Islam

People go to Mecca for different reasons including tourism. However, for the Muslims, this is an obligation to show solidarity and unity of their religion.

Islam is the second largest religion in the United Kingdom. According to the 2001 census there are 1,591,000 Muslims in the UK making up 2.7% of the population. (It has since risen to nearly double that figure.)

The Kaaba is covered in a black silk and gold-embroidered cloth known as the Kiswah. The black color symbolizes unity and the oneness of God in Islam, representing purity and a sense of reverence. The Kiswah is replaced annually during the Hajj pilgrimage, and its color and design also reflect the significance of the Kaaba as the holiest site in Islam. Additionally, the use of black may also serve a practical purpose, as it helps to mask dirt and wear from the elements and the millions of pilgrims who visit each year.

they have different reilgions

It is unnatural and thus Haram in Islam. Islam lays great emphasis on marriage.

Clarification of Terms
Let us first clarify our terms. Contrary to what my colleague Cassandra Lifesnadir writes below, Islamism is not a religion; Islam is the religion and Jihad is a religious concept within Islam. Islamism and Jihadism, however, are political ideologies whose goal is to bring the religious tenets of Islam into the daily functioning of a government and its laws. Jihadism is a form of Islamism that not only wishes a particularly repressive version of Islamic Law to be instituted, but believes that violence in defense of the faith is the preferred way to do this. Jihadism, like Islamism, is a political ideology rooted in Islamic religious concepts, but distorted. The distortion here is that there are many ways to advocate on behalf of Islam and the choice to exclusively use violence is a misinterpretation of the doctrine. While it is only a minority (between 10-20%) of Muslims who are Islamists and a far smaller number (<3%) who are Jihadists, almost all Islamists and Jihadists are Muslims.

Islamism and Jihadism are both modern political theories, barely more than 100 years old and while there may be some debate about whether all forms of Islamism should be opposed, there is no real disagreement outside of Islamist circles that Jihadism should be opposed. Islamism is in direct opposition to the concepts of secularism, equality before the law, and freedom of speech. Jihadism is in direct opposition of peaceful and mutual cooperation between nations.

Methods to Go About Fighting Islamism and Jihadism
Jihadist movements that actually control territory, like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), can only really be dealt with militarily and to liberate the people under their control. However, taking direct violent action against Jihadists in areas that they do not control, such using drone strikes in Pakistan, has been shown to not only be ineffective at curbing Islamism, but actually lends credence to arguments put forward by Islamists to Non-Islamist Muslims that the only way to preserve their way of life is to join the fight against the West and its values. As a result, taking direct violent action in areas not controlled by Jihadists should be avoided.

Non-Muslim Contributions
Unfortunately, the real opposition to Islamism needs to come from Non-Islamist Muslims, either those who believe in secularism and/or basic human rights and democracy. However, Non-Muslims can take some actions in this regard.

1) Awareness: Raise Awareness about Islamism and its distinct political and apartheid character. When people are informed, they can politically mobilize. Additionally, make it clear to government leaders that excising the word "Islam" and the relevant parts of Islamic theology that undergird Islamism from official counter-terrorism manuals and courses is to the detriment of the citizens.

2) Liberal Islam: Promote, within Islam, any reformers like Tawfik Hamid, Maajid Nawaz, Irshad Manji, Tarek Fatah, etc. who could create a viable non-politically oriented Islam so that there is another path for Muslims. Also support individuals like Mustafa Akyol who promote an Islamic defense of secularism. These voices need to be able to sway more people to the idea that true Islam does not promote Islamism. This also shows that only a small subset of Muslims are a problem, those who ascribe to the principles of Islamism.

3) Political Correctness: Help breach the requirements that speech be "tolerant" of different groups in society so that we can actually have discussions about the problematic entities (Islamism among others) in society, without worrying about offending people.

4) Human Rights Enforcement:Create nationwide and worldwide coalitions of people who defend the validity of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights that can actively take a political and military stand to oppose the rising tide of jihads and jihadism.

5) Local Law Enforcement: In a number of Western countries there are already laws on the books that outlaw vile practices associated with Islam, such as female genital mutilation. The non-enforcement of these laws selectively on Muslims helps enforce the Islamist narrative that Muslims should have superior privileges over Non-Muslims. As a result, enforcement is key. Locations that the police choose not to enforce the law in for fear of being seen as racist must have the laws enforced there.

6) Hate Speech Laws: Enforce hate speech laws repeatedly on Imams who actually say vile and hateful statements (such as more radical Imams and Islamist political parties like Hizb at-Tahrir and al-Muhajirun) and not against those who simply point out that such things are being said by the former.

7) Cyberwarfare: As radicalization and the push for Islamist and Jihadist agendas grows on the Internet, it is critical for national governments to devote resources to surveilling or taking down these methods of communication and outreach. Police and law enforcement should know who is being brought over to the Islamist or Jihadist perspective and what are the likely targets of these new recruits. If necessary, a cyber-army should be created to monitor this open Internet expanse.

8) Ideological Profiling: In order to stop radicalization of domestic citizens and to more successfully prevent the influx of foreign agents of Islamic State, there need to be concrete forms of ideological profiling performed by police and border security. Ideological profiling means that the police and border agents do NOT look at race, religion, sex, or other immutable physical characteristics, but at things that a person has said, actions that they have performed, and ideologies that they adhere to when looking for likely suspects. Islamism and Jihadism are the most likely ideologies to lead a person to commit an act of terror and warning bells that a person that espouses clear support for these ideologies, regardless of race, religion, or sex, should be investigated, monitored, and prevented from having access to weapons.

Muslim Contributions
Within the Muslim Community, especially in the West, some really important concrete steps that they can take to help stem the tide of Islamism include:

1) Local Islamic Seminaries: One of the major problems for Western Muslims who are generally more liberal in their attitudes than their brothers and sisters in the Islamic World is that they end up going to mosques headed by Imams that went to Saudi Arabia for their education. This creates a mosque leadership that is more Islamist and radical relative to the Western Muslim population. Instead, develop a more liberal Western Islamic Seminary that can infuse the Islam of their students with more "liberal Western-ness" and more effectively protect the rights of all people. Tarek Fatah has discussed this problem as well, particularly in the Canadian context.

2) Protest Against Islamism: When protests arise concerning "Anti-Islamic" actions, Muslims should together for a counter-protest of "not-in-our-name" to the dominant pro-Islam protest group. While the Twitter campaigns are nice, actually marching in the street sends a more potent message. For example, somebody publishes an "Anti-Islamic" cartoon, advocate on behalf of the freedoms of the cartoonist regardless of the possible alienation of other Muslims. While doing so, the Muslims should hold signs saying "As Muslims we support the Freedom of Speech", etc. to clarify their stand. Maajid Nawaz has done similarly.

3) Debate with Other Muslims, Especially Islamists:Muslims should spend more time debating with other Muslims about how peaceful Islam should be and argue against wars and Islamism. Muslims should follow Mustafa Akyol's example and tell Muslims how Shari'a is worth more as a personal obligation than a national mandate. Muslims should discuss how they should fight for the civil rights of Non-Muslims in Muslim-majority countries. They should tell each other to stop blaming the "Imperialists", "Zionists", "Americans", etc. for their problems and actually examine the problems with their own societies.

4) Muslims should Demand Police Protection: Muslims should join individuals who wish to impose harsher criminalization of honor killings in order to safeguard women's rights. They should support allowing the police to learn about these particular customs that are particular to Islamic communities as opposed to its current taboo as "religious bias". Muslims should want the governments of the countries they live in to protect their families, not be concerned about how these horrible effects may "shame" the community.

Muhammad (Saw) first received the revelation of the Quran from Jibreal (Gabriel) in a the cave of Hira in Mecca. Shortly after, he began to spread the wisdom that Allah (God) gave him and sent down in the Quran.

Islam has been around since the time of Hazrat Adam [as] to the time of now and will continue till the day of judgment.

Sex change is not permissible of the person has complete male or female sexual organs. However it is allowed if you carry both male and female sexual organs (Hermaphrodite). What Islam says about Transsexuals is that it will be very difficult to tell men from women before the return of Christ. So in summary its wrong and unheard of unless you have a medical condition.

Never! Muslims are required to pray while clean, in a clean area. This means no praying in the bathroom stall while covered in alcohol and sweat. If you must first wash yourself (wudu) before praying, then having dirty clothes defeats the purpose. Try keeping a thub (for a man) or an abaya (for a woman) at your workplace or in your car for praying in clean clothes while not at home.

He/she must be a Muslim who does not posses the minimum Nisaab.

There are 56 Muslim countries in the world.

Not all Muslims eat with their hands. But, there are several reasons why some do. It is reported that Rasool Allah ate with his hands, and that if you wash your hands before eating, you know that the utensil you are using is clean.

Christian's don't have to do anything before praying. That's the glory of it. You simply talk to God as you would talk to a friend or family member, or whoever. Prayer is meant to help a Christian grow closer to God.

believe in one god Allah and believe in Jesus as a prophet not as a son, believe in peace not terror and not every one say I'm Muslim be a Muslim, Islam believe that Allah is one have no son or wife and Allah know every thing past future and present and know what every one think even if he not spoken, No one see Allah. Islam believe in death, hill and heaven. good Muslim go to heaven bad to hill. For more information about Islam Visit www.islamhouse.com

The Qur'an (The Koran or holy book of Islam) testifies of itself that it was given by God through the angel Gabriel to the prophet Muhammad. The prophet Muhammad then spread the Islamic faith.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was born in 570 AD.

There are between 7 and 9 million people who practise Islam in Russia, and that the rest are only Muslims by ethnicity. Muslim communities are concentrated among the various minority nationalities residing between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea: Adyghe, Balkars, Chechens, Circassians, Ingush, Kabardin, Karachay, and numerous Dagestani peoples. [Source: Wikipedia]

it is important because it is where the Prophet preaches.

Sadqah tu-Fitr is the name of the amount of charity which the Muslims must give to the poor during or at the end of the month of Ramazan. It is in a way thanksgiving as well. In this way the Muslims help the poor Muslims so that they and their children should also celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr happily. It should be paid during the last week of Ramazan, however it could be paid in the morning of Eid. It is equal to about two kilograms of wheat or its price per each member of the family, even the child that takes birth on that day. This is the lowest rate. It should be preferably given to poor relatives, neighbors.

The Muslims believe in all the prophets of Almighty Allah, including Hazrat Adam, Noah, Abraham, David, Moses, Jesus Christ ( May blessings of Almighty Allah be upon them all) The Jews and Christians also believe in Hazrat Abraham, and Moses, and many others.