Muhammad Islam Facts Biography
Source:- Google.com.pkIslam started in Saudi Arabia and moved outward. There is still a huge population of Muslims in that area but according to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam there are around 1.2 billion people making up the global Muslim population in Sept 2005.
Islam means peace, submission and obedience. A Muslim is a follower of the Islamic way of life and tries to organise his or her life according to God's word.
The moon and star symbol
The moon and star is a symbol often used on flags or buildings of Islamic countries. Where the religion originated the days are so hot that the people often moved by night. The stars led the way and the moon lit the way. This symbol is sometimes used to show how Islam guides and lights a Muslim's way through life.
A map of the world showing where Muslims came from
Muslims believe that there is only one God, whose name in the Arabic language is Allah. God had special messengers or prophets. Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad (peace be upon them all) were God's prophets. People playing an important role in the lives of these prophets are also highly thought of. Mary,(God be pleased with her) Jesus'(pboh) mother was considered very highly because she had given birth to the Messiah, one of God's prophets. These prophets or messengers told people how to live by giving messages from God. There are no pictures of the prophets because they consider that the message is more important than the messenger.
Part of the RE Agreed Syllabus for Oxfordshire is to learn about a selection of World religions. In our school we look at five major religions, Islam is one of them.
I have written this information for children between the ages of seven and eleven. It is therefore simplistic. I hope that nobody has reason to find anything within offensive, but if what I have written offends you I apologise. Please contact me and I will change it. Carol Rainbow
Muhammad (PBUH) was the last of Islam's prophets. He was born in the Arabian Peninsula, what is now known as Saudi Arabia in a city called Makkah in 570. Makkah is sometimes called Mecca by non-Muslim people.
After Muhammad's name Muslim people recite a small prayer asking God to bless him and give him peace. This is often shortened to PBUH ( Peace be upon him).
Muhammad (PBUH) was poor, both of his parents died by the time he was six years old. He grew up honest and trustworthy. He did not like conditions where he lived and often went out into the mountains to think about life. One day while he sat and thought, God's messenger the Angel Gabriel came and gave him a message from God. This happened regularly over a period of years. The words sent by God were recorded and are the content of the Qur'an, the Muslim holy book.
All Muslims believe that Islam existed from the day Adam and Eve were sent down to earth. Other prophets were Abraham, Noah, Ismail, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon and Jesus. They all spread the word of God. Muslims believe that Muhammad (PBUH) is the last prophet of God to be sent to the world.
Muhammad started to teach the local community but the people who listened to him were persecuted and eventually forced to leave the area. They all went to Medina. This marks the start of the Islamic calendar because Muhammad (PBUH) founded the first Muslim community there. Their numbers were strong and they were looking for somewhere else to live. There had been some upset in Makkah, the people there had broken the peace treaty (attacking and killing some non-muslim allies in Makkah) and the Muslims consequently marched into Makkah and met no opposition. The people from Makkah became Muslims.
There is no picture of Muhammad (PBUH), Muslims do not worship any image because pictures are of man and they take great care they only worship God who has no image.
The Qur'an is the Muslim's holy book. It is the word of Allah (God) as told to the prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). The Qur'an is the word of God as it was given, in Arabic. Muslim's believe that it is the most important book in the world. It is not translated except for study, and people learn it in Arabic.
There is a set of rules for dealing with the Quran.
Before one touches the book one must must perform ritual washing or ablution i.e. beginning with the intention of ablution and the washing of the face, followed by the washing of 2 hands up to the elbows, to be followed by washing part of the head and finally the washing of the 2 legs up to the ankles.
Muslims are to listen in attentively whilst the Qur'an is being read.
For the ease of reading so that we can pay attention to the meanings of the Qur’an) a special book stand (rihal) is used to keep it of the floor in respect of the Holy Book.
There are various customs in different areas - these include:
The Qur'an is covered with cloth to keep it clean and protect it.
It is keep on a high shelf with nothing above it.
Before some readers will read it they touch their forehead with the book and kiss the cover.
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