Islam

The Prophet Muhammad, sometimes spelled Mohammed or Mohammad, was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in A.D. 570. Muslims believe he was the final prophet sent by God to reveal their faith to humankind.

According to Islamic texts and tradition, an angel named Gabriel visited Muhammad in 610 while he was meditating in a cave. The angel ordered Muhammad to recite the words of Allah. Muslims believe Muhammad continued to receive revelations from Allah throughout the rest of his life.

Starting in about 613, Muhammad began preaching the messages he received throughout Mecca. He taught that there was no other God but Allah and that Muslims should devote their lives to this God.

In 622, Muhammad traveled from Mecca to Medina, another city in present-day Saudi Arabia, with his supporters. This journey became known as the Hijra (also spelled Hegira or Hijrah), and its start marked the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

At his home in Medina, Muhammad is credited with building the first mosque in his house’s courtyard. Mosques today follow some of the same principles he established there. For example, Muslim prayer is often conducted in a mosque’s large open space or outdoor courtyard.

Some seven years after arriving in Medina, the prophet and his many followers returned to Mecca and conquered the region. Muhammad continued to preach until his death in 632.

After Muhammad’s death, Islam began to spread rapidly.  A series of Muslim leaders, known as caliphs, became successors to Muhammad as spiritual and civil heads. This system of leadership became known as a caliphate.

The first caliph was Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s father-in-law and close friend. Abu Bakr died about two years after he was elected. Caliph Umar, another father-in-law of Muhammad, succeeded Abu Bakr in 634. When Umar was assassinated six years after being named caliph, one of Muhammad’s sons-in-law named Uthman took the role. Uthman was also killed, and Ali, Muhammad’s cousin as well as his son-in-law, was selected as the next caliph.

During the reign of the first four caliphs, Muslims conquered large regions in the Middle East, including Syria, Palestine, Iran and Iraq. Islam also spread throughout areas in Europe, Africa and Asia.

The caliphate system lasted for centuries and eventually evolved into the Ottoman Empire, which controlled large regions in the Middle East from about 1517 until 1917, when World War I ended the Ottoman reign.

When Muhammad died, there was debate over who should replace him as leader. This led to a schism in Islam, and two major sects emerged: Sunni and Shiite.

Sunnis represent as many as 90 percent of Muslims worldwide. They accept that the first four caliphs were the true successors to Muhammad.

Shiite Muslims believe that only the caliph Ali and his descendants are the real successors to Muhammad. They deny the legitimacy of the first three caliphs. Today, Shiite Muslims have a considerable presence in Iran, Pakistan, Iraq and India.

Other, smaller Muslim denominations within the Sunni and Shiite groups exist. Some of these include:

Muslims consider the Quran their most important holy book. It contains some basic information that is found in the Hebrew Bible as well as revelations that were given to Muhammad. The text is considered the sacred word of God and supersedes any previous writings.

Muhammad was never taught to read or write. Thus, most Muslims believe the prophet’s scribes wrote down his words, which became the Quran. Scholars believe the Quran was compiled shortly after Muhammad’s death, under the guidance of Caliph Abu Bakr.

The book is written with Allah as the first person, speaking through the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad. It contains 114 chapters, which are called surahs.

Muslims follow five basic pillars that are essential to their faith. These include:

During prayer, Muslims face toward Mecca. Each mosque has a mihrab, a decorative feature or niche that indicates the direction to the Islamic holy city. Men and women pray separately, and Muslims may visit a mosque five times a day for each of the prayer sessions.

Sharia law is the faith-based code of conduct that directs Muslims on how they should live in nearly every aspect of their lives. Conduct is separated into halal, meaning “permissible,” and haram, meaning “forbidden,” actions.

Sharia requires men and women to dress modestly. It outlines marriage guidelines and other moral principles for Muslims. The code also includes dietary restrictions, such as abstaining from alcohol, drugs and pork.

In some countries, Sharia law also dictates the legal system. If crimes are committed, Sharia law is known for its harsh punishments. For example, the punishment for theft is amputating a person’s hand. Adultery can carry the penalty of death by stoning. However, many Muslims do not support such extreme measures.

As in many religions, there is no single image or symbol of Islam that is universally accepted by all Muslims worldwide. The crescent moon and star have been adopted in some predominantly Muslim countries as a symbol of Islam. However, this pair of images is believed to predate Islam and was originally a symbol of the Ottoman Empire. In some other applications, such as the International Red Cross and Red Crescent humanitarian aid movement, a red crescent indicates that followers of Islam are respected and treated accordingly.

The color green is also sometimes associated with Islam, as it was reportedly a favorite color of Muhammad’s and is often featured prominently in the flags of predominantly Muslim countries.

The two major Muslim holidays are:

Muslims also celebrate other holidays, such as the Islamic New Year and the birth of Muhammad.

These holidays and other celebrations fall in accordance to the Islamic calendar, which is also called the Hijra calendar. The lunar-based calendar began in the year A.D. 622, coinciding with the Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Medina. It spans 354 or 355 days depending on the phases of the moon. Ramadan occurs during the ninth month of the calendar.

In recent years, Islam’s supposed association with terrorism and mass murder has sparked a political debate in many countries. The controversial term “radical Islam” has become a well-known label to describe the religion’s connection to acts of violence.

Recent surveys have found that in countries with high Muslim populations, the majority of Muslims have overwhelmingly negative views of terrorist organizations like the Islamic State group (previously known as ISIS).

While Muslims aim to clear up misconceptions about their faith, the religion continues to spread rapidly. Today, Islam is the world’s fastest-growing religion. Experts predict Islam will surpass Christianity as the largest religion by the end of the century.