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ISLAMIC BASICS
Historical Overview: Islam is one of the three great monotheistic faiths and the second largest religion in the world after Christianity. Its emergence can be directly traced to the divine interactions of the Prophet Muhammad with Allah in the 7th century C.E. In the 9th-12th centuries, Islam rose to great world prominence with a profound influence on art, history, politics and science. Today, Islam is commonly practiced in countries spreading from western North Africa into Europe through southeast Asia to the United States. Islam continues to be a vital and growing religion not only in number but also world importance.
Time Line:
??? Abraham, the father of the Jews, becomes the father of Ishmael, the
father of the Arabs. Abraham probably lived between 2166 B.C.E. and 1991
B.C.E.
570 C.E.: Muhammad is born in Mecca, Arabia
610 C.E.: Islam begins as an organized religion when Muhammad returns to
his tribe with the announcement that he has spoken to Allah through the angel,
Gabriel, and has received the divine revelation.
621 C.E.: The beginning of the Islamic calendar marked by the Hijrah, or
flight of Muhammad’s followers to the town of Yathrib to escape persecution
from the people of Mecca.
630 C.E.: Muhammad and his followers take control of Mecca and purge the
Ka’bah of all idols. Islam is established as the religion of the region.
632 C.E.: Muhammad dies at age 62.
800-1100 C.E.: The age of cultural brilliance for the Islamic world and
the start of Sufism
1400-1600 C.E.: Persia, Turkey and India emerge as militarily powerful,
culturally rich and economically strong Muslim nations.
1700-1940 C.E.: Islamic countries are colonized by Western civilizations.
Islamic countries go into decline.
1948 C.E.: Islamic countries from the coast of western North Africa to
Indonesia adapt to Western culture and gain prominence using oil and other
natural resources, beginning a resurgence in power and influence.
Vocabulary:
Arabia: The Arabian peninsula, located east of modern Egypt and south of
Israel, is mainly Saudi Arabia today; the homeland to Muhammad and the
birthplace of Islam.
Allah: The Arabic word for God.
Islam: The Arabic word for peace, soundness or security. It also means
submission or surrender to the will of Allah.
Muslims: Followers of Islam, the will of Allah.
Muhammad: The prophet of Allah, born approximately 570 C.E.
Mecca: The birthplace of Muhammad and one of the most sacred cities to
Islam.
Gabriel: The angel who brought Allah’s revelation to Muhammad
Ka’bah: The most sacred shrine of Islam, originally built by Abraham
and located in the center square in Mecca.
Qur’an: The sacred scriptures revealing Allah’s will for the conduct
of people; also the Arabic word for something to be recited.
Shari’ah: The moral code and rules of etiquette Muslims adhere to in
daily life.
Pillars of Islam: The five tenets of Islam are profession of faith,
prayer, alms, fasting and pilgrimage.
Muezzin: The person who calls Muslims to prayer five times a day. [moo
ézzin]
Minaret: The Islamic prayer tower used to call the faithful to prayer.
Mosque: The Islamic place of worship.
Ramadan: The ninth month of the Islamic lunar year in which all Muslims
(except the young, elderly and sick) are expected to fast from sunrise to
sunset. ̀’id al-Fitr is the festival that celebrates the end of Ramadan.
Hadj: The pilgrimage all Muslims are expected to make to Mecca at least
once in their lives; thereafter, they are called hadji.
Sufism: The mystic branch of the Islamic faith whose goal is to see Allah
directly and clearly with purity of heart.
Sunni: One of the two major sects of Islam to which the Majority of
Muslims belong; considered the orthodox path of Islamic belief.