Islam

Islam is one of the three Abrahamic monotheistic Religions along with Judaism and Christianity, and the world’s second largest Religion.
Islam began in the 7th century CE with the teachings of Muhammad (570-632 CE). The three Holy Cities of Islam are Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. The Book of Islam is the Quran.

Muhammad or Mohammed (c. 570-632 CE) was the Founder and Spiritual Leader of Islam. Muhammad is known in Islam as the Prophet, and is considered to be the last of a long line of prophets which includes Abraham, Moses and Jesus.
Muhammad had a series of spiritual revelations that made him believe in the existence of only one God, which contradicted the polytheistic beliefs at the time. He attracted Followers and at first, he was protected by his family from the hostility to his beliefs. But eventually, he and his Followers’ safety in Mecca could no longer be guaranteed.
The Hijri means the Emigration, which took place in 622 CE, when Muhammad and his Followers, faced with extreme hostility, were obliged to leave Mecca and move to Medina.
Eight years later in 630 CE, Muhammad conducted the first Hajj to return to Mecca and occupy it. In the same year, at the Battle of Hunayn (630 CE), the Muslim army defeated a hostile Arab army, after which the Tribes in the Arabian Peninsular sent emissaries accepting Muhammad and Islam. Also in 630 CE, the payment of Alms, known as Zakat, was made obligatory and its acceptance by the Arab Tribes brought the Arabian Peninsular under Islamic control.
In 630 CE a Byzantine Army in Syria prepared to attack Medina, but Treaties were negotiated and the army withdrew.
Muhammad died in 632 CE and his successors began the Rashidun Caliphate (632-661 CE).

Allah is the Arabic word for God. Islam is a monotheistic religion meaning there is only one supreme God who is all-encompassing, omnipotent and considered to be the Creator of the Universe and all living things in it.

Imam means leader in Arabic. The Imams lead the worship in the Mosques, act as guides of the Islamic Faith and lead Islamic communities. Imams can also be political rulers of a state.

The Mosque or Masjid in Arabic, is the place of worship in Islam. The floor is covered with mats and the worshippers bow and prostrate themselves during prayer.
The most important Mosque in Islam is the Great Mosque of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

The Minaret is a tower in or adjacent to the Mosque from which the call to prayer or Adhan in Arabic, is issued five times a day.

The Quran or Koran, is the Holy Text of Islam written in Arabic.
It consists of 114 chapters all written in verse. The Quran was written by the Followers of Muhammad who wrote down his Revelations.

The Hadith is a compilation of Muhammad’s statements, actions and thoughts, and is the source of religious law and moral guidance in Islam.

The Hajj is a ten day Annual Pilgrimage by Muslims to the Holy city of Mecca.
The first Hajj took place in 630 CE, when Muhammad took his Followers from Medina to conquer Mecca.
The date of the Hajj is based on the Islamic lunar calendar, and varies from year to year, but is always held two months and ten days after Ramadan.

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, and is a month of obligatory Fasting and Prayer between dawn and sunset.

Sharia is the Islamic Law or Sharia Law which is derived from the Quran and the Hadith.

The Islamic calendar, also called the Hijri, is a lunar calendar.
The Calendar starts from 622 CE, the year Muhammad and his followers moved from Medina to Mecca to set up the first Muslim society. This event is known as the Hijra.
Year 1 AH (Anno Hegirae, ‘in the year of the Hijra’) is year 622 AD/CE (Anno Domini/ Current Era) in the Gregorian Calendar.
Prior to year 1 AH is referred to as BH (Before Hijra).

More than 85% of Muslims follow Sunni Islam. Majority Sunni Countries today are Turkey, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. They form the majority in Central Asia and China, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa and the Arab World.
Sunni Muslims believe Abu Bakr was appointed by Muhammad to be his successor. He became the first Rashidun Caliph.
Sunni Muslims follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad. Sunnah means the followers of the Prophet’s example.
Both Sunni and Shi’a Muslims observe the Quran, the Hadith and the Five Pillars of Islam. The primary difference between them is based on the acceptance of leadership and religious authority after the death of Muhammad.

Shi’a Muslims form up to 15% of Muslims today. Majority Shi’a Countries today are Iraq, Iran, Bahrain, Lebanon and Azerbaijan. Shia minorities also exist in some Sunni Countries.
Shi’a Muslims believe Ali ibn Abi Talib was appointed by Muhammad to be his successor. He became the fourth Rashidun Caliph (Rightly Guided Ruler). Ali was married to Muhammad’s daughter, Fatima.
Shi’a Muslims follow the lineage of the Prophet Muhammad through Imams. Shi’a means the followers of the Party of Shi’atu Ali.
Both Sunni and Shi’a Muslims observe the Quran, the Hadith and the Five Pillars of Islam. The primary difference between them is based on the acceptance of leadership and religious authority after the death of Muhammad.
Shia Muslims recognise the four holy sites of Islam, but also have three other important holy sites: the Imam Ali Shrine, Najaf, Iraq, the Imam Husayn Shrine, Karbala, Iraq and the Al-khadhimiya Mosque, Baghdad, Iraq.

The Rashidun Caliphate (632-661 CE) was the first Caliphate to be created after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, and implemented the spread of Islam in the Middle East, Persia and North Africa.
It was followed by the Umayyad Caliphate (661-750 CE), the Abbasid Caliphate (750-1517 CE), the Fatimid Caliphate (909-1171 CE) and the Ottoman Caliphate (1517-1924 CE).

Mecca, Saudi Arabia