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Islam Religion
Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity. With more than one billion followers worldwide, there are many different Islamic groups, all united by their faith. Muslims believe that there is one God, Allah. The Holy Qu'ran is the scripture of Islam. The two main groups of Islam are the Sunni and Shi'a.
Islam History
History of Islam
According to Islam, God sent prophets like Jesus, Moses, and Abraham, to teach humans to follow His law. Muslims believe that revelations were made through all these prophets, but that Muhammad made the final absolute revelation which marks the official rise of Islam in the 7th century AD. Therefore, the last Prophet was Muhammad. He was born in 570 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. One night in 610 as he was meditating in a cave on Mount Hira, the angel Jibreel appeared to him and Muhammad began reciting what he believed were the words of God. This occurred throughout his life. The words were eventually recorded into the Qu'ran. Muhammad began preaching God’s words. In 622, Muhammad took his people and migrated to Medina, because officials in Mecca were angry. The journey is called the Hijra, or pilgrimage. It marks the Muslim New Year. A few years later, Muhammad with an astonishing number of followers returned to Mecca and conquered it. He was revered as the final Prophet. He died in 632.
Islamic Beliefs
The six main Muslim beliefs include believing in Allah (as the only God), in angels, in the holy books of Islam, in the prophets and Muhammad as the final prophet, in the Day of Judgment, and in predestination decided by Allah. The Sharia is set of rules that guide Muslim life. It combines concepts taken from the Qur'an, the Hadith (teachings of Muhammad) and fatwas (ideas of Islamic scholars). Some of the concepts in the Sharia refer to severe punishments like stoning to death. Therefore, some other religions often view the Sharia as being primitive. Muslims, however, regard the Sharia as a source of guidance. In Islam, meat can only be eaten if the animal is killed in a certain way, since all animals are created by Allah. Muslims believe that Allah decides life, and so they oppose euthanasia and suicide. Islam accepts the concept of jihad or holy war.
Islamic Customs
Muslims must follow the Five Pillars of Islam, in order to live good lives and prove their devotion to their religion. The Five Pillars are: the sincere declaration of Muslim faith, praying properly five times a day, giving a donation to help those in need, going on a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once, and fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. Marking the end of Ramadan and the fasting is the Eid el Fitr festival. Other notable Muslim customs include baby rites. When a child is born, the first thing he or she should hear is the Muslim call to prayer. As in Hinduism, seven days after birth Islam requires the child’s head be shaved as a sign that the child serves God. by typesofreligion.com
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