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ISLAM

One of the three so-called Abrahamic religions (along with Judaism and Christianity), Islam is founded on the belief in a unique, absolutely transcendent God – Allah – Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, whose Word was revealed through His angel Gabriel to His prophet Muhammad. Born in about 570 CE into a trading family in Mecca, in what is currently Saudi Arabia, Muhammad began in 610 to experience visions and ultimately to receive the word of God which he faithfully recorded in what was to become the sacred books of the Qu’ran or Koran. Muslims – as the followers of Islam are called – believe that God established a covenant with the Children of Adam and sent prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, to provide example and guidance humanity. According to their belief, Muhammad is the last in a continuing chain of great prophets sent by God to restore the "true religion" in the final stage of evolution. Islam is characterized by the inclusiveness. All humankind are the children of Adam, as revealed to Muhammad, and recorded in the words of the Koran.

Muslims strive to organize their lives in accordance with these commandments and endeavor to realize a just social order on earth. As the sole arbiter of human actions, God will requite each human being on the Day of Judgement for deeds performed in this life. The five pillars, or fundamental duties of each adherent to Islam are: Witness, Worship, Charity, Fasting and Pilgrimage. The creation of the two great divisions of Islam, Sunni and Shi’ite occurred through a schism occurring approximately a half century after the death of Muhammad. Sunnis emphasize the authority of the Qu’ran and the sayings of the Prophet. Shi’ite Muslims hold allegiance to the family of the prophet Muhammad and the 7 - 12 Imams directly descending from that family. These Imams possess spiritual, civic and political power to govern the daily lives of practitioners. They also believe in the necessary return to a perfect Islamic national state to stand against the corrupt, unjust world.

The esoteric tradition in Islam is expressed primarily in Sufism, which stresses an inner mystical life that defies the legalistic, rational aspects of other Muslim practices, and has produced great poetry, music and dance.

Today Islam is found throughout the world, on every continent and represents over one billion adherents, or about 18% of global population.