4chan /Islam/: Basics

>What is Islam?
Islam is the fastest growing major religion, and the world's second largest religion overall. The word 'Islam' translates to, "Submission to the will of God".

Islam was founded by a man named Muhammad, in the Hejaz region of what is now Saudi Arabia. Islam asserts that Muhammad was the final Prophet of the one God, often referred to by the Arabic term 'Allah'. Islam affirms the prophethood of those before Muhammad (henceforth referred to as Prophet Muhammad), including Jesus Christ, Moses, Abraham, and all others.


>The Founder Of Islam
Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca, in the year 570 AD of the Gregorian calendar, or 53 BH (similar to 'BC') of the Islamic calendar. He was orphaned at a young age, and spent much of his youth working as a merchant’s apprentice.

He received his first revelation from God in a cave called Hira near Mecca. This was the beginning of his prophethood.


>The Quran
The Quran is the holy book of Islam, and consists of verses revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. It is considered to be the literal word of God expressed to mankind through Prophet Muhammad.

The original language of the Quran is Arabic, and the Arabic language has been standardized around the Quran rather than the reverse. Thus the Quran is considered to be best read in Arabic. Whether a non-Arabic translation of the Quran is truly a Quran, or a lesser document is a matter of debate, but one that affects many Islamic rituals.

The Quran was first assembled and standardized from firsthand oral and written accounts by the third Caliph (secular leader and figurehead of Islam), Uthman, and has remained unchanged since.


>Prophets
Islam teaches that God conveyed His message by gradually sending prophets and that Islam is the completion of that message. The Quran states that God sent at least one messenger to every people. Thus, even non-Abrahamic religious figures are considered to be prophets by at least some Muslims (Zoroaster, Krishna, Buddha, etc.), though their works hold little to no influence on Islamic theology.


>The Five Pillars Of Islam
Islam has five key tenants:

Shahadah -
The Islamic declaration of faith, that their is none but God alone who is worthy of worship, and that Muhammad was his messenger.

Salat -
Prayer. Muslims are required to pray five times a day in order to develop their relationship with God.

Saum -
Fasting. Muslims are required to fast from dawn until dusk during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Voluntary fasting at other times is also encouraged. Those who would be harmed by fasting are not required to do so, but should make up the fasting missed when they are able.

Zakat -
Charity. Muslims are required to give at least 2.5% of their income to charity, and are encouraged to give more. On average, Muslims surpass all other religious groups for both monetary charitable contributions, and hours of voluteer work per year.

Hajj -
Muslims must make a pilgrimage to the Kaaba in Mecca at least once in their lifetime. Hajj is performed during the month Hajj of the Islamic calendar. Those who cannot perform the pilgrimage due to a handicap or other hardship are not required to do so, but should try to perform the Hajj as soon as the opportunity presents itself.