Islam is a monotheistic religion that originated in Arabia in the early 7th century. The word “Islam” means “submission to the will of God”.
Beliefs
- Muslims believe in one God, known as Allah in Arabic
- Muslims believe that Muhammad was the final prophet of God
- Muslims believe that the Quran is the word of God, revealed to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel
- Muslims believe that the universe is orderly and has inherent laws of behavior
- Muslims believe in a day of judgment and life after death
Practices
- Muslims pray five times a day
- Muslims attend community worship on Fridays at a mosque
- Muslims observe the Five Pillars of Islam, which include:
- Shahadah: The declaration of faith in God and Muhammad
- Salah: Prayer
- Zakat: Charity
- Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca
- Sawm: Fasting
- Muslims are expected to dress and behave modestly
Holy places The Kaaba shrine in Mecca, The Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and The Prophet Muhammad’s mosque in Medina.
Importance
- Islam is the second-largest religion in the world, with an estimated 1.9 billion followers
- Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world