Islam: A World of Belief

Imagine you are part of a community of nearly two billion people spread across every country in the world. You share the same core beliefs, the same holy book, and the same daily prayers — no matter where you live. That community is real. It is called Islam, and its followers are called Muslims. Before we explore further, think about what you already know. Have you ever heard the word 'mosque', 'Ramadan', or 'Muhammad'? Where did you hear it?

Islam is one of the world's major religions. It began in the 7th century CE in the Arabian Peninsula, in the area we now call Saudi Arabia. The word 'Islam' means 'submission' or 'peace through submission to God'. People who follow Islam are called Muslims. **Who Is Allah?** Muslims believe in one God, called Allah in Arabic. The word 'Allah' simply means 'God'. Muslims believe Allah created everything and that He is all-knowing and all-powerful. Believing in only one God is called monotheism. **The Prophet Muhammad** Muslims believe that God sent many prophets — special messengers — to guide people. The last and most important prophet is Muhammad, who was born in Mecca around 570 CE. Muslims believe that God revealed His words to Muhammad through the angel Jibril (Gabriel). These words were written down to form Islam's holy book, the Qur'an. **The Qur'an** The Qur'an is the holy book of Islam. Muslims treat it with great respect. It is written in Arabic and contains guidance for how Muslims should live their lives. **The Five Pillars of Islam** The Five Pillars are five important duties that every Muslim tries to follow. Think of them as the five strong columns that hold up a building — they hold the Muslim way of life together. 1. **Shahada** — The declaration of faith: 'There is no god but God, and Muhammad is His messenger.' 2. **Salah** — Praying five times a day, facing towards Mecca. 3. **Zakat** — Giving a share of one's wealth to help people in need. 4. **Sawm** — Fasting (not eating or drinking) during the holy month of Ramadan. 5. **Hajj** — Making a pilgrimage, a special journey, to Mecca at least once in a lifetime if a person is able to. **Where Do Muslims Worship?** Muslims worship in a building called a mosque. A mosque often has a tall tower called a minaret, from which a call to prayer is made five times a day. Muslims also pray at home and in other places. Before praying, Muslims wash themselves in a special way called wudu to show respect and cleanliness.