Overview of Islam
A brief overview of the core beliefs of Muslims: God, the Qur'an, the prophets, and mercy.
In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy. Let me begin with the sincerest intention all for the sake of truth. Assalamu ‘Alaikum! (peace be upon you!)
Holy Book
Islam’s holy book is the Qur’an. It is believed by Muslims to be the literal word of God, revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the Angel Gabriel.
Nature of God
The nature of God in Islam is Absolute Monotheism — Muslims believe in One God only, a concept known as Tawhid. God is clearly described in Chapter 112 of the Qur’an:
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ “Say, "He is God the One, God the eternal. He begot no one nor was He begotten. No one is comparable to Him."”
Merciful God
Islam emphasizes that God is the Most Merciful. It does not require any human sacrifice, as in some Christian beliefs — only sincere repentance and forgiveness from believers.
قُلْ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ “Say, '[God says], My servants who have harmed yourselves by your own excess, do not despair of God's mercy. God forgives all sins: He is truly the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.'”
Belief in the Torah and the Gospel
The Qur’an affirms the truth of the Torah and the Gospel as revelations given by God to Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them both), respectively.
نَزَّلَ عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ مُصَدِّقًۭا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَأَنزَلَ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةَ وَٱلْإِنجِيلَ “Step by step, He has sent the Scripture down to you [Prophet] with the Truth, confirming what went before: He sent down the Torah and the Gospel.”
وَقَفَّيْنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِم بِعِيسَى ٱبْنِ مَرْيَمَ مُصَدِّقًۭا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ ۖ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُ ٱلْإِنجِيلَ فِيهِ هُدًۭى وَنُورٌۭ وَمُصَدِّقًۭا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلتَّوْرَىٰةِ وَهُدًۭى وَمَوْعِظَةًۭ لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ “We sent Jesus, son of Mary, in their footsteps, to confirm the Torah that had been sent before him: We gave him the Gospel with guidance, light, and confirmation of the Torah already revealed — a guide and lesson for those who take heed of God.”
Belief in the Prophets
Islam believes in many prophets, including — among others — Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, Jacob, Joseph, Isaac, Ishmael, Moses, and Jesus (peace and blessings be upon them all), in addition to the final prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him).
قُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ “So [you believers], say, 'We believe in God and in what was sent down to us and what was sent down to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and what was given to Moses, Jesus, and all the prophets by their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we devote ourselves to Him.'”