Islam 101

Curious About Islam? Start Here.

What do Muslims believe? Who is Allah? What is the Quran? Why do Muslims pray five times a day, fast during Ramadan, and follow particular rules about food, money, family, and daily life?

Islam 101: A Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Muslim Faith offers a clear, welcoming, and beautifully structured introduction to one of the world's major religions-written especially for complete beginners.

Whether you are exploring Islam for the first time, trying to better understand Muslim friends or family, studying world religions, or simply looking for answers without complicated theological language, this book gives you a thoughtful place to begin.

• What Islam means and what Muslims actually believe about God
• The role of prophets including Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad
• The life and message of Prophet Muhammad
• What the Quran is and why it is central to Muslim belief
• The Six Foundations of Faith explained simply
• The Five Pillars of Islam and how they shape Muslim life
• Why Muslims pray, fast, give charity, and perform Hajj
• What happens inside a mosque
• The meaning of Ramadan, Eid, halal, haram, hijab, zakat, and more
• Islamic teachings on character, family, marriage, money, work, and social responsibility
• What Islam teaches about women, modesty, education, property, and marriage
• The Islamic understanding of sin, repentance, forgiveness, death, judgment, Paradise, and Hell
• The difference between Islam and Muslim culture
• A simple explanation of Sunni and Shia Islam
• What Sharia actually means
• What the word jihad means-and what it does not mean
• How Muslims relate to people of other faiths
• Answers to many of the questions beginners are often afraid to ask