The Islamic Tradition

"Thanks and praise for our Muslim brothers and sisters, for their commitment in prayer and faithfulness in worship."

The Arabic root of Islam means "submission or surrender to Al'lah" (one God). The prophet Muhammad preached the Islamic faith in the 7th century.

An adherent of Islam is a Muslim (Arabic for "one who submits"). The youngest of the three great monotheistic religions (the others are Judaism and Christianity), Islam stresses the belief in one, unique and absolutely transcendent God.

This belief shapes the life of the devout Muslim. Like Judaism and Christianity, its sister religions, Islam is a covenantal faith and is grounded in a sacred compact between human and the divine.

Muslims believe the Qur'an, the sacred scripture, calls them to build a just social order, to submit to the one Lord, and to become one family. The Islamic faith calls its followers to live a life of service to God and to the human family.