Islam is the religion that Muslims follow. It is a monotheistic religion that emphasizes the importance of surrendering to the will of Allah, the Arabic word for God. Muslims believe that Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed many times through earlier prophets, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. The following are some of the key beliefs and practices of Islam:
Beliefs:
- Belief in the Oneness of God
- Belief in the Prophet Muhammad as the last and most perfect of Gods messengers
- Belief in the Quran as the verbatim word of God and the unaltered, final revelation
Practices:
- The Five Pillars of Islam: Profession of Faith (shahada), Prayer (salat), Charity (zakat), Fasting (sawm), and Pilgrimage (hajj)
- Performing certain acts of worship
- Following Islamic law, known as the Sharīʿāh
Islam teaches the importance of both belief and practice, and Muslims are asked to put their beliefs into practice by performing certain acts of worship. Adherence to religious obligations and practices is a matter of individual choice, and some people are very strict in performing these duties, while others are not.