Origin of Islam

Islam is one of the most momentous religions in the world. It started in the early 7 th

century when Angel Gabriel showed up to Muhammad and told him that there is only

one God and he should begin delivering the word of God. The words were first recited

by Muhammad, later his disciples, and then recorded as text which came to be known

as the Holy Qur’an. Quran is a written record of the revelations of Muhammad received.

Thus, followers of Islam consider the Qur’an not the work of Muhammad but the actual

word of Allah. Muhammad was a member of a tribe in Mecca saled Quraysh and they

are intensely tribal. He continued preaching the word of God. He soon gained many

followers and converted many people. Many people were moved by Qur'anic passages

and converted to Islam of their own free will. However, his belief that there is only one

god becomes a religious and economical threat to other people who worshipped many

gods. Because the spread of Islam put Muhammad's and his followers' lives in jeopardy,

the entire community relocated from Mecca to Medina. This event is known as the Hijra,

and it is where the Muslim calendar started. It became a turning point in Islam's history.

The people of Medina accepted Islam and its teaching. Islam gained its momentum and

after several years Muhammad with his followers went back to Mecca and conquered

the place. Muhammad continued to preach the word of God using the Holy Quran. The

Quran has many teachings but it still returns to two themes. The first is strictly believing

in one true God. Second is helping those who are in need. This is why Muslims follow

the five pillars: Shahada, Salat, Sawm, Zakat, and Hajj.

Shada is the declaration that God is the only true God and His messenger is

Muhammad. Salat is praying five times a day. Sawm- is the month-long fasting
Ramadan. Zakat is almsgiving. Non-poor Muslims need to give a percentage of their

income to the less fortunate. Lastly, Hajj is the pilgrimage of Muslims to Mecca. The

history of Islam become an intrinsic part of Western Civilization because as the Islamic

states continue to grow, their trading partners and allies are also growing. Islam's initial

spread was aided by a massive, unprecedented military effort, but after the conflict

ended, the ensuing empires and kingdoms established more familiar commercial and

diplomatic ties with their neighbors. It cannot be denied that Islam contributed to the

development of Western Civilization.

Reference

CrashCourse. (2012, April 20). Islam, the Quran, and the Five Pillars All Without a

Flamewar: Crash Course World History #13. [Video]. Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpcbfxtdoI8