Islam

Jews are not convinced that Islam is the proper path for them. Often, Muslims tell themselves the story of The Jew With 100 Questions and then ask themselves: if this man was convinced, why did the Jews not convert. The fallacy here is that what is good enough to convince one man is not necessarily enough to convince others.

Judaism has said that while Islam is a relatively correct religion and sufficient for non-Jews to attain a place in the world to come, it is woefully inadequate for Jews to believe in Islam. Some particular issues concerning Islam for Jews come from the following of Mohammed's teachings and Qur'anic Verses:

Prophecy Post-Malachi: Judaism believes that each generation has a weaker connection to God than the previous generation, a concept called Yeridat ha-Dorot (ירידת הדורות). Judaism also holds that a person has to have a naturally strong connection to God to prophesy. Therefore, around the time of the Prophet Malachi, humanity was losing the strength to maintain prophesy. Jews therefore claim that since Malachi, no person has been capable of prophesying successfully. As Mohammed lived over 900 years after Malachi died, Mohammed, therefore, could not be a Prophet.

Disagreements with the Torah: Mohammed claimed that he received Divine Revelations that explicitly contradicted the Torah such as the claim the Ishmael was taken to be sacrificed instead of Isaac. Mohammed claimed that any differences between what his revelations and the Torah was due to corruption from bad Jews. This infuriated Jews who maintained that their scripture was the same one that they had been using for centuries. He was disagreeing with the words of the Torah and according to Deuteronomy 13:1-4, anyone who openly disagrees with the words of the Torah is a false prophet at best.

Inclusion of Christian Tradition: Mohammed said that Jesus and John the Baptist were prophets when the Jews did not believe so. Jesus was seen in the Jewish community as not only a heretic, but the cause of much Jewish suffering in the Byzantine Empire because of its Christian orientation. They would not accept the religious leadership of someone that supported Jesus as a legitimate prophet. Of course, Jews also rejected Jesus for substantial religious reasons which Mohammed did not take the time to hear out. Muslims today often do not know what the Jewish perspective was on Jesus either, that led to their rejection of him. (A related question below addresses that particular issue.)

Different Rules: Islamic Law is not the same as Jewish Law. While there were certainly similarities, it was a different law and Jews were not going to give up their traditions and history to join a new religious group. To many Jews, it was a reflection of all of the previous religions that had tried to convert them away from their proper mission.

It is worth noting that according to Judaism, both Jews and non-Jews can be prophets (so it was not Mohammed's foreignness that prevented his acceptance). It happens that the majority of God-prophets were from the Israelite-Jewish Line because the Bible is mostly about them. One example of a Prophet in the Bible who clearly received Divine Messages but was not Jewish was Balaam (Numbers Ch. 22-24). Although he was opposed to the Jewish people, his prophecies are still considered valid. His blessing over the Jewish people is still recited in synagogues (called "Ma Tovu").

(Sol′o‧mon) [from a root meaning "peace"].

Son of King David of the line of Judah; king of Israel from 1037 to 998 B.C.E. The Bible record, after reporting the death of the son born to David through his illicit relations with Bath-sheba, continues: "And David began to comfort Bath-sheba his wife. Further, he came in to her and lay down with her. In time she bore a son, and his name came to be called Solomon. And Jehovah himself did love him. So he sent by means of Nathan the prophet and called his name Jedidiah, for the sake of Jehovah." (2Sa 12:24, 25) Solomon later had three full brothers, sons of David and Bath-sheba: Shimea, Shobab, and Nathan.-1Ch 3:5.

And Sulai'man inherited (the knowledge of) Dawud. He said: "O mankind! We have been taught the language of birds, and on us have been bestowed all things. This, verily, is an evident grace (from Allah)."

And there were gathered before Sulai'man his hosts of jinns and men, and birds, and they were all set in battle order (marching forwards). (27:15-17 Quran).

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Additional Comments:

Solomon is black not white.

There is no entry in any of my dictionaries for mezzuah.

A muezzin is a man who calls Muslims to prayer from the minaret of a mosque.

Might that be the word you are looking for?

Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Saudia Arabia

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I have to disagree with this answer. In fact, I have to disagree with this question!

There are not 5 "middle-eastern" countries. The term "the middle east" is not a tight definition, like "United States of America" or even "Africa" (which because of its shape is fairly tightly defined - generally speaking it's easy to tell whether a country is or is not in Africa, though with some islands it gets tricky.)

Originally it designated the countries which lay between the Ottoman Empire and the Arab-speaking world (often collectively referred to as the "Near East") and the "Far East" - China, Japan etc.

These days we use the term more to describe the non-European countries bordering the eastern Mediterranean and those lying immediately to the East of them. Frequently it also includes the countries of the Arabian peninsula.

So, suppose we start off with one definition of "Middle East" and say we are talking about those non-European countries which border the eastern end of the Mediterranean. If that is the case then only two of the countries listed above will count, and we shall have a list which might going clockwise, read, "Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt."

But this definition will miss out countries which can as properly be included - starting most controversially with Palestine, often not counted as a country or a nation. But whether you count Palestine or not, there is the "Gaza" strip which borders the Mediterranean.

Then there is Jordan, which has no actual Mediterranean shore, but is so intimately bound up with the history, geography and politics of the other states mentioned here, that it is hard not to include it in the tally of "Middle-Eastern" states.

If you are going to include Egypt (and few would exclude it), then maybe you should also include Libya and even Tunisia.

Some people use the term to cover the above, and include almost any state where a variety of Arabic is used - this extends the term right across the Arabian peninsula (including Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States) and along the coast of North Africa. This seems too far for me - especially once you get to countries like Morocco in the Western Mediterranean.

Certainly the Arabian peninsula - largely Saudi Arabia, Yemen and the Gulf States - will often get included in a wider definition of the "Middle East". You can argue the case either way.

However, if you start talking about "Middle Eastern politics" few people would exclude the countries of Iraq and Iran, which are linguistically (in the case of Iraq) and culturally and religiously bound up with nations which define the Middle East, and cannot be considered part of the "Far East".

Historically the term "Middle East" was even applied to Afghanistan and its current troubles remain bound up with the fate of countries a long way to the east of it - but if you have a homework question on "The Middle East" you might have to defend the inclusion of Afghanistan.

Clear as mud? - sorry, but that's the Middle East for you.

Answer 1

In the Islamic faith, Imams can offer spiritual guidance, however, authority rests with scripture, and the prophet. The Muslim holy book is called the Qur'an.

Answer 2

While it is certainly a romantic thought that Islam's authority rests solely on the Qur'an, this is certainly not the case. Half of the Islamic World is illiterate, so the beliefs and arguments of Imams and tribal Sheikhs often become the chief authorities on what Islam is for their congregations, even if they are dead-wrong on official religious doctrine.

by following the 5 pillars which are:

1. statement of faith
2. pray 5 times a day
3. give to the poor & needy
4. fasting during the Holy Month of Ramadan
5. travel to Mecca at least once on a hajj