The Mormon and the Muslim, Part 1: Introductions

 The Ka'ba, a shrine to God, an overwhelming and sacred site at Mecca

Let's get to it.

This isn't one of those recipe blogs where you have to scroll through the entire explanation about how Little Suzy doesn't like peas, but by happen stance, one Saturday morning in March at 9:07 AM we found out she likes them mixed with Corn Flakes and somehow that relates to the Apple Crisp recipe you wanted 30 minutes ago.

Nope.  This is a blog that offers up just as long of an explanation as to why this isn't one of those blogs.

First, we'll start with basic introductions to my good friend Natalie, as well as to her Islamic faith.  I'll relay interesting facts (caveat: interesting according to me), and impart correlations between Islam and Mormonism. 

So, without further ado, let's get these introductions underway.

Natalie

Natalie is a good and kind friend I made from the Denver Islamic Society.  Natalie converted to Islam 19 years ago.  She was raised Methodist, but wasn't really practicing.  Once she left home, she considered herself atheist, until she found Islam while studying abroad in South Korea.  Islam gave her answers to questions held close to her heart.  Indeed, she, the caller, called and Allah responded (Qur'an, Sura (Chapter) 2:186)<----Natalie's favorite ayat (verse) in the Qur'an.

Natalie graciously met with me on a Thursday afternoon and answered my random, often naive questions for nearly three hours as I tried to jump into a religion and way of life that was completely foreign.

Then, in an infinitely kind gesture, she invited me to attend the Denver Mosque and Khutba (sermon) with her the next Friday (more on that in Part 2).  She welcomed me with warmth, wisdom, and love and had unending patience with my questions, my daughter's many potty breaks and intermittent play breaks.  She even came bearing gifts for my daughter, too-- who, as you may have guessed, is my sweet and faithful sidekick in this grand religious adventure.

Just the Facts, Ma'am

What is Islam?  Well, I'm glad you asked, even if you really only asked because you read my interrogative sentence.

• Islam means to achieve peace with all (God, yourself, and others) by way of submitting or surrendering your will to God (1).

• There are five pillars to Islam.  The pillars encompass what a Muslim is expected to do, based upon their beliefs (2):
1. Shahada: Confess that "There is no god but God" and that Mohammed is His prophet.
• Fact:  This is essentially all that is needed to convert to Islam.
2. Salat:  Prayers.  Muslims perform five ritual prayers a day.  
• Fact:  Men are encouraged to attend a mosque for at least one of these prayers.  Women are not expected to attend a mosque daily because one word:  OK, more than one word: kids, practices, carseats, diaper bags, school drop offs, school pick ups, dinner, owies, runny noses, etc. etc...)
3. Sawm:  Fasting.  This is done from dawn until sundown during the month of Ramadan (June 6, 2016).  Muslims abstain from food, drink and intimacy.
4. Zakat or Zakah:  Charity.  This is formed from the belief that everything is God's.  Zakah is defined as "purification" or "growth".  As Muslims give willingly and honestly of their possessions, their lives are purified and they prepare themselves for new growth.  Alms are given during the month of Ramadan, though Muslims give throughout the year as well.
5. Hajj:  The epic pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah).  Muslims are obligated to make the pilgrimage at least once in their life, provided they are physically and financially able.  It is often referred to as a glimpse or preview to the Day of Judgment.
• In addition to their belief in God, Muslims believe the following:
• God has prophets such as Moses, Abraham, John the Baptist and Jesus, and they believe there are other prophets for which they do not yet have records.
• Muslims believe in Angels.
• Heaven and Hell exist.
• We each have a destiny.
• Along with the Qur'an, Muslims believe in the messages of the Bible (Old and New Testament up until Jesus is crucified [note: Muslims believe Jesus only to be a prophet, not the Son of God and Savior.  They do not believe Jesus died on the cross, they believe he only hung, but did not die there.]), and the Torah.
• Jesus will come again.

Fun Facts because Facts are Fun

My guess is you knew a lot of the core beliefs of Islam.  For the most part, I did too.  However, I wasn't aware Muslims studied other books besides the Qur'an, though the Qur'an, for them, is the one source of truth.  Additionally, I didn't realize they believed Jesus would come again or that they believed in other, shall we say, undiscovered prophets (Chillax Mormons! ;) I was just as excited about this correlation too, but I'll get to that in a bit).  Through my interview with Natalie, I learned some other pretty cool facts.  Check it:

•  The word Muslim is essentially Mu-Islam, meaning one who does/practices Islam.  OK, maybe that was a given, but did you know Mu is a prefix which indicates someone or something is doing or practicing something?  Neither did I.
• About 20% of Spanish is Arabic.
• Muslims were early pioneers in science and mathematics.  Algebra, Alchemy, yup.  Arabic.  (You probably knew that, but when I was told, it was one of the greatest epiphanies).
• It was a Muslim who identified the concept of zero and our current numeric system.
• The oldest universities in the world were created by Muslims, and Muslim women, no less.
• An Imam is a prayer leader.  They read verses (or ayats) from the Qur'an in a melodic, rhythmic fashion.  As a result, many Imams become famous for their individual intonation and cadences.  Some will have their own albums and small followings.  Listen to a few selections and enjoy beautiful images of mosques here. 
• The Imams in the clip linked above are reciting the first chapter of the Qur'an, Al Fatihah.  It roughly translates to "All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds--The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.  It is You we worship and You we ask for help.  Guide us to the straight path--the path of those upon whom you have bestowed your favor, not of those who have evoked your anger or of those who are astray." (Qur'an, Al Fatihah).

Mormons and Muslims

Over the past few weeks I have learned so much, yet, obviously, know so little.  There are pieces of Islam I immediately grasp and understand, as I feel they are unique to Muslims and Mormons.  

I have, of course, discovered core beliefs that aren't what I believe, but honestly, that's beside the point, because the point of this journey is not to debate or argue why one is right or one is wrong, but rather find all the beautiful similarities that interweave our two great faiths.

The first parallel I was immediately drawn to was prayer.  Though Mormons do not have a set of ritual prayers, we do believe in the power and order of prayer.  I agree with the statement "prayer is the heart of religion and faith."  This was one of the first sentences I read in the Qur'an.

The Muslims' devotion to prayer has urged me to be more faithful in my own prayers, surely I have been commanded to be so devoted as well:  "But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul." (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 32:9). [Watch for Part 2 of this post.  I had a deep and personal experience with this scripture while attending the Mosque.]

I resonated next, as I alluded to earlier, with their belief in additional prophets.  I wanted to jump for joy when I learned of this and I nearly did!  Natalie and I discussed how, often, there was more than one prophet in a city.  I told Natalie of our belief of other prophets and between my excited, mixed-up words (y'all, I was beside myself), I tried to relate how Lehi, a prophet in Jerusalem between 600 and 592 B.C., was commanded to take his family and flee to the Promised Land we now know as America.

"[...]Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 15:17; The Bible (King James Version), John 10:16).

Let's Be Real 

For most of us, Islam is foreign.  It looks different and even sounds different than what we are comfortable with.  It's strange, maybe even intimidating or scary, but it doesn't have to be.  

Oh, don't worry, I get it.  There was a time when I didn't know how to interact with Muslims, partially because I didn't know any, but also because their religion seemed like a daunting thing to understand and mesh with my own traditions and culture.

So, let's be real.  Sure, there is a responsibility for Muslims (for all people, really) to ensure communication and understanding.  But, don't you think there is a responsibility resting on our shoulders to "seek first to understand, then to be understood?"  I knew my questions about Islam would only be answered if I acted for myself rather than sit on my thumbs and "be acted upon" (Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 2:26).

First and foremost, I admitted I actually had questions and that my tank of information was missing an important contributor:  A Muslim.

You see, If we only see one perspective, then we don't see the whole picture.  If you're like me, the one perspective of Islam you tend to see is that portrayed by media, whether it be news, movies, TV dramas or silly, baseless Facebook memes.

Let's be real.  That's straight up fear mongering.

It's no wonder many people are dubious of Muslims.  Not only is it a culture vastly different from our own (which, in and of itself, causes suspicion in the best of us--that's called human nature), but the words terrorism, oppression and intolerance are sloshed around with it.

I get it.  Those are scary things and they do happen. 

But, not by Muslims.  

People who have twisted and perverted Islam and use it as a political machine?  Yes.

But, not by Muslims. 

Not by Muslims who live true to their faith.

Not by the Natalie's, the Rabha's, the Amrya's, the Huria's or the Fathim's of the faith.  No, not at all.

So, thank you, dear reader, for joining me on this first leg of our religious adventure.  If I could ask you to do one thing, could you continue the adventure where you live?  Don't be afraid to go to a mosque near you, befriend a Muslim and let them know you are their supporter and defender.  Then, maybe, tell them about your Mormon sister and let's keep this adventure going together.

Until next time, my religious adventurers.

Sincerely,
Your Mormon Sister

References

1.   http://wikiislam.net/wiki/The_Meaning_of_Islam 
discoverislam.com, Pamphlet distributed by Colorado Muslim Society, Copyright 2005

2.  discoverislam.com, Pamphlet distributed by Colorado Muslim Society, Copyright 2005
Bowker, John.  World Religions:  The Great Faiths Explored and Explained.  New York.  DK, 2006.