Islám
 | This section does not cite any sources; the information may not be accurate or reliable. |
| Islám | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The first chapter of the Qur'an, Al-Fatiha, consisting of seven verses. | |
| Founded in | 610 CE Mecca, Arabia |
| Founder | Muḥammad |
| Significant Scriptures | The Qur'án |
| Sects | Sunni Shí‘ih |
Islám (Arabic: الإسلام) refers specifically to the religious dispensation brought into being by the Manifestation of God Muḥammad (Arabic: محمد) (c. 570 CE – 8 June 632 CE). The word Islám is derived from the Arabic word salima (submission, peace), in reference to the centrality of willing submission to the Teachings of God in Islám. The word Islám can be used as a universal theological name of all religions, and is often used this way by Muslims and in the Bahá’í Writings.
Islám is centered around the Qur'an, or recitation, which was revealed by Muḥammad over a period of 23 years; the Qur'an is considered by Muslims and Bahá’ís to be composed of verses received by Muḥammad as the direct Word of God.
Islám is the most recent religious dispensation prior to the Twin Manifestations of The Báb and Bahá’u’lláh, and the last dispensation of the universal cycle begun by Adam. Bahá’ís believe that Islám contained a fuller revelation than any before it, including laws, teachings, and precepts covering many aspects of individual and social life and fostering the development and spread of the nation-state throughout the world.
After the death of the Prophet Muḥammad, His son-in-law `Ali led the community of Muslims as the first Imám. A succession of Imáms—twelve in total--who held the divinely ordained authority to lead the community of Muslims and interpret the teachings of Muhammad, followed until approximately 870 AD. The teachings of Muhammad and the twelve Imáms prophesied the coming of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh.
Muhammad[edit]
Birth and Childhood[edit]
According to Islámic tradition, Muhammad was born in 570 CE, although there is debate about the exact date. While pregnant, His mother Amina reportedly heard a voice saying "You are pregnant with the Lord of this people, and when He is born, say, 'I put Him under the protection of the One from the evil of every envier'; then call him Muḥammad." His father, Abdallah, died before His birth, so the name Muhammad was chosen by his grandfather ‘Abdu’l-Muttalib. His mother died during His childhood, and he lived with His grandfather for two years before being raised by His uncle Abu Talib, the Shaykh of the Banu Hashim. An orphan, had He not received the generosity of his uncle he would have become a slave. As a young man He worked in his uncle's merchant caravans
In His youth Muḥammad gained a reputation for His upright character, earning the nickname al-Amin, the trustworthy one. At twenty-five years of age He married Khadija, a wealthy forty-year-old widow.
Ministry[edit]
Muḥammad was forty years old when He experienced His first divine revelation. Religious and social teachings were revealed to Muḥammad in stunningly beautiful verses telling of God's love of creation. Muḥammad shared the early revelations first with His wife, Khadija, then with His closest friends and relatives. The first person to declare her belief in Muḥammad was Khadija, the second was Ali and the third was a slave Zayd, who Muḥammad freed. The fourth Muslim was Abu Bakr. Once others accepted His message, Muḥammad openly proclaimed Himself to be a Manifestation of God. Many religious authorities in Mecca felt threatened by Muḥammad and began persecuting Muḥammad and His followers. Their boycott not only of Muḥammad's business, but also the businesses of His followers was devastating. At this point both Abu Taib and Khadija died. Muḥammad learned of a plot to assassinate Him. Muḥammad and His followers fled Mecca and were offered refuge by the Khazaraj of Yathrib, at an agricultural oasis north of Mecca. Here Muḥammad was welcomed as a prophet and judicial authority.
The migration from Mecca to Yathrib (this move being known as the Hijra) in the year 622 A.D. marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. In this community Muḥammad implemented Islamic social reforms. The first Islamic community was renamed Medina. Muḥammad's small band of poorly armed followers miraculously repelled attacks by the armies sent out from Mecca over a period of six years.
Following the surrender of the Meccan rulers, Muḥammad made a pilgrimage to Mecca and was presented with the keys to the Ka'aba. Muḥammad publicly smashed the idols with the help of His cousin, Ali. Instead of crowning Himself King of Mecca, Muḥammad implemented an egalitarian Islamic social order in Mecca and returned to Medina. Two years later Muḥammad died.
Teachings of Islám[edit]
The first Islamic teaching is the prohibition of idolatry.[1] Islam promotes humility, modesty and chastity[2]orbids intoxicants, gambling,[3] The Qur'an acknowledges a right to retribution, but encourages forgiveness.[4]
Islám brought teachings that applied both to the individual believer, and to the organization of society around the goal of creating justice and equity for all. The Qur'an teaches the equality of all people,[5] promotes racial equality,[6] [7]fends the rights of minorities[8]especially Jews and Christians[9]
In Islám, in contrast to the society that Muḥammad was born into, women were given the right to own property, to inherit, to initiate divorce and to receive financial support following divorce.[10] Islam was the first religion to limit the number of spouses,[11]
Five Pillars of Islam[edit]
Five teachings in Islám are commonly referred to as the five pillars, and make up the core of an individual Muslim's duty towards God:
- The Islamic profession of faith (shahadah): "There is no god but God, and Muḥammad is God's Messenger".
- To say the obligatory prayer (Salah) five times a day, facing the Ka'aba in Mecca.[12]
- Giving alms (Zakat) to the needy once a year is a duty.[13]
- Fasting in the month of Ramadan.
- A pilgrimage to Mecca once in the course of one's lifetime, for all Muslims who have the means.
Hadith, Fiqh and Shariah[edit]
As the Muslim community grew, questions arose, which were not specifically addressed in the Qur'an. Hadith, utterances of the Manifestation Muḥammad, recalled by His Companians provided a wealth of guidance for many challenges to the Islamic community. Because the Hadith were not recorded in writing many of the reported sayings could not be authenticated. This confusion encouraged Moslems to invent Hadith to promote their own points-of-view.
Shariah is Islamic law, which gradually took form in madrassas, centers of religious learning. Sharia refers to accepted views within the Muslim community.
Fiqh is Islamic jurisprudence. Faqh strives to use reason to reconcile Qur'anic verses with Hadith and Sharia. Sunni Islam recognises four schools of jurisprudence. The Amman Message recognises eight different schools
Succession to Muḥammad[edit]
- See also: Imám
After the death of Muḥammad there was disagreement among His followers as who should lead the community of Muslims and whether that leadership should be primarily religious or governmental in nature. Over the following decades Muslims split into two camps: the Sunnís and the Shí‘ihs. The Sunnís, led by Abu Bakr, a close companion of Muḥammad and the father of His favored wife, believed that the Qur'án contained all the guidance they would need. They elected Abu Bakr as their Caliph, a role primarily focused on leading the emerging Muslim nation-state. The Shí‘ihs held that Muḥammad had intended His son-in-law `Ali ibn Abi Talib to succeed Him as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community.
The Shí‘ih view is endorsed by the Bahá’í Writings. Bahá’ís believe that `Ali was the first of the Imams of Islám, who were authorized by Muḥammad to lead His community, interpret His writings, and educate and protect his followers.
Relationship to the Bahá’í Faith[edit]
Citations[edit]
References[edit]
- Aslan, Reza (2005). No God but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam. USA: Random House. ISBN 1-4000-6213-6.
- Balyuzi, Hasan (1976). Muḥammad and the Course of Islám. London, UK: George Ronald. ISBN 0853984786.
- Gail, Marzieh (1953). Six Lessons on Islám. Wilmette, IL: Bahá’í Publishing Trust.
- Momen, Moojan (1987). An Introduction to Shi`i Islam: The History and Doctrines of Twelver Shi`ism. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. ISBN 0300035314.
- Muḥammad (2008). The Qur'án. Oxford World's Classics Hardcovers. Translated by Abdul Haleem, Muḥammad. Oxford, England, UK: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0192805487.
