This paper offers a critical summary of Vartan Gregorian's Islam: A Mosaic, Not a Monolith, in which Gregorian argues that greater Western understanding of Islamic history and belief is essential to reducing tensions between the Muslim and Western worlds. The paper covers the origins of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, the core tenets and Five Pillars of the faith, the Golden Age of Muslim civilization, the decline of Muslim empires under European colonialism, the emergence of modern extremism, and the major denominational divisions within Islam. It concludes with Gregorian's call for cultural integration and interfaith dialogue as pathways to lasting peace.
In his work Islam: A Mosaic, Not a Monolith, Vartan Gregorian explores the history and beliefs of Islam in an attempt to dissect the current tension between the Western and Muslim worlds. In an age of terror and ignorance, Gregorian expresses the idea that in order to cool tensions, we must learn about Islamic culture in an attempt to further understand it. Islam is one of the world's largest religions, and despite some Americans' criticism, it is one of the fastest-growing religions in the United States. Gregorian believes that understanding and integration of the Islamic tradition will ensure the peace and safety of Americans.
Islam stems from the same region as Christianity and Judaism, but with a different interpretation of God's will. Muhammad ibn Abdullah, who is said to have lived between 570 and 632 A.D. (Gregorian 3), is the highest prophet in Islamic tradition. He was born into an Arab merchant family near Mecca in modern-day Saudi Arabia. According to Islamic tradition, the Prophet Muhammad received God's instructions through His messenger, the archangel Gabriel. Muhammad brought monotheistic teachings to the pagan people of ancient Arabia.
The Islamic God, Allah, was not an entirely new invention but more of an adaptation of the Judeo-Christian God. Muhammad wanted his followers to fully submit themselves to the will of God. He was the highest of many prophets said to reveal God's will to His followers. His prophecies and teachings were brought together in a collection now known as the Qur'an, which consists of 114 chapters arranged according to their length. The Qur'an was originally written in Arabic and has since been translated into a variety of languages; however, these translations are considered mere "versions" (6).
There are many principles that all Muslims follow, despite divisions among denominations. The Islamic faith rests on three major principles: the Towhid, or the "unity of God"; the Nowbowat, which is the "belief in the prophetic mission of Muhammad"; and the Ma'ad, which is similar to the Judeo-Christian belief in "the day of judgment and resurrection" (6). All Muslims must also adhere to the Five Pillars of Faith. They must profess their belief that Muhammad was a prophet, pray five times each day, give a portion of their income to the needy, fast during the holy festival of Ramadan, and make the holy pilgrimage to the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia (6).
Islam recognizes the Biblical figure of Abraham as the first Muslim, just as the Jewish faith regards him as the father of Judaism. Muslims also believe that the Christian figure of Jesus did exist — as a prophet, not the son of God. Many Muslims accept the New Testament as the prophecies of God delivered through His prophet Jesus. Unlike Christianity, however, Islamic tradition holds that human beings enter the world as sinless creatures and become sinful only "through sinful activity" (6).
"Golden Age, Mongols, colonialism, and modern extremism"
"Sunni, Shia, and Sufi traditions explained"
"Interfaith dialogue and Muslim American integration"
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