Introduction to Islam
00 A High-Level Overview of Islam
Islam is one of the world’s major monotheistic religions and is the second-largest religion globally after Christianity.
01 What Islam Claims to Be
The word Islam comes from an Arabic root word s-l-m, which also relates to concepts of peace (salām) and safety. It refers to willingly submitting to God’s...
02 The Islamic View of God
Allah. What Is Tawḥīd? What Is Shirk? The 99 Names of Allah.
03 Muhammad
Who Was Muhammad? The Life of Muhammad. Muhammad as Prophet, Leader, and Lawgiver. Muhammad’s Role in Islamic Belief and Practice.
04 The Qur'an
What is the Qur’an? How The Qur’an Was Revealed. How Muslims Use the Qur’an in Daily Life. Qur’an vs Jewish and Christian Bibles.
05 Jesus in Islam
Who is Jesus in Islam? What Does Islam Teach About the Crucifixion? Why Does Islam Reject the Divinity of Jesus? The Return of Jesus.
06 Revelation, Scripture, and Authority
Religious Authority In Islam. Muhammad and the “Seal of the Prophets.”
07 The Five Pillars of Islam
What Are the Five Pillars of Islam? Shahada, Salat, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj.
08 Hadith and the Sunnah
What Is The Sunnah? What Is Hadith? The Science of Hadith Criticism. The Role of the Sunnah in Islamic Law.
09 Islamic Law (Sharia)
What Is Sharia? Schools of Muslim Law.
10 Sin, Repentance, and Salvation
Human Nature and Sin in Islam. Major and Minor Sins in Islam. Repentance and Forgiveness in Islam. Salvation and the Day of Judgment in Islam.
11 Angels, Jinn, and the Unseen World
The Unseen World. Angels. Jinn. Iblis and the Shayatin (Satan in Islam).
12 Islamic Ethics
The Structure of Islamic Ethical Behavior. Intrapersonal Islamic Ethics (The Inner Life). Interpersonal Islamic Ethics Under Sharia (How to Treat Others)....
13 Islamic Sects & Diversity
The Ummah and Islamic Diversity. Sunni Islam. Shia Islam. Minority Branches in Islam.
14 Conversion & Apostasy
Conversion to Islam (Shahada). Apostasy in Islam (Riddah).
15.0 Islam Module 15: Islam and Political Authority
Islam Module 15 explains why Islam is often closely connected to politics and compares how that connection appears in different Muslim-majority countries....
15.1 Why Islam is Involved in Politics
To understand why Islam plays a role in many political governments, we have to look at how the religion began and how it understands the world.
15.2 Caliphates & Islamism (Political Islam)
A caliphate is a form of Islamic government led by a caliph, who is considered the political and religious successor to the Prophet Muhammad. The term...
15.3 Inheritance Laws: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Turkey
In this example, we will compare inheritance laws across five Muslim-majority countries. Qur'an 4:11 states: "...for the male is the share of two fema...
15.4 Saudi Arabia: Monarchy and Sharia
Saudi Arabia is a theocracy and provides one of the clearest examples of a modern state where Islam and governance are closely connected.
It is an absolute...
