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Origin

Islam arose in the 7th century on the Arabian Peninsula. Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad received revelations from God in Mecca from 610. In 622 he moved to Medina (the Hijra), which marks the start of the Islamic calendar.

Beliefs and practice

Muslims believe in the one God (Allah). The Quran is regarded as his word. The five pillars are the declaration of faith, prayer, almsgiving, fasting in Ramadan and the pilgrimage to Mecca. The largest branches are Sunni and Shia.

Spread

Within a hundred years Islam reached from Spain to India. Later it spread through trade and scholars to West Africa, Central Asia and Southeast Asia.

Today

About 2 billion people are Muslims. Indonesia has the most, followed by Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. Islam is considered the fastest-growing major religion.

Good to know

• Mecca and Medina are the holiest cities of Islam.
• In the Middle Ages Baghdad and Córdoba were centres of science.
• The Islamic calendar counts lunar years from 622.