What is Islam?

Islam is not a new religion, but the same truth that God revealed through all his Prophets to every people. For a fifth of the world’s population, Islam is both, a religion and a complete way of life. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the majority has nothing to do with the extremely grave events, which has been associated with their faith.

What does ‘Islam’ mean?

The Arabic world ‘Islam’ simply means ‘submission’, and derives from a word meaning ‘peace’. In a religious context it means complete submission to the will of God.

‘Mohammedanism' is thus a misnomer because it suggests that Muslims worship Muhammad (peace be upon him) rather than God. ‘Allah’ is the Arabic name for God, which is used by Arab Muslims and Christians alike. Therefore, Muslims only worship Allah.

Why does Islam often seem strange?

Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because religion does not dominate every day life in the west today, whereas Muslims have religion always uppermost in their minds, and make no division between secular and sacred. They believe that the divine law, the Shari’a (Quran and Hadith), should be taken very seriously, which is why issues related to religion are still so important.

How much amount of Muslims exist?

One billion people from a vast range of race, nationalities and cultures across the globe - from the southern Philippines to Nigeria-are united by their common Islamic faith. About 18% live in the Arab world; the world’s largest Muslim community is in Indonesia; substantial part of Asia and most of Africa are Muslim, while significant minorities are to be found in the Soviet Union, China, North and South America, and Europe.

What do Muslims believe?

Muslim believe in one, unique, incomparable God; in the angles created by Him; in the Prophets through whom His revelations were brought to mankind; in the day of judgment and individual accountability for actions; in God’s complete authority over human destiny and in life after death. Muslims believe in a chain of Prophets starting from Adam, including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesus, peace be upon them. But God’s final message to man, reconfirmation of the eternal message and a summing-up of all that has gone before was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through Gabriel.

How does some one become a Muslim?

Simply by declaring ‘there is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of God’. By this declaration the believer announces his or her faith in all God’s messengers, and the scriptures they brought.