The history of Islam starts in the area that is now called Saudi Arabia.  A man named Muhammad was working as a caravan leader.  Muhammad was always known as a thinker and sometimes when the pressures of the violent world that he lived in got to him, he would retreat to the desert and sit and ponder life in the caves.

          According to Islam, one time when Muhammad was in a cave, the Angel Gabriel came to him.  It was at time that Allah (God, or Yahweh), revealed him plan for Muhammad.  Muhammad was given the holy Koran to spread.  The area that Muhammad lived in was polytheistic.  The religions of Judaism and Christianity did not penetrate into this area.  The time period is 610 AD. 

Muhammad Bonus

Muhammad Bonus Worksheet

          Muhammad went back to his home in the city of Mecca and started to spread the word that he was told.  Some people enjoyed and loved the fact that there was a merciful God that would forgive them and also reward them.  Mesopotamian religion was very depressing.   Evil was punished, but good living was not rewarded.  The views of the afterlife were very sad.  For a refresher, refer to the Mesopotamian link.

          After awhile, Muhammad got all the converts that he was going to get.  The city of Mecca was getting violent for him and his people.  Muhammad and his band left for the city of Medina where his word was accepted. 

          For the next 300 to 400 years conversion to the religion of Islam was quick and productive.  Again, people enjoyed the fact of a merciful afterlife and life of observance.  By 1000 AD, the majority of the Middle East and Northern Africa had converted to Islam.

          In 1096 Islamic and Christian interests came in conflict with each other.  Christian pilgrims wished free passage through to the Holy Land since this area in the Middle East is where Jesus lived and performed his miracles.  The Muslims of the area did not like the thought of having to open their area to strangers.  They also did not like the fact that a man (the Pope) hundreds of miles away could attempt to boss them around.

          This started the crusades.  There were 7 in total.  The Muslims were victorious in the majority of the crusades.  Crusade was the term used by Christians which meant “holy war.”  A crusade could be called by the Pope.  Anyone that participated in a crusade was given absolution from their sins to that point by the Pope. 

          Between the upper middle ages, 1200-1500, Islam made its way to the southern areas of Europe.  Many Muslims settled in Spain and Portugal.  The southern countries of France and Italy were directly in control of the Roman Catholic Church, and the Eastern Orthodox countries did find a mostly harmonious existence with the Muslims.  Of course there are some areas to this day that hate each other greatly.  Spain spent many civil wars to rid themselves of the Muslims and tried to make their country Christian again.  In the end the succeeded and Islam was kicked out of Europe.  Because of this conflict, Queen Isabella had no choice to take a chance with a arrogant navigator named Christopher Columbus.  The rest is history.  Sorry about that pun.

 

Islam Beliefs

 

          There are 7 core beliefs that every Muslim share:

                   1.  Belief in one God (Allah)

                   2.  Belief in angels

                   3.  Belief in the books of God (Koran)

                   4.  Belief in prophets

                   5.  Judgment Day

                   6.  Humans will be judged by actions on earth

                   7.  Life after Death

 

          The Muslims believe that the universe is Muslim

                   In there opinion, Allah established all the laws of nature and matter, therefore, they have already surrendered to him.

                   The only things that have not surrendered to Allah are Jinn's. 

                             Jinn's are the supernatural.  They can be good or evil

                   Human beings were the only animals that didn't’t reject the opportunity  to have free will.  Because humans were up to the challenge and privileges of choosing free will, they are the only animal in the universe that can be judged for their actions.

                   In other words, if a human being kills another human being there must be a high moral reason for it so they are not punished.  Animals can kill at will because they are lacking of free will.  There actions can never be considered evil.

 

          Muslims believe that there are three levels of development that a person will go through in their life

                   1.  Animal stage:  This is the basic instincts that all animals have.  Love, hate, pleasure, pain, etc.

                   2.  Accusing:  Once we have satisfied our basics needs, we are able to start questioning our purpose in the world

                   3.  Restful:  Once we have satisfied our answers in the accusing stage, we can prepare ourselves for the life after the living world.

 

          A human’s world is always challenged by one particular Jinn, this Jinn refused to bow to the humans were Allah told him to.  This Jinn told Allah that humans will grow to disappoint him.  The Jinn and Allah had a bet that humans will not disappoint him.  The name of this Jinn is Shaytan (Satan).  Shaytan attacks humans at the animal stage so they will fail and disappoint Allah.

 

          Major Sins according to Muslims                                         Virtuous deeds

          Idolatry                                                                                   Speaking the truth

          Stealing from orphans                                                           Being good to your family

          Adultery or fornication                                                          Honoring your parents

          Disobey parents                                                                      Charity

          Collecting interest on investments                                        Feeding the poor

          False testimony                                                                      Fighting injustice

          Murder/suicide                                                                       Freeing slaves

          Enslaving the free                                                                  Studying and learning

          Slander/gossip                                                                        Being kind to animals

 

          Muslims do not believe that humans are born with original sin like Christians.  They do believe that there was an Adam and Eve, but they did not sin for all mankind

          Unlike Christian hell, which is eternal, Muslim hell does exist, but it is a place to purify the soul.  So there is a chance to leave hell once your soul is treated for all the evil deeds you did on earth.                   

 

          Muslims do not believe there was original sin.  Mankind is not held responsible for the actions of Adam and Eve.

          The Trinity can not exist like Christians believe.  Allah can not be divided, therefore, he could not be himself, his own son, and a spirit.

          This also means that Mary can not be the mother of God.

 

Daily Life and Worship

 

          According to the Muslims, your actions do not need someone to say you are forgiven.  You are judged by your deeds everyday.  From what I can conclude, if you do something really bad, then as long as you do many very good things, it should balance out in the end.

 

          The Muslims are required to do five things.  These things are called the five pillars

 

                   1.  Believe in one God (Allah)

                   2.  Daily Prayer.  Five times a day

                             Makes you remember you are Allah’s servant

                             Helps when Judgment occurs because it shows you willingness to submit to Allah

                   3.  Charity

                   4.  During the month of Ramadan, you are to fast during the day.

                   5.  Hajj:  A pilgrimage to Mecca once in your lifetime.

 

 

Some Muslims believe there is a 6th Pillar.  This pillar is Jihad, which means in Arabic “to improve.”  Along the way in the history of the world, Jihad has become the word for Holy War.  Fanatical Muslims put Jihad above everything else.  Christians had a version of a holy war, it was called a crusade.

 

Friday is the day of gathering of the religion of Islam.  Unlike Christians and Jews which require a day of rest to honor Allah, Muslims only take one hour in the afternoon.

          Muslims come to a mosque to pray.  Just like the Christians and Jews, the mosque is a place of prayer and community gathering.

          The person who leads the prays is called the Imam

                   By the way, they can marry.

                   The institution of monasteries and convents is unnecessary. 

 

 

Creation and Misc.

 

          All Allah had to say was “be” and a ball of matter appeared then split.  This is how the universe was made.  Unlike the Christian and Jewish belief, Allah did not rest on the 7th day.

                   As for evolution, Islam is between Christianity, who completely denies it happened; and Judaism, who believed evolution was an outgrowth of Yahweh’s work.

                   Adam and Eve were created by Allah, but there are some variations. 

                             First, Adam’s name is Hawwa, but Eve is still Eve.

Christians and Jews have Adam naming all the creatures, while Allah told Hawwa what to name them.

                   Eve is not blamed for having paradise taken away, Hawwa and Eva hold equal blame.  The forbidden tree was not told to them, it was a test.  The only way that they would have taken the fruit is if someone pushed them to do it. 

 

          Jesus holds a very high place in Islam.  Jesus is seen as one of the greatest prophets Allah sent.  Unlike other prophets, Jesus was given the ability to perform a few miracles to get the attention of the people.

                   In the Koran there is no acknowledgment of Joseph being married to Mary.  As for Mary, Jesus was not her only son, but rather her oldest.

                   Jesus was not sent to create a new religion, but rather to reform the old one.

                   Jesus never died on a cross.  Allah spared him and secretly took him away for him to reappear at the end of the world.  Another person was put in Jesus’ place during the crucifixion.

 

          With all of this information, how can Muslims be fighting Jews and Christians in so many places in the world?  This is a good point.  In the Koran, Jews and Christians hold a special relationship with Muslims.  They are called, “People of the Book.” 

          The Koran goes as far to say that Muslims can eat Jews or Christians prepare religiously because it is pure.

 

          Muslims hold many interesting beliefs because of their faith of Islam:

                   The world is round

                   The Earth’s surface is like a carpet (crust)

                   Mountains stabilize  the earth (Plate tectonics)

                   The water cycle exists

                   There are different types of clouds

                   There is a protective canopy over the earth (ozone)

 

          We know all about this stuff, but remember Islam was created in the 7th century.  Christian Europe did not accept all of these facts until the 20th century.