Islam at a glance

Islam at a glance

The word Islam means 'submission to the will of God'.

Islam is the second largest religion in the world with over 1 billion followers. The 2001 census recorded 1,591,000 Muslims in the UK, around 2.7% of the population.

• Muslims believe that Islam was revealed over 1400 years ago in Mecca, Arabia.
• Followers of Islam are called Muslims.
• Muslims believe that there is only One God.
• The Arabic word for God is Allah.
• According to Muslims, God sent a number of prophets to mankind to teach them how to live according to His law.
• Jesus, Moses and Abraham are respected as prophets of God.
• They believe that the final Prophet was Muhammad.
• Muslims believe that Islam has always existed, but for practical purposes, date their religion from the time of the migration of Muhammad.
• Muslims base their laws on their holy book the Qur'an, and the Sunnah.
• Muslims believe the Sunnah is the practical example of Prophet Muhammad and that there are five basic Pillars of Islam.
• These pillars are the declaration of faith, praying five times a day, giving money to charity, fasting and a pilgrimage to Mecca (atleast once).