Islam is the last of the world's religions. It originated in the early Middle Ages on the Arabian Peninsula. The word "Islam" in translation from Arabic means "obedience", surrender to God. The emergence of Islam was a natural result of the development of Arabian society and the evolution of the religious consciousness of the peoples of Arabia.
Religious and historical situation in Arabia on the eve of the birth of Islam
Islam arose among the Arabs, the indigenous inhabitants of Arabia. The pre-Islamic Arabs are one of the many Semitic peoples who have lived in this region of the Middle East since time immemorial. The original character of Islam was influenced by numerous factors. Among the most important are pre-Islamic ancient beliefs and cults, Judaism, Christianity and Mazdaism.
Pre-Islamic religious cults are a combination of elements of fetishism and totemism, worship of phenomena and forces of nature, especially heavenly bodies, and polydemonism. Fetishism was expressed in the veneration of stones, especially of meteorite origin, as well as in the worship of idols. Elements of totemism were reflected in the names of the tribes - fox, bear, camel, dog. The cult of Bepsh flourished - buildings whose name means "the house of God." Often the betila were located in oases. Regular pilgrimages were made to such a sanctuary. People engaged in trade between nomadic and sedentary tribes also gathered here. One of these sanctuaries was Mecca, which acquired particular importance as an all-Arab religious and trade center. In honoring their gods and demons, the tribes did not deny other gods associated with other tribes. So,in Mecca, in addition to their tribal god, who was revered by the tribe of the Qureishiges living there, in the famous temple of the Kaaba there were more than 300 idols serving as objects of worship of other tribes. The Meccan deity was embodied in a black stone walled in the wall of the Kaaba. The name of this god - Illaha - was associated with the common Semitic root El, Eloha, Elohim. The Kaaba was called "the house of Allah", and the Meccans considered themselves neighbors of Allah. The object of veneration was also the source of water Zyam-Zyam - a well located opposite the temple. The Kaaba was called "the house of Allah", and the Meccans considered themselves neighbors of Allah. The object of veneration was also the source of water Zyam-Zyam - a well located opposite the temple. The Kaaba was called "the house of Allah", and the Meccans considered themselves neighbors of Allah. The object of veneration was also the water source Zyam-Zyam - a well located opposite the temple.
The pre-Islamic rituals were the same as in other ancient cults. Pilgrimage to betilam was practiced. Ritual processions were performed around the sanctuaries and idols, each of the participants in which sought to touch the statue of the god and absorb an element of his power. Sacrifices were made to idols, usually by cattle. Burial sites were of religious significance. Passing or driving past such a place, the Arab threw a stone at it, which symbolized the sacrifice and was supposed to express respect for the deceased.
The prayer ritual in the pre-Islamic cult of the Arabs was not developed. The role of prayers was played by verses formed by poets. The poetic gift was considered the result of the genies' benevolent attitude towards this person. If the tribe had its own idol, then there was necessarily a priest in it - Kahin, who was supposed to serve the idol and lead the ritual of sacrifices.
The influence of Judaism on the birth of Islam was no less than the influence of pre-Islamic beliefs. Many adherents of Judaism lived in Arabia. Through the Jewish merchant caravans, his influence spread along all the trade routes that crossed the Arabian Peninsula. Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, meet with Jews during your travels. Their stories about the content of the Old Testament were preserved in his memory and then entered the creed of the new religion.
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The formation of Islam was also influenced by Christianity, although to a lesser extent. Many Arab tribes north of the Arabian Peninsula were Christianized. Here Christianity was spread in Nestorian and Monophysite forms. These forms facilitated the perception of Christianity, since they were not associated with a dual interpretation of the person of Christ. Christ, under the name of Isa, took his place among the prophets as the immediate predecessor of Muhammad. Some New Testament episodes are also reflected in the holy book - the Koran.
Hanifism is a peculiar phenomenon of the religious life of the Arabs of this period. Hanifs were called people leading a secluded lifestyle and preaching monotheism. Hanifism absorbed the influence of Judaism, Christianity and Parsism and was an intermediary link between these religions and Islam. On the whole, we can say that Islam was a natural stage in the long and consistent evolution of the religious forms of consciousness of the population of Arabia. However, the originality of historical development will play a decisive role in its appearance.
The central part of the peninsula, where Islam originated, significantly lagged behind in its development from the southern and northern regions, in which a developed class system and a state with all its institutions already existed. The basis of economic life in the central part of the peninsula was nomadic cattle breeding and primitive agriculture. Society was at the stage of decomposition of primitive relations. Class stratification was only just beginning to emerge. The population of a few cities existed due to the maintenance of caravan routes between India and the countries of the West. These routes passed mainly through the south of the Arabian Peninsula, since the northern routes were more dangerous due to the opposition of strong states - Byzantium and Persia. However, by the end of the VI century. the positions of Iran are strengthening, which, having conquered Yemen, put trade and caravan routes under its control,moving them to the north of the Arabian Peninsula. Thus, the Arabs, whose well-being was ensured by the maintenance of the caravan routes, faced a serious crisis. The tension of this crisis found its expression in the spiritual sphere, which served as a direct impetus to the emergence of a new religion. The activities of the Hanifs personified spiritual quests. The greatest success in this activity fell to the lot of Muhammad, who managed to create a powerful integrating factor in the form of a new religion. The greatest success in this activity fell to the lot of Muhammad, who managed to create a powerful integrating factor in the form of a new religion. The greatest success in this activity fell to the lot of Muhammad, who managed to create a powerful integrating factor in the form of a new religion.
Muhammad is his prophet”. Having uttered this phrase, a person becomes obedient to Allah and is obliged to observe the rest of the duties of the faithful.
Prayer is a ritual state of submission in which certain bodily movements are just as important as the accompanying state of mind. The sick, the weak, and the children can be freed from prayer. Those who don't pray five times a day are unbelievers. Prayer is supposed to be performed at dawn, at noon, in the afternoon, at sunset and before bedtime. This is usually done individually. Before prayer, you need to perform ablution: wash your hands, feet, face or the whole body. If there is no water nearby, you can perform ablution with sand. The prayer is performed in clothes, in a clean place, facing Mecca, on a special rug. First, you need to communicate your intention to pray. During prayer, you must perform a certain number of rituals (rak'ahs). So that the faithful do not forget about the time of prayer, high towers are erected at the mosques - minarets,from where the ministers - the muezzins - proclaim the adhan - the call to prayer. On weekends, holidays, as well as on special occasions, prayers are performed in mosques at noon. The entire adult male population of the community gathers for such a prayer. Women pray separately from men, standing behind or in a special section of the mosque, fenced off by a screen.
Fasting throughout the month of Ramadan is done during daylight hours and extends to eating, drinking fluids, smoking, and sexual activity. Reflections on religious topics are encouraged during the fast. Reading the Qur'an aloud throughout the whole month is considered to be especially worthy. According to legend. The Koran descended to the earth on the 27th of the month of Ramadan - the "Night of Power".
Only travelers, sick people and children can be exempted from fasting. At other times, a Muslim can fast on a votive basis, in the event of a drought, as compensation for the missed days of Ramadan. Fasting can sometimes be bought off by the donation of additional charity.
Alms (zakat) is an obligatory charity, a tax that is paid by every adult Muslim once a year in the amount of 2.5% of the available capital for the benefit of the poor and needy.
Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca before the holiday of sacrifices, which Muslims celebrate in memory of the sacrifice of Abraham. The small pilgrimage can be done at any time of the year. Upon his return, the one who performed the Hajj receives the title of Hajji (one who made the pilgrimage). Previously, such a journey took a lot of time and effort. Today it is facilitated by the availability of air transport.
About two million people make the pilgrimage every year. The number of pilgrims is regulated by a system of quotas imposed by the Saudi Arabian authorities - the guardians of holy places - in cooperation with the governments of Muslim states.
Tedious rituals, often performed during the unbearable heat of the Arabian summer, include: tawaoth - circumambulating the Kaaba; saai - a seven-time run between the hills of al-Safa and al-Mar-wa; wukuf - standing on the plain of Arafat at the foot of the Mount of Mercy, passing through three columns to the Muzdalifa gorge (7 stones must be thrown into each of the columns); Feast of the Sacrifice in Mina.
Hajj is not safe, due to the large crowd of people, tragic events are not uncommon here. In August 1987, 402 people were killed in riots caused by political uprisings. In 1990, more than 1,100 pilgrims were killed when a pedestrian bridge collapsed under the weight of passing pilgrims. In 1997, several hundred pilgrims were burned to death in a fire that engulfed the tent city.
Islam in the modern world
At present, Islam is perceived by the peoples of many countries as a factor of instability, a constant threat to the peace and tranquility of people. The reason for this is the spread of the terrorist threat that comes from the followers of Islam. However, one cannot fail to see that a significant share of the blame for the growth of terrorism around the world lies with the modern superpowers and the former USSR. During the confrontation between the two political systems, each of them tried to use the "Islamic factor" in their own interests, training and arming Islamic groups. Is it any wonder that over time, weapons turned out to be aimed at these countries themselves?
Islam is a great world religion that calls people to peace and good neighborliness, its goal is to create and cultivate in a person good qualities and good relations with all religions. The rise of terrorism is a political problem, and it can only be solved by political means. Nowadays, the most important task is to secure the world from terrorists of all stripes, in order to save future generations from global cataclysms. Former Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking on television on December 5, 2001, said that “the international community has overslept this threat,” and in order to eliminate it, it must make a collective effort.
Socio-cultural features of Islam
According to the concepts of a number of European and American scholars, the reasons for the widespread and increasing influence of the Muslim religion lie in its ability to influence all spheres of life in these countries, taking into account the changing situation. The “Muslim revival” that began in the second half of the 20th century, especially since the 1970s, the sharp increase in the role of Islam in the economic, political, and spiritual life of Eastern peoples is explained by a number of reasons.
Early life of Islam
The Muslim religion arose much later than other religious systems and, unlike them, has not exhausted its possibilities. Islam is in its prime, playing an active role in the modern world
The vitality and flexibility of the Muslim religion
The vitality of Islam, according to some Western experts, is manifested in the fact. that he held out, did not give up his positions, despite the long period of colonization of the eastern countries. F.ro also associates flexibility with the absence of a centralized organization of the clergy, which hinders the prompt and timely solution of pressing problems in specific regions.
Totality of Islam
By the totality of Islam, Western scholars understand the wide coverage of the Islamic religion in all spheres of life of believers. All this taken together leads to the fact that Islam acts as a way of life that completely determines the worldview and behavior of people.
The simplicity and accessibility of this religion
The simplicity of Islam manifests itself in its dogmas and cults, which are less complex than in other religions. The researchers explain the availability of the Muslim religion by the fact that Islam takes into account local conditions as much as possible, has not tarnished itself with colonial policies, etc. One cannot but agree that, for these reasons, Islam spread widely in Africa; however, it should be noted that in recent decades it began to spread in a number of European countries, in particular in France.
Fanaticism and militant nature of Islam, its desire for world domination
It is with these properties of the Muslim religion that Western authors try to explain the struggle of the Eastern peoples against colonialism for their national liberation. The most striking example of this is the liberation struggle against American troops in Iran, which took place under the banner of Islam, led by the spiritual leader Ayatollah Khomeini in the late 70s it. XX century
The idea of "completion of the prophecy"
In the interpretation of Muslim theologians, this idea means that the prophet Muhammad was the last messenger of Allah on earth and brought mankind the final truth. This testifies to the exclusiveness of the Muslim faith in comparison with other religions. There are many democratic motives in the content of the Koran, and therefore Islam is sometimes perceived as a folk religion.
Authenticity of Islam Muslim personality
Authenticity, according to Western researchers, is the full expression of the Muslim religion in the personality of the believer. Muslims of all countries are the same. These people, formed by Islam, constitute a single community - "ummah". However, this conclusion requires critical analysis and rethinking.