Understanding Islam: A Journey To Its Teachings

Description of Islam

Islam is a monotheistic Abrahamic religion founded on the belief in one God (Allah in Arabic). Its core message, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad over 1,400 years ago, is a continuation and finalization of the same essential truth revealed to previous prophets, including Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.

Muslims live by a comprehensive way of life outlined in two primary sources:

The Qur'an: The verbatim word of God, believed to be the final divine revelation to humanity.
The Sunnah: The teachings, actions, and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, which provide a practical example of how to implement the Qur'an's guidance.
The Five Pillars of Islam form the fundamental framework of a Muslim's faith and practice:

Shahada (Faith): Declaring there is no god but God, and Muhammad is His messenger.
Salah (Prayer): Performing the five daily ritual prayers.
Zakat (Charity): Giving a portion of one's wealth to those in need.
Sawm (Fasting): Fasting during the daylight hours of the month of Ramadan.
Hajj (Pilgrimage): Undertaking a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime, if physically and financially able.
Islam emphasizes peace, submission to God's will, compassion, justice, and the importance of knowledge. With over 1.8 billion followers, it is one of the world's major religions, encompassing a diverse global community of many cultures and ethnicities.