Islam meaning “submission” in Arabic was founded in the early 7th century CE in the Arabian Peninsula through the Prophet Muhammad, whom Muslims believe received the final revelation of God (Allah) through the angel Gabriel. The sacred text of Islam, the Quran, is considered the literal word of God as revealed to Muhammad. The Hadith collections of Muhammad’s sayings and practices supplement the Quran as a source of guidance.
The five fundamental practices of Islam, known as the Five Pillars, are: the declaration of faith (Shahada), prayer five times daily (Salat), fasting during the month of Ramadan (Sawm), giving alms to the poor (Zakat), and the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) at least once in a lifetime if able. Muslims affirm the absolute oneness of God (Tawhid) and reject any partnership with God a principle that distinguishes Islam sharply from Trinitarian Christianity.
Islam’s two major branches, Sunni and Shia, diverged in the 7th century over questions of leadership following Muhammad’s death. Sunnis represent the vast majority of Muslims; Shia Islam is most prominent in Iran, Iraq, and parts of Lebanon. Sufism, the mystical dimension of Islam, emphasizes love, devotion, and the inner experience of God.
Today Islam is the world’s second-largest religion, with approximately 1.9 billion adherents across the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and a growing presence in Europe and the Americas.