Islam

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica Facts Also Known As Al-Islām Did You Know? • Islam is the second most practiced religion globally. • One year in the Islamic calendar is based on lunar cycles and lasts around 355 days. • Consumption of alcohol and pork is forbidden in Islamic tradition. Photos and Videos

Islam, Major world religion founded by ce. The Arabic word islam means “surrender”—specifically, surrender to the will of the one God, called The religious obligations of all Muslims are summed up in the Five Pillars of Islam, which include belief in God and his Prophet and obligations of prayer, charity, pilgrimage, and fasting. The fundamental concept of Islam is the Divisions occurred early in Islam, brought about by disputes over the succession to the Related Article Summaries

Muhammad began preaching the oneness of As he reached his late thirties, he began worshipping in seclusion, in a cave called Hira, in the mountain Jabal al-Nour (“Mountain of Light”), near Mecca. One day in 610 CE, the Angel Gabriel is said to have approached him with the first revelation from God – Allah (meaning “the God”). Muhammad is said to have initially reacted negatively to the revelation – he was perplexed and scared, he ran back home, shivering with fear – but later on he realized that he was a prophet of God. User Nazli (Public Domain)Help came in 621 CE, however, when some citizens of Yathrib (later known as Medina), who had accepted Islam, invited the Prophet and his companions to come to their hegira, which marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar) and went to Yathrib. The city admired his teachings and wanted the Prophet to act as the ruler of the city and to manage its affairs. Muhammad encouraged his followers in Mecca to migrate to Yathrib, and they did so in batches. After most of his companions had left, he migrated with a trusted friend of his (and future father-in- With their newfound base, the Muslims now wanted to strike back against those who had persecuted them. The Muslims started conducting regular raids or “Razzias” on Meccan trade caravans. These raids were technically an act of After the victory at Badr, the Muslims became more than just a group of followers of a new religion, they became a military force to be reckoned with. Multiple engag...

The term Islam derives from the three-letter Arabic root, S (س)- L (ل)- M (م), which generates words with interrelated meanings, including “surrender”, “submission”, “commitment” and “peace”. Commonly, Islam refers to the monotheistic religion revealed to Muhammad ibn (son of) Abdullah between 610 and 632 of the Common Era. The name Islam was instituted by the Qur’an, the sacred scripture revealed to Muhammad. For believers, Islam is not a new religion. Rather, it represents the last reiteration of the primordial message of God’s Oneness, a theme found in earlier monotheistic religious traditions. Though Islam can be described as a religion, it is viewed by its adherents – a fifth of the world’s population – in much broader terms. Beyond belief in specific doctrines and performance of important ritual acts, Islam is practiced as a complete and natural way of life, designed to bring God into the center of one’s consciousness, and thus one’s life. Essentially, by definition Islam is a world view focused on belief in the One God and commitment to His commandments. What is the Essence of Islam? Prophet Muhammad mentioned in a narrative the best summary of the core of Islam as follows: “Submission means that you should bear witness that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is God's messenger, that you should perform the ritual prayer, pay the alms tax, fast during Ramadan, and make the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to go there." "Faith means that you have faith i...

Muslims believe that Islam was revealed over 1,400 years ago in Mekkah, Arabia through a man called Muhammad. Muhammad is so respected that it is usual for Muslims to say 'peace be upon him' whenever they mention his name. Muhammad is believed by Muslims to be the last prophet sent by God (Allah). They believe God sent prophets to mankind to teach them how to live according to His law. Jesus (Isa), Moses (Musa) and Abraham (Ibrahim) are other respected prophets. Five Pillars of Islam The Five Pillars of Islam are an important part of Muslim life. They are five things that a Muslim must do so they can live a good and responsible life. They include: • The declaration of faith (Shahada) • Praying five times a day (Salat) • Giving money to charity (Zakah) • Fasting during the month of Ramadan (Sawm) • A pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in a lifetime (Hajj) Makkah Makkah is the holiest city in Islam. It is Muhammad’s birthplace and also the place the Qur'an was revealed. Hajj is a huge yearly pilgrimage to Makkah, attracting several million Muslims from all over the world. All Muslims (as long as they are healthy and able to travel) try to do Hajj at least once in their life. 3 of 5

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