Islam

Islam is regarded as an Abrahamic faith, sharing common historical roots with Judaism and Christianity. The word Islam means ‘submission’ or ‘peace’.

Further information

• Islam is regarded as an Abrahamic faith, sharing common historical roots with Judaism and Christianity.
• The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was born in the city of Makkah, in the Arabian Peninsula, in 570 CE. In adult life he was a trader, married to his wife, Khadija. At the age of 40, he began experiencing a series of revelations from Allah.
• Muslims do not see Muhammad as the 'founder' of Islam but rather as the final Prophet in a line of successive and progressive revelations. The first Prophet in this chain of succession was Adam. There are many other Prophets mentioned in the Qur'an including Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses) and Isa (Jesus). Muhammad is known as the Seal of the Prophets (The final Prophet).
• The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his followers were persecuted in Makkah and eventually migrated to Madinah in 622 CE. This was known as the Hijrah ('Migration') and marks the start of the Islamic calendar.
• By the time of the Prophet's death in 632 CE, Islam was an established religion in the Arabian Peninsula. 632 CE is the 11th year After Hijrah usually written (AH) The Islamic calendar is based on lunar cycles. This means that key dates in Islam will move forward in the Gregorian calendar by eleven days each year.