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his disciples memorized them; they later wrote down the messages
in a collection called the Qur’an (or Koran). The word
Qur’an
means
“recitation” and comes from the Arabic word
iqira
, meaning
“recite”—the first word that the Angel Gabriel spoke to Muhammad.
Muslims believe the Qur’an is the perfect word of God.
Muslims are expected to follow five important precepts, or “pil-
lars.” The first is
shahada
(“testimony”), a prayer that expresses
the belief at the heart of Islam: “There is no God but Allah, and
Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.” Devout Muslims recite the
shahada
each day. The second pillar is
salah
(“prayer”). Adult
Muslims are required to pray five times during the day. The third
pillar is
zakat
(“charity”), a donation given to people in need. The
fourth pillar is
sawm
(“fasting”), a requirement that Muslims
abstain from food, drink, and certain other activities during day-
light hours of Ramadan, the ninth month of the lunar Islamic cal-
endar. The fifth pillar is
hajj
(“pilgrimage”), a journey that Muslims
who are physically and financially able must make to Mecca and
other important Islamic sites at least once during their lifetime.
There are many sects of Islam, although the major split is
between the Sunni Muslims and the Shiite Muslims. This division
occurred more than 1,300 years ago, and the area of Iraq was a key
battleground as Sunnis and Shiites fought for control of the reli-
gion. Today, it is estimated that more than 80 percent of the world’s
Muslims are Sunnis, while about 15 percent are Shiites. Iraq is one
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monotheistic—believing in the existence of only one God.
salinity—the level of salt in water or soil.
Words to Understand in This Chapter