25 mind-blowing facts about Islam

#1
Islam is an Arabic word that means “peace,” “security,” and “surrender.” Muslim means “one who peacefully surrenders to God.” Anyone from any race could be Muslim; in other words, “Muslim” does not refer to a particular race. The word Islam means ‘submission to God’, and a Muslim is anyone who submits their life to God.
#2
Islam is a complete way of life that governs all facets of life: moral, spiritual, social, political, economical, intellectual, etc.
#3
There are over 1.5 billion Muslims in the world today, which equates to approximately a fifth of the world’s population. So Islam is a truly global faith and not just confined to a particular nation, colour or race.
#4
Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion by the number of conversions every year. The religion began in Arabia, but today 80% of all believers in Islam live outside the Arab world.
#5
The advancements in Europe during the Renaissance were based on ideas brought by Muslims from the Islamic World.
#6
Islam was implemented in Spain for over six hundred years in which it brought peace and stability. Mosques and buildings in Islamic Spain also had some of the most beautiful architectural designs, for example the Alhambra Palace.
#7
Muhammad (pbuh) said “There is no disease that Allah has created, except that he has also created its remedy,” (Sahih Bukhari) This led to Muslims trying to make new discoveries in the field of medicine during the Golden Age of Islam. During this period of time, the Islamic world was very advanced in medicine
#8
The Golden Ratio of the Earth lines up with Mecca, one of Islam’s holiest cities. The qiblah (direction for prayer) used to be towards Jerusalem before it was changed to Mecca.
#9
Many prophecies contained in the Quran have come true. For example, the Quran prophesised in the beginning of Chapter 30 (The Romans) that the Byzantines will be victorious over the Persians in a coming battle. This came true a few years after these verses were revealed.
#10
Muhammad (pbuh) urged the Muslims to seek knowledge and travel around the world. After his death, from the 8th to 13th century the Islamic World became very advanced in Science, Technology, Medicine, Maths, Astronomy and Art.
#11
11. Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem are Islam’s three holy cities. One third of the Quran speaks of previous prophets and important figures like Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mary etc.
#12
The Quran is the most memorised book in the world. There are many Muslims who do not speak Arabic as their mother tongue but have memorised the whole Quran. Even children as young as four have memorised the Quran off by heart.
#13
The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once said that there were about 124,000 prophets who had been sent by God to various nations and tribes throughout History. However, only 25 of these prophets are mentioned in the Quran by name.
#14
The Quran has not been changed or tampered with since its revelation 1400 years ago. Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of America had his own personal copy of the Quran which he used to read.
#15
The Quran addresses God with 99 different names or attributes. A few of these names are: The Merciful, the All-Knower, The Provider, The Hidden, The source of Peace, The Near, The First, The Last etc.
#16
The Quran is the most explained book in history with thousands of volumes elucidating its many wonders. Muhammad (pbuh) is mentioned 4 times in the Quran by name, and Jesus (pbuh) is mentioned 25 times in the Quran by name.
#17
The Quran is described as a vast ocean of knowledge. Some people collect pebbles and shells from its shores. The scholars and thinkers, like pearl divers, take from it the most advanced philosophy, wisdom and rules of a perfect way of living.
#18
Islam stresses the importance of being kind to ones parents. In fact the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) mentioned that “Paradise lies beneath the feet of your mother”. He also said that being kind to ones parents is the second most loved act by God.
#19
The best women in Islam were: Khadija wife of the prophet (pbuh), Fatimah daughter of the prophet (pbuh), Asiya wife of the pharaoh and Mary mother of Jesus (pbuh). In the Quran God says that Mary is the greatest of the women, “And (mention) when the angels said, “O Mary, indeed Allah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the women of the worlds.” (3:42)
#20
The first person to become a Muslim was Muhammad’s wife, Khadija bint Khuwaylid. Islam is based upon five pillars: Testimony of faith, Prayer, Charity, Fasting and Pilgrimage.
#21
The Quran says that God has created Adam like Jesus, “Verily, the likeness of Jesus before Allah is the likeness of Adam. He created him from dust, then said to him: Be! and he was. This is the truth from your Lord, so be not of those who doubt.” (3:59-60). Their names appear exactly the same number of times in the Quran.
#22
Islam teaches us to be kind to our neighbours, Muslims and non-Muslims. However, in Islam your neighbour is not just the person who lives next to you, but the people living in a distance of 40 houses in front of you and behind you; left of you and right of you.
#23
The Quran is not considered by Muslims to have been authored by Muhammad (pbuh). It was authored by God, revealed to Muhammad, and written into physical form by his companions. Muhammad himself was illiterate.
#24
Islam is the only religion which says that if a man cannot deal justly between multiple wives, he should only marry one. Among the many teachings of Muhammad (pbuh) is his saying, “…the best among you are those who treat their wives well.” (Sahih Bukhari and Tirmidhi)
#25
A traditional Punjabi Muslim wedding has ‘Hindu’ rituals from A to Z. Entire clans puzzled colonial-era officials as to whether they were Hindus or Muslims.