Islam is a monotheistic religion within the tradition of the Holy Scriptures. It requires obedience to God's eternal will and his absolute transcendence and to the holy word (the Qur'an) the sacred message revealed by the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). The letters p.b.u.h. abbreviate the blessing words "peace be upon him", invoked by Muslims whenever the prophet's name is spoken or written.

Based on the Holy Book, the Qur'an and Sunna, Islam is made manifest in the five Pillars (Arkan). They are:

1) Faith (Shahada): "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His Prophet."

2) Prayer (Salat): Said five times daily while kneeling and facing in the direction of Mecca.

3) Charity (Zakat): A share of each Muslim's income is given to support the poor and needy.

4) The Fast of Ramadan (Saowm): Throughout Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, the faithful fast from sunrise to sunset.

5) Pilgrimage (Hajj): The binding force of the peoples who have embraced Islam. At least once in life every able believer must go to Mecca, the Holy City of Abraham (Ibrahim, p.b.u.h).

Adherents:

Over 1.3 billion followers worldwide.

Muslim Calendar:

The Muslim's Calendar began with the Hegira (Hijra), the Exodus or Emigration in 622 AD, (Year 1 of the Muslim era), when Prophet Muhammad, persecuted in Mecca, left for Medina where he established the first Muslim community.

Islam is a term designating "submission" and "abandonment" to God (Allah). Islam teaches its followers that Adam (the father of humanity), and Abraham (the father of many nations), along with Jesus and Moses, they were all Muslims. The religion took its name from the Holy Qu'ran.

Muslims believe Islam is a continuation of Christianity and Judaism, therefore, they believe the Apostle of God, Muhammad (PBUH), was the last of the line of Prophets beginning with Adam and continuing through Noah, Abraham (Ibrahim), Moses (Musa), Lot, David, Solomon, Jonah, Elijah, Job, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, John and Jesus (Isa).

Islam's Holy Book:

• The Holy Qur'an (Koran) - God' words and revelation to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

Other Major Sources:

• The Sunna (Collections of Hadith or traditional Islamic Laws).

• Ahlo Al-byte - The descendants family of the prophet..

Schools of Thoughts in Islam:

There are three (3) schools of thoughts in Islam, divided into three branches:

The Sunnis, The Shi'ites, and The Ibrahimi Branch of Islam.

• The Sunnis are divided into four schools: Hanafites, Shafi'ites, Hanabalites and, Malakites;

• The Shi'ites who believe the succession of the prophet must be within the descendants of Prophet's Mohammed family, represented by the 4th Caliph, Imam Ali's family (AS); and

• The Ibrahimi branch combines both the Sunni and Shi'ites traditions in one sect. The followers of the Ibrahimi branch practice Islam according to the Ibrahimi school of thought, which combines the practices of all of Islam' sects.

Islam teaches absolute monotheism and prophet Muhammad's primacy as God's last Prophet on earth. Stress is on: the brotherhood of believers; no difference between religious and secular life; no difference between black and white person, all human kinds are equal before God; obedience to God's Law; abstinence from alcohol; and practicing good conduct.

Today, Islam is the world's fastest-growing religion.

Islam's holy cities are, in order of importance, Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. In Mecca, the Ka'aba (House of God), Muslims face Ka'aba during their daily prayers. In Medina, the resting place of Prophet Muhammed, Muslims from all walks of life visit Medina on a daily basis. In Jerusalem, the rock under the Dome of the Rock symbolizes the center of the world in Muslim geography and the place from which Muhammad (pbuh) ascended to Heaven.

How Do I Become A Muslim?

To become a Muslim, you need to strongly believe, confess, and declare that there is no God but God**, and Muhammed is the Messenger of God.