A monotheistic religion that originated with the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.

Islam was founded in 622 CE (common era)

The Islam Holy Book is called the Quran. It contains the teaching of the prophet Muhammad.

Mohammad refused to worship the traditional tribal deities when most of

his fellow Makkans were polytheists. He often retreated to meditate and worship the One God of his ancestor, Abraham.

Islam is practiced all over the world. It’s usually associated with being practiced only in the Middle East, but is practiced all over Africa and Asia.

There are certain special days which Muslims world-wide celebrate or consider holy. Some of these include:

Muharram : Islamic New Year Mawlid al-Nabi: Muhammad’s Birthday Ramadan begins: the holy month of fasting Eid-al-Fitr: Ramadan ends Arafat Day: 9th day of month Hajj, unity

day at Arafat mountain Eis-al-Adha: Festival of Sacrifice

Surprisingly, a large number of famous people practice Islam. Some include:

1.Dave Chappelle2.Rasheed Wallace3.Hasim Rahman4.Chris Eubank5.Larry Johnson6.Shaquille O'Neal

Muslims summarize their doctrine in six articles of faith:

1. Belief in one Allah (God): Muslims believe Allah is one eternal creator and sovereign.

2. Belief in the angels. 3. Belief in the prophets: The prophets

include the biblical prophets but end with Muhammad as Allah’s final prophet.

4. Belief in the revelations of Allah: Muslims accept certain portions of the Bible, such as the Torah and the Gospels. They believe the Quran is the preexistent, perfect word of Allah.

5. Belief in the last day of judgment and the hereafter: Everyone will be resurrected for judgment into either paradise or hell.

Muslims do believe in an after-life. On the “Day of Judgment”, Allah will bring

back every human who ever lived. Every person brought back will have a book of good deeds and a book of bad deeds. Allah will ask each person to read from their book; he will ask if what they read is true. If they have done more good than bad, they are allowed into paradise. However, if the bad out-weighs the good, they are sent to the “hell fire”.

6. Belief in predestination: Muslims believe Allah has decreed everything that will happen.

Muslims testify to Allah’s sovereignty with their frequent phrase, inshallah, meaning, “if God wills.”

Islam is world-wide. Muhammad is teacher of Islam. Believers are called Muslims. They do believe in an after-life. Sacred book is the Quran.