How Much Do You Know About Islam?

Every able Muslim tries to make the pilgrimage, or hajj, once in their lifetime. It is said that each year 2.5 million pilgrims come to Mecca.

There are literally millions of Muslims in the United States - over three million, as of 2015. New York, California and Texas have the most mosques.

Muslims in Paris handed out Muslim IDs to Jews at the Grand Mosque. Such an extraordinary gesture - someone should write a book about it.

Sharia is the name of the set of laws that regulate Muslim life. Sharia applies to all things and is much more complex than just a legal system.

The hijab is a scarf that covers the head and neck, but leaves the face visible. This fulfills God's decree of modesty.

The word "Islam" means "surrender." Also, the word "Salam," which is the root of Islam, means "peace." Through surrender, we find peace. It's the truth.

A Muslim is someone that surrenders to the will of God. This governs all activities of daily life.

Allah is the Creator of the Universe. Allah is referred to as a "He," and he's no different than the God of Abraham, Moses and Jesus.

The Qur'an is written in Arabic. Allah is the Arabic word for God. Makes a great deal of sense.

Terrorism has nothing to do with Islam. In fact, it's strictly forbidden in the religion.

People assume that jihad means holy war, but it does not. It means a struggle, either within oneself or against the enemies of Islam.

The Middle Ages are called the Golden Age of Islam. At that time, Muslim individuals made incredible contributions to the arts, sciences and humanities​. They still do today.

The Grand Mosque in Paris - which is STUNNING - was a gift to the Muslim people, thanking them for their service in WWI. It's now a cultural treasure.

These are all famous Muslims who are or once were in America. The list also includes Anousheh Ansari, the first Muslim woman who went to space!

A Muslim woman keeps her name when she marries. This is to keep her identity intact.

The Muslim world welcomed the first pharmacists. They made medicine and worked alongside doctors.

Mary, mother of Jesus, is a revered woman in Islam. She is, in fact, one of the most righteous.

The first mosque was built in the United States in 1934. It is called Mother Mosque of America, and it's in Iowa.

Most Muslims actually don't speak Arabic! For example, many Muslims live in Asia.

The Qur'an is the corrected version of the Bible. This is similar to the Book of Mormon's relationship to the Bible.

All of these religions originated in the Middle East! There must have been something in the water over there.

Qur'an means recitation. You can find the Qur'an in many different languages; not just Arabic.

By sincerely saying a simple creed, the shahada, before two or more Muslims, anyone can become a Muslim. This states that you believe in God and that Muhammad is his prophet​.

Homosexuality is considered abnormal in Islam, and is not condoned. It is actually considered a crime, for many.

In truth, there are two great Islamic festivals. On is Eid Al-Fitr, and the other is Eid Al-Adha. These center around fasting and feasting!

Indonesia has the most Muslims at 120 million. Other Muslim-centric countries include Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan.

One-fourth of the world's population is Muslim. There are about 1.8 billion Muslims in the world.

Muslims believe in Adam and Eve, just as Christians do. They trace their roots through the Prophet Abraham and all the way back to the Garden of Eden.

There are six articles of faith that govern the Islamic life. The first of these is the belief that there is but one God, known as Allah.

The original scriptures were revealed to Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad. Probably in that order, as well.

The guardians, or hafiz, memorize the Qur'an from cover to cover. This is to ensure that if all the books were ever destroyed, the Holy Word would still live on.

Islam does not believe in the suppression of women. In fact, it's stated, “…the best among you are those who treat their wives well.”

One is an inclusive religion, while the other is a movement. In the Nation, it is believed that "God appeared as a man named Fard Muhammad and that Elijah Muhammad was a prophet."

During the Middle Ages, followers of Islam excelled at astronomy. The study of the stars helped them to find their way to Mecca or pray in the direction of Mecca.

Islamic art, though magnificently beautiful, traditionally avoided images of humans and animals. This was due to strict laws against idolatry.