INFOGRAPHIC: What do you know about Islam?
100-PO050 (R 08/2019)
(Rachel Friederich (email), DOC Communications)
Text Version
What do you know about Islam?
- The word “Islam” is Arabic for “surrender” or “submission.” In a religious context, it means “voluntary submission to God.”
- The Quran is the holy book. It means “the recitation.” Muslims believe it’s the word of Allah, revealed to Muhammad through Archangel Gabriel.
- 1.8 billion people follow Islam. It’s the world’s second-largest religion. Only Christianity has more followers.
- “Jihad” does not mean “holy war.” Often mistranslated in Westernized media, he term simply means “to struggle” or “to strive.”
- The Five Pillars of Islam: Muslims pray five times a day. The act of prayer is called “Salah,” which is also one of the five pillars. The other pillars include the declaration of faith, charitable giving, fasting and the pilgrimage to Mecca.
- Shia and Sunni: The two main denominations in the Islamic faith are Shia and Sunni. The majority are Sunni, while about 15 percent follow the Shia.
- Men who oppress women are not following Islam: Mohammed said “the best among you are those who treat their wives well.”
- Islam in its true form grants women many rights and any Muslim man who oppresses women is not following the true words of Allah.
- Countries that accept oppression of women have their own interpretation of the Quran, or follow old cultural traditions and try to justify it via religion.