The Origin of Islam

Around 23% of the world’s population is Islamic. It is the largest and fastest growing religion in the world after Christianity. In The United States alone, more people are converted to Muslim than any other faith, having most of its growth from within, amounting to almost 2 million people. Only about 18% of Muslims live in the Arab world, and the rest are scattered all over the world. Over 30% of the population in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh are Muslim and in Indonesia and a large portion of Africa, they carry the largest population of people. All in all, the Muslim population comprises 1.3 billion people throughout the world. (1) The question then arises: How did such a powerful religion begin?

The origin of Islam can be traced back to present-day Saudi Arabia early in the 7^th century. A distance away, the Roman Empire was divided from within. While paganism and Judaism continued to survive, Emperor Constantine of the 4^th century revolutionized the empire under one religion - Roman Catholic Christianity. In time, Christianity split between the Eastern Empire, which followed Eastern Orthodoxy, and the Western Empire, which followed Roman Catholicism. Other divisions within Catholicism continued as well. Arianism, a belief that did not believe that Jesus was “one substance” with God played argument against those who believed in “what became known as” the Trinity – a belief in God, the Son, and the Spirit as “One.” In addition, cultism was running rampant throughout the empire, along with the continued ancient paganism and Judaism. There were strong divisions between monarchy and the people and the Church and laity. A hierarchy form of State and Church government divided those of means and those without. The empire was divided. Barbarian tribes tried to enter in to rule, leaving the entire Roman Empire at risk. The spiritual and intellectual qualities of the clergy and monarchy of the entire Roman Empire were steadily declining as the “Dark Ages” of Europe set in. The entire empire was ready for some sort of invasion.

The religions of pre-Islamic Arabia

In the world of comparative religions, each major religion has its own peculiar concept of deity. As such, all religions do not worship the same God under different language names. Arabia, before the Islamic invasion, was a land filled with polytheistic and pantheistic (gods and nature are one) gods and astral worship (sun, moon, and stars). (2) In fact, the entire Fertile Crescent (from Persia to Egypt, which included Canaan) was involved with astral worship. (3) At the heart of Mecca was the Ka'aba (cube in Arabic), a shrine about 60 feet, by 60 feet, by 60 feet, containing hundreds of idols, and known as the House of Allah. Allah was viewed at the supreme of the pantheon gods of Arabian deities. Christianity, Judaism, and other cultic activity were also seen in pre-Islamic Arabia.

Mohammed of Arabia

In what seemed like a forgotten corner of the world, a tidal wave of conquest was about to rise in Arabia that threatened to engulf the world. In an area where there was no central government and numerous warring tribe in the midst of polytheistic religions, “one man,” named Mohammed Ibn Abdallah, an Arab merchant and camel driver in Mecca, familiar with the pantheon deities of his day had come in contact with both Judaism and the various Christian unorthodox cults that existed in Arabia.

Mohammed’s revelation

Mohammed was a man of meditation and contemplation and often went to a nearby cave for solitude. During one of those times he claimed an evil being came to him. At another time, he claimed he received a revelation from the angel Gabriel claiming there was only one god, called Allah, who rules all things and requires obedience from all. From this revelation , Mohammed came to believe that he was a prophet of the “Great Allah.” After that, Mohammed claimed he had several visions or visits with the angel Gabriel. It became Mohammed’s mission to “proclaim the truth of Islam” as instructed by “Gabriel.” He called the people to repent from their idol worship and serve the one true god of Allah. He taught that man is Allah’s slave and it was his duty to submit to and obey him. Mohammed proclaimed the Day of Judgment was coming and that mans’ works will be weighed on that day. Those whose good deed out weighed the bad may, by Allah’s grace, be saved and enter paradise, which is filled with sensual pleasure; all others went to hell.

Mohammed declared that he was not preaching a new religion but simply the culmination of what God had revealed in the Hebrew prophets and in Jesus, whom he claimed was not divine. Since Mohammed could neither read nor write, he was instructed to memorize the words given to him by the angel. He became convinced that everything the angel spoke was from the Lord.

In three years Mohammed had only 40 converts. The merchants in Mecca opposed his preaching because their pagan belief was in many gods and businesses thrived on their polytheistic beliefs. Mohammed was persecuted and ridiculed intensely, so he , his family, and his small band of followers left Mecca.

The beginning of the Muslem era – 622 A.D.

Mohammed took refuge at the nearby oasis of Medina. There he was able to gather more converts and the first Muslim community was developed. This marks the year of the Hegira, or Migration from Mecca to Yathrib (Medina). This date, July 15, 622 A.D. was the first day of the lunar year in which the Hegira took place. In this community, in which they worshipped Allah, as well as conducted civil and political life, the followers of Mohammed obeyed the guidelines as were set up by him. Mohammed preached about repentance and urged all people to return to the “true faith of Abraham, claiming descendency back to Ishmael, Abraham’s eldest son by his wife’s slave Hagar – not Isaac, the promised son of his wife Sarah. Mohammed preached one god and the forgiveness of sins. His first sermon was on a Friday; therefore, Islamic congregational worship occurs on Fridays. Originally he faced Jerusalem when he prayed like the other Jews who were very populous in that city. Before long; however, the Jews began to disapprove of his movement. Mohammed confronted them and told them they had misread the Scriptures - he was the one who held truth. This angered the Jews, so in defiance, Mohammed changed direction and faced Mecca to pray. From that point on, all Muslims faced Mecca to pray.

Muslims are people who practice the religion of Islam

Financially, the movement was not doing well. Prompted by a revelation permitting them to raid passing caravans, Mohammed began a series of raids. Shortly thereafter, there was a significant battle where Mohammed and 350 of his men defeated an army of 1000 men. This victory brought in more Muslim converts. After eight years in Medina, and a buildup of a strong force of over 10,000, Mohammed and his converts set out on a military and political campaign, which, after many battles gave them control over Mecca. At that point Mohammed decreed that his former enemies, who were those who opposed him, were forgiven. He ordered, however, that all idols be overthrown and the people were forced, on penalty of death, to become Muslim. By the time of Mohammed’s death in 632 A.D., a large part of Arabia was in Muslim hands. By order of the succession of leadership, the Islamic religion continued to grow. The theme of Muslim rule came to be - “Become a Muslim or die.” By 634 A.D. the Muslims had their first victory over the Byzantine armies, which were part of the Eastern part of the Roman Empire. Damascus and Jerusalem were overtaken by 638 A.D. (4)

Islam was not forced upon Christians and Jews

In the beginning Christians and Jews were allowed to keep their religion. They were forced, however, to wear distinct clothes and pay tributes and higher taxes than others. In some areas, Christians had to wear heavy crosses around their necks. As a general rule, Muslims publicly mocked Christians and Jews.

Mohammed was a man of meditation and contemplation and often went to a nearby cave for solitude.  During one of those times he claimed an evil being came to him. At another time, he claimed he received a revelation from the angel Gabriel claiming there was only one god, called Allah, who rules all things and requires obedience from all. From this revelation , Mohammed came to believe that he was a prophet of the “Great Allah.” After that, Mohammed claimed he had several visions or visits with the angel Gabriel. It became Mohammed’s mission to “proclaim the truth of Islam” as instructed by “Gabriel.” He called the people to repent from their idol worship and serve the one true god of Allah. He taught that man is Allah’s slave and it was his duty to submit to and obey him. Mohammed proclaimed the Day of Judgment was coming and that mans’ works will be weighed on that day. Those whose good deed out weighed the bad may, by Allah’s grace, be saved and enter paradise, which is filled with sensual pleasure; all others went to hell.

Mohammed declared that he was not preaching a new religion but simply the culmination of what God had revealed in the Hebrew prophets and in Jesus, whom he claimed was not divine. Since Mohammed could neither read nor write, he was instructed to memorize the words given to him by the angel. He became convinced that everything the angel spoke was from the Lord. In three years Mohammed had only 40 converts. The merchants in Mecca opposed his preaching because their pagan belief was in many gods and businesses thrived on their polytheistic beliefs. Mohammed was persecuted and ridiculed intensely, so he , his family, and his small band of followers left Mecca.

The beginning of the Muslem era – 622 A.D.

Mohammed took refuge at the nearby oasis of Medina. There he was able to gather more converts and the first Muslim community was developed. This marks the year of the Hegira, or Migration from Mecca to Yathrib (Medina). This date, July 15, 622 A.D. was the first day of the lunar year in which the Hegira took place. In this community, in which they worshipped Allah, as well as conducted civil and political life, the followers of Mohammed obeyed the guidelines as were set up by him. Mohammed preached about repentance and urged all people to return to the “true faith of Abraham, claiming descendency back to Ishmael, Abraham’s eldest son by his wife’s slave Hagar – not Isaac, the promised son of his wife Sarah. Mohammed preached one god and the forgiveness of sins. His first sermon was on a Friday; therefore, Islamic congregational worship occurs on Fridays. Originally he faced Jerusalem when he prayed like the other Jews who were very populous in that city. Before long; however, the Jews began to disapprove of his movement. Mohammed confronted them and told them they had misread the Scriptures - he was the one who held truth. This angered the Jews, so in defiance, Mohammed changed direction and faced Mecca to pray. From that point on, all Muslims faced Mecca to pray.

Financially, the movement was not doing well. Prompted by a revelation permitting them to raid passing caravans, Mohammed began a series of raids. Shortly thereafter, there was a significant battle where Mohammed and 350 of his men defeated an army of 1000 men. This victory brought in more Muslim converts. After eight years in Medina, and a buildup of a strong force of over 10,000, Mohammed and his converts set out on a military and political campaign, which, after many battles gave them control over Mecca. At that point Mohammed decreed that his former enemies, who were those who opposed him, were forgiven. He ordered, however, that all idols be overthrown and the people were forced, on penalty of death, to become Muslim. By the time of Mohammed’s death in 632 A.D., a large part of Arabia was in Muslim hands. By order of the succession of leadership, the Islamic religion continued to grow. The theme of Muslim rule came to be - “Become a Muslim or die.” By 634 A.D. the Muslims had their first victory over the Byzantine armies, which were part of the Eastern part of the Roman Empire. Damascus and Jerusalem were overtaken by 638 A.D. (4)

Islam were not forced upon Christians and Jews

In the beginning Christians and Jews were allowed to keep their religion. They were forced, however, to wear distinct clothes and pay tributes and higher taxes than others. In some areas, Christians had to wear heavy crosses around their necks. As a general rule, Muslims publicly mocked Christians and Jews.

Basic differences between the Bible and the Qur'an

www.carm.org

The divisions of Islam

Sunni Muslims : The Sunni Muslims constitute 90% of the Islamic believers, and are considered to be the mainstream traditionalists. They primarily pursue their faith within secular societies and have adapted to whatever culture they reside. They emphasize the power and sovereignty of Allah, in which strict determinism is taught, and his right to do whatever he wants with his creation.
Shi’ite Muslims: The Shi'ites split away from the Sunnis over the issue of the successor to Muhammad in 661 A.D. “Shi'ites believe that the successor to Muhammad should have been Ali, his son in law, and that subsequent successors should have been through his lineage through his wife Fatima. Shi'itism is broken into three main sects: the Twelve-Imam (Persia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Syria), the Zaydis (Yemen), and the Ismailis (India, Iran, Syria, and East Africa). Each group has differences of doctrine.”
Sufi Muslims : The Sufi Muslims are a mystical tradition where the followers seek inner mystical knowledge of God. They follow a path of deprivation and meditation, abstinence and poverty. Worldly things are renounced, and its followers strive to attain a higher knowledge and experience of Allah. They believe that the Qur’an can be interpreted in different ways and it has hidden meanings within its pages. They also follow the teaching of pantheism, meaning God and nature are one. This sect "officially" developed around the 10th century and has since fragmented into different orders.(5)

A divided religion
History has shown that in time every religion divides itself. Islam is not a united religious system as the Qur’an claims. There are divisions among its ranks and even those divisions have divisions. In essence, there is no united religion on the face of this earth. There is only “one” truth and that is the Word of God. Following religion only leads to tradition, rules, bondage, and ultimate division and death. The Bible, on the other hand, tells us that when we know and act on the truth, we will then be set free from religion and given life – life eternal with Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free

For more information relating to Islam or the history of the Church, check out the articles on Church History, located on the front page of theonlinebibleschool.com.

End Notes

1 http://www.onelittleangel.com/wisdom/quotes/islam.asp
2 www.biblebelievers.org.au/Islam.htm
3 Wherry E.M. A Comprehensive Commentary on the QuranmOsnabruck: Otto Zeller Verlag, 1973, p. 36
4 www.truthnet.org/Islam/whatisislam.html
5. www.carm.org