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Please Note Well: It is not our
intent to belittle, unduly criticize, or “bash” anyone who may hold
religious or political persuasions or opinions other than our own. Even
though we may absolutely and totally disagree with your opinion, we will
defend to the death your G-d-given right to hold it.
Since this website was originally launched in 1995, we have continually
held the position that We are not “anti-”anybody; we are only pro-Truth
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here for our intent]. |
A Brief History of Islam
by Grady L. Davis, M.Div., Ph.D.
Former Chairman of Directed Individualized Studies
Golden State School of Theology, Oakland, CA ©1983,2003,2004
Mohammad was born in Arabia in the city
of Mecca in 570 CE. He came from a prominent and highly respected family.
When he was 25 he married a wealthy widow named Khadija. Their marriage
was a happy one although only one of their children, Fatima, lived to
maturity. Mohammad spent most of his time in solitary meditation. He began
to have many disturbing visions. Once he believed he saw the angel
Gabriel. Mohammad said that the angel gave him the following command:
“Recite, in the name of the Lord who has created,
Created man from clots of blood,
Recite, seeing that the Lord is the most generous,
Who has taught by the pen,
Taught man what he did not know.”
The Arabic word for “recite” is Qur’an
(often called Koran), meaning the reciting or the reading. Thus, the
Qur’an, the sacred book of the Muslims, is the “reciting” of “revelations”
given to Mohammad. Over a period of 22 years, Mohammad reported many other
revelations. Encouraged by his wife, he began to preach in the streets and
market places of Mecca. Mohammad never claimed to be divine, but insisted
that Allah had called him to be a prophet.
Mohammad hated the idolatry and the
immorality of the Arabs who lived in Mecca or came there to trade their
goods. He was met with bitter opposition, but for many years his
influential uncle, Abu Talib, was able to protect him.
When both Khadija and Abu Talib died in
620 CE, plots were hatched to kill Mohammad and his followers. Finally, on
July 16, 622, Mohammad was forced to flee to Medina, a friendlier city to
the north. This flight, called the hegira, marks the beginning of
Islam. The Muslim calendar starts with this date, and the years are
counted from “A.H.” meaning “the year of the hegira.” Medina, which is the
city’s current name, was first named Madinat an Nabi (City of the
Prophet), in honor of Mohammad. Mohammad became the religious and
political leader of the city.
Soon the Meccans organized an army to
destroy Mohammad and his followers. The fighting ended in 630 with Islam
forces triumphant. Mohammad entered Mecca. He destroyed every idol in the
Kaaba, the main temple, except the Black Stone, a sacred meteorite
enshrined there.
Mohammad then declared the Kaaba to be
the most holy shrine in Islam. Since that time it has been the spot toward
which all devout Muslims direct their prayers.
During the next two years, Mohammad
strengthened his position as the leading prophet and ruler of Arabia. He
united the tribes into a vast army to conquer the world for Allah. His
death in 632 A.D. did not lessen the fervor of his followers. They carried
their faith across Asia, Africa, even into Europe—and to this day the
growth of Islam has not ended.
Islam is the correct name for the
religion often incorrectly called Mohammedanism. The word “Islam” means
"submission" (to Allah, the G-d of Mohammad who founded this
religion). The members call themselves Muslims (Moslems), meaning “those
who submit.”
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