Whereas this resolution may be cited as the Original Resolution Recognizing Islam as One of the Great Religions of the World ; Whereas the word Islam means submission to the will of God and peace ; Whereas the primary scripture of Islam is the Holy Quran, which has 6,236 verses, or suras; Whereas Muslims consider the Holy Quran in its original Arabic to be the book of divine guidance; Whereas although its roots go back further, the religion began in A.D. 622 when the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him) began his travels from Mecca to Medina, Saudi Arabia, the first day of which began the Islamic calendar; Whereas Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity; Whereas Islam is the fastest growing religion of the world; Whereas it is estimated that there are approximately 1,800,000,000 Muslims worldwide; Whereas Islam is a monotheistic religion, and Allah (meaning God in Arabic) is the central deity; Whereas Islam teaches Allah has 99 names, with each one having a different meaning; Whereas Islam is a complete system of strong moral convictions that promotes peace, equality, and social justice; Whereas the fundamental Muslim practices are known as the Five Pillars of Islam; Whereas the five pillars are shahadah (declaration of faith), salat (prayer 5 times daily), zakat (give 2.5 percent of all earnings to charity), sawm (fasting in the month of Ramadan), and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia); Whereas the 5 daily prayers remove any barriers between believers praying in congregations and helps one refrain from committing sins; Whereas the obligatory charity purifies a person from selfishness and encourages empathy to the poor; Whereas fasting in Ramadan promotes self-restraint and spiritual renewal for Muslims worldwide; Whereas the pilgrimage to Mecca serves as a unifying force in Islam by bringing followers of diverse background together in religious celebration