The Muslim religion - submission to God's will - is a monotheistic religion in which the Supreme Deity is Allah, and the Founder and Chief Prophet is Mohammed. Islam is also refered to as Muslimism and Mohammedanism mostly by non-Muslims.

Mohammed was an Arab born in the city of Mecca. He believed he had been sent to warn and guide people, to call them to worship God. He taught that there is only one God and that He, Mohammed, was only a messenger. Those who believe in one God and accept Mohammed as His messenger are called Muslims. The Largest Muslim communities exist in the Middle East, North Africa, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Central Asia. In Europe, Islam is the principle religion in Western Turkey and Albania.

Mohammed's preachings angered and frightened the Meccans and some even plotted to kill Mohammed. He and his followers fled to the city of Madina in 622. By 630, they returned to Mecca, victorious. The Muslims destroyed all the idols in the sacred shrine of Mecca known as Kaaba and the area around it became the most sacred Mosque. The Meccans then accepted Islam and acknowledged Mohammed as Prophet. Mecca and Madina are sacred cities of Islam. Mohammed's death in 632 brought a leadership crisis. Some elected his friend Abu Bakr as the first Caliph (successor). They became the majority - Sunni branch of Islam. Others supported Mohammed's son - in - law. These groups formed Shia or Shiite branch.

Muslims united millions of different people socially and culturally into one great empire. They encouraged learning as a part of religious duty and preserved much of the classical knowledge of the ancient world. The Muslims also built magnificent mosques and other structures - Allhambra in Spain, and the Taj Mahal in India.

The companions of Mohammed preserved the revelations (Divine Messages) that he received from God by memorizing them or writing down. They later combined them to form the Holy Book of Quran (Koran), an Arabic word meaning "recitation". Muslims believe the Quran to be the unaltered word of God recited in Arabic to Mohammed by the Angel Gabriel.

The five pillars
A Muslim's chief religious duties are known as the Five Pillars. These are:

1. The profession of Faith
2. Prayer
3. Alms giving to the poor
4. Fasting
5. Pilgrimage

Prayers
Muslims can offer prayers to God (personal) at any time they wish, but there are five ritual prayers to be performed each day - at dawn, at noon, in the afternoon, in the evening, and at night fall. Before prayer, Muslims perform ritual ablutions, known as WUDU. This consists of rinsing the face, hands, and feet with clean water - as a mark of respect to God. The SALAT (ritual prayer) is performed facing the direction of Mecca. The Salat consists of reciting certain passages from the Quran in combination with special body movements. It is customary to offer a private prayed (Dua) at the end of Salat.

A crier or Muezzin announces the time for prayer by calling out the ADHAN (call to prayer). Friday noon prayer is the obligatory congregational prayer. Alms giving to the poor and needy is a duty required from every Muslim. It is called ZAKAT.

Ramadan or Ramzan
Fasting in the ninth month in the Muslim year is the Holy month of fasting. In that month, they give up eating and drinking during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset. At the end of each day, during Ramadan, Muslims break their fast at a joyful family meal. The main aim of the fast is to please God and to draw near Him.

Pilgrimage to Mecca is known as HAJJ. Muslims are requested to perform Hajj once in a lifetime.

Muslims take on the pilgrims clothing IHRAM which consist of two simple lengths of unsewn white cloth, one to cover the lower half of the body and one for the upper half, worn both by rich and poor alike. Women are allowed to wear their own clothing, but they must not cover their faces, to show that all are equal. The Hajj consists of succession of rituals that include walking around the shrine of Kaaba and visiting certain sacred sites.

According to historians Islam forged ahead with the help of a sword.