Muslim

A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم) is a person who follows the religion of Islam. The word derives from the Arabic root 's-l-m', meaning 'submission' or 'peace'. Accordingly, 'Muslim' is understood to mean a person who has submitted to God. Early English dictionaries spelled it as 'Moslem' or 'Muslim'; the older form 'Mahometan' is no longer used.

Muslims form one of the two largest religious groups in the world and are found on every continent. Muslim populations are not concentrated only in the Middle East; the Asian countries of Indonesia, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh hold very large numbers, as do North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and West Africa.

Core beliefs

The foundation of faith is the Shahada (testimony): the declaration that there is no god but God, and that Muhammad is His messenger. Muslims believe in the angels, the revealed scriptures, the earlier prophets (including Abraham, Moses, and Jesus), the Day of Judgment, and divine decree. The Quran is understood to be God's word as revealed to Muhammad; the Sunnah (the sayings and deeds of the Prophet) is the second source.

Daily practice

The Five Pillars define the most important duties: the Shahada, prayer five times daily, Zakat (giving a portion of wealth), fasting during Ramadan, and the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca) for those who are able. Muslims follow the lunar Islamic calendar (Hijra calendar), which means that the dates of the major holidays shift earlier each solar year.

Divisions

The largest group is Sunni Islam, followed by Shia Islam; the split originally arose from a dispute over the leadership of the Muslim community after the Prophet's death. Smaller groups also exist, such as the Ibadi. Within Sunni Islam there are different schools of Islamic law (madhahib), while Sufi movements emphasize spiritual discipline and purification of the soul.