7/23/2019 Islam Checked

1/2

Islam: Empire of Faith

Motrenco Denis

Grupa H113

Islam is a monotheistic religion and its considered to be the second religion in the world in

terms of number of followers after Christianity. Islam has had a global impact since it was founded

in the seenth century. Mathematics! language! astronomy and medicine were especially influenced

by this culture and its effects can still be obsered until our days. In this essay I will try to write

about the origin of this religion! about prophet Muhammad and the e"pansion of the Islamic #mpire

and the global impact of Islam.

Islam was founded in the seenth century in the $rabian %eninsula. In present time thisterritory is part of &audi $rabia. 'he founder of this religion is Muhammad. He was born around

()* $D in $rabian %eninsula in Mecca. +ne of the greatest treasures of Mecca was the rich mi"ture

of cultures. 'here were Christians! ,ews and there were also the $rabs of the desert who followed

animist type of religion. 'his circumstance made him able to communicate with a ariety of people

from different cultures. Mecca was a center of trade! connecting Mediterranean &ea to the Indian

+cean. -hen Muhammadwas ! both of his parents died and later he was ta/en under protection

by his uncle! chief of his clan. 0eing orphan from the early age! he was! as #sin $til said the child

of eerybody. 'his fact made him see life through different perspecties. $fter his childhood

Muhammad wor/ed as merchant and he became ery successful. $t the age of 2( while leading one

of his caraan he met and! after a short period of time married a woman named hadi4ah. &he was

Muhammad5s only wife as long as she lied.

+ccasionally he would retreat to a cae aboe Mecca to pray. +ne day! he had an e"perience

that defined his life. $n angel appeared in front of him in the form of a man. 'his was the day when

he receied his first reelation from God. $s Michael &ells from Haerford College said! from that

moment on Muhammad has started the prophetic career. $fter a short period of time Muhammad

started to preach his reelations! proclaiming that there is +ne God! that complete surrender to him

is the only way to God and that he was the only messenger of God. +ne God meant one people! no

more tribal diisions. $s ,ohn 6enard from &t. 7ouis 8niersity said! Muhammad has deliered a

strong social 4ustice message. Islam was a new order! a new type of life were eerybody is e9ual:

blac/! white! men! women or children. #sin $til! historian of the Islamic art thin/s that this matter

was one of the reasons why Islam spread so 9uic/ly.

7/23/2019 Islam Checked

2/2

Muhammads following started to grow. 'hey called themseles Muslims! those who

surrendered to God. 'hey decided to presere the message that Muhammad has brought. 'his was

the beginning of the ;uran. $s Muhammads community grew! so did the opposition. Muhammads

followers and the messages spread by ;uran created a threat to the social and economic order of the

Mecca. Merchants became worried about their safety so a lot of them left the city. 0ecause of that!

the tribal leaders decided Muhammad and his message must be remoed! permanently.

-hen Muhammad left the city and he has begun a new community! a new tribe. 'hey were

moing toward Medina and! for the first time! they were bound together not by blood but by faith.

'his eent is /nown as Hi4raand mar/s the beginning of the Islamic calendar. -hile being in

Medina! Muhammad receied a reelation instructing Muslims to face in the direction of the

Mecca.