The Religion of Islam

What is Islam?

"Islam" is an Arabic word which means "deliverance," "surrender," "submission," or "subjugation." This word comes from the same root as the Arabic word "salam", which means "peace."  The word "Muslim," on the other hand, means "one who submits to the will of God, regardless of their race, nationality or ethnic background." Hence to the Muslims, "Islam" means "submission to the will of God". 

These definitions, in my opinion, are misleading for even in a Christian's point of view, his faith in God can be called Islam, furthermore, he can also be called a Muslim for he also submits to God. So we are compelled to redefine the meaning of Muslim, 

A person  who is a believer or a follower of Islam as  relating to or derived from Muhammad and his teachings in the Qur'an and its traditions.

Muslims don't like to be called "Muhammedans" or "Muhammadans" for to them it means you think that they worship Prophet Muhammad. 

Founder

The majority considers founder as Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) Ibn Abdullah (AD 570-AD 632) who was "unlettered" and was orphaned at the age of six  But the Holy Prophet taught the teachings for the fullfillment of teachings of  Several prophets like Adam, Noah, Salih ,Abraham Moses and Jesus. [3] His mother's name was Amina. He died at 632 AD at the age of 63.

Brief History

The Kalima. 


  One night around AD 610 while Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) (at the age of 40 ) was on the Mt. Hira he claimed to have heard a voice of the angel Gabriel commanding him to "read" or to "recite" (96:1-6). He alleged that he received a divine commanded to proclaim the "Kalima,"  that is, "there is no god except Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."

But for many years starting at beginning of his "prophetic" mission, he was met by a heavy business boycott and religious persecutions from polytheists whose income was coming from the visiting pilgrims who worship at the many idols in the Ka'aba in Makkah.