The ISLAM I) General: Islam is one of the five major world religions.

Currently, about 600 million people profess Islam. The Islam is nowadays the only major world religions, which followers are constantly multiplying. It extends from Asia to Africa and from Europe to America. Today, all Islamic countries are in the third world, they are all developing countries. Islam, which knows no distinctions of race and ethnicity, attracts many people who want to open themselves in peace and friendship to the world. II) The Islamic faith: Islam is the faith that God send through his last messenger Mohammed ,revealed to mankind. It manifests itself in complete loyalty to God, which is equal to the closing of peace with God, with the people and themselves Mohammed's idea was to create a world-wide religion. In his opinion, the basic error of Jewish was the rejection of Jesus Christ, Christianity is the fundamental error of the TRINITY OF GOD and the deification of Jesus. The original religion of Abraham has been distorted from Judaism and Christianity. After Moses and Jesus; now, MOHAMMED, the Blessed One, by an angel has to announce the order received, the true teaching of God. Allah is God, but Allah is not God, Mohammed is his prophet. This is the main content of their faith. The words of Allah are in the Koran, it is the holy book of Muslims. By 610 God revealed to Mohammed by the archangel Gabriel, the first verses of the Koran. During this time, he always spoke with Allah and Mohammed wrote down the revelations. At 622 he proclaimed his doctrine. From that point on the Islamic calendar begins. The latest version of the Koran was set 15 years after his death by the Caliph OSMAN, which even today still remains. The teaching of the Koran is Islam. This word is Arabic and means submission, peace or salvation. Every member of the Islam (Muslims = the Pious), and with deeds bear witness to it that there is only one God. For the believing Muslim, the Koran is the book on which there is no doubt.

In addition to the Koran or Sunnah which exists (= custom of the Prophet). The Sunnah consists of traditions, a collection of texts in order to understand the holy laws of the Koran better. For many Christians the world of Islam is an alien and frightening. Compared to any other religion there are so many stereotypes. Jews, Christians and Muslims live together has been always very close. Their different religious manifestations are related to each other. All religions claim, to have the sole and only truth (= ABSOLUTE OF CLAIM) For Islam, all religions are the precursor of their own religious convictions. The Muslims see themselves as descendants of Adam, therefore, Islam is the first and oldest profession of mankind. They believe that virtually all humans are born as Muslims, only the parents make the respective followers of another religion. The "FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM" are the basis for the life of Muslims. The following five duties are prescribed by the Koran: 1) The Creed (SHAHADA) "There is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God" This creed is repeated at every possible opportunity. 2) The daily prayer: The "Salad" is a ritual of prayer and is practised five times a day: morning, noon, afternoon, sunset and evening. It is always prayed towards Mecca. In prayer, certain postures are important, it is observed an exact sequence of standing, bowing and kneeling on the floor. Altogether there are 34 squats and 68 bows. At each prayer is the same order to follow. On the fifth day of each week, on Friday, the Muslims go to mosque to pray. This Friday is our Sunday equated. The Friday prayer is PRAYER MEETING. The men pray always separated from the women. The people are the MUEZZIN (mosque-head) from the minaret of the mosque called to prayer. Before the prayer there is always a ritual to follow. 3) The control arms (charity ZAKAT =) The concern for the poor is an obligation for all Muslims, they must not forget the poor. The ZAKAT is a tax on the savings that are not collected by the state, but distributed from Muslim itself. Many give even a tenth of their income for it.

4) Fasting the Month of RAMADAN: After the KAABA was destroyed by a fire in Mecca, Muhammad had helped to rebuild it. Then he prayed a lot, preferably in the desert. There appeared to him once the angel Gabriel, who announced to him that he should be the messenger of Allah. The holy month of RAMADAN was introduced in memory of those angelic appearance. From morning until sunset should not be eaten and drunk. Only after sunset again often very festive eating and drinking. Young people (under 12) and pregnant women are exempt from fasting. 5) The Pilgrimage to Mecca: At least once in their lifetime, a Muslim, if it is possible in making the pilgrimage to the largest sanctuary of Islam, the KAABA in MECCA. This is required by the Koran. Women should only undertake the pilgrimage, if her husband allows it. The KAABA (translated DICE) is a black meteorite that was prayed to long before Muhammad considered it holy. Large circles have to be taken by the pilgrims around the KAABA,Sometimes up to half a million pilgrims are there. Everybody wants to witness the sacred stone, the presence of God to touch. III) The followers of Islam: There are two main groups: 1) The Sunnis: Sunni Islam are the majority of Muslims. From 600 million Muslims , 540 million are Sunnis. It is the direction of Islam, which allow development of the traditional Islam and its religious beliefs. They strictly follow the Koran and Sunnah too. The Sunnis are divided on a pro-Western camp (to SAUDI ARABIA), neutral (LEBANON, JORDAN) and a procommunist (SYRIA, LIBYA and PALESTINIANS). 2) The Shiites (secession): They are the second largest group. They are followers from ALI, a cousin of Mohammed. They believe that Ali is the recipient of divine light, his descendants, the Imams, which may compete as the only successor of Mohammed.

These are the leaders of the Shiites. It brings together secular and religious power and is regarded as not questioning and without sin. He is a leader, prayer leader and a role model. The Shiites do not recognize the first caliph of the writing of the Koran nor the Sunnah is allowed. The Shiites are very strict in the observance of cleanliness regulations. Furthermore, they are against mixed marriage, a Shiite can not marry a Jew or Christian. Since the 16th Century ,the Shiite religion is the state religion of Iran. Some actions of Islam: a) marriage, marriage, divorce: In Islam, marriage is valid according to the model of Muhammad as a duty. The partners are usually predetermined (agreed by the families). "MARRIED BECAUSE OF Pride AND HONOR". A Muslim can marry a Jew or a Christian. But you must believe in the one God. Reversed, a Muslim woman can only marry a Muslim men. Every Muslim can have four wives, if all have the same and equal standard of living. The Koran allows divorce but isnt seen by Mohammed as a good sign. The man can always get divorced. The woman only if she had requested it at the marriage. She wants to get a divorce, even if they are not required by the law, they can enforce it in court. Islam sees itself as a melting pot for all divine truths, where everyone can take from it what he needs. The Muslims remain followers of their religion and are very rarely to change on other religions. The Muslim sees itself as a world citizen who is at home everywhere. Also, a Muslim who dont follows his faith strictly, feels a belonging to Islam.