An example of Allāh written in simple Arabic calligraphy. Source: Public DomainIslam is an Arabic word that means acceptance, surrender, submission, or commitment, and is closely related to the Arabic word for peace (salaam; in Hebrew, shalom). Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, literally, those who make peace. Muslims are those who surrender to the will of God (Allah, in Arabic) in every aspect of their lives and enjoy the resulting peace with God and each other. The prophet Muhammad gave the name Islam to the religious movement he founded. The name There are several events that could be considered the beginning of Islam, including the life of Muhammad, or the Hijra. If we seek the beginning of Islam in a sacred event, then perhaps it lies in the Night of Power (laylat al-qadar), when Muhammad received the call to be Gods messenger. This article briefly sets the context for this decisive event, and notes its essential meaning in Islam. In the Islamic worldview, the origins of the faith lie in Gods initial creation of the universe and everything in it, including the First Parents, Adam and his wife. For a time, all creatures lived in perfect peace, but then the First Parents were tempted by Iblis and disobeyed Gods rules. As a result, Adam and his wife were banished from Paradise, though God reassured Adam that the banishment was temporary. God promised to send messengers to Adam and his progeny, and these messengers would bring Gods guidance. Adam was reassured that those who follow Gods guidance will have no reason to feel fear or grief (surah 2:31-38). Abrahams Departure by József Molnár. Source: Public DomainOne of Gods most important messengers was Abraham (Arabic, Ibrahim), who was called by God to leave his home in Ur (in present-day Iraq). Abraham (whose name means Father of Many Nations) is revered in the scriptures of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as the ideal model of pure faith in the one true God. Abrahams islam was exemplary. He followed Gods instructions in everything, and was even willing to sacrifice his own son because God had commanded it. The sacred story of Islam tells of how Abraham and his son Ishmael (Arabic, Ismail) built the Kaaba (literally House of God) in Mecca, the center of Muslim worship. Prophet Muhammad at the Kaba, The Life of the Prophet Topkapi Palace Museum, Istanbul. Source: Public DomainMuhammad, the final messenger sent by God, belonged to the Quraysh, the tribe that controlled the sacred sites of Mecca, including the Kaaba. At the time of Muhammads birth, ca. 570 C.E., the culture of the Arabian peninsula was generally animistic and polytheistic. Shrines with idols proliferated, especially in Mecca. The Kaaba was filled with idols that had been placed there by the different tribes and clans of Arabia. Allah, which means quite simply the God, was the highest god, but only one among many.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 22:33:24 +0000
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