Islam
Islam -- a monotheistic religion (one that recognizes one God), focused on the commandments of God
as revealed in the Qur'an.
Muslims -- followers of the religion of Islam, numbering approximately 1.2 billion. Populations of
Muslims are concentrated in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East but there are large Muslim populations
throughout the world. It is estimated that five to seven million Muslims live in the U.S.
Allah -- an Arabic word meaning literally, "The God." Muslims use this Arabic term as the proper
name for God. Muslims view Allah as the Creator and Sustainer of everything in the universe, who is
transcendent, has no physical form, and has no associates who share in His divinity.
Muhammad -- the founder of Islam, who lived from 570-632 C.E., believed by Muslims to be the final
prophet of God, receiver and transcriber of the word of God into the Qur'an.
Qur'an -- also sometimes spelled Koran; the holy book of Islam, believed to be the word of God as
delivered to, and transcribed by, the prophet Muhammad.
The Birth of Islam
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Muhammad was a successful caravan merchant from Mecca (a city in Arabia).
In 610, Muhammad is said to have received God’s revelations. Three years later Muhammad
began preaching God’s message, which became the foundation of Islam.
The wealthy citizens of Mecca were threatened by Muhammad’s teachings and began to
persecute him and his followers.
In 622, Muhammad and a small group of followers of Islam escaped to Medina, a city 250
miles north of Mecca. This migration is known as the Hegira.
622 is a traditional date of the birth of Islam as a religion. It is also the beginning of the Islamic
calendar.
The Spread of Islam
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Muhammad died in 632. He had no sons. Muhammad’s disciples had to choose a successor, or
caliph (“successor” or “representative” in Arabic).
The first four successors of Muhammad – Abu Bakr, Ummar, Uthman, and Ali – are known as
the Rightly Guided Caliphs. Ruled from Medina, they were the secular and religious leaders of
the Islamic community from 632 through 661. They spread Islam through the Middle East and
North Africa.
Ali was the last of the Rightly Guided Caliphs and Muhammad’s son-in-law, which made him
the closest living relative of the prophet.
After Ali’s death in 661, the Muslim religion suffered a political dispute that divided Islam into
two groups:
o The Shiites believed that only descendents of Ali, therefore descendant of Muhammad,
should hold the title of caliph.
o The Sunnis believed that any pious and qualified person could become caliph.
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The two main dynasties of caliphs (or caliphate) ruled the Islam world through The Middle Ages:
o The Umayyads (661-750) build a vast empire with a capital in Damascus. The
Umayyads’ empire stretched from Spain to Central Asia.
o The Abbasids (750-1258) overthrew the Umayyads in 750 and moved the capital of the
Islamic empire from Damascus to Baghdad in 762.
In 1258, the Abbasid caliphate was destroyed by the Mongol invaders. Later, the Mongols have
converted to Islam and spread the Muslim religion to China, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
The Five Pillars of Islam
The Qur’an lists 5 formal acts of worship all Muslims must fulfill in obedience to God. They are:
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Declaration of faith
Prayer
Charity
Fasting
A pilgrimage to Mecca (the Hajj)
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