"Righteous is he who believes in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Scriptures and the Prophets." -- Qur'an 2:177 Islam

Origins According to Muslim belief, the angel Gabriel appeared to Muhammad, a camel driver, in a mountain cave and delivered a message from Allah (God).

Origins Islam was started by Muhammad in 622 CE in Saudi Arabia. After being visited by the angel, Muhammad dedicated the remainder of his life to spreading a message of Islam (a monotheistic religion) in a polytheistic world. His life's work is recorded in the Qur'an, the sacred text of Islam.

Adherents Islam is the second largest religion in the world and has approximately 1.3 billion followers worldwide (Sunni: 940 million). The followers of Islam are called Muslims.

Views Islam is a monotheistic religion. The Muslim name for God is Allah. Written in Arabic, it looks like this.

Life’s Purpose Humans must submit (Islam) to the will of God to gain Paradise after death.

Afterlife Paradise or Hell.

General Practices The word "Islam" means "submission," reflecting the religion's central tenet of submitting to the will of God. Islamic practices center on the Five Pillars of Islam.

First Pillar: Statement of Faith "There is no god but (one) God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God". Muslims believe that Allah is the same deity as God of Christians and Jews.

Second Pillar: Praying Five Times a Day

Third Pillar: Yearly Donation to Charity

Forth Pillar: Fasting during Ramadan Muslims traditionally break their fasts in Ramadan with dates (like those offered by this date seller in Kuwait City), as was the practice of Muhammad.

Fifth Pillar: Hajj – a pilgrimage to Mecca Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so is obliged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime

Holy Text(s) Qur'an (Scripture) Hadith (tradition)