Islam - One of the Major Religions of The World

The Religion of Islam

There are many religions in the world but Islam, which is one of the three monotheistic faiths, was founded, in Arabia by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) between 610 and 632. The number of Muslims is very great - there are an estimated 5.5 million Muslims in North America and 1 billion Muslims worldwide. 

Muhammad (PBUH) was born in AD 570 at Makkah and belong to the Quraysh tribe, which was active in the caravan trade. To get experience, he, at the age of 25, joined the trade from Makkah to Syria in the employment of rich widow, named Khadija, who later on married him. Never being in favour of the immoral standards and polytheistic activities of the Makkans, he started leading a life of meditation and contemplation in the desert. It is said that one day the angel Gabriel appeared and revealed to Muhammad(PBUH) that he was to be the last prophet of Allah. At that time he was 40 years old and he was greatly encouraged by Khadija, who was the first among to embrace the new religion. Muhammad (PBUH) devoted his whole life to reform of religion and society. 

The first but the most difficult task for him was make the people of Makkah mentally prepare to abandon polytheism which was the common practice at that time. The great hurdles were the Quraysh leaders who openly opposed and rejected his teachings. They tortured his followers who were very small in number. 

Due to the persecution at the hands of idol worshippers, he at last migrated from Makkah to Madina.This is called as Hijra which means “emigration”) of Muhammad (PBUH) from Makkah where he was not honored, to Medina, where he was well received, Hijra took place in the year 622 and marks the beginning of the Muslim era. In Madina he built the first mosque of Islam. There he got many followers and later on ,after a many military conflicts with Makkah, he marched Makkah and at last conquered it. There in Makkah all the people were converted to Islam and thus a new religion got a great number of  followers. Muhammad(PBUH) passed away at Medina in 632. 

The followers of Muhammad (PBUH) are called Muslims who revere him as the prophet of Allah (God), the only God. Muslims consider Muhammad (PBUH) to be the last in the line of prophets included Abraham and Jesus. Islam spread quickly, stretching from Spain in the west to India the east within a century after the Prophet’s death. Sources of the Islamic faith are the Qur’an (Koran), regarded as the uncreated, eternal Word of God, and tradition (‘hadith regrading sayings deeds of the prophet.means “surrender to the will of Allah,” the all-powerful who determines humanity’s Good deeds will be rewarded at the Last Judgment in paradise, and evil deeds will be punished in hell. 

There are five main pillars of Islam, that is, faith, prayer, fasting, zakat and hajj. Prayer is to be performed five times a day in mosque; zakat is given to the poor; fasting is observed during daylight hours in the month of Ramadan: and pilgrimage to Makkah is performed at least once a Muslim’s lifetime, if one can afford physically and financially. The pilgrimage includes homage to the ancient shrine of the Ka’aba, the most sacred site in Islam.