Islam is a monotheistic religion that believes in one God, Allah, and his final messenger, Muhammad. Islam is one of the three Abrahamic religions, along with Judaism and Christianity, that share a common origin and some common beliefs. Muslims follow the teachings of the Quran, the holy book of Islam, and the Sunnah, the example of the Prophet Muhammad. It has five pillars, or basic tenets, that every Muslim must practice:

Five Pillars of Islam

• Shahada: the declaration of faith, which states “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger.”

• Salah: the daily ritual prayers, which are performed five times a day facing the direction of Mecca, the holiest city of it.

• Zakat: the obligatory charity, which requires Muslims to give a certain percentage of their wealth to the poor and needy.

• Sawm: the fasting during the month of Ramadan, which commemorates the revelation of the Quran to Muhammad. Muslims abstain from food, drink, and sexual activity from dawn to sunset during this month.

• Hajj: the pilgrimage to Mecca, which every Muslim must perform at least once in their lifetime if they are able and can afford it.

Islam also has six articles of faith, or basic beliefs, that every Muslim must affirm:

• Belief in Allah, the only God, who is unique, eternal, and merciful.

• Belief in the angels, who are the servants and messengers of Allah.

• Belief in the scriptures, which include the Torah, the Psalms, the Gospel, and the Quran, as the revealed words of Allah. Muslims believe that the Quran is the final and uncorrupted scripture, while the others have been altered or misinterpreted by humans.

• Belief in the prophets, who are the chosen human beings who received guidance and revelation from Allah. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last and most authoritative prophet, and that he completed and perfected the message of previous prophets, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and others.

• Belief in the Day of Judgment, when Allah will resurrect all the dead and judge them according to their deeds and faith. Muslims believe that those who believe and do good deeds will enter Paradise, while those who disbelieve and do evil deeds will enter Hell.

• Belief in the divine decree, which means that Allah has predetermined everything that happens in the universe, and that humans have free will to choose between right and wrong.

Islam is a diverse and dynamic religion that has many different sects, schools of thought, and cultural expressions. The two main branches of it are Sunni and Shia, which differ mainly on the issue of succession after the death of Muhammad.

Sunnis believe that the first four caliphs, or leaders, of the Muslim community were rightly guided and chosen by consensus, while Shias believe that Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, was the rightful successor and the first of the twelve imams, or divinely appointed leaders. Sunnis and Shias also differ on some aspects of theology, law, and ritual, but they share the same core beliefs and practices of Islam.

Islam has also interacted with and influenced other religions throughout history, such as Judaism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and others.

Islam recognizes the People of the Book, or the Jews and Christians, as fellow monotheists who have received previous revelations from Allah, and grants them a special status in Islamic law. Islam also respects the beliefs and practices of other religions, as long as they do not contradict the basic principles of Islam.

Islam teaches that there is no compulsion in religion, and that everyone has the right to choose their own faith. Islam also encourages dialogue and cooperation with other religions, based on common values and mutual.

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