Origins
Islam was formed in 622 CE, it originated in the Arabian Peninsula. The deity of Islam is Allah. Its sacred text is the Qur’an. The Qur’an written in Arabic, a authoritative version. The Qur’an is best communicated— by being recited. Some believed it to be of divine origin, God’s Word as reveled to Muhammad. Disciples memorized and wrote down the words of Mohammad’s revelations. The Qur’an obtains Mohammad’s sermons and revelations.
Founders
Muhammad was the founder of Islam, he was born in 570 in Mecca (Saud Arabia today), and died in 632 CE. Muhammad‘s father died not to long before his birth and his mother died when he was a child. After, he lived with his grandfather two years later. Following that he went to live live with his uncle.
Muhammad worked as a carven driver for a widow named Khadijah, who he married at the age of 25. At this time Khadijah was about 40. They had about 6 children. No boy survived into adulthood to become Muhammad’s hereditary successor. Khadijah died and Muhammad remarried a number of times. Some argue that me possibly married out of compassion. At this time in his society widows of soldiers often needed a husband for financial support and legal protection.
Muhammad was a religious person who spent time reflecting, meditating, and praying. At age 40, during a religious retreat in a cave at Mount Hira, he received his first revelation. The first revelation stated that a bright presence came to him and held before his eyes a cloth covered with writing and commanded him three times to recite what was written there. |
In the beginnings, Muhammad doubted the nature of the revelation. He confined in Khadijah and she encouraged him to accept this experience as a true communication from God. Though this he became convinced that the bright light presence was the angel Gabriel. Further revelations came to Muhammad. He began to share them with his closest friends and family members. His closest friends and family members were the first Muslims. Meaning “people who submit ” to God (Allah).
When Muhammad proclaimed his revelations more openly he was not well revived. His message urged kindness and taking care of the poor and weak. Muhammad insisted that there was only one God to Worship; the revelations forbade destruction of statues and images. Muhammad denounced usury (lending money at exorbitant rates) and the failure to make and keep fair contracts. These messages threatened business people. Muhammad became concerned for his safety, leading him and his followers to leave to Mecca. |
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In 620 CE, Muhammad experienced himself being carried to Jerusalem and ascending from there to paradise guided by Angel Gabriel, known as the Night Journey, or Night Ascent. As Muhammad ascended toward heaven, he encountered angels and great prophets of the past including Abraham and Jesus, and at last entered into the presence of God. Muslims disagree on weather this event constituted a personal event or an actual physical ascension from Jerusalem.
This experience confirmed for Muhammad his vocation as a prophet and messenger of God
Muhammad viewed himself (as did his followers) as the last of the long line of prophets who transmitted God’s word to humanity. Muhammad did not consider himself to be divine, he thought of himself as an instrument in the hands of God. He saw himself as a messenger transmitting God’s will to the human world. Muslins refer to Muhammad as an ideal Human being, a model for all believers.
This experience confirmed for Muhammad his vocation as a prophet and messenger of God
Muhammad viewed himself (as did his followers) as the last of the long line of prophets who transmitted God’s word to humanity. Muhammad did not consider himself to be divine, he thought of himself as an instrument in the hands of God. He saw himself as a messenger transmitting God’s will to the human world. Muslins refer to Muhammad as an ideal Human being, a model for all believers.
Reference
Molloy, Michael. Experiencing the World's Religions: Tradition, Challenge, and Change. New York: McGraw Hill Higher Education, 2013. Print.
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http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam
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http://www.conservapedia.com/images/thumb/7/75/Mohammad.jpg/200px-Mohammad.jpg
http://www.conservapedia.com/images/thumb/7/75/Mohammad.jpg/200px-Mohammad.jpg
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http://www.amaana.org/ismaili/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Prophet-Muhammad-Miraj-Isra.jpg