A few basic facts about Islamic belief...

• The founder of Islam was Muhammad (pbuh)
• he was born in (approximately) 570 CE
• the Islamic holy city is Mecca
• the holy book is the Qur'an (Koran)
• Muslims worship in a mosque
• Muslims pray 5 times a day and always face Mecca when praying
• the Muslim symbol is the crescent moon and star

• Islam means submission to God's will which brings peace to the world. Muslims believe it was the original religion given by God to Adam, the first man and first prophet

• Muslims believe there is only one God.  The worst sin for a Muslim is to associate other beings or things with God (so Muslims cannot worship pop stars or football heroes)

• Muslims believe that God's absolute and final word (the Qur'an) was given to Muhammad directly by God

• Islam is not only seen as a religion but as a community - all the cultural laws are based on the teachings of the Qur'an

• Muslim belief is that the purpose of life is to worship God.  They therefore practise the Five Pillars of belief, prayer, giving to the poor, fasting in Ramadan, and going on pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj).  If all this is done then after death they will go to heaven for eternity                                                                      

• www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/people/features/world_religions/islam.shtml An introduction to Islam from the BBC.

• www.unn.ac.uk/societies/islamic/ A site maintained by British students.  Very informative.

• www.islamic.org.uk Interesting site developed to answer the questions often posed to Muslims.

• www.discoverislam.com Muslim site with interesting information.

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