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

Mohammed was born in Mecca in 510 AD 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 Grand father 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. Angel Gabriel told him 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 the people gave him a warm welcome 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 AD after returning from his pilgrimage to Mecca, he fell ill and breathed his last.

The light that Mohammed lit all over the world and Islam became one of the major religions of the world with about 7000 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 practiced whatever he preached.

THE HOLY QURAN AND THE HADIS

The Quran is the holy book of Islam. Angel Gabriel revealed it to Prophet Mohammed. 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 mean, ‘recital’.

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

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 Koran 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 practices 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 of Islam are as follows: -

1. There is only one God and Mohammed is his messenger. Everybody is accountable for his good and bad deeds. Islam believes in the last judgement when everyone shall receive the reward or punishment for his earthly deeds.
2. A Muslim must perform prayers (Namaz) five times a day.
3. He must keep fast from dawn to dusk during the holy month of Ramzan.
4. He must give Zakat (charity to the needy).
5. If possible, he should go on a pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca atleast once in his lifetime.

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

Surrender to Allah and peace is the keynotes 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 realize that we belong to God and to Him we return.

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 try 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.