Although rare, this can include military jihad if a “just war” is needed. A central idea in Islam is “jihad,” which means “struggle.” While the term has been used negatively in mainstream culture, Muslims believe it refers to internal and external efforts to defend their faith.They believe there will be a day of judgment, and life after death. Followers worship Allah by praying and reciting the Quran.Muslims also revere some material found in the Judeo-Christian Bible. The Quran (or Koran) is the major holy text of Islam.Some important Islamic holy places include the Kaaba shrine in Mecca, the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, and the Prophet Muhammad’s mosque in Medina.Mosques are places where Muslims worship.Muslims contend that Muhammad was the final prophet. They respect some of the same prophets as Jews and Christians, including Abraham, Moses, Noah and Jesus. Muslims believe several prophets were sent to teach Allah’s law.Islam teaches that Allah’s word was revealed to the prophet Muhammad through the angel Gabriel.
They believe that nothing can happen without Allah’s permission, but humans have free will. Followers of Islam aim to live a life of complete submission to Allah.Muslims are monotheistic and worship one, all-knowing God, who in Arabic is known as Allah.The word “Islam” means “submission to the will of God.”.Today, the faith is spreading rapidly throughout the world. Islam started in Mecca, in modern-day Saudi Arabia, during the time of the prophet Muhammad’s life. Although its roots go back further, scholars typically date the creation of Islam to the 7th century, making it the youngest of the major world religions. Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity, with about 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide.