Kaaba in Mecca during Hajj

Islam

• The word Islam means "submission", or the total surrender of oneself to God (Allah)

• Muslims believe that God revealed the Qur’an to Muhammad, God’s final prophet

• Muhammad is given the title ‘Seal of the Prophets,’ interpreted to mean that he is god’s last prophet after the Jewish and Christian prophets, and he is the restorer of the monotheistic faith.

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

Spread of Islam

•     Expansion under Muhammad, 622-632 •     Expansion during the Rashidun Caliphate, 632-661•     Expansion during the Umayyad Caliphate, 661-750

Five Pillars

•Shahadah – profession of faith -‘There is no god but God and Muhammad is the messenger of God.’

•Salah or Salat – prayer five times a day facing Mecca•Zakat or alms giving – charitable giving to those in need based

wealth.•Sawm or ritual fasting during the month of Ramadan

•Hajj - Every able Muslim should make the pilgrimage to Mecca

Taj Mahal, India

Modern Islam

• Between 1 billion and 1.8 billion people practice Islam

• There are two main denominations – Sunni and Shi’a

• About 85% of Muslims follow the Sunni denomination

• Only about 15% of Muslims are Shi’a, but they form the majority of the population of Iran and Iraq.

World Muslim Populations

People performing Salat

Masjid-al-haram, Mecca