Note on Islam
1 Pages Posted: 21 Oct 2008 Last revised: 10 Nov 2021
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Note on Islam
Note on Islam
Abstract
The note was written to complement the teaching of any case that assumes knowledge of Islam. It provides a brief review of the Muslim religion, including the geographical representation of its believers, a description of its basic tenets, and a sketch of its historical development. Also provided is a brief synopsis of the Prophet Muhammad, and a distinction is made between the Sh'ia and the Sunni faiths.
Excerpt
UVA-E-0072
Rev. Mar. 18, 2021
Note on Islam
This note is intended to serve as a brief primer on some of the core elements of Islam, both as a major religious tradition and as a set of beliefs that currently influences the behavior of a substantial portion of the world's population. It attempts to provide a short overview of the context of the Islam religion and the setting for how it currently influences world events.
The Arabic term Islam literally means peace and submission. The fundamental tenet of the Islamic religion is to surrender to the will of Allah (the Arabic word for God), and in doing so, find peace, contentment, and security. Muslims offer a blessing of peace on each other as a greeting by uttering the words As-Salam-Alaikum, meaning Peace be with you. The phrase is a prayer for peace to the other party, symbolizing the highest attainment in Islam. Whenever Muslims mention the Prophet Muhammad, who is considered the last messenger of God, they say Peace Be upon Him.
Islam recognizes numerous prophets, beginning with Adam and ending with Prophet Muhammad, and also including Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. Islam builds on biblical prophecy, emphasizes the earlier revealed books, and refers to Christians and Jews as People of the Book. As with Judaism and Christianity, Islam is a monotheistic religion. Muslims believe in heaven, hell, angels, prophets, the devil, and the Day of Judgment, and are directed to avoid pork, alcohol, and drugs. They eat only halal meat, which has guidelines analogous to kosher meat. In fact, Islam simply sees itself as completing and renewing the earlier revelations from God, expressed in the Old and New Testaments.
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Keywords: Business, society, islam, divestment, diversity, international workplace, ethics
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