The Ka'abah is the place of worship which God commanded Abraham and Ishmael to build

over four thousand years ago. The building was constructed of stone on what many believe

was the original site of a sanctuary established by Adam. God commanded Abraham to

summon all mankind to visit this place, and when pilgrims go there today they say 'At Thy

service, O Lord', in response to Abraham's summons.

Muhammad was born in Makkah in the year 570, at a time when Christianity was not yet fully

established in Europe. Since his father died before his birth, and his mother shortly

afterwards, he was raised by his uncle from the respected tribe of Quraysh. As he grew up,

he became known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that he was sought after

for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. The historians describe him as calm and meditative.

Muhammad was of a deeply religious nature, and had long detested the decadence of his

society. It became his habit to meditate from time to time in the Cave of Hira near the

summit of Jaba al-Nur, the 'Mountain of Light' near Makkah.

At the age of 40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad received his first

revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation, which continued for

twenty-three years, is known as the Qur'an.

As soon as be began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel, and to preach the truth which

God had revealed to him, he and his small group of followers suffered bitter persecution

which grew so fierce that in the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate. This

event, the Hijra, 'migration', in which they left Makkah for the city of Madinah some 260

miles to the north, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.

After several years, the Prophet and his followers were able to return to Makkah, where

they forgave their enemies and established Islam definitively. Before the Prophet died at the

age of 63, the greater part of Arabia was Muslim, and within a century of his death Islam had

spread to Spain in the West and as far East as China.

Among the reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of its

doctrine-Islam calls for faith in only one God worthy of worship. It also repeatedly instructs

man to use his powers of intelligence and observation.

Within a few years, great civilizations and universities were flourishing, for according to the

Prophet, 'seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim man and woman'. The

synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas and of new thought with old, brought about great

advances in medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy, geography, architecture, art,

literature, and history. Many crucial systems such as algebra, the Arabic numerals, and also

the concept of the zero (vital to the advancement of mathematics), were transmitted to

medieval Europe from Islam. Sophisticated instruments which were to make possible the

European voyages of discovery were developed, including the astrolabe, the quadrant and

good navigational maps.

The Qur'an is a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the

Prophet Muhammad. It was memorized by Muhammad and then dictated to his Companions,

and written down by scribes, who cross-checked it during his lifetime. Not one word of its

114 chapters, Suras, has been changed over the centuries, so that the Qur'an is in every

detail the unique and miraculous text which was revealed to Muhammad fourteen centuries

ago.

The Qur'an, the last revealed Word of God, is the prime source of every Muslim's faith and

practice. It deals with all the subjects which concern us as human beings: wisdom, doctrine,

worship, and law, but its basic theme is the relationship between God and His creatures. At

the same time it provides guidelines for a just society, proper human conduct and an

equitable economic system.

Yes, the Sunna, the practice and example of the Prophet, is the second authority for

Muslims. A Hadith is a reliably transmitted report of what the Prophet said, did, or approved.

Belief in the Sunna is part of the Islamic faith.

The Prophet said:

'God has no mercy on one who has no mercy for others'.

'None of you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself'.

'He who eats his fill while his neighbor goes without food is not a believer'.

'The truthful and trusty businessman is associated with the prophets, the saints, and the

martyrs'.

'Powerful is not he who knocks the other down, indeed powerful is he who controls himself in

a fit of anger'.

'God does not judge according to your bodies and appearances but He scans your hearts and

looks into your deeds'.

'A man walking along a path felt very thirsty. Reaching a well he descended into it, drank his

fill and came up. Then he saw a dog with its tongue hanging out, trying to lick up mud to

quench its thirst. The man saw that the dog was feeling the same thirst as he had felt so he

went down into the well again and filled his shoe with water and gave the dog a drink. God

forgave his sins for this action'. The Prophet was asked: 'Messenger of God, are we

rewarded for kindness towards animals?' He said, 'There is a reward for kindness to every

living thing'.