Islam is a major influence to Africa. This religion started with a man named Mohammad.
Mohammad was born in the late 6th century in a town called Makkah. Mohammad was an orphan for most of his life. His father died before he was born and his mother died when he was only six years of age. Mohammad was an honest man when it came to trading and he enjoyed his reputation. He worked for a widow named Khadijah who ran her own trading business, who he married later on in his life.
Mohammad was also a religious person. In 610 C.E. he went to the mountains by himself to pray. he found a cave and started to pray. He claimed that he had received a message from God whom Muslims call Allah, to become a prophet or messenger of god. He claimed that he received a message from the angel Gabriel to recite. When he asked what to recite the angel Gabriel told him...
Recite- in the name of the lord! Who created man from blood coagulated Recite! Thy lord is wondrous kind who by the pen has taught mankind things they knew not.
Mohammad told his family over time about what had happened. He developed a group of followers and they kept records of his teachings in the Qur'an(the holy book of Islam). People from many clans joined him but most of the people in Makkah rejected his teachings. Some of the powerful clans even started a boycott to to make Mohammad's followers give up Islam. They even tortured his weaker followers. Mohammad told that he traveled on a winged horse to Jerusalem where he prayed with the earlier prophets. He met god and was taken to heaven. This was called the night journey.
Mohammad's wife died and so did his his uncle the same year he had the night journey in 619. He had to move with a clan in Yathrib which name was later changed to Madinah. Mohammad told Muslims to respect Christians and Jews because like Muslims they are also people of the book. Over the years Mohammad got into wars with the people of Makkah who when saw Mohammad's army coming surrendered to him without fighting. Mohammad delivered his last sermon at his birthplace in Makkah. After his last sermon returned to to Madinah he died.
Islam has 5 pillars which shows a Muslim how to live their life. The first pillar is called Shahadah or the decoration of faith. To show belief in one God and Mohammad's prophet hood, Muslims say there is no god but god, and Mohammad is god's messenger.
The second pillar of faith is known as Salat or daily prayer. Mohammad said that prayer is proof of Islam, Muslims are called to stop whatever they are doing where ever they are and pray five times a day.
The third pillar of faith is known as Zakat or alms giving. Mohammad said to be generous. Muslims give some of their money to help their society. If they do not they are considered greedy.
The fourth pillar of faith is known as Siyam or fasting. The Qur'an instructs Muslims to fast for an entire month during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. People fast from sunrise until the sun goes down. Then they can eat.
The fifth pillar of faith is known as Hajj or the pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah. Makkah is where Mohammad was born. People walk around the shrine seven times. It brings people of all cultures together in unity.
Christians, Jews, and Muslims are all considered people of the book. The holy book of Islam is called the Qur'an. The Qur'an contains the life of Mohammad and his teachings. It also shows Muslims how they are expected to live as Muslims. The Sunnah is the life of Mohammad and the way he lived it. The five pillars are based on the Sunnah. They were based on how and what Mohammad did and taught. An example of is Zakat, Mohammad said to give to those less fortunate than you are. The Shari'ah is the law of Islam. The Qur'an and the Sunnah are related to Shari'ah because they are guidelines of how a Muslim should live and the law helps reinforce those practices.
Islams Influence On Africa
