Islam is one of the three main religions which recognise Abraham as a prophet, along with Judaism and Christianity. These religions believe in one God, called 'Allah' in Arabic.

Muslims believe that the Koran, the holy book of Islam containing the message of God for all mankind, was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed who lived in the seventh century. Islam's five 'pillars' or duties are faith, prayer, charity, fasting and pilgrimage.

The sharia, or Islamic law, defines moral and practical rules, including finance and economy. Islam is the second biggest religion in the world, with 1.2 billion to 1.8 billion Muslims around the globe.