Muslim Australians - Religion Cultural Diversity Resource Manual
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Equality of Humankind:<br />
A Common View<br />
among <strong>Muslim</strong>s<br />
Allah created a human couple to<br />
herald the beginning of the life of<br />
mankind on earth, and everybody<br />
living in the world today originates<br />
from this couple. The progeny of<br />
this couple were initially a single<br />
group with one religion and the<br />
same language. But as their numbers<br />
gradually increased, they spread all<br />
over the earth and, as a natural result<br />
of their diversification and growth,<br />
were divided into various tribes and<br />
nationalities. They came to speak<br />
different languages; their models of<br />
dress varied; and their ways of living<br />
also differed widely… Islam makes<br />
clear to all men [people] that they<br />
have come from the same parents and<br />
are therefore brothers [and sisters]<br />
and equal as human beings. 10<br />
The Prophet Muhammad<br />
said in a famous sermon:<br />
‘All humankind is from Adam and<br />
Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a<br />
non-Arab nor does a non-Arab have<br />
any superiority over an Arab; also<br />
a white [person] has no superiority<br />
over black nor does a black have any<br />
superiority over a white except by<br />
piety and good action.’<br />
Prophets<br />
<strong>Muslim</strong>s believe that God sent<br />
prophets and messengers to all the<br />
peoples of the earth. No people were<br />
excluded from this, from Australian<br />
Aboriginal people to indigenous<br />
Americans and Europeans. Prophets<br />
and messengers were sent to teach<br />
people primarily about God and<br />
about treating others kindly, justly<br />
and fairly.<br />
<strong>Muslim</strong>s believe that God sent<br />
thousands of prophets to humanity<br />
before Prophet Muhammad. The<br />
first was Adam and the last was<br />
Muhammad, although the <strong>Muslim</strong><br />
Holy scripture, the Qur’an, mentions<br />
the names of only twenty-five<br />
prophets. These prophets came with<br />
a similar message: people have a<br />
duty to recognise the Creator and<br />
submit to His will. This submission<br />
is referred to as ‘Islam’ in Arabic.<br />
Thus all prophets, including<br />
Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and<br />
Muhammad, are ‘submitters’ to God<br />
and therefore called ‘<strong>Muslim</strong>s’ (those<br />
who submit to God).<br />
The last prophet, Muhammad, did<br />
not teach a new message as such. Like<br />
prophets before him, he taught the<br />
oneness of God and how to lead a<br />
righteous life.<br />
A blessing upon the Prophet<br />
When the Prophet Muhammad’s<br />
name is mentioned, <strong>Muslim</strong>s use the<br />
phrase ‘peace be upon him’ to show<br />
their respect. Similarly, a blessing<br />
is given after the names of earlier<br />
Prophets as well.<br />
Scriptures<br />
Another important belief is that<br />
God provided certain instructions<br />
(revelations) to various prophets in<br />
the past. These revelations became<br />
Holy scriptures. <strong>Muslim</strong>s believe<br />
that God gave scriptures to prophets<br />
such as Abraham, Moses, David,<br />
Jesus and Muhammad. The Qur’an<br />
mentions the Gospel (Injil) of Jesus,<br />
the Psalms (Zabur) of David and the<br />
Torah (Tawrat) given to Moses. The<br />
basic message in these scriptures is<br />
the same: to believe in God and to<br />
live life according to His will. For<br />
<strong>Muslim</strong>s, the final scripture is the<br />
Holy Qur’an, revealed to the Prophet<br />
Muhammad.<br />
10<br />
Abul Ala Maududi, The Islamic Social Order, http://www.islam101.com/sociology/socialOrder.htm<br />
<strong>Muslim</strong> <strong>Australians</strong>:THEIR BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND INSTITUTIONS 19
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