How is Islam different from other religions?
Islam is one of the most common religion in the world. The main message of Islam is to worship one God and one God only. The messenger of Islam was Prophet Muhammad; he was God’s last messenger. But how different is Islam from other religions? This essay will talk about the reality of Islam and also Prophet Muhammad according to Richard Hooker.
How is Islam Different from Other Religions According to Richard Hooker?
Islam is very connected to the Arabs culture; some religions are connected to specific culture too. Islam is connected to Arabic language, but other religions are not connected to their original languages. In Islam Qur’an teachings must be applied, and no discussion about Qur’an teachings. Other religions have many formats, and there are conflicts between those formats. In Islam, what is good for Islam is good for Arabs and vice-versa. Islam accepts other cultures; people from different cultures can live together with harmony. Islam was ahead of its time in accepting the idea of multi-culture communities (Hooker).
Islam teachings are stable over time unlike other religions. “Functional Islam” and modern Islam have some differences, but they have much more in common. “One finds, then, that a definition of foundational Islam as represented in the Qur’an and in the sayings and actions of Muhammad, called the Sunnah, can more or less be applied to Islam as a whole” (Hooker).
What does Richard Hooker Say about the Characteristics of Foundational Islam?
In Islam, there is one God only. Every Muslim should think about God in everything he does or says. God created the universe; people cannot see him in person but they can see him through creation. God is “separate from creation” although he created it. And despite that, the universe needs God in everything. In Islam, “faith” comes from rational thinking, but in other religions it depends on the heart only. Muslims must obey and submit to God in everything they say or do. Humans are the most important creatures; Islam aims to ensure “perfect life” for all humans. Universe is a place for mental and physical joy; other religions admit mental joy only. Islam concerns about the next life. Muslims must follow rituals to seek paradises and avoid hells. In Islam, a Muslim can choose his end by his actions; in other religions going to heaven is controlled only by God’s decision. In Islam, “time is finite and follows an overall, predetermined course. Each human age begins with the foundation of a new religion founded on the unity of God” (Hooker). Each religion is introduced be a “messenger”, but through time people’s connection to that religion becomes weak, and that’s why God sends prophets to support this religion again.
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