Introduction for Non-Muslims

What is Islam?

By linguistic definition the Arabic word Islam is derived from Salaam meaning peace. Islam is spiritual peace through harmony with the Creator of the universe, Allah, the God.

The Prophet Mohammed (peace upon him) proclaimed Islam in the late 6th and early 7th century. He was born in the Arabic town of Mekka as an orphan. He was persecuted and established the first Muslim State in Medina, about 500 km further north, where he lived in exile for 10 years after his migration from Mekka (Hijrah), to which the Muslims date back their calendar. He came back to Mekka as a peaceful conqueror. By the end of his life the whole Arabic peninsula was predominantly Muslim (=righteous), and within 100 years after Mohammed's life Islam ruled from Spain to Indonesia and from Nigeria to Kazakhstan, reaching further than the Roman empire ever did.

Islam is a monotheistic religion and its followers believe in one God. It is also an Abrahamic religion, meaning that Islam recognizes Ishmael, Isaac, Joseph, David, Salomon and Jesus (peace be upon them all) as true and equal Prophets of one God. It adds to the Judeo-Christian Prophets one who is not recognized as such by the Jews or the Christians, Mohammed. Originally all men descend from Adam and from Noah, two Prophets before Abraham's time.

Furthermore, Islam acknowledges that prophets have come to all nations at some stage in the past and revealed the same message from God in order to worship him alone and do good deeds. People have either rejected the prophets or deviated afterwards from the original teachings.

The final message came to the Prophet Mohammed. The Quran, is a message to "all the worlds (nations)" and a summary and correction of all former revelations which have been changed by men.

The Quran was written down after being revealed to the Prophet Mohammed by the Archangel Gabriel, the same angel that came to all the prophets before. Furthermore, God spoke to Mohammed himself like he did to Moses before him. This event is called the Mehrage during the night of Power (Qadr).

Gabriel came to Mohammed when he was 40 and then kept coming during the same month of every year called Ramadhan for 23 consecutive years. The last message to mankind was completed towards the end of Mohammed's life.

The stories of the Prophet Mohammed are the Hadith and scholars (Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari) have written them down after the life of the Prophet. His life is called the Sirah (way or path) and is taken as an ideal example for everyone. The companions of the Prophet orally transferred the stories, instructions, teachings, his prayers and his answers to questions. The primary source is the Quran. The interpretation of the Hadith is bound to the Quran, which is perfect and authentic. There are strong and weak Hadith.

The Fiqh are another source of Islam and are laws, which are based upon Hadith and Quran formulated by scholars of Islam.

Islam dominated the world for more than 1000 years after the Prophet in terms of science, arts, law, culture, etc. It is the natural longing of mankind. Every soul has been given the ability to distinguish between right and wrong and the freedom to choose between these two.

Most principles are the same as in all other religions. If all religions come from the same God, why did he send another last message, which is available to everyone today?

And if the Quran is a fabrication then why are there hundreds of scientifically correct statements in it which were undiscovered until 5-10 years ago and have not been mentioned in any scripture before? Link to scientific signs.

One becomes Muslim by declaring The Shahada.

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