What Is Islam - The 5 Pillars of Islam

I just watched a great 30 minute documentary, episode 1 called "Christianity and Islam, Ep. 1 - The Tenets of Islam." The following are my notes - it was very resourceful. I found it on LIVE Streaming for Free on Netflix.

My Notes:

1. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, especially the West. It's 2nd largest religion today. The largest Islam nation is Indonesia.

2. Both Christianity and Islam believe in ONE true God.

3. Islam claims:

"We worship the same God that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and even Jesus worshiped."

4. Islam - from aerobic root that means 'Peace' - 'Surrender to the will of God to achieve Peace."

5. The 5 Pillars of Islam:

1. Shahadah - Declaration of Faith
2. Salahn - Prayer (5 times a day, everyday. This  wat it is a constant reminder, knowing your Lord). - Must be done in Arabic. Reciting opening versus of the Quran.
3. Sawm - Fasting. Cultivate discipline and self-control. Most important is Ramadan. This is when the angel appeared to Mohammed to reveal to him the Quran.
4. Zakah - Financial Obligations Among Muslims. Required to pay at least 2.5% of wealth to help needy.
5. Hajj - Pilgramage to Mecca. Once in lifetime they need to do this as long as they can physically do this.

6. Islam has no "baptism" persay. There is no gateway, to recite the Shahadah infront of 2 believers and really mean it is to become a Muslim.

7. Mohammed is considered the last prophet to God. But he is not given divine attributes, he states that he is simply human and a messenger to bring the laws of God.

8. When Mohammed was meditating, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and gave to him the Quran. He eventually wrote these words down and that was how the Quarn was created.

9. Mohammed had to carry out many military campaigns to protect his people, but to also cleanse temples of Idols to protect the real worship of one and only God - Allah.

10. Mecca is most important city in Islam. All prayers are done in the direction of Mecca. Mecca is important because when God gave message to Abraham, Abraham built the first house of worship in Mecca under instruction to God.  Abraham offered Ishmail, not Isaac, but Ishmail at Mecca to God but God stopped the sacrifice.