What does Islam mean?
Islam, an Arabic word meaning surrender, is a derivative of the
root silm or peace i.e. one can achieve peace with God, with one's self,
and with humanity by surrendering to the Will of God. The Will of God is universal
and unchanging in that it requires all human beings to worship Him and do good to
humanity. Therefore, Islam is not a new religion, but incorporates the same truths
revealed by God through the prophets to all peoples of all times. Islam is not only a
set of beliefs, but a complete way of life.
Who are the Muslims?
The people who believe in Islam are called Muslims. Worldwide, there are
about 1.5 billion Muslims of different nationalities, races, and cultures - from the
Philippines to Nigeria. About 18 percent live in the Arab world; the world's largest
Muslim community is in Indonesia; substantial parts of Asia and most of Africa are Muslim;
significant minorities are found in the former Soviet Union, China North and South
America, and Europe.
What do Muslims believe?
In Surat Al-Baqara 2:177
It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards the East and the West, but righteousness
is this that one should believe in Allah and the last day and the angels and the Book and the
prophets, and give away wealth out of love for Him to the near of kin and the orphans and the
needy and the wayfarer and the beggars and for (the emancipation of) the captives, and keep
up prayer and pay the poor-rate; and the performers of their promise when they make a promise,
and the patient in distress and affliction and in time of conflicts-- these are they who are
true (to themselves) and these are they who guard (against evil).
The five beliefs of a Muslim are:
What are the five Pillars of Islam?
The five Pillars of Islam are: (click on a line for more details)