Islam began in Mecca, an Arabian city. In the following paragraphs I will give more background on how Islam came to be. I have spoken to two different people who are Muslims of today. Both these people will give some insight as to what Islam is to them. I have also visited an Islamic place of worship, which Muslims call masjid, and I will tell of my visit. (Muttaqun Online, 1998) I will also compare Islam to that of my own religion, which is Christianity.
Islam was founded by Mohammed around 610 CE. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008) Mohammed was orphaned as a young child and although his parents were wealthy, he was raised poor by his grandfather. After his grandfather died his uncle took over raising Mohammed. As an adult, Mohammed worked regularly as a mercantile. He married at age 25 to Khadija, a rich widow; thus becoming wealthy himself. (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008) Dissatisfied with life in his birth city, he moved away to a cave in surrounding mountains of Mecca for reflection and meditation. He was suffering from dreams and visions that troubled him so much, he often attempted suicide. (Answering Islam, 2008) According to Islamic belief, when Mohammed was 40,during one of these suicide attempts, in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar also known as Ramadan, (Valentine, B. personal communication, 2008) in this cave he experienced his initial revelation from Allah. An angel, Gabriel, came to him and spoke of Allah, saying he was the only god and to worship anybody or anything else was wrong. He spoke of the end of the world coming soon and of the final judgment by Allah. Mohammed’s wife was the one who convinced him, the visions were divinely inspired and three years later, Mohammed began to preach these revelations in public, ...