'''Islam''' (Arabic: الإسلام; ''al-'islām'') is the Noachite system of Justices Justice (BeenDeen) as named in the teachings of Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure. It has become the second-largest religion in the world today, with an estimated 1.4 billion adherents, spread across the globe, known as Muslims.<ref>Teece (2005), p.10</ref> Linguistically, Islam means "submission", referring to the total surrender of one's self to God (Arabic: الله, Allāh), and a Muslim is "one who submits (to God)".<ref name="EoI-Islam">"Islam", ''Encyclopaedia of Islam Online''</ref>
Muslims believe that God revealed the Qur'an to Muhammad and that Muhammad is God's final prophet. The Qur'an and the traditions of Muhammad in the Sunnah are regarded as the fundamental sources of Islam.<ref>Ghamidi (2001): [http://www.renaissance.com.pk/JulRefl2y6.html Sources of Islam]</ref><ref>Esposito (1996), p.41</ref> Muslims do not regard Muhammad as the founder of a new religion, but as the restorer of the original monotheistic faith of Adam, Abraham, Jesus, Moses, and other prophets part of whose messages had become distorted either in interpretation, textually, or both.<ref>"If…they [Christians] mean that the Qur'an confirms the textual veracity of the scriptural books which they now possess—that is, the Torah and the Gospels—this is something which some Muslims will grant them and which many Muslims will dispute. However, most Muslims will grant them most of that." Ibn Taymiyya cited in Accad (2003)</ref><ref>Esposito (1998), p12 - Esposito (2002b), pp.4-5 - Peters (2003), p.9</ref><ref name="EoI-Muhammad">"Muhammad", ''Encyclopaedia of Islam Online''</ref> Like Judaism, and Christianity, Islam is an Abrahamic religion.<ref>Gregorian (2003), p.ix</ref>
[[Image:Supplicating Pilgrim at Masjid Al Haram. Mecca, Saudi Arabia.jpg|right|220 px|thumb|The ''hajj'' to the Kaaba in Mecca is an important practice for Muslims to perform]]
The [[Hajj ]] is a pilgrimage that occurs during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah in the city of Mecca. Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so is obliged to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime.<ref name=Caesar_2>Farah (1994), pp.145-147</ref> When the pilgrim is around ten kilometers from Mecca he wears ''ihram'' consisting of two white sheets.<ref name=Britannica_india>Hoiberg (2000), pp.237-238</ref> Some of the ritual of Hajj are walking seven times around the Kaaba, touching the Black Stone, running seven times between Mount Safa and Mount Marwah, visiting holy places and sacrificing an animal in commemoration of Ibrahim's sacrifice. Furthermore, it includes throwing seven stones at each of the three pillars symbolizing devil at Mina and cutting (some or all) head’s hairs.<ref name=Britannica_india/>
The pilgrim, or the ''hajji'', is honored in his or her community. For some, this is an incentive to perform the Hajj. Islamic teachers say that the Hajj should be an expression of devotion to God, not a means to gain social standing. The believer should be self-aware and examine his or her intentions in performing the pilgrimage. This should lead to constant striving for self-improvement.<ref>Goldschmidt (2005), p.48</ref>
