Islam is the second largest religion of
the world whose followers are called Muslims. The largest number of
Muslims are in Asia and Africa and particularly in middle east and north
Africa. The founder of Islam, Muhammad, was born about 570 A.D. in Mecca.
His parents died when he was young and was raised by relatives. When
Muhammed was about 40 years old, God began to speak to him. God told him
to transmit His message to people of Arabia. In 622 A.D. the people of
Mecca, where he was living with his family got so upset with his teachings
that Muhammed and his followers had to flee. His escape to the city of
Madina is known as
HIJRA and this day is considered as the
beginning of Islam. Eight years later (630 AD), Muhammed returned to Mecca
and took over the city with a large number of his followers without any
resistance. Muhammed called God as Allah and declared Mecca a holy city
and Kaaba a shrine for Allah. God also dictated a book to Muhammed which
was written down later and is known as
KORAN. From then on the
followers of Islam built a mighty Empire that streched from Spain to India
at its peak.
FIVE PRINCIPLES OF ISLAM
- There is no God but God(Allah), and Muhammed is His prophet.
- Prayer to Allah five times daily
- Charity- helping the poor and providing for upkeep of places of
prayer.
- Fasting- never drink alcohol or eat pork and certain other foods;
and no eating, drinking or smoking during daylight for one month
(Ramadan).
- Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a life time. After Muhammed's
death, the Muslims tried to develop specific policies based
on what Muhammed said and did at various times. These were compiled into a
collection known as Hadith. From Hadith and Koran, the scholars
in 7th
and 8th century developed a set of rules for worship and for life. These
rules
are now known as SHARIA or Islamic law. To govern the state, the
Muslims
elected the succesor whom they called Caliph. Muhammed's son Ali
was selected
as the fourth Caliph. The majority, Sunnite consider first three
Caliph
as genuine whereas a minority, called Shiites believe that it was
Muhammed's
wish that Ali be the first Caliph. The separation of Islam into 'Sunnite' &
'Shiite'
has no exact parallel in other religions. Under these two denominations
there are
several sects with somewhat different beliefs.
