Islam is the youngest of the world’s major religions, meaning it was founded more recently compared

to religions like Judaism and Christianity. Despite this, it has grown rapidly and is one of the fastest-
growing religions in the world today, alongside Christianity.

As of the early 21st century, there are about 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide. Muslims are followers of
Islam, which means “submission” to the will of God.

Islam started in the Middle East, but today it is a global religion with followers across many continents:

 In Indonesia, the largest Muslim population in the world is found, with about 86% of Indonesians
identifying as Muslims.
 Other large Muslim communities exist in parts of Africa, the Americas, Europe, China, and the
former Soviet Union countries.

In summary, Islam is a relatively young but rapidly growing global religion with a diverse and widespread
population of followers all around the world.

The term Islam means both “surrender” and “peace.” This highlights the core idea in Islam that people
should surrender or submit fully to the will of Allah, who is the one supreme God in Islam.

The word Muslim means “one who submits,” referring to a person who follows this path of submission
to Allah.

Islam teaches that by submitting to Allah’s will, a person can achieve true peace — not just in this life on
earth, but also in the life after death. So, surrendering to God is seen as the way to live harmoniously
now and to be rewarded in the hereafter.

In short, Islam centers on surrendering to Allah’s will as the essential way to find peace in this life and
beyond.

Religious Beliefs in 7th-Century Arabia

In the 7th century CE, Arabia was largely animistic and polytheistic. This means that many people
believed in multiple gods and spirits, and they thought natural objects—like rocks, trees, and even
celestial bodies—could have spiritual significance or be inhabited by spirits.

 One of the central gods in this belief system was Allah, but at the time, Allah was not yet
understood in a monotheistic sense. Instead, Allah was seen as the chief god among many
others in a larger pantheon.
 Alongside Allah, people believed in various other gods, goddesses, and supernatural beings,
including jinn, which were spirits or demons believed to have the power to influence human
affairs.
Mecca and the Kaaba

 Mecca was an important city because it was located along major caravan trade routes, making
it a central hub for commerce and cultural exchange.
 At the center of Mecca was the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure that held religious significance.
 Inside or near the Kaaba was a large black stone, likely a meteorite, which was believed to
have spiritual power.
 The Kaaba was considered sacred, and people from all over Arabia would make pilgrimages to it
each year as part of their religious practices, even before Islam.

Presence of Other Religions

 Even before the rise of Islam, monotheistic religions like Judaism and Christianity were
already known in Arabia, mostly through traveling merchants and caravan communities.
 These religions had already introduced ideas of one God to the region, so when Muhammad
received his revelations, monotheism was not entirely new to the Arabian people.

Summary

Before Islam, Arabia was mostly polytheistic and animistic. People worshipped many gods, including
Allah as part of a wider pantheon. Mecca and the Kaaba were already sacred pilgrimage sites. However,
the region also had exposure to Judaism and Christianity, setting the stage for the later acceptance of
Muhammad’s monotheistic message.

Prophet Muhammad was born around 570-571 CE. Orphaned early and never formally educated, he
was illiterate but became well-known for his spirituality, kindness, and intelligence. He was respected for
resolving disputes and strongly opposed the widespread worship of idols in Arabia, believing instead in
one God (Allah). Muslims show respect for him and other prophets by saying "Peace be upon him" after
their names.

At age 25, Muhammad married Khadija, a wealthy widow who was 15 years older. Her wealth gave him
the freedom to focus on spiritual reflection. He spent time meditating, concerned about idol worship,
social injustices, and ideas about the end of the world found in Judaism and Christianity.

When Muhammad was about 40, during Ramadan, he received his first divine message from the angel
Gabriel on Mount Hira, commanding him to "read or recite in the name of the Lord." This began a series
of revelations over 23 years, which were later compiled as the Quran, Islam’s holy book.

Muhammad preached strict monotheism (belief in one God), which threatened the existing religious
practices that brought wealth to Mecca through pilgrimages. This caused opposition from many Meccans.

Despite resistance, Muhammad gained followers, starting with close family and friends like his wife
Khadija, cousin Ali, a freed slave named Zayd, and Abu Bakr, father of his second wife. Many early
converts were from lower social classes. Facing persecution, some followers fled to Abyssinia (modern
Ethiopia) for safety.

In 622 CE, Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Yathrib (later called Medina) because his life was
threatened and because he was invited to mediate tribal disputes there. This migration, called the hegira,
marks the start of the Islamic calendar. In Medina, Muhammad formed the first official Muslim community,
setting an example for future Islamic societies.

A year later, conflicts escalated into war between Muhammad’s followers and Meccan opponents. Over
the next seven years, Muhammad’s influence grew until he led a pilgrimage back to Mecca in 629. The
following year, Muhammad and his followers peacefully took control of Mecca, destroyed idols in the
Kaaba (except the sacred black stone), and re-established it as Islam’s central pilgrimage site, linking it to
Abraham and Ishmael.

After this, Islam expanded steadily, and Muhammad became both a spiritual and political leader. Smaller
tribes pledged loyalty to him. He married more women after Khadija’s death, mainly for political alliances;
his favorite wife was Aisha.

Muhammad died in 632 CE at age 63 without a clear successor, as his sons had died young. His father-
in-law, Abu Bakr, became the first caliph (leader of the Muslim community), marking the start of the
caliphate system. However, Abu Bakr’s succession eventually led to major divisions within Islam.

In summary, Muhammad was the founder of Islam who received divine revelations, established a
religious and political community, faced opposition but eventually united Arabia under Islam, and after his
death, left a leadership challenge that shaped Islamic history.

Spread of Islam

 Leadership after Muhammad: After Muhammad died, there were challenges in leadership and
choosing successors (caliphs), but Islam still spread rapidly beyond Arabia.
 Early Conquests: The second caliph, Umar, led Muslim armies to conquer important regions
including Damascus, Syria, and Iran. In 638 CE, Jerusalem was captured by Muslims, who
respected and preserved the city’s religious significance.
 Expansion into Africa and Asia: Egypt was conquered by Muslims in 640 CE, and Muslim
forces continued to move across northern Africa. By 647 CE, much of Asia Minor (modern-day
Turkey) was under Muslim rule.
 Islamic Dynasties and Further Spread:
o The Umayyad dynasty expanded the Islamic empire westward into parts of southern
France and eastward toward China.
o Muslim armies spread through the Mediterranean and into Spain.
o The Abbasid dynasty moved the Islamic capital to Baghdad, Iraq, leading to a 500-year
period of rule during which Islam spread into India and parts of China.
o Later, Islam reached sub-Saharan Africa (places like Sudan and Somalia) and West Africa
through Muslim traders. By the 1400s, Islam had even spread as far as Indonesia in the
Pacific.
  Cultural and Scientific Contributions: During its peak, Islamic civilization became a global
center of learning and innovation. Muslim scholars made major advances in fields such as
science, medicine, geography, physics, architecture, art, literature, and history. One of the biggest
contributions was in mathematics, including the introduction of Arabic numerals, algebra, and the
concept of zero. For about 800 years, Muslim intellectual influence was dominant in the world.
 Decline and Challenges: By the late 19th century, Muslim control over many regions in North
Africa and Southeast Asia weakened due to colonization by European powers like Britain, France,
and the Netherlands. This caused a decline in Islamic political and cultural influence.
 Hope for Revival: Muslims believe that through renewing and purifying their faith, Islam can
regain strength and experience a revival in influence and spirit.

Summary:

After Muhammad’s death, Islam quickly expanded through military conquest and trade, spreading across
the Middle East, North Africa, parts of Europe, Asia, and eventually into the Pacific. Islamic civilization
made important cultural and scientific contributions that shaped the world. However, colonialism in the
19th century caused a decline in Muslim power, leading many Muslims to hope for a future revival of their
faith.

Islam today faces a challenging and uncertain situation, described as being at a crossroads—meaning it
has important choices ahead that will shape its future.

There are three main directions Islam could take:

1. Traditionalist Muslims: These followers want to keep Islam as it has been historically practiced,
emphasizing peace and the original teachings of the faith.
2. Progressivist Muslims: These Muslims support reforming or modernizing Islam to adapt it to
contemporary issues, hoping to bring positive change and renewal to the religion.
3. Radical or Extreme Muslims: This group follows a more extreme interpretation of Islam, which
can sometimes lead to violence or attacks on non-Muslim countries, claiming to act in the name of
Allah.

Unfortunately, the violent acts carried out by some who claim religious justification have damaged Islam’s
reputation worldwide, causing people to associate the whole religion with extremism, even though many
Muslims reject violence.

Looking ahead, these three perspectives are likely to continue competing for influence within the Muslim
world. Islam will be engaged in a kind of struggle for its “heart and soul,” meaning the religion is trying to
decide which path it will follow.

Because of this, it will be very important for people everywhere to try to understand the true, core
teachings of Islam to better navigate the unfolding events and challenges.

Summary:
Islam today is at a critical point, with traditional, reformist, and radical groups all influencing its future.
Violence by extremists has hurt Islam’s image, but the religion is in a struggle over its identity and
direction. Understanding Islam’s true core will be essential as this unfolds.

Traditions

The Quran

 The Quran is the holy book of Islam, and the word "Quran" literally means "recitation." Muslims
believe it contains the direct and final words of Allah (God) as revealed to the Prophet
Muhammad.
 The Quran serves as a complete and unaltered guide for how Muslims should live their personal
lives and conduct themselves in their communities.
 The Quran is always preserved in its original language, Arabic, and it is rarely translated
because Muslims believe translating it could distort or change its true meaning. Because of this,
many Muslims try to memorize the entire Quran in Arabic, no matter what their native language
is.
 The Quran has 114 chapters called surahs, which are ordered by length rather than by topic or
time of revelation. Each surah has a unique title based on a distinctive word or theme in it, like
"The Cow" or "Night."
 The Quran includes praises of Allah, stories about prophets, warnings about the end of the world,
and guidelines on how to live morally and righteously.
 Muslims respect the holy scriptures of other religions (like the Bible and Torah) but believe that
the Quran is the final and most complete revelation from God, correcting and completing
earlier messages.
 The Quran plays a major role in Muslim life: it is used in prayers, recited, chanted, and meditated
upon. Muslims must be ritually pure (clean) when touching the Quran as a sign of respect.
 Besides being a religious text, the Quran also influences Arabic language rules and is used to
teach children how to read Arabic.
 The Quran also inspires Islamic art, especially calligraphy and decorative patterns on buildings.
 Overall, the Quran is the foundation of Islam, guiding speech, behavior, law, and spirituality for
Muslims.

Summary:

The Quran is Islam’s sacred book containing the exact words of Allah in Arabic. It guides Muslims’
personal and social lives and must be memorized and respected in its original form. It complements
earlier scriptures and influences religion, language, law, and art in Muslim communities.

No God but Allah

 Islam is strictly monotheistic, which means Muslims believe in only one God, Allah. There is no
room in Islam for the worship of any other gods besides Allah, who is described as living, self-
sufficient, and eternal.
  The central Muslim belief is summarized by the phrase, "There is no God but Allah." Another
common phrase is "Allahu akbar," meaning "God is the greatest." These sayings reflect the
Muslim worldview: Allah is a personal, unique God, and no one else can be God.
 The first chapter (surah) of the Quran emphasizes that Allah is transcendent (beyond human
understanding), all-powerful (omnipotent), the creator, ruler, and judge of everything.
 Because Allah is beyond physical form, Muslims do not create or display any images or
statues of Allah in mosques or homes. In fact, making pictures of people is also discouraged or
seen as sacrilegious because humans are made in Allah’s image, and depicting them might lead
to idolatry or disrespect.
 Humans learn about Allah in two main ways:
1. By observing creation: If people look at the natural world and creation without idol
worship or bias, they can recognize the Creator.
2. Through Allah’s direct revelation in the Quran, which Muslims believe is the literal word
of God. Listening to or reciting the Quran is considered a sacred act.
 Islam teaches that Allah is the same God worshiped in Judaism and Christianity, but Muslims
believe that the earlier scriptures of these religions were altered or corrupted over time, so the
Quran is the final and most accurate revelation.
 Muslims believe in a balance between Allah’s absolute control over everything (fatalism) and
human free will. They believe that everything happens by Allah’s will, but humans still have the
ability to make choices. This belief gives many Muslims comfort and faith that Allah is in control.

Summary:

Islam believes in one God, Allah, who is eternal and beyond any physical form. Muslims learn about Allah
through nature and the Quran, which is Allah’s final revealed word. Allah is the same God as in Judaism
and Christianity, but Muslims see the Quran as the pure truth. Muslims accept both Allah’s power over all
things and human free will, finding peace in trusting Allah’s plan.

BRANCHES OF ISLAM

 Unlike many other major religions, which often split into many different groups or denominations,
Islam has remained relatively united. Muslims believe this unity is a sign of the strength and
clarity of Islam’s core teachings, especially its message of inclusiveness—meaning it welcomes
all people and emphasizes a shared belief in one God.
 However, Islam is still divided into two main branches, which came about mainly because of a
disagreement over who should have succeeded Prophet Muhammad as the leader of the Muslim
community after his death.
 This division centers on the question of rightful leadership or succession. The two groups
differ in their views on who was the legitimate successor to Muhammad, which has shaped
different traditions and practices within Islam.

Summary:

Islam has stayed mostly united compared to other religions, thanks to its clear and inclusive teachings.
Still, it is divided into two main branches because of disagreements about who should have led the
Muslim community after Muhammad’s death.
SUNNI

 Sunni is the largest branch of Islam, making up about 85-90% of all Muslims worldwide.
 The name "Sunni" comes from "Ahl al-Sunnah," meaning "people of the tradition" — specifically,
the traditions of Prophet Muhammad.
 Sunnis believe that the leader of the Muslim community, called the Caliph, should be chosen by
consensus or election among the community’s elders or leaders.
 After Prophet Muhammad’s death, Sunnis supported Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s close companion
and father-in-law, as the first rightful Caliph.
 Sunni Islam emphasizes following the Quran, the Hadith (sayings and actions of Muhammad),
and the consensus of the Muslim community as guidance.
 Sunni Muslims have different schools of law (madhhabs) such as Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and
Hanbali, which help interpret Islamic teachings.

In short:

Sunni Islam is the largest group of Muslims who believe leadership should be chosen by the community
and follow the traditions of Prophet Muhammad closely. They accepted Abu Bakr as the first leader after
Muhammad.