I hope you don't mind receiving my letter. It is short but full of information.

In brief


Islam is the second most popular faith in the world with over a Billion
adherents.
Those who follow Islam are called Muslims.

Islam is now very strong in Asia, and is growing everywhere else in the world.

There are over 120 million muslims in Indonisia making it the largest islamic
country. There are 6 million Muslims in the USA and 3 million Muslims in
Britain, making it the second most popular faith in these two countries.

The Bare Essentials of Islam

Over 1300 years old.
Began in Arabia.
Islam was revealed to humanity by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Muslims believe that there is only one God, called Allah.
Islam was revealed to humanity by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was a human being, not a god.
Muslims believe that Muhammad (pbuh) was the last prophet of God.
The word "Islam" means "surrender to God".
The Muslim scripture is the Holy Qur'an.
The Muslim building for communal worship is called a "Mosque".
The "five pillars of Islam" help Muslims put their faith into action...
Shahadah: declaration of faith.
Salat: ritual prayer 5 times a day.
Zakat: giving a fixed proportion to charity.
Sawm: fasting.
Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca.
There are two main groups of Muslims...
Sunni Muslims make up 90% of the world's Muslims.
The other main group are the Shi'ite Muslims.

Origins
Islam was revealed to humanity through the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) during the
7th CE, in Arabia, and spread rapidly through the Middle East.


Although Islam was not fully revealed to us until the 7th century, Muslims
believe that it has always existed.

Everything belongs to God
The word "Islam" means submission to Allah (God), and Muslims believe that
everything in life should be at the service of Allah.

As a result, Muslims find it hard to accept the distinction that Western
cultures make between a person’s religious life and the rest of their life.

Muslims think such a distinction is entirely wrong. They believe that not only
individuals, but also the institutions of society should serve Allah.

Muslims submit to Allah by obeying his commands, and by living their whole lives
in a way that is pleasing to Allah.

Muslims combine faith and action in everything they do: they regard belief on
its own, or good deeds on their own, as pointless.

The 5 Pillars of Islam
These are the five obligations that every Muslim must satisfy in order to live a
good and responsible life according to Islam.

Scripture
The Islamic scripture is the Holy Qur'an.

Muslims believe that the Qur'an was revealed to humanity by God through the
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
They believe the Qur'an is a perfect copy of a text that exists eternally in
heaven.

Worship
The place for communal Muslim worship is called a Mosque
Muslims are required to pray 5 times a day, and although this need not be at a
mosque, it must be done according to precisely laid down rules.

Muslims do not regard this requirement for ritual prayer as in any way
burdensome, but rejoice in the opportunity to do God's bidding.
`
Muslim Groupings
There are several different groups of Muslims, but all of them, in every country
and community, regard their faith as a bond between them, and as a major part of
their identity.

The largest Muslim group consists of Sunni Muslims who make up 90% of the
world's Muslims.

The other main group is the Shi'ite Muslims, who are particularly strong in
Iran.

For more information about Islam:

http://www.aboutme.com/users/abobakr/11.html

http://www.aboutme.com/users/salam/1.html


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