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Islam

Islam is one of the three main monotheistic Abrahamic religions, along with Christianity and Judaism. It was spread by the Prophet Mohammed in the 7th century A.D. The Islamic holy book is the Quran, and according to Islamic tradition it entails the direct word of God as spoken to the Prophet. Islam is centered around five pillars which detail the five duties incumbent on every Muslim. The first is the Shahada, the Muslim profession of faith. The second is prayer: A practicing Muslim must pray towards Mecca five times a day. There is also Zakat, the alms-tax, according to which Muslims must share their wealth with those in need. Fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is the fourth pillar, and Hajj, the mandatory pilgrimage each Muslim must make at least once in their life, is fifth. The Ka’bah sanctuary in the city of Mecca is the most holy Islamic site, and the destination of the Hajj pilgrimage. The second most holy site is the prophet Mohammed’s mosque in the city of Medina. Third in line is Jerusalem, where, according to Islamic tradition, Mohammed ascended to heaven. Adherents to the Shi’ite school of Islam also regard Karbala in Iraq and Meshed in Iran as holy sites. The two main Islamic schools are the Sunni and the Shi’a. The differences between the two originated with the Prophet’s death in 632 A.D, when disputes arose as to who would be Mohammed’s rightful heir. Some worshippers thought that only a direct descendant of Mohammed should lead the movement, while others thought that a leader should be chosen by consensus. Those who supported a direct descendant wanted Ali to become caliph, but they lost out. When Ali eventually became caliph years later, he was massacred along with many of his followers in 680 at Karbala. Those who supported him eventually became Shi’ites. Since then, the two doctrines have evolved. They now contain disagreements and differences while still maintaining agreement on many essentials of Islam. In addition to the Sunni and the Shi’a, there are also additional branches of Islam such as the Druze and Alawi. Though they identify as Muslims, other Islamists often do not consider them proper followers of the faith. Other religious groups like the Baha'i are split-offs from Shi’a Islam. Sufi Muslims, a spiritual sub-sect of Islam, can have either Sunni and Shi’a backgrounds. Islam is the fastest growing major religion in the world. Its devotees make up the majority of the population in over 50 countries and number over 1.8 million. Over 85% of these Muslims are Sunnis, who are spread throughout the Arab world, as well as Indonesia, Bangladesh, Turkey, Pakistan and more. Most Shi’ites are centered in Iran, Iraq and Bahrain. The majority of Muslims in and around Israel are Sunnis. Islam recognizes two holy days (Eids) each year, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha marks the end of the pilgrimage to Mecca. The dates of the Eids differ according to the Gregorian calendar because the Islamic calendar, like the Jewish one, is based on the lunar year.

Fooled by Islamist propaganda: Inside Iran's decades-long infiltration of the West

EUROPE AFFAIRS: Journalist Jean-Marie Montali speaks to ‘Post’ about his and Emmanuel Razavi’s book on Iran’s spy and influence networks in France and how the West fell prey to Iranian manipulation.

|ByMATHILDA HELLER
French President Emmanuel Macron holds a bilateral meeting with then-Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi on the sidelines of the 77th UN General Assembly at its headquarters in New York City in 2022.
A man takes photos of the Petronas Twin Tower in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia June 15, 2025.

Malaysia dismantles Islamic State network involving workers from Bangladesh

Muslim-majority Malaysia has detained hundreds of people for suspected militant activities after a 2016 attack in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, that was linked to Islamic State.

|ByREUTERS
Wissam Haddad, also known as Abu Oysayd.

Antisemitic hate preacher broke Australian law, Federal Judge rules in landmark ECAJ v. Haddad case

The court ordered that all three sermons - and any excerpts of them - be taken down from any internet page or publication under the control of the Al Madina Dawah Centre or Wissam Haddad.

|ByMATHILDA HELLER
Placards are burned during a protest against the publications of a cartoon of Prophet Mohammad in France media and President Emmanuel Macron's comments, in Istanbul, Turkey October 30, 2020.

Three cartoonists arrested in Turkey over alleged Prophet Muhammad drawing

LeMan, one of Turkey’s oldest satirical publications, has continued to operate despite a wave of shutdowns targeting media critical of Turkish President Erdogan.

|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

Christianity's global share declines while Islam grows fastest, Pew Research Center finds

The increase in the number of people with no religious affiliation is significantly influenced by the departure from Christian churches.

JUNE 11, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba in Meccah, Saudi Arabia.

Iran pushes Islamic unity through high-level regional calls during Eid al-Adha - analysis

Iran uses Eid al-Adha diplomacy to strengthen regional ties, project unity, and influence nuclear talks with the US, while tensions with Israel persist.

JUNE 7, 2025BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
People attend Eid al-Fitr prayers to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan, in Tehran, Iran, March 31, 2025. Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader/WANA (West Asia News Agency)/Handout

Kazan Forum 2025: Russia courts Islamic world as Taliban sends its first delegation

While President Trump signed deals with Gulf partners, Putin courted partnerships among the world’s Muslim nations in an attempt to reshape global trade dynamics.

MAY 21, 2025ByARSHAD MEHMOOD / THE MEDIA LINE
The Taliban's delegation preparing to depart for the 16th International Kazan Forum, May 17, 2025.

Taliban bans chess over fear of gambling, whether it is permitted in Islamic law

The suspension was announced by the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, which followed the dissolution of the Afghanistan Chess Federation.

MAY 16, 2025ByDANIELLE GREYMAN-KENNARD
Members of the Taliban carrying flags participate in a rally to mark the third anniversary of the fall of Kabul, in Kabul, Afghanistan, August 14, 2024.

Confronting antisemitism demands reviving the legacy of Jewish-Arab symbiosis - opinion

The Holocaust and shared memory: Modern antisemitic narratives are foreign ideological imports, not organic products of Arab-Islamic thought.

MAY 14, 2025BySALEM ALKETBI
The flags of the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Bahrain are screened on the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City on September 15.

Handling of Gaza funds and alleged ties to Muslim Brotherhood cause uproar at Dublin Islamic center

An official at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland is being encouraged to step down over alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

MAY 3, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
A man holds Irish and Palestinian flags as people protest calling for governments around the world to stop arming Israel during a demonstration in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Dublin, Ireland, June 15, 2024

Muslim and Christian Arab leaders join March of the Living

The delegation, led by Sharaka, featured participants from Morocco, Bahrain, Pakistan, Afghanistan and other countries

APRIL 29, 2025ByOHAD MERLIN
Sharaka delegation during March of the Living

Priceless Islamic manuscripts to be auctioned at Sotheby's 'Arts of the Islamic World & India' sale

The collection spans over 500 years, showcasing artistic traditions of Islamic dynasties from Spain to Indonesia.

APRIL 1, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Priceless Islamic manuscripts to be auctioned at Sotheby's 'Arts of the Islamic World & India' sale.

Religious figures unite in Ein Rafa to foster interfaith understanding

Religious leaders from Judaism, Christianity, and Islam gathered in Ein Rafa on March 25 during Ramadan for an interfaith discussion that emphasized shared values, unity, and peaceful coexistence.

MARCH 30, 2025ByGIORGIA VALENTE/THE MEDIA LINE  
Different members of the community together, March 2025.

Herzog's iftar: Arab leaders share concerns amid rising tensions

The iftar dinner celebrated cultural diversity while tackling pressing regional issues. Arab leaders called for a united front against violence and extremism.

MARCH 17, 2025ByGREER FAY CASHMAN
MUSLIMS PRAY marking Ramadan in al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s Old City.

From ancient pagans to the Islamic Republic: The shaping of Iranian civilization

The Jerusalem Post Podcast with Tamar Uriel-Beeri and Sarah Ben-Nun.

MARCH 14, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF
Sarah Ben-Nun is seen interviewing Dr. Menahem Merhavy of Hebrew University of Jerusalem on The Jerusalem Post Podcast.