Islam

According to Islam, Muhammad (c. 571 - 632 AD) was not God but a prophet, the last of the prophets.  He performed no miracles.  His followers survived early persecution to conquer Armenia, Persia, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Egypt, and Spain in less than one hundred years.  In 732 Charles Martel stopped the Arab conquest spreading into France and the rest of Europe at the Battle of Tours.

Islam is closely related to Judaism and Christianity.   Moslems believe that God's revelation has come in four stages:

    1. the truth of monotheism, revealed through Abraham

    2. the Ten Commandments, revealed through Moses

    3. the Golden Rule, revealed through Jesus

    4. the details of how exactly we are to live, revealed through Muhammad

The key beliefs or practices known as the Five Pillars of Islam are:

    1. Moslems must at some time say and mean the creed: "There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is His Prophet."  

    2. They must be constant in prayer

    3. They must be charitable

    4. They must fast during the holy month of Ramadan

    5. They must, if possible, make a pilgrimage to Mecca

Forgiveness is considered good, but war is sometimes justified if carried out decently.  People of other religions, especially Jews and Christians, are to be tolerated.  Traditionally Moslems have been very tolerant.