Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Beliefs Practices
Beliefs Practices
Islam is partially based on the Judeo-Christian religions. It has a monotheistic (belief in one
God) message, and follows some of the same principles as Christianity and Judaism.
The followers of Islam, Muslims, believe in one God, Allah, and believe Muhammad was his
prophet. They also believe Adam, of the Bible's Old Testament, was the first prophet.
Other prophets include Abraham, Moses, Noah, David and Jesus.
There are five "Pillars of Islam" that Muslims follow:
- The Shahadah - A statement of faith all Muslims recite at least one time in their lives.
- The Salat or Salah - A daily ritual prayer of faith done five times a day.
- Zakat - a tax paid to benefit the poor or those in need.
- Sawm - a fast done during the month of Ramadan.
- Hajj - a pilgrimage every Muslim must do at least once in his/her life, if he or she can afford
it, to the Holy city of Mecca, in modern-day Saudi Arabia. The pilgrimage begins on the
seventh or eighth day of the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar, and ends on the 12th
day of that same month.
The Kaaba is the shrine located in Mecca, which is visited during the pilgrimage (or Hajj). It
is the most holy place for Muslims.
Two other main holy places are the Prophet Muhammad's mosque in the city of Medina in
Saudi Arabia, and "Al-Aqsa" mosque in Jerusalem.
Muslims believe the Quran is the divine words or revelations on which they base their faith.
Muslims believe the Angel Gabriel delivered the ideas in the Quran to Muhammad.
There are 114 chapters in the Quran.
The Hadith is a collection of the traditions and sayings of Muhammad, also used to frame the
Muslim way of life and beliefs.
(Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/12/world/islam-fast-facts/index.html)