The Rise of Islam

Fatrina Sherata A. Miguel

Rhyne Marie A. Cabuhan
Juferson L. Capa
Jonathan T. Morales Jr.

2022
 Abstract

Islam spread over a few hundred years from its origins in the Arabian Peninsula to
contemporary Spain in the west and northern India in the east. Islam traversed
these areas in a variety of ways. It was transported in huge caravans or sea boats
through extensive commerce networks on land and water, and it was also
disseminated through military conquest and missionary labor. As Islamic ideas and
traditions interacted with other communities, they were articulated in distinct ways
and eventually took on a variety of forms.

This study is mainly based on analysis made on the different articles and sources,
but majority of the references are from the studies made by Cambridge University.
The researcher has thus provides thorough information regarding the origins of the
Islam religion; how Prophet Muhammad etched Islam on the tablets of history as a
one-of-a-kind, and what he taught the faith's adherents.

This study provides us with a comprehensive explanation not just of Islam's

history, but also of its importance and contribution to the world and civilization for
the readers to understand better why it is one of the world's largest and most
prominent and is the fastest-growing religion today.

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Islam's Emergence and Proliferation

Islam has developed into one of the largest religions in the world, with more than
1.5 billion adherents spread throughout more than 232 nations. In Asia, Africa, and
the Middle East, there are a lot of Muslims. When the Prophet Muhammad started
sharing his divine revelations and disseminating teachings he received from Allah,
Islam began to flourish and spread (god). In 622, due to persecution, Muhammad
and his adherents were forced to flee to the nearby city of Medina. There, the faith
expanded and he and his disciples were welcomed. Mecca became the center of
Islam in the year 630 when they were finally allowed to return there after much
fighting. Islam's teachings spread quickly throughout the Middle East after
Muhammad's passing in 632, reaching numerous individuals and locations.

The Rashidun Caliphate, which reigned from 610 to 750, is referred to as the
period immediately after Muhammad's death. A Muslim administration and
government was founded during this reign and governed the Middle East. The
Righteous Caliphs, or spiritual leaders, presided over the Caliphate. Through their
conquests of important cities like Baghdad, Jerusalem, and Alexandria, these four
men contributed to the growth and spread of Islam well beyond the Middle East by
644. A large portion of the Byzantine and Persian domains were practically taken
over by the conquest of North and Western Africa. A version of the Quran was
compiled by the third Caliph Uthman, and it was widely utilized throughout the
Islamic world in newly founded schools that provided instruction in Arabic and
Islamic sciences.

The Umayyad Caliphate ruled the empire until 750 after the demise of the final
caliph in 661. According to historians, this caliphate was the most powerful and
vast of all the caliphs. The Islamic Empire reached its height under the Umayyad
Caliphate, which also extended its dominion from the Middle East to sections of
Northern Africa, Asia, India, and Europe. By establishing Arabic as the official
language, standardizing measurements, and establishing a common currency, the
spread of Islam in these regions contributed to the unification of nomadic people
into a more cohesive civilization.As a result, the "Golden Age" that followed the
Umayyad Dynasty's destruction in 750 was known as the Abbasid Dynasty.
Science, math, astronomy, medicine, and literature all experienced great growth

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during this time. Arts and architecture flourished, and libraries and schools were
erected. This era continued until 1258.

Islam’s Core and Foundation: the 5 Pillars of Islam

Because it fosters a sense of connection and community among individuals who

have the same beliefs, religion is widely practiced. There is a strong sense of
community created worldwide by various religious rituals. Every Muslim is
required to follow the Five Pillars of Islam, which fosters a strong sense of
community among Muslims across the world.

The Shahadah, or The Declaration of Faith, is the first tenet of Islam. The Shahada
is the simplest way to communicate Islamic principles. When a Muslim repeat this,
they accept it as true and will abide by all of Islam's precepts. It simply declares,
"There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet." A person must repeat
this three times in front of witnesses while being completely sincere in order to
become a Muslim.

Islam's second tenet is Salat, or prayer. Muslims are obliged to face Mecca and
offer five prayers each day. In Islamic nations, the day is signaled by a public call
to prayer. Millions of Muslims worldwide participate in this over 1400-year-old
ritual.

The third pillar of Islam is Zakat, or charitable giving or almsgiving. Muslims

consider it their duty to distribute their money to the less fortunate members of
their faith. Muslims are required to donate 2.5% of their annual income to charity.
Giving is a way to worship and purify oneself. They are freed from greed and
materialistic attachment thanks to this exercise.

Sawm, or fasting throughout the holy month of Ramadan, is the fourth tenet of
Islam. The ninth month of the Islamic calendar is when Ramadan takes place.
Ramadan is a 30-day period. Muslims are supposed to fast for the first 29 days,
abstaining from food and liquids from sunrise until dark. They develop
self-discipline to grow spiritually and see Sawm as God's obedience.

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The Hajj is the final of Islam's five pillars, and it is obligatory for all Muslims who
are able to do so to visit Mecca and other nearby holy places at least once
throughout their lifetimes. Every Muslim congregates in Mecca once a year for this
rite, which strengthens the links of Islam and is performed in front of the Kaaba, a
shrine inside the enormous mosque in Mecca, to glorify Allah. The Hajj takes
place during the 12th Islamic month.

The Early Islamic Caliphs and Dynasties

The Islamic Empire was ruled by the Muslim Caliphate when the Prophet
Muhammad, the religion's founder, passed away in 632. In Islamic history, the first
four caliphs are referred to as the Rashidun Caliphate, or the "Rightly Guided
Caliphs." They were all Muhammad's blood relatives and were renowned for their
piety and leadership. The caliphate expanded under their rule from being a purely
Arabian power to the largest empire in world history up to that point, spanning
territory from Egypt in the west to Persia in the east, despite the difficulties and
unrest they had to contend with.

Abu Bakr established the Rashidun Caliphate and ruled from 632 to 634. Abu Bakr
was referred to as "The Honest." He effectively put an end to insurrections in the
area and solidified the Caliphate's power. Umar ibn al-Khattab, who reigned from
634-644, was the second caliph. He effectively seized control of the Middle East
and surrounding areas including Egypt, Syria, and North Africa while considerably
expanding the Islamic Empire. The canonical holy book of Islam, the Quran, was
founded by Uthman, the third caliph, who reigned from 644 to 656. Ali ibn Abi
Talib, the last caliph, reigned from 656 to 661 and was renowned for his words and
intelligence.

After Ali's murder in 661, the Umayyad Dynasty quickly seized power throughout
the Islamic Empire. The empire under this dynasty quickly grew to encompass
portions of Spain, Western India, and Northern Africa. It was one of the biggest
empires in world history at its height. The Umayyad unified the empire by
establishing Arabic as the official language, a common currency, and a standard
system of measurement, among other things.

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The Umayyad Dynasty was overthrown in 750 by the Abbasid Dynasty. The rule
of the Abbasids is remembered as a time of scientific progress and invention. The
Islamic Golden Age is what is known as this time period. Numerous technical and
creative advancements in science, math, health, education, and the arts were made
during this time. Damascus, the Abbasid caliphate's capital, was devastated by the
Mongols in 1258, and the caliph was assassinated. The caliphate was then
reinstated by the Abbasids after they relocated to Egypt. However, the caliphate
had little influence in politics moving forward.

The Sunni–Shia Division

Like many great religions, like Christianity and Judaism, there were conflicts
among Islam's adherents. After the passing of the Prophet Muhammad, this split
arose. Many Muslims held the opinion that a member of Muhammad's family
should be the caliph of Islam. Others held that the individual who the community's
elite thought to be most suited to lead the community should take the position of
leadership. Because of this debate, there are now two distinct Muslim organizations
known as Sunni and Shi'a.

The vast majority of Muslims worldwide adhere to Sunni Islam. A Sunni is a

person who adheres to the Prophet's traditions, according to Arabic. Many Muslims
thought that Muhammad's successor should be chosen by the most eminent
members of the community after his passing. They ultimately decided to make Abu
Bakr, Muhammad's close friend and confidant, the first caliph of the Islamic
nation.

Shiite Muslims, sometimes referred to as Shi'a, are those who think that power
should remain in Muhammad's household. The term "Shi'a" in Arabic is short for
"Shia-t-Ali," which refers to the Party of Ali. Although Shi'a Muslims make up the
majority of Muslims globally, they are the majority of Muslims in Iran. This came
about as a result of the Safavid dynasty's ascent to prominence in the 16th century,
which turned the Middle East into a Shi'a stronghold. Shiites contend that
Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law Ali should have been his legitimate successor.
Shiites follow Imams, who have been chosen by God.

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Shiites give Imams a high regard and consider them to be blameless beings whose
power originates from Allah. Sunnis oppose the Imam and reject the idea of a
privileged class of rulers or leaders who are chosen by inheritance. They think that
individuals may both offer and receive leadership and trust. Sunnis and Shi'a
Muslims have different traditions and religious practices in addition to having
different leaders. Sunni Muslims base their faith on the testimonies of
Muhammad's close companions, whereas Shi'a Muslims adhere to texts and verses
that were passed down through the prophet's family and reject the early caliphs'
traditions.

Sunni and Shi'a Muslims share the same most fundamental beliefs and articles of
Islamic faith, such as belief in God Allah, the five Pillars of Islam, and the Qu'ran
as their holy book, despite some differences in how they practice Islam.

Islamic Achievements in its Renaissance

The Islamic Empire made significant contributions to the improvement of several

disciplines during the Abbasid Caliphate, including literature and philosophy,
science and medicine, mathematics, and art. The Islamic Golden Age, which
spanned the years 790 to 1258, was recognized as such.

During this time, education was highly valued in Islamic culture. The earliest
public universities, where philosophy and literature were studied, were established
in Baghdad. Arab writers of fables, poetry, history, theology, and other genres of
literature gathered works from a variety of sources. The "Thousand and One
Nights" collection of Arab folktales is the most well-known.

Greek philosophers' writings were translated and preserved by Muslim academics.

Two philosophies emerged during this time: Kalam, which provides an explanation
and justification for Islamic religious beliefs, and Falsafa, which was reasoning
based on Greek philosophy, mathematics, and physics.

Muslim physicians added to Greek and Indian medical theories by studying their
writings. All of the significant cities had hospitals. Islamic medicine created
significant medical advancements, such as a surgical method to remove cataracts

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from the eyes. The "Canon of Medicine," an ancient medical text, served as a
reference for centuries in both the Islamic empire and Europe.

Greek and Indian scientists laid the foundation for Muslim scientists. They
employed astronomy for religious purposes, such as determining the direction of
Mecca for prayer, navigation, and calendar creation. They created tools like the
astrolabe and quadrant as well as observatories to examine the sky. They studied
geometry and trigonometry in Greek, Indian, and Chinese mathematics. Algebra
was first studied by Muslim mathematicians, who also contributed to its
establishment as a distinct branch of mathematics. The use of a predecessor to the
modern bank check was one of the banking innovations made possible by the
adoption of Indian numerals, which facilitated trade and exchange.

Religious authorities prohibited artists from representing God or human beings in

religious works of art. Instead of employing these figures, Islamic artists produced
complicated patterns and motifs like calligraphy, tessellations, and arabesque
(which include leaves and flowers) (the art of beautiful handwriting). These may
be seen on a variety of artistic media, including mosaics, paintings, and ceramics.
Indian, Persian, and Arab painters were particularly skilled at creating tiny
paintings for book illustrations.

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