Islam was founded by Mohammed ibn Abdullah, born in Mecca, Arabia,570 A.D. His followers are called Moslems, and the religion dates from 622 A.D. This commemorates Mohammed’s flight to Medina to escape assassination. Known as Hegira, it is the starting point of the Moslem calendar.
Approximately 400,000,000 Moslems live in Arabia, Pakistan, Africa, parts of China, Indonesia and Asiatic Russia, with about 35,000 in the United States.Young Mohammed, on frequent trading trips to Syria and Palestine, learned about the Christian and Judaic conceptions of monotheism. Traditionally he received revelations from the Angel Gabriel. These he recorded in 114 Suras or Chapters of the Qur’an, the sacred writing of Islamism. Mohammed denounced the Christian Trinity as Polytheism, although he acknowledged Jesus as one of God’s prophets. Islamism into two grand divisions, the Sunnite’s and the Shiites. Difference resets upon Divergent opinions regarding the successors of Mohammed.
Fundamental teachings of Islamism are belief in One God, heaven and hell, and the world’s ending with a great Judgment.
The Five Pillars of Islam
- The first pillar of Islam is called Shahadah. This means Belief. The words of the Shahadah are: I witness that there is no other god but Allah, and Muhammad is the prophet of Allah.’ These words are spoken into the ear of a new-born baby. When a Muslim is dying, they are the last words which he or she will say.
- The second pillar of Islam is Salah. This means Prayer. Muslims pray five times a day. The prayers have to be said in a special way, with bowing, kneeling, prostrating (lying down) and other movements. This act of prayer is called rakat. Before praying, a Muslim must wash in a special way. This is called wudu. A Muslim can pray anywhere, but it must be at the right time, facing towards Mecca, and in a clean place. On Friday, the Muslim Holy Day, Muslims gather together in the Mosque for their prayers.
- The third pillar of Islam is Zakat. This means Almsgiving, which is giving money to the poor. All Muslims (unless they are very poor themselves) must give at least 2½% of their income to the poor. They can give more, if they want. Sometimes the money is collected at the Mosque.
- The fourth pillar of Islam is Sawm. This means Fasting. All Muslims over the age of 10 have to fast during the ninth month of the Muslim year, which is called Ramadan. The Fast means doing without food, drink, smoking and even toothpaste. The fast is only during daylight, so when it is dark, a Muslim may eat again. During Ramadan, Muslims try especially hard to lead good lives. Ramadan is the time of year when Mohammed received the first words of the Quran from Allah.
- The fifth pillar of Islam is Hajj. This means Pilgrimage. All Muslims should make a pilgrimage to Mecca once during their lifetime. When they are in Mecca, all pilgrims have to wear the same simple white clothes. For Muslims, Mecca is the most holy place of all. Muslims face towards Mecca when they pray.