Islam

1388 Words3 Pages

One billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across the globe from the southern Philippines to Nigeria are united by their common Islamic faith. The world's largest Muslim community is in Indonesia and about 18% live in the Arab world. Substantial parts of Asia and most of Africa are Muslim. Significant minorities are found in the Soviet Union, China, North and South America, and Europe. Islam is not a new religion, but the same truth that God revealed through all His prophets to every people. Islam is not just a religion but also a complete way of life and is made up of a fifth of the world's population. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the majority have nothing to do with the extremely grave events which have come to be associated with their faith. Muslims believe in One, Unique, Incomparable God and in the Angels created by him. Also that their are prophets through whom his revelations were brought to mankind. They believe in the Day of Judgment and that each individual is accountable for their own actions. Also that God has complete authority over human destiny and there is life after death. In Islam there is a chain of prophets starting with Adam and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesus. It is believed that peace is upon all of the prophets. But God's final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message and a summing- up of all that has gone before was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad through Gabriel. In Islam the Qur ’ an is a holy record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad. It was memorized by Muhammad thendictate...

... middle of paper ...

...ation. Muslims believe that by cutting oneself off from worldly comforts, even for a short period of time, a fasting person gains true sympathy with those who go hungry as well as growth in one's spiritual life.The annual pilgrimage also known as the Hajj to Makkah is an obligation only for those who are physically and financially able to perform it. Nevertheless, about two million people go to Makkah each year from every corner of the globe providing a unique opportunity for those of different nations to meet one another. Although Makkah is always filled with visitors, the annual Hajj begins in the twelfth month of the Islamic year (which is lunar, not solar, so that Hajj and Ramadan fall sometimes in summer, sometimes in winter). The pilgrims wear special clothes: simple garments which strip away distinctions of class and culture, so that all stand equal before God.

More about Islam

Open Document