Ok, here is the situation. I grew up traveling. Spent a couple years in Algeria in the late 70s. Then on to Abu Dhabi and a visit or two to Saudi. Later in life I spent three years working very closely with Turks. I have also traveled Europe extensively and marveled at places like the Alhambra. I love history and tried to learn the cultrual history of the places and peoples I have lived.
lucky you.
I decided very early on that I had no problem believing that Mohammed was one of God's prophets. But at the same time I don't believe that he was the last or was any more special than the rest of the Biblical prophets.
in order to be a muslim one must accept the 6 pillars of Iman (faith) ie if you don't have faith in islam you are not of that faith.
the pillars are:
1. belief that Allah is the one and only god.
2. the believe in the Angels of Allah, those mentioned by name and those not mentioned
3. to believe in the Books of Allah, ie to accept that Moses, David, Jesus and Muhamed received those books from Allah and are true.
4. to believe in the Messengers of Allah, Adam being the first and Muhamed being the last.
5. to believe in the day of Judgement
6. to believe in the decree of Allah, the good of it and the bad of it.
if you don't or never have sincerely believed in all of them at the same time you never were a muslim, therefore you cannot be an apostate. however muslims believe that all humans are born muslims - it is our natural disposition - and it is the parents who make the child a non-muslim.
Now my Christian friends have said that makes me a Muslim.
you did good asking muslims about islam rather than go with what your christian friends said.
But if so, then am I an Apostate for not following the strict rules governing Islam? Can I believe that Mohammed was a prophet of God and not pray 5 times a day or observe ramadan?
prayer and ramadan are pillars of Islam and not of Iman (belief), praying and fasting are what distinguishes between obedient muslims and disobedient muslims among many other things. the Prophet has stated that the first thing man will be accounted for on the day of judgement is prayer, if it is in accordance then all his deeds will be in accordance, if it isn't in accordance then nothing else of his deeds will be in accordance. so by that those who hold fast to prayer and perform it regularly, they will also do all the other deeds such as fasting, and many other things. in another hadith it states that the most beloved thing to Allah is that wish a servant is constant it (that is in accordance to islamic law)
I think I can but I'm curious about what you think too.
from an islamic perspective all those who rightly believed will eventually enter paradise even though they may spend a very long time in hell for the sins that they committed on earth.
i hope my reply is clear, Allah knows best.
