-- Islam --

The Islamic flag has the symbols of the stars, moon, and sun, which represent the universe. These symbols are also a sign for universal peace. The religion of Islam was founded in Arabia, by a man named Muhammad, who is believed to be a prophet in Islam. Muslims, or people who follow Islam, believe that Muhammad was the last prophet of God, and that a judgement day on earth will come. Islamic people follow the teachings of the book The Koran, which is believed to be God's words that were spoken through an angel to the prophet Muhammad. Muslims who truely follow the teachings of Islam have many duties. In Islam, there are 5 "pillars of Islam", in which 5 duties are stated. The first is the Profession of Faith, which states that everyone must declare they are Muslim by swearing they believe in one God and Muhammad as his prohet. The second is Prayer, which states Muslims must pray five times a day. The third pillar is Almsgiving, or tax. In the modern world this does not exist anymore, but some countries would like to see it re-instated. The fourth pillar is Fasting, where Muslims must fast for the month of Ramadan. Muslims have to restrict eating, smoking, drinking, and sexual activity from dawn to dusk. The last pillar of Islam is the Pilgrimage. It states that at least once in every Muslims life, they must travel to Mecca, which is a holy place in Islam. The main goal of Islam is to promote peace and reform the earth. In Islam, it is only acceptable to use violence through jihad, or holy war. If Muslims are fighting to reform the earth for good, then it is ok, according to the Koran. This seperates some Muslims, and is why there are different sects of Islam. Two main sects of Islam are the Suni's and the Shiite's. ("Islam").