Islam is the worlds

youngest religion,
originating around the
600 A.D.

Muhammad was a young

businessman who often
led people in Mecca to
pray. It was said that one
day Muhammad heard a
voice and thought it was
an angel. It ordered him
to tell about Allah, which
means God in Arabic.

Over the next 22 years,

Muhammad claimed he received
hundreds of messages. These
messages were written down or
memorized. When Muhammad
died, his followers put together
a book of his messages he had
received called the Quran.

The first
message was
that there was
only one God.

The second
belief was the
belief in
Angels.

The third message

Muhammad received
was that people should
believe in the books of
God. These books
included the Quran given
to Muhammad, the Torah
given to Moses, and the
Gospels given to Jesus.

The Fourth message Muhammad

received was that his people
should believe in Prophets or
messengers of God. Muslims
believe that Gods guidance
has been revealed to mankind
through specially appointed
messengers or prophets
throughout history.

The fifth message was that

people should believe in
the Day of Judgment.
Muslims believe that on the
Day of Judgment humans
will be judged for their
actions in this life. Those
who follow Gods guidance
will be rewarded and those
who dont will be punished.

The sixth is the belief in the

Divine Decree. This item of
faith addresses the
question of Gods will. This
means that whatever
happens in ones life is
already decided and
predestined.

The followers of
Islam called
Muslims.
According to their
religion, they are
supposed to
follow five rules
know as the Five
Pillars of Islam.

Muslims worship in a mosque.

There are no pictures or
statues in a mosque. They are
decorated with patterns and
words from the Quran.

There is also very little furniture inside

because Muslims use prayer mats for
prayer. When people go into the
mosque, they take off their shoes.
This is to keep it clean for prayer.
Men do not pray in the same place as
women, there is usually a screened
off area for them.

As of 2009, there were over 1.5

billion Muslims in the world.
There almost 7 billion people
in the world at that time all
together.

Shahadah
The declaration that
there is only one God,
and Muhammad is
the messenger.

Prayer or Salat
The
performance of
ritual prayer
five times a
day towards
Mecca

Charity or the Zakat

Muslims are required
to give to the poor
or needy. It is based
on 2 % of ones
income or wealth.

Fasting or
Sawm
Muslims are required to
fast from dawn to sunset
during the month of
Ramadan (September).

Pilgrimage or
Hajj
Every Muslim is required to
make the pilgrimage to Mecca,
in Saudi Arabia, at least once in
their lifetime if they are
financially and physically able.