Foundation · Learn Islam

Islam in Brief

الإسلام باختصار

A simplified introduction to Islam — covering the Creator, the faith, the Prophet, scientific miracles, misconceptions, and Islamic values.

📖 6 Chapters⏱ 45 min read
Original Work By
Yasser Gabr & Houda Karkour
Islamic Propagation Office in Rabwah, Riyadh · 2008
Republished on Revert with permission for educational purposes

Table of Contents

01
The Creator
Who is Allah? Proofs of His existence and attributes
02
What is Islam?
The message, pillars of faith, and how to become Muslim
03
The Prophet Muhammad
His life, character, teachings and legacy
04
Proofs of Authenticity
Scientific miracles and prophecies in the Quran
05
Common Misconceptions
Honest answers to the most asked questions about Islam
06
Faculties of Islam
Islam's approach to orphans, science, environment and more
01
Chapter 01

The Creator

Who is Allah?

The Creator

The most concise definition of God in Islam is given in four verses of Surah Al-Ikhlaas in the Holy Qur'an.

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ۝ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ۝ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ۝ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

"Say, "He is Allah, [Who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent.""

Qur'an 112:1-4

The name Allah (God) in Islam is the personal name of God. To Muslims, this four-line definition of Almighty God serves as the touchstone of the study of God. Any candidate to divinity must be subjected to this test — and since the attributes of The Creator given in this chapter are unique, false gods and pretenders to divinity can be easily dismissed using these verses.

The Four Criteria of God

I
He is One and Only
The Creator is the only one who has total and absolute power, unique in His names and attributes.
II
Absolute and Eternal
Allah is not dependent on any person or thing, but all persons and things are dependent on Him.
III
He begets not
God was not born, nor does He give birth and share His divinity with others.
IV
None like unto Him
The moment you can imagine or compare 'God' to anything, then he is not God.

Why Muslims Use "Allah" Instead of "God"

The Arabic word 'Allah' is pure and unique. If you add 's' to the word God, it becomes 'Gods' — the plural of God. Allah is one and singular, there is no plural of Allah. If you add 'father' to 'God', it becomes 'God-father'. There is no word like 'Allah-father'. Allah is a unique word which does not conjure up any mental picture nor can it be played around with.

Proofs of Allah's Existence

1
The Evidence of Creation
Human beings neither create themselves nor the animals, plants, and earth they live on. Everything that exists points to a Creator.
2
The Evidence of Design
Everything made in the universe is a sign that betokens Allah Who has created, brought to perfection, and excelled in making His creatures. Could a rational person think the universe was created by coincidence?
3
The Evidence of Guidance
Allah has created each creature to be guided to its kind of life-style. Birds migrate thousands of kilometres and return. Fish find their birthplace. The bee makes perfect hexagonal cells. Who taught them?

Attributes of God

To Allah belong the most beautiful names. Sources of Islam give no less than ninety-nine different attributes to Allah Almighty. The Holy Qur'an refers to Allah as Ar-Rahman (Most Gracious), Ar-Raheem (Most Merciful), and Al-Hakeem (All Wise) among many other names.

God does not take human form — He does not need to become human to understand humanity, just as a manufacturer doesn't need to become a machine to write its manual. Instead, Allah reveals guidance through His messengers and prophets.

02
Chapter 02

What is Islam?

The Religion

What is Islam?

Islam means submission, obedience, surrender and compliance with the command and prohibition of God without objections.

Allah named the true religion 'Islam' for it is obedience to Him, submission to His commands without any resistance, purifying acts of worship for Him, believing in His words and having faith in Him. Unlike other religions named after people or places — Christianity after Jesus Christ, Buddhism after Buddha — Islam is not attributed to any particular man or nation. Its name indicates a special characteristic: the meaning of submission to God.

The Six Pillars of Faith

1
Belief in Allah
Believing in His Lordship, His right to be worshipped, His names and attributes, and His Oneness.
2
Belief in His Angels
Angels are honoured slaves of Allah, created from light, assigned specific functions like carrying revelation.
3
Belief in His Books
Allah revealed scriptures to His Prophets — the Torah, Psalms, Gospel, and the final Quran which is preserved unchanged.
4
Belief in His Messengers
From Noah (the first) to Muhammad (the last), all messengers brought the same core message: worship Allah alone.
5
Belief in the Last Day
This life is a test. A Day of Judgment will come when all will be resurrected and rewarded according to their deeds.
6
Belief in Pre-Decree
Allah knows all that happened and shall happen — the conditions, deeds, life spans and provisions of all His creation.

How Does Someone Become a Muslim?

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ

"There is no true god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."

The Shahada — the declaration of faith that makes one a Muslim

Simply by saying this with conviction, one converts to Islam and becomes a Muslim. To be a Muslim, one should also believe that the Holy Qur'an is the literal word of God revealed by Him, believe that the Day of Judgment is true, accept Islam as their religion, and not worship anything or anyone except Allah Almighty.

The Five Pillars of Islam

1
The Testimony of Faith (Shahada)
The declaration that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger. This is the most important pillar of Islam.
2
Prayer (Salah)
Muslims perform five prayers a day — at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and night. Each takes only a few minutes and is a direct link between the worshipper and God.
3
Alms Giving (Zakat)
Giving a specified percentage of wealth to those in need. It purifies one's possessions and encourages growth — like pruning plants to encourage new growth.
4
Fasting (Sawm)
Every year in Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sundown, abstaining from food, drink and sexual relations — a method of spiritual self-purification.
5
Pilgrimage (Hajj)
The annual pilgrimage to Makkah is an obligation once in a lifetime for those who are physically and financially able to perform it.
03
Chapter 03

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

The Messenger

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

Born in Mecca in 570 AD, Muhammad ﷺ was known for his truthfulness, generosity and integrity long before he received revelation.

🌟
Al-Sadiq
The Truthful — he never told a lie
🤝
Al-Amin
The Trustworthy — he never cheated
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The Peacemaker
Called upon to mediate disputes in Mecca
💡
The Mediator
Known for wisdom and calm judgment

The First Revelation

At the age of 40, while in solitude at the Cave of Hira', Muhammad ﷺ experienced the first revelation. The Angel Gabriel came to him with the first verses of what would become the Quran:

اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ ۝ خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ ۝ اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ

"Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists). Has created man from a clot. Read! And your Lord is the Most Generous."

Qur'an 96:1-3 — First verses revealed

His Teachings

Muhammad ﷺ led a humble life — no bodyguards, no entourage. He taught that his job was simply to reaffirm what God had revealed through previous prophets including Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. He declared equality as a universal value: "There should be no distinction between Arabs and non-Arabs, or between Whites and Blacks. All humans are the same before Allah."

His Words

"Being rich does not mean having a great amount of property, but is being content with what one has."

— Prophet Muhammad ﷺ · Bukhari: 6446

"The best of you is the one who is the best to his family."

— Prophet Muhammad ﷺ · Tirmidhi: 4269

"God does not judge you according to your bodies and appearances, but He looks into your hearts and observes your deeds."

— Prophet Muhammad ﷺ · Muslim: 6707

"Be kind, for whenever kindness becomes part of something, it beautifies it."

— Prophet Muhammad ﷺ · Muslim: 6767

"Charity does not diminish wealth."

— Prophet Muhammad ﷺ · Muslim: 6756

"Religion is very easy — do not overburden yourself, but try to be near to perfection."

— Prophet Muhammad ﷺ · Bukhari: 39

04
Chapter 04

Proofs of Authenticity

Scientific Miracles

Proofs of Authenticity

The Quran contains stories of past nations, prophecies that came true, and scientific facts not discovered until centuries later.

Scientific Miracle 1

Oxygen Decreases at High Altitude

"And whomsoever Allah wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islam, and whomsoever He wills to send astray, He makes his breast closed and constricted, as if he is climbing up to the sky."
Qur'an 6:125
The Scientific Fact: Modern science has confirmed that as you go higher in altitude, oxygen levels decrease — making breathing more difficult, exactly as described in this verse revealed 1,400 years ago.
Scientific Miracle 2

The Big Bang and Origin of the Universe

"Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were joined together as one united piece, then We parted them?"
Qur'an 21:30
The Scientific Fact: Professor Alfred Kroner, one of the world's renowned geologists, said: 'I think it is almost impossible that Muhammad could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few years with very complicated methods that this is the case.'
Scientific Miracle 3

Mountains Have Deep Roots Like Pegs

"And the mountains as pegs..."
Qur'an 78:7
The Scientific Fact: Modern earth sciences have proven that mountains have deep roots under the surface — sometimes several times their height above ground. Professor Frank Press, Science Advisor to President Carter, described mountains as having peg-like shapes in his landmark textbook Earth.
Scientific Miracle 4

Darkness in the Deep Seas

"Or [the state of a disbeliever] is like the darkness in a vast deep sea, overwhelmed with a great wave topped by a great wave, topped by dark clouds... if a man stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it."
Qur'an 24:40
The Scientific Fact: Scientists have recently discovered that below 200 meters depth, there is almost no light — and below 1,000 meters, complete darkness. Humans cannot survive unaided at these depths. This was only confirmed through modern submarines and special equipment.
05
Chapter 05

Common Misconceptions

The Truth

Common Misconceptions About Islam

Honest, direct answers to the questions non-Muslims most often ask about Islam.

Q

Muslims are violent and terrorists

A

Islam literally means 'submission to God' and is derived from a root word meaning 'peace'. The Quran says: 'But if they incline to peace, you also incline to it' (8:61). War is a last resort subject to rigorous conditions. Acts of violence by individuals who claim to be Muslim are no more representative of Islam than acts of Christian or Jewish violence are of their faiths.

Q

Islam oppresses women

A

Islam sees a woman as a respectful individual with rights to own and dispose of her property and earnings. A marriage gift is given by the groom to the bride for her own personal use. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'The most perfect in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest to his wife.' Violence of any kind towards women is not allowed in Islam.

Q

Muslims worship a different God

A

Allah is simply the Arabic word for God — the same word used by Arab Christians and Jews. It is the same God worshipped by Muslims, Christians, and Jews. God has an identical name in Judaism (Elohe) and was the word Jesus used in Aramaic when he prayed.

Q

Islam was spread by the sword

A

Freedom of religion is laid down in the Quran itself: 'There is no compulsion in religion' (2:256). When the Caliph Omar entered Jerusalem in 634 AD, he granted freedom of worship to all religious communities. Christian missionary T.W. Arnold wrote: 'of any organized attempt to force the acceptance of Islam on the non-Muslim population... we hear nothing.'

Q

All Muslims are Arabs

A

Only about 18% of Muslims live in the Arab world. The largest Muslim community is in Indonesia. 30% live in the Indian subcontinent, 20% in Sub-Saharan Africa, 17% in Southeast Asia. Muslims are a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures united by their faith — from the Philippines to Nigeria.

Q

Muhammad was the founder of Islam and Muslims worship him

A

Muslims do not consider Muhammad the 'founder' of Islam — Islam is the same Divine guidance sent to all peoples before. Muslims believe in all prophets from Adam, Noah, Moses, and Jesus. Muhammad ﷺ was the last and final messenger. Muslims honour and revere him deeply, but they absolutely do not worship him.

Q

Muslims don't believe in Jesus

A

Muslims respect and revere Jesus ﷺ and await his Second Coming. They consider him one of the greatest of God's messengers. A Muslim never refers to him simply as 'Jesus', but always adds 'peace be upon him'. The Quran confirms his virgin birth and Mary is considered the purest woman among all creation.

06
Chapter 06

Faculties of Islam

Islamic Values

Faculties of Islam

Islam takes care of the human being from several dimensions — creating a stable society where cooperation and peace flourish.

🤲

The Orphans

Allah urges believers to treat orphans with kindness and affection. The Quran lists caring for orphans alongside prayer and charity as core acts of righteousness (2:177).

🔬

Science and Knowledge

Islam is known as the religion of science — it imposes on Muslims to seek knowledge. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim man and woman.' Great civilizations flourished under Islam's encouragement of learning.

🌿

The Environment

The Prophet ﷺ said: 'If any Muslim plants a tree or sows a field, and a human, bird or animal eats from it, it shall be reckoned as charity.' Islam encourages caring for the environment as an act of worship.

🤝

Against Racism

The Quran declares: 'The most honourable of you with Allah is the one most conscious of Him' (49:13) — not the richest, most powerful, or any particular race. During Hajj, kings and ordinary men stand together as equals.

🐦

Rights of Animals

The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Allah has ordained beneficence in everything.' Islam forbids torturing animals. It is also ordered to slaughter animals in the most painless way possible.

⚖️

Rights of Prisoners

Allah forbids Muslims to harm prisoners of war. Torture is prohibited. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Nourish the hungry person, visit the sick person, and release the prisoner.'

👨‍👩‍👧

Honour of Parents

Allah commands: 'Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him and that you be dutiful to your parents' (17:23). The Prophet said a person's mother deserves the most care — he mentioned this three times before the father.

🌙

Conclusion

The seeker of the right path must look forward to finding the correct source with the right people to know the total truth. Ask Allah Almighty to show you the absolute truth and the ultimate facts of the world, to know what to choose and to be quite certain of the right thing to do towards Him Almighty, towards yourself and others.