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Islam
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'''Islam''' is a [[heresy]], according to [[Saint]] [[John of Damascus]] in his [http://orthodoxinfo.com/general/stjohn_islam.aspx "Critique of Islam"]: :"There is also the superstition of the Ishmaelites which to this day prevails and keeps people in error, being a forerunner of the [[Antichrist]]. They are descended from [[w:Ishmael#Ishmael_in_Genesis|Ishmael]], who was born to [[w:Abraham|Abraham]] of [[w:Hagar_%28biblical_person%29#Hagar_in_Genesis|Agar]], and for this reason they are called both Agarenes and Ishmaelites. They are also called [[w:Saracen|Saracens]], which is derived from Sarras kenoi, or destitute of [[w:Sarah|Sara]], because of what Agar said to the angel: 'Sara hath sent me away destitute.' These used to be idolaters and worshiped the [[w:morning_star|morning star]] and [[w:Aphrodite|Aphrodite]], whom in their own language they called Khabár, which means great. And so down to the time of [[w:Heraclius|Heraclius]] they were very great idolaters. From that time to the present a false prophet named [[w:Mohammed|Mohammed]] has appeared in their midst. This man, after having chanced upon the Old and New Testaments and likewise, it seems, having conversed with an [[Arianism|Arian]] monk, devised his own '''heresy'''. Then, having insinuated himself into the good graces of the people by a show of seeming piety, he gave out that [[w:Quran|a certain book]] had been sent down to him from heaven. He had set down some ridiculous compositions in this book of his and he gave it to them as an object of veneration." Islam is one of the major world religions with an estimated 1.3 billion followers worldwide [http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html]. The name ''Islam'' comes from an Arabic term meaning ''submission'', a reference to the central belief that the goal of religion, or of a true believer, is submission to God's will. Adherents of Islam are referred to as '''Muslims'''.
Islam teaches that [[God]] (in Arabic, ''Allah'') revealed his direct word and commands for mankind to Muhammad (c. 570–632) in the form of the Qur'an (also ''Koran''), and to other [[prophet]]s (including [[Adam]], [[Abraham]], [[Moses]], and [[Jesus]]), many of whom are [[Bible|Biblical]] figures shared with Christianity and [[Judaism]]. Despite admitting the ministry of prophets earlier than Muhammad, Islam asserts that the primary written record of God's revelation to humankind is the Qur'an, which Muslims believe to be flawless, immutable, and the final revelation of God.
Islam teaches that parts of the [[Bible]] have been forgotten, misinterpreted, or distorted by Christians and Jews. Given this perspective, Islam views the Qur'an as corrective of Jewish and Christian scriptures.
Muslims do not hold the divinity of [[Jesus Christ]] and his unique salvific role, and the teachings of Islam in this respect have been likened to a compound [[heresy]] composed of elements of [[Arianism]], [[Nestorianism]], and [[Docetism]] ("''...They did not kill him [Jesus] and they did not crucify him, but it was made to seem so to them...''" Qur'an, 4:157), with some [[Pelagianism|Pelagian]] and also [[Monarchianism|Monarchianistic]] (i.e., anti-Trinitarian)] elements.
Muslims hold that Islam is essentially the same belief as that of all the messengers sent by God to mankind since [[Adam]], with the Qur'an (the one definitive text of the Muslim faith) codifying the final revelation of God. Islam views Judaism and Christianity as incomplete derivatives of the teachings of certain prophets—notably Abraham—and therefore acknowledges their Abrahamic roots, whilst the Qur'an calls them People of the Book.
According to the Quran Qur'an Jesus is the Christ, the son of Mary, the Messenger of God. Further, that Jesus was given the Gospel as a Book from God, and Jesus came to confirm the Torah, and also to permit some of what was prohibited upon the sons of Israel for some reasons. It also teaches the Jesus the Christ is a Word from God, and a Messenger sent by Him.
Islam has three primary branches of belief, based largely on a historical disagreement over the succession of authority after Muhammad's death. These are known as Sunni, Shi'ite, and Kharijite.
==Orthodoxy and Islam==
The rise of Islam presented a major challenge to Orthodoxy. Beginning in the seventh century, major portions of the Orthodox heartlands (in Syria and Egypt) fell under Muslim rule. By the fifteenth century, most traditionally Orthodox lands were controlled either by Muslim or Roman Catholic rulers, with the exception of northeastern Russia (the Grand Principality of Moscow) and the Ethiopian highlands. The Orthodox generally accepted rule by non-Orthodox governments, provided that freedom of worship was guaranteed. In Ottoman lands, governed under the ''[[w:Millet (Ottoman Empire)|millet]]'' system (by which people were grouped by religion rather than nationality), Orthodox bishops also served as ''Ethnarchs'' (political rulers of their communities).<ref>Dr. Catharine Cookson, (J.D., Ph.D., 1952-2004). [http://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&id=R0PrjC1Ar7gC&dq=encyclopedia+or+religious+freedom&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=8wJLZH8mcI&sig=CpzOJuISIQXQRgEowBQe-iz1QO8&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=6&ct=result Encyclopedia of Religious Freedom]. Published by Taylor & Francis, 2003. pp.313.</ref> Ottoman implementation of the [[w:Devşirme|devsirme tax]] system witnessed Orthodox children of the rural populations of the Balkans, the flower of Orthodox Christendom, conscripted before adolescence and brought up as Muslims. As their empire declined, the Ottoman Muslims became decreasingly tolerant of Orthodox Chrstians.
==See also==
* [[A History of Orthodox Missions Among the Muslims]]
* Saints of the Orthodox Church who converted from Islam: St. [[Serapion of Kozheozero]], St. [[Constantine Hagarit]], St. [[Ahmed the Deftedar]], St. [[Abu of Tbilisi]], St. [[Peter and Stephan of Kazan]].
* [[Orthodox Women Saints and Islam]]* [[Christodoulos (Paraskevaides) of Athens on "Islam: The Extent of the Problematics”]]
* [[Zakaria Botros]]
* [[Roman Silantyev]]
* [[Daniel (Bambang Dwi) Byantoro]]
* [[Ottoman rule and Eastern Christianity]]
* New Martyr Fr. [[Daniel Sysoev]]
==External Links==
* [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/general/gen_islam.aspx Orthodoxy and Islam] at Orthodox Christian Information Center.
* [http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/general/stjohn_islam.aspx St. John of Damascus' Critique of Islam]. Orthodox Christian Information Center.
* [http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,437587,00.html "Islam is a Different Culture"]. SPIEGEL ONLINE: Interview with [[w:Walter Kasper|Cardinal Walter Kasper]], September 18, 2006.
* [http://orthodoxengland.org.uk/islamwes.htm Islam and the West: Towards an Anti-Civilization]. Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia: Diocese of Great Britain and Ireland website. ''(Argues that the so-called ‘clash of civilizations’ between the “west” and “islam” is not the real issue, rather, due to pervasive secularism, it is the clash between between “civilization” and “anti-civilization” that is the real threat).''
*Dr. Otmar OehringWorld Council of Churches. [http://www.forum18oikoumene.org/Archiveen/news/news-management/eng/a/browse/1/article/1722/living-in-community-the.php?article_id=1206 TURKEYhtml Living in Community: Turkish nationalism, Ergenekon, and denial The Goal of religious freedomChristian-Muslim Dialogue]. Forum 18 NewsOctober 20, 21 October 2008. <small>(Dr* Hilary Kilpatrick. [http://incommunion.org/?p=730 Orthodox-Muslim Relations: The Search for Truth]. Otmar Oehring is Head In Communion: Website of Orthodox Peace Fellowship.* [http://www.wikiislam.net/wiki/Islam_and_the_People_of_the_Book Islam and the Human Rights Office People of the German Catholic charity MissioBook]. A trial has begun in Turkey of influential people alleged to be part of an ultra-nationalist group, Ergenekon. The court case reveals 86 members, ranging from the Turkish police, army, business, politics, WikiIslam: critical articles dealing with Islam and the mass media, are alleged in a plan to assassinate the Ecumenical Patriarch, along its relationship with the murder of two Turkish Christians. Ergenekon members are alleged to have maintained deathlists of people, including Christians with a missionary background. The Malatya murder trial is revealing plausible links between Ergenekon, the "deep state" and the murdersJews.)</small>* Luca Galassi (peacereporter.net)[[w:Sandro Magister|Sandro Magister]]. ''[http://groupschiesa.espresso.yahoorepubblica.comit/grouparticolo/OrthodoxNews/message/10198 Iraq46115?eng=y Christians, Islam and the pogrom Future of the ChristiansEurope].'' [http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/?eng=y Chiesa News]. Oct 27, 200820.2.2006.
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[[Category: Heresies]]
[[Category:Non-Orthodox]]
[[Category:Orthodoxy and Islam]]
[[ro:Islam]]