come to you, with a Sign from your Lord, in that I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by Allah.s leave: And I heal those born blind, and the lepers, and I quicken the dead, by Allah.s leave; and I declare to you what ye eat, and what ye store in your houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if ye did believe;

50. "'(I have come to you), to attest the Law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what was (Before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign from your Lord. So fear Allah, and obey me.

51. "'It is Allah Who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him. This is a Way that is straight.'"

52. When Jesus found Unbelief on their part He said: "Who will be My helpers to (the work of) Allah." Said the disciples: "We are Allah.s helpers: We believe in Allah, and do thou bear witness that we are Muslims.

53. "Our Lord! we believe in what Thou hast revealed, and we follow the Messenger. then write us down among those who bear witness."

54. And (the unbelievers) plotted and planned, and Allah too planned, and the best of planners is Allah.

55. Behold! Allah said: "O Jesus! I will take thee and raise thee to Myself and clear thee (of the falsehoods) of those who blaspheme; I will make those who follow thee superior to those who reject faith, to the Day of Resurrection: Then shall ye all return unto me, and I will judge between you of the matters wherein ye dispute.

56. "As to those who reject faith, I will punish them with terrible agony in this world and in the Hereafter, nor will they have anyone to help."

57. "As to those who believe and work righteousness, Allah will pay them (in full) their reward; but Allah loveth not those who do wrong."

[Macroman]

I believe that Islam's religious antagonism is primarily directed at Jews and Israel. We are a target primarily because of our support of Israel.

[Enough Exams Already]

I know a little bit about Islam. I'll try to answer what questions I can.

On prophets and Jesus: Islam holds that God sent prophets to each of the peoples of the earth. He sent Moses to the Jews, and later God sent Jesus. Islam holds that even though these men were prophets, the message they sent got distorted. So to set things right, God sent Mohammed as a prophet to the entire world.

Now Jesus was a prophet. But Jesus, Islam holds, was not the Son of God. In order to be the Son of God, Jesus would have to be divine, at least in part. And Islam holds that no human can be even partly divine--so being would make the person god-like, which is not only impossible but a violation of the monotheism of God. (In order to convert to Islam, one must declare the "shahada"--"There is no god but God, and Mohammed is his prophet.") Thus while Jesus was a great teacher and a prophet, he wasn't the Son of God.

If you really want to know what Islam says, though, read the Qur'an and visit a mosque. I'm sure the people there will try to answer your questions.

[Enough Exams Already]

On killing: Killing is wrong. It is a violation of the Commandments. Killing other Muslims is especially forbidden.

Now, of course, there are exceptions, just like in Judaism and Christianity. Killing in self-defense or the defense of others is excused if absolutely necessary. Muslims who abandon their faith and convert away are punished by death. But there is no blanket "well they're not Muslims so don't hog all the ammunition" exception. You don't get points for killing--you get rewarded for being a martyr defending Islam against oppression or aggression. And therein lies the problem.

Martyrdom in the face of non-Muslim aggression is considered a great act of self-sacrifice. (Even Catholicism holds a special place for those martyred for their faith.) But that's different from the suicide bombers who attacked WTC. CBS had a Middle East expert on last night. He was saying that the problem of suicide attackers is a deeply divisive problem for Islam itself and Muslims in general, and that there is no clear condemnation or support for it in either scripture or tradition.

I hope some of this helps.

http://www.islam.org

This does not address the religion so much as the culture, but may provide insight into the anti-American feelings.

Followers of Islam see western civilization as the only thing standing between where they are now and what they view as their rightful place in the world.

They were once the major power on the planet, but like many other religious-based cultures were easily overtaken (rightly or wrongly) by European civilization with superior technology (i.e. weapons, for starters).

America, being the dominant western culture, is considered by them to be the source of all their woes.

So, in summary, if not for Americans, they would be the leaders of a great, powerful, advanced, progressive, happy, disease-free, wonderful world. Of course that is obvious just by looking at how they live.

No, they don't have a problem with the West. Just America for supporting Israel. Note that Islamic countries never speak out agains France, Canada, Germany, Sweden etc. etc. etc. ... all countries as advanced as the USA, but which don't support Israel.

Too bad they're not like the Israeli's. They NEVER torture their hostages and prisoners.

EB you're a moron.

I didn't know Israel took innocent hostages. Anybody ever heard of Israelis taking hostages who had committed no crime?

I thought not.