What Is Islam, and What Do Muslims Believe?

*A complete guide to Islamic faith, worship, history, sacred texts and everyday Muslim life.*

**Islam is a monotheistic, Abrahamic faith centred on worshipping the one God—Allah—without partners and living according to His guidance.** Muslims believe that God sent prophets throughout human history, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, and that Muhammad ﷺ is the final prophet. The Quran is Islam’s final revealed scripture, while the Prophet’s authentic Sunnah explains how its teachings are lived.

The Arabic word **Islam** conveys willing submission and devotion to God. A **Muslim** is a person who submits to God. Islam is therefore the religion; Muslim is the follower. Its teachings unite faith, worship, character, family life, social responsibility, justice and preparation for the life after death.

This guide answers two connected questions—**what is Islam, and what do Muslims believe?**—before explaining the Five Pillars, sacred texts, history, major traditions and commonly searched terms. Topics on which Muslims or jurists differ are identified as such instead of being presented as false consensus.

Islam at a glance

What do Muslims believe?

**Muslims believe in one God, Allah, who created and sustains everything and alone deserves worship.** They believe that Allah guided humanity through prophets, including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, and that Muhammad ﷺ is His final messenger. Muslims accept the Quran as Allah’s final revelation and the authentic Sunnah as the Prophet’s authoritative teaching and example.

The six foundational beliefs of **iman** are belief in Allah, His angels, His revealed books, His messengers, the Last Day and divine decree. These beliefs shape a Muslim’s understanding of human purpose: this life is a meaningful test, every person is morally accountable, repentance remains open while one lives, and all people will return to Allah for perfectly just judgment.

Belief in Islam is meant to produce action and character. Muslims worship through the Five Pillars, seek honesty and justice, honour parents, care for neighbours and people in need, avoid oppression and continually ask Allah for guidance and forgiveness. Individual Muslims do not always live up to these teachings, so Islam should be understood through its sources—not judged only by the conduct of particular people or governments.

What does the word Islam mean?

**Islam** comes from the Arabic root *s-l-m*, which carries meanings connected to peace, safety, wholeness and surrender. As the name of the religion, Islam refers to willingly surrendering oneself to Allah. It should not be reduced to either “peace” alone or “submission” understood as passive defeat. It means devoted submission to the Creator—the path through which the believer seeks true peace.

The Quran uses *islam* in the sense of sincere submission to God and describes Abraham as one who submitted to Him. Muslims therefore understand Islam not as a new tribal religion but as the final form of the monotheistic way preached by all genuine prophets.

What is the difference between Islam and Muslim?

The distinction is grammatical and simple:

• **Islam** is the religion or way of submission to Allah.
• **A Muslim** is a person who follows Islam.
• **Muslims** are the people who follow it.

“Islam religion” and “Muslim religion” are sometimes used in everyday English, but *Islam* is the accurate name of the faith. A country, food or building may be described as **Islamic** when it relates to Islam; a person is described as **Muslim**.

What religion is Islam?

Islam is a **monotheistic** religion because it teaches that only one God deserves worship. It is called **Abrahamic** because it identifies with the faith of Abraham and affirms many prophets also known in Judaism and Christianity.

Islam is also a complete **deen**. The Arabic word *deen* is broader than private spirituality: it can mean religion, way of life, obedience and the moral order by which a person lives. Islam addresses worship and inward faith while also giving principles for character, family, finance, community and justice.

It is not an ethnicity, nationality or single culture. Muslims may be Arab, African, Asian, European, Indigenous, Latino or from any other background. The Quran says that humanity was made into peoples and tribes so that people may know one another, and that true honour lies in God-consciousness—not race ([Quran 49:13](https://quran.com/49/13)).

Based on Pew Research Center’s estimates for 2020, published in 2025, Muslims numbered about two billion and represented approximately 25.6% of the global population. Islam belongs to no one country: most Muslims are not Arab, and large Muslim populations live across South and Southeast Asia as well as Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.

Who is Allah in Islam?

**Allah is the one God: the Creator, Sustainer, all-knowing, all-powerful, perfectly just and abundantly merciful.** Allah is not a human, spirit, idol, force of nature or member of a divine family. He has no partner, parent, child or equal.

The shortest comprehensive Quranic statement of this belief is Surah al-Ikhlas:

“Say, He is Allah—One … He has never had offspring, nor was He born. And there is none comparable to Him.” — [Quran 112:1–4](https://quran.com/112)

Arabic-speaking Jews and Christians also use the word *Allah* for God. What distinguishes Islamic theology is not the Arabic word but **tawhid**: affirming Allah’s absolute oneness and directing every act of worship to Him alone.

What is tawhid in Islam?

**Tawhid** means recognising and affirming Allah’s oneness. It includes believing that Allah alone creates and governs, that only He deserves worship, and that His names and attributes belong to Him in a manner befitting His majesty.

What is shirk in Islam?

**Shirk** is associating a partner with Allah in worship or attributing divinity to something besides Him. It is the gravest sin because it contradicts the purpose of worship. A person must not casually accuse others of shirk; applying that ruling to individuals requires knowledge, evidence and attention to intention and circumstance.

Prophets in Islam and the role of Muhammad ﷺ

Muslims believe Allah sent messengers to guide humanity. The Quran names Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Jonah, John, Jesus and others. Muslims must honour all genuine prophets and may not accept some while rejecting others ([Quran 2:136](https://quran.com/2:136)).

Who is Muhammad in Islam?

Muhammad ibn Abdullah ﷺ was born in Makkah around 570 CE. Muslims believe revelation began when he was about forty and continued for approximately twenty-three years. He called people to worship Allah alone, abandon injustice and idolatry, care for the vulnerable, speak truthfully and prepare for the Last Day.

He migrated from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE—an event called the **Hijrah**—and established a religious and civic community there. He died in 632 CE. Muslims regard him as the final prophet, as stated in [Quran 33:40](https://quran.com/33/40), but they do not worship him or attribute divinity to him.

Is Muhammad the founder of Islam?

From an external historical perspective, Islam emerged as a distinct religious community in seventh-century Arabia through Muhammad’s preaching. From the Islamic perspective, Muhammad ﷺ did not invent a new faith: he restored and completed the same essential call to worship one God taught by Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and every prophet.

Calling him Islam’s “founder” may be convenient in a historical survey, but **final prophet and messenger** better represents Muslim belief.

Who is Jesus in Islam?

Jesus is **ʿIsa ibn Maryam**, Jesus son of Mary. Muslims believe that he:

• is the Messiah and a mighty messenger of Allah;
• was born miraculously to the Virgin Mary;
• performed miracles by Allah’s permission;
• called people to worship the one God;
• was not God or the literal son of God;
• will return before the end of time.

Mary has an honoured place in Islam, and an entire Quranic chapter is named after her. The Quran’s account of Jesus’s miraculous birth appears in [Surah Maryam 19:16–36](https://quran.com/19/16-36).

What is the holy book of Islam?

The **Quran** is the sacred text and final scripture of Islam. Muslims believe it is the word of Allah revealed in Arabic to Muhammad ﷺ through the angel Gabriel. It contains 114 chapters, called **surahs**, of different lengths. An individual Quranic verse is an **ayah**, meaning a sign.

Muslims recite the Quran in prayer, memorise it, study its meaning and use sound scholarship to understand its commands, narratives, ethics and guidance. A translation communicates the meaning of the Quran but is not identical to the Arabic revelation in every linguistic respect.

The Quran is not called the “Islamic Bible.” Muslims believe that Allah originally revealed scripture to earlier prophets—including the Torah to Moses, the Psalms to David and the Gospel to Jesus—but regard the Quran as the final criterion and preserved revelation.

What are Hadith and Sunnah?

• **Sunnah** is the normative teaching, practice and approved example of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
• **Hadith** are transmitted reports describing his words, actions, approvals and characteristics.

Hadith collections are not all equal. Scholars examine chains of transmission and text, classifying reports by reliability. The Quran has a unique status as revelation recited in worship; hadith literature records the Prophetic explanation and application of revelation.

Islam, iman and ihsan

The famous Hadith of Gabriel gives a concise map of the religion. It distinguishes three connected dimensions:

1. **Islam:** outward submission through the Five Pillars.
2. **Iman:** inward faith in six foundational beliefs.
3. **Ihsan:** spiritual excellence—worshipping Allah with awareness that He sees you.

See [Sahih Muslim 8a](https://sunnah.com/muslim:8a) for the full narration.

The six beliefs of iman

**Aqidah** means creed or the organised study of Islamic beliefs. **Iman** is living faith, not merely familiarity with doctrines. **Ihsan** seeks sincerity, presence and beauty in worship and conduct.

What are the Five Pillars of Islam?

The Five Pillars are the central acts structuring Muslim religious life. The Prophet ﷺ summarised them in [Sahih al-Bukhari 8](https://sunnah.com/bukhari:8).

The pillars are not the whole of Islam. They are its foundational acts; honesty, justice, family duties, repentance and good character remain essential.

1. What is the Shahada in Islam?

The **Shahada** is the testimony of faith: *There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.* It is also called the **shahadah**, while South Asian Muslims may use **kalimah** or **kalma** for formulas expressing faith.

The Shahada joins conviction with commitment. The first half rejects every false object of worship; the second accepts the Prophetic guidance through which Allah is obeyed. A sincere person enters Islam by affirming it with understanding and belief.

2. What is salah or namaz in Islam?

**Salah** is the formal ritual prayer offered five times daily: Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha. *Salat* is another transliteration; *namaz* is the common Persian, Turkish and South Asian term.

Prayer includes standing, Quranic recitation, bowing and prostration. It connects worshippers directly to Allah without a priest acting as an intermediary.

Related terms include:

• **Adhan/azan/azaan:** the public call announcing prayer time.
• **Iqamah:** the shorter call immediately before congregational prayer.
• **Rakʿah/rakat:** one unit of standing, bowing and prostration.
• **Qiblah:** the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah.
• **Wudu:** ritual washing normally required before salah.
• **Ghusl:** full ritual bathing required after major ritual impurity and in certain other situations.
• **Nafl prayer:** optional prayer beyond the obligatory prayers.
• **Qiyam:** voluntary standing in prayer, especially at night.

Prayer times depend on the sun’s position, so there is no single universal clock time. Muslims use local mosque calendars or reliable prayer-time calculations.

3. What is zakat in Islam?

**Zakat** or **zakah** is obligatory almsgiving on specified forms of wealth when conditions such as a minimum threshold and holding period are met. It purifies wealth and supports eligible recipients listed in [Quran 9:60](https://quran.com/9/60).

Zakat is distinct from **sadaqah**, voluntary charity. The often-quoted 2.5% rate applies to certain monetary assets after the relevant conditions are satisfied; not every asset follows the same calculation.

4. What is fasting in Islam?

**Sawm**, commonly called *roza* in South Asia, is fasting. During Ramadan, accountable Muslims abstain from food, drink and marital intimacy from dawn until sunset while also guarding speech and behaviour. The Quran explains the spiritual purpose as developing **taqwa**, or God-consciousness ([Quran 2:183](https://quran.com/2:183)).

• **Ramadan:** the ninth Islamic month and obligatory fasting month.
• **Iftar:** the meal that breaks the fast at sunset.
• **Suhoor:** the pre-dawn meal.
• **Fidya:** compensation, commonly feeding a person in need, for certain people permanently unable to fast; rules require individual guidance.
• **Iʿtikaf:** a retreat in the mosque for focused worship, especially in Ramadan’s final days.
• **Laylat al-Qadr:** the Night of Decree, a blessed night in Ramadan associated with the Quran’s revelation.

Children, travellers, pregnant or nursing women, menstruating women, older people and those who are ill have different rulings depending on circumstances. Islamic law does not require a person to harm themselves through fasting.

5. What is Hajj in Islam?

**Hajj** is the major pilgrimage to Makkah during Dhul-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar. It is required once in a lifetime for a Muslim who is physically and financially able and whose dependants’ needs are secure.

Pilgrims enter a consecrated state called *ihram* and perform rites connected to the Kaaba, the plain of Arafat, Mina and other sacred locations. Hajj commemorates submission to Allah and events associated with Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael.

**Umrah** is a lesser pilgrimage that can be performed at most times of the year. It does not replace Hajj.

Makkah, the Kaaba and Islam’s holy places

What is Makkah in Islam?

Makkah, also written Mecca, is Islam’s holiest city. It contains the Sacred Mosque and the Kaaba. Muslims able to do so travel there for Hajj and Umrah.

What is the Kaaba in Islam?

The **Kaaba** is the cube-shaped sanctuary at the centre of the Sacred Mosque. Muslims face it during prayer as a single qiblah, but they do **not** worship the building. They worship Allah alone. Islamic tradition associates the Kaaba’s foundations with Abraham and Ishmael.

Madinah and Al-Aqsa

**Madinah** is the city to which the Prophet migrated. It contains the Prophet’s Mosque and was the home of the first enduring Muslim community.

**Al-Aqsa Mosque** in Jerusalem is Islam’s third sacred mosque and is associated with the Prophet’s Night Journey. Jerusalem was also the earliest qiblah. These sites are honoured, but holiness belongs to Allah and worship is directed only to Him.

What is a mosque in Islam?

A **mosque**, or **masjid**, is a place dedicated to worship, especially congregational salah, Quran study, teaching and community service. Muslims may pray anywhere clean and appropriate; Allah is not believed to reside inside a mosque.

Friday’s congregational prayer is called **Jumuʿah**. Friday is Islam’s principal weekly congregational day, but it is not a Sabbath on which all work is universally forbidden.

Islamic leadership terms

Islam has scholars and institutions but no single worldwide priesthood or universally recognised human head.

What are Sharia, fiqh and fatwa?

These words are often confused.

Sharia

**Sharia** literally evokes a path to water. Religiously, it is Allah’s revealed guidance concerning worship, ethics, family life, transactions, justice and human welfare. It is much broader than criminal penalties.

Fiqh

**Fiqh** is human scholarly understanding of practical Islamic rulings from the sources. Because jurists may interpret evidence differently, fiqh includes multiple schools and legitimate disagreements. Sharia is divine guidance; fiqh is the disciplined human effort to understand and apply it.

Fatwa

A **fatwa** is a qualified scholar’s non-binding answer to a legal-religious question. It is not automatically a court sentence. A fatwa can change with relevant facts, local law, custom, necessity and the evidence presented.

Dar al-Islam

**Dar al-Islam**, “the abode of Islam,” is a category developed by premodern jurists for territories under Muslim rule or where Islamic life was secure. Its definitions varied. It is not the name of a country, not one of Islam’s pillars and not a simple Quranic map of the modern world. Contemporary scholars debate how far classical territorial categories apply to nation-states and citizenship today.

Halal, haram and the categories of Islamic rulings

**Halal** means permitted or lawful. **Haram** means prohibited. The two terms apply to more than food.

Classical Sunni legal theory commonly uses five broad classifications:

Not everything unfamiliar is haram, and not everything culturally popular is halal. Rulings require evidence and competence.

What food is forbidden in Islam?

The Quran prohibits carrion, flowing blood, pork and animals dedicated to other than Allah, while recognising necessity in genuine emergencies ([Quran 2:173](https://quran.com/2:173)). Intoxicants are also prohibited ([Quran 5:90](https://quran.com/5:90)).

Eating pork knowingly is a sin, but Islam does not prescribe a fixed worldly corporal punishment simply for eating it. Repentance involves stopping, regretting the act and seeking Allah’s forgiveness. Accidental consumption is not treated like deliberate disobedience.

What is riba in Islam?

**Riba** is prohibited unjust increase in financial dealings, classically including usury and forms of interest. Islamic finance seeks lawful trade and risk-sharing while avoiding riba, excessive uncertainty and gambling. Modern financial products can be complex and should be reviewed by qualified specialists.

What is zina in Islam?

**Zina** means unlawful sexual intercourse outside a valid marriage. Islam prohibits approaching zina ([Quran 17:32](https://quran.com/17/32)), protects privacy and sets extremely strict evidentiary standards for legal accusations. Slanderous accusation is itself a grave offence. A private sinner is commanded to repent, not expose themselves publicly.

Other major ethical prohibitions

Islam forbids murder, oppression, theft, fraud, bribery, intoxication, gambling, false testimony, consuming people’s wealth unjustly and **backbiting**—speaking about someone behind their back in a way they would dislike. The Quran commands justice even when it weighs against oneself or close relatives ([Quran 4:135](https://quran.com/4:135)).

The greatest sin is shirk, while every sinner may turn sincerely to Allah in repentance before death. Muslims must not despair of divine mercy.

Jihad, martyrdom and violence

**Jihad** literally involves striving or exerting effort. In Islamic usage it can include striving against one’s ego, speaking truth, serving society, defending the oppressed and, under strict legal authority and conditions, armed struggle.

Jihad is not a synonym for terrorism or indiscriminate violence. Classical rules prohibit deliberate attacks on non-combatants, treachery and transgression. The Quran permits fighting against aggression while commanding that limits not be exceeded ([Quran 2:190](https://quran.com/2:190)). Violent extremist groups do not acquire religious legitimacy merely by using Islamic vocabulary.

A **martyr**, or *shahid*, is someone granted a special status by Allah after dying in circumstances recognised by revelation. Muslims should not glorify suicide attacks; suicide and the deliberate killing of innocents are prohibited. Final judgment about any individual belongs to Allah.

The term **jihadist** is a modern political-media label, usually referring to militants who claim Islamic justification. It should not be confused with the broad and legitimate Islamic concept of jihad. “Radical Islam” is likewise a contested political label, not a technical category of Islamic creed.

Marriage, family and women in Islam

Marriage is a solemn covenant intended to provide lawful companionship, mercy, responsibility and family stability.

Key family terms

What is “halala” in Islam?

After an irrevocable third divorce, the former couple cannot simply stage a temporary marriage to make remarriage lawful. A pre-arranged *tahlil* or “halala” marriage designed only to legalise return to the first husband is condemned in Prophetic reports. If a woman later enters a genuine marriage that naturally ends, the former spouses may then consider a new marriage under the relevant rules. This sensitive issue requires qualified case-specific advice.

What is the role of women in Islam?

Women and men are equally morally accountable before Allah. The Quran promises reward to every righteous believer, male or female ([Quran 4:124](https://quran.com/4:124)). Women may own and inherit property, consent to marriage, seek knowledge, work in lawful fields, give charity and participate in community life.

Islam also assigns family rights and responsibilities, some of which differ by sex. Their interpretation and social application have varied across legal schools and cultures. Abusive cultural practices must not be labelled Islamic merely because Muslims commit them.

Hijab, awrah, haya and “free mixing”

• **Hijab** broadly means modest conduct and covering; in common use it refers to a Muslim woman’s head covering.
• **Awrah** refers to parts of the body that must be covered before specified people and during prayer; details differ by school and circumstance.
• **Haya** is modesty, dignity and moral reserve for both men and women.
• **Free mixing** is a modern expression, not a single Quranic legal term. Islam regulates gaze, dress, seclusion and conduct while allowing necessary and beneficial interaction in education, work, trade, healthcare and community life.

The question “what is haram for a woman in Islam?” should not imply that women alone carry moral obligations. Core prohibitions—shirk, dishonesty, intoxication, unlawful sex, injustice and so forth—apply to both sexes, with some sex-specific rulings related to dress, worship and family law.

Female genital mutilation and Islam

Female genital mutilation (FGM) is not commanded in the Quran and is practised in some Muslim and non-Muslim societies. The term covers different procedures, many of which cause serious harm. The World Health Organization states that FGM has no health benefits and can produce severe immediate and long-term complications.

Islamic legal discussions have not been uniform historically, but the foundational rule against harm is decisive when a practice causes injury. Many contemporary Muslim authorities reject FGM, and no cultural custom may override protection from harm or applicable law. This topic should be handled with qualified medical and legal expertise, not online slogans.

Sunni, Shia, Ibadi, Sufi and Salafi: major identities explained

All Muslims are not identical in theology, law or history.

What is Sunni Islam?

Sunni Muslims form the largest global Muslim tradition. The name relates to commitment to the Prophet’s Sunnah and the community. Sunni Islam recognises the first four caliphs and developed four major surviving legal schools: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafiʿi and Hanbali.

What is Shia Islam?

Shia Islam developed around the conviction that leadership after the Prophet belonged to Ali ibn Abi Talib and the Prophet’s family. The largest Shia branch is **Twelver Shiism**, predominant in Iran. Other branches include Ismailis and Zaydis. *Shiite* is another English form of *Shia*.

What is the difference between Sunni and Shia Islam?

Their earliest division concerned leadership after Muhammad ﷺ, but differences later developed in hadith authorities, law, theology and ritual. Both affirm Allah, Muhammad, the Quran, prayer, fasting, charity and pilgrimage, although some details differ. Disagreement should not justify hatred or violence.

What is Ibadi Islam?

Ibadi Islam is a distinct early Muslim tradition, neither Sunni nor Shia, found especially in Oman and parts of North and East Africa.

What is Sufism in Islam?

**Sufism**, or *tasawwuf*, refers to traditions of spiritual purification, remembrance and cultivating closeness to Allah. Many Sufis are also Sunni or Shia; Sufism is not always a separate sect. Practices and theological claims vary, and Muslims debate which expressions conform to the Quran and Sunnah.

What are Salafism and a Salafi?

**Salafism** is a modern reform orientation emphasising the Quran and Sunnah as understood by the early righteous generations, the *salaf*. Salafis are internally diverse and should not automatically be equated with political extremism or violence.

What is the Nation of Islam?

The **Nation of Islam** is a twentieth-century African American religious movement with a distinctive history and teachings. Despite its name, several of its foundational doctrines differ from mainstream Sunni and Shia Islam. Some prominent members later embraced mainstream Islam. It should not be used as a synonym for Islam generally.

Does Islam have a symbol, flag or colour?

Islam has **no divinely mandated visual symbol, official flag or sacred colour**.

The crescent and star became associated with Muslim societies through history, especially through Ottoman usage and later national flags. They are widely recognised cultural symbols but are not an article of faith and were not established by the Prophet as Islam’s religious emblem.

Green is often associated with Islam through history, art and descriptions of Paradise, but Islam has no official colour. Arabic calligraphy—especially the word *Allah* or the Shahada—is also used symbolically, but sacred words should be treated respectfully.

What language is Islam?

Islam is not a language. **Arabic** is the language of the Quran and the required Quranic recitation in formal prayer. Muslims worldwide therefore learn at least some Arabic phrases.

However, Muslims may make personal dua, study and teach in any language. Persian, Turkish, Urdu, Bengali, Malay, Hausa, Swahili, English and countless other languages have rich Islamic literary traditions. Arab identity is not a requirement for being Muslim.

The origin and history of Islam

Where did Islam begin?

The final Prophetic mission began in Makkah in the Arabian Peninsula in the early seventh century CE. The first believers were largely local Arabs, but the early community also included people of African, Persian, Roman and other backgrounds. Islam’s message was never restricted to an ethnic group.

The Hijrah and Islamic calendar

The Prophet’s migration from Makkah to Madinah in 622 CE is called the **Hijrah**. The Islamic or **Hijri calendar** counts years from this event. It is lunar, with 12 months and about 354 or 355 days, so Ramadan and Hajj move through the solar seasons.

The Islamic date may vary by one day due to moon-sighting methods. Searches such as “what year is it in Islam?” or “what Islamic holiday is today?” should be checked against a reliable local calendar rather than an undated article.

Expansion and the caliphates

After the Prophet’s death, Muslim rule expanded beyond Arabia under successive caliphates and dynasties. Islam spread through multiple routes: preaching, trade, migration, scholarship, intermarriage, state patronage and, in some regions, military conquest. No single sentence explains fourteen centuries of diverse history.

What was the Golden Age of Islam?

“Islamic Golden Age” commonly refers to periods—especially from the eighth to thirteenth centuries—when scholars working across Muslim-ruled lands made major contributions to mathematics, medicine, astronomy, philosophy, optics, law, literature and translation. The intellectual world included Muslims, Christians, Jews and others writing in Arabic and additional languages.

The purpose of life in Islam

Islam teaches that human life is purposeful. Allah says that He created jinn and humans to worship Him ([Quran 51:56](https://quran.com/51/56)) and created death and life as a test of who is best in deeds ([Quran 67:2](https://quran.com/67/2)).

Worship, or **ibadah**, includes prayer and fasting but is not limited to rituals. Lawful work, caring for parents, raising children, seeking knowledge, protecting creation and serving people can become worship through sincere intention and right conduct.

Human beings are servants of Allah and trustees on earth. The worldly life—**dunya**—is temporary and meaningful, not worthless. Muslims are taught to use it for good without treating it as the final home.

The unseen, death and the afterlife

Islam affirms an unseen world known through revelation.

Angels and jinn

Angels are honoured servants of Allah who do not rebel against Him. **Jinn** are a different creation with moral choice; like humans, they may believe or disbelieve. Islam does not teach Muslims to obsess over jinn or blame every medical or psychological problem on them.

Barzakh, Judgment, Jannah and Jahannam

• **Barzakh:** the intermediate state between death and resurrection.
• **Qiyamah:** the resurrection and Day of Judgment.
• **Jannah:** Paradise, the eternal home of peace and reward.
• **Jahannam:** Hell, the place of punishment.

People are accountable for faith and deeds, yet entrance into Paradise ultimately depends on Allah’s mercy. Divine justice means no person will be wronged.

**Jannat al-Khuld** means the Garden of Eternity. “Zill al-khuld” is not a standard separate pillar of Islamic belief and may reflect a mistaken transliteration of a Quranic expression.

Mahdi, Dajjal and the return of Jesus

Islamic eschatology includes reports about the **Mahdi**, a righteous leader near the end of time; the **Dajjal**, a great deceiver or false messiah; and the return of Jesus. Details come mainly through hadith, and sensational online predictions should be treated cautiously. No individual may set dates for the Last Day.

Everyday Islamic spiritual terms

Evil eye, sihr and ruqyah

Islamic texts recognise the **evil eye** and **sihr** (sorcery), but Muslims must avoid superstition, fortune-telling and accusing people without evidence. **Ruqyah** is recitation and supplication seeking healing from Allah, using lawful words and beliefs. It should complement—not replace—appropriate medical or mental healthcare.

What are fitnah and bidʿah?

**Fitnah** has several meanings depending on context: test, trial, temptation, persecution, civil conflict or something that exposes faith. Translating it with one English word in every verse is misleading.

**Bidʿah** means religious innovation, particularly introducing a devotional belief or ritual without valid basis. Scholars differ over its technical scope and how it relates to new means, customs and beneficial organisation. New technology is not automatically bidʿah in the religious sense.

What is taqiyya?

**Taqiyya** refers to concealing faith under serious threat or coercion, especially in discussions of Shia history, although Sunni law also recognises concessions under compulsion. It is not a general permission for Muslims to lie to non-Muslims or secretly spread Islam.

Islamic months, holy days and cultural observances

Islam’s two annual religious festivals are **Eid al-Fitr** and **Eid al-Adha**.

• **Eid al-Fitr:** marks the completion of Ramadan.
• **Eid al-Adha:** occurs during Hajj and includes *udhiyah* or **qurbani**, the ritual sacrifice for those to whom it applies.
• **Muharram:** the first Islamic month and one of four sacred months.
• **Ashura:** the tenth of Muharram. Sunnis commonly fast in remembrance of Allah saving Moses; Shia Muslims mourn the martyrdom of Husayn at Karbala.
• **Chand Raat:** “moon night,” a South Asian cultural name for the evening before Eid.
• **Shab-e-Barat:** a name used for the middle night of Shaʿban in parts of the Muslim world; scholars differ about the strength of reports and specific observances.
• **Nowruz:** the Persian new year, a cultural festival rather than a universal Islamic holy day; Muslim views on participation vary.

Dates follow the lunar calendar and may differ locally. No article can reliably answer “what Islamic holiday is today?” without the reader’s date, location and moon-sighting method.

Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Hinduism

Respectful comparison requires both similarities and differences.

Islam, Judaism and Christianity share belief in the God of Abraham, moral accountability, revelation and many prophetic figures. Islam and Christianity both honour Jesus and Mary but differ fundamentally over Jesus’s divinity, crucifixion theology, the Trinity and Muhammad’s prophethood.

Judaism and Islam share strict monotheism and extensive religious law but differ regarding scripture, covenant and prophethood after the Hebrew prophets.

Historically, Judaism and Christianity predate Muhammad’s seventh-century mission. Muslims nevertheless believe the essence of Islam—submission to the one God—was the religion of the earliest prophets. The answer therefore depends on whether “Islam” means the final historical community or primordial monotheistic submission.

Common misconceptions about Islam

“Islam is a country or an ethnic group”

Islam is a global religion. No country represents every Muslim, and Arab culture is not identical to Islam.

“Muslims worship Muhammad or the Kaaba”

Muslims worship Allah alone. Muhammad ﷺ is His messenger; the Kaaba is the shared direction of prayer.

“Allah is a different god or moon god”

Allah is the Arabic word for God. The crescent’s historical use does not make the moon divine in Islam.

“Every Muslim follows one culture and one legal opinion”

Muslims share core beliefs but belong to many cultures, legal schools and intellectual traditions. Local customs may be Islamic, neutral, disputed or contrary to Islam.

“Sharia is only punishment”

Sharia principally covers worship, purification, ethics, charity, marriage, inheritance, commerce and justice. Criminal law is one limited and highly regulated area within a much larger tradition.

“Islam permits forced conversion”

The Quran states, “There is no compulsion in religion” ([Quran 2:256](https://quran.com/2/256)). History includes both honourable and unjust conduct by Muslim rulers, as every civilisation does; misconduct should not be confused with the revealed principle.

“The Quran gives one simple worldly punishment for leaving Islam”

The Quran repeatedly condemns apostasy as a spiritual wrong and warns of judgment in the hereafter, but it does not state a single fixed worldly penalty merely for private change of belief. Classical jurists discussed apostasy within premodern political orders, often connecting public apostasy with rebellion and communal allegiance. Contemporary scholars debate how those rulings relate to modern citizenship, freedom of religion and distinctions between conscience, incitement and treason. This is a serious legal topic, not material for vigilantism or casual online verdicts.

“Infidel is Islam’s normal word for every non-Muslim”

“Infidel” is a loaded European historical term and is usually a poor translation. Quranic words such as *kafir* have contextual theological meanings and should not be used as ethnic insults. The Quran commands justice and kindness toward people who do not fight Muslims because of religion ([Quran 60:8](https://quran.com/60/8)).

“A convert must be called a revert”

Some Muslims prefer **revert** because of the belief in fitrah, the natural disposition toward God. **Convert** is also correct standard English. Neither label should be imposed against a person’s preference.

Additional terms readers often ask about

What is haram money in Islam?

“Haram money” means wealth acquired or knowingly retained through a prohibited means, such as theft, fraud, bribery, gambling, riba or payment for an unlawful service. The remedy depends on how it was acquired and whether another person’s rights are involved; repentance may require returning property or disposing of unlawful gains correctly, so individual cases should be taken to a qualified scholar.

What is shifa in Islam?

**Shifa** means healing or cure. Muslims believe Allah is the ultimate healer and may seek healing through dua, Quranic recitation, medicine, therapy and other lawful treatment. Reliance on Allah does not require rejecting qualified healthcare.

What is wet dreaming in Islam?

A wet dream is a natural involuntary event and is not sinful. If sexual fluid is found, ghusl is required before salah. No one is morally accountable for what occurs involuntarily during sleep.

What is shaving the beard’s punishment in Islam?

Scholars differ over whether keeping a beard is obligatory or strongly recommended and over what constitutes prohibited removal. The Quran prescribes no fixed criminal punishment for shaving. Personal grooming questions should not be exaggerated into invented penalties.

What is jizya?

**Jizya** was a tax in premodern Muslim states on eligible non-Muslim subjects, historically associated with political protection and exemption from military obligations. Women, children, monks, the poor and others were often exempt under juristic rules, though practice varied. It belongs to a historical legal-political framework and should not be detached from taxation systems, citizenship and state obligations of its period.

What are ʿurf and culture in Islam?

**ʿUrf** means recognised custom. Islamic law can accommodate local customs when they do not contradict a clear religious principle. There is therefore no single “Islamic culture” governing clothing styles, cuisine, architecture or wedding customs across every society.

What is a sin in Islam?

A sin is a knowing violation of Allah’s command. Sins may involve Allah’s rights, another person’s rights or both. Repentance requires leaving the sin, regretting it, resolving not to return and restoring people’s rights where applicable.

Frequently asked questions about Islam

What is Islam in one sentence?

Islam is the worship of the one God, Allah, through the guidance revealed to His final prophet Muhammad ﷺ, with faith, righteous action and accountability in the hereafter.

What do Muslims believe in?

Muslims believe in Allah, His angels, His revealed books, His messengers, the Last Day and divine decree. They believe Muhammad ﷺ is the final prophet and the Quran is Allah’s final scripture.

What is Islam, and what do Muslims believe?

Islam is the Abrahamic religion of submitting to and worshipping Allah alone. Muslims believe in one God, all genuine prophets, divine revelation, moral accountability, resurrection and judgment, and they practise their faith through worship and righteous conduct.

What is the main belief of Islam?

The central belief is tawhid: Allah alone is God and deserves every act of worship. Muhammad ﷺ is His final messenger.

What is Islam based on?

Islam is based on the Quran and authentic Sunnah, understood through Arabic, Prophetic explanation and disciplined scholarship. Consensus and analogy also have recognised roles in Sunni legal theory.

What is the first pillar of Islam?

The first pillar is the Shahada, the testimony that none deserves worship except Allah and Muhammad is His messenger.

What is the second pillar of Islam?

The second pillar is salah, the five daily prayers.

What is the third pillar of Islam?

The third pillar is zakat, obligatory almsgiving on qualifying wealth.

What is the fourth pillar of Islam?

The fourth pillar is fasting the month of Ramadan.

What is the fifth pillar of Islam?

The fifth pillar is Hajj to Makkah once in a lifetime for Muslims who are able.

What is the purpose of the Five Pillars?

They organise a Muslim’s relationship with Allah, discipline time and desire, purify wealth, strengthen community and train lifelong submission.

What is Islam’s sacred text called?

It is called the Quran. Muslims also honour the authentic Sunnah recorded through hadith.

What is Islam’s place of worship called?

It is called a mosque or masjid. Muslims may also pray anywhere clean and suitable.

What is Islam’s holy city?

Makkah is the holiest city, followed by Madinah. Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa also hold sacred importance.

What is Islam’s symbol called?

Islam has no official divinely established symbol. The crescent and star are historical-cultural emblems commonly associated with Muslim societies.

What is the call to prayer in Islam?

The call is the adhan. It announces the time for obligatory prayer; the iqamah signals that congregational prayer is beginning.

What is the difference between dua and salah?

Salah is the structured ritual prayer performed at prescribed times. Dua is personal supplication and may be made in many circumstances.

What is the difference between halal and haram?

Halal means permitted; haram means prohibited. Many actions fall into other categories such as obligatory, recommended, neutral or disliked.

What is the Islamic view of destiny?

Qadr means Allah knows and decrees all things. Humans still make meaningful choices and are accountable; divine decree is not an excuse for sin or passivity.

What is the ummah in Islam?

The **ummah** is the global community of Muslims united by faith. Membership does not erase nationality, family or lawful cultural identity.

What is dawah in Islam?

Dawah is inviting people to understand and worship Allah with wisdom, truthful communication and good character. Coercion is not dawah.

What is Ashura in Sunni and Shia Islam?

For Sunnis, it is especially associated with voluntary fasting and Moses’s deliverance. For Shia Muslims, it is a major day of mourning for Husayn’s martyrdom at Karbala.

What country is Islam from?

The final Prophetic message began in seventh-century Arabia, in present-day Saudi Arabia, but Islam is not “from” one modern nation and belongs to no ethnicity.

What kind of Islam is practised in Iran?

Iran’s majority and state religious establishment follow Twelver Shia Islam, while Sunni and other religious communities are also present.

What is the population of Islam in the world?

The best recent comprehensive estimate places Muslims at about two billion—roughly one quarter of humanity based on 2020 global data. Exact live totals are estimates, not a religious registry.

Conclusion: Islam as faith, worship and a way of life

So, **what is Islam, and what do Muslims believe?** Islam is wholehearted submission to the one God, expressed through true belief, worship, ethical conduct and service to creation. Muslims believe in Allah, His angels, His revelations, His messengers, the Last Day and divine decree. Islam’s message centres on tawhid, continues the call of the prophets and reaches its final revealed form through the Quran and Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

The Five Pillars give Muslim life its structure. The six beliefs of iman give it its worldview. Ihsan gives it spiritual depth. Sharia provides a moral path, while fiqh represents scholarly efforts to understand practical rulings. The ummah includes many cultures and recognised intellectual traditions, but no race, country, flag or political movement owns Islam.

To understand Islam accurately, begin with its primary sources, distinguish revelation from culture, recognise legitimate scholarly differences and judge sensational claims carefully. A broad guide can build a map; deeper questions should be studied with reliable scholars and full context.

Primary references and further reading

• [Quran 112:1–4](https://quran.com/112): Allah’s absolute oneness.
• [Quran 2:136](https://quran.com/2/136): belief in all prophets and revelations.
• [Quran 2:177](https://quran.com/2/177): faith, worship and ethical righteousness.
• [Quran 2:183](https://quran.com/2/183): the purpose of fasting.
• [Quran 2:256](https://quran.com/2/256): no compulsion in religion.
• [Quran 4:124](https://quran.com/4/124): equal spiritual accountability of women and men.
• [Quran 4:135](https://quran.com/4/135): standing firmly for justice.
• [Quran 49:13](https://quran.com/49/13): human diversity and honour through God-consciousness.
• [Quran 51:56](https://quran.com/51/56): life’s purpose as worship.
• [Quran 60:8](https://quran.com/60/8): kindness and justice toward peaceful non-Muslims.
• [Sahih Muslim 8a](https://sunnah.com/muslim:8a): Islam, iman and ihsan in the Hadith of Gabriel.
• [Sahih al-Bukhari 8](https://sunnah.com/bukhari:8): the Five Pillars of Islam.
• [Pew Research Center: How the Global Religious Landscape Changed From 2010 to 2020](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/06/09/how-the-global-religious-landscape-changed-from-2010-to-2020/): recent comprehensive global population estimates.
• [World Health Organization: Female genital mutilation](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/female-genital-mutilation): medical evidence on harms and lack of health benefits.

**Editorial note:** This article is an educational introduction to mainstream Islamic beliefs and practices. It notes major differences but cannot reproduce every school’s position on every question. It is not a personalised fatwa or a substitute for qualified religious, legal, medical or mental-health advice.