Islam is one of the three major religions (along with Judaism and Christianity) that believe in a single God; this God is named Allah, the Arabic word for “the God”. Allah refers to the same entity that Jews and Christians worship, and much of the doctrine is the same (for instance, the belief of placement in heaven or hell according to one’s actions on earth). The Arabic word Islam means “submission”; this religion’s use of the term results from their belief that humanity should make Islam to God. Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world and has over 1.1 billion adherents in a world of 6.2 billion people.

In the early 7th century, a prophet named Mohammed began teaching this fiercely monotheistic religion in Arabia. He taught that God had sent various laws for living through the previous prophets, and that he, Mohammed, was the last and most important prophet. Mohammed taught that the Qur’an (also known as the Koran) was the culmination of these laws.

The Qur’an is believed by Muslims (the people who adhere to Islamic teachings) to be the literal word of God, revealed by Allah to Mohammed in its faultless Arabic form. The Qur’an is the last and most perfect of the revelations brought from God through the prophets, but Muslims also read the Hebrew Bible and the Christian New Testament and thus respect Jews and Christians as “People of the Book”. Muslims believe that the Hebrew and Christian Bibles have, however, been distorted over time and human interpretation, whereas God will always keep the Qur’an free from perversion. Muslims do not believe in Jesus the Christ, but rather think of him as a prophet who was sent by God to keep humanity on the right track, as Moses, David, and 22 other prophets specifically listed in the Qur’an did. (Jesus as the Messiah is an example of an adulteration that Muslims believe Christians have introduced into the scriptures.)

Muslims believe that many prophets came through the ages from God, as an act of mercy. Prophets keep humans “on track” and able to know of and worship God. Without the prophets, Muslims believe, on the Day of Judgement their unconditionally just God could not hold them responsible for their actions against him, as humanity could not have known the difference between good and evil as it acted. As prophets have been sent, however, we must act according to what the prophets declare God wants. The detailed Islamic law prescribes the actions that God wants from his people.

The prophet Mohammed is seen as a model human being by Muslims, and his life is the pattern that Muslims try to follow. Mohammed’s closest followers, and then others who perhaps had never known him, collected and wrote down the stories of Mohammed’s life and actions; these became known as the hadith. After many years of weeding out the fabricated reports included in these books, six collections of hadith became recognized as standard, and these are studied today by Muslims across the world. Muslims believe that if one lives as Mohammed did, one will lead a pious and meaningful life.

The Sunni and Shi'a Sects

There are two Muslim sects (the Sunni and Shi’a), but it is important to note that every sect recognizes the other as also having validity in the Islamic world. The Shi’a originally began as an Islamic political group, but evolved to have their own doctrine and practices. The orthodox sect of Shi’ah believe that the only legitimate leadership belongs to an infallible and sinless group of people originating with Ali, Mohammed’s cousin and son-in-law, and extending to 12 leaders in the Shi’a community. (It is held by the Shi’ah that Mohammed designated Ali as his successor in a sermon.) These leaders are believed to have had an esoteric knowledge of the meaning of Qur’an scripture, passed down through the ages. The last leader disappeared in the 9th century, and Shi’a Muslims await his return at the end of the world, when they believe justice will be re-instituted.

Shi’a Muslims are in the minority of worldwide Islam; however, in some countries (most notably Iran), they have the majority. It is Shi’ah practices that flavor the media’s concepts of Islam -- the concepts that then pass on to everyone within reach of the media. For instance, the self-flagellation seen on news bulletins is a yearly expression of dismay over the martyrdom of two of the original leaders that the Shi’ah hold so dear, and Iran’s “Islamic revolution” that so frightened people in the West years ago is a product of both Shi’a Islam and a certain social climate prevalent during that time in Iran.

On the other hand, Sunni Muslims believe that leadership belongs to the entire Islamic community, and Sunnites keep religious and political leadership separate (however there is not, and there never has been, an Islamic priesthood). The Sunni generally are considered orthodox Muslims and make up the majority of Muslims throughout the world. They accommodate minor theological differences and assert the opinion of the majority of the community in affairs involving doctrine.

The Five Pillars of Islam

According to Islamic law, every mentally able adult Muslim must perform essential duties. These duties are generally referred to as the Five Pillars of Islam (see below), and they make up the core of Islamic faith. They include the profession of faith (“There is no God but the God, and Mohammed is his messenger.”), prayer, almsgiving, fasting, and a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca at least once in a Muslim’s life. Merely performing these actions is not enough; Muslims must also have the intent to please and draw closer to God. The intent is the most important part of any action, and it is included in every action of a devout Muslim’s life.

Shahada -- Profession of Faith

The first pillar of Islam is the profession of faith, or shahada. On several occasions throughout the day and at prayers, a Muslim professes the words “I bear witness that there is no God but the God, and that Mohammed is his prophet.” This profession of faith also appears on the flags of the various Islamic countries.

Salat -- Prayers

The second pillar of Islam is the commitment to a regiment of five prayers set throughout the day, called salat. Before these prayers, a Muslim must be ritually purified; while saying these prayers, he or she must face a holy shrine in the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. In places where the Muslim population is large, a bell or chant calls the people to prayers.

Zakat -- Almsgiving

The third pillar of Islam is zakat, or almsgiving, which is considered an expression of devotion to God. Muslims believe that they have a duty to the poor, orphans, and widows, and zakat was instituted by Mohammed to help provide for these people.

Sawm -- Fasting

The fourth pillar of Islam is fasting (sawm). The Qur’an prescribes a month of fasting during Ramadan, the ninth month of the twelve-month Islamic calendar. The fasting from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan requires spiritual and physical discipline, fosters community, and reminds affluent Muslims of the misfortunes of the poor. Muslims fast at other times as well, but Islamic law does not require these other fasts.

Hajj -- Pilgrimage

The fifth pillar of Islam mandates that all Muslims with the monetary and physical capacity should go on a pilgrimage to the city of Mecca, the holiest city in the world. This pilgrimage is known as hajj, and it is required that every Muslim go on this journey at least once in his or her lifetime.

(Jihad -- Struggle to Please God)

Jihad, which is considered the sixth pillar of Islam by some Muslims, literally translates as “the struggle to please God”. This includes such actions as helping other Muslims by charity or education, leading a virtuous life, and preaching Islam to others; in the past, Muslims went on holy wars to gain other countries. They did this not to gain converts (the Qur’an forbids forceful conversion), but to set up Islamic governments and give the people of these areas a chance to know the one true God and to live better lives in accordance with Muslim principles. While most Western media today focuses on the militant aspects of jihad, most Muslims do not.