Islam
Islam (/ˈɪslɑːm/;[note 1] Arabic: الإسلام, IPA: [alʔisˈlaːm]) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion which professes that there is only one and incomparable God (Allah)[1] and that Muhammad is the last messenger of God.[2][3]It is the world's second-largest religion[4] and the fastest-growing major religion in the world,[5][6][7] with over 1.8 billion followers or 24.1% of the global population,[8] known as Muslims.[9] Islam teaches that God who is merciful, all-powerful, and unique[10] has guided mankind through prophets, revealed scriptures and natural signs.[3][11] The primary scriptures of Islam are the Quran, viewed by Muslims as the verbatim word of God, and the teachings and normative example (called the sunnah, composed of accounts called hadith) of Muhammad (c. 570–8 June 632 CE).
Muslims believe that Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed many times before through prophets including Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.[12][13][14] As for the Quran, Muslims consider it to be the unaltered and final revelation of God.[15] Like other Abrahamic religions, Islam also teaches a final judgment with the righteous rewarded paradise and unrighteous are punished in hell.[16] Religious concepts and practices include the five pillars of Islam, which are obligatory acts of worship, and following Islamic law, which touches on virtually every aspect of life and society, from banking and welfare to women and the environment.[17][18] The cities of Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem are home to the three holiest sites in Islam.[19]
Islam originated in the early 7th century in Mecca,[20] and by the 8th century the Islamic empire extended from Iberia in the west to the Indus River in the east. The Islamic Golden Age refers to the period traditionally dated from the 8th century to the 13th century when much of the historically Islamic world was experiencing a scientific, economic and cultural flourishing.[21][22][23] The expansion of the Muslim world involved various caliphates and empires, traders and conversion to Islam by missionary activities.[24]
Most Muslims are of one of two denominations:[25][26] Sunni (75–90%)[27] or Shia (10–20%).[28] About 13% of Muslims live in Indonesia,[29] the largest Muslim-majority country, 31% in South Asia,[30][31] the largest population of Muslims in the world,[32] 23% in the Middle East-North Africa,[33] where it is the dominant religion,[34] and 15% in Sub-Saharan Africa.[35][36][37] Sizable Muslim communities are also found in Europe, China, Russia and the Americas.[38] Converts and immigrant communities are found in almost every part of the world.
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