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"Islam" is the Arabic word for submission to the will of God (Allah), the name of the religion originating in Arabia during the 7th century AD through the Prophet Mohammed.

Followers of Islam are known as Muslims, or Moslems, and their religion embraces every aspect of life.

Beliefs

Muslims believe that individuals, societies, and governments should all be obedient to the will of Allah as it is set forth in the Koran, which they regard as the word of Allah revealed to his messenger, Mohammed.

The Koran

The Koran teaches that Allah is one and has no partners. He is the creator of all things, and holds absolute power. All persons should commit themselves to lives of grateful and praise-giving obedience to Allah, for on the day of resurrection they will be judged. Those who have obeyed Allah’s commandments will dwell for ever in paradise, but those who have sinned against Allah and not repented will be condemned eternally to the fires of hell. Since the beginning of creation Allah has sent prophets, including Moses and Jesus, to provide guidance necessary for the attainment of eternal reward, a succession culminating in the revelation to Mohammed of the perfect will of Allah.

Shari’a

Shari’a is the sacred law of Islam, and applies to all aspects of life, not just religious practices. It describes the Islamic way of life, and prescribes the way for a Muslim to fulfill the commands of Allah and reach heaven. There is an annual cycle of festivals, including Hijra, the beginning of the Islamic year, and Ramadan, the month during which Muslims fast during the daylight hours. There is no organized priesthood, but great respect is accorded the Hashim family, descendants of Mohammed, and other publicly acknowledged holy men, scholars, and teachers, such as mullahs and ayatollahs.

Groupings

There are two basic groups within Islam. Sunni Muslims are in the majority, and they recognize the first four caliphs as Mohammed’s legitimate successors. The Shiites comprise the largest minority group, and regard the Imam as the principal religious authority. There are a number of sub sects, including the Ismailis (one group of which, the Nizaris, regard the Aga Khan as their imam), and the Wahhabis, a reform movement begun in the 18th century, There are over 700 million Muslims throughout the world.

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