FYI 1 – Your Muslim Neighbors

​Sunni Islam and Shia Islam are the two major denominations of Islam. A third but smaller denomination are the Sufi Muslims.

• ​Approximately 85–90% of the world's Muslims are Sunni
• and 10–15% are Shia.
• There are roughly 1.8 billion Muslims, or approximately 24% of the world's population.

"Ummah" refers to the entire Muslim community​

1. ​Sunnis believe that Abu Bakr, the father of Muhammad's wife Aisha, was Muhammad's rightful successor. Sunnis also believe that the method of  electing leaders is the consensus of the Muslim community. 
2. Shias believe that Muhammad divinely ordained his cousin and son-in-law Ali Ibn Abi Talib to be his successor.  
3. Sufi Muslims are more mystical or spiritual. The best comparison would be similar to a Pentecostal Christian.​

​The Five Pillars of Islam refer to the five duties necessary for every Muslim. These include:

• Shahada (a profession of faith)

• Salat (prayers)

• Zakāt (charity)

• Sawm (fasting, specifically during Ramadan)

• and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca)

Religious Text:

• Only the Qur'an in the original language of Arabic is considered to be the Holy "word of God."

• Hadith refers to a set of written reports of the words, actions or habits of the prophet Muhammad.​ The Hadith are used for further religious study. Their importance and credibility is often interpreted differently. The Hadith is not considered to be the holy or perfect "word of God." 

• Tafsir, meaning "interpretation" refers to the common Islamic doctrines and Qur'anic interpretations often passed down by scholars. 

Glorifying God & honoring God's prophets:

• When referring to the prophet Muhammad, Muslims, as a sign of respect will say "Peace Be Upon Him" after saying his name. In writing this is often shown as PBUH for short. It is also common and acceptable to do this when referring to other Islamic prophets including Jesus.
• PBUH = Peace Be Upon Him

• ​When writing the name of God (Allah), Muslims often follow it with the abbreviation "SWT." These letters stand for the Arabic words "Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala," or "Glory to Him, the Exalted." Muslims will often use these and other similar words to honor or glorify God and/or other prophets of God.
• SWT = Glory to Him, the Exalted

End Times:

​The Mahdi is the prophesied redeemer of Islam who is coming back at the end of the world (Judgement Day). There is no reference to the Mahdi in the Qur'an, but references to him are found in the hadith.

• According to Islamic doctrines, the Mahdi's time will coincide with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (Isa),
• Jesus and the Mahdi will work together fighting against the "false Messiah" or Anti-Christ.

Prayer:

• Salat or Salah is commonly translated as "prayer" - this often refers to the ritual prayer done 5 times a day.

• Dua is another word for prayer - this definition of prayer is closer to what Christians would refer to as prayer - meaning supplication or worship (calling out to God).
• Qibla or Kiblah is the direction that all Muslims face during their daily prayers. This is done to symbolize the unity of the Muslim people, together following God's law. The Qibla is a fixed point centering upon the Kaaba (the black cube in Mecca). 

• Jummah is a congregational prayer service that Muslims hold every Friday around noontime (Zuhr prayer time)
• Salat al-Fajr - the morning prayer
• Salat al-Zuhr - the early afternoon prayer
• Salat al-`Asr - the late afternoon prayer
• Salat al-Maghhrib - the sunset prayer
• Salat al-`Isha - the early night prayer

Leadership:

• Sheikh is a title used to honor the leader of a community, often the Spiritual leader for the Muslim community.
• Imam refers to the spiritual leader of a Mosque, one who leads worship and prayer; the Christian equivalent of a pastor.

Ministry To Unbelievers:

• Da'wah = meaning to "make an invitation" is the concept of proselytizing, preaching or evangelizing for Islam.