Basic Facts on Islam: The Five Pillars and Modern Impact

The Five Pillars of Islam are Shahadah, which says that there is no god but God, and Muhammad is the messenger of God; Salat, which is daily prayer by facing the holy city of Mecca and praying; Zakat, in which one must give charity or alms to the poor; and Swam, or fasting from sunrise to sunset during the holy month of Ramada and Hajj, making a pilgrimage to Mecca.

Islam's rapid spread was due to warfare, equality, and conquest. Muslims believed that if they fell in battle, they were certain to have paradise. Because Islam had no hierarchy of priests and people, its equality attracted many non-Muslims. Through the conquest of the first four caliph, Muslim armies conquered north Africa, the Middle East, and Spain. The conquered people could keep their old religion and pay a tax or convert to Islam. In time, many converted to Islam. In addition, Islam brought unity. A common religion and language also help spread Islam> By unifying many tribes into one state, the spread of Islam would not be possible.

Because Islam forbade artists in to portray God or human figures in art, mosques were decorated with elaborate abstract and geometric figures. Arabesque, an intricate design that suggest floral shapes, appeared in rugs, textiles, and glassware. Artists used calligraphy to turn verses of the Quran into decorations on buildings and objects of art.

Muslim physicians made remarkable advances in public health. Doctors must pass a test before practicing their profession. The government set up hospitals . Muhammad AL-Razi wrote many books that pioneered the study of measles and smallpox. Surgeons developed a way to treat cataracts to save patients' eyesight.

The purpose of the Quran is to guide those who believe in Islam. Some rewards of following the Quran are being assembled on resurrection day and a copious amounts of crops to those who deserve it.
Those who rebel against God will be sent into the fire.

Islam governs both religion and a way of life. The Quran is the last say in all matters political and religious. The Sharia, the Islamic system of law, is interpreted from the Quran's teachings. The Quran also offers protection to women both spiritually and legally. Islamic law and traditions determine ethical behavior and influence family relations.

The Sunnis and the Shiites both believe in the same God, look to the Quran as guidance, and make the hajj. The Sunnis felt like the caliphs should be chosen by the leaders of the community, while the Shiites believes that the caliphs are the blood descendants of Muhammad. The Shiites also believed that the descendent's of Muhammad were divinely inspired, yet the Sunni believed the inspiration came from the example of Muhammad as recorded by his early followers. Shiites also admired martyrdom as a demonstration of their faith. As time grew, more separation of these two branches grew in areas of religious practice, law, and daily life.

Source:
Dennis Sherman, A. Tom Grunfeld, Gerald Markowitz, David Rosner, Linda Heywood, "World Civilization: Sources, Images and Interpretations Volume II"