Islamic faith and religious practice

Islamic Faith

Religion is a very revolutionary thing, especially in the hands of the right person. This is hard for the modern mind to accept in the West where religion hs been dethroned. To understand this, it is necessary to return to the time of Mohammad and comprehend his time and faith. This is exactly what is done in A Concise History of the Middle East by Arthur Goldschmidt Jr.

Short Summary

The book functions as an introduction to the history of the Middle East from Islam's beginnings to the present. This work is distinguished by a clear style and a broad and balanced treatment of the subject. The authors wrote it for undergraduate college students, assuming that they have no prior knowledge. Thematically, its central treatment circles around focuses on the development of Islamic culture and institutions and culture, especially the life and times of Mohammad and his successors in the early history of Islam. Without Mohammad, it is likely that there would not be Islam. He is evidence of what one dedicated person can do to change history and the society around him.

Body

The meat of the Islamic history is explored in the book and this is critical to understand. While one textbook can not hope to fill in all of the holes in Western knowledge concerning the region and Islam, it certainly does yeoman's service in only a few pages.

Luckily, though a brief history, the book does a very nice job explaining the historical background of the Islamic faith in explaining its development by Mohammad in chapters 3 and 4. (Goldschmidt and Davidson, 2009, 15-42). The Quran is seen as the central miracle of Islam, proof itself of Mohammad's prophecy and the existence of God himself due to the beauty and integrity of the text. Even though Mohammad could not read, he produced this perfect book of law as it was dictated to him by God himself (ibid, 43).

Mohammad as God's messenger is key to understanding the Islamic world's view of itself in God's revelation to humanity. In addition to being the founder of the religion of Islam, he is considered by Muslims to be a messenger and prophet of God. In addition, he is the last law-bearer in a series of Islamic prophets and the last prophet of God as taught by the Qur'an. Thus, Muslims consider Mohammad as the restorer of an the original monotheistic faith of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and other prophets that had become corrupted. In addition, Mohammad was also functioned as diplomat, social reformer and revolutionary, merchant, orator, philospher, legislator, military leader, humanitarian/philanthropist and an agent of the divine will. So that people would not worship Mohammad, his image could never be shown (ibid, 27, 43-44).

Born in 570 C.E. In Mecca, Mohammad was orphaned at young age and was brought up under the tutelage of his uncle Abu Talib who was a powerful man in the city. Mohammad later worked as a successful merchant and shepherd and was first married to a rich widow by the name of Khadija at age 25. Disenchanted with his life in Mecca, he retreated to a cave in the surrounding mountains over the plains of Arafat to meditate and reflect. According to Islamic tradition, the forty-year-old Mohammad saw received his first revelation from God in the month of Ramadan. Three years later, Mohammad began to preach these revelations openly, proclaiming that "God is One" and that complete "surrender" to Him is the only way to salvation. He proclaimed himself the prophet and messenger of God like the other Islamic prophets before (ibid, 29-34).

At first, Muhammad gained few early followers and was met with open hostility from many Meccan tribes. Mohammad and his disciples were treated very harshly. To escape persecution, Muhammad and his followers migrated to Medina (Yathrib) in the year 622 C.E. The Hijra to Mecca marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar known as the Hijri Calendar. In the city of Medina, Muhammad united the warring tribes. Following eight years of fighting Mecca tribes the Muslims conquered Mecca. In the year 632, after returning to Medina from a farewell pilgrimage to Mecca, Muhammad became ill and died. At the time of his death, almost all of the Arabian Peninsula had converted to the Islamic faith. He had united the Arabian tribes into a single Muslim religious polity hegemon (ibid, 34-40).

The revelations Muhammad reported receiving until his death in 632 form the body of the Qur'an, regarded by Muslims as the "Word of God" and around which the Muslim religion is built upon. In addition to the Qur'an, Muhammad's life and traditions are observed by Muslims. These stories discuss Muhammad and the other prophets with reverence, adding the phrase peace be upon him whenever his name is mentioned. His life and deeds have been debated and criticized by followers and opponents over the centuries.

The Qur'an that he produced is not a book of history. Rather, muslims see it as a rule book from God for his people to conduct themselves according to. The Qur'an presents the five pillars, as well as duties and prohibitions that accompany them as a framework for divine worship and a sign of commitment to the Islamic faith. These include the shahada (creed), daily prayers (salat), fasting during the time of Ramadan (sawm), almsgiving to the poor (zak-t) and the pilgrimage to the central shrine at Mecca (hajj) at least once iin one's life. This represents the ideal olam (world) where everyone is in submission to Islam (ibid, 46).

Unity was not the rule in the Islamic world. The book explains the major divisions between Sunni and Shia Muslims as well as Islam in the Arab and non-Arab worlds. Shiite Muslims came to regard Ali as the second most important figure after Muhammad. On several occasions, Muhammad suggested that Ali should be the leader of Muslims after his death. Therefore, Shiites see Ali as successor of Muhammad, ruler, interpreted of the Sharia Law, as well as its esoteric meanings. This meant that he was God's ordained first Imam (ibid, 52). In contrast Sunnis feel the traditions where the Hadith (law) is largely narrated by the Prophet Muhammad's companions. Needless to say, the interpretations of the Qur?