 Followers of the religion of Islam.

 Mohammed: the Arab prophet who, according to Islam, was the last messenger of Allah ( ).  Mohammed is revered by Muslims and any image of the prophet is considered blasphemy.

 The name of God among Muslims (and Arab Christians)

 The sacred writings of Islam revealed by God to the prophet Muhammad during his life at Mecca and Medina.  Not written down by Muhammad  Muslims believe the Qu’ran is the actual word of God (Allah) (word for word).

 Mecca: A city of western Saudi Arabia near the coast of the Red Sea. The birthplace of Muhammad, it is the holiest city of Islam and a pilgrimage site for all devout believers of the faith. Population: 1,290,000  Medina: A city of western Saudi Arabia north of Mecca. The Mosque of the Prophet, containing Muhammad's tomb, is a holy site for Muslim pilgrims. Population: 918,000

 Five duties incumbent on every Muslim. The first is the profession of faith in the one God and in Muhammad as his Prophet. The others are prayer five times a day, the giving of alms to the poor, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and the hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca.

 1. (among Muslims) A war or struggle against unbelievers.  2. The spiritual struggle within oneself against sin.

 Sunni and Shia Islam are the two major denominations of Islam.  Groups have arguments with each other. The current conflict in Syria revolves around Sunni/Shia differences.

 1 : the prayer leader of a mosque  2 : a Muslim leader of the line of Ali held by Shiites to be the divinely appointed, sinless, infallible successors of Muhammad  3 : any of various rulers that claim descent from Muhammad and exercise spiritual and temporal leadership over a Muslim region