Free Term Paper on Islam

The name of religion, Islam, is derived from the Arabic word ‘salam’, which is mostly interpreted as meaning ‘peace’. However ‘submission’ is the better and actual translation. A Muslim is a follower of religion Islam. Islam was founded in 622 CE by the prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He lived from about 570 to 632 CE. Islam started in Mecca, when the angel Gabriel read the first revelation to Muhammad (PBUH).
 

Islam is totally based on the word of Allah, and Muslims believe that Islam was revealed to the prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Muhammad (PBUH) was born in 570 in Mecca, a great trading city on the Arabian Peninsula. He became a successful merchant and he was famous for his honesty, but found himself unfulfilled and concerned that his society lacked a religious ethic. In search of spiritual fulfillment, he started to spend long hours in a cave on nearby Mount Hira (Know as Gare-Hira). It was in this cave, Muslims believe, that he received initial messages from Allah through the Angel Gabriel. Messages received by Muhammad (PBUH) were recorded and written by scribes and compiled into the Holy Quran. Muhammad (PBUH) received revelations from Allah for twenty-two years. All Muslims believe that there have been many prophets, including Jesus, and that Muhammad (PBUH) was the last prophet.
When Muhammad (PBUH) started preaching and gaining followers, the rulers of Mecca noticed that part of Muhammad’s (PBUH) message was potentially dangerous for their economic base. They were afraid that if the idea is adopted that there is only one god, Allah, people would stop visiting the Kaba and it will ruin the economy of city. Mecca’s rulers began to take measures to stop Muhammad (PBUH), using political means first and slowly moving to more aggressive means (John, 200).

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By 622, Muhammad’s (PBUH) life was in danger from the Mecca authorities and they were also harassing his followers who had grown in numbers in few years. Then an unexpected opportunity occurred. A town to the northwest of the Mecca now called Medina was having trouble in government issues. They came to Muhammad (PBUH) because of his reputation as an honest man and asked him to be their governor. Muhammad (PBUH) agreed on the condition that he could bring his followers from Mecca and that the people of Medina would convert to Islam. They agreed and in 622 Muhammad (PBUH) and his followers migrated to Medina; this migration is called the Hijra. Muhammad (PBUH) combined his spiritual and religious authority with political and civil authority. This included not only governing the city, but also mustering an army and leading it in battle many times. Muhammad (PBUH) continued to govern Medina until his death in 632. At the time of his death Muslims had taken Mecca back and became Arabia's main political and religious force. (Karen, 1993)

Essential Beliefs of Islam

Allah (God)
Like Christians, Muslims are strict monotheists, believing in the existence of only one God. Muslims believe in the absolute unity or singularity of God. In the holy Quran, Allah describes himself:

Say, “He is God, the One. God, to whom the creatures turn for their needs. He begets not, nor was He begotten, and there is none like Him.”
(Quran, 112:1-4)

Angels
All Muslims believe in the existence of divine messengers of Allah, or angels, which include an angel Gabriel and an evil angel, Satan. The angels worship Allah alone, act and obey only by His command.
 

Belief in Allah’s Books
All Muslims believe that Allah revealed books to His messengers as a guidance and proof for mankind. Holy Quran is among these books, which God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). God has also guaranteed the Quran’s protection from any distortion or corruption.

Indeed, I have sent down the Quran, and surely I will guard it (from corruption). (Quran, 15:9)

Prophets
All Muslims believe in a number of prophets sent by Allah, including Adam, David, Moses, Noah, and Jesus. Muslims consider Muhammad (PBUH) to be final the greatest and universal prophet for all humanity.
 

Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the last of the prophets... (Quran, 33:40)

The Judgment Day
The Muslim concept of the afterlife includes a future resurrection of the dead, a great Day of Judgment, paradise for believers and eternal punishment for nonbelievers. All Muslims believe that on the Day of Judgment Heaven will be the reward for those Muslims whose good deeds will outweigh evil deeds.
 

The Al-Qadar
All Muslims believe in Al-Qadar, which is Divine Predestination, but belief in Divine Predestination does not mean that human beings do not have any freewill. Muslims believe that God has given human beings freewill. It means that they can choose between wrong and right.

The Five Pillars of Islam
In addition to the above essential beliefs of Islam, all Muslims also believe in a framework of activities known as the Five Pillars of Islam (Islamic Voice, August 1998).

Kalma
This is the central and main confession of faith: ‘There is no god except Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.’

Salat
All Muslims pray five times a day: before sunrise (Fajir), midday (Zuhir), mid afternoon (Asar), after sunset (Magrib), and nightfall (Isha). Muslims also gather in the mosque to pray each Friday, which is holiest day of the week. Muslims believe prayer enlivens and strengthens faith and inspires them to superior morality.
 

Fasting
During the entire holy month of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from beverages, food and sexual activity from sunrise till sunset. Fasting, teaches love, devotion, sincerity, and helps to develop unselfishness, patience, and social conscience.
 

Zakat
It is compulsory for all eligible Muslims that they should give a portion of their income in the form of alms for the poor, orphans, and widows or for Islamic education through the local mosque.

Hajj
For those Muslims who are financially and physically able, Islam requires a pilgrimage to Mecca at-least once during an individual’s lifetime.

Islamic Culture
Islam emphasizes on a society in which close relationships exist between its members based upon a close bond of brotherhood and sisterhood among the all members of the society. The idea of brotherhood in Arabic is so strong and important that in traditional Islamic culture men address each other as akh or akhi meaning brother or my brother and likewise women use the term for sister.
 

Religion Islam has placed the greatest importance upon family preservation, by family in this context is not meant the atomized modern family comprised of the wife, husband and their children but the extended family which includes normally the grand parents and often uncles, aunts and their children extending a kind of family network around the individual with which the individual identifies herself or himself. Within this Islamic family and social pattern, respect for parents plays a most significant role (Islamic Voice, March 1998).

Marriage in Islamic culture is a simple and legal agreement in which both partners are free to include conditions. Marriage customs vary widely from country to country but the main concept is same. Divorce is not common, although it is nor forbidden as a last option. In Islam, no Muslim girl or man can be forced to marry against his or her will.

In Islamic culture, life and property of all citizens are considered sacred, whether a person is Muslim or non-Muslim. Islam also protects honor, in Islam, insulting others or making fun of them is not allowed for nay reason. Islamic culture also ejects certain individuals being favored because of their wealth, race or power. All humans are equal and they are distinguished only on the basis of their piety and faith.

Islam is a complete way of life. It does not cover only the spiritual aspects or it’s not just a set of rituals, unrelated to other aspects of life. Islam gives broad and complete guidelines, and specific instructions, about every single facet of human life.

 

Reference
 

John L. Esposito, (2000), Oxford History of Islam

Karen Armstrong, (1993), Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet

Quran, 2:83 Surah-Bakra, Aayat No.83

Quran, 15:9 Surah-Hajar, Aayat No.9

Quran, 33:40 Surah-Hazaab, Aayat No.33

Quran, 112:1-4 Surah-Ikhlas, Aayat No.1-4

Islamic Voice, Issue: (March, 1998)

Islamic Voice, Issue: (August, 1998)