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3 - The Facts on Islam
SECTION 1
Religion of Islam: Introduction
3. How did Islam begin?
Islam began with the
supernatural visions and revelations that Muhammad claimed he received from God
through the angel Gabriel beginning in 610 A.D. Because
Muhammad was uneducated and could neither read nor write, these revelations were
first memorized and then later written down by his followers. The authoritative
Cambridge History of Islam discusses these revelations by noting that
"either in the course of the visions or shortly afterwards, Muhammad began to
receive 'messages' or 'revelations' from God . . . He believed that he could
easily distinguish between his own thinking and these revelations . . . Muhammad
continued to receive the messages at intervals until his death."
In addition to the revelations, the personality of Muhammad
played an important role in the success of Islam. His character was both complex
and contradictory. Sir Norman Anderson studied law at Cambridge, and Arabic and
Islamic law at the University of Cairo. He is considered and authority on both
comparative religion and Islamic law and teaches at the University of London. In
The World's Religions, he describes the temperament of Muhammad: "The
adult Muhammad soon showed signs of a markedly religious disposition. He would
retire to caves for seclusion and meditation; he frequently practiced fasting;
and he was prone to [revelationary] dreams . . . He was generous, resolute,
genial, and astute: a shrewd judge and a born leader of men. He could, however,
be cruel and vindictive to his enemies: he could stoop to assassination; and he
was undeniably sensual. One of the leading biographers of our modern era, Robert
Payne, observes that "violence and gentleness were at war within him."
In conclusion, Islam began as a consequence of supernatural
revelations received by Muhammad. Whatever Islam has accomplished historically,
whatever it is today, it results largely from these supernatural revelations
received by Muhammad some 1,400 years ago.
At the end of his life, Muhammad failed to name a successor.
This failure resulted in the major division of Islam into the majority Sunni and
minority Shi'ite branches, each claiming to be true Islam. These divisions
disagree as to the legitimate successor of Muhammad and over who offers the most
accurate representation of Islamic faith.
John Ankerberg & John Weldon
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