The sometimes seems strange to non-Muslims because it is a religion which impacts every part of life, from eating and sleeping to working and playing. Islam is not only a personal religion, but also a social one. Muslims seek to live in agreement with God's laws. By doing so, they try to stay near to God and strong through temporary trials and temptations in life. All areas of their practice including prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage are meant to help them meet this goal. Islam is a monotheistic religion with about one billion followers. "Along with Judaism and Christianity, the three are the largest monotheistic religions in world." Muslims believe that God is One, indivisible, and they also believe in all the prophets of the Christians and Jews including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and Jesus. In Islam there is no other individual like Him, and no one else worthy of worship.
The followers of Islam, called Muslims believe in one God 'Allah' in Arabic, and that Mohammed was His last prophet. Islam began in Arabia when the Prophet Mohammed heard the word of God. Mohammed was born in Mecca in 570AD. When he was forty he was called to become God's messenger. The Angel Gabriel came to Mohammed and taught him the verses of the Holy Quaran, which is the Holy Book of Islam. At that time the Arabs had many beliefs and gods, but Mohammed taught that there was only one god. In Islam they are not allowed to make pictures of God, because it is said that an artist can only express him/herself based on experience. Muslims don't see God as an "old man wise and bearded," nor do they describe God as a "Spirit." Because they believe that the "spirit" is also part of God's creation. Muslims are prohibited to put anything between them and God, and are not allowed to direct prayers toward any of the prophets. So they are to direct their prayers directly to the Creator, Allah.
Saudi Arabia is a special place in the Islamic world because it is the birthplace and heartland of Islam. It is so cherished because the sacred Ka'abah, a black cube-shaped stone is in the square of the Holy Mosque in Makkah. Muslims must turn in prayer five times a day towards the Ka'abah. Every Muslim must pray these five daily contact prayers as they are called because they are the main meals for the soul. In Saudi Arabia offices and shops are required to close during those times. The exact prayer times are published in daily newspapers and they happen at dawn (fajr), midday (dhuhr), mid-afternoon (asir), sunset (maghreb) and evening (isha). If a prayer is missed, it cannot be made up; they can only repent and ask forgiveness. The noon prayer on Fridays must be held in a mosque, and is followed by a sermon held by a chosen scholar know for his knowledge of he Quran.
The Islamic calendar is based on a lunar year rather than the solar year. A lunar month is the time between two consecutive new moons. Even though the lunar year has twelve months, it is shorter than the solar year by eleven days. Because Islam's use the lunar year, the holy days and the months shift a little from one season to another The twelve months in the Islamic calendar are Moharram, Safar, Rabi Awwal, Rabi Thani, Jumad Awwal, Jumad Thani, Rajab, Shaban, Ramadham, Shawwal, Dhul-Qudah and Dhul-Hijjah. Even the years are dated differently. Islamic dates are calculated from the year that the prophet Mohammed migrated from Makkah to Medina in the year 622 AD. So for example 1996 AD would be around 1417 AH in Saudi Arabian terms.
In most Islamic countries treatment of female citizens goes along with pleasing an "ancient sexist cultural tradition." The traditions of the anti-Islamic cultures have taken over the Islamic teachings where women and men are viewed equal. Women in Islam have the right of inheritance and the right of individual independent ownership free from their father, husband, brother, son or anyone else. Muslim women have the right to accept or reject a marriage proposal, they also have the right by a mutual agreement to clarify in the marriage contract that she has the right to divorce, and Islam does not require a women to change her name when married. Islam prefers a strong family structure and condemns the betrayal of a marriage. Husband and wife united by an authentic marriage contract is the only type of family that the recognizes. Women are required only to cover their chests and lengthen their skirts or dresses. These are the only requirements for modesty in women according to the Quran.
The most important message of the Holy Quran is that God is the creator of the world and controls everything in it, and the Muslims are "called upon to surrender to the will of God." They must live by the rules of the Quran and carry out the five main duties of Islam, called the Five Pillars of Faith. They are the "framework" of the Muslim life, faith in one God, Salat or the Contact Prayers, Zakat (self-perification), fasting, and the pilgrimage to Makkah.
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