Islam

Islam is a religious system founded by Prophet Mohammed. Islam in Arabic means ‘Surrender’ or ‘Submission’.

Mohammed was born in Mecca in 510 A.D. At that time, Arabia was in a state of total chaos and confusion. The country was divided into a number of tribes and clans who constantly were at war with each other. Mohammed’s father Abdullah died 2 months before his birth. He lost his mother Amina, when he was 6 years old. He was brought up by his grandfather and later by his uncle.

Mohammed received no formal education. He often had to go into the deserts to tend his uncle’s flocks. He was so honest, upright and truthful that people called him ‘Al-Amin’ (the trustworthy).

When Mohammed was 25, he married a wealthy widow Khadija. But after marriage, he did not pay much attention to business. He used to retire to the cave on Mount Hira and spend his time in prayer and meditation. He started receiving the divine revelations when he was forty years old. He was told by Angel Gabriel that God had chosen him as his messenger to spread the message of unity and sovereignty of God and uplift the people from moral degradation.

When he began to oppose idol worship and the superstitious practices followed by his countrymen, the Meccans launched a wave of persecution against him and called him a madman and magician. Mohammed had to suffer untold hardships. When the persecution became unbearable, he migrated to Medina, where he was given a warm welcome by the people and many accepted His new faith.

Mohammed’s popularity grew and now he became the ruler of a city and of powerful tribes. He marched against the Meccans and conquered Mecca without any bloodshed. In 632 A.D. after returning from his pilgrimage to Mecca, he fell ill and breathed his last.

The light that Mohammed lit spread all over the world and Islam became one of the major religions of the world with about 700 million followers.

The entire life of Mohammed was a unique example of simplicity and service to fellow beings. Courtesy and compassion, simplicity and humility, sympathy and sincerity were the keynotes of his character. He had charming manners, which won him the affection and devotion of a large number of followers. He practised whatever he preached.

The Holy Quran and the Hadis

The Quran is the holy book of Islam. It was revealed to Prophet Mohammed by Angel Gabriel. Except in the opening verses and some few passages in which the Prophet or the Angel speaks in the first person, the speaker, throughout is God. Koran in Arabic means ‘recital’. It serves as a guiding light, inspiring and leading the devout on the right path. It tells man how to conduct himself. The word ‘Muslim’ means ‘devout’.

Like the Vedas, at first, the Koran also originated in an oral tradition but after Mohammed’s death, it was compiled into 30 chapters and was written down.

The Teachings

There is only one God, Allah. The one Supreme Being Allah, creator and nourisher of all is alone worthy of worship. He is not only present everywhere, but is also the all-knowing, all-powerful, all-forgiving, the most compassionate and the most merciful. To worship Allah means to love him, to know him, to act upon his law in every aspect of life, to serve him by serving mankind. The Quran says that righteous is the man who believes in God, the last day, the Angels, the Prophets, who gives out his wealth to the needy, who sets free the slaves, who is steadfast in prayer and who practises charity, who is patient in suffering and adversity and in time of stress. Such are those who are sincere and God-fearing. The main tenets (Five Pillars) of Islam are as follows:

1. There is only one God and Mohammed is his messenger. Everbody is accountable for his good and bad deeds. Islam believes in the last judgment when everyone shall receive the reward or punishment for his earthly deeds.
2. A Muslim must perform prayers (Namaz) five times a day, at dawn, at mid-day, afternoon, evening and night. They may pray alone or in a group. They face Mecca, Mohammed’s birthplace.
3. He must keep fast from dawn to dusk during the holy month of Ramzan. The Ramadan, or the holy ninth month of the lunar year is sacred because Muslims believe that God first revealed verses of the Quran to the Prophet during Ramadan.
4. He must give Zakat (charity to the needy). Giving the Zakat is considered an act of worship because it is a form of offering thanks to God for the material well-being one has acquired.
5. If possible, he should go on a pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca at least once in his life time.

Besides these, the Quran urges the Muslims to love the neighbours, to behave justly and generously, to trade honestly and avoid intoxicants.

Surrender to Allah and peace are the key notes of Islam. The usual greeting of a Muslim is ‘As-Salam-Alaikum’ (peace be on you) and the reply from the one greeted is Wa-Alaikum-us-salam’ (and peace be on you also). The Quran urges man to dedicate his life to God and to realise that we belong to God and to Him we return.

The Ka’aba in Mecca is a cubical stone structure in the courtyard of the Great Mosque. It is covered by a black cloth embroidered with verses from the Quran.

The Crescent and Star is generally taken as the symbol of Islamic culture. The five-pointed star is said to represent the five pillars of Islam. The crescent moon has a central function in the Muslim lunar month. The crescent moon also signals the beginning and end of the fast of Ramadan.

Sufism

Sufism is also of Islamic origin. It is a religion of love for God. It has many features of the Hindu religion. They believed that God is everywhere. A Sufi does not reject or hate anyone, even an atheist. For him, all is God. The Sufi Saints tried to bring about a unity among Hindus and Muslims in India. Most popular Sufi saints were 1. Baba Farid Gunj Shakar 2. Nizamuddin Aualiya 3. Baba Nuruddin. The Sufi Saints proclaimed the basic unity of all religions.

Conclusion

All religions are different forces in the economy of God working for the good of Mankind. They are not contradictory; they are supplementary to each other.

Whichever the religion, its goal is to make one a better man and help him to achieve the ultimate end of life i.e. salvation.

“Brotherhood of Man and Fatherhood of God” is the essential teaching of all the religions.