advent of islam in history

 Islam

• According to historians, Islam was found in 6th -7th C AD.
• Prophet Mohammed was the founder of this religion. He was born in Mecca in 571 AD and then he founded this religion there. He died in Medina in 632 AD. The spread of Islam started from Medina. 
• Islam was a revolting religion born out of huge instability and agitation prevailing during those times in Saudi Arabia. Various tribes were living in the various uncivilised way. Polytheism and huge idolatry were in practice.
• Islam is a missionary religion.
• The literary meaning of Islam means surrender similar to that of Bhakti in Hinduism.
• Islam was founded on the basis of five principles/ Doctrines. The Pillars of Islam (arkan al-Islam; also arkan ad-din, "pillars of religion") are five basic acts in Islam, considered obligatory for all believers.
• The Quran presents them as a framework for worship and a sign of commitment to the faith. They are (1) the shahadah (creed) or Kalima (kalma), (2) daily prayers (salat) or Namaz, (3) Roza or sawn, fasting during Ramadan and (4) almsgiving (zakah), (5) the pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) at least once in a lifetime.
• The Shahadah or Kalima which is the basic creed of Islam that must be recited under oath with the specific statement: "ashadu al-la ilaha illla llahu wa aghadu anna muhammadan rasalu-llah", or "I testify that there is none worthy of worship except God and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God". This testament is a foundation for all other beliefs and practices in Islam. Muslims must repeat the shahadah in prayer, and non-Muslims wishing to convert to Islam are required to recite the creed.
• Whoever has faith in Kalima are called believers or faithful and Arabic term for the faithful is  'Muslim'. Whoever doesn't believe are non-believers and Arabic term for them was 'Kafir'.
• Sahib or Namaz or ritual prayer, which must be performed five times a day.
• Sawn or Roza or fasting during the month of Ramadan. Muslims must not eat or drink (among other things) from dawn to dusk during this month, and must be mindful of other sins.
• Zakat or aimsgiving, which is giving a fixed portion of accumulated wealth by those who can afford it to help the poor or needy, and also assist the spread of Islam.
• The Hajj, which is the pilgrimage during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah in the city of Mecca. Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it must make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime.
• Prophet was hated initially by Meccaist. He was described as 'Majnu' (mad). There was a serious revolt against him. 
• During this revolt, in the year 622 AD - Prophet has migrated from Mecca to Madina and this process of migration is known as 'Hijra' (Hijra in Arabic means migration).
• People of Madina welcomed him and liked his preachings and took the Islam religion thereafter. Eventually, people started converting to Islam and Madina has become the place from where the spread of Islam started. By Sword spread of Islam started.
• In the year 630, Mecca was captured and all the idols in Kabah were destroyed and thereafter this has become a holy place for Islamites.
• Prophet became the spiritual and political head for a small domain and ruled with Mecca as the capital city. After his death in 632 AD, a serious issue of succession started as he doesn't have any male child except a female child.
• As per Sharia, an administrative law for Islamites - it says female cannot be a Calipha (an Arabic term for successor). 
• Two were the aspirants for being Caliphas. They were

                  1) Mohammed Ali - A great warrior and Son-in-law of Prophet 
                  2) Abu Bakar — A staunch follower and a senior person.

• Md Ali supporters were small in number a Minority number, whereas Abu Bakar has large group followers. So Abu Bakar has become Calipha. But this didn't digest for Md Ali's followers so they refused Abu Bakar. Thereafter this minority number came to known as Shias. And the majority numbers of Abu Bakar were known as Sunnis. This is the start of Schism in Islam.
• Shias give the status of Prophet to Mohammed Ali whereas Sunnis just consider him as a son-in-law. In the course of time, these two communities started hating each other and serious revolt and agitation started in them which led for many blood baths and carnages between them. (Recently Saddam Hussain a Sunni, who massacred Shias and issued policies and laws against Shias).
• Throughout the world, Shias are in the minority. Only 3% of Shias and 97% of Sunnis. In India majority of are in Hyderabad and Lucknow (as these two places were ruled by Shia rulers). These Shias in India are called as Iranians as they have come from Iran. Iran is only a country in the world with 100% Shias. Then comes Iraq with 60% Shias followed by 40% Sunnis.

Calipha

• Calipha is the political and spiritual head of the Islam domain. As per Sharia, there shall be only one spiritual and political head.
• In expanding the territory of Islam by conquering and converting, there never had a problem with the spiritual head but the political administration has become a problem. Islam was expanding in leaps and bounds. All Buddhist, Zoroastrians, Jains, Christian territories being conquered & converted by word or sword. 
• Islamic priestly class Ulema considers themselves as custodians of Sharia. The administration should be in accordance with Sharia and there should not be any deviation or blasphemy. These Ulema(s) have the Dower to issue Fatwa.
• Sultans of India ruled in the name of Calipha. They called themselves as representatives of Calipha. Coins were issued in his name to show the sovereignty of Calipha.
• Qutba — A special prayer on Friday. A chief priest read out the prayer in the name of Calipha.
• Sultans of India were sending periodical gifts for requesting or asking Calipha to admit them as subordinates.
• If Calipha was happy he would send a letter of acceptance called Mansoor.Indian rulers were struggling to get Mansoor. Only 3 rulers of India got the Mansoor. 

1. Iltutmish(Read as Altamash) 
2. Mohammed-bin-Tughlaq 
3. Feroz shah Tughlaq (He got Mansoor twice from two different Calipha(s)). 

• Even today Qutba is read in the name of first four Caliphas.