Islam teaches the cultivation of excellent moral character to better oneself and the world around oneself. It teaches a set of values that promote life, liberty, equality and justice. Some of these values include:
1. Respect for the earth and all creatures.
2. Care and compassion for those less fortunate.
3. The importance of seeking knowledge.
4. Honesty and truthfulness in word and deed.
5. Striving continuously to improve oneself and the world.

Islam is Abrahamic and therefore has beliefs similar to those of the other Abrahamic traditions, Christianity and Judaism. The six major beliefs include:
1. Belief in God.
2. Belief in angels.
3. Belief in God’s prophets/messengers.
4. Belief in God’s revelations in the form of Holy Scriptures revealed to the messengers.
5. Belief in an afterlife that follows the Day of Judgment when people will be held accountable for their actions and compensated accordingly in the afterlife.
6. Belief in God’s divine will and His knowledge of everything that happens in the world.

Like other religious traditions, Islam has rituals that are opportunities for spiritual rejuvenation and connecting with God. The five central practices include:
1. The profession of faith, namely that there is only one God, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God.
2. The five daily prayers.
3. Required annual donation to charity in the amount of 2.5% of one’s excess wealth.
4. Fasting during daylight hours in the month of Ramadan.
5. Making a pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime, if one is mentally, physically, and financially able.

At ING, we hold the belief that any person who considers him or herself a Muslim is a Muslim, regardless of their practice.
1. This is generally defined as someone who affirms the Declaration of Faith that “There is no God but God and Muhammad is His messenger.”

1. The Qur’an – generally believed by Muslims to be the divinely revealed word of God. Consists of stories of the prophets, references to nature, attributes of God, ethics and values, and commandments.
2. Sunnah – the example of the Prophet Muhammad (i.e., what he said, did, approved, disapproved, caused, ordered, or allowed to happen).
3. The rulings of the twelve imams (for the Shi’a denomination of Islam only).

1. Ramadan is the month in which Muslims believe that the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
2. Muslims fast in Ramadan in an effort to:
1. Draw nearer to God.
1. Internalize discipline, willpower, and empathy for those less fortunate.