Islam is currently the fastest-growing religion in the world, with over 1.8 billion adherents globally. It is a monotheistic, Abrahamic faith centered on the belief in one God—Allah (الله in Arabic)—and is based on the revelations found in the Qur’an, the holy scripture of Islam.

The term Islam (Arabic: الإسلام, al-‘islām) can be translated as “submission” or “surrender,” referring to the complete devotion of oneself to the will of God. It is also associated with concepts such as peace, purity, and obedience. A follower of Islam is called a Muslim, meaning “one who submits to God.” With one in four people worldwide identifying as Muslim, Islam is the second largest religion after Christianity.

Muslims believe that humanity is called to live in accordance with the divine guidance revealed by God, without alteration or deviation from its original principles. Central to Islamic belief is the conviction that the Qur’an is the final revelation from God, conveyed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who is regarded not as the founder of a new religion, but as the final prophet in a long line of messengers that includes Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and others (peace be upon them all).

For this reason, Muslims do not refer to their faith as “Mohammedanism,” a term incorrectly implying worship of Muhammad. Instead, the name Islam—chosen by God—is explicitly mentioned in the Qur’an:

“This day I have perfected for you your religion,
completed My favor upon you,
and have approved for you Islam as your religion.”
(Qur’an 5:3)

The practice of Islam involves a comprehensive way of life, encompassing belief, worship, and law. Core practices include the Five Pillars of Islam and the Six Articles of Faith. Islamic jurisprudence, known as Shari‘ah, provides detailed guidance for personal conduct, ethics, and social responsibility.