How Old is Islam: Debunking Myths and Clarifying Facts

Islam, often misunderstood as a centuries-old religion, is actually a relatively young one. The belief that Islam is 7000 years old is a myth. In reality, the religion as we know it today was founded by Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century AD. Despite this, Islamic teachings have a significant legacy in correcting distorted beliefs from previous religions, making understanding its origins and development essential for a clear perspective.

Is Islam 7000 Years Old?

No, the claim that Islam is a 7000-year-old religion is incorrect. Islam is approximately 1400 years old, founded by Prophet Muhammad in the 7th century AD. Prior to this, there are no mentionals of the word 'Islam' or its teachings in any historical documents or records. The religion's teachings and beliefs evolved and were formalized during Muhammad's lifetime and the early Islamic period.

Correcting Distorted Teachings in Islam

Islamic teachings do indeed rectify the interpretations and practices of earlier religions. From Adam through to Muhammad, the Islamic tradition recognizes a long lineage of prophets, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Elijah, John, Jesus, and Muhammad. This sequence of prophets is integral to Islamic belief and includes the prophetic claims of Islam.

Islam explains that the true path was originally revealed to the first human, Adam, and continued through the lineage of prophets. The belief is that the core message of monotheism and obedience to God remained consistent across these prophets. The religion as understood today is the manifestation of this enduring message in the form of the Islamic Sharia or Islamic law. However, the detailed codification of this law and its specific practices were indeed formalized during the life of Prophet Muhammad and the early Islamic period.

The Concept of Islam in Different Contexts

When discussing Islam, it is important to differentiate between the broad concept of monotheism, which has existed since time immemorial, and the specific form of Islam as a structured religion with detailed laws and practices. According to Islamic belief, monotheism (Tawhid in Arabic) is the unchanging core of the religion. The comprehensive and codified form of Islam as we understand it today began with the mission of Prophet Muhammad, which started around 1400 years ago.

The Qur'an emphasizes the oneness of God, stating that "whoever believes in God and His angels and His books and His messengers will be with the ones who are blessed" (Quran 4:136). The revelation to Prophet Muhammad includes the commands of God as found in previous revelations to other prophets. Therefore, the core beliefs of monotheism and submission to God's will have persisted across different religions and prophets.

The True Islam vs. Mohammedanism

While Islamic teachings have a continuous lineage, there is a distinction between the true essence of Islam and what some refer to as "Mohammedanism." The true Islam as described in the Qur'an is predicated on the following verses and principles:

Belief in God, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the hereafter (Quran 2:136) Submission to the will of God (Islam 's meaning in Arabic) Following the commandments prescribed by God

These principles were present through the prophets and their teachings. The structured form of Islam as we know it today, including the Sharia, developed after the life of Prophet Muhammad, as the Hadith and Sunnah were compiled and recorded.

Therefore, the true Islam has existed since the beginning of creation, with the first human beings, Adam, receiving the message directly from God. The religion as we recognize it today is a continuation and codification of this original message, which is why it is neither 7000 nor exactly 1400 years old in the way some may interpret these terms. It is a timeless path of monotheism and submission to God's will.

Key Concepts:

Religion Ages: The age of religions is a complex topic that involves the interplay of historical and textual evidence. Prophets in Islam: The lineage of prophets in Islam traces the history of monotheistic beliefs from the first humans to Prophet Muhammad. Islamic Teachings: The consistent core messages of monotheism and submission to God's will have persisted across different prophets and religious traditions.