1. What Is Islam? Islam is a religion that teaches people to submit themselves fully to the will of God. The word “Islam” comes from Arabic and means submission, surrender, and peace. In simple terms, being a Muslim means choosing to live your life in obedience to God and striving to follow His guidance in everything you do.
2. Belief in One God Muslims believe in one, all-powerful God—known in Arabic as Allah. He created everything in the universe and is completely unique. The core belief in Islam is called Tawhid, which means believing that there’s only one God and nothing else deserves to be worshipped besides Him.
3. Prophet Muhammad – The Final Messenger Muslims believe that God sent many prophets over time to guide people, and Muhammad was the last one. He was born in Mecca around the year 570 CE. At the age of 40, he received the first message from God through the Angel Gabriel. For the next 23 years, he shared God’s message with people, and that message became the foundation of Islam.
4. The Qur’an – The Holy Book The Qur’an is the holy book of Islam. Muslims believe it’s the exact word of God, revealed to the Prophet Muhammad in Arabic. It’s made up of 114 chapters and contains guidance for all areas of life—spiritual, moral, social, and legal. It’s considered the final and most complete of all holy books.
5. The Five Pillars of Islam Islam is built on five core acts of worship called the Five Pillars. These are: declaring faith in one God and Muhammad as His messenger (Shahada), praying five times a day, giving to charity (Zakat), fasting during the month of Ramadan, and going on a pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) at least once in your life if you can afford it.
6. What Muslims Believe (The Six Pillars of Faith) Muslims believe in six key things: belief in God, belief in angels, belief in the revealed books (like the Torah, Psalms, Gospel, and Qur’an), belief in the prophets, belief in the Day of Judgment, and belief in destiny—both the good and the bad.
7. Worship in Islam Worship in Islam isn’t just about rituals. While daily prayers and fasting are important, Islam teaches that everything you do—working, helping others, even smiling—can be an act of worship if it’s done with the right intention and in a way that pleases God.
8. Character and Morals Islam places a strong focus on good character. Prophet Muhammad is known for his honesty, patience, kindness, and humility. Muslims are taught to tell the truth, keep promises, respect others, avoid harming people, and help those in need.
9. Life’s Purpose According to Islam, the purpose of life is to worship God and live in a way that brings goodness to the world. Life is seen as a test, and what we do here matters in the afterlife. Muslims believe they’re responsible for their actions and will be judged by God for how they lived.
10. Islam Brings Peace and Mercy Islam is meant to be a mercy to all people and even to nature. It encourages peace, justice, kindness, and compassion. A true Muslim is someone who brings benefit to others and lives in a way that spreads love, not harm. The goal is to create harmony—within yourself, with others, and with the world around you.