Islam

Islam is a monotheistic religion revealed to the prophet Muhammad [In Arabic: Muḥammad] in Mecca in Arabia in the seventh century Wikipédia

Islam is chronologically the third of the great monotheistic religions. The term Islam is often translated as "submission to divine will", but the root of the word also expresses the idea of "peace" and "uprightness of soul". Submission to God means recognition by the human conscience of a being beyond all beings, of a Creator who is "One and Unique". To submit to the divine will is to bring about a harmonious order in the universe*.

The prophet Muhammad is considered to be the final messenger of divine will, completing the divine messages delivered before him by prophets such as Moses and Jesus*.

In 610 AD, Muhammad received the first divine revelations. These continued until his death in 632. Because he preached a different religion, he was persecuted by the rich polytheistic families of Mecca, his birthplace, from where he had to go into exile in 622. This exodus, known as the "Hegira", took him to Medina, Islam's second holiest city, where he became the leader of a religious and political community. All the revelations made to the Prophet Mohammed together make up the Koran, the "Word of God "*.

There is also a vast and complex account of the Prophet's life, known as the "Hadit", which embodies the "Sunna", the "prophetic tradition" of Muhammad's words and the way in which he lived his life*.

The Koran and the Hadith are the two main sources of religious and legal thought in Islam. Those responsible for interpreting them are called "ulama", a term which means "scholars "*.

THE FIVE FUNDAMENTAL PILLARS*

1. The profession of faith or "chahâda" (I bear witness that there is no true divinity other than Allah and that Mohammed is His messenger);
2. The canonical prayer five times a day or "salât", which praises the oneness and greatness of Allah;
3. The legal alms or "zakât" which must be paid to the needy;
4. Fasting, during the holy month of Ramadan, which lasts from sunrise to sunset;
5. The pilgrimage, or "Hajj", which must be made to Mecca at least once in the believer's life, if he can afford it.

*Calendrier des fêtes religieuses, Alpes-Maritimes Fraternité

*Les religions d’Abraham, p. 74, Vauclair David, édition Eyrolles 2011

Symbol of Islam: the Star and the Crescent

The religious currents of Islam :

1. Sunnism : this is the mainstream of Islam, followed by the majority of Muslims worldwide. Sunnis follow the teachings and practices of the prophet Muhammad and the first four caliphs who succeeded him.
2. Shi'ism : Shi'ism is the second largest branch of Islam. Shiites believe that leadership of the Muslim community should be reserved for the descendants of the Prophet Muhammad, starting with his son-in-law Ali. They also have beliefs and practices that are distinct from those of the Sunnis.
3. Sufism : Sufism is often seen as a mystical dimension of Islam. Sufis seek a personal experience of the divine presence through meditation, prayer, music and other spiritual practices.
4. Wahhabism : Wahhabism is a conservative form of Sunni Islam, originating in Saudi Arabia. It emphasises strict adherence to religious teaching and is associated with a literal interpretation of the Koran.
5. Salafism : Salafism is a movement which advocates a return to the religious practices of the first Muslims (the Salafs), rejecting later developments in Islam.

It should be noted that these religious currents may vary from one region to another and that individual beliefs and practices may differ even within the same current.