The History of Islam - Assignment Example

Islam Islam is a religion that is followed all over the world. Its followers are known as the Muslims, who believe in one God and his last messenger,the Holy Prophet. Peace is the central theme of this religion where the word “Islam” also implicates for the same meaning. Muslims believe that God exists and that He cannot be seen with the naked eye. He is invisible in His own right and shall not be viewable to any one. He has made this world what it is today and because of Him, there are bounties that man can enjoy immensely. There are many virtues as well as vices that are rampant within any society of the world, and God has made all these possible. In Islam, God is known by the name of “Allah”. As far as the beliefs are concerned, the Muslims are disallowed in thinking that there are any more Gods than the one they already hold fast on to. This is the reason that God has been given the supreme place within this religion as there is enough evidence provided in the wake of such debates and understandings. Muslims do not like to talk on things which suggest something bad or indecent regarding their God and the Muslim history. They believe staunchly on the way the Holy Book Quran was brought into this world and how the Holy Prophet Muhammad, the last messenger of God spread Islam in its truest way. The guiding light spreads from the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah, and there are learned men and women, both from the past as well as in the present who provide testimony to the same evidence that has been maintained over the period of more than 1400 years. The belief held fast by Muslims are in accordance with the injunctions of Islam as they can easily feel and view the difference within their lives, their surroundings and so on (Ramadan 2004). Another belief of Islam is that God loves His people more than 70 times that their own mothers would. Thus the manner in which Islam pays emphasis on the mothers is a strong one nonetheless. The role of children upon their parents and parents upon their young ones is an important one. These are some of the strong reasons under which Islam takes its ultimate basis from the kind of family system that shall be in place within any society which believes in the teachings of Islam. The Holy Book, Quran has suggested how to spend life in relation with the teachings and this suggests a great deal about the kind of relationship between a man and his God. God loves His people and because of this, He gives them bounties aplenty. It is only up to the man to decipher what kind of bounties and blessings he has within his fore and how he can employ the same to his good effect in the future. All these aspects are mentioned within the Holy Book Quran, which is read more than any other book in the world, as research states. Muslims are asked to pray five times a day, fast for an entire month in Ramadan (9th Islamic month), perform pilgrimage (Hajj), give donations (Zakat) and believe in Tauheed – the oneness of God. These are the five pillars of Islam on which Muslim beliefs are basically based upon. For Muslims, the concept of Heaven and Hell holds utmost significance. This is because the same decides whether or not a person will enter Paradise (Heaven) when he dies and shows up to his God on the Day of Judgment or he goes to Hell for all his bad deeds and actions that he committed in this world. In Islam, it is mandatory for every Muslim to understand that there is much more than Heaven and Hell in the eyes of God. Adherence to morality and doing good deeds is an equally important task, and one that shall be given due importance always. These are some of the relevant aspects which weigh heavily within the religion of Islam. It is quintessential to know that Islam places utmost importance on the adherence of proper rights that one owes towards another fellow human being, no matter which religion, cast, creed or gender he belongs from. In Islam, it is important to treat each and everyone equally, which no other before the advent of Islam taught. Muslims are given the freedom to understand the religion and then mold their lives in accordance with the injunctions and preaching of this religion. When one looks at the history of the religion of Islam, it took place 1400 years ago when a revelation was brought forward on the last Prophet of God, Mohammad. At the young age of 25 years, Mohammad was chosen as the one who would lead the light of Islam in the different corners of the world. He went to Ghaar-e-Hira, which was basically a cave where the revelation was descended upon him. He was asked to study and thereafter Islam was brought about as the religion of God. There were 124,000 prophets before Mohammad was chosen as the last one who would spread the message of peace to the world. Mohammad later on propagated Islam with the help of his friends and acquaintances as well as colleagues (Nasr 2005). He did so until he died after which the system of caliphate started within Islam. Mohammad’s wives, friends and close relatives all believed in the message of peace which Islam gave from day one. The followers of Islam believe that it is a very simple religion, which can be followed in easy mannerisms and ways. What this means is the fact that Muslims must comply with the most basic beliefs and look after their own selves whilst remaining in line with their true requirements of being what they are essentially – Muslims. They must exhibit their commitment to one God and his Prophet Mohammad at all times. The Muslims should believe that whatever happens in their life, it is because it has to happen and that it will bring some sanity and goodness within their lives in the long run. If the Muslims adhere to such understandings, there is reason enough to suggest that success will always be there for them and that they shall see Heaven when they meet their God on the Day of Judgment. Muslims seek help and assistance from the Holy Book Quran and the Sunnah. They also take advice from their elders who have good enough knowledge of the religion that they follow staunchly. Muslims believe that they must act in unison whenever there is a problem or even in moments of happiness. Muslims opine that this world shall come to an end and then they will have to face the Day of Judgment where they will either be given a place in Heaven or be sent to Hell. This religion banks heavily on the teachings of its Prophet as well as his companions who were with him at the time of spreading it. They are very assured about the compliance of this religion in the most righteous way as their God has asked them to practice it. It can be said that Islam is indeed a very simple religion which asks of its followers to give in their very best as per their deeds, actions and thinking bases. They must remain in line with what God has asked them to do or exhibit. Muslims therefore are very staunch when it comes to their religion and can do anything to be assured about their complete compliance of the religion. The preachers of this religion believe that every Muslim must follow the exact code as instructed by God through the Holy Book Quran and the Sunnah (the sayings of Prophet Mohammad). The manner in which Muslims have been tainted for all the wrong reasons throughout the world is a very worrying fact and one that shall be taken care of by the people who are responsible for upholding its sanctity and image. This is an important aspect as it deserves attention by everyone who calls him/herself as a Muslim. In the end, it would be justified to suggest that Muslims are doing their best to remain as one of the most unified fraternities of the world. They are living up to their name but then and again there are problems which creep in every now and then. Muslims are appreciated for their glorious past and the strengths that they possess within their folds (Karatnycky 2002). However it is the sheer lack of will and determination on their part which has put them in a bad stead throughout the world. All said and done, Muslims have a history to feel proud of and they can do much more to restore the confidence which people have in them. With the advent of time, it would be seen again because Muslims follow a religion which is pure and clean from all angles. Works Cited Karatnycky, Adrian. Its Not Islam: Muslims Can Be Free and Democratic. National Review, Vol. 54, December 31, 2002 Nasr, Seyyed. Islam, Muslims, and Modern Technology. Islam & Science, Vol. 3, 2005 Ramadan, Tariq. Western Muslims and the Future of Islam. Oxford University Press, 2004 Read More