Introduction to Islam

Islam emerged in the Arabian peninsula in the seventh Masihi period when Prophet Muhammad a revelation from God s.w.t. After the death of Rasullullah s.a.w. growing Islamic empire as far as the Atlantic Ocean in the west and Central Asia in the east. Gradually Muslims spread and there are many other Islamic kingdoms that emerged.

However, the emergence of Islamic kingdoms such Umaiyyah kingdom, the kingdom of Abbasid, Seljuk Turkish Seljuk empire, kingdom Uthmaniyyah Turkey Uthmaniyyah, Empires Moghul India, and the Sultanate of Melaka has to be among the strongest and greatest Empires in the world. A great place of learning science has realized one of the great Islamic civilization. Many experts in science, philosophy experts and so emerged from Islamic countries especially the Islamic Golden Age.

In the period of the 18th and the 19th Masihi, many Islamic regions fell into the hands of European colonizers. After World War I, Turkish Empires Uthmaniyyah the last Islamic Empires collapsed earth worship.

Islam is a doctrine revealed by God to Muhammad Rasullullah. SAW Rasullullah getting teachings from God delivered by God through the angel Gabriel in the form of revelation. Thus, since the fall of the first revelation is, the teachings of Islam began in the surface world, ranging from religious ordinances, social life, law and other science, technology and syaria `t` t islam syaria affecting human life on earth. So, no wonder if we can see a wide range of developmental science is now inseparable from the development of Islamic teachings. Therefore, in this article we are going to embark on a journey from the early formation of Islam.

Establishment of Islamic teachings actually began during the Prophet Adam (read `alaihisallam) which, according to history was created by God to make the caliph on earth, according to Al-Quran surah Al-Baqarah verse 30 which in translation means:

"Remember when your Lord said to the angels," Behold, I will make a caliph in the earth ". They said, "Do you want to make on the earth who will make mischief therein and shed blood, while we always praises thee and thy Cleanses?" The Lord said, "Verily I know what ye know not."

Prof. Quraish Shihab in his "Tafsir Al-Misbah" said the verse begins with the delivery of the decision of God to the angels about His plan made man on the earth. Submission to them is important because so many angels will be burdened concerning human task. Submission of this news indicates a process of giving responsibility to the person to perform a job, and the job exactly on earth. Logically, if we give a mandate to someone then we will give you a rule that there will be given the mandate to run well. Here begins an initial system is a milestone basis of Islamic teachings.

Prof Quraish Shihab also said in the same book, It should be noted that the word caliph of that paragraph was originally meant to substitute for a dating or who is coming after the previous. On this basis, one understands the word caliphate here in the sense that replaces God in His will enforce and implement the provisions of his, but not because God can not but intend to test man and give him respect.

Began an era in which the teachings of the Lord shall be delivered to the creation of his First Man charged with applying his teachings in order to be a Caliph on earth.

Along with the development time, the first true teachings of Islam is taught in doctrine or often we know and are familiar with the Godhead. This teaching is meant for humans on this earth knows there is only one (not that there are two, three, and so on) of the Creator is Allah SWT. Submission of the divine teaching begins from the time of Prophet Adam to Prophet Isa AS as "laailahaillallah" which means there is no god but Allah.

Just like a computer program, beginning with a program that is very fundamental and developed until such time as the program is perfectly achieved the best program. Islam, too, starting with a basic program in the form of the divine teachings up until his teachings that human life and even includes a guide of human life.

Thus, began a project final completion stage of development of Islamic religion are mandated by the last Prophet ie Muhammad SAW. This stage begins with the Apostolic Muhammad, who at that time was trying to leave Mecca Muhammad fled to Medina or due to a fluctuation of thinking about the trust that exists around the community at the time.

Dr. Hasan Ibrahim Hasan in his book titled "The History and Culture of Islam" says, he hated idols, so it never attend activities organized in the pilgrimage season. Likewise, he did not drink wine nor never eat animals slaughtered in the name of idols and never attended a nasty places. From this, the Prophet Muhammad was not interested in any religion professed by the arab community.

It makes solitude he always alone and think about it, maybe he thinks if all this does is desired by the Creator? That he may take and be Hanafiah, which embraced the teachings delivered by the Prophet Ibrahim about divinity. And even, to think that he tried to migrate and seek tranquility solitude as to keep away from the crowds in a cave, the cave of Hira. There he find peace and reflect on events that exist in the universe and think about the days after death. So every day Rasullullah SAW did this and even bring lunch to stay in the Cave of Hira is for 6 months until he reaches 40 years of age.

On Monday, exactly on time alone as meditated in the cave of Hira, on the 17th of Ramadan, there was an incident that made him a feeling of fear. In the event down to his first revelation delivered by the archangel Gabriel appears before him, and said in a commanding tone:

Read (Iqra ')!, Then he replied I can not read (Ma ana Biqari) then the angel Gabriel embraced his crouch and then release back until the third time that the angel Gabriel said:

Read with (call) the name of your Lord Who created. He created man from a clot. Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous, Who taught (the Man) by means of Qalam, He taught man what he did not know (Al-Quran Surah Al-`Alaq verses 1-5).

This is the first commandment of God to Muhammad in order to introduce the teachings of Islam by "READING" all about the divine. This is an early milestone Islam began, the first revelation was used as initial introduction of the Islamic teachings on all aspects of life is by READING. After these revelations, the revelations down the other for about 22 years until Islam improved the final revelation that Al-Maidah verse 3. All these revelations are summarized in a book called Al-Quran Surah 114 composition.

So first article on the development of Islam in the early days, hopefully this article useful to you and open up our thinking about what is Islam. For the next article I will write about Islam on the Quran and Islamic culture itself. Wassalam.

Sources: Al-Quran, "Tafsir Al-Misbah" by Prof. M. Quraish Shihab and "History and Culture of Islam" Dr. Hasan Ibrahim Hasan.