About Sudan

Islam: Basic Beliefs and Practices

“Islam” is an Arabic word meaning submission to the will of God, and a “Moslem” or “Muslim” is one who submits to that will.  Membership in the Muslim community is attained by a conscious act or willful submission summarized in the profession of faith, “There is no God but God, and Mohammed is his Prophet”.  Since its establishment 14 centuries ago, “Dar-Al’Islam”, the House of Islam, has grown to embrace over 800 million people from every corner of the world.  Islam is not only a religion but a way of life; its teachings provide a detailed guide to law, statecraft and social interaction of all kinds.
 
God (Allah is the Arabic word for God) is an external and all-powerful deity who revealed his will and commandments to the Prophet Mohammed in the Koran, or Holy Book, during the seventh century A.D.  Mohammed, God’s messenger, is believed to be the most nearly perfect man in the history of the world.  Despite Mohammed’s exemplary life, however, Muslims do not believe he is any closer to God than other men, for in Islam all people are equals.
 
With its conceptual roots in Judaism and Christianity, Muslims perceive of their religion as a continuation and rectification of these older religious traditions.  The Old and New Testaments are incorporated by reference in the Koran.  Muslims believe that there has been only one true religion since Abraham, a consistent faith in the one omnipotent God, who at various times has sent messengers to carry his teachings to men.  These revelations are records in the Pentateuch, the Psalms, the Gospels and the Koran, given respectively to Moses, David, Jesus and Mohammed.  No more are expected, as Mohammed was the last prophet, and in the Koran “all things are revealed”.
 
Islam is a faith without clergy, saints, hierarchy or sacraments.  While there are theologians and men who lead congregational prayers, interpret the Holy Book or advise the less learned on questions of religious law, there are no central doctrinal authorities.  Any (male) Moslem can lead prayers and give sermons.
 
The Koran, taken to be the literal word of God, is the fundamental and immutable source of Islamic doctrine and practice.  Its writings emphasize an adherence to a precise code of social justice, personal honesty, respect for others and restraint of earthly desires, as well as the performance of devotional duties such as prayer and fasting.  On the inevitable day of judgment, every individual will be admitted to paradise or doomed to eternal hellfire, according to the evaluation of God.  God is just but also merciful, and the repentant sinner is welcomed into the company of the faithful in paradise, but only if repentance is sincere and timely.