<p> Islam: Basic Facts</p><p>Fastest growing religion (23% of world population, 1 in 4 people on Earth are Muslim)</p><p>2 major sects- Sunnis (80-90%) and Shiites (disputes over succession of leadership)</p><p>Mohammed was a prophet and was God’s last revelation to man kind</p><p>Holy Book: Koran (or Qur’an)</p><p>“Islam” means submission to God</p><p>5 Articles of Faith:</p><p>1. Belief that Allah is the one true God</p><p>2. Belief in angels as instruments of God’s will (Mohammed allegedly received his revelation from the angel of Gabriel)</p><p>3. Belief in 4 inspired books: the Torah (5 books of Moses), the Zabur (the psalms), the Injil (the gospel) and the final revelation, the Koran. Believe Bible has been corrupted, unlike the Koran</p><p>4. Belief in the 28 prophets of Allah, Mohammed being the last and the greatest (include: Adam, Noah, Moses, David, Solomon, and Jesus) Jesus is viewed as just another prophet</p><p>5. Belief in final Day of Judgement only those who obey Allah and his prophet can enter into Heaven (possibly, if Allah will it). Only Muslims martyrs will be guaranteed heaven. All others will be sent to Hell. (Mohammed said majority of these would be women).</p><p>Believers:</p><p>1. Say the Shahada- that there is no God but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet</p><p>2. Must perform good works and they will be weighed at the end of their life. No one has any guarantee of making it unless you die in a Jihad (holy war). That is their only assurance of salvation.</p><p>5 Obligations:</p><p>1. Pray (5 times a day) and must face towards Mecca and bow face to ground</p><p>2. Fast</p><p>3. Give alms (“shakat”- 2.5% of income)</p><p>4. Recite the Shahada while praying</p><p>5. Make a pilgrimage to Holy Land at least once in their lifetime. Other facts:</p><p> Churches are called mosques</p><p> Usually meet on Fridays</p><p> Religious holiday: Ramadan, where they fast for almost an entire month. This is a celebration of Allah in which they thank him for the Koran.</p>