Islam is the religion of many Arab-Americans living in Lakewood and Greater Cleveland. The word "Islam" comes from the Arabic root connoting peace, harmony and voluntary submission to the will of God. Islam began in Arabia and spread quickly throughout many parts of the world. Today most Muslims are not Arabs. There are 270 million Muslims in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. In the Arab world, 180 million of the 200 million Arabs are Muslims. The rest are mainly Christians and Jews.

Muslims believe in the Unity of God and the message of the Prophet Muhammad and all the prohets who preceded him, including all of the Old Testament prophets and Jesus Christ. The holy book of the Muslims is called Qur'an and was revealed to the prophet Muhammad by the angel Gabriel beginning in the year 610 AD. The Qur'an is the central miracle of Islam. It stipulates five major obligations for Muslims. The first of these is a declaration of faith. The second is regular daily prayer. The third is fasting during the month of Ramadan. The fourth is giving at least 1/40th of one's standing wealth to the poor. And the fifth is making a pilgrimage to the holy shrines in Mecca, if one's means allow. The Qur'an stresses compassion, mercy and justice.

6055 West 130th Street
Parma, OH 44130
(216) 362-0786
http://www.iccleveland.org/