ISLAM(Arab., letters'. - submission), the monotheistic religion is one of the world's religions, along with Christianity and Buddhism, its followers are Muslims. Originated in Arabia in the 7th century Founder, Mohammed. Islam was formed under the significant influence of Christianity and Judaism. As a result of the Arab conquests spread to the middle and the SR. East, later in some countries of the Far East, South-East. Asia , Africa.
The main principles of Islam are set out in the Quran. The main tenets are the worship of the one God — Almighty God-Allah and the worship of Muhammad by the prophet — messenger of Allah. Muslims believe in the immortality of the soul and the afterlife. Five main duties (columns of Islam) prescribed to the followers of Islam: 1) the belief that there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah (Shahadah); 2) five times daily prayer (salad); 3) charity for the poor (sunset); 4) fasting in the month of Ramadan (saunas); 5) a pilgrimage to McQuade committed at least once in life. Holy tradition — the Sunnah. The main directions are Sunni and Shi'ism. In the 10th century created a system of theoretical theology — Kalam(ar. - speech, word), for in Muslim theology.
Originated in 8-9 centuries in unorthodox form among mutazilites; in 9-10 centuries adapted to the Sunni Orthodoxy of Asharite and maturidite. The representatives of Kalam, mutakallim, unlike Muslim traditionalists, developed the problems of dogmatic theology, based on formal and logical arguments (the ratio of the divine essence and attributes, predestination and freedom of human will, divine will and natural causation, etc.). The legal system of Islam is developed in Sharia (Arab. Sharia, letters. - the proper way), a set of Muslim legal and theological norms proclaimed by Islam as the "eternal and unchanging" fruit of divine regulations. In 8-9 centuries there was a mystical current of Sufism (from the Arab. suf - the coarse wool fabric, hence the hair shirt as the attribute of the ascetic), the mystical trend in Islam.
It appeared in the 8-9 centuries, finally took shape in the 10-12 centuries. Sufism is characterized by a combination of metaphysics with ascetic practice, the doctrine of gradual approach through mystical love to the knowledge of God (in intuitive ecstatic insights) and merging with him. He had a great influence on Arabic and especially Persian poetry (Sanai, Attar, Jalaleddin Rumi). In almost all countries with a predominant Muslim population, Islam is the state religion. founder of Islam The QURAN (Arabic. Kur'an, letters. - reading), the main Holy book of Muslims, a collection of sermons, ritual and legal regulations, prayers, edifying stories and parables spoken by Muhammad in Mecca and Medina. The earliest surviving lists of the turn of the 7-8 centuries. Originated in the Hijaz (at the beginning of the 7th century) among the Arab tribes of the West. Arabia.
Muhammad acts not only as a preacher, but also as a theocratic ruler, dictating to adherents the norms of behavior in various areas of life. Before Muhammad Arabs were known monotheistic religions-Judaism and Christianity (the latter — mainly in unorthodox forms: Arianism, Nestorianism, Monophysitism); as an independent form of monotheism in Arabia was widespread hanifism. Under certain influence these religions in 610-612gg. the religious sermon of Muhammad, initially not recognized and persecuted by the Meccans, began. In the summer of 632 at the age of approx. 60-63 years Muhammad unexpectedly for his companions died after a short illness. There is also a version that he was poisoned. He was buried in the main mosque of Medina (Masjid al-Nabi - Mosque of the Prophet.