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Its founder was [[Muhammad]] (570-632 A.D.), a successful merchant in [[Mecca]].  The word Islam means "submission to God."  According to Islamic (Muslim) beliefs, Muhammad founded Islam based on revelations from the Angel Gabriel, whom many Christians recognize as having the same name as the angel who appeared to [[Mary the mother of Jesus|Mary]], the mother of Jesus.  (The angel Gabriel is also mentioned in the [[Old Testament]], such as in the [[Book of Daniel]].)  In fact, Islam treats Mary, Jesus and the Old Testament prophets as very holy people, and Islam considers [[Abraham]] as their father just as the [[Jewish]] people do.  Muslims considered Christians and Jews "people of the book," and allowed them special rights in the early days of Islam, a policy that has changed since then.

Its founder was [[Muhammad]] (570-632 A.D.), a successful merchant in [[Mecca]].  The word Islam means "submission to God."  According to Islamic (Muslim) beliefs, Muhammad founded Islam based on revelations from the Angel Gabriel, whom many Christians recognize as having the same name as the angel who appeared to [[Mary the mother of Jesus|Mary]], the mother of Jesus.  (The angel Gabriel is also mentioned in the [[Old Testament]], such as in the [[Book of Daniel]].)  In fact, Islam treats Mary, Jesus and the Old Testament prophets as very holy people, and Islam considers [[Abraham]] as their father just as the [[Jewish]] people do.  Muslims considered Christians and Jews "people of the book," and allowed them special rights in the early days of Islam, a policy that has changed since then.

Muhammad preached a new [[monotheistic]] religion based on only one god, Allah, at a time when Mecca was still [[polytheistic]].  Located in Mecca was the “Ka’aba”, a temple which housed the “Black Stone,” an important religious relic of the [[Arab]]s’ polytheistic religion.  Businessmen in Mecca—who made a substantial profit off of the swarms of [[pilgrims]] who came to see the holy shrine—feared that they might lose customers from Muhammad’s preaching and they drove him out in A.D. 622 in what is known as the “hijra” or withdrawal.  Muhammad’s flight (to the town of [[Medina]]) marks the first year of the Islamic calendar.

Muhammad preached a new [[monotheistic]] religion based on only one god, Allah, at a time when Mecca was still [[polytheistic]].  Located in Mecca was the "Ka'aba", a temple which housed the "Black Stone," an important religious relic of the [[Arab]]s' polytheistic religion.  Businessmen in Mecca — who made a substantial profit off of the swarms of [[pilgrims]] who came to see the holy shrine — feared that they might lose customers from Muhammad's preaching and they drove him out in A.D. 622 in what is known as the "hijra", or withdrawal.  Muhammad's flight (to the town of [[Medina]]) marks the first year of the Islamic calendar.

Muhammad formed a community of this new faith, called the “umma”, and they began to help the poor.  His teachings were recorded in the [[Qur’an]] or Koran, which is the bible of Islam.  Muhammad then returned to Mecca in A.D. 630 with his followers, and conquered it.  By 632, Islam controlled nearly all of [[Arabia]].  It has quickly spread and expanded both in popularity and power ever since, at times growing faster than even Christianity.  Islam is most popular in the Middle East, Arabia, North Africa and Central Asia.  [[Pakistan]] is Muslim, while [[India]] is [[Hindu]], causing those two countries to be in perpetual conflict with each other.  At one point Islam became popular in [[Spain]], but that country was later retaken by [[Catholicism]].

Muhammad formed a community for this new religion, called the "umma".  Their activities included helping the poor.  Muhammed's teachings were recorded in the [[Qur'an]] or Koran, which is the bible of Islam.  Muhammad then returned to Mecca in A.D. 630 with his followers, and conquered it by force.  By 632, Islam controlled nearly all of [[Arabia]].  It has quickly spread and expanded both in popularity and power ever since, at times growing faster than even Christianity.  Islam had more adherents than any other religion in many parts of the Middle East, Arabia, North Africa and Central Asia.  [[Pakistan]] is Muslim, while [[India]] is [[Hindu]], causing those two countries to be in perpetual conflict with each other.  At one point Islam became the most dominant religion in [[Spain]], but that country was later retaken by [[Catholicism]].

The tremendous growth of Islam is due to its “Five Pillars of Islam” and moral commands set forth in the Qur’an (Koran).  The Five Pillars of Islam are these:

Islam is different from Christianity in being having a military/political viewpoint in addition to a set of religious beliefs.  Islam's religious beliefs are set forth in the "Five Pillars of Islam" and moral commands set forth in the Qur'an (Koran).  The Five Pillars of Islam are these:

1.  Submission to one god, Allah, whose prophet was Muhammad.  This is simple and powerful.  It is easy for everyone to understand.

1.  Submission to one god, Allah, whose prophet was Muhammad.  This is simple and powerful:  '''''submit'''''.  It is easy for everyone to understand quickly.

   

   

2.  Prayer to Allah five times a day while facing Mecca.  This is more than many Christians pray.

2.  Prayer to Allah five times a day while facing Mecca.  This is more than many Christians pray.

4.  Almsgiving:  Muslims must donate to the poor.

4.  Almsgiving:  Muslims must donate to the poor.

5.  The [[Hajj]] or pilgrimage at least once during a Muslim’s lifetime to Mecca, where Muhammad himself made a hajj from A.D. 629 to 632.

5.  The [[Hajj]] or pilgrimage at least once during a Muslim's lifetime to Mecca, where Muhammad himself made a hajj from A.D. 629 to 632.

Islam also has a social law known as the “[[shariah]]” to dictate how people should relate to each other.  The shariah can impose harsh punishments pursuant to the Qur’an for wrongful conduct.  Islam strictly prohibits alcohol, drugs, [[gambling]], [[prostitution]], [[homosexuality]], [[pornography]] and other harmful activity.  [[Abortion]] is illegal under Islamic law.   

Islam also has a social law known as the “[[shariah]]” to dictate how people should relate to each other.  The shariah can impose harsh punishments pursuant to the Qur’an for wrongful conduct.  Islam strictly prohibits alcohol, drugs, [[gambling]], [[prostitution]], [[homosexuality]], [[pornography]] and other harmful activity.  [[Abortion]] is illegal under Islamic law.