Islam was founded in Arabia by the prophet Mohammed in the early seventh century A.D. It is a strictly monotheistic religion with all worship centered on the one God Allah. The word Islam means "submission", and refers to the requirement that all believers submit to the will of Allah.
Adherents of Islam regard Mohammed as the last and most important prophet, the final successor to a line which includes Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and many others. His teachings emphasized the power of Allah, the Last Judgement, and the need for social and economic justice. After finally gaining power in the holy city of Mecca, he ordered the destruction of the old idols in the Kaaba, an ancient place of pilgrimage in the city, and converted it into the main shrine of the new religion. He also gave Jews and Christians religious autonomy because they had received earlier revelations from the one God. He died suddenly and unexpectedly in Medina on June 8, 632. But according to a legend, at the end of his life he traveled from Mecca to Jerusalem, met with Allah, and then made a journey through the Seven Heavens where he met the ancient prophets.
The sacred text of Islam is the Quran (Koran), which contains the actual words of Allah as revealed to Mohammed by the angel Gabriel. Another important text is the Hadith, a collection of the Prophet's sayings. The basic rules of conduct are contained in the Sharia, or Law. Adherents must pray toward Mecca five times a day, and must join in community worship every Friday at a mosque. Drinking alcohol and eating pork are forbidden, and there are also injunctions against gambling, fraud, slander, and usury. The manufacture or worship of images also isn't allowed.
After its founding in Arabia, Islam spread very rapidly throughout the neighboring countries of the Middle East, and ultimately much farther. In some areas it spread by military conquest and forced conversions. It is now a major religion throughout much of Asia and northern Africa, and there are significant numbers of adherents in Europe and North America.
In most Islamic societies a tax is collected by the community and redistributed according to need. This tax, known as the zakat, is generally 2.5% of a person's income.
Every believer must make the hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, at least once, if physically and financially able. The hajj symbolizes unity and equality. Muslims of different races, wealth, status, and gender gather in Mecca, and all are equal before Allah. One primary purpose of every visitor to the city is to go the Mosque and touch the Black Stone.
Islam.com -- This website is a comprehensive guide to Islam, as well as a portal to many other Islamic sites on the web. It includes articles about the history and philosophy of Islam, and the proper way of life for all believers.
IslamiCity -- This website provides access to Islamic radio, television, and news. It includes many articles, including several about the history and practice of the religion. There are also instructions for prayer, a mosque locator, and a Quran search feature.
Islam World -- This is an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to undertake a detailed study of Islam. Not only does it contains hundreds of articles covering all aspects of the religion, it also includes vital information for anyone who might want to convert.
Al-Islam.org -- This comprehensive site includes a gallery of photos, calligraphy, and artwork, a Shi'ite encyclopedia, a multilingual Quran project, and many other valuable features. It also provides access to a large digital library.
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