Islam is the second largest religion in the world behind only Christianity.  In the UK there are somewhere between 1.5 million and 3 million Muslims, and 7.2 per cent of Hyndburn’s population is Muslim. 

Muslims believe that Islam was revealed to humanity by the Prophet Muhammad around 1300 years ago.   Muhammad was a human, not a god – he was the last prophet of God (Allah).

Muslims have six main beliefs.  They believe:

• Allah is the only God
• In angels
• In the Qu’ran
• In the Prophets Adam, Ibrahim (Abraham), Musa (Moses), Dawud (David), Isa (Jesus) and Mohammad
• In the Day of Judgement – a day when every human will be sent to either heaven or hell
• In predestination - that Allah has already decided what will happen

According to Islam, Muslims must worship five times daily.  Communal worship takes place at a mosque, sometimes known as a masjid.  Before prayer, shoes are removed and a ritual washing takes place.  The main prayer room of a mosque is largely empty of furniture and has no icons or images of Allah – as Muslims believe that Allah has no physical presence. 

Prayer is not confined to the mosque.  Worship may be conducted at home, so long as the correct routine is followed and prayer takes place at the right time.

Muslims follow the Five Pillars of Islam.  These Five Pillars are the most important customs of the religion.  The Pillars are:

• Shahadah – reciting the Muslim profession of faith
• Salat – prayer ritual five times daily
• Zakat – paying an alms (charity) tax to the poor
• Sawm – fasting during Ramadan
• Hajj – the pilgrimage to Mecca

Islam has two annual festivals.  These are called Eid-ul-fitr and Eid-ul-Adha.  Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, and is a public holiday in Islamic nations.  Eid-ul-Adha marks the end of the Hajj and is celebrated by all Muslims, whether they have been on a pilgrimage or not.