السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
<LI>What is  Islam  ?
Islam is not a  new religion* but the same truth that God revealed through all His  prophets to every people. For a fifth of the world's population* Islam  is both a religion and a complete way of life. Muslims follow a religion  of peace* mercy* and forgiveness* and the majority have nothing to do  with the extremely grave events which have come to be associated with  their faith.
 
 
   A Moroccan in prayer Muslims praying in Jerusalem outside the Dome of the Rock
 A Moroccan in prayer Muslims praying in Jerusalem outside the Dome of the Rock  <LI>Who are the Muslims?
One billion  people from a vast range of races* nationalities and cultures across the  globe - from the southern Philippines to Nigeria - are united by their  common Islamic faith.  about   18% live in the Arab world; the world's largest Muslim community is in  Indonesia; substantial parts of Asia and most of Africa are Muslim*  while significant minorities are to be found in the Soviet Union* China*  North and South America* and Europe.
 
<LI>What do Muslims believe?
Muslims  believe in One* Unique* Incomparable God; in the Angels created by Him;  in the prophets through whom His revelations were brought to mankind; in  the Day of Judgement and individual accountability for actions; in  God's complete authority over human destiny and in life after death.  Muslims believe in a chain of prophets starting with Adam and including  Noah* Abraham* Ishmael* Isaac* Jacob* Joseph* Job* Moses* Aaron* David*  Solomon* Elias* Jonah* John the Baptist* and Jesus* peace be upon them.  But God's final message to man* a reconfirmation of the eternal message  and a summing-up of all that has gone before was revealed to the Prophet  Muhammad through Gabriel.  
           
 
<LI>How does someone become a Muslim?
Simply by  saying 'there is no god apart from God* and Muhammad is the Messenger of  God.' By this declaration the believer announces his or her faith in  all God's messengers* and the scriptures they brought.
 
<LI>What does 'Islam' mean?
The Arabic  word 'Islam' simply means 'submission'* and derives from a word meaning  'peace'. In a religious context it means complete submission to the will  of God. 'Mohammedanism' is thus a misnomer because it suggests that  Muslims worship Muhammad rather than God. 'Allah' is the Arabic name for  God* which is used by Arab Muslims and Christians alike.
 
<LI>Why does Islam often seem strange?
Islam may  seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because  religion does not dominate everyday life in the West today* whereas  Muslims have religion always uppermost in their minds* and make no  division between secular and sacred. They believe that the Divine Law*  the Shari'a* should be taken very seriously* which is why issues related  to religion are still so important.
 
<LI>Do Islam and Christianity have different origins?
No. Together  with Judaism* they go back to the prophet and patriarch Abraham* and  their three prophets are directly descended from his sons Muhammad from  the eldest* Ishmael* and Moses and Jesus from Isaac. Abraham established  the settlement which today is the city of Makkah* and built the Ka'ba  towards which all Muslims turn when they pray.
 
<LI>What is the Ka'ba?
The Ka'ba is  the place of worship which God commanded Abraham and Ishmael to build  over four thousand years ago. The building was constructed of stone on  what many believe was the original site of a sanctuary established by  Adam. God commanded Abraham to summon all mankind to visit this place*  and when pilgrims go there today they say 'At Thy service* O Lord'* in  response to Abraham's summons. 
 
 
 
  <LI>Who is Muhammad?
Muhammad* was  born in Makkah in the year 570* at a time when Christianity was not yet  fully established in Europe. Since his father died before his birth*  and his mother shortly afterwards* he was raised by his uncle from the  respected tribe of Quraysh. As he grew up* he became known for his  truthfulness* generosity and sincerity* so that he was sought after for  his ability to arbitrate in disputes. The historians describe him as  calm and meditative. 
 
Muhammad  was of a deeply religious nature* and had long detested the decadence  of his society. It became his habit to meditate from time to time in the  Cave of Hira near the summit of Jabal al-Nur* the 'Mountain of Light'  near Makkah. 
 
<LI>How did Muhammad become a prophet and a messenger of God?
At the age of  40* while engaged in a meditative retreat* Muhammad received his first  revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation* which  continued for twenty-three years* is known as the Quran. 
 

 
The Mountain of Lightwhere Gabriel came toProphet Muhammad. As  soon as he began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel* and to  preach the truth which God had revealed to him* he and his small group  of followers suffered bitter persecution* which grew so fierce that in  the year 622 God gave them the command to emigrate. This event* the  Hijra* 'migration'* in which they left Makkah for the city of Madinah  some 260 miles to the north* marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.  
After several years* the  Prophet and his followers were able to return to Makkah* where they  forgave their enemies and established Islam definitively. Before the  Prophet died at the age of 63* the greater part of Arabia was Muslim*  and within a century of his death Islam had spread to Spain in the West  and as far East as China. 
 The Prophet's Mosque* Madinah* the dome indicates the place where his house stood and where he is buried. <LI>How did the spread of Islam affect the world?
The Prophet's Mosque* Madinah* the dome indicates the place where his house stood and where he is buried. <LI>How did the spread of Islam affect the world?
Among the  reasons for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of  its doctrine - Islam calls for faith in only One God worthy of worship.  It also repeatedly instructs man to use his powers of intelligence and  observation. 
 
 
     
 
Taj Mahal* India.                                Hui Shen Mosque* China*                                                  Built in the 7th  Century.Within  a few years* great civilizations and universities were flourishing* for  according to the Prophet* 'seeking knowledge is an obligation for every  Muslim man and woman'. The synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas and  of new thought with old* brought about great advances in medicine*  mathematics* physics* astronomy* geography* architecture* art*  literature* and history. Many crucial systems such as algebra* the  Arabic numerals* and also the concept of the zero (vital to the  advancement of mathematics)* were transmitted to medieval Europe from  Islam. Sophisticated instruments which were to make possible the  European voyages of discovery were developed* including the astrolabe*  the quadrant and good navigational maps
تم بحمد الله.