Answer:

In recent times, especially after the terrorist attacks on the

Pentagon and the World Trade Center in 2001, the Islamic world has

become a focus of global attention. Most non-Muslims know little of

the religion of Islam, and confusing and conflicting statements coming

from the mainstream media and the Islamic community itself have

done little to help.

The purpose of this booklet is to give a basic overview of the

origins of the religion of Islam and its early history, as well as some of

the central beliefs and practices of Muslims. In addition, several recent

statements made by the Roman Catholic Church concerning its

relationship to Muslims are presented here. This pamphlet makes no

attempt to cover every aspect of Islamic beliefs, or of Catholic doctrine

on other religions. Rather, it is intended to be an introduction to what

every Catholic should know about Islam in order to more fully live

Church teaching and to understand events occurring in the world today.

1 Address of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, Meeting with Representatives of Some Muslim

Communities, Apostolic Journey to Cologne on the Occasion of the XX World Youth Day

(Cologne, Germany, 20 August 2005).

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The Second Vatican Council

The relationship between Muslims and Christians has a long and

complex history. Whereas Christians in many areas in the East have

lived under Muslim rule since the seventh century, those in the West

had very little contact with Muslims apart from the Crusades

(beginning in 1095) and later through European colonization. The

modern period, however, has brought the world closer together and

given rise to a new awareness of the relationships among members of

other religions. It was for this reason that the Fathers at the Second

Vatican Council chose to devote a separate document to non-Christian

religions, entitled Nostra Aetate (In our times).

After a general introduction emphasizing the common origins of

all peoples and our quest for truth, Nostra Aetate addresses several of the

major world religions individually. Each section singles out beliefs held

by the followers of the religion that can be identified as “seeds of the

Word” – those partial truths found everywhere that are signs of the

working of the Holy Spirit. Since Islam is a monotheistic religion with

high regard for Jewish prophets, the Council Fathers recognized it as

having a particular relationship with Christianity. The following

passages taken from Nostra Aetate address Islam specifically:

Upon the Moslems, too, the Church looks with esteem. They

adore one God, living and enduring, merciful and all-powerful,

Maker of heaven and earth and Speaker to men. They strive to

submit wholeheartedly even to His inscrutable decrees, just as

did Abraham, with whom the Islamic faith is pleased to associate

itself. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere

Him as a prophet. They also honor Mary, His virgin mother; at

times they call on her, too, with devotion. In addition they await

the day of judgment when God will give each man his due after

raising him up.  

Explanation:

hope it works to you men