Religion: Islam, ISLAM

Religion: Islam, ISLAM: "

ISLAM

Islam is the second largest religion in the world, after Christianity. With around 1.4 billion followers worldwide ( Muslims are divided in two major branches: Sunni 940 million and Shia 120 million).
Islam is the last of the three Abrahamic religions, after Judaism and Christianity. As Sarah Had no son, Abraham took Hagar for second wife. According to Qu'ran, Ishmael , the son of Abraham and Hagar, went to the place where Mecca was. His descendants became Muslims.

Islam is over 1300 years old and has appeared first in Arabia (VII century). Before Islam , the Arabic Peninsula was populated by Bedouins, warring tribes, and multiple religions: Polytheism the religion of Arabs leaving in the cities; Christians and Jewish communities.

In Mecca there were 360 shrines to various gods and pilgrimages to those shrines was a great source of revenue for the town.

Islam is derived from a root word meaning “ Surrender or the submission to one God, called Allah ”. Muslim is the “one who submits”. The submission applies to every moment in the life of a Muslim. The full connotation of Islam is the perfect peace that comes when one's life is surrendered to God: “I testify that there is nothing worthy of worship but God; and I testify that Muhammad is His Messenger." This complete submission presupposes as an acceptable minimum a firm belief in the truth and justice of all that God has revealed in human history. Islam is both a religion and a way of life.

According to the tradition, when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was 40, archangel Gabriel appeared to him during a vision ( in the cave at Mt. Hira ) . This vision and the ones that followed were interpreted to be verses and the direct word of God. They were compiled into the holy text of Islam, the Qur'an (Koran) .

After 4 years Muhammad (pbuh) had 40 disciples and started to openly preach in Mecca ( Khadija his wife became the first convert to Islam).

Due to increasing hostility, he left Mecca to Medina (previously called Yatrib).

The Islamic calendar begins from this event called “ Hegira " or " Hijra ” (emigration) in 622 . In Medina Muhammad (pbuh) was recognized as a prophet and a brilliant administrator (Firm in his justice and yet merciful).

Later the Arab and Jewish opposition were crashed in Medina and a war was declared against Mecca. During this period many Arab tribes declared allegiance to Muhammad (pbuh).

Mecca capitulated in 630 . Before his death in 632 , Muhammad (pbuh) became the head of an Arab/Islamic state which was extending quickly. Within half a century of the Prophet 's death, Islam had spread to three continents.

“Islam does not approve of hostility toward other religions. Rather, it proclaims freedom of religion and forbids coercion in religion. During his lifetime, Muhammad (pbuh) himself was very kind toward his neighbors and friends of other beliefs, Jews as well as Christians. He even married a Jewish woman, Safijah, and a Christian slave, Marie, who was given him by the ruler of Egypt. When the Emperor of Abyssinia died, Muhammad (pbuh) prayed for him in recognition of his help given to the Muslims who took refuge there in the early days of Islam”

The 6 basic beliefs/faith (Iman) Of Muslims:

Believe in the Unity of God
Belief in the Angels: Allah's faithful servants.
Belief in the Books sent by God
Belief in all the Prophets and Messengers sent by God
Belief in the Day of Judgment (Qiyamah) and in the Resurrection
Belief in Destiny/Fate (Al-Qadr)