New to Islam?

Origins
Islam was revealed to humanity through the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) during the 7th CE, in Arabia, and spread rapidly through the Middle East.

Although Islam was not fully revealed to us until the 7th century, Muslims believe that it has always existed.
Everything belongs to God
The word "Islam" means submission to Allah (God), and Muslims believe that everything in life should be at the service of Allah.

As a result, Muslims find it hard to accept the distinction that Western cultures make between a person’s religious life and the rest of their life.

Muslims think such a distinction is entirely wrong. They believe that not only individuals, but also the institutions of society should serve Allah.

Muslims submit to Allah by obeying his commands, and by living their whole lives in a way that is pleasing to Allah.

Muslims combine faith and action in everything they do: they regard belief on its own, or good deeds on their own, as pointless.

The 5 Pillars of Islam
These are the five obligations that every Muslim must satisfy in order to live a good and responsible life according to Islam.

Scripture
The Islamic scripture is the Holy Qur'an.
Muslims believe that the Qur'an was revealed to humanity by God through the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

They believe the Qur'an is a perfect copy of a text that exists eternally in heaven.

Worship
The place for communal Muslim worship is called a Mosque.
Muslims are required to pray 5 times a day, and although this need not be at a mosque, it must be done according to precisely laid down rules.

Muslims do not regard this requirement for ritual prayer as in any way burdensome, but rejoice in the opportunity to do God's bidding.
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Muslim Groupings
There are several different groups of Muslims, but all of them, in every country and community, regard their faith as a bond between them, and as a major part of their identity.

The largest Muslim group consists of Sunni Muslims who make up 90% of the world's Muslims.

The other main group is the Shi'ite Muslims, who are particularly strong in Iran.

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