|
|
Home
| Islam
| Size & Location
|
|
Size
& Location
|
|
Originating
in Arabia, Islam has spread throughout the world and
there is an estimated 1.1 billion Muslims in the world
(see the Rise of Islam). It is the fastest growing religion
in America (US News and world report 1990). There are
approximately 1,000,000 – 1,500,000 active Muslims
in the UK. Historically Islam has been more dominant
in Asia and Africa and countries with a high population
of Muslims are Indonesia, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
|
|
Origins
|
| The
religion started in Makkah, Arabia in 7th Century CE,
although God’s revelation and religion is much older,
in that Muslims believe that the first prophet was Adam.
His final revelation though was given to Muhammad who
was the seal of the prophets and the holy words (the Qur'an)
revealed to him via the angel Gabriel where the final
revelation of God (Allah) to mankind. They recognize the
other prophets such as Moses (Musa), Abraham (Ibrahim)
and Jesus (Isa) but Muhammad is Allah’s final and
most important prophet. There are in total 28 prophets
named in the Qur'an. "Islam" is an Arabic word
that includes the concept of submitting to the will of
God, thereby achieving peace and security. To become a
Muslim you need only utter the words, ‘There is no
God but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet’, in front
of witnesses and you have become a Muslim. |
|
|
|
HOLY
TEXTS
|
| Muslims
believe that of the books sent down by Allah only four
remain, the Tauret (Pentateuch – the laws of Moses)
given to Moses, Zabur (Psalms) given to David, Injil (Evangel
– the Gospel) given to Jesus and the Qu’ran
given to Muhammad.
The
Qu’ran is the holy text which was revealed by the
angel Gabriel to Muhammad and within it covers all areas
of how a Muslim should live. Ihe Qur’an contains
for a Muslim the actual words of God and the language
it was revealed in, Arabic is seen as very important
in order to understand the real meaning of the words.
The first three texts have been corrupted and have been
replaced by the Qur'an. The Qur'an was brought to Muhammad
on the Night of Power and dictated to Muhammad via the
angel Gabriel over the rest of his life. The opening
‘Surah’ – chapter called the Fatiha is
seen as providing a summary of Islam. It states:
‘In
the name of allah, the Merciful, the compassionate.
Praise to god, Lord of the Worlds, the Merciful, the
Compassionate, King of the Day of Judgment. You alone
we worship, you alone we beseech. Lead us in the straight
path, the path of those upon whom is your grace, not
of those upon whom is your wrath, nor of those who have
gone astray.’
Within
the Qur’an is found the 99 names given to Allah.
Of the 28 prophets named in the Qur’an 22 come
from the Old Testament and 3 from the New Testament.
|
|
|
|