Islam

"Islam" means "submission," namely to God. The word connotes the peace that comes from submitting to the will of God. A Muslim is a person who accepts Islam.

The principal teachings of Islam come from the Qur'an, a book of [alleged] revelations from God, through the angel Gabriel, to the prophet Muhammad (570-632).

Muhammad grew up in Mecca in Arabia at a time when the dominant form of social organization was the clan, and the warrior ideal involved fighting to preserve the honor of one's clan. There were some Jews and Christians there then, but the dominant religion was polytheistic. Muhammad early lost his parents and was raised by his grandfather and then by his uncle. He was an honest and trustworthy businessman in the employ of a woman Khadijah (perhaps fifteen years older) who became his wife. The revelatory angelic visitations began near Mecca, and during the early years of his prophetic mission, Muhammad preached a strong message of the oneness of God and the need for righteous living. He had few early followers and much opposition. He was called to become the civil leader of Medina, whence he fled in migration (hijrah) in 622, the year from which Muslims date their (lunar) calendar. After years of fighting with Mecca, Muhammad and his warriors prevailed in 630 and accepted the city's surrender with mercy. Two years later, the prophet died.

The "five pillars" of Islam are

To declare that there is no god except God, and that Muhammad is the messenger of God
To pray and worship, typically, five times a day
To give alms, normally one fortieth of all that you have (not income) each year
To observe the fast of Ramadan--abstaining from food and drink and sex from sunrise to sunset one month a year
To make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in your life, if possible