WHO ARE THE MUSLIMS?

"And strive in His cause as ye ought to strive (with sincerity and under discipline): He has chosen you and has imposed no difficulties on you in religion; it is the cult of your father Abraham. It is He Who has named you Muslims both before and in this (Revelation); that the Messenger may be a witness for you and ye be witnesses for mankind! So establish regular Prayer, give regular Charity, and hold fast to Allah! He is your Protector the Best to protect and the Best to help!"
(Qur'an: Translation of the meaning, 22:76)

Muslims constitute over one billion people from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across the globe -- from the southern Philippines to Nigeria -- united by their common Islamic faith. About 18% live in the Arab world; the world's largest Muslim community is in Indonesia; substantial parts of Asia and most of Africa are Muslim, while significant minorities are to be found in the Soviet Union, China, North and South America, and Europe. A person becomes a Muslim simply by saying "There is no god apart from God, and Muhammad (pbuh) is the Messenger of God." By this declaration the believer announces his or her faith in all God's messengers, and the scriptures they brought.
Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because religion does not dominate everyday life in the West today, whereas Muslims have religion always uppermost in their minds, and make no division between secular and sacred. They believe that the Divine Law, the Shari'a, should be taken very seriously, which is why issues related to religion are still so important.