Kota Kinabalu night market, East Malaysia
By taking a sympathetic and understanding approach towards people, traditions and cultures, learning about social histories and the origins of traditions, we can begin to understand other cultures and to appreciate and respect their beliefs. A more sensitive approach towards the people we meet on our travels leads to an ultimately more fulfilling and beneficial experience all round.
A Brief History
Islam is the medieval world’s most recent religion. It began on the Arabian Peninsula where the Prophet Muhammad was born to a camel herder in 570 A.D.. At the age of 25 Muhammad married a rich widow and from then on lived a life of contentment, spending most of his days meditating and contemplating the destiny of the human race. Around 610 A.D. he had a vision and heard a voice that demanded his obedience to the one god, Allah. The theology concerning proper conduct was revealed to him gradually and written down as the Quran (the word of God as revealed to Muhammad).
The founding of Islam is dated from 622 A.D., when Muhammad and 200 followers fled to the city of Medina, a rival of Mecca, to escape persecution. This is referred to by Muslims as the Hegira. Islam quickly grew in popularity and by 630 A.D. Muhammad was able to return to Mecca and become the head of state; he died 2 years later. Within a century of his death, calls to prayer five times a day could be heard from minarets from the Atlantic Ocean to the border of China, north into Spain and Russia. The Mediterranean was a Muslim sea, and trade and missionary work spread the faith into Indonesia, where it remains the most widely practiced faith today.
Muhammad’s faith accepted the basic doctrine of the sole creator and sole judge. The Hebrew prophets of the Old Testament were recognized and Jesus was believed to be a great prophet, but Muhammad was the last and greatest prophet. Compilation of the Quran began following the death of Muhammad by his father-in-law (Abu-Bakr).
The Haj
The annual Haj pilgrimage is a duty that must be performed atleast once in a lifetime for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to make the trip. Mecca is located in the Sirat Mountains of central Saudi Arabia. During the days of Haj, pilgrims walk ritualized routes to a number of sacred places in the vicinity of Mecca. On the final day, pilgrims dressed in white robes must walk seven times around the Kaaba and offer prayers.
Haj lasts for 5 days and more than 2 million Muslims are expected to pass through the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia during this time. Mecca is the birthplace of the Prophet Mohammed (c.570 – 632 A.D.). He founded the religion of Islam in 622 A.D.
The Haj is one of the world’s biggest displays of religious devotion. It is a time of unity for all Muslims, Shi’ites and Sunnis.
The Islamic New Year
Islamic New Year begins on the first day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic Calendar. There is no religious significance attached to New Years Day, and not all muslims celebrate its arrival. For Shia Muslims the month is a designated time for mourning in honour of Husayn bin Ali, a grandson of Muhammed who was martyred in the Battle of Karbala. Sunni Muslims believe that the first Caliph Abu Bakr (writer of the Quran) died on this day.
The Battle of Karbala took place on 10 Muharram, 61 AH (October 9 or 10 680 A.D.) in present day Iraq. The cause of the conflict was a disagreement between Muslims on who should succeed the Prophet Muhammed. This disagreement gave birth to two distinct sects of Islam:
- Sunni Muslims agree with the position taken by many of the Prophet’s companions, that the new leader should be elected from those capable of the job.
- Shia Muslims believed that leadership should stay within the Prophet’s family, among those specifically appointed by him, or among Imams appointed by God Himself.
The Islamic calendar calendar is based on the moon and since their lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year, Muharran occurs at a different time each year.
[...] The Basics: IslamThe founding of Islam is dated from 622 AD, when Muhammad and 200 followers fled to the city of Medina, a rival of Mecca, to escape persecution. This is referred to by Muslims as the Hegira. Islam quickly grew in popularity and by 630 … [...]
[...] The Basics: IslamThe founding of Islam is dated from 622 AD, when Muhammad and 200 followers fled to the city of Medina, a rival of Mecca, to escape persecution. This is referred to by Muslims as the Hegira. Islam quickly grew in popularity and by 630 … [...]