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Islam: Basic Facts
Fastest growing religion (23% of world population, 1 in 4 people on Earth are Muslim)
2 major sects- Sunnis (80-90%) and Shiites (disputes over succession of leadership)
Mohammed was a prophet and was God’s last revelation to man kind
Holy Book: Koran (or Qur’an)
“Islam” means submission to God
5 Articles of Faith:
1. Belief that Allah is the one true God
2. Belief in angels as instruments of God’s will (Mohammed allegedly received his revelation from
the angel of Gabriel)
3. Belief in 4 inspired books: the Torah (5 books of Moses), the Zabur (the psalms), the Injil (the
gospel) and the final revelation, the Koran. Believe Bible has been corrupted, unlike the Koran
4. Belief in the 28 prophets of Allah, Mohammed being the last and the greatest (include: Adam,
Noah, Moses, David, Solomon, and Jesus) Jesus is viewed as just another prophet
5. Belief in final Day of Judgement only those who obey Allah and his prophet can enter into
Heaven (possibly, if Allah will it). Only Muslims martyrs will be guaranteed heaven. All others
will be sent to Hell. (Mohammed said majority of these would be women).
Believers:
1. Say the Shahada- that there is no God but Allah and Mohammed is his prophet
2. Must perform good works and they will be weighed at the end of their life. No one has any
guarantee of making it unless you die in a Jihad (holy war). That is their only assurance of
salvation.
5 Obligations:
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2.
3.
4.
5.
Pray (5 times a day) and must face towards Mecca and bow face to ground
Fast
Give alms (“shakat”- 2.5% of income)
Recite the Shahada while praying
Make a pilgrimage to Holy Land at least once in their lifetime.
Other facts:
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Churches are called mosques
Usually meet on Fridays
Religious holiday: Ramadan, where they fast for almost an entire month. This is a celebration of
Allah in which they thank him for the Koran.