Changes

There is only one major world religion that developed after [[Jesus Christ]]: Islam.<ref>The small Indian religion of Sikhism, which broke off from Hinduism to defend against Islam, also developed after Christianity.</ref>  But it has gained more adherents and conquered more countries in the past 1300 years than any other non-Christian religion.  The religion of Islam is one of the most important aspects of World History, and its importance is growing.

There is only one major world religion that developed after [[Jesus Christ]]: Islam.<ref>The small Indian religion of Sikhism, which broke off from Hinduism to defend against Islam, also developed after Christianity.</ref>  But it has gained more adherents and conquered more countries in the past 1300 years than any other non-Christian religion.  The religion of Islam is one of the most important aspects of World History, and its importance is growing.

The word "Islam" means "submission to God."  Its founder was [[Muhammad]] (570-632 A.D.), a successful merchant in [[Mecca]].  According to Islamic (Muslim) beliefs, Muhammad founded Islam based on revelations from the Angel Gabriel, whom many Christians recognize as having the same name as the angel who appeared to [[Mary the mother of Jesus|Mary]], the mother of Jesus.  (The angel Gabriel is also mentioned in the [[Old Testament]], such as in the [[Book of Daniel]].)  In fact, Islam treats Mary, Jesus and the Old Testament prophets as very holy people, and Muslims consider [[Abraham]] to have been their father just as [[Jewish]] people do.  Muslims considered Christians and Jews "people of the book," and allowed them special rights in the early days of Islam, a policy of cooperation that has changed since then.

'''The word "Islam" means "submission to God."''' Its founder was [[Muhammad]] (A.D. 570-632), a successful merchant in [[Mecca]].  According to Islamic (Muslim) beliefs, Muhammad founded Islam based on revelations from the Angel Gabriel, whom many Christians recognize as having the same name as the angel who appeared to [[Mary the mother of Jesus|Mary]], the mother of Jesus.  (The angel Gabriel is also mentioned in the [[Old Testament]], such as in the [[Book of Daniel]].)  In fact, Islam treats Mary, Jesus and the Old Testament prophets as very holy people, and Muslims consider [[Abraham]] to have been their father just as [[Jewish]] people do.  Muslims considered Christians and Jews "people of the book," and allowed them special rights in the early days of Islam, a policy of cooperation that does not exist today.

Muhammad preached a new [[monotheistic]] religion based on only one god, Allah, at a time when Mecca was still [[polytheistic]].  Located in Mecca was the "Ka'aba", a temple which housed the "Black Stone," an important religious relic of the [[Arab]]s' polytheistic religion.  Businessmen in Mecca — who made a substantial profit off of the swarms of [[pilgrims]] who came to see the holy shrine — feared that they might lose customers from Muhammad's preaching and they drove him out in A.D. 622 in what is known as the "hijra", or withdrawal.  Muhammad's flight (to the town of [[Medina]]) marks the first year of the Islamic calendar.

Muhammad preached a new [[monotheistic]] religion based on only one god, Allah, at a time when Mecca was still [[polytheistic]].  Located in Mecca was the "Ka'aba", a temple which housed the "Black Stone," an important religious relic of the [[Arab]]s' polytheistic religion.  Businessmen in Mecca — who made a substantial profit off of the swarms of [[pilgrims]] who came to see the holy shrine — feared that they might lose customers from Muhammad's preaching and they drove him out in A.D. 622 (the "hijra", or withdrawal).  Muhammad's flight (to the town of [[Medina]]) marks the first year of the Islamic calendar.

Muhammad formed a community for this new religion, called the "umma".  Their activities included helping the poor.  Muhammed's teachings were recorded in the [[Qur'an]] or Koran, which is the bible of Islam.  Muhammad then returned to Mecca in A.D. 630 with his followers, and conquered it by force.  By 632, Islam controlled nearly all of [[Arabia]].  It has quickly spread and expanded both in popularity and power ever since, at times growing faster than even Christianity.  Islam had more adherents than any other religion in many parts of the Middle East, Arabia, North Africa and Central Asia.  [[Pakistan]] is Muslim, while [[India]] is [[Hindu]], causing those two countries to be in perpetual conflict with each other.  At one point Islam became the most dominant religion in [[Spain]], but that country was later retaken by [[Catholicism]].

Muhammad formed a community for this new religion, called the "umma".  Their activities included helping the poor.  Muhammed's teachings were recorded in the [[Qur'an]] (often spelled as "Koran" in English), which is the bible of Islam.  Muhammad then returned to Mecca in A.D. 630 with his followers, and conquered it by force.  By 632, Islam controlled nearly all of [[Arabia]].  Islam has quickly spread and expanded both in popularity and power ever since, at times growing faster than even Christianity.  Islam had more adherents than any other religion in many parts of the Middle East, Arabia, North Africa and Central Asia.  [[Pakistan]] is Muslim, while [[India]] is [[Hindu]], causing those two countries to be in perpetual conflict with each other.  At one point Islam became the most dominant religion in [[Spain]], but that country was later retaken by [[Catholicism]].

Islam is different from Christianity in having a military/political viewpoint in addition to a set of religious beliefs.  Islam's religious beliefs are set forth in the "Five Pillars of Islam" and moral commands set forth in the Qur'an (Koran).  The Five Pillars of Islam are these:

Islam is different from Christianity in having a military/political viewpoint in addition to a set of religious beliefs.  Islam's religious beliefs are set forth in the "Five Pillars of Islam" and moral commands set forth in the Qur'an (Koran).  The Five Pillars of Islam are these: