Islam is a major religion

Date founded: 622 CE

Place founded: Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Founder: Muhammad, an Arabian camel driver

Adherents: 1.9 billion, size rank second largest in the world #2 (#1 Christianity over 2.5 billion)
Main location: Middle East and North Africa

Major sects and denominations: Sunni and Shiite; Sufi is a mystical branch

Sacred text: Qur'an (Koran), original language: Arabic

Religious professionals: Sheikh; imam (Shi'ite)

House of worship: mosque

Type of theism: strict monotheism

Ultimate reality: God (Allah in Arabic); the same God revealed in the Jewish and Christian Bibles

Human nature: Born in a state of purity, imperfect but capable of seeking God and doing good

Purpose of life: Submit to the will of Allah and attain paradise after death

How to live: Follow the Qur'an, Hadith and Five Pillars of Islam

Afterlife: Resurrection of body and soul followed by eternal paradise or hell

Symbol: Crescent moon and star.

Major holidays: Ramadan - month long, Eid al-Fitr - Festival of Breaking the Fast, Hajj - week long, Muharram. Eid al-Adha - Festival of Sacrifice

Five Pillars:

1. Confession of faith (shahada)

2. Daily prayer (salat)

3. Alms tax (zakat)

4. Pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj)

5. Fasting during Ramadan (sawm)

Seveners: Shi'ite denomination holding that the legitimate line of imams ended with the seventh. (Called "Seveners" because they believed that Isma'il ibn Ja'far was the seventh and last Imam (hereditary leader of the Muslim community in the direct line of Ali))

Twelvers: Majority Shi'ite denomination that reveres the Twelve Imams.

Prophet

Islam recognizes Muhammad as the last true prophet sent to Earth by God. In 610 CE, at age 40, Muhammad experienced his first vision in the Cave of Hira on Mount Nur near Mecca, marking the beginning of Quranic revelations. The Archangel Gabriel appeared, instructing him to recite, initiating his role as the final prophet of Islam, urging monotheism and social reform against Meccan polytheistic practices. Muhammad vision was followed by many others over the next 23 years, which were compiled to form the Quran. Muhammad began preaching in 613 CE, emphasizing submission to God-Allah.

There are 25 prophets mentioned in the Qur’an (Islam’s most well-known sacred text), including Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and finally, Muhammad.

Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet sent by God, but not that he was the Son of God. They believe that when he died on the cross, he ascended to Heaven and was not resurrected.

Islam creation

The Quran has no equivalent for the book of Genesis, no primary location for the story of creation. In fact, the Quran lacks much structure at all.

Unlike the Bible, the Quran describes the Garden of Eden as being located elsewhere than on Earth. Adam and his spouse were sent to earth after their transgression.

Quotes: (Translator: Abdullah Yusuf Ali)

The Quran says that the heavens and the earth were once joined together as one unit before it was split into two parts:

Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together (as one unit of creation), before we clove them asunder? We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe? (Surah 21:30)

It is He Who hath created for you all things that are on earth; Moreover His design comprehended the heavens, for He gave order and perfection to the seven firmaments; and of all things He hath perfect knowledge. (Surah 02:29)
The seven heavens and the earth, and all beings therein, declare His glory: there is not a thing but celebrates His praise; And yet ye understand not how they declare His glory! Verily He is Oft-Forbear, Most Forgiving! (Surah 17:44)
Say: "Who is the Lord of the seven heavens, and the Lord of the Throne (of Glory) Supreme?" (Surah 23:86)
God is He Who created seven Firmaments and of the earth a similar number. Through the midst of them (all) descends His Command: that ye may know that God has power over all things, and that God comprehends, all things in (His) Knowledge. (Surah 65:12)
He Who created the seven heavens one above another: No want of proportion wilt thou see in the Creation of (God) Most Gracious. So turn thy vision again: seest thou any flaw? (Surah 67:3)