Page 75 - World Religions I - Islam

Study Section 9: The Doctrines of Islam – continued

9.1 Connect

Historically, Islam teaches that Allah has decreed all things. This includes all that happens, good and evil,
obedience or disobedience, faith or infidelity, sickness or health, riches or poverty, life or death. They believe
that Allah has predetermined everything that has happened and everything that will happen. He decides the
day of Judgment, who will be punished, and who will be rewarded to paradise. He even predetermines who
will believe and be rewarded and who will go to hell.

Muslims say "insha'Allah, when they are discussing an event that will take place in the future. The literal meaning
is, "If God wills, it will happen," or "God willing." Alternate spellings include inshallah and inchallah. An example
would be, "Tomorrow we will leave for our vacation to Europe, insha'Allah." The Quran reminds believers that
nothing happens except by God's will, so we cannot be truly sure that a given event will or will not happen. Muslims
believe that it is arrogant of us to promise or insist that something will happen when in reality we have no control
over what the future holds. Allah controls and predetermines every act of man. Man makes no decisions; Allah
makes them all.
This is a bit different between the Christian view that God is sovereign over all, and knows all things. Yet God in His
sovereignty has also given every man a free will to make personal choices. While God in His omniscience knows
what those choices will be, He, because of His grace, allows every man the freedom of choice. This is the heartbeat
of God’s expression of His eternal love.
As we continue looking at the doctrines of Islam, we will see a great contrast between what the Bible teaches and
what Islam teaches. Let’ continue to learn….

9.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to define the doctrinal views of Islam about the Day of Judgment.

2. The student should be able to define and describe the doctrinal views of Islam about fate and
predestination.

9.3 The Day of Judgment

• The Day of Resurrection (Qiyameh; also commonly the Day of Judgement) is believed to be God's
final assessment of humanity. The Day of Judgement is also known as "the Day of Reckoning" (Surah 71:18),
"the Hour" (Surahs 31:34, 33:63, 74:47), and "the Last Day" (Surah 2:8). The Hadith also presents a list of
signs and calamities that will foreshadow the Day of Judgement. Muslim scholars debate the signs listed
in the Hadith, some of which are interpreted literally and others allegorically.
• The Qur'an lists a variety of signs that will precede the Day of Judgement.
o The appearance of al-Masih ad-Dajjal (the "False Christ" or Antichrist).
 The Hadith describes the Dajjal as being blind in his right eye and his eye will be protruding like
a grape.85
 The Dajjal will be prohibited from entering the city of Medina by angels.86

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