Islam is one of the most important religions in the world. Indeed, more than one-billion people identify themselves with Islam. That means that about one out of every five people in the world is a Muslim (follower of Islam). After Asia, Africa is home to the next largest group of Muslims. More recently, Islam has spread into Western Europe and North America. In fact, Islam is the fastest growing religion in France and Germany.
Islam was founded in what is today the country of Saudi Arabia in 610 C.E. (Common Era). According to Islamic tradition, Gabriel, an angel sent by Allah (God), appeared to the Prophet Muhammad. Through many revelations, Gabriel revealed to Mohammed that what Islam teaches is the last of Allah’s revelations to human beings. The collection of these revelations is written in the Qur’an, the holy book of Islam.
Islam teaches that throughout history, the word of Allah was revealed through important prophets. The first great prophet was Adam – held by Christians and Jews, as well as Muslims, to be the first human created by God. Abraham, Moses, Elijah and Jesus are also considered by Islam to be important prophets. However, while Muslims hold these Jewish and Christian prophets in highest esteem, they believe that Allah chose Muhammad to be the last and greatest of God’s prophets. As such, God’s revelations and guidelines contained in the Qur’an are God’s final, direct words to humankind.
In Arabic, the language of Muhammad, Islam means ‘to surrender” or ‘to submit” to the will of Allah. The Qur’an is full of directions on how people should live. Fairness and economic justice are central teachings in the Qur’an.
Islam has a rich and detailed theology. Five major teachings, or pillars, provide the central tenets of the Islamic faith:
1. The basic creed of Islam states ‘There is no God but Allah, and Mohammad is the prophet of Allah.” This is a central belief of monotheistic religions – there is only one supreme God.
2. Muslims are called upon to practice two types of prayer. One type is personal prayer of devotion or special request. These prayers can be made at any time, and special rituals or formulas do not govern them.
The second type of prayer is ritual prayer, done as a communal activity, with specific words and kneeling in the direction of the holy city of Mecca. These prayers are offered five times a day: at sunrise, midday, mid-afternoon, sunset, and before going to bed. At each Mosque (holy meeting place), the imam (the prayer leader) calls the congregation to prayer. Before any of the five daily prayers, Muslims ceremonially wash their face, hands and feet, cleansing themselves before approaching God.
3. Hajj means a pilgrimage to Mecca, which is performed in accordance with Allah’s commandment in the Qur’an. It is a duty, at least once in a lifetime for all who are able – physically and financially – to embark on the pilgrimage.
4. The Qur’an teaches the importance of fasting. Fasting, it is thought, helps people to focus on God by taking their minds off material needs, the most important of which is food. So important is fasting to the Islamic religion that one month each year, the month of Ramadan, is set aside for fasting. During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset. Small children, pregnant women and people who are ill are not expected to practice the fast.
5. Islam teaches that Muslims are responsible for the well-being of all people. Islam strongly encourages Muslims to share with the less fortunate. This obligatory contribution is called the Zakat.