ISLAM

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Islam is a major world religion that was founded in Arabia in the seventh century CE by the Prophet Muhammad. The Arabic word islam, which literally means "surrender," encapsulates Islam's central religious concept: that the believer (dubbed a Muslim from the active particle islam) submits to Allah's (Allah: God) will.

Allah is known as the only God, the world's maker, sustainer, and restorer. The holy scriptures, the Quran (often pronounced Koran in English), which Allah revealed to his messenger, Muhammad, reveal Allah's will, to which human beings must submit. In Islam, Muhammad is the last prophet in a line of prophets(along with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Solomon, and Jesus), and his message both completes and completes the "revelations" attributed to earlier prophets.

THE ISLAMIC FOUNDATION

MOHAMMED'S LEGACIES

Muhammad had instilled a sense of brotherhood and a bond of faith among his followers from the beginning of Islam, both of which contributed to the development of a feeling of closeness among them, which was accentuated by their experiences of persecution as a nascent group in Mecca. This bond of faith was cemented by a deep commitment to the Quranic revelation's tenets and the obvious socioeconomic content of Islamic religious practices. When the Prophet migrated to Medina in 622 CE, his preaching was quickly embraced, and the Islamic community-state arose.

THE FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM

Islam's fundamental values and rituals are known as the Five Pillars:

Faith Proclamation (shahada)

Islam is based on the idea that "there is no god but God, and Muhammad is God's Messenger." This Arabic phrase appears often in architecture and a variety of items, including the Qur'an, Islam's sacred book of divine revelations. By reciting this phrase with conviction and confidence, one becomes a Muslim.

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*Prayer (salat)

Muslims pray five times a day, facing Mecca: in the morning, midday, mid-afternoon, sunset, and after midnight. The opening chapter (sura) of the Qur'an is recited during prayer, which is often done on a small rug or mat dedicated to this purpose . Muslims may pray alone in any location or in a mosque, where the congregation is led by an imam (prayer leader). On Fridays, men assemble in the mosque for the noonday prayer; women are invited but not expected to attend. Following the prayer, the imam prays and discusses a religious subject while delivering a sermon based on a verse from the Qur'an.

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*Alms (zakat)

Muslims are mandated by Islamic law to donate a set percentage of their income to community members in need. Many rulers and wealthy Muslims build mosques, drinking fountains, hospitals, schools, and other structures as a religious obligation and to reap the benefits of charity.

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*Fasting (sawm)

All healthy adult Muslims are expected to abstain from food and drink during the daylight hours of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. They renew their awareness and show gratitude for all Allah has done in their lives, including the Qur'an, which was revealed for the first time during this month. They share the hunger and thirst of the poor during Ramadan as a reminder of their religious obligation to support those who are less fortunate.

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*Pilgrimage (hajj)

Every Muslim, if his or her health and finances permit, must pay at least one visit to Mecca, in modern-day Saudi Arabia. The Ka'ba, a cubical structure with black embroidered hangings, is located in the heart of Mecca's Haram Mosque . Muslims believe it is the house designed for God by Abraham (Ibrahim in Arabic), and they pray in front of it (qibla). On the eighth and twelfth days of the final month of the Islamic calendar, believers from all over the world have gathered around the Ka'ba in Mecca since the time of the Prophet Muhammad.

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SPLITTION OF ISLAM

Islam was split into two denominations not long after it was established. The conflict stemmed from a dispute over who will succeed Prophet Mohammed. After his death in 632, it exploded.
One group of his followers insisted that his faith's leadership should remain in his family. Mohammed's son-in-law, Ali ibn Abi Talib, was to be the successor, according to them. Others claimed that the leader should be the most eligible individual. The schism quickly devolved into violence and proved to be permanent. Shia Islam was born from the first community, while Sunni Islam was born from the second.

In theory, all religions reject the authority of the other. Shias are considered infidels by some Sunnis, who believe they are deserving of death. Nonetheless, in many places, societies of both religions have coexisted peacefully, with hostilities erupting only in extraordinary circumstances. Furthermore, both religions have been making pilgrimages to Mecca for decades, with little interruption. Such variations, on the other hand, may be used for political purposes.

The majority of Muslims are Sunnis, but Shias rule Iran, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, and Lebanon. Iraq, Pakistan, India, and even Saudi Arabia all have large Shia populations.

It's also worth noting that neither Shia nor Sunni Islam are monolithic faiths. There are many Shia sects, the most prominent of which is the Twelver Imam sect. It is Iran's most common religion. Sunni Islam has given rise to a number of different legal schools, as well as Saudi Arabia's fundamentalist Wahhabism.

Not only Sunni and Shia, but also Tijania, Wahabis, and Ahmadia have emerged. Before the prophet's departure, he claimed that Islam will be splited into 77 sects, with only one righteous sect remaining. All I believe in is what the prophet said, that all believers should obey the teachings of the holy Book (Quran) and his way of life (Sunnah).

Finally, I'd like to express my gratitude to the writing and review team, @belenguerra, @writingnreviews, and @fendit, for this fantastic contest.

Thank you so much.