Beliefs of the Turks
1.When did the Turks accept Islam?
English Question: When did the Turkish people accept Islam?
English Answer: The process of Turkic peoples converting to Islam was gradual, primarily taking place between the 8th and 12th centuries. It began with contact and trade with Muslim civilizations like the Abbasid Caliphate. A major turning point was the large-scale conversion of the Karluk, Yagma, and Chigil Turks during the Battle of Talas in 751. However, the most significant event for the history of modern Turkey was the conversion of the Seljuk Turks, who established a powerful empire and became the standard-bearers of Islam, defeating the Byzantine Empire at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 and opening Anatolia (modern-day Turkey) for Turkish settlement. Their state, the Sultanate of Rum, and later the Ottoman Empire, solidified Islam as the dominant faith in Anatolia.
2. What is the Islamic faith? (Regarding belief in previous prophets)
English Question: What is the Islamic faith, particularly regarding belief in previous prophets like Abraham, Isaac, Moses, and Jesus?
English Answer: Islam is a monotheistic Abrahamic religion. A central article of faith in Islam is the belief in all of God’s prophets and the divine books revealed to them.
- Belief in Previous Prophets: Muslims firmly believe in and respect all the prophets who came before Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him – PBUH). This includes:
- Ibrahim (Abraham) – Recognized as a great patriarch and an exemplar of ultimate submission to God.
- Ishaq (Isaac) – A prophet and the son of Abraham.
- Musa (Moses) – A major prophet to whom the Torah (Tawrat) was revealed.
- Isa (Jesus) – A revered prophet, born of the Virgin Mary (Maryam), and the Messiah (Al-Masih). Muslims believe he performed miracles by God’s will and that he was raised to Heaven and was not crucified. However, they do not believe he is the son of God or part of a Trinity, as this contradicts the core principle of absolute monotheism (Tawhid).
- Belief in the Final Prophet: Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the final prophet (Khatam an-Nabiyyin) in a long chain of messengers. He is not considered divine but is the last and most perfect messenger sent to all of humanity to confirm and complete the message of monotheism preached by all the prophets before him. The Quran is believed to be the final, preserved, and literal word of God (Allah), revealed to Muhammad.
3. For what is the word “Allah” used?
For what is the word “Allah” used, and is it exclusive to Islam?
The word “Allah” is the standard Arabic term for God. It is a unique term—it has no plural and no gender, emphasizing the oneness of the Divine.
- Usage in Islam: In an Islamic context, “Allah” refers specifically to the one, all-powerful, all-knowing, and merciful Creator of the universe as described in the Quran. It is the paramount name for the Divine Being in Islam.
- Usage by Non-Muslim Arabs: Crucially, the word is not exclusive to Muslims. Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews also use the word “Allah” to refer to God. For example, an Arab Christian would say “Allah” when talking about God the Father in the Holy Trinity, and an Arab Jew might use it when referring to God in a Arabic context.
- Usage in Turkish/Malay: In non-Arabic Muslim-majority countries like Turkey, Indonesia, or Malaysia, the word “Allah” has been adopted into the language and is used exclusively to refer to the God of Islam. A Turkish Christian would typically use “Tanrı” (the native Turkish word for God) or “Huda” for God, not “Allah,” to make a distinction.
In summary: In Arabic, “Allah” means God for everyone. In Turkish, it specifically means the God of Islam.