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Islam and Mormonism have been compared to one another since the earliest origins of the latter in the nineteenth century, sometimes by detractors of one or both religions,[1] but also at least once byJoseph Smith, founder of theLatter Day Saint movement, himself.[2] Smith was also frequently referred to as"the ModernMuhammad" by several publications of the era, notably in theNew York Herald,[3] shortly after hisassassination in June 1844. This epithet repeated a comparison that had been made from Smith's earliest career.[4]
Comparison of the Mormon and Muslim prophets still occurs today, sometimes for derogatory or polemical reasons[5] but also for more scholarly and neutral purposes.[6] AlthoughMormonism andIslam bear many striking similarities in theology, practice, history, and ethos, there are also significant differences between the two religions.Mormon–Muslim relations have historically been cordial;[7] recent years have seen increasingdialogue between adherents of the two faiths, and cooperation incharitable endeavors.[8]
Mormons have been compared to theAhmadi[9] Muslims specifically, with many noting distinct similarities in both groups' doctrine, history, culture, approach tomissionary work, and general lack of acceptance from mainstreamChristianity andIslam, respectively.[10]
Islam and Latter-day Saint theology both originate in theAbrahamic tradition; LDS theology differs fromMainstream Christianity for beingNon-trinitarian. However, whereas Islam insists upon theEternity, complete Oneness and Uniqueness ofGod (Allah), LDS Christianity asserts that theGodhead is made up of three distinct "beings", Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost so united with one purpose as to be indistingushable.[11] Furthermore, its doctrine ofEternal Progression asserts that God was once a man,[12] and that humans may become gods themselves.[13]
Both Islam and Latter-day Saints believe that the Christian religion as originally established by Jesus was a true religion, but that Christianity subsequently became deformed to the point that it was beyond simple reformation. Hence, each religion sees its founder (Muhammad for Islam, and Joseph Smith for the LDS Church) as being a trueprophet of God, called to re-establish the true faith. However, each religion differs in regard to how it viewsJesus: Latter-day Saints see him as the promisedMessiah and theSon of God (as is the case around mainstream Christianity). Islam agrees that Jesus (whom the Quran calls "Isa") was a Messiah in his own right, but insists that he was only a mortal man, not the Son of God or a divine being. Despite greatopposition from many otherChristian branches, Latter-day Saints identify themselves as a Christian religion, the "restoration" of primitive Christianity. Islam does not refer to itself as "Christian"; it asserts that Jesus and all true followers of Christ's teachings were (and are) actually Muslims – a term that means "submitters to God" – in their belief, not Christians as that term is used today.[14]
Islam holds that the Quran was revealed toMuhammad by the archangelJibrīl (Gabriel) over a period of approximately 23 years, beginning in 610CE when he was forty years old, and concluding in 632 CE, the year of his death.[16][17][18] He first began receiving the 114 revelations that would comprise its contents while secluded for meditation and prayer in theCave of Hira in the mountains outside ofMecca, in what is nowSaudi Arabia. According to Islamic tradition, theilliterate Muhammad was confronted there by Jibrīl, who commanded him to "recite".[19] Although deeply distressed by this event, Muhammad was comforted by his wifeKhadijah and her Christian cousin,Waraqah ibn Nawfal, who encouraged him to accept the angel's visit. Following a three-year period without any further visits from Jibrīl (during which Muhammad continued topray and devote himself to spiritual practices), the angel returned once more, and the other 113Surahs of the Quran were revealed over the next 23 years, which were memorized by their hearers. Muhammad himself did not collect the Quran into a single, written volume; this was largely done after his death.[20]
Mormons believe that when Joseph Smith, Jr. was seventeen years of age, an angel of God namedMoroni appeared to him[21] and told him of a collection of ancient writings engraved ongolden plates by ancient prophets, buried in a nearby hill inOntario County, New York. These writings became theBook of Mormon, and were said to have described a people whom God had led fromJerusalem to theWestern Hemisphere 600 years before Jesus' birth. According to the narrative, Moroni was the last prophet among these people and had buried the record, which God had promised to bring forth in the latter days. Smith stated that he was instructed by Moroni to meet him at the hill annually each September 22 to receive further instructions; four years after the initial visit, in 1827, he was allowed to take the plates and was directed totranslate them into English.[21][22]
A notable area of difference between Mormons and Muslims lies in their religions' differing concepts ofGod. In Islam,Allah (theArabic term for God) is seen as being unique, totally transcendent, absolutely and indivisiblyOne; this concept is calledTawhid inIslamic theology, and does not admit the possibility of division in theGodhead either in personality, essence or otherwise.[23] It holds that God is one (wāḥid) and unique (ahad).[24] The very term "Allah" itself is singular, and does not have a plural form in Arabic (unlike English, where "god" can be pluralized into "gods"). Allah is perceived by Muslims to be a unique, independent and indivisible being, who is utterly independent of and who precedes all of creation, having created all of itex nihilo.[25] Hence, the idea that there could be more than one God, or that God could be composed of distinctpersons (however united these "persons" might be alleged to be in substance – as is held in the mainstreamTrinitariantheology ofChristianity – or in purpose alone, as alleged by the Mormons in opposition to the Christian doctrine), is allheresy of the worst possible kind for a Muslim. In fact, such ideas are referred to asShirk, which is the most serious sin in Islamic law, and the only one designated by the Quran as being utterly unpardonable for the person who dies in it.
In stark contrast, Mormonism believes in aGodhead composed of three separate and distinct beings, who function as a single, unified God under the direction of theFather, who is held to be the senior member of this triad.[26] Although theBook of Mormon andDoctrine and Covenants clearly identify the Father,Son andHoly Ghost as being "one God",[27] this unity is seen as a metaphorical "oneness" in spirit, purpose and glory, rather than a physical or bodily union. The MormonBook of Abraham, in its account ofcreation (one that generally parallels the one in theBiblicalBook of Genesis), speaks of "the Gods", rather than "God", as accomplishing the act of creation.[28]
MormonApostleJeffrey R. Holland elaborated upon this concept during theGeneral Conference of the LDS Church in 2007:
We believe these three divine persons constituting a single Godhead are united in purpose, in manner, in testimony, in mission. We believe Them to be filled with the same godly sense of mercy and love, justice and grace, patience, forgiveness, and redemption. I think it is accurate to say we believe They are one in every significant and eternal aspect imaginable except believing Them to be three persons combined in one substance, a Trinitarian notion never set forth in the scriptures because it is not true....We declare it is self-evident from the scriptures that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are separate persons, three divine beings, noting such unequivocal illustrations as the Savior's great Intercessory Prayer [John 17], His baptism at the hands of John, the experience on the Mount of Transfiguration, and the martyrdom of Stephen—to name just four.[29]
Latter-day Saints also believe, in marked contrast to Islam, that God the Father and Jesus Christ each have physicalbodies of flesh and bone,[30] and that the Father was once a man, who progressed to become what he is today.[31] Furthermore, they believe that man is capable, by embracing and adhering completely to the Mormon religion, ofevolving into a "god" himself in the next life,[32] the LDS equivalent oftheosis. In addition, the existence of a being colloquially known as "Heavenly Mother" is affirmed by the LDS Church,[33] though prayer to her or speaking of her as being part of the Mormon Godhead are not encouraged.[34][35] Islam rejects all of these concepts.
Whereas Muslims believe that Allah is absolutely above and separate from all of hiscreation, having created all of it from nothing,[36] Mormonism considers bothmatter andintelligence to be co-eternal with him; rather, God (according to Mormonism) "organizes" the elements into planets, stars, living beings, and so forth.[37] Islam considers this concept to be a deification of creation, which it sees as another form ofShirk.[38]
In Islam, severalhadith stress the importance of keeping family relations alive and recommend that the distant relatives ought to be visited, even if took a year to travel to them. Brothers and sisters at home should help their mother when she becomes unable to support her children alone, while at the same time they should be equally benevolent to each other. Muhammad insisted that the most important person in one's life (after Allah) is one'smother, saying: "Paradise lies underneath the feet of mothers" (Mawdu' Hadith not to be quoted)[39]
In Islam, all Muslims are considered brothers and sisters in the faith,[40] and are often addressed by the titles "brother" and "sister". The same holds true in Mormonism.[41]
Mormons also stress the importance of family relations. They designateSunday as theirSabbath, a day of rest from worldly concerns and endeavors, to concentrate on spiritual matters (includingcommunal worship) and family activities. They also designate Monday evenings as "Family Home Evening", an evening where all Mormons are encouraged to devote themselves exclusively to family togetherness and joint activities – temporal, as well as spiritual.[42] Though Islam does not have a designated Sabbath (Friday, while the designated day forcorporate worship, is otherwise mostly an ordinary work day for Muslims),[43] it does encourage family togetherness.
Mormonism teaches that families can be together throughout eternity, through the rite ofeternal marriage andsealing ordinances as performed in Mormontemples. If a Mormon in good standing receives these rites and continues faithful to his or her religion until death, he or she is guaranteed to be reunited in the next life with all other family members who have done the same. Islam declares that all of those who remain faithful to Islam and achieveJannah (Heaven, or "Paradise" as it is often called) will be reunited with their families there, or at least so many of them as have remained equally faithful to their religion and achieved the same reward.[44]
Islamic theology recognizes as many as 124,000 prophets.[45] The Quran identifies 25 prophets by name, starting with Adam and ending with Muhammad.[46]
Five of these are considered particularly important in Islam:
Of these five, four are equally revered in Mormonism, with two uniquely Mormon scriptures, theBook of Abraham and theBook of Moses attributed to two of them. Of the 25 prophets named in the Quran, onlyAdam,Noah,Abraham,Ishmael,Isaac,Jacob,Lot,Joseph,Job,Moses,Aaron,David,Solomon,Elijah,Elisha,Jonah,Zechariah,John and Jesus are recognized by Mormonism. Aaron also lends his name to one of the two "priesthoods" of Mormonism: theAaronic priesthood. The other Quranic prophets (Hud,Salih,Shuayb,Dhul-Kifl and Mohammed) are not recognized by Mormons, although Shuayb and Dhul-Kifl are sometimes identified withJethro andEzekiel. Hud is sometimes identified withEber of the Bible.[47] At least one Latter-day Saint scholar has noted parallels between the narrative of the Quranic prophet Hud and the Book of Mormon prophetLehi, speculating that they may have been the same person.[48]
Some Latter-day Saints consider Muhammad to have received a portion of God's light, and that moral truths were given to him to enlighten nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals.[49] However, it does not consider him to have been a prophet in the same sense as modern-day LDS prophets nor ancient prophets found in the Bible and Book of Mormon, and does not accept the Quran as scripture. Conversely, Islam does not accept Joseph Smith as a prophet, for it believes Muhammad to have been thefinal prophet of God to humankind.[50] It equally does not accept the Book of Mormon, or any of the other Latter-day SaintStandard Works, as the Quran is believed to be God's final revelation for all time, and for all people.
InIslam,Jesus is considered to be a humanProphet of God who was sent to guide the Children of Israel with a new scripture, theInjīl, or Gospel.[51] The Quran states that Jesus was born toMary (Arabic: Maryam) as the result of avirginal conception, a miraculous event which occurred by the decree of God. To aid him in his ministry, Jesus was given the ability to performmiracles, all by the permission of God rather than his own power. According to the Quran and other Islamic texts, Jesus was neither killed norcrucified,[52] but Muslims disagree as to the precise interpretation of these texts; many believe he was raised up alive toJannah by God. Some Islamic traditions narrate that Jesus will return to Earth near theDay of judgment to restore justice and defeatal-Masīḥ ad-Dajjāl (lit. "the false messiah", also known as theAntichrist).[53][54] Like allprophets in Islam, Jesus is considered to have been aMuslim, as he preached for people to adopt the straight path in submission to God's will. Islam rejects that Jesus was Godincarnate or theSon of God, stating that he was an ordinary man who, like other prophets, had been divinely chosen to spread God's message.[55]
According to Mormon doctrine, Jesus Christ is the eldestSon of God the Father.Latter-day Saints identify Jesus with theOld TestamentJehovah per his declaration, "I AM that I AM." Because of Christ's suffering, death, andresurrection, all mankind is saved from death, and will rise again and receive a perfected physical body. Furthermore, theAtonement satisfies the demands ofjustice; grace, forgiveness, and mercy (i.e.salvation) are extended to all who accept Christ as theirSavior, receive the savingordinances that he commanded, and become his life-long disciples.[57]
Mormonism has a different perception of the Christian concept oforiginal sin, and believes individual sin requires an atonement, or infinite, redeeming sacrifice, which had to be accomplished by Jesus Christ after the individual has sought repentance.[58]
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Islam each believe in alife after death: belief in theLast Judgment and an Afterlife is one of theSix Articles of Belief of Islam; it also forms an essential element of the Mormon belief system. Islamic and Mormon concepts of the next world share some common characteristics, which include:
Islam teaches that the purpose of man's creation is essentially to be kind to other human beings and to worship theCreator of the Heavens and Earth:Allah. It furthermore teaches that life lived on this Earth is a test for man to determine each individual's ultimate reward or punishment in the afterlife, which is eternal.[59] These concepts are also held by Mormonism, which views human earthly existence as a trial, designed to see who will prove faithful to God's commands, and thus be worthy to inherit the highest possible exaltation (which Mormons equate to "godhood", something Islam vehemently opposes). Those who prove less faithful will inherit a lesser reward, but will still be compensated for the good they did.[60]
In Islam,salvation refers to one's entrance toJannah, or heaven. This word does not encompass the alternate possibility ofJahannam, or hell, nor to the multiple degrees Islam believes to exist in each location. The Quran teaches that the only sin which guarantees damnation for any human being is that ofShirk, or associating other beings or entities with the one, true God: Allah (meaning those who die in such a state; those who repent and embrace Islam during their earthly lives are forgiven this sin).[61] Hence:
Ultimately, says Islam, all true Muslims will inherit Paradise, even those who are initially confined to hell. However, with multiple levels in Jannah, not every Muslim will inherit the same degree. Furthermore, avoiding hell (described in the Quran as a place of terrible pain and suffering) requires more than belief: it requiresrepentance from sin and adherence toGod's laws. However, Islam emphasizes that good deeds alone do not gain one admission to heaven; ultimately, Allah'smercy alone is what forgives sin and enables man to attain anything good in the next life.[65] The varying degrees of reward (and of punishment) are a manifestation of God's justice: the level of goodness (or evil) one sows in this life, will be reaped accordingly in the next. Mormonism, for its part, believes almost precisely the same with regard to the role of God's mercy, grace and justice in judgment and salvation.[66]
The Latter-day Saint concept of the afterlife comprises three "Degrees of Glory", together with a state of existence called "Outer Darkness", which is not considered a "kingdom of glory". Entry into one of these kingdoms is determined by God, based upon one's deeds, beliefs and receipt of a series ofordinances mandated by the Latter-day Saint religion. For those who did not have a chance to hear about Jesus Christ or receive Latter-day Saint rites during their earthly life, the LDS ChurchTemples provide a means for their salvation throughproxies who receive the ordinances on their behalf. The three kingdoms are:
In addition to this, there is a fourth destination, which Latter-day Saints specifically reject as being a kingdom or having any glory, referred to asOuter Darkness. This is the abode of those who are sent there after theLast Judgment, where they will dwell in a place of great torment, "the end thereof, neither the place thereof, nor their torment, no man knows; Neither was it revealed, neither is, neither will be revealed unto man, except to them who are made partakers thereof."[69] This group will compriseSatan and hisangels, together with those who have become "sons of perdition" by committing theunpardonable sin, which is to deny Christ after receiving a witness of him through the Holy Ghost.
Charitable giving forms an important part of Islamic and Mormon teaching. One of theFive Pillars of Islam is the payment ofZakat, a mandatory contribution of 2.5% of one's excess wealth, after legitimate needs and expenses (including taxes) have been paid. The poorest Muslims (those below a certain minimum level of wealth) are excused from this payment, as are those who have experienced a net loss in the year's income compared to the previous year's. This money is distributed to extremely poor and needy Muslims, indebted and traveling Muslims, those who seek to propagate the religion, and also to free captives.[70] Muslims are also enjoined to give above and beyond this 2.5%, in what is referred to asSadaqah, or charity, according to their means. Islam emphasizes the obligatory nature of Zakat, and states that no one who refuses to give who is able will be accepted by God.[71]
Mormonism equally emphasizes charitable giving, starting with atithe of 10% of one'sgross income, generally before taxes or expenses are paid. This tithe is mandatory of all who wish to obtain atemple recommend, a requirement to enterLDS temples (as opposed to regular Mormonmeetinghouses where anyone can attendweekly worship services).[72] This money goes to finance the day-to-day operations and activities of the LDS Church. In addition to this, aFast Sunday is observed once per month, where a specialFast offering is collected to be given to the poor and needy amongst the Mormon people. The amount given during this special offering is generally expected to equal or exceed the amount one would have spent on the twomeals which one is asked to forego on that day.[73]
Mormons and Muslims have recently cooperated in charitable work. In May 2006, the LDS Church donated $1.6 million USD worth of emergency supplies to devastated areas following theearthquake inJava, Indonesia, teaming up with Islamic Relief Worldwide who provided transportation in conjunction withThe Islamic Medical Association of North America.[74] That same year, Muslim and Mormon organizations cooperated again in the distribution of humanitarian aid to Lebanese citizens, during the2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict.
InIslam,polygyny is allowed, and is practiced in some Muslim countries, although under certain restrictions. The single passage in the Quran dealing directly with the topic of polygyny is in Surah 4 Verse 3:
And if you fear that you cannot act equitably towards orphans, then marry such women as seem good to you, two and three and four; but if you fear that you will not do justice (between them), then (marry) only one or what your right hands possess; this is more proper, that you may not deviate from the right course.
The practice of polygamy continues among someMuslims worldwide, including a small share (less than 1%)[75] ofAmerican Muslims.[76] Most American Muslim leaders openly discourage this practice, however, as being contrary to United States law.[75]
Early in its history,The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints practiced polygamy in theUnited States and referred to it as "plural marriage". It was publicly announced by the church in 1852, and the plural marriage ceremony (as conducted by an authorized priesthood leader) was viewed as a sacred, eternal ordinance. Only a small percentage of church members, including leaders, ever practiced polygamy. The practice was formally introduced by Joseph Smith in the LDSDoctrine and Covenants 132, as being from "the Lord thy God ...the Alpha and Omega".[77] These developments quickly led to the enacting of anti-polygamy laws, with theU.S. Congress making polygamy illegal in U.S. territories in 1862. Although Latter-day Saints contended that their religiously based practice of plural marriage was protected by theUnited States Constitution, theSupreme Court of the United States determined otherwise, leading to the formal ending of the practice in 1890, reinforced byfurther decrees in 1904 mandating excommunication for any member either practicing or advocating polygamy. Certainfundamentalist Mormon sects continue to practice plural marriage today, albeit outside of the mainstream LDS Church body.
Although the mainstream LDS Church has renounced the practice of plural marriage, it still believes and teaches that acelestial marriage contracted between a single unmarriedman[78] and a single unmarriedwoman in one of its temples is eternal. They see such a union as being indispensable for "exaltation" to "godhood" in the next life,[79] and deny an eternal union to all marriages contracted elsewhere.
Fasting forms an important part of both Mormon and Muslim doctrine. Mormons are encouraged to fast from all food and drink (including water) each Fast Sunday (generally the first Sunday of each month). They generally skip two meals (24 hours) during their fast and donate what they would have spent on those meals to those in need. Although this is the only church-scheduled period of recommended fasting, Mormons are encouraged to fast at other times, for personal revelation or during times of prayer and contemplation.[73] Fasting without prayer and sincere devotion to God is not regarded as of much spiritual benefit in the LDS Church.
Islam has as one of its "five pillars" the practice ofSawm, which is not merely fasting from all food and drink (including water), but equally from impure thoughts, words and deeds. Islamic fasting also requires one to refrain fromsmoking andsexual intercourse during the period of the fast, as well.[80] The infirm and travelers may delay their fasting until a later date, but must make up every obligatory day missed. While Sawm is optional during most of the year (and forbidden altogether on Islam's two holiest days:Eid ul Fitr andEid ul Adha), it is mandatory during daylight hours throughout the month ofRamadan, the ninth month of theIslamic calendar. It was during this month that the first verses of the Quran were said to have been revealed to Muhammad.[81] The elderly, and those whose health is endangered by fasting (such asdiabetics) are excused from doing so, but are required to make up for it by feeding the poor.[82]
Both Muslims and Mormons are active in proselytizing those outside of their religion, inviting them to learn about their faith and adopt it for themselves, if they so decide. In Islam, this is referred to asDa'wah, and it is considered incumbent upon all Muslims to actively invite non-Muslims to the faith. Da'wah is equally described as the duty to "actively encourage fellow Muslims in the pursuance of greater piety in all aspects of their lives".[83] In Islamic theology, the purpose of Da'wah is to invite all people, both Muslims and non-Muslims, to understand the proper worship of God as expressed in the Quran, as well as to inform them aboutMuhammad.[83] The government ofSaudi Arabia spends significant amounts of money to propagate Islam throughout the world, via the building ofmosques, printing and distribution of Qurans and other literature, and financing of missionaries.
The LDS Church also has a widespreadproselytizing program, and are perhaps best known to others for this activity. Most of these missionaries are young Mormons (generally aged 18–26), though some are older couples or individuals. All persons aged eight and older, who are considering membership in the LDS Church, are taught by church missionaries prior to baptism. Once this person has been sufficiently instructed, he or she will be interviewed by another missionary to ensure their proper preparation for membership in the church. In certain situations, an interview with the areamission president may be necessary before the church agrees to baptize an individual.[84]
According to the Quran, idolatry or assigning partners to the One God (Arabic:shirk) is an egregious sin. It is seen as different from all other sins and is categorized as the one and only categorically unforgivable sin. Hence, depicting religious themes, and specifically God, is seen as inappropriate and unbecoming. Islamdoes not believe that Allah may be depicted in any artistic manner whatsoever, nor represented by any kind of image, no matter what reason one may have for doing so. Furthermore, theSunni portion of Islam, comprising approximately 85% of the world's Muslims, also rejects all depictions oftheir prophets – whether artistic or photographic (as in amovie). For instance, the 1998DreamWorks animated filmThe Prince of Egypt was banned inEgypt,Malaysia, theMaldives andIndonesia, as these predominately Muslim countries objected to any depiction ofMoses, whom Islam views as a prophet.[85][86][87]
Latter-day Saints do not generally approve of or owncrucifixes, and do not typically have statues in their localward meeting houses, though some have been erected in LDS Visitor Centers and elsewhere.[88] Portraits of Jesus, together with photographs or paintings of current and/or past church leaders, are allowed in LDS meetinghouses, but not in the main worship area (called theChapel),[citation needed] and they are not permitted for use asobjects of devotion, as inRoman Catholic orEastern Orthodox churches.[89] A common Mormon statue is that of an angel blowing atrumpet, commonly identified as Moroni, which is placed on the tallest spire of many LDStemples, facing eastward. These are, however, purely artistic in nature.[citation needed]
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Muslims are commanded in the Quran[90] to purify themselves prior to prayer by engaging in a ritual of washing known asWudu. Although there are a few slight differences between the specifics of theSunni andShi'ite practice, Wudu always involves using clean water to wash the hands, mouth, nose, face, the arms up to the elbows, the feet up to the ankles, and wiping the head and ears with wet hands (calledMasah). This must be done prior to each performance ofSalat, the five-times-daily ritual prayers required of all Muslims, and must also be done prior to other ritual prayers. Those who have been able to preserve their ritual cleanliness according to Islamic rules are not required to perform Wudu, but are encouraged to do so nonetheless. This washing is accompanied by specified prayers and a sincere intention to perform Wudu in the heart.
For those adult Muslims who have hadsexual intercourse or any sexual discharge (e.g. ofsemen),[91][92] or who have completed themenstrual cycle[93][94] or given birth,[95] the performance ofghusl is prescribed, replacing Wudu for that particular instance. In Ghusl, one bathes the entire body from head to foot, leaving none of it unwashed, again with sincere intention and prayers. Islam also recommends (i.e. it ismustahab) performance of the full ablution before the Friday[96][97] and Eid[98] prayers, before entering theehram, in preparation forhajj,[99] after having lost consciousness,[99] and after formally converting to Islam.[100]
For those Muslims unable to find clean water to wash with, a ritual known asTayammum is commanded, in which a Muslim uses "clean earth" to ritually cleanse his hands, arms, and face. This is only permitted if clean water is unavailable, or if the water is more than 1.7 km away.[101]
AlthoughMormonism does not require a special rite of washing prior to daily prayer or corporate worship, its special ceremony ofwashing and anointing (also called the "Initiatory") is anordinance that symbolizes ritual cleansing and anointing to be a king or queen in heaven. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this rite is performed exclusively intemples. The ordinance of washing and anointing symbolizes the ritual cleansings of priests that took place at Israel's Tabernacle, the temple of Solomon, and at later temples in Jerusalem (see Exod. 28:40–42, 29:4–9, 29:20–21, 29:29–30, 30:18–21). As the name suggests, this ordinance has two parts, a ritual washing in water by a like-gendered person specially ordained to this task, followed by anointing with oil. This ritual is generally administered as a precursor to theendowment, one of the most important of Mormontemple ordinances.[102]
Both Mormonism and Islam forbid the drinking of alcoholic beverages. Both also offer their members a list of substances that are forbidden for consumption to believers.
Islamic jurisprudence specifies certain foods as beinghalāl, or lawful, and others asharām, or unlawful. These designations are based upon rules found in the Quran. Other restrictions have been added to these in various fatawa (authoritative Islamic statements of religious opinion) given bymujtahids (Islamic scholars) with various degrees of strictness. These are not always held to be authoritative by all Muslims everywhere. According to the Quran, the only foods explicitly forbidden are:[103]
However, should a Muslim find themselves in a situation where no other food is available other than some product mentioned above, he or she is permitted to eat of it, but only in such an amount as proves necessary to sustain one's life.[104]
In addition to these items, Islam generally forbids the eating of any beast of prey, or any beast having fangs, together with all meat that has not been slaughtered under the name of Allah, in accordance with Islamic ritual laws.Jewish-certifiedkosher meat is consideredHalal for Muslims, as it is still slaughtered according to ancient practices meant to minimize the animal's suffering, and also to invoke the name of God at the time of the animal's death.[105] The Quran specifically authorizes consumption of such meat,[106] though modern Muslim practice generally forbids eating of non-Kosher or non-certified-Halal meat (such as is prepared in Westernslaughterhouses), because the name of God is no longer mentioned over those animals that are slaughtered there, nor do modern slaughter methods correspond to traditionally approved Muslim ones.[107]
In addition to these items,Alcoholic beverages – or any intoxicant – are forbidden in Islam. According to the Quran, "intoxicants and games of chance" are "abominations ofSatan's handiwork".[108]
Similarly, a set ofMormon dietary rules are found in the LDSD&C 89,[109] which contains three elements:
The sole exception made to the prohibitions contained in this "Word of Wisdom" is forwine used as part of the MormonSacrament of Communion), commonly referred to as "the Sacrament". The revelation indicates that if wine is used for the Sacrament, it must be pure and either "of your own make" or made by other Mormons. The LDS Church no longer uses wine in its Sacrament, having replaced it with water in conformity to a revelation on the subject;[110] thus members are no longer permitted to drinkany alcoholic beverages. Tobacco, for its part, is stated as being "not for the body, neither for the belly, and [it] is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill."[111]
While forbidding alcohol, Islam does not prohibit coffee or tea, though some fatawa prohibit tobacco. Conversely, the LDS Church no longer has any restrictions on the types of meat one may eat, or when one may consume them (except for designated fasting periods – see above).
Besides The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, theLatter Day Saint movement contains severalsmaller factions, many (though not all) of whichbroke from the LDS Church in the decades following Joseph Smith's death.
These churches all reject various teachings of the mainlineLDS Church, with specific differences varying from denomination to denomination. Most reject the LDS notion that God was ever once a man, or that man can become a god, as taught within the LDS Church. However, with the notable exception of the Strangites, each of these sects accepts in some way or another the traditionalChristian division of theGodhead into three persons: Father, Son and Holy Ghost, thus placing each in fundamental opposition toIslamic dogma. The Strangites are closer to Islam by insisting that only theFather is God;[112] however, their assertion that God has a body of flesh[113] places them at odds with Islam, as well.
Islam does have acceptance ofpolygamy in common with the Strangites and Fundamentalist Mormons. Strangites, however, have given up the actual practice of (though not belief in) polygamy, while the Fundamentalist Mormons continue to practice it today. The other Latter Day Saint factions generally reject polygamy, together witheternal marriage, theBook of Abraham, and various other distinctive mainline LDS doctrines. While much of this renders them closer to Islam in some ways than the mainlineLDS Church, numerous irreconcilable differences in doctrine and practices still persist between these smaller factions and the Muslim faith.[114]
The Community of Christ has used at least one Quranic text (Surah 5, verse 8) in an official publication for its youth,[115] and has offered a "Peace Colloquy" featuring a speaker who endeavored to present Islam in a positive light.[116]
Ibn Sa'd [...] reports that [...] the total number of prophets is 1000. Ibn Hanbal, Musnad lists the total number of prophets as 124,000 (Ibn Hanbal, Musnad, 5, 169).
There are 25 prophets mentioned by name in the Quran [...] Among those mentioned by name are: Adam (mentioned 25 times by name), Idris (1), Noah (43), Hud (7), Salih (10), Abraham (69), Ishmael (12), Isaac (17), Jacob (16), Lot (27), Joseph (27), Shuayb (11), Job (4), Dhu al-Kifl (2), Moses (137), Aaron (20), David (16), Solomon (17), Elijah (1), Elisha (2), Jonah (4), Zechariah (7), John (5), Jesus (25), Muhammad (4).
We believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh. We accept the prophetic declarations in the Old Testament that refer directly and powerfully to the coming of the Messiah, the Savior of all humankind. We believe that Jesus of Nazareth was and is the fulfillment of those prophecies.;
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