Islam's Origins

Islam first began in the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East in the city of Mecca in 622 A.D. Before Islam, the people in Mecca worshiped idols. Mecca, as well as Medina were trade centers where the Arab Bedouins would stop to rest as well as spread religion and ideas. The religion of Islam began with Muhammad in a cave called Ghaar Hirra'.

The Incident of the Cave

In this cave, the Angel Gibreel (Gabriel) appeared before Muhammad and told him, "Read." Muhammad then replied with, "I do not know how to read." This conversation was repeated three times until the Angel said, "Read in the name of your Lord who created. He who created man from a clot of blood (An early embryo)." He then continued to recite this Surah (chapter) of the Quran called Surat Al-Alaq or The Chapter of the Blood Clot. Muhammad then ran home to his wife.

Who was Muhammad as a Person?

Before he was a Prophet, Muhammad was a man known for his manners. At the age of 40 he became the final Prophet of Islam. He was a man of great kindness and generosity, known by all the people (even his enemies), as a just leader and a giving person. Whenever somebody would have a conflict they would always go to Muhammad to solve it, even before he became a Prophet.

Who was Muhammad as a Prophet?

After the incident at the cave, Muhammad soon became a Prophet. As a Prophet, Muhammad taught the people right and wrong through Islam. In spite of this, many rejected Islam and he was forced to leave the city of Mecca in 622 A.D with his few followers, a trip called the Hijra. In less than a year he returned to Mecca, with his followers from Medina. He destroyed the idols around the Ka'bah, and called the people to Islam. He peacefully called people to Islam and left a great legacy after his death.

What do Muslims Believe?

The beliefs of Islam, in general, are very simple.Muslims believe that God, who Muslims call Allah, is the one and only God. They believe Jesus was not God, but rather one of his prophets. To be Muslim they must also believe in the 6 pillars of faith and to be a believer they must perform the 5 pillars of Islam to go to heaven.They are: shahada (to witness), salah (prayer), zakah (charity), siyam (fasting), and Hajj (pilgrimage). These will be mentioned later on.

What are the 6 Pillars of Faith?

The 6 pillars of faith are: belief in Allah, belief in His angels, His books, His prophets, belief in the Day of Judgement, and belief in fate. Muslims must believe Allah alone, all his angels (there are millions, each one has a job), all his books (the Quran, the original Torah, and the original Bible, as they were first brought by the prophets), all his prophets, that there will be a last day of judgement where people will go to heaven or hell, and that Allah knows their fates and their final place.

Shahada (شهادة)

The Shahada has no one word definition in English. The shahada is the act of witnessing that "there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his last and final messenger." This sentence must be said with sincerity for a person to enter Islam, and it is said in and out of prayer while lifting the index finger as shown above. This sentence shows a Muslim's loyalty to Allah.

Salah (صلاة)

Salah, or prayer, is the most important act of worship for Muslims. It must be done five times a day, everyday of the week. This is required for Muslims at all times. If the person cannot stand he or she can sit, if he or she is in a hospital bed he or she can pray with their hands, if they cannot move then he or she can pray with his or her mind. Salah should be done in groups but can be done alone. The five prayers are called: Fajr (dawn), Thuhur (Noon), Asr (Afternoon), Maghrib (Sunset) and Isha (Nightfall). Each is named after the time of day it is done at. Muslims can also do extra salah.

How to perform Salah (صلاة)

Salah is done by doing the positions shown in the picture above. During position something specific is said. When you are standing straight you recite a chapter of the Quran.This is called Qiyam. When you bend you praise Allah, which is called Rukoo then you rise for a second and ask Allah to accept your praise.Then you go onto the floor and make more praises. This is called Sujood. You repeat this twice,three times, or four depending on the prayer, then you sit on your knees, recite a duaa, which is when you ask god for something. You then end your prayer. This normally does not take more than 5 minutes.

The Friday Prayer

Every Friday Muslims must go to the mosque to pray the Friday prayer together after the Khateeb, or the one who gives the khutbah (a speech given at the time of the Friday prayer), finishes his thirty minute speech, speaking about how to improve ourselves in many different ways. This prayer takes the place of the Thuhur or noon prayer. After the short prayer the people leave.

Zakah (زكاة)

Zakah means charity. Muslims who have more than about 300 dollars are required to give 2.5 percent of their money to charity every year. The reason they do this is to purify their money, to give the poor help, and because Allah commanded them to do so. Zakah is not only for money, it is also for any homes, animals, or jewelry someone owns. So a Muslim must calculate 2.5 percent of all his or her things and give that amount to charity either through money,animals, gold, or other things.

Siyam (صيام)

Siyam means fasting. Muslims are required to fast the entire month of Ramadan, a month on the lunar calendar. This is not only fasting from specific foods, rather Muslims are not allowed to eat anything from sunrise to sunset during this month. This is done because Allah commanded it and because it reminds the Muslims that they are lucky that Allah gave them food to eat and things to drink.

Hajj (حج)

Hajj means pilgrimage. In this case it is a pilgrimage to Mecca. Hajj is done in the lunar month of Thul-Hijjah but it is only mandatory for those who can afford it through money and through health. If you cannot afford it, then you do not need to go. It should be done at least once in your life and it requires you to wear certain clothes shown above for men.

The Significance and Steps of Hajj

Hajj involves many steps including: Tawaf, or circling around the Ka'bah seven times counterclockwise, Sa'i, or the act of running between the two hills of As-Safa and Al-Marwa seven times, visting Muzdalifah, going to Mount Arafat, and more. It takes nine days to do hajj and it is followed by Eid-ul-Adha or the Celebration of Slaughter (you sacrifice an animal, and eat it as well as give some to the poor.

Tawaf is believed to have been a tradition of Abraham, Sa'i was made in remembrance of when Hagar, Abraham's wife ran from hill to hill looking for food or water to save Ishmael, her baby, the visiting of Muzdalifah is done as Abraham did on the way to slaughter his son, Mount Arafat was were the Prophet Muhammad gave his last speech (shown above), and the slaughtering of an animal on Eid is what Abraham did after he passed God's test of being willing to slaughter Ishmael.

The Significance and Steps

of Hajj (continued)

Who are the Prophets of Islam?

Islam has over a thousand prophets, but only twenty five were mentioned in the Quran. Unlike the common belief, Muslims do not believe Abraham was the source of their religion, rather they believe Adam was the first Muslim and prophet.