Islamic History: Origins and the Prophet Muhammad

• Islam is a monotheistic religion and one of the Abrahamic faiths.
• The material provided covers the foundations of Islam, dimensions of Islam, and sects of Islam.
• This section focuses on a survey of Islamic history.

Origins of Islam

• Islam's origins are in the 7th century CE Arabian Peninsula.
• The root of Islam is the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

Origin of Islam - 570 CE: Birth of Prophet Muhammad

• Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570 CE.
• Muhammad became the final prophet and messenger of Allah.

Origin of Islam - 610 CE: First Revelation

• At age 40, Muhammad received his first revelation from Allah.
• The revelation came through the angel Gabriel while Muhammad was meditating in a cave on Mount Hira near Mecca.
• This marks the beginning of Muhammad's prophethood and the start of the Qur'an.

Origin of Islam - 622 CE: The Hijra (Migration)

• Muhammad and his followers migrated to Medina due to opposition and persecution in Mecca.
• The Hijra marks the establishment of the first Islamic state.
• The Hijra marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

Origin of Islam - 630 CE: Conquest of Mecca

• After years of conflicts and negotiations, Muhammad and his followers conquered Mecca.
• Mecca is the birthplace of Islam.
• The Kaaba was reestablished as a center of monotheistic worship.
• Islam spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula.

Origin of Islam - 632 CE: Death of Prophet Muhammad

• Prophet Muhammad passed away in Medina in 632 CE.
• Muhammad leaves behind a legacy of prophethood.
• The legacy also includes the Qur'an and the establishment of a unified Muslim community.
• His death had a profound impact on Islam's development and spread.

Islam, Allah and the Muslims - Islam

• The term Islam comes from the Arabic root s-l-m and has interrelated meanings.
• The interrelated meanings include surrender, submission, commitment, and peace.
• Islam refers to the monotheistic religion revealed to Muhammad ibn Abdullah between 610 and 632 CE.
• The name Islam was instituted by the Qur'an, the sacred scripture revealed to Muhammad.
• Islam represents the last reiteration of the primordial message of God's Oneness according to believers.
• Islam is viewed as a complete and natural way of life by its adherents.
• Islam aims to bring God into one's consciousness and life.
• Islam is a worldview focused on belief in the One God and commitment to His commandments.
• Islam represents submitting oneself to Allah's will and living a life of submission to His teachings.

Islam, Allah and the Muslims - Muslims

• The word Muslim comes from the same Arabic root as Islam.
• Muslim literally means one who willfully submits to God.
• Islam teaches that everything in Creation submits to God's divine laws.
• Humans are considered fundamentally "muslim" in their spiritual orientation.
• Humans have abilities of reason, judgement, and choice,
• Humans may remain on a God-conscious path or veer away depending on upbringing and choices.
• Muslim refers to one embracing a lifestyle according to Islamic principles and who believes in the Shahadah.
• The Shahadah is the declaration of faith containing the basic creed of Islam.
• Anybody may become a Muslim, regardless of gender, race, nationality, color, or social/economic status.
• A non-Muslim enters Islam by reciting the Shahadah.
• The Shahadah states: "There is no deity but Allah (God), and Muhammad is His Messenger."

Islam, Allah and the Muslims - Allah

• Muslims refer to God as Allah.
• “Say: He is God, the One, the Eternal, Absolute. He does not beget, nor is He begotten, and there is none like unto Him"
• “It is He who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when you knew nothing, and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affections that you may give thanks.”
• "No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision. He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things.”
• The Arabic word Allah is a contraction of "al" and "ilah," meaning The God.
• Believers understand Allah to be the proper name for the Creator as in the Qur'an.
• Allah is analogous to Eloh, a Semitic term used by Moses and Jesus.
• Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews also use Allah, demonstrating belief in a common monotheistic Creator.
• Allah means "God," like Dios and Dieu in Spanish and French.
• There are traditionally 99 names or attributes used to describe Allah in the Qur'an.
• These names embody sacredness and hold significance for Muslims.
• They are recited, reflected upon, and studied to deepen understanding of God.
• Examples of the names used for Allah include: Ar-Rahman: The Most Merciful and Al-Malik: The King, among others.

The Prophets and Muhammad - Prophets and Messengers

• Muslims believe in prophets and messengers who convey God's will.
• Divine history is maintained from the time of Adam to Muhammad.
• God is cited to have sent 124,000 prophets into the world to remind people of their obligations to the one Lord.
• Among the 25 prophets named in the Qur'an are biblical figures. -These figures include Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Elijah, John the Baptist, and Jesus.
• There is a distinction made between a prophet and a messenger.
• A PROPHET (nabi) conveys a message from God to a specific people at a specific time.
• A MESSENGER (rasul) is sent to a specific community, whose message is a universally binding sacred law (shariʻah).
• Every messenger is a prophet, but not every prophet is a messenger.
• The messenger-prophets are Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad.
• The messenger prophets are called "prophets of power" because their revelations are universally binding.

The Prophets and Muhammad - Ibrahim (Abraham)

• Abraham is known as Ibrahim in Arabic.
• Abraham holds great significance as a prophet and righteous person in Islam.
• Abraham is revered by Muslims, Jews, and Christians as the patriarch of monotheism.
• Abraham's devotion, struggles, and sacrifices are commemorated during the annual Hajj rites.
• Abraham received divine revelations and was chosen by God to guide his people.
• Abraham is known for unwavering faith and willingness to submit to God's will, even when faced with difficult tests.
• The willingness to sacrifice his son symbolizes the importance of complete submission to God.
• Abraham is also considered the father of the Arabs (like the father of the Israelites).
• Abraham's son Ishmael moved to Mecca and became the ancestor of the Arabs.
• This connection is significant because Mecca is the birthplace of Muhammad and the location of the Ka'bah.
• Abraham's prophecy was centered on monotheism.
• The emphasis of having only one God became a principle in Islam, along with the belief in God's oneness.
• Abraham's monotheistic teachings influence the Islamic faith and serve as a reminder of worship and submission to God alone.

The Prophets and Muhammad - Isa (Jesus)

• Muslims believe all major prophets' claims are supported by miracles.
• The Qur'an presents Jesus as a miracle himself.
• Miracles attributed to Jesus include his virgin birth, ability to heal and feed the hungry, raising the dead, and more.
• Miracles affirm God's creative power against those denying resurrection and the afterlife.
• Jesus performed miracles when Greek medicine, science, and philosophy were challenging God's sovereignty.
• Jesus's miracles assert God's power over human learning and wisdom.
• Jesus delivers the message: “God is surely my Lord and your Lord. Worship him, therefore; this is the straight way”.
• For Muslims, Jesus is a world-renouncing ascetic.
• Ascetic is a wandering prophet of piety and compassion for the poor, suffering, and oppressed,
• The Qur'an denies Jesus is the divine son of God, but sees his role as extending beyond earthly existence.
• Jesus was lifted up to heaven by God and will return to kill the anti-Christ and establish Islam on Earth.
• Each prophet supports the prophet to come after him.
• Jesus announces the coming of Muhammad.

The Prophets and Muhammad - Muhammad

• Muhammad, born into the Quraysh tribe in Makkah in 570 CE, became an orphan at a young age.
• He was known for his honesty and trustworthiness, earning him the designation al-Amin.
• At 25, Muhammad married Khadijah, a widow 15 years his senior.
• Their marriage lasted 25 years and produced six children, including four daughters.
• Muhammad refused to worship traditional tribal deities and instead meditated and worshiped the One God of his ancestor, Abraham.
• At age 40, Muhammad received the first of many revelations in the cave of Hira, beginning with the word Iqra.
• He was commanded to convey the Divine message and became the last messenger of God.
• Muhammad spent the remaining 23 years of his life receiving revelations and advocating Islam.
• He worked to implement the principles and teachings of Islam in human society.
• He emigrated to Yathrib (renamed Madinah) and established Islamic rule.
• Muhammad expanded Islam the Arabian peninsula creating a community based on religious principles.
• Muhammad died in 632 CE at the age of 63 and was buried in Madinah.
• Muhammad's role was to confirm the authentic teachings of previous prophets.
• His role also included rectifying mistakes or innovations in previous monotheistic faiths.
• Muhammad is viewed as the conduit for the completion of God's guidance.
• His mission encompasses all people and that his life serves as a model for practicing Islam.
• Muslims believe that the revelations given to prior prophets had been lost or modified over time.
• Islam embodies the same message and guidance that was revealed to all messengers.
• Islam reestablishes the "primordial" religion of humankind centered around recognizing God's Oneness.
• The view of Islam having achieved its final form, makes Muhammad the "Seal" of the Prophets.
• Any claimants to prophethood after Muhammad are not accepted.

The Qur'an and the Sacred Texts - Divine Scriptures

• A divinely revealed scripture is a holy book or collection of writings with divine origins.
• Muslims believe God revealed scriptures to prophets to communicate commandments and guidance.
• The Islam belief in the original scriptures given to Abraham (Scrolls), Moses (Torah), David (Psalms), and Jesus (Gospel) is an important component of the faith.
• Jibreel transmitted divine communication from God to prophets and personages.
• Jibreel is responsible for the holy book was revealed to Muhammad.
• In 610 CE, Muhammad was visited by Jibreel while in spiritual retreat,
• Muslims believe that God revealed holy scriptures to the prophets in their native language.
• The Torah was revealed to Moses in Hebrew.
• The Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad in Arabic.

The Qur'an and the Sacred Texts - Hadith

• Hadith are records of the Prophet's doings and personal sayings.
• The sayings also include reports and narrations.
• They were verified and compiled by scholars after the Prophet's death.
• Six collections of hadith are considered most authentic.
• The most commonly used ones are Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
• Hadith is one form in which Muhammad's Sunnah has been recorded and preserved.

The Qur'an and the Sacred Texts - Sunnah

• Sunnah refers to the sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad.
• Sunnah are distinct from the revelations that comprise the Qur'an.
• The Sunnah is the second source of Islam after the Qur'an.
• In the Prophet there is a "beautiful pattern of conduct" for those who hope in God and the Last Day (Qur'an, 33:21).
• The Prophet's wife Aisha stated "It was the Qur'an" when asked about Muhammad's character.
• This means that his life was the Qur'an in application.
• Based on this premise, the Prophet is considered by all Muslims a guide and role model.
• Emulating the Prophet receives God's mercy and forgiveness.
• Following Muhammad's example contributes to fulfilling obligations to God and entering Paradise.

The Qur'an and the Sacred Texts - Qur'an

• Muslims considers the Qur'an is the literal Speech of God given to Muhammad in Arabic.
• Chapters and verses were revealed over 23 years and from 610-632 CE.
• Muhammad is the chosen transmitter of the revelation. -Muhammad also is the ideal implementor of principles and commandments.
• The Hadith are the personal sayings or words of Muhammad. They are distinct from the divine origin of the Qur'an.
• Verses of the Qur'an were written down, recited, and memorized as revealed to Muhammad.
• The Prophet led formal worship five times daily, reciting the revealed verses.
• Verses were recited in the early dawn hours and prior to worship times.
• Qura'nic verses played an important role in Muslims' spiritual lives from the start.
• The Prophet arranged the 114 chapters before he passed away.
• Scholars agree that the Qur'an has remained intact and unchanged.
• The Qur'an stands unique as a scripture in this regard.
• Translations of the Qur'an exist in many languages.
• While translations are useful as renderings or explanations of the Qur'an, only the original Arabic text is considered to be the Qur'an itself.
• Muslims strive to learn Arabic to read and understand the Qur'an in its original form.
• The Qur'an is comprised of 114 surahs containing over six thousand ayahs.
• The surahs were arranged according to the Prophet's instructions.
• The longest chapter is (al-Baqarah, The Cow) near the beginning.
• The surahs discuss many of the same events and issues found in the Bible.
• The Qur'an do not present a sequential account of human spiritual history.
• Chapters focus more on important themes and issues instead.
• The Qur'an was revealed as a book of guidance and addresses subjects such as: -Human's relationship with God -His unique attributes -Accountability and the Day of Judgement -Ethics
• Social Justice -Politics -The rise and fall of nations -Law -The natural world
• Family issues
• The Qur'an stresses moral and spiritual characteristics and links them with justice.
• Many lessons of the Qur'an are given through accounts of past prophets and their missions.
• The Qur'an provides answers to questions such as: -What are the duties and responsibilities given to me by God?
• How should I interact with family, friends, colleagues, classmates, clients or customers, as well as other creations of God, and the environment? -How should I treat myself as a human being with free will, reason, and drives?