am (/ˈɪslɑːm/;[note 1] Arabic: الإسلام‎‎, al-ʾIslām IPA: [alʔisˈlaːm] ( listen);[note 2] historically called Muhammadanism in non-Islamic Anglophone societies)[note 3] is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion articulated by the Qur'an, a religious text considered by its adherents to be the verbatim word of God (Allāh), and, for the vast majority of adherents, by the teachings and normative example (called the sunnah, composed of accounts called hadith) of Muhammad (c. 570–8 June 632 CE). An adherent of Islam is called a Muslim (sometimes spelled "Moslem").[2] Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable[3] and that the purpose of existence is to worship God.[4] Nearly all Muslims consider Muhammad to be the last prophet of God.

Muslims also believe that Islam is the complete and universal version of a primordial faith that was revealed many times before through prophets including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.[5] As for the Qur'an, Muslims consider it to be both the unaltered and the final revelation of God.[6] Religious concepts and practices include the five pillars of Islam, which are obligatory acts of worship, and following Islamic law, which touches on virtually every aspect of life and society, from banking and welfare to the status of women and the environment.[7][8]

Islam began in the early-7th century. Originating in Mecca, it quickly spread in the Arabian peninsula and by the 8th century the Islamic empire was extended from Iberia in the west to the Indus river in the east. The Islamic Golden Age refers to the period traditionally dated from the 8th century to the 13th century when much of the historically Islamic world was experiencing a scientific, economic and cultural flourishing.[9][10][11] The expansion of the Muslim world involved various caliphates and empires, traders and conversion to Islam by missionary activities.[12]

Most Muslims are of one of two denominations:[13][14] Sunni (75–90%)[15] or Shia (10–20%).[16] About 13% of Muslims live in Indonesia,[17] the largest Muslim-majority country, 32% in South Asia,[18] the largest Muslim population of any region, 20% in the Middle East,[19] and 15% in Sub-Saharan Africa.[20] Sizable Muslim communities are also found in Europe, China, Russia, and the Americas. Converts and immigrant communities are found in almost every part of the world. With about 1.7 billion followers or 23% of the global population,[21] Islam is the second-largest religion by number of adherents and, according to many sources, the fastest-growing major religion in the world.