One of the major divisions of Islam throughout history was political division when Mohamed the prophet died without mentioning his successor. Three political parties tried to provide different answers at different times on the appointment of the successor. The question was whether the election should be hereditary or they should elect a caliph. The three political parties that included the companions, the immigrants also called muhajirun, and the supporter or anser had to come up with a decision (Cook, 2010; Clark, 2002).
The companions chose Abu Bakir who died after one year trying to unify Arabia. Three armies then took separate routes to Syria (pg 19). Other successors who followed were Umar, Ali, and Umayyad. Each successor brought a different form of division among the Islam. Another major division was cultural division. The reigning of the first four caliphs was short-lived. Umar’s law that was to keep Arabs permanently to their culture was modified because most of them decided to migrate from their homeland to a more productive land and in the process, they changed culturally. They settled among the mawali people who adopted them. The adopted Arabs managed to win most of Mawali people to the Islamic religion, therefore leading to the emergence of a different culture (Cook, 2010; Noss et al., 1990).
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Islam means to accept, submit or to commit oneself, or to surrender. It emerged through prophet Mohamed whom according to Islam was shown a vision after visiting a cave in Mt. Hira. The vision appeared to him through angel Gabriel who was Allah’s messenger. Angel Gabriel recited a revelation which prophet Mohamed was able to reproduce (Cook, 2010; Clark, 2002).
Mohamed set up a sacred mosque in his home where people came to worship Allah every week on Friday. Other practices were then introduced. After Mohamed’s death, his words and the examples he set became the faith and traditions of Islam. The authorities of Islam sub-divided Islam faith in three heads; iman or articles of worship, Ihsan or right conduct and ibadat or religious duty. There was only one God, and there is no sin that is unforgivable. The one true God is the only one who can judge and save sinners to get a place in paradise. Islam believes that Allah can only reveal his ways through the messenger, Quran, and angels. They think that judgment day will come, there will be a trumpet, and the dead will rise. Allah will have the book for each person containing their deeds on earth (Religion of submission to God (Cook, 2010; Noss et al., 1990; Clark, 2002).
Muslim practices are summed up in five pillars. The creed; meaning there is no God but Allah. Another pillar is prayer where Muslims have times each day for prayer sessions. Almsgiving is a third pillar which involves giving gifts to the needy. Fasting is the fourth practice that takes place during the month of Ramadhan and pilgrimage which affect all Muslims visiting Mecca at some point in their life. The visit is meant to unify all other Muslims (Noss et al., 1990; Clark, 2002).
After the death of Mohamed, his successors were; Abu-Bakr, followed by Umar, then Ali and finally Ummayyads. Ummayyads ruling was from Damascus all the way to India and Spain. He appointed himself to be Mohamed’s successor. Umayyads were overthrown by Abbasids who claimed to be Ali’s descendants. In 750, they made Baghdad a capital which became a great city in culture, gaiety and wealth. Political division emerged among the empires and Muslims were divided into two regions. The political division was between the anti-caliphates who had declared themselves and the caliphates of Umayyad who established themselves in Egypt and its surrounding. The anti-caliphates were the descendants of Mohamed’s daughter Fatima. The Fatimid’s ruled from 909-1109. When the crusaders came to Egypt in 1099, Muslims were attacked, and a great leader called Saladin emerged. In Egypt, Saladin ended the rule of Fatimid’s. In the modern times, new Islam movements continue to develop including those changes that are very destructive (Cook, 2010; Noss et al., 1990; Clark, 2002).
References
Clark, C. (2002). Islam . San Diego, CA: Lucent Books.
Cook, M. (2010). The new Cambridge history of Islam . Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Noss, D. S., Noss, J. B., & Noss, D. S. (1990). A history of the world's religions . New York: Macmillan.
