Islam – A world religion Islam is the youngest of the three great monotheistic religions. It occurred in the 7th century C. E. in Mecca, where the Prophet Muhammed first received divine revelations. The Qur’an, as we know it today, is a collection of the verses, carefully assembled into coherent chapters (Surahs). More…. |
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The Qur’an – God’s message Muslims believe that the Qur’an is God’s word, His last and final message to mankind. The Qur’an stands in the same ranks with Judaism’s and Christianity’s scriptures, the Torah, the Gospel, and the Psalms. The first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in the 27th night of Ramadan in the year 610 C. E. More… |
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Muhammad – God’s messenger The Prophet Muhammad is without a doubt one of the most fascinating figures in world history. Upon hearing or pronouncing his name, Muslims say a blessing like “peace be upon him” to stress his status. Many biographies have been written about his life and work, the most prominent of which was authored by Ibn Ishâk, an 8th century scholar. Despite these efforts, many aspects of his personality still remain elusive to many people. More… |
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The Mosque – Muslims in your vicinity From outside, most mosques in the West are no match for their splendid counterparts in the Islamic World. Many of them were built in the 1960’s and 1970’s by labor immigrants. Especially minarets, tower-like extensions to the main buildings which are used to call to prayer, are often missing. More… |
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Ramadan – A time of contemplation Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic moon calendar, is a month of fasting. For Muslims, it is a spiritually charged and blessed time. Ramadan is inextricably tied to the revelation of the Qur’an: During a spiritual retreat to the mountains of Mecca, the Prophet Muhammad received the first divine revelation on the 27th night of Ramadan. More… |
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Islamic holidays – Times of celebrations and commemoration The Islamic year is interspersed by many holidays and commemorations. The traditions surrounding these holidays are culturally diverse. The most important holiday is the Feast of Sacrifice. The four-day-holiday starts on the 10th day of Zulhijja, the 12th Islamic month. It marks the end of the annual pilgrimage. More… |
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A short guide to Islam Islam is the second largest religion in the world. Most of its 1,6 billion adherents live in South Asia and Africa. Islam first occurred in the 7th century C. E. in Mecca, a city in modern-day Saudi Arabia. There, the archangel Gabriel conveyed the first verses of the Qur’ran to the Prophet Muhammad. For Muslims, the Qur’an is God’s word. It stands in the same ranks with the Torah, the Gospel, and the Psalms. More… |
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