Islam explained to kids

Islam is a religion that began in the 7th century in the Arabian Peninsula. The word "Islam" comes from the Arabic word "salam," which means "peace." Muslims believe in one God, and they follow the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. Muhammad is the founder of Islam, and he is considered to be a messenger of God. There are about 1.6 billion Muslims in the world, and Islam is the second largest religion after Christianity. Muslims live in many different countries, including Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Turkey, Iran, and Iraq. Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world. Muslims believe in the five pillars of Islam: faith, prayer, giving to charity, fasting, and pilgrimage. Muslims also believe in the six articles of faith: belief in God, belief in angels, belief in the holy books, belief in the prophets, belief in the Day of Judgment, and belief in predestination. Muslims pray five times a day: at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening. During prayer, Muslims face the city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Muslims also fast during the month of Ramadan. This is a time when Muslims abstain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset. Giving to charity is also an important part of Islam. Muslims are required to give 2.5% of their income to charity. This is called Zakat. Every year, Muslims go on a pilgrimage to Mecca. This is called the Hajj. Muslims believe that performing the Hajj is a way to show their love for God. Islam is a religion of peace. Muslims believe in treating others with kindness and respect. Muslims also believe in justice and equality for all.