What is Islam?

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Islam is a monotheistic religion revealed by God (Allah in Arabic) to the prophet Muhammad in the 7th century CE, in the Arabian Peninsula. It is the second largest religion in the world, with approximately 1.8 billion followers, called Muslims.

The Fundamental Principles of Islam

1. Monotheism: Islam is based on the belief in one God, Allah, who is the Creator and Lord of all that exists. Allah is without equal, and he has no partner or son. This belief is at the heart of the Islamic faith.

2. Revelation: Muslims believe that God revealed His will to human beings through prophets, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and finally Muhammad, the last of the prophets. God's message was revealed in the form of sacred books, of which the Quran is the last and final revelation.

3. The Quran: The Quran is the holy book of Islam, considered to be the direct word of God, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by the Archangel Gabriel over a period of 23 years. It guides Muslims in all aspects of life, spiritual, moral, and social.

4. Hadith: In addition to the Quran, Muslims follow the *hadith*, which are the sayings, actions, and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad. These traditions complement and illuminate the understanding of the Quran.

Religious Practices

The practices of Islam are structured around the five pillars, which are the religious obligations for every Muslim: the profession of faith (Shahada), prayer (Salat), almsgiving (Zakat), fasting during the month of Ramadan (Sawm), and the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).

Moral and Social Life

Islam places a strong emphasis on justice, equality, and charity. It encourages respect for parents, neighbors, the poor, and orphans, and emphasizes honesty, kindness, and solidarity in the community.

Islam and the Hereafter

Muslims believe in life after death, where everyone will be judged by God according to their actions in this world. Those who followed God's commandments will be rewarded with paradise, while those who rejected them will be punished.

In summary, Islam is both a religion and a way of life that touches all aspects of existence, from the spiritual and moral life to the social and legal life. It seeks to guide believers to a close relationship with God and to promote peace, justice and brotherhood in the world.