Islam

Which religion is second to Christianity in terms of popularity? Well, our answer is none other than Islam; indeed, it is the second biggest religion in the world, only behind Christianity, with around 1.8 billion Muslims. Hence, no doubt it appears on our list of the most famous religions in the world.

Islam is the newest presence of the main global faiths - despite the fact that its origins reach back longer in time: To be more specific, Islam originated in Mecca and Saudi Arabia during the prophet Muhammad's lifetime. Today, this religion is quickly growing over the globe, expanding to more than 100 countries.

These are some interesting facts about this religion:

For starters, the term "Islam" signifies "submission to God's will", and Muslims are the name for Islam followers. Muslims are monotheists who worship Allah, the Arabic name for the all-knowing God. Followers of Islam strive to submit themselves completely to Allah.

Secondly, Islam says that the angel Gabriel conveyed Allah's message to the prophet Muhammad. That's why Muslims believe that several apostles were sent to preach the law of Allah. They hold Abraham, Moses, Noah, and Jesus in high regard, as do Jews and Christians.

Last but not least, Mosques are places of prayer for Muslims. The Kaaba temple, the Al-Aqsa shrine, and the Apostle Muhammad's mosque in Medina are all significant Islamic holy sites.

Followers: 1.8 billion

Founded: Year 610