How old is Islam?

Question

I remember as a kid in school we're taught that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the founder of Islam and that Islam is the youngest of all religions.

But by and by, I'm begining to learn that Islam is a very old religion, and also the fact that Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) was the first propagator of Islam.

This is very very confusing to me. Conventional academic books portray Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as the founder of Islam and devout Muslims claim that he's only one of the many prophets.

Therefore, if Islam is such an old religion then from where did Judaism and Christianity spring up?!?!

Also, if Prophet Jesus (pbuh) is a prophet of Islam as many Muslims claim then I'd like to know whether Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) celebrated Christmas and Jewish festivals?

Answer 1

Adam (pbuh) and Havva (Eve), were Muslims. All Prophets sent by Almighty God, Allah (Subhanahu Wa Taala), were Muslims.
No one founded Islam.

[ Al Qura'n : 003.067 ]
"Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to Allah's (Which is Islam), and he joined not gods with Allah. "

The Following sura also indicates that Islam was even befor Ibrahim( pbuh), as Noah(pbuh) was before Ibrahim(pbuh)

[Al Qura'n : 042.013 ]
"The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah - the which We have sent by inspiration to thee - and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that ye should remain steadfast in religion, and make no divisions therein: to those who worship other things than Allah, hard is the (way) to which thou callest them. Allah chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him)."


http://www.islamworld.net
http://www.focusislam.ca
http://www.beconvinced.com
http://www.irf.net

Peace and blessings of Almighty to all of us.
Wassalam.

Answer 2

Islam claims to be the Old religion that hebrews used to practice but after some centuries this religion takes the name of Judaism.. but there is not proof about that.. Islam it's the younger religion of these judaism and christianity.. the Islam takes many ideas from the Judaism and christianity.. the mayority of their ideas are from the Judaism.. for example the Muslims believe in One God, they believe in Abraham as the first Prophet .. who believed in one God, as well in the Judaism, the muslims still applying the talio law, and they dont eat pig, they dont drink wine, and with the christiniaty, they believe in Jesus as prophet, they think Mary it's virgin before and after like in the catholicism, the Muslims think Jesus never dies he only was saved by God and he will be back to die and to teach the ISLAM, the Muslims think Muhammad it's the Last prophet. the Islam begun in the Mecca.. Muhammad used to be friendly with christians and jews in the first time, but they never accepted his beliefs, some parts of Quran attack the jews and christians cuz they changed the scriptures where muhammads arrived was written.. the muslims teach their religion was first.. and the men changed their point of view they founded the judaism and christianity. but that's not true u should read more history.. there is not proof the Islam it's younger than judaism and christianity.. the oldest religion who believed in One God was the zorotraism

Answer 3

Muslims believe that Islam began from Adam or even before the creation of Adam.. when God created the Universe, Angels, etc.. Prophets were chosen by God to spread Islam and its message but time after e time people just disobeyed God and His teachings. Even the contents of the holy books were changed and distorted (ever wonder why the Bible and Qur'an are quite similar?). Therefore God sent Muhammad (pbuh) as the last Messenger. He wasn't the founder of Islam as many people are taught to believe. He is simply the last prophet to remind people about God and Islam.

Answer 4

The religion of Islam began around 700 CE and the Qu'ran was first printed in the 10th century. To give some perspective, the Bible was written (by various authors) after c. 45 CE and before c. 140 CE and while parts of the Torah date to 5th century BCE, it is in fact far older.

I have no idea about whether Mohammed participated in Christian and/or Jewish feast-days, as an observer or in active participation.

Edit: Christ was no Muslim, but a Jew. Above and beyond that, He is the promised Messiah.

The character of 'Adam' is also very different in the two traditions. Judeo-Christians believe it was Adam and Eve's sin that led to Man's fall from grace (Genesis 1-3). The Qu'ran has him forgiven by Allah, which leads to two very distinct understandings of the episode.

Answer 5

Islam means submission to God. There have been people submitting to the will of God since long before Mohammed (pbuh). Adam was the first Muslim.

The Jewish descendants of Abraham (pbuh) were Muslim until they were deviated by politics and greed. Jesus (pbuh) was Muslim. He never told people that he was God - that was an idea that came later.

I don't know about celebrating Christian or Jewish festivals, but I don't think Christians celebrated festivals at all until they took over the European and Roman pagan holidays.

Answer 6

Islam means "peace/submission" Islam was a progression; starting with the first man Adam to Judaism to Christianity to modern Islam (religion in its truest form). Due to human tampering the Tora and Bible had become unreliable sources and God sent one last book down and cast his protection on it for the rest of time (the Quran). Hadiths (although very important because they are written accounts of the prophet pbuh) unlike the Quran are not promised this protection so it is POSSIBLE people may have fabricated some of them through time. Many critics refer to hadiths when attacking Islam; and some dare to question God's word--Quran. The Quran itself is flawless; of course when taken out of context it doesnt make sense! Lol but Islam was perfected when the Prophet Muhamad (pbuh) came to spread the last book in a long lineage. It is still followed today with more than 1.5 billion Muslim followers. I hope you too will see the truth in it. God bless. Peace.

Answer 7

Islam was created by works written By Mohammad from visions he had as a child while living with his uncle. Mohammad claimed to have visions from God. This was around 600AD, approximately between 4000 and 1000 years after the Books of Moses, Kings, Chronicles, and those of the Prophets were written and approximately 500 years after the Gospels, Epistles, and Revelation to John of the New Testament were written. Mohammad lived outside of Mecca with his uncle and was likely influenced by both Jewish and Christian settlements there. We cannot say that Mohammad did not write the Quran from those visions, but there is no evidence that he is a prophet. He was, however, a great military leader and greatly influenced the unification of the Muslim world.

Answer 8

Islam is just an Arabic word for submission to the will of God. It's already been around since the time of Adam. Just that it isn't call as such.

Prophet Muhammad pbuh was sent to reintroduce it again after it has lost through the passage of time.

Answer 9

Islam is 4 now, still to young to actually be taken seriously but old enough to make quite a mess of lotsa stuff. He srill has tempertantrums, but soon that will be outgrown. He still thinks Dad is a heroe which is actually very comforting in a way. Needless to say he can walk so like any youngster he has gotten into everthing and everywhere. Not actually old enough to have developed many skills that are useful to the world so pretty much depends on Dad and neighbors for the essentials in life like food and transportation. Thank you for asking

4=1400

Answer 10

The prophet (sas) said .. all prophets are brothers .. their religions is one and their nations are diffrent

Qura'n says: [3:19] The religion before God is Islam (submission to his will): nor did the people of the book dissent therefrom except through envy of each other, after knowledge had come to them. but if any deny the signs of. God, God is swift in calling to account.


Islam means sumission to God .. So all the children of israel who obeyed Moses are considred Muslims .. same goes for the true christians before Muhammad (sas)

But if you are talking about the religion as laws .. islam was founded in 610 a.b.