Muslims

Islam

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, with a large dome and tall minarets.

Many Muslims say, “As-salamu alaykum.” It means “peace be upon you.”

What many people call it

Many people call this faith Islam. People who follow it are called Muslims.

A belief many people hold

Muslims worship one God. Allah is the Arabic word for God. Many Muslims pray five times a day. To pray, they face Mecca. Mecca is a city. The Kaaba, a cube-shaped building, stands there. Muslims honour the prophet Muhammad.

The Qur'an

The sacred book is the Qur'an. Muslims treat it with great care. It stays in a clean place. It is not put on the floor.

A mosque

A mosque is a Muslim place of worship. Another word is masjid. People take off their shoes. Prayer is calm. Many mosques have a dome and a minaret, a tall tower.

Ramadan and Eid

Ramadan is a month when many Muslims fast. They do not eat or drink from dawn to sunset. Before dawn, many families eat. After sunset, they eat again. Young children, and people who are ill, often do not fast. Eid is a festival of joy. Many families pray, share food, and give to people in need. There is more than one Eid. One comes after Ramadan. The dates move, because the Muslim calendar follows the moon.

A kind act

Islam asks people to be honest and to give help. Many Muslims give a part of what they have to people who need it.

Food, dress, or another rule

Halal is a food rule. Many Muslims do not eat pork. Many do not drink alcohol. For many families, meat must be prepared in a halal way. Some families are careful about this every day. Practices differ. Never tell a child their food is strange. Some Muslim women and girls wear a hijab, a covering for the hair. Some do not. It is not a costume.

Pictures

Many Muslims do not make pictures of God or the prophets.