Evangelized by the Prophet Mohammed in the 600's AD, Islam is a religion celebrated by an estimated one billion people. One fifth of the world's population from a vast range of cultures, nationalities, and races embrace Islam as both a religion and a way of life. In Turkey, approximately ninety-nine percent of the citizens are Muslims.
Mohammed was born in Mecca in about 570 AD. He preached that there is only one God and that he, Mohammed, was God's messenger. Those that accept him as such are called Muslims, which means "one who submits to God." "Islam" is Arabic for "submission" and is derived from a word meaning "peace." In a religious context, it means complete submission to the will of God, and a life focused on peace, mercy, and forgiveness. The Koran is the Islamic Bible, believed to be an exact record of the words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel to Prophet Mohammed. Its basic theme is the relationship between God and his creations, yet at the same time it provides guidelines for a just society, proper human conduct, and an equitable economic system.
The following are the "Five Pillars" of Islam and are considered the framework of the Muslim life. The first pillar is faith in God and Mohammed as his messenger. The second pillar is prayer, performed five times a day. The third is concern for the needy, given as a tithe estimated at two and a half percent per annum. Next is self-purification. Every year in the month of Ramadan, all able Muslims fast from dawn till dusk, abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations. Finally, physically and financially able followers are expected to make a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca. About two million Muslims accomplish this trip each year.
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