Is Islam the oldest religion on earth?

Answer 1

Islamic Perspective

Islam is not a new religion founded by Prophet Muhammad. He did not create it from his heart. He donot do for fame, wealth or power. He preached life after death. He told about heaven and hell and what Creator of human & universe wants. When you read Quran you will find that Allah tells "Muhammed does not tells you anything like that, but he tells only what I want". Islam is the same way of life practiced and preached by all the Prophets of The Allah (The Almighty) right from Adam, Noah, Abraham, Daud, Suleimaan, Musa, Isa (peace be on them all). The last and final Prophet of The Allah (The Almighty) who came to preach this way of life called Islam is Prophet Muhammad.

Actually many people are confused about the Muslim religion. Religion of Muslims is the most oldest as well as the youngest religion on earth, because firstly it religion which teaches the law of only Almighty of the whole Universe & what HE wants. Secondly, The Almighty ALLAH sent HIS messengers /prophets in phases. According to Islamic scholars in Mecca & Medina there are around 1,25,000 messenger/ prophets send by ALLAH. All prophets are male and are Muslim. All have same objective of preaching is Laailahaillallah which means (There is no God except ALLAH) and he himself is the prophet. Each prophet has their own followers, civilization, tradition & culture blessed by ALLAH in the form of Holy Books or writings or the commands to which the followers accept and do. But every Holy Books or writings or commands (except Quran) was either changed or extinguished by the manipulation or disobedience of people towards Allah. The first prophet of Muslim religion send by ALLAH was prophet Adam. After him, his followers practiced the religion as he told but after some years it began to extinguish; then ALLAH send the second prophet of Muslim religion to continue his laws on earth. After the second prophet his followers practiced religion as he told but after some years it again began to extinguish; then ALLAH send the third prophet, like this way the prophet line continued up to the last Prophet Muhammad. If you read Quran then you will find that Religion of Prophet Adam is same as Religion of Prophet Nuh is same as Religion of Prophet Ibrahim is same as Religion of Prophet Isa is same as Religion of Prophet Muhammed. They were all Muslims.

According to Islamic scholar's Prophet Muhammad is the leader of all Prophets & present world is known as Muhammadan age. And the Muhammadan Islam is some 1400 yrs old. But if, we calculate the every age of Muslim religion then it will be more than 1000000 (one million) yrs old. Every prophet who came to earth told their followers about the Last Prophet of Allah (The Prophet Muhammad). Even if in Veda, Bible and other religious books you will find the name of Prophet Muhammad. Prophet Muhammad was in fear about the extinguishment or changes of originality of Holy book of Almighty Allah, The Quran by the people because, there is no prophet coming to earth after him. But ALLAH consoled him that HE HIMSELF has taken the responsibility & security of Quran up to the end of the universe. After Prophet Muhammad the prophet's lines ends & the khilafat line started who till now preach Islam & it will continue up to the end of universe.

Secular Perspective

Islam is neither the oldest nor the youngest religion on earth; it is one of hundreds, if not thousands of religions. Religion is a set of practices having to do with devotion to a particular faith or to the observance of worship of the deity acknowledged by that faith. To say that there were no such practices prior to or after the revelation of Islam is blatantly inaccurate and it confuses some basic ideas. Muslims naturally consider their religion to be the one and only true religion, and from their specific point of view they could reasonably argue that other religions exist but are not genuine. Even if Muslims make the argument that from the beginning the entire world and all of its contents (including all people) were and remain under Islam, the religion or practice of Islam in fact did not exist until Muhammad brought it to light. Islam bears many similarities to several other world religions. See related question for more information.

Islam as the modern religion based on Qur'anic Revelation came out of 7th Century Arabia. There have been more modern religions such as Mormonism and Scientology in the West that are less than 200 years old. There are also Middle Eastern religions such as Druze and Baha'i that are younger than Islam. However, there are numerous religions that are older than Islam including, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Shintoism, and Shamanism.