Islam
Islam is one of the world’s major monotheistic religions, and the second-largest after Christianity, with an estimated 2 billion adherents (Muslims) worldwide as of 2026, representing roughly 25% of the global population.34 The word “Islam” comes from the Arabic root meaning “submission” or “surrender” — specifically, voluntary submission to the will of God (Allah in Arabic). A Muslim is someone who submits to God in this way. Origins and History Islam emerged in the early 7th century CE in the Arabian Peninsula, primarily in the cities of Mecca and Medina (in present-day Saudi Arabia). It was founded by the Prophet Muhammad (c. 570–632 CE), whom Muslims regard as the final messenger in a long line of prophets that includes figures from the Jewish and Christian traditions, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. According to Islamic belief, Muhammad received divine revelations from God through the angel Gabriel starting around 610 CE while meditating in a cave near Mecca. These ...