RELIGION-INFO.COM

A Guide to Religions, Religious Information and Help in Search for God

Islam (Islamism)

The religion of Islam has an estimated 700,000,000 to 1,200,000,000 followers or Islamists or Muslims. (Based on an estimated world population 6,409,765,942 by the United States Census Bureau for 1/1/2005, that is 10.92% to 18.72% of all people, making Islam is the second largest religion behind Christianity.) Islam was founded by the prophet Muhammad (or Mohammed, who was born in 570 A.D.) in Arab territory (or region that is now Saudi Arabia) between 610 and 622 A.D..

Islam is one of four religions that recognize Abraham as a Patriarch. The others are Bahá'í, Christianity and Judaism. Muslims regard Abraham as founder of Arab peoples through his son Ishmael (whose mother was the servant Hagar).

The foundation scriptures of the religion of Islam include:

The Holy Qur'an (or Holy Koran), which was dictated by the angel Gabriel to Muhammad over a period of 23 years. Muslims believe in angels, who worship God alone.

The Hadith (a.k.a. The Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad -or- Sayings and Actions of Muhammad) This material is separate from the Koran.



Islam is a strict monotheistic religion, having only Allah (or God in Arabic) and Allah is/was never a human being. Muslims must worship and be obedient to Allah only. There is no Son of God, Holy Spirit or any other deities. However, Muslims revere prophets (and messengers of God) and consider Jesus Christ to have been one, as well as Muhammad.

Those who repent and sincerely "submit" (which is the literal meaning of "Islam") to Allah attain salvation. The forgiven enter Paradise, while the wicked burn in Hell.

As Christianity is divided into three main divisions (Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox and Protestant), so is Islam. The three main Islamic divisions are Shi'ite, Sunni and Sufi. Sufi is a mystical tradition.

The symbol used in the religion of Islam is the Star and Crescent. Each year, millions of Muslims from around the world gather in Mecca, Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage called Hajj.

HOME