Old Arabs worshipped many gods, and sought a creator God before Islam. These gods were given many names. Some gods were also gods of fire and light. To support these beliefs and gods, many myths were created. Islam is the most widespread religion in the Arab world today.
Early Muslim religions
Islam was a combination of Christianity and Judaism. It respected the holy books of both religions, as well as their great prophets and leaders. The message of Prophet Muhammad was especially appreciated by the poor and the slaves. However, he did face opposition from many people and eventually became unpopular. At one time, he ran to Medina in fear for his safety. Muslims today pray five times daily in front of Mecca. They also pay a yearly tax and fast during Ramadan.
The prophetic stories of the Qur'an are essentially chronological, though not in a linear fashion. Sura 7, for example, discusses Noah, Hud, and Abraham, while Sura 11, mentions Hud and Abraham. However, the Prophets of Islam do not follow a strict chronological order. There are also other traditions that predate them.
The Origins of Islam
The history of Arabian Peninsula can be traced back as the source of Islam's origins. Before Islam's arrival in the Arab world, they had other religions and practices. This period was also known as "The Time of Ignorance" due to the beliefs and practices of pagan people.
Islam is today the most prominent of all three major religions. It claims to be monotheistic and its name means "surrender" to God. Muslims believe Allah is the only all-powerful and all-knowing god that created the world. The Quran, or the Koran, is the main source of Islamic faith.
Origins and development of Islam in the Arab World
The Arab world is an important part of the history of Islam. It is the birthplace of the religion. Its followers first migrated to the Arabian Peninsula, where they conquered the Sassanian Empire and the Byzantine Empire. They eventually expanded their empire, unifying a vast area from Pakistan to today's Iberian Peninsula. Islam is today the most popular religion in the world.
Early Arabs were naturally tribal and required unity. Islam became a way of uniting these people. After the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 CE, his son Abu Bakr assumed leadership of the Muslim Ummah and assumed the title of caliph. Abu Bakr ruled two years and brought unity to the Arabian Peninsula. He also expanded his dominion on neighbouring tribes, which were under Sassanian (byzantine) rule.
Evolution of Islam in the Arab world
The complexity of Islam's evolution in the Arab World is complex. It involves multiple religious and political rivalries. Some countries consider their religious institutions to be strong political allies. Others consider them to be potential partners in combating Islamic extremism. These institutions can be complicated and have many different agendas. It is hard for political authorities not to create tension by controlling them.
The spread of Islam in the Arab world took place largely through military conquest. This occurred in a short amount of time following the advent of Islam. In the beginning, Islam was only adopted by a small fraction of the Muslim population. By the end if the eleventh century, Muslims were the majority in many Islamic empires.
Evolution of Islam within the United States
Many Americans are familiar with the Nation of Islam and the Five Percent Nation, two groups that were spawned out of the fervor for African American nationalism. These groups included Malcolm X, a charismatic civil rights leader, and The Five Percent Nation. Because of the prevalence of racism and poverty within urban communities, their message became very relevant.
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, large groups of Arabs migrated to the United States. While most of these immigrants were Christian Arabs from the Middle East, there were a few Muslim communities that sprung up in the Midwest. In Ross, North Dakota, the first mosque was built. The oldest mosque still standing is in Cedar Rapids (Iowa) in the early twenty-first century.