ABSTRACT
The number of Muslims worldwide is estimated to be in excess of 1 billion, making Islam the largest faith community after Christianity. Of this number the overwhelming majority would identify themselves as Sunni Muslims whilst about 15 per cent follow a variety of Shi’a Muslim persuasions (see below). The Arabic word islam means the willing recognition of and active submission to the guiding command of the One God, Allah. Whoever acts in this manner is called a muslim, one who acknowledges and submits to the sole, unique God. The Islamic tradition or din (pronounced ‘deen’, a word which conveys the sense of obedience closely related to islam) is founded upon the guiding command of Allah as contained in the Qur’an. Muslims hold the Qur’an to be the word of God delivered to Muhammad (c.570-632 CE), God’s elected messenger. The revelations were received in just over a twenty-year period, first in Mecca, the Prophet’s birthplace, and later are in present day Saudi Arabia and are regarded by all Muslims as the in Medina where the first community was established. Both these cities central holy places of their faith.
