Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because
religion does not dominate everyday life in the West today, whereas Muslims have
religion always uppermost in their minds, and make no division between secular and
sacred. They believe that the Divine Law, the Shari'a, should be taken very seriously,
which is why issues related to religion are still so important.
DO ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY HAVE DIFFERENT ORIGINS?
No. Together with Judaism, they go back to the prophet and patriarch Abraham, and
their three prophets are directly descended from his sons Muhammad from the eldest,
Ishmael, and Moses and Jesus from Isaac. Abraham established the settlement which
today is the city of Makkah, and built the Ka'abah towards which all Muslims turn
when they pray
WHAT IS THE KA'ABAH?
The Ka'abah is the place of worship which God commanded Abraham and Ishmael to
build over four thousand years ago. The building was constructed of stone on what
many believe was the original site of a sanctuary established by Adam. God
commanded Abraham to summon all mankind to visit this place, and when pilgrims go
there today they say 'At Thy service, O Lord', in response to Abraham's summons.
Muhammad was born in Makkah in the year 570, at a time when Christianity was not
yet fully established in Europe. Since his father died before his birth, and his mother
shortly afterwards, he was raised by his uncle from the respected tribe of Quraysh. As
he grew up, he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that he
was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. The historians describe him as
calm and meditative. Muhammad was of a deeply religious nature, and had long
detested the decadence of his society. It became his habit to meditate from time to
time in the Cave of Hira near the summit of Jaba al-Nur, the 'Mountain of Light' near
Makkah.
HOW DID HE BECOME A PROPHET AND A MESSENGER OF GOD?
At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad received his first
revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for
twenty-three years, is known as the Qur'an. As soon as be began to recite the words
he heard from Gabriel, and to preach the truth which God had revealed to him, he and
his small group of followers suffered bitter persecution which grew so fierce that in
the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate. This event, the Hijra,
'migration', in which they left Makkah for the city of Madinah some 260 miles to the
north, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar. After several years, the Prophet
and his followers were able to return to Makkah, where they forgave their enemies
and established Islam definitively. Before the Prophet died at the age of 63, the
greater part of Arabia was Muslim, and within a century of his death Islam had spread
to Spain in the West and as far East as China.
HOW DID THE SPREAD OF ISLAM AFFECT THE WORLD?
Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of its
doctrine-Islam calls for faith in only one God worthy of worship. It also repeatedly
instructs man to use his powers of intelligence and observation.
Within a few years, great civilizations and universities were flourishing, for according
to the Prophet, 'seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim man and
woman'. The synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas and of new thought with old,
brought about great advances in medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy,
geography, architecture, art, literature, and history. Many crucial systems such as
algebra, the Arabic numerals, and also the concept of the zero (vital to the
advancement of mathematics), were transmitted to medieval Europe from Islam.
Sophisticated instruments which were to make possible the European voyages of
discovery were developed, including the astrolabe, the quadrant and good
navigational maps.
The Qur'an is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel
to the Prophet Muhammad. It was memorized by Muhammad and then dictated to his
Companions, and written down by scribes, who cross-checked it during his lifetime.
Not one word of its 114 chapters, Suras, has been changed over the centuries, so that
the Qur'an is in every detail the unique and miraculous text which was revealed to
Muhammad fourteen centuries ago.
WHAT IS THE QUR'AN ABOUT?
The Qur'an, the last revealed Word of God, is the prime source of every Muslim's faith
and practice. It deals with all the subjects which concern us as human beings: wisdom,
doctrine, worship, and law, but its basic theme is the relationship between God and
His creatures. At the same time it provides guidelines for a just society, proper human
conduct and an equitable economic system.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER SACRED SOURCES?
Yes, the Sunna, the practice and example of the Prophet, is the second authority for
Muslims. A Hadith is a reliably transmitted report of what the Prophet said, did, or
approved. Belief in the Sunna is part of the Islamic faith.