Islam is the 1400 years old and largest religion with more than 1.8 billion believers. Islam is one of the Ibrahimic religions that has its roots in the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and the holy Quran (the Muslim holy book). In this answer, I will explore the history and beliefs of Islam religion and answer the most commonly asked question what is the Islam religion? I will also explain the Islam culture and discuss some of the common misconceptions about the religion.

Introduction to Islam.

Islam is one of the three major Ibrahimic religions. Islam religion is based on the belief in one God and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Muslim population significantly increasing in almost every country of the world.

Islam reaches globally but it remains a mystery to many, who may be unaware of the teachings and unfamiliar with its culture. This answer seeks to provide an overview of the religion, from Islamic history to Islamic practices and beliefs.

History of Islam.

Islam is an ancient religion that traces its roots back to the seventh century in the Arabian Peninsula. It was founded by the Prophet Muhammad, who was born in 570 AD in Mecca. He was a merchant and a deeply religious and holy man who often pray in a nearby cave called Hira. It was here, in 610 AD, that He received his first revelation from the angel Gabriel.

The revelations continued for the next 23 years and became the basis of the Quran. With the help of his close companions, the prophet Muhammad spread the message of Islam throughout the Arab. He died in 632 AD and is considered to be the last prophet of Allah.

The message of Islam quickly spread throughout the Middle East and beyond by the eighth century, it had spread to Europe and Asia. Over the centuries Islam continued to expand, reaching most parts of the world. Today, there are more than 1.8 billion followers of the religion worldwide.

What is the Islamic religion faith?

The core Islam religion is peace and submission to the will of Allah (God). It is based on the belief in one God, who is known as Allah in the religion. According to the teachings of Islam Muslims believe that the prophet Muhammad is the last and greatest in a long life of prophets sent by God to teach humanity the way of life justice and truth. The Islamic teachings come from the Prophet Muhammad and the Holy Quran which are the basis of Islamic law.

The Quran is the Muslim holy book, that is believed to be the word of God and was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel. Quran has all teachings and laws that Muslims must follow and is divided into 114 chapters, or Surahs.

Faith in one God and the teachings of the Quran are the two main pillars of Islam. Also, Muslim beliefs are further defined by the Five Pillars of Islam, which are Kalma, prayer, fasting, Hajj, and charity.

The Five Pillars of Islam.

The Five Pillars of Islam are the five main practices that are required to be a Muslim. As I mentioned above these five pillars are.

1. Kalma (acceptance that God is one and Prophet Muhammad is his last prophet. Having the belief in the oneness of God and accepting the Prophet Muhammad his last messenger is the foundation of the Islamic faith and is expressed in the words, “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger”
2. Namaz (Prayers) The second pillar is prayers, which are done five times a day. Muslims must face Mecca and perform their prayers.
3. Roza (Fasting) The Third Pillar is fasting, which is done during the month of Ramadan. During this month, Muslims must fast from sunrise to sunset.
4. Hajj is the fourth pillar which is a once-in-a-lifetime journey to Mecca. This is considered a sacred act and is required for all Muslims who are able to make it.
5. Zakat (Charity) Each year Muslims are required to give 2.5% of their wealth to those in need.

The Quran and Hadith

The Quran is the primary source of Islamic teachings which are the word of God. Quran has 114 chapters, each containing a message about faith, morality, justice, and human rights. The Quran is written in Arabic and is considered the final revelation of Allah.

The Hadith is a collection of sayings about the actions attributed to the Prophet Muhammad and his companions. The Hadith provides additional guidance on how to follow the teachings of the Quran.

The Quran and the Hadith serve as the primary sources of Islamic law and are used to guide Muslims in their day-to-day lives. Muslims are also used as the basis for Islamic scholarship, which is the study of the Quran and the Hadith.

Islamic Culture

Islam has a rich, diverse and vibrant culture that has had a major influence on the earth, including arts, literature, architecture, and science. The most visible manifestation of Islamic culture is the architecture of mosques. Mosques are found in almost every Muslim country that has intricate designs and beautiful calligraphy.

Islamic culture is also known for its hospitality and generosity. Muslims always show hospitality to guests and help the poor. This is seen in the practice of Zakat (mentioned above the fifth pillar of Islam).

Practices and Beliefs of Muslims

The Islamic teachings and practices are very simple. Muslims follow certain rules of modesty. Men and women are required to dress modestly, maintain a high moral standard, drink no alcohol, and not gamble.

Muslims believe in the Day of Judgement afterlife when all people will be judged according to their deeds. They believe that those who obey the laws of Allah will be rewarded with heaven, while those who disobey will be punished in hell.

Islamic Scholarly perspectives

Islamic scholars have been debating and interpreting the teachings of the Quran and the Hadith for centuries. These scholars have developed a number of schools of thought and have used their interpretations to shape the evolution of Islamic law. They debate to decide which Islamic sect is right?

The most influential of these schools is the Hanafi school of thought, which is the oldest and most prominent. This Islamic sect is based on the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and follows the teachings of the Quran and the Hadith. It is often seen as the most conservative of the Islamic sect and is followed by the majority of Muslims.

Some other Major schools of Islamic thought are the Shafi, Maliki, and Hanbali. Each Islamic school of thought has its own interpretation of the Quran and the Hadith and has had a major influence on Islamic law and culture.

Common Misconceptions about Islam.

There is a lot of misunderstanding and misinformation about Islam. Here are the most common misconceptions about religion.

• Islam is violent religion – This is a false and damaging stereotype. In fact, the Quran and the Hadith promote peace and justice and forbid violence and aggression.
• Islam does not provide woman’s rights – This is also false. In fact, the Quran gives women equal rights and protections and encourages them to practice ate in all aspects of society.
• All Muslims are Arabs – This is not true, while a majority of Muslims are Arab but many are Asians.
• Muslim worship Idol (Hajar e Aswad) – This is false. Muslims do not worship any idol or stone and only pray to one God.

Conclusion.

Islam is one of the world’s largest religions, with more than 1.8 billion followers. It is a monotheistic faith based on the belief in one God and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and the Quran. In this answer to the question of what is the Islam religion, we have looked at the history and beliefs of the Islamic faith and explored its culture and practices. Also, we have discussed some of the common misconceptions about Islam and the Islamic role in society of the world.

Islam, is a simple and peaceful religion, and this answer the question of what is the Islam religion. I just wrote a brief introduction to learn more about the religion. Thanks to Ask Saint to give me this opportunity to spread the knowledge.

Muslims represent the second-largest religious group in the world, after Christians. As of 2015, adherents of Islam total about 1.62 billion people, making up about 23% of the global population. In 2002,

Muslims are projected to number 1.97 billion worldwide with a fluctuating 2% annual growth rate. Muslims have grown as a percentage of the world population due to an increase in fertility rates, high birth rates, and conversions to Islam in countries where they are not a majority or significant minority, such as India, Indonesia, and Nigeria.

According to the Pew Research Center, within five years, the number of Muslims will overtake the number of Christians. It also found that Christianity’s growth rate is higher in Sub-Saharan Africa than it is worldwide, and Islam is spreading fastest in sub-Saharan Africa.

In modern times Islam has spread rapidly through population growth – over half of all Muslims are under 25 years old. Islam has also spread rapidly through conversion – about 10% of all Muslims are converts. Conversion to Islam has been facilitated by the fact that Islamic law makes no distinction between “innate” and “conventional” Islam; in other words, children born to Muslim parents are deemed Muslims.

Most Muslims belong to one of two denominations, the Sunni or the Shia. About 13% of Muslims live in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country, 25% in Pakistan, 15% in India, 5-6% in Bangladesh, 2% in China, and 2% in Russia. About 1.5% of the world’s Muslim population is from the Americas, 8.7% from Europe, 37% from Asia, and 47.3% from Africa.

A large-scale comparative survey conducted in 2007 by the Pew Research Center and “The New York Times” found that “the median age of Muslims was 25 years, compared with 30 years among non-Muslims; more men 55% than women 45% were counted as Muslims. The median age of Muslims in Africa was 28 years compared with 26 for non-Muslims; the median ages were 20 years for Muslims in the Middle East and North Africa region and 29 years for non-Muslims. Only about a quarter of Muslims were younger than 18, compared with 38% of non-Muslims.”

A 2010 Gallup poll found: “Muslims generally have higher incomes and more education than their counterparts in other countries. Muslim Americans are more religious than other U.S. religious groups and have a daily attendance rate at religious services that is nearly three-and-a-half times higher than average America.”

The CIA World Factbook estimates that as of 2010, 83.7% of all Muslims live in the Asia-Pacific region, 10.2% in the Middle East and North Africa, 3.4% in sub-Saharan Africa, 2.6% in Europe, excluding Turkey, and 1.7% in North America.

In Conclusion.

There has been much debate surrounding the number of Muslims in the world. While estimates are variable, the current estimate is at about 1.65 billion (2011). This figure indicates a growth rate of 2% per year, which is higher than the Christian population growth rate of 1.2%.

A high Muslim birth rate and conversion drive growth in Islam and projected imminence of Muslim majority status. By contrast, high conversion rates to Christianity and a stagnant birth rate have been linked with the decline of Christianity worldwide.

Some observers anticipate that Muslim population growth will continue fast, while others expect it to level off by the end of the 21st century.