Muslims, 3 questions...?

Question

1) how many muslim sects are there? I've only heard of Shiites and Sunnis

2) in Islam, what is the closest you can get to Allah before death?

3) do Muslims believe in how Ishmael came about from Biblical accounts? and why have I heard Abraham called a prophet when he never prophesied?

Answer 1

Great questions! :)
1) The two "main" branches are Sunnis and Shias; another one is the Kurds, and its followers live mainly somewhere in Northern Iraq or so. Shiasm and Sunnism further divide into sub-branches, which are MANY and include the Ahmadis, Suphis, Wahabis, Ismailis, ... and the list doesn't end until near the end of times when the number of these branches/sub-branches is supposed to be in the 70's! (It's important to note that Islamically, we're to accept anyone as Muslims if they consider themselves Muslims even without practicing Islam properly. Some Sunni Muslims have a hard time accepting Shias as Muslims; neither do they or other Muslims consider Ahmadis or others as Muslims. This is unjust and against Islamic teachings since Islam clearly teaches us to accept others as Muslims if they call themselves Muslims even if we know they're lying.)
About 80% of the Muslim world is Sunni, though; their way of Islam really is mainly based on the Quran and Sunnah (hence "Sunni"), which is the tradition and lifestyle of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Still, read what I've to say next.
There's a very important thing we must know: True Islam is NOT supposed to have branches, it's not supposed to be divided, and its followers are supposed to call themselves Muslims and Muslims only and nothing else. The Quran strictly forbids the creation of branches within Islam. Hence, you won't hear every Muslim classifying him/herself as Sunni/Shia, etc. True Muslims just don't do this because they know that all Muslims are one and united in Islam and follow the Quran and Sunnah (teachings/sayings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him).

2) There's no limit as to how close you can get to Allah. A true Muslim feels close to Allah even by smiling at someone, or even by giving charity, or even by helping someone in need, or even by talking to someone who needs to be comforted, etc. etc. But, of course, Muslims are to first perform their duties/obligations always (e.g., praying 5 times a day, obeying parents/elders, respecting others, not praying to any object/human/animal but only to the One God, etc.). As long as you perform your obligations to the best of your ability as a Muslim, you're perfectly fine, and you should feel really close to Allah already.
So, you see, there's really no way of knowing "how" close you are to Allah, and neither is there any limit for getting close to Allah. "Every" good deed that we do brings us closer to Him and hence to Heaven.

3) Muslims believe that Ishmael was the one who was nearly sacrificed by his father, Abraham (peace be upon him); the Bible believes that it was Isaac who was nearly sacrificed. So, no, Muslims don't get this from the Bible at all. Abraham was a prophet, yes, and his prophesies include the one about the House of Allah (metaphorically speaking, of course): The Kaba. The Kaba was built by Abraham and his son Ishmael; they both asked Allah to unite those who submit to Allah's Will ("Muslims") through the Kaba. This is the legacy that Abraham left us Muslims and the entire world. If you know a little about the Kaba and Hajj (which is the last pillar of Islam), and you research what the ceremonies and rites done during Hajj are, you'll also find out that practically every one of those ceremonies is performed due to something that Abraham or his wife did. Even the sacrificing of animals done on the second Eid (feast) goes to Abraham and how he almost sacrificed his son.
Nevertheless, not every single prophet's prophesies are mentioned in the Quran. In fact, not even all Prophets are mentioned in the Quran; only 25 (out of the millions) are.

I hope I answered your questions properly! If not, feel free to email me, and I'll be happy to answer further questions of yours if I know the answers.

~ Peace and blessings of God be upon the world and all its citizens! ~

Answer 2

1) there are the two main ones which are like you said sunnis and shite( their differences actually lie within political realms) there is also sufiasim which is a sub-sect of sunnis it basically focusus on the mysticisim aspects. also there is what is called the nation of islam it is basically a group of people who call themselevs muslim but do not believe in all of the mainstream beliefs for instance in islam all men and women are equal regardless of race but in the nation of islam the "white man" is the the "devil"
2) the closest to allah you can get to before dying is a complex question it would probally be your complete submission and awarness that whatever you do god see's you and that its that principal that keeps you from sinning.
3) the quran says ishmael was one of the son's of abraham and that abraham was going to sacrifice him to God according to a vision he recieved but instead God switched ishmael with a ram(it was a test to see if abraham would do it,) the quran also says that ishmael was a prophet. and finally according to the quran abraham is a prophet because he came to the people of the world to preach that there is one God and that people should aim to practice righteous deeds

Answer 3

1~ there are only 2 and you have heard about both of them
2~ what do you mean?> you can pray and go to mosque five times a day and go to Arab to do Haj.
3~ yea we believe in Ishmael and there are a lot more prophets then what bible tells us because bible only told of the most important ones like Moses(PBUH) and Mohamed (PBUH). Abraham was Ismael's father and they led the foundations of Kahbba ( House of god on earth) in Mecca.

Answer 4

what is the closest you can get to Allah before death
in prayers
The Muslim observes his Prayers to show devotion and obedience to Allah, because Prayer is one of the greatest forms of worship that Allah likes His servants to offer.

To thank Him for creating us in the best form of creation.

Because He has guided us to the Deen (Complete way of Life, Religion) of Islam.

Prayer is a chance for a Muslim to express to his Lord whatever he feels and needs through Divine Words of Allah i.e. the Qur'an.

To remember his Lord and not forget His commands amid life's pre-occupations.

To ask Allah, The Exalted, to give him aid and continuous guidance in the darkness of life.

To strengthen love and fear of Allah in the Muslim's heart so that he might remain sticking to the Right Path of Islam, and its laws and manners.

Gaining good rewards from Allah and having our sins forgiven.

To rejoice when he finds himself on the Last Day pleased with the great reward allotted to him in the Gardens of Bliss.

Prayer is a unique training and developmental program which, if well and devotedly performed, can achieve for Muslims many valuable physical, ethical and spiritual gains such as cleanliness, health, order, punctuality, brotherhood, equality, social consolidation,… etc.

Answer 5

1) Refer to this picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Divisions_of_Islam.jpg

2) When we are at prayer, and actually mean it.

3) In Islamic terms, prophets are messengers of God. He delivered God's messege, therefore he is a prophet.

Answer 6

1- There are many other small sects like Wahhabi, Ismaili, Quranic, Rafida...etc.

2- When praying

3- There are many contradicting accounts about that issue

Answer 7

whenever i called ALLAH i found Him near t me