Islam started which year

However, the majority agreed that the calendar should begin with the date of his migration. After all the discussions, Khalifa Umar announced that the year in which the Prophet Mohammad migrated would mark the beginning of the Hijri calendar.

The calendar would begin with the first of the month of Muharram and end with the month of Dhu Al Hijja. The Hijri year consists of 12 months. As Allah says in the Quran in verse 36 of Surat al-Tawbah:. That is the established religion. So be you not unjust unto your selves during them. And fight polytheists totally even as they fight you totally, and know that Allah is with the pious ones.

Each Hijri month starts at the beginning of the new moon cycle. The length of each month is 29 to 30 days, except for the month of Dhu al-Hijjah. This night is now called Laylat al-Qadr , or the Night of Power, and is believed to have fallen on the 27th night of the ninth lunar month. However, some scholars argue this point, stating that this could have fallen on any of the odd-numbered nights over the last 10 days of Ramadan. He and his followers faced physical assaults and, as a consequence, had no choice but to move to Medina.

The move is known as Hegira and happened in A. Muhammad PBUH was invited to Medina by city leaders in an attempt to bridge the differences between different clans living in Medina, mainly the Arab and Jewish. Muhammad PBUH was brought in to offer advice and delegation as a neutral outsider.

In exchange for his adjudication duties, Muhammad PBUH and his followers were afforded the freedom to practice their religion and be protected.

On his way, he was intercepted by the Quraysh, but they agreed to a treaty called the Hudaybiyyah treaty. This meant the Quraysh recognised and respected Muhammad PBUH and the religion of Islam, and as such agreed that followers of Islam would not face persecution and would be treated as equal.

Up until his death in A. Abu Bakr died about two years after he was elected and was succeeded in by Caliph Umar, another father-in-law of Muhammad. Islam also spread throughout areas in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The caliphate system lasted for centuries and eventually evolved into the Ottoman Empire , which controlled large regions in the Middle East from about until , when World War I ended the Ottoman reign. When Muhammad died, there was debate over who should replace him as leader.

This led to a schism in Islam, and two major sects emerged: the Sunnis and the Shiites. Sunnis make up nearly 90 percent of Muslims worldwide. They accept that the first four caliphs were the true successors to Muhammad.

Shiite Muslims believe that only the caliph Ali and his descendants are the real successors to Muhammad. They deny the legitimacy of the first three caliphs. Other, smaller Muslim denominations within the Sunni and Shiite groups exist. Some of these include:. It contains some basic information that is found in the Hebrew Bible as well as revelations that were given to Muhammad. The text is considered the sacred word of God and supercedes any previous writings.

Muhammad himself was never taught to read or write. The book is written with Allah as the first person, speaking through Gabriel to Muhammad. It contains chapters, which are called surahs. The Islamic calendar, also called the Hijra calendar, is a lunar calendar used in Islamic religious worship. The calendar began in the year A. The Islamic calendar indicates the proper days of Islamic holidays and celebrations, including the period of fasting and prayer known as Ramadan , which occurs during the ninth month of the calendar.

As in many religions, there is no single image or symbol of Islam that is universally accepted by all Muslims worldwide. The crescent moon and star has been adopted in some predominantly Muslim countries as a symbol of Islam, though the crescent moon and star image is believed to pre-date Islam and was originally a symbol of the Ottoman Empire. In some other applications, such as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian aid movement, a red crescent indicates that followers of Islam are respected and treated accordingly.

The color green is also sometimes associated with Islam, as it was reportedly a favorite color of Muhammad's and is often featured prominently in the flags of predominantly Muslim countries. This faith-based code of conduct directs Muslims on how they should live in nearly every aspect of their lives.

Sharia law requires men and women to dress modestly. It also outlines marriage guidelines and other moral principles for Muslims. If crimes are committed, Sharia law is known for its harsh punishments.

Adultery can carry the penalty of death by stoning. However, many Muslims do not support such extreme measures. The prophet Muhammad is credited with building the first mosque in the courtyard of his house in Medina.

Mosques today follow some of the same principles he established in A. Muslim prayer is often conducted in a mosque's large open space or outdoor courtyard. A mihrab is a decorative feature or niche in the mosque that indicates the direction to Mecca, and therefore the direction to face during prayer.

Men and women pray separately, and Muslims may visit a mosque five times a day for each of the prayer sessions.

In addition to hosting prayers, mosques often function as public gathering places and social centers. While some Muslims use their faith to justify terrorism, the vast majority do not.