ISLAM

History
In the Muslim religion the supreme deity is Allah and the founder and chief prophet is Mohammed.

Mohammed was an Arab, born in the city of Mecca. He taught that there is only one god and he is only a messenger. Mohammed died in 632. The largest Muslim communicates exist in the Middle East, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Central Asia, Turkey and Albania.

Mecca and Madina are sacred cities of Islam. The Muslims also built magnificent mosques and structures like the Allhambra in Spain and the Taj Mahal in India.


Groups

There are two groups of Islam's.

a.  Sunni branch of Islam

b.  Shia branch of Islam

After the death of prophet Mohammed, there was a leadership crisis. Some elected his friend Abu Bakr as the first Caliph (successor). This formed the Sunni branch of Muslims other supported Mohammed's son-in-law. These groups formed the shia branch.


Teachings of Islam
The Kuran plays a key role in the religious life of the Muslims. It is the holy book of the Muslims. The Arabic name means something 'read or recited'. It states that there is only one god, the creator of all things, who sent a series of prophets to earth to preach his message. Muslims believe the Kuran to be the word of God recited in Arabic to Mohammed by the Angel Gabriel.


The five pillars
A Muslims chief religious duties are;

a.  The profession of faith

b.  Prayer

c.  Alms giving to the poor

d.  Fasting

e.   Pilgrimage

b.	Prayers : A Muslim can offer prayers to God at any time he wishes. But there are 5 ritual prayers to performed each day at dawn, noon, afternoon, evening, night. The Friday noon prayer is the obligatory congregational prayer.
c.	Alms giving to the poor is called Zakat.
d.	Fasting in the 9th in the Muslims year is the holy month of fasting. In Ramzan or Ramadam they give up eating and drinking, during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset. They break their fast at a joyful family meal. The main aim is to please god and be close to him.
e.	Pilgrimage to Mecca is known as Hajj. Muslims are requested to perform Hajji once in a life time. The Hajj consist of successions of rituals that include walking around the shrine of kaaba and visiting sacred sites.