Book of Faiths

The atrocities committed by a small group of terrorists overshadow the fact that the vast majority of Muslims condemn terrorism and quietly practice the religious faith known as Islam, which means submission to God. Islam is the youngest of the world's three monotheistic faiths. It was born through the prophet Muhammad in Arabia nearly 1,300 years ago in the midst of Arab idolatry and animistic polytheism. Muhammad was born in 570 AD into the Quraish tribe at Saudi Arabia. Muslim tradition says that at age 40, while Muhammad was meditating in a cave near Mecca, the Archangel Gabriel revealed to him a series of messages and told him to recite them. These messages became the Islamic holy book, the Qur'an.The atrocities committed by a small group of terrorists overshadow the fact that the vast majority of Muslims condemn terrorism and quietly practice the religious faith known as Islam, which means submission to God. Islam is the youngest of the world's three monotheistic faiths. It was born through the prophet Muhammad in Arabia nearly 1,300 years ago in the midst of Arab idolatry and animistic polytheism. Muhammad was born in 570 AD into the Quraish tribe at Saudi Arabia. Muslim tradition says that at age 40, while Muhammad was meditating in a cave near Mecca, the Archangel Gabriel revealed to him a series of messages and told him to recite them. These messages became the Islamic holy book, the Qur'an.

Muslims believe Muhammad to be the last and greatest prophet of God- "the seal of the prophets." In the beginning, his message encompassed two main points: there is one God to whose will people must submit, and there will be a day of judgment when all people will be judged.

Muhammad considered himself the supreme seer of God because the Qur'an was dictated to him. When his message was met with rejection and hostility, Muhammad was forced to flee from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD. Muslims date their calendar from this date, known hijrah. In 630 AD, Muhammad entered Mecca with an army and destroyed all idols and images. There he established the Islamic faith and became the sole prophet and leader of the Arabian people. Muhammad died in 632 AD. From Medina Islam spread to Palestine and the entire Middle East. Islam faced periods of stagnation but eventually reached all six continents.

Muslims believe Muhammad to be the last and greatest prophet of God- "the seal of the prophets." In the beginning, his message encompassed two main points: there is one God to whose will people must submit, and there will be a day of judgment when all people will be judged.

Muhammad considered himself the supreme seer of God because the Qur'an was dictated to him. When his message was met with rejection and hostility, Muhammad was forced to flee from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD. Muslims date their calendar from this date, known hijrah. In 630 AD, Muhammad entered Mecca with an army and destroyed all idols and images. There he established the Islamic faith and became the sole prophet and leader of the Arabian people. Muhammad died in 632 AD. From Medina Islam spread to Palestine and the entire Middle East. Islam faced periods of stagnation but eventually reached all six continents.