Islam, like other monotheistic religions, such as, Judaism and Christianity; originated in the Middle East. There are many similarities and differences between Islam and other religions, such as Christianity and Judaism. Muslims have beliefs and rituals that have been practiced and followed throughout the world. Many times the religion of Islam has been misunderstood and misrepresented. This paper will explore the foundation and beginnings of Islam and discuss the role it has played in the lives of three significant social leaders in America: Malcom X (civil rights), Loon (rap music/entertainment, and Muhammad Ali (sports). Islam is based on the belief of one god. Islam began in the sixth century. Mecca, a city in Saudi Arabia, was growing as the new business center with a new population of wealthy people, but also with a growing division between the rich and poor. This changing situation in Mecca challenged the traditional system of Arable tribal values and social security. At that time, appeared the prophet Mohammad who preached the messages from the book of the Quran, which is the core of the religion, Islam. It was calling everybody to return to the worship of the true God and to fairness in the community. Muslims believe that God sent a revelation first to Moses (found in Hebrew Scripture, the Torah), then to Jesus Christ (the Gospel), and finally to the prophet Mohammad (through the Quran). Muhammad had told his followers that he is not the founder of a new religion, but a religious reformer like the biblical prophets who came before him. He also added that he did not bring new messages from new God, but called people back to the one true God and to a true way of life that they had forgotten or miss used. Islam is the continuity of the message of God brought by the prophets who preceded Mohammad. The Quran is the sacred book that contains stories from the Old and New Testaments. These stories included Adam and EVE, Abraham and Moses, David and Solomon, and Jesus and Mary. According to Mohammad, those in Mecca who practice the polytheism, which is the belief in multiple Gods and Deities, lived in ignorance of the one true God. Mohammad also believed that Jews and Christians had distorted God’s original message that was sent through Moses and Jesus. Muslims saw the torah and Gospel as a combination of original revelation and human addition, such as, the revelation of Jesus Christ from prophet to son of God and God himself. Mohammad believed revelation was based upon religious and social reform. It emphasized on social justice, such as, the rights of women, widows and orphans. It also corrected distortion to God’s revelations in Judaism and Christianity, and warned that many people had strayed from the message of God and his prophets. Islam called all to the return of the straight path of Islam which is revealed in the Quran by the last prophet of God ,Mohammad.(2,6) The role Mohammad played in Islam was different from the one Christ played in Christianity. He was not a God incarnate, son of God or God-man. Instead, he was a human being, as stated clearly by the Quran, but unlike ordinary human beings, Mohammad possessed the most perfect of natures. He was seen as a celebrity Arabic poem asserts, like a jewel among the stone. Muslims see the prophet Mohammad as the most perfect man among all God creatures, and they beloved by God whom the Quran calls a perfect model. God gave Mohammad the most perfect character and decorated his soul with the virtues of humanity, generosity and notability that characterized all Islamic spirituality. Islam is based on God not on Mohammad. However, the love of Mohammad is required. The Quran required human beings to venerate the prophet and that Allah and His angels shower blessings upon the prophet. O ye who believe! Ask blessing upon him (sallu) and salute him (sallimu) with a worthy salutation”(33:56). For Muslims, the Love and the respect of prophet cannot be separated from the love of the world of God, the Quran, and the love of God himself. There was something in the soul of the prophet present in the Quran. Before his death, he told Muslims that he was leaving them with precious heritage which are the Quran and his family, both represent his continued presence in the Islamic community.(1 46). Despite the diversity that exists in Islamic practice, there are five required observances prescribes in the Quran that all Muslim must accept and follow. These “pillars of Islam” are the core and common denominator that unites all Muslim and distinguishes Islam from other religions. The first pillar is the declaration of faith. The Muslims must attest that “There is no God but God[ Allah] and Mohammad is the messenger of God. “This attestation is known, as the shahada (witness, testimony) .It is that attestation that one needs to make in order to become a Muslim. The first part of this pillar affirms that Islam is an absolute monotheism religion. The one who associates anything else with God is idolatry and will not be forgiven, as stated in the Quran 4:48”God does not forgive anyone for associating something with Him, while he does forgive whomever he wishes to for anything else. Anyone who gives God associates {partners} has invented an awful sin.” The second part of the confession of faith states that Mohammad is not only a prophet but also a messenger of God ,and also the higher role played by Moses and Jesus who came before him. The second pillar of Islam is prayer (salat).Muslims must pray five times throughout the day; in the morning, at noon, at mid-afternoon, at sunset and evening.
The third pillar of Islam is a Zakat(purification). Like prayer, Zakat is an individual and communal responsibility; it expresses Muslim’s thanksgiving to God by supporting the poor. It required Muslims to offer to the poor an annual of 2.5 percent of his wealth and asset. In Islam, the true owner of things is not a man but God. Muslims give their wealth as a trust from Allah (God). Zakat is not a charity but it is an obligation for those who God had given a wealth to respond the need of the poor of the community. The fourth pillar of Islam is the fast of Ramadan. It occurs once each year during the ninth month of Islamic calendar and the month in which Mohammad has receive the first revelation of the Quran. During these periods of fasting, Muslims must abstain from dawn to sunset from food, drink and sexual activity. Fasting is known to many religions as a penance. The fifth pillar of Islam is the pilgrimage. It is required by God to an adult Muslim, who is physical and financially able to make a scarify of time, possessions, status and normal comfort necessary to make this pilgrimage. Every year, millions people from all over around the world with different cultures and speaking different languages travel to the Holy city of Mecca to form one community and live their faith. In addition to the pilgrimage, there is a another devotional ritual less important than pilgrimage called the Umarah(visitation). Islam is a very powerful influence in the lives of many people who have followed its practices. As with many religions and belief systems, Islam has influenced people’s lives in positive ways; and has been the basis for many to change their lives. The first and one of the most recognized people in modern history to embrace Islam is Malcolm X. Malcolm X, known as one of the greater leader who fought against discrimination in the United States, was born on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. His early childhood was full of adversity. His mother, Louise Norton Little, was a homemaker who was raising eight children. His father, Earl Little, was a minister and supporter of Black Nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. Due to the involvement in civil rights activism that condemned a white supremacist, the family finds their life being threatened by the white man repeatedly. That situation has forced the family to relocate twice before Malcolm‘s fourth birthday. Despite their relocation, Malcolm’s family’s Michigan home was burned. Two years later, Malcolm’s father‘s body was founded lying across the town on the trolley track. According to the investigator, both incidents were an accident. Malcolm’s mother was sure that was not an accident and that a member of the Black Legion was responsible for the incident. For several year Malcolm‘s mother suffered severe emotional breakdowns caused by the loss of her husband. She was admitted to a mental institution. Malcolm and his brothers were split up among various foster home and orphanages. Growing up, Malcolm X was very intelligent young man. He graduated from junior high school at the top of his class. His dream was to become a successful lawyer. Till one day his favorite teacher told him that his dream to become a lawyer was no realistic goal for the man of color. He felt very disappointed and lost interest in school. He dropped out and passed great deal of time in Boston, Massachusetts working different kinds of jobs, and then he moved to Harlem, New York where he committed many crimes. In 1942, Malcolm was involved in various illegal activities such as prostitution and gambling. Malcolm and his friend Jarvis, moved back to Boston. In1946, both Malcolm and his friend were arrested and convicted on burglary charges. Malcolm was sentenced to ten years in prison. He was paroled after serving seven years. While in prison, Malcolm used his time to further educate himself. It was during this time of self –enlightenment that his brother Reginald would visit and discuss his recent conversion to the Islam with him. Reginald belonged to the large and powerful black religious organization known as Nation of Islam (NOI). Malcolm began to study the teaching of the NOI leader, Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught black men to keep looking forward to keep African –Americans empowering themselves and to keep reaching for high political, economic and social success. The NOI also asked black man to fight for the separation between white and black. In 1952, when Malcolm was paroled, he was a devoted follower of Elijah Mohammad with the new surname X. He choose the letter X to represent his lost tribal name. Because of his high intelligence and natural speaking talent, Elijah Muhammad appointed Malcolm X as a minister and national spokesman for the Nation of Islam. He also put him in charge of establishing new mosques in cities such as Detroit, Michigan and Harlem, New York. Malcolm was utilizing newspaper columns, radio and television to communicate the Nation of Islam’s message across the United States. He became a charismatic leader who attracted a large number of new followers. He increased membership in the Nation of Islam from 500 in 1952 to 30,000 in 1963. After some time, Malcolm found himself faced with the uncomfortable reality that his popularity had overridden the one of his mentors Elijah Muhammad. In 1963, Malcolm’s faith fell down when he learned that his mentor and leader, Elijah Muhammad ,was secretly having an affair with as many as six women within the Nation of Islam organization. That affaire had resulted in children. Malcolm’s heart had been broken. Since he joined the Nation of Islam, Malcolm had strictly adhered the teaching of Muhammad, which is remaining celibate until his marriage to Betty Shabazz in 1958. Mohammad asked Malcolm to cover up the affair but Malcolm refused. He was deeply hurt by the deception of Muhammad, whom he had long time considered a living prophet. Malcolm also felt guilty of bringing up a mass of people to the Nation of Islam that he now knew was a fraudulent organization built on many lies. Briefly, after his distressing discovery, Malcolm received criticism for a comment he made regarding the assassination of President John Kennedy. "[Kennedy] never foresaw that the chickens would come home to roost so soon," said Malcolm. After that statement, Elijah Muhammad prohibited Malcolm for given any speeches for ninety days. Malcolm, however; suspected that he was prohibited to give speeches for another reason. In 1964 Malcolm ended his relationship with the Nation of Islam. He decided to find his own religious way through the Muslim Mosque. During this time, Malcolm went on a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudia Arabia. that trip made a big impression in Malcolm’s life. For the first time, Malcolm shared his thoughts and beliefs with different cultures, and found the truth he had been looking for in his life. When he returned to the United States, Malcolm said, he had met "blonde-haired, blued-eyed men I could call my brother." Now Malcolm had a new outlook of integration and hope for the future. He switched his preaching, which was before direct to only African Americans, to the rest of all races. Human rights are something you were born with. Human rights are your God-given rights. Human rights are the rights that are recognized by all nations of this earth." Because of many attempts on his life, Malcolm rarely traveled without a bodyguard. In February 14,1965 Malcolm X home, located in East Elmhurst, New York, was firebombed. Luckily, Malcolm and his family were not injured. Three weeks later, Malcolm’s enemies were successful in their attacks. On February 21, 1965 three gunmen shot Malcolm X fifteen times when he was giving a speech at the Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom. The 39 years old Malcolm was pronounce dead at New York's Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Malcolm X legacy has moved throughout the time as subject of numerous documentaries, books and movies. This is the life of a man who Islam had helped find truth and inside peace. He moved from the life of drugs, prostitution, stealing and discrimination to the life of love, truth and the justice. Today, Malcolm X is seen as a hero who fought against discrimination. Another highly recognized public figure who changed his life through Islam is the famous boxer Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali’s birth name was Cassius Marcellus Clay. He was born in 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky. His parents were people of modest means. He learned boxing from a policeman at a local gym in junior high school. Ali had dreams of becoming a prize fighter in high school. Ali attracted attention when he won the Amateur Athletic Union light heavyweight and Golden Gloves heavyweight championships in 1960. During that same year at the Rome Olympics he won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division. His career was off to a great start. He turned professional and defeated Sonny Liston in seven rounds in 1964 making him the new heavyweight world champion. He defended his title nine times between 1965 and 1967. After becoming heavyweight champion, Ali changed his religion and joined the Nation of Islam and he changed his name at this time to the Muslim name "Muhammad Ali." The Vietnam War interrupted his career. In 1967, he had to join the military, but refused to serve because it was against his religious beliefs to fight. Some Americans believed Ali was great risking prison to stand up for his beliefs. Many others called him a draft dodger and traitor. The government pressed charges for violating the Selective Service Act and his titles were taken from him. He was also forbidden to box. Ali was originally convicted of draft evasion, sentenced to five years in jail, and had to pay a fine of $10,000. However, this was overturned when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that he was not guilty of draft evasion. He was allowed to continue fighting and reclaimed his title. His beliefs in Islam kept him from the horrors of fighting a war he did not believe in. The final example of a famous American who turned their life around with Islam is a modern musical performer with the stage name, Loon. He was named Chauncey Lamont Hawkins at birth and was born on, June 20, 1975 in Harlem, New York. He comes from a Christian family. He is a rapper and was part of P. Diddy’s Bad Boy Records. He has had a successful music career and made many appearances in R&B and Hip Hop songs. He left P.Diddy in 2004 and started his own label. He has also been in two feature movies. Loon has recently converted to Islam. He made his trip to Mecca and changed his name to Amir Junaid Muhadith. Before his joining Islam he was empowered by money and believed it was the key to his happiness. Since becoming Muslim he has decided to give up rapping and has found his peace in Islam that money could not buy him. The teachings of Muhammad and Islam have influenced countless people and helped change their lives. The three examples that were given are just a small glimpse into how powerful Islam can be in someone’s life. It gave Malcolm X direction and help reform his life from one of crime to one of activism and service, it saved Muhammad Ali from war and taught Loon that Money is not the most powerful force in life God is.

Reference
Esposito, John, Rajinder Garcha, Patricia Russell, and Claire Woodward. Islam. New york: Nova Science Pub Inc, 2002. 6. Print.
Nasr, Seyyed, and Claire Woodward. Books on Turkey. New york: Pandora Yay ve Bilgisayar Ltd, 2005. 46. Print.(1 46)

X, Malcolm, and Alex Haley. The autobiography of Malcolm X. New yorks: 1992, 1992. Print.
The Deen Show: Former Bad Boy Rapper Loon accepts Islam ." Web. 4 Apr 2010. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yoi0mU4hTB4
.