In a world where faith plays such an important role in shaping cultures and communities, understanding what others believe helps us build bridges instead of barriers. Islam, the second-largest religion in the world, shares some similarities with Christianity yet differs greatly in its view of God, salvation, and Scripture.
For Christians, learning about Islamic beliefs is not only valuable for awareness but also for meaningful, compassionate dialogue. This overview will help equip you to better understand the Muslim faith and to approach conversations with truth, wisdom, and Christlike love.
What Do Muslims Believe?
Core Islamic Beliefs
Belief in One God (Allah):
Muslims believe in one, all-powerful, merciful god whose origin is based on our God. “Allah” simply means God in Arabic.Belief in Angels:
Angels are created by Allah to carry out His commands. Muslims believe angels deliver revelation (like Gabriel bringing the Qur’an to Muhammad), record deeds, and guard humanity.Belief in the Holy Books:
Muslims honor earlier scriptures, including the Torah (given to Moses), the Psalms (given to David), and the Gospel (given to Jesus), but believe these were altered or only partially preserved. The Qur’an is considered the final, perfect revelation from Allah.Belief in the Prophets:
Muslims believe Allahsent many prophets, Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus, culminating in Muhammad, the final prophet.Jesus (Isa) is deeply respected as a prophet, but not regarded as the Son of God or divine.
Muhammad is seen as the “Seal of the Prophets”, completing Allah’s message.
Belief in the Day of Judgment:
Muslims believe all people will be resurrected and judged by Allah for their deeds. Heaven (Paradise) and Hell are real and eternal.Belief in Divine Decree (Predestination):
Allah is sovereign and knows all things. Muslims believe human beings have free will, but nothing happens outside God’s knowledge and will.The Five Pillars of Islam (Core Practices):
While the above are beliefs, these are the practices that demonstrate faith in action:
Understanding Muslims' Beliefs
Origins of Islam:
Islam began in the 7th century A.D. when Muhammad received what he believed were divine visions in Mecca.
Muhammad reportedly received his first call from Allah in A.D. 610.
This occurred centuries after the events of the New Testament, making Islam a younger religion compared to Christianity.
Followers and Meaning:
Followers of Islam are called Muslims.
The word Islam means “submission to the will of God.”
Main Branches of Islam:
The two largest sects are Sunni and Shia (Shiite) Muslims.
Sunnis make up about 90% of the global Muslim population.
Sunni Belief: The first four caliphs were the rightful successors to Muhammad.
Shia Belief: Only Ali (Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law) and his descendants are true successors.
Other Islamic Groups:
Include Wahhabi, Alawite, Nation of Islam, Kharijites, Qarmatians, Ismailis, Druze, and Sufism.
Muhammad’s Role:
Muhammad is regarded as the Prophet and Divine Messenger of Islam.
The Hadiths (sayings and traditions of Muhammad) depict him as peaceful, kind, and respectful toward others.
He is described as faithful to his first wife, Khadijah, until her death.
Afterward, he married several other women (8–11), believed by Muslims to have been acts of compassion and provision.
Despite these controversies, Muslims maintain deep respect and devotion toward Muhammad.
- His character and teachings in the Qur’an and Hadith remain central to Islamic faith and daily life.
Islamic Teachings About Women:
The Qur’an presents different views of women compared to Christianity.
Some verses allow a husband to discipline a disobedient wife.
Example (Qur’an, Sura IV, v.9):
“Chide those for whose refractoriness ye have cause to fear; remove them into beds apart, and scourge them: but if they are obedient to you, then seek not occasion against them: verily, God is High, Great.”
This has led to criticism that Islam permits harsh treatment of women, though interpretations vary among Muslim scholars and cultures.
Do Muslims Believe in Jesus?
Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet, but do not believe that he was the Son of God. They reject any divinity and place him below the prophet, Muhammad.
Sacred Writings of Islam
The Qur’an (Primary Sacred Text):
The Qur’an is the central and most sacred writing of Islam.
It is believed to be the direct word of Allah, revealed to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.
Muslims believe Gabriel is the Holy Spirit.
The Qur’an has 114 chapters, called Surahs.
It contains many references and parallels to the Hebrew Old Testament (the Torah).
The Qur’an was said to have been compiled under Caliph Abu Bakr’s supervision after Muhammad’s death.
The Sunnah and the Hadith:
The Sunnah refers to the example and practices of Muhammad’s life.
The Hadith is a collection of Muhammad’s sayings, actions, and interactions with others.
The Hadith is considered less authoritative than the Qur’an, but still highly important for guiding Muslim life and law.
The earliest Hadiths were compiled by Aisha, one of Muhammad’s wives.
Other Sacred Texts in Islamic Tradition:
Zaboor – believed to be the Psalms given to David (Dawud).
Injeel – believed to be the true message of Jesus (Isa).
Islam teaches that these earlier revelations were corrupted or altered, while the Qur’an remains pure and inerrant.
Beliefs About the Qur’an:
Muslims view the Qur’an as flawless and eternal, even though no original manuscript exists.
The Qur’an is considered untranslatable; Muslims believe translating it would distort its meaning.
Because of this, Muslims are expected to recite and study it in Arabic (not Aramaic).
Many Muslims memorize the Qur’an in full or in part as an act of devotion.
The Qur’an is viewed as inerrant, while the Bible is seen as corrupted because it was written by men.
Muslims, therefore, believe only the Qur’an is the true, preserved word of God.
Islam's Global Presence
Number of Followers:
Islam has about 1.7 billion followers worldwide.
It is the second-largest religion in the world, after Christianity.
Geographical Distribution:
Muslims live across Africa, Asia, Europe, Western Europe, America, Australia, and the Middle East.
The largest Muslim population is often cited as being in Indonesia (as noted by Nabeel Qureshi).
In Africa, roughly 40.8% of the population identifies as Muslim.
Shia (Shiite) Muslims are concentrated mainly in Iraq, Iran, and Syria.
Doctrines of the Muslim Faith
Doctrine of God:
Islam teaches there is only one God, whose name is Allah.
Allah is viewed as the divine Creator, all-seeing, ever-present, and all-knowing.
He created the earth, heavens, and everything in them.
Loyalty and Salvation:
At the heart of Islam is devotion to Allah and Muhammad.
Salvation in Islam differs greatly from Christianity:
It is based on repentance and the hope (not assurance) that Allah will grant forgiveness.
The most certain way to obtain salvation is believed to be dying in holy war (jihad).
Beliefs About Creation and Origins:
Allah created the world, heavens, planets, sun, moon, stars, humans, and animals.
The Qur’an’s creation story parallels aspects of the Big Bang theory, though Islam teaches divine creation, not evolution.
Allah created the world in six “days” (periods or eons) — not literal 24-hour days.
Islam teaches that Allah continues to create, meaning creation is ongoing.
This belief allows for an evolutionary-like understanding of continuous creation while maintaining divine authorship.
Creation of Life and Humanity:
The Qur’an states that all living things were created from water.
Humans are divinely created by Allah with a conscience, mind, and soul.
The first man, Adam, was formed from clay and quintessence fluid.
Adam is considered Allah’s first prophet and the first Muslim.
The creation of women is not described in detail in the Qur’an.
Over time, Muslims named her Hawwa (Eve): Adam’s partner, whom he loved.
What Muslims Believe About the Afterlife
Hell (Jahannam):
Non-practicing Muslims and unbelievers are believed to go to hell after death.
The Qur’an describes hell as a place of eternal torment and fire.
Demons are said to torture souls, boiling them in oil and tearing flesh.
Within hell is the Tree of Zaqqum, whose rotten fruit the condemned must eat.
Hell represents unending suffering and separation from Allah.
Heaven (Jannah / Paradise):
Heaven is portrayed as Paradise: a lush garden and holy oasis.
It is described as a place of bliss, reward, and peace for the faithful.
The Qur’an emphasizes rewards, especially for men, including virgins who serve them.
Resurrection and Judgment:
Muslims believe in a physical resurrection of all people at the end of time.
Each person will face judgment based on their deeds and repentance.
Entry into heaven depends on good works, obedience, and Allah’s mercy.
Martyrdom and Salvation:
Dying in jihad (holy war) is considered a direct path to paradise for those martyred.
However, if a Muslim does not die in jihad, they must first endure punishment in hell for a time before entering paradise.
Despite devotion or martyrdom, no Muslim has absolute assurance of salvation, not even Muhammad himself.
Therefore, Muslims live with uncertainty about their final destiny, relying on Allah’s mercy rather than guaranteed salvation.
Loving Our Muslim Neighbors
As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors and share truth with gentleness and respect. Many Muslims are deeply devoted people who value faith, prayer, and community, things we can relate to as followers of Christ.
If you have Muslim friends, coworkers, or neighbors, take time to build genuine relationships and listen to their stories. Ask open, caring questions about their beliefs, and remember that the goal of your connection shouldn't be to convert each other - you wouldn't want them trying to convert you. You're both strong enough in your faith to be talking about it with a new person! So, try your best to represent Christ with humility and compassion by listening rather than convincing. You may be surprised at how meaningful those conversations can become when they’re rooted in love, curiosity, and the desire for understanding.
For further reading:
Why Are Thousands of Muslims Converting to Christ?
What Is the Holy Book of Islam?
What Does the Quran Say about Other Religions and Believers?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Drazen Zigic
