Tweet#1 Islam stands for Monotheism – The belief that there is no other God, but God – Allah, The highest one. Tweet#2 Muhammad, the prophet is a messenger of Allah. Orphaned at a young age, he grew up in Medina. He arrived in Mecca, to support his uncle’s business. Tweet#3 Muhammad gains fame for being a fair and honest businessman. But since he is an orphan without inheritance, societal acceptance is difficult. Tweet#4 Khadija, a rich widow, marries Muhammad in love. He finds peace and happiness. He also adopts his uncle’s son Ali. Life and business prosper. Tweet#5 Muhammad receives a series of revelations from an angel - Gabriel. Khadija believes him to be a chosen one. Muhammad shares the message around. Tweet#6 Meccan elite disapprove of such revelations. Their disapproval brings more attention to his messages. People are divided. Conversion begins. Tweet#7 Muhammad and his followers are ostracized. Attempts on the prophet’s life happens. The prophet and his followers move to Medina. Tweet#8 Medina prospers under the prophet’s uniting leadership. Together with his followers and medinan people, Muhammad attacks Mecca. Mecca surrenders. Tweet#9 Mass conversions to prophet’s message happens. Polytheism makes way to monotheism. Codes of conduct are established formally. Khadija dies. Tweet#10 Muhammad rules and spiritually guides as the undisputed leader. He also marries 8 more women to grow and keep the Islamic kingdom united. Tweet#11 He does not beget any children the other 8-wives. Aisha is the youngest and most vocal of the 8. The Prophet though loves only Khadija. Tweet#12 As he grows old and is on death bed, he fails to announce a successor. Ali, his adopted son, is the front-runner. But politics ensue. Tweet#13 Ali participates in funeral rites of the Prophet. Meanwhile, a group – that seeks to represent Muhammad’s customs and principles is formed. Tweet#14 The group choses Aisha’s father as the next prophet, ignoring Ali. Debate ensues on whether the prophet would have approved their choice. Tweet#15 People who follow the group’s choice are Sunni’s. Those who stood for Ali are Shia’s. Ali tolerates the group’s choice seeking peace. Tweet#16 Aisha’s father rules. Post him another prophet is chosen. But this prophet uses Islam to encourage crony capitalism and rampant corruption. Tweet#17 People rise against the prophet. They inspire Ali to take over the lead. After 3-prophets, Ali finally becomes the prophet to rule over Islam. Tweet#18 Ali rules for 5-years, but is killed in battle-field with a poisoned sword by a cunning, yet tactical statesman. He becomes the next prophet. Tweet#19 The statesman rules Islam for 19 more years – rapidly expanding Islam and bringing the middle-east to control. He wants his son to succeed him. Tweet#20 The statesman eventually dies. His son’s rule is tyrannical. People now want Ali’s sons Hasan or Hussein to take over. Hasan is killed cunningly. Tweet#21 Hussein is assured of people’s support, in his fight against the statesman’s son. He travels towards Iraq to create the revolution. Tweet#22 As Hussein approaches Iraq, afraid of the ruler, people backout. Hussein is made aware of this. He still does not back out. Tweet#23 Hussein, his family, child, friends and followers are surrounded and then slowly/brutally killed by a 4000-member Army in Karbala. Muhammads blood is forever lost. Tweet#24 The manner of killing causes an uprising among people. They re-enact Hussein’s suffering in Death every year. This ritual is Muharram. Tweet#25 The day on which the first revelations happen to Muhammad is termed as Ramzan. The Arabic letters in this revelation sum to 786, a sacred number. Tweet#26 The revelations were meant to promote righteous living, spirit of brotherhood and the idea of one-ness of God.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 02:06:09 +0000
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