Islam Case

Although Islam is similar in many ways to Judaism and Christianity, its greatest difference from these religions is the belief that Jesus was not the son of God and that 'there is only one God and that Mohammad is his messenger (prophet)'/the origin of the religion. Both Judaism and Christianity do not depict Mohammad as a prophet, whereas Muslims hold that Mohammad's religious ideas came directly from God. 'Muslims believe that both Judaism and Christianity express true revelation from God but that in various ways those religious have contaminated God's word with human misunderstanding. It was Muhammad, Muslims believe, who freed the divine message from human error and offered it, purified, to all people. Because he is considered the last and greatest figure in the long line of prophets, Muhammad is called the 'seal of the prophets' (Molloy,pg. 430). Molloy also mentions 'Muslims believe that good and evil forces are in constant battle and that life on earth is filled with choices that lead to the most serious consequences. This conception goes hand in hand with the overall emphasis od all Western prophetic religions on morality. Religion is viewed as strongly ethical enterprise;one of its most important purposes is to regulate human life. This moral emphasis appears clearly in the 'Five Pillars of Islam'-Creed,Prayer,Charity,Fasting and Pilgimage. (pg.431)

Islamic architecture exists primarily because of the Islamic understanding of God. Prayer is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and Islamic architecture expresses itself most importantly in the place of public prayer, the mosque. Since there is a prohibition of much figural art in Islam, Islamic public worship towards God is shown primarily while praying in mosques. Molloy shows couple of beautifully designed mosques that have later been turned into museums for others to see.(pg.466)