what is islam

                                                       ISLAM

       The name of the religion is Islam, which comes from an Arabic root word meaning “peace” and “submission.” Islam teaches that one can only find peace in one’s life by submitting to Almighty God (Allah) in heart, soul and deed. The same Arabic root word gives us “Salaam alaykum,” (“Peace be with you”), the universal Muslim greeting.
ISLAM is the largest religions in the world, with over 1 billion followers. it is a monotheistic faith based in revelations received by the PROPHET MUHAMMAD in 7th-century Saudi Arabia.
the Arabic word 
islammeans "submission," reflecting the faiths central tenet of the submitting to the will of the GOD. 
followers of islam called Muslims. 
islam (" the act of submitting [to GOD]") is the proper and most widely used term for the religion of those who believe that the QURAN is the true word of the God transmitted to mankind as an ultimate revelation through the medium of his Prophet and messenger, Muhammad. Although the term was used in early periods in the more limited sense of "submission" and seems to have been generally equated with "belief"(iman), the meaning today to Muslims and non-Muslims alike is that of the definitive name of specific religion.
The practitioner of the faith is a Muslim, a term that also servers as an adjective.but the attribute adjective Islamic is preferable in soical or cultural contexts, e.g.,Muslim theology, but Islamic Law and Islamic arhitecture. 
the terms Mohaamedan are disliked by Muslims becasue they carry the implication of the workship of Muhammad as a more than human figure and this contain the germs of polytheism.
According to islamic tradition, the angel Gabriel appeared to the Prophet over the course of 20 years, reveling to him many messages of GOD.
Muslims recognize some earlier judeo-Christian Prophets.--including Moses and Jesus--as messengers of the same true God. 
Muhammad is the last and greatest of the prophets, whose revelations alone  are pure and uncorrupted.
the force of islam in south Asia in modern times is shown by the succes of Muslim demands f or the partition of British India and the estalishment of Pakistan as separate state for Muslims.
The Prophet dedicated the remainder of his life to spreading a message of monotheism in a polytheistic world. In 622, he fled north to the city of Medina to escape growing persecution. This event marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. Eight years later, Muhammad returned to Mecca with an army and conquered the city for Islam. By Muhammad's death, 50 years later, the entire Arabian Peninsula had come under Muslim control.

FACTS OF ISLAM:

1)-"ISLAM" means "surrender" or "submission"."salam"(which means "peace") is the root word of "islam". in a religoius context the word "islam" means " the surrendering of ones will(without compulsion) to the true will of God in an effort to achieve peace".

2)-"Muslim" means "anyone or anything that surrenders itself to the true will of God". By this definition, everything in nature (trees, animals, planets, etc.) are "muslims" because they are in a state of surrender to God's will. In other words, they are fulfilling the purpose for which God created them.

3)- There are six articles of faith in Islam. These are the basic beliefs that one must have in order to be considered a true Muslim. They are belief in: A) the One God. B) all of the true prophets of God. C) the original scriptures revealed to Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad. D) the angels. E) the Day of Judgment and the Hereafter. F) destiny.

4)-There are five pillars of practice in Islam. These practices must be undertaken with the best of effort in order to be considered a true Muslim: A) Declaration of faith in One God and that Muhammad is a prophet of God. B) Formal prayer five times a day. C) Poor-due "tax" - 2.5% of one's excess wealth given to the needy once a year. D) Pilgrimage to Mecca at least once, if physically and financially able. E) Fasting during the daylight hours in the month of Ramadan.

5)-Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. To become Muslim, a person of any race or culture must say a simple statement, the shahadah, that bears witness to the belief in the One God and that Muhammad is a prophet of God.

6)-"Allah" is an Arabic word that means "God". Muslims also believe that "Allah" is the personal name of God.

7)-Islam is a complete way of life that governs all facets of life: moral, spiritual, physical, intellectual, social, economical, etc.

8)-The Islamic concept of God is that He is loving, merciful and compassionate. Islam also teaches that He is all-knowing and the perfect judge of affairs, and will punish (or forgive) accordingly. However, Allah once said to Muhammad, “My mercy prevails over my wrath”. So Islam teaches a balance between fear and hope, protecting one from both complacency and despair.

9)- Muslims believe that God has revealed 99 of His names, or attributes, in the Qur'an. It is through these names that one can come to know the Creator. A few of these names are the All-Merciful, the All-Knower, the Protector, the Provider, the Near, the First, the Last, the Hidden and the Source of All Peace.

10)-The Christian concept of "vicarious atonement" (the idea that Jesus died for the sins of humanity) is alien to the Islamic concept of personal responsibility. Islam teaches that on the Day of Judgment every person will be resurrected and will be accountable to God for their every word and deed. Consequently, a practicing Muslim is always striving to be righteous while hoping and praying for God's acceptance and grace.

ISLAMIC CIVILIZATIONS:

Islamic civilization grew rapidly after the death of Muhammad in 632. Over the course of the century beginning around 600 CE, an Islamic Empire spread to occupy what was once known as Arabia, Central Asia, North Africa, and parts of Europe. Throughout the next few centuries, Islamic imperialism had a profound effect on the arts, sciences, and philosophy. Many scholars note that during this time Islam advanced beyond predominantly Christian Europe in many areas, including trade and commerce, exemplified by the urban centers that popped up all across the Islamic Empire (Turner 1995; Esposito 1998; Nasr 2003). Islamic scholars greatly contributed to the progress of math and science, expanding on Greco-Roman geometry and advancing algebra and trigonometry. Universities and academies flourished in Islamic countries. Nonetheless, although Islamic contributions were significant, they are often overlooked in Western cultures.

MUSLIM BENEFITS ABOUT THE PROPHETS:

             Muhammad, the founder of islam, is reversd as "the seal of the Prophets"-the last and greatest of the messengers of God. he is not divine in any way, for the strict monotheism that characterizes islam(as well as Judasim) does not allow for such an interpretation. Other Prophets are important in Islam as well, all of which are shared with Jews or the Christians.