ISLAM

Outline Islam is a monotheistic Abrahamic religion originating with the teachings of Muhammad, a 7th century Arab political figure. The adherent of Islam is known as a Muslim, meaning "one who submits to God)". There are between 1.2 billion to 1.8 billion Muslims, making Islam the second-largest religion in the world after Christianity. Muslims believe that God revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad, God's final prophet, and regard the Qur'an and the Sunnah (words of Muhammad) as the fundamental sources of Islam. They do not regard Muhammad as the founder of a new religion.

Adherents are generally required to observe the Five Pillars of Islam, which are five duties that unite Muslims into a community. Islam is the predominant religion throughout the Middle East, as well as in parts of Africa and Asia. Large communities are also found in China, the Balkan Peninsula in Eastern Europe and Russia.

Articles of faith The Qur'an states that all Muslims must believe in God, his revelations, his angels, his messengers, and in the "Day of Judgment". Muslims believe that God revealed his final message to humanity through the Islamic prophet Muhammad via the angel Gabriel. For them, Muhammad was God's final prophet and the Qur'an is the revelations he received over more than two decades. The Qur'an mentions the names of numerous figures considered prophets in Islam, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, among others.

Qur'an Muslims consider the Qur'an to be the literal word of God Muslims believe that the verses of the Qur'an were revealed to Muhammad by God through the angel Gabriel The word Qur'an means "recitation". Angels The Arabic word for Angels (malak) means "messenger"

Muhammad He was an Arab religious, political, and military leader who founded the religion of Islam. Muhammad preached to the people of Mecca, imploring them to abandon polytheism. After 13 years of preaching, Muhammad and the Muslims performed the Hijra ("emigration") to the city of Medina. By 629 Muhammad was victorious in the nearly bloodless Conquest of Mecca, and by the time of his death in 632 he ruled over the Arabian peninsula.

Resurrection and judgment Belief in the "Day of Resurrection", is also crucial for Muslims. They believe that the time of this day is preordained by God but unknown to man. Predestination God has full knowledge and control over all that occurs. This is explained in Qur'anic verses such as "Say: 'Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us: „He is our protector'…"

The Five Pillars of Islam Duties and practices The Five Pillars of Islam The shahadah which is the basic creed or tenet of Islam says that "I testify that there is none worthy of worship except God and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God." Salah, or ritual prayer, which must be performed five times a day. Each salah is done facing towards the Kaaba in Mecca. Salah is intended to focus the mind on God, and is seen as a personal communication with. Zakat, or alms-giving. This is the practice of giving based on accumulated wealth, and is obligatory for all Muslims who can afford it. A fixed portion is spent to help the poor or needy, and also to assist the spread of Islam.

Sawm, or fasting during the month of Ramadan Sawm, or fasting during the month of Ramadan. Muslims must not eat or drink (among other things) from dawn to dusk during this month, and must be mindful of other sins. The fast is to encourage a feeling of nearness to God, and during it Muslims should express their gratitude for and dependence on him. The Hajj, which is the pilgrimage during the Islamic month in the city of Mecca. Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it must make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime.

Law • Islamic law covers all aspects of life, from matters of state, like governance and foreign relations, to issues of daily living. Religion and state Islamic law does not distinguish between "matters of church" and "matters of state”.

Etiquette and diet Jihad This includes greeting others with "as-salamu `alaykum" ("peace be into you"), saying bismillah ("in the name of God") before meals, and using only the right hand for eating and drinking. Jihad Jihad means "to strive or struggle," (..in the way of God) and is considered the "sixth pillar of Islam" by a minority of Muslim authorities. Depending on the object being a visible enemy, the devil, and aspects of one's own self, different categories of Jihad are defined.

Community Demographics Commonly cited estimates of the Muslim population in 2007 range from 1 billion to 1.8 billion. Approximately 85% are Sunni and 15% are Shi'a, with a small minority belonging to other sects. South Asia and Southeast Asia contain the most populous Muslim countries, with Indonesia, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

Mosques A mosque is a place of worship for Muslims, who often refer to it by its Arabic name, masjid. Family life The basic unit of Islamic society is the family. The father is seen as financially responsible for his family, and is obliged to cater for their well-being.

Calendar The formal beginning of the Muslim era was chosen to be the Hijra in 622 CE, which was an important turning point in Muhammad's fortunes. It is a lunar calendar, with nineteen ordinary years of 354 days and eleven leap years of 355 days in a thirty-year cycle. Islamic dates cannot be converted to CE/AD dates simply by adding 622 years.