Islam is the religious faith of Muslims, based on a religious system which was founded by prophet Muhammad.

The Islamic religious principles practiced by the Muslims are written down and articulated by the Qur’an, the Qur’an text is also considered by the Muslims to be the verbatim, (exactly the same words; the original source or text; the recorded speech) of their supreme god Allah.

The word Islam derives from the Arabic root word called “Salama”, which means; “to accept, to surrender or submit.” Thus, Islam means submission, and in the context of Islam, the word Islam stands for “submission to Allah”.

According to prophet Muhammad’s words as quoted from the Qur’an, the Lord said to Muhammad; to abide by prophet Abraham’s religion.

The history and the origin of Islam:

Abraham also called Ibrahim in the Qur’an had two sons, (one by the name of Isaac, who was born by Abraham’s wife called Sarah), and the older son (Abraham’s first born) was called Ishmael, Hagar who was the maid servant of Sarah was the mother Ishmael.

In the book of Genesis 21:9-14 God commanded Abraham to send away his son Ishmael and Hagarhis mother to Egypt, (Egypt being the birth place of Hagar the mother of Ishmael), so that the conflict, and the misunderstanding concerning Isaac (born by Sarah) and Ishmael (born by Hagar) may be eliminated.

From Ishmael who was Abraham’s first born derives the religion of Islam and the nation of the Muslims, and from Isaac who was Abraham’s second born, derives the religion of Judaism, and nation called the Jewish nation.

In the book of Genesis 17:19 God’s promise to Abraham was that; God’s covenant, culture, and commandments on the earth will be extended from one generation to another through his son Isaac, and not Ishmael

but to Ishmael He said; Ishmael too will become a great nation, and twelve princes will derive out of him, and He shall be a wild man; his hand shall be against every man and every man’s hand against him, and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren as it is written in Genesis 16:11-12.

The early days of Islam:

At the age of 40, Muhammad became discontented with life in Mecca, due to the misusing of authority which was taking place among the noble Arabs who controlled most of the political and financial issues of  Mecca,

Muhammad decided to retreat to a cave in the surrounding mountains for meditation and reflection, in the month of Ramadan, where he received his first revelation from God,

returning from his retreat ,Muhammad began to spread and teach about his encounter which he received from the mountains, and through his testimony he began to win followers to his movement.

A warfare between his followers (Muhammad) and the noble Arabs  or leaders of Mecca went into action.
After eight years of fighting with the Meccan tribes, his followers, who by then had grown to 10,000, conquered Mecca.

From that time Mecca was made the holy city of Islam and a place where Muslims gather to pray to their god Allah.

By: Apostle A. Ngabo.