The literal meaning of Islam is peace; surrender of one’s will i.e. losing oneself for the sake of God and surrendering one’s own pleasure for the pleasure of God. 

A follower of Islam is called a Muslim, which in Arabic means "one who surrenders to God. "The Arabic name for God, is Allah The message of Islam was revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings on him) 1, 400 years ago. It was revealed through angel Gabriel (on whom be peace) and was thus preserved in the Holy Qurran. The Holy Qurran carries a Divine guarantee of safeguard from interpolation and it claims that it combines the best features of the earlier scriptures.

Say: He is Allah, the One! Allah, the externally Besought of all! He is begetteth not nor was begotten. And there is none comparable unto him.

Islam’s central teaching is that there is only one all-powerful, all-knowing God, and this God created the universe. This rigorous monotheism, as well as the Islamic teaching that all Muslims are equal before God, provides the basis for a collective sense of loyalty to God that transcends class, race, nationality, and even differences in religious practice. Thus, all Muslims belong to one community, the umma, irrespective of their ethnic or national background.

The Holy Qur'an (book of God) tells us that God has given

 human beings a choice between good and evil and to seek God’s pleasure 

through faith, prayer and charity. 

Islam believes that God created mankind in His image and by imbuing the attributes of God on a human level mankind can attain His nearness. Islam’s main message is to worship God and to treat all God’s creation with kindness and compassion. Rights of parents in old age, orphans and the needy are clearly stated. Women’s rights were safeguarded 1,400 years ago when the rest of the world was in total darkness about emancipation. Islamic teachings encompass every imaginable situation and its rules and principles are truly universal and have stood the test of time.

Islam spread:

Within two centuries after its rise in the 7th century, Islam spread from its original home in Arabia into Syria, Egypt, North Africa, and Spain to the west, and into Persia, India, and, by the end of the 10th century, beyond to the east. In the following centuries, Islam spread all over the world.

At present there are more then 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide and they form the majority in more than 50 countries of the world. Today Islam is the fastest growing faith in the world - its beautiful message is reaching millions in the far corner of the earth.

Islam is the only true religion given by God ,and it's (Islam) followers has relief from all gods because the

God is one who is ALLAH the Most Merciful,

 the Most Beneficent ,

 there is no GOD other than He, the Ever living, the Eternal.

The Muslim Calendar

The Hijrah (migration) is a very important event in Muslims history. It took place in 622 CE, when Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) migrated from Makkah to Madinah. The Muslim calendar begins in the year of Hijrah.

The Muslim calendar is a lunar calendar. It is based on the movement of the moon round the earth. Each lunar month is either 29 or 30 days long. This is the time it takes for moon to travel once round the earth. Twelve lunar months are equal to one lunar year. The names of these twelve months are:

Some Important Islamic Days

• Islamic New Year 1^st of Muharram Beginning of the Islamic Year
• Milad-un Nabi 12^th of Rabi Awwal The Prophet Muhammad’s birthday
• Ramadan 1^st of Ramadan Fasting Begins
• Eid –ul Fitr 1^st of Shawwal Celebration at the end of fasting
• Arafat 9^th of Zull-Hajj Day of Arafat
• Eid-ul Adha 10^th of Zull-Hajj Feast of Sacrifices