The Historical Foundation of Islam

In 570 AD, Islam’s founder, Muhammad, war born in the city of Mecca. Mecca was not a very noteworthy city. It was a center of business, but it had little say in international affairs. Muhammad was an orphan, and not, by himself, distinct, but at the age of 25, he married a wealthy older woman named Khadijah. The marriage let him become part of the local elite. Fifteen years later, Muhammad began to hear voices. It troubled him so much at first that he contemplated suicide, but the voice he heard assured him that he was not going mad. Rather, instead, he was hearing the words of the Angel Gabriel. Mohammed, said the voice, had been chosen as God’s messenger (Marmorstein, 2008)r.

Muhammad’s wife, Khadijah believed his story, and became the first convert to Islam. After Khadijah’s conversion, Muhammad began preaching throughout Mecca, managing to convert several other locals. Yet Muhammad’s words were not welcome with everyone in Mecca. Mecca was polytheistic, and Muhammad preached that there was only one God. Indeed, tension between the locals and Muslims got to be so great that Mohammed moved his followers out of Mecca to the nearby city of Medina. They took over Medina, and using it as a base, attacked caravans from Mecca. Mecca responded in kind, attacking Medina. Ultimately, Medina was victorious. Muhammad died two years later. These events might not have made the history books, had Muhammad’s followers not begun an incredible expansion. Eighty years later, the Muslim empire stretched from North Africa, to Spain, to Palestine, Syria and much of Asia (Marmorstein, 2008).

Islam, then, had become a strong force. This is partially due to its strong reinforcement. Islamic belief is supported by the five pillars of Islam: Faith, Prayer, Fasting, Alms, and Pilgrimage. It is also an attractive religion to many. Anyone can join it, Muslims were willing to adapt to other cultures and customs, even an enemy, once converted, could be a friend. (Marmorstein, 2008)

Common Symbolism in Islamic Texts and Religious Practices

Some symbols and rituals are so common in Islam, that the dictionary describes them. Indeed, according to Hoskins, The Oxford Dictionary of Islam mentions the following rituals: circling the Kaaba seven times, running to and fro between the small hills near Kaaba, walking through the plains of Arafat and climbing Mount Mercy (Hoskins, 2008).

Hoskins explains that running back and forth between the two hills symbolizes Hagar’s search for water, when she had been banished by Abraham. Climbing Mount Mercy is important to Muslims, because it is where Muhammad gave his farewell message. Muslims, according to Hoskins, also symbolically stone Satan seven times. In this ritual, Muslims throw stones at pillars, to symbolize the traditional Islamic story of Abraham stoning Satan, who tried to stop him from sacrificing Ishmael to God (BBC, 2005) Indeed, Abraham’s sacrifice figures very prominently into many Muslim rituals. For instance, Muslims celebrate the Feast of Sacrifice (called the Eid al-Adha), which symbolizes Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son. It is, according to Tarek El-Tablawy, one of Islam’s most important holidays (El-Tablway, 2008).

Islam also boasts a plethora of artistic symbols. Angels represent Muhammad’s life and mission in both art and literature. The Angels Jibrail, Mika’il, Israfil, and Orzin, figure prominently into Islamic belief. In the Koran, Orzin, the Angel of Death and Jibrail (Gabriel), the Angel of Life are rivals. Covered figures represent Muhammad himself, because Muslims do not believe in showing the face of their greatest prophet. Because Muslims believe that showing human figures can lead to idolatry, geometric figures and calligraphy from Islamic texts are used to represent religious figures. Other scripts used as decoration, with significant religious meaning are the ninety nine attributes and beautiful names of Allah, and the Ash Shahada (Rodrigues, 2008).

Nature is also used to represent Islamic values. For instance, according to Antonio Rodrigues, one verse from the Koran says, “If you wish to see the Glory of God, contemplate a red rose.” Another proverb declares, “God is beautiful, and he loves beauty.” Light, meanwhile, symbolizes the splendor of faith and also religious enlightenment. Therefore, Muslim architects design Mosques to let in a great deal of light. Water symbolizes life, because, according to the Koran, God created men and everything living from water. Gardens symbolize heaven – the supreme Garden according to Muslim faith. Rainbows symbolize rebirth and spring. It is also called the “belt of the prophet” and the “belt of Fatima the resplendent”, after Muhammad’s fourth daughter. Meanwhile, the sun represents divine glory, life and enthusiasm. It figures into Muslim tradition as “the torch of hastiness”, which is a spirit that, through its illumination, regulates prayer time (Rodrigues, 2008).

 Trees symbolize unification and, also, growth.  The roots of Islamic trees go deep into the earth, while the branches of these trees, stretch into the sky, representing a link between heaven and earth. They also represent, according to Rodrigues, man’s search for God. In the Koran, and the traditions of Mohammed, trees are used in parables. One tree, with a dragon and a lion behind it, figures prominently into Islamic art. It is the Aussaj, which, according to traditional Islamic texts is the first tree ever created. Meanwhile, one of the most prominent animals in Islam is the eagle, which represents power, battle and heroism. Its wings are particularly important, because, according to Muslim tradition, a man named Jafar lost his arms in battle. Mohammed declared that God would replace his arms with wings that would take him to paradise. Jafar, then, became known as “he who flies” and “the two-winged.” Therefore, artists use wings to symbolize bravery and ascent to heaven (Rodrigues, 2008).

Perhaps the most well-known symbols of Islam are the crescent moon and star. This is the symbol of Islam – perhaps similar to the Christian cross. The crescent and star are also used to symbolize the start of Ramadan. Some say that the symbol represents the positions of Venus and the Moon when Mohammed received his message. Others say that the symbol was integrated after Byzantium was conquered, as the Byzantines used the symbol of the crescent as a symbol of Mary or other figures important to Christianity. Others believe it was a symbol borrowed from the Ottoman Empire. Whatever the case was, it is now used in Islam to represent the different phases of the moon, which in turn, according to Islamic tradition, shows the interest of God in the affairs of men on earth (Rodrigues, 2008).

The Similarities and Differences between Islam and Christianity

Christians also believe that God is interested in the affairs of men. Indeed, Islam and Christianity are similar in a number of ways. Both religions are monotheistic, rather than polytheistic. They also both believe in Angels and in the Angel Gabriel in particular. However, while Christians believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God, Muslims believe that Jesus was merely a great prophet. Muslims believe that Muhammad is a greater prophet than Jesus. While Christians believe that Jesus was crucified on the cross, Muslims believe someone died in Jesus’ place. Muslims believe that Christians believe in a corrupt, pagan religion. Christians, meanwhile, view Muhammad as misleading and do not hail him as a prophet. Both Christianity and Islam are Abraham religions, but while Christianity teaches that when Abraham took his son Isaac up to sacrifice him on an altar, God spared Isaac and sent a ram in his place. Meanwhile, Islam teaches that the ram itself spared Isaac (Hoskins, 2008).

Christianity and Islam share some common beliefs and rituals. For instance, they share a belief that loving God and loving one’s neighbor are the two greatest commandments. Furthermore,  (Hoskins, 2008) converts to both religions pray, preach, fast and evangelize. Both center on holy books. Christians believe that the bible is the word of God; meanwhile, Muslims believe that the Quran, the Hadith and the Sunnah are holy. Christians and Muslims both show their concern for the poor by giving to charities. Both believe, to some extent, in evangelism, although for Christians this tends to be only spiritual, while for Muslims it is also territorial. Territory does, however, play an important role in both religions. For Christians, places like Jerusalem and Bethlehem hold special significance. For Muslims, Medina and Mecca are also important. Christians see churches as holy places, while Muslims see Mosques the same way (Hoskins, 2008).

Christians and Muslims also view women and marriage differently. While Christian men are told to love their wives, Muslim men are told to make their wives obey them. They are encouraged to scourge disobedient wives. Christian men are also told not to divorce their wives, meanwhile, Muslim men who are tired of their wives may divorce them, simply by saying, “I divorce you,” three times Christian men are told not to even look at other women, Muslim women are told to cover up so that men will not lust after them.  (Marmorstein, 2008)

Finally, Islam seems to be a more physical religion than Christianity. At least in the Western world, most Christians seem to regard religion as an inward and personal belief; meanwhile, Islam affects nearly every aspect of Muslim life. Muslims follow the law of Islam in their bathing habits, eating habits and dress. Therefore, it would be fairly easy to tell whether someone followed Islam or not. It would be harder to tell whether or not someone was a Christian.

Works Cited
BBC. (2005, January 20). Pilgrims ‘stone Satan’ for Hajj . Retrieved December 25, 2008, from BBC News Web Site: http://mail.google.com/mail/#inbox/11e85682cf08af54

El-Tablway, T. (2008, Dec 08). In some Arab nations, ‘sacrifice’ takes on new symbolism during Eid holiday. Associated Press NewsWires .

Hoskins, W. (2008). A Soldier’s Guide to Understanding Christianity and Islam. Infantry , 97 (3), 32-36.

Marmorstein, A. (2008). Islam. Retrieved December 25, 2008, from History 121 Lecture: http://www.northern.edu/marmorsa/islam2008.htm

Rodrigues, A. (2008). Islam and Symbolism. Military Review , 88 (3).

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