This article is an attempt to highlight the basic tenets and beliefs in Islam. Sometimes, people may use religion to justify their actions, whether it is permissible within the religion or not, so it is very important to read authentic books on Islam, and other religions, before making a judgment. It is also impossible to capture the breadth and nuances of an entire religion in this article, thus, only key tenants of Islam are highlighted.

Islam is a religion of peace and submission to Almighty God; the translation of God in Arabic is Allah (SWT). It is a continuation of monotheistic belief and was preached by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (PBUH), who lived from 571-632 CE. The Quran clarifies that Allah (SWT) is the same God that Jews and Christians believe in, and states, “And say to the Jews and the Christians: We believe in what is sent down to us and sent down to you, and our God and your God is One, and to Him we submit (ourselves)” (29:46). Muslims believe that Muhammad’s (PBUH) Prophethood was foretold in the original Biblical and Judaic texts.

The revelations from Allah (SWT) took 23 years to completion and became the Holy Quran, which still is in its original Arabic text. The Holy Quran contains a complete code of life for humankind. It came at a time when Arabia was passing through dark ages: tribal warfare and the killing of female children at birth were the norm. The Quran teaches Muslims to have the utmost respect to those who may follow other religions. It states, “There is no compulsion in religion,” (2:256), and forbids insulting non-Muslims, declaring “Insult not those whom disbelievers worship besides Allah (SWT), lest they insult Allah (SWT) wrongfully” (6:108). Respecting people of other faiths is repeated in other places in the Quran (29:46).

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Though the Prophet (PBUH) did not receive any formal education, he was highly respected within his community. In fact, even prior to Prophethood, he was called al-Amin (the trusted one in Arabic) among his community. God was his teacher through the angel Gabriel. The Quran informs about previous prophets from Adam all the way to Prophet Jesus (peace be upon them) and their teachings. Muslims are supposed to revere and believe all prophets equally. The Quran declares, “The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the believers all believe Allah (SWT), all His angels, all His books that He revealed to the various prophets and all His messengers that He sent. They believe in such messengers without making any distinction between them” (2:285).

The teachings of the Prophet (PBUH) are derived from the teachings of the Quran, which Muslims believe is the word of Allah (SWT).

The Basics – Five Pillars of Islam

There are five basic Pillars of Islam: believing in One God, praying five times daily, fasting one month (Ramadan), paying obligatory poor dues, and going on Pilgrimage once in a lifetime if one has the financial ability. These rituals help Muslims practice complete submission to the will of God. Praying five times a day purifies the heart and reminds one constantly about God. During Ramadan, which was from February 18th to March 19th of this year, Muslims do not eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset! Not only do they need to abstain from eating and drinking, they have to abstain from evil talk or thought or any unlawful act, which may nullify the fast. At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate with feasting and giving donations to the poor and gifts to friends and family. Those able give 2.5% of their annual savings to the needy, besides other optional charity.

The fifth pillar, Hajj, is the annual pilgrimage to Mecca that every Muslim who is physically and financially able must perform at least once in a lifetime. This sacred ritual was introduced by the Revered Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) as directed by Allah (SWT), as described in Surah Hajj (22:27): “And proclaim the Hajj among mankind: they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, coming from every distant mountain highway.” Prophet Abraham holds a uniquely universal stature, as he is deeply revered by followers of all three great monotheistic faiths–Islam, Christianity, and Judaism–making the Hajj a symbol of a shared spiritual heritage that transcends borders and traditions.

The universality of the Hajj gathering is one of its most awe-inspiring dimensions. Millions of pilgrims from every corner of the globe converge upon Mecca, all dressed in the same simple white garments known as the ihram–a dress code that erases all distinctions of wealth, nationality, and social class, signifying that all of humanity will stand equally before Allah (SWT), stripped of all worldly distinction, answerable only for their deeds. The strenuous journey of travel, undertaken at great personal effort and sacrifice, itself becomes an act of devotion.

In addition to the obligatory Hajj, Muslims also perform Umrah, a voluntary pilgrimage to Mecca that can be undertaken at any time of year. One of these authors had the profound blessing of undertaking this pilgrimage in November of last year. Standing amid that vast sea of humanity–people speaking dozens of languages, representing every race and culture–yet all engaged in a single act of worship, was a deeply humbling and spiritually transformative experience. Both Hajj and Umrah draw believers from all over the world to walk in the footsteps of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) and to renew their covenant with Allah (SWT). Indeed, the spirit of Prophet Abraham’s legacy is not confined to Mecca alone. These authors had the good fortune of visiting Jerusalem a few years ago, where firsthand we witnessed pilgrims from different faiths and different parts of the world gathering reverently at the sacred sites of the holy city, including places frequented by Mary, and the graves of Abraham, Sara, Joseph, Jonah, Jacob, and David (peace be upon them all). This living testament to a shared Abrahamic heritage speaks to the potential for faith to be a bridge among peoples, rather than a barrier.

Eid al-Adha: The Festival of Sacrifice

About two months following Eid al-Fitr, the Islamic calendar brings another major celebration: Eid al-Adha, so called because of the sacrifice of one animal like a sheep or cow by Muslims able to afford it. This observance follows the aforementioned Hajj pilgrimage and commemorates one of the most profound acts of faith in monotheistic tradition: the willingness of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah (SWT), who then replaced the sacrifice with a ram. Muslims around the world mark this occasion by sacrificing a permissible animal and distributing the meat among the needy, relatives, and friends. These sacrifices are not merely ritual acts; they are a living expression of monotheistic belief and a reminder of the obedience and trust that Abraham (peace be upon him) and his family demonstrated before God. For those who cannot afford the sacrifice, the spirit of the tradition is still honored through prayer, community, and devotion.

Islam and Science

The Quran contains insights that speak not only to the spiritual realm but also to the profound precision embedded within the natural world. Among its most striking passages is the description of human resurrection–so exact and complete that even the smallest details of our bodies are not beyond Allah’s power. The Quran declares: “Does man think that We will not assemble his bones? Yes indeed, We are able to put together in perfect order even the tips of his fingers,” (Quran 75:4). This verse invites deep reflection. The fingertips–seemingly insignificant–carry patterns so intricate that no two individuals are known to share the same fingerprints. Across the vast sweep of human history, with tens of billions of lives lived, each person bears a unique mark of identity. Modern scientific studies suggest the likelihood of two unrelated individuals sharing identical fingerprints is astronomically small. That such specificity is singled out in the Quran reminds us that resurrection, in the Islamic understanding, is not vague or symbolic; it is deliberate, exact, and encompassing every detail. The verse powerfully conveys Allah’s absolute knowledge and creative mastery, inspiring awe at a God who knows and restores human beings down to the finest line on their skin.

Islam and Philosophy

A question many people share–regardless of faith–is why bad things happen to good people. Islam addresses this directly, teaching that hardships are not punishments but tests that call for patience, and that God’s mercy is always within reach. The Quran offers reassurance: “O my servants who have transgressed against their soul, do not despair of Allah’s (SWT) mercy” (39:53). This emphasis on repentance and hope is a cornerstone of Islamic spiritual life.

Islam and Peace

Islam advocates the principle of “Repel evil with that which is better” (13:22; 23:96; 28:54; 29:46) and that if people are faced with aggression and intolerance, they should respond with peace. In the Quran, we are told “And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace” (Surah Al-Furqan, 25:63).

Islam and Humanity

Muslims believe that Islam teaches that humankind is held to the highest standard and is the most honored of all of God’s creations. The Quran states, “Mankind is the best of creation. Allah (SWT) has honored the children of Adam” (95:4). We have been given countless blessings by God, from the alveoli in our bodies that help us with respiration, to the shade of trees on a hot day. The Quran states, “And if you should count the favors of Allah (SWT), you could not enumerate them” (16:18). If we are given such a high rank, we must be responsible with our actions. We should, at the very least, not oppress nor harm others.

A fundamental, yet often overlooked, aspect of Islam is its origin as a faith shaped by migration. The Islamic calendar begins not with the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) or the first revelation, but with the Hijrah: the migration of the early Muslim community from Mecca to Medina to escape persecution. In Islam, migration is not merely a legal status; it is a prophetic tradition of seeking safety, justice, and the ability to live with dignity. In the Islamic worldview, the earth does not belong to any one nation or government; it belongs to the Creator. Islam views all of humanity as one family. The Quran states, “O humanity! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female, and made you into peoples and tribes so that you may get to know one another. Surely the most noble of you in the sight of Allah (SWT) is the most righteous among you” (49:13). For that matter, in our three monolith faiths, Prophet Abraham (PBUH) and his nephew Lot, Prophet Jacob and Prophet Joseph and Prophet Moses (peace be upon them all), all these people migrated from where they were born. This conveys the message that God created different nations and tribes not for exclusion, but so that we might “know one another” (49:13), and that a persons’ value comes not from their race, ethnicity, or gender, but from their righteousness. The Prophet (PBUH) said to his followers, “Allah (SWT) will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to humankind” (Sahih Al-Bukhari), and that “Nobody can be a good Muslim unless he or she checks whether their neighbor has something to eat before going to bed.” In times of crisis, Islamic teachings call us to recognize the common humanity in every person and to respond to hardship with patience, compassion, and reliance upon Allah.

The Final Sermon of Muhammad (PBUH)

The Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) final sermon can be used to broadly highlight Islam’s teachings. Interestingly, he addresses all of humankind in his last sermon, contrary to other sermons which are addressed specifically to Believers and Muslims. The sermon imparts essential lessons, stressing the significance of refraining from causing harm, steering clear of usary, recognizing the influence of Satan, eradicating racism, and treating women with respect. Additionally, it promotes worship, fosters unity among Muslims, and advocates adherence to the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah.

To learn more about Islam, please access valid web sites like https://yaqeeninstitute.org/ or the various podcasts of https://www.qalam.institute/. The authors note this article is not an exhaustive exploration of Islamic principle, but rather a high level view. Any good that comes from this is from Allah (SWT), and any mistakes are from ourselves (4:79).

Acronyms: PBUH= peace be upon him; SWT= SWT is an abbreviation of the Arabic phrase “Subhanahu wa Ta’ala,” which means “Glory be to Him, the Exalted.” Please note that all in text citations refer to the (chapter in the Quran: verse within the chapter).

Dr. Abdul Pathan and his daughter, Dr. Munjireen Sifat, represent the Williamsport Islamic Center.