Islam is an Arabic word that means submission to God.
In Islam, a Muslim believes that God is One and lives an ethical life based on honesty, justice, mercy, and helping others.
There are more than 1.9 billion Muslims in the world, living on different continents such as Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
Islam is one of the largest religions in the world.
No.
Most Muslims in the world are not Arabs. Among the largest Muslim populations are Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Turkey.
Arabs are only a portion of the Muslim world, and Islam is a universal religion.
A Muslim is a person who worships God alone without associating partners with Him, submits to God, and tries to follow His commands and avoid what He forbids.
A Muslim believes that God is One, that Muhammad is the Messenger of God, that the Quran is God’s Book, and tries to live according to Islamic values.
Islam is built on five basic acts of worship:
1. Testifying that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God.
2. Prayer.
3. Fasting.
4. Zakat.
5. Pilgrimage for those who are able.
Yes.
Islam is a message addressed to all humanity, not to one people, race, or country.
Islam appeared through the message of Prophet Muhammad in the seventh century CE.
At the same time, Muslims believe that the essence of Islam, worshipping God alone, was the message of all prophets.
God in Islam is the Creator of the universe and of humankind. He is the One God, and nothing in creation is like Him.
The original religion of Jews and Christians was the worship of God, Lord of the worlds, and Muslims believe that our God and their God is One.
However, Islam rejects attributing a child, deficiency, or partner to God, and affirms that God is One with no partner.
No.
The word Islam is connected with submission to God and peace. Islam calls for justice, mercy, and respect for life, and it does not permit harming innocent people.
Prophet Muhammad is the Messenger of Islam.
He was born in Mecca in the seventh century CE, and he is the last prophet in Islamic belief.
He worked in trade and was known among people for honesty and trustworthiness.
Prophet Muhammad lived approximately 63 years.
The Quran is the holy book of Islam.
Muslims believe it is the word of God revealed to Prophet Muhammad.
The Quran was revealed in Arabic, but there are many translations of its meanings in the languages of the world.
The Quran is not a science textbook, but it calls people to think, reflect on the universe, and seek knowledge.
Yes.
Mary has a great status in Islam, and there is a chapter in the Quran named after her.
The Quran is the essential and foundational book in Islam.
Muslims also rely on the Sunnah of the Prophet, which explains and details what is in the Quran.
Yes.
Islam gave women rights such as the right to education, ownership, work, and choosing a husband.
For Muslim women, hijab is a command from God. It is an expression of faith, modesty, and religious identity.
No.
Islam sees men and women as equal in human value before God, while recognizing differences in some roles and rulings.
Yes.
Muslim scholars consider hijab obligatory for Muslim women.
Yes.
A woman in Islam may work and own money within Islamic guidelines. In Islamic history, women worked in trade and education.
Yes.
Seeking knowledge in Islam is required for both men and women.
Fasting is first an act of obedience to the command of the Creator.
It helps a Muslim develop self-control, feel for the poor, and draw closer to God.
Prayer is first an act of obedience to the command of the Creator.
It reminds a person of God throughout the day and is a time for reflection and tranquility.
Yes.
Muslims have two Eids: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
A mosque is the place of worship for Muslims.
Yes. Hajj is obligatory once in a lifetime for a Muslim who is financially and physically able.
The Kaaba is not worshipped.
It is a unified direction of prayer for all Muslims, by the command of the Creator.
No.
Islam does not encourage monasticism or withdrawal from life. It calls for worship together with work and responsibility.
No. Pork is forbidden in Islam.
No. Islam forbids alcohol because it harms the mind and health.
A Muslim man may marry a woman from the People of the Book, meaning a Jewish or Christian woman, under Islamic conditions and guidelines.
Other cases have different rulings in Islamic jurisprudence.
Islam allows polygamy with the condition of justice between wives.
However, in many Muslim societies today, monogamous marriage is the most common.
No.
In Islam, a woman must consent to marriage, and forced marriage is rejected.
Yes.
Divorce is allowed, but it is considered the last solution when married life cannot continue.
Islam forbids pork for religious reasons.
This prohibition also exists in Judaism.
Islam forbids alcohol because it can harm the mind, health, and society.
Some people think Islam spread by force, but history shows that its spread had many causes, including trade, cultural exchange, and religious invitation.
In many places, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, Islam spread without wars.
No.
Islam forbids killing innocent people. In Islamic texts, killing an innocent human being is a major crime.
Violent groups that use the name of Islam represent themselves only; they do not represent Muslims.
As with any religion or ideology in the world, groups may appear that interpret texts in an extremist or political way.
But the majority of Muslims in the world live normal lives and reject violence.
Islam encourages thinking and responsible choice, but it connects freedom with moral responsibility.
The basic idea is that freedom is not a justification for harming others or disobeying God.
In traditional Islamic jurisprudence, apostasy is treated as a serious matter, not a casual issue, and scholars mention a punishment when its conditions are met and no legal impediments exist.
However, applying legal rulings is not for individuals; it belongs to the judiciary and the proper authority, with knowledge, justice, and careful verification.
Yes.
Learning is an important value in Islam, and the Quran calls people to think, reflect, and seek knowledge.
No.
Muslims live in most countries of the world, and most Muslims live in Asia.
Yes.
Entering Islam is done by sincerely saying the testimony of faith: I bear witness that there is no god but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God.
Yes.
There have been Muslims in Brazil for more than 100 years, and there are mosques and Islamic centers in several cities.
Yes.
Many mosques welcome visitors who want to learn about Islam. It is best to ask in advance and respect the manners of the place.