Islam is the name of the religion, meaning “the state of peace through following God’s guidance.” Islamic is an adjective that modifies a non-human noun (e.g., Islamic art). A follower of Islam is called a Muslim. The word “Arab” refers to people from Arabic-speaking countries, most of which are in the Middle East and North Africa; it is not a religious term.

While divorce is allowed and the Qur’an describes the different steps to be taken in a divorce, there is a Hadith (prophetic saying) describing divorce as “the most hated lawful thing,” because it breaks up the family. The Qur’an also urges couples considering divorce to first make use of counseling and mediation. However, if these attempts fail, divorce as a last option is allowed and may, in some situations, be the best outcome.

Muslim economists view money as something to be earned, which is one reason that gambling and most forms of loaning with interest are prohibited. Many Muslim scholars regard interest as generally prohibited because it penalizes the poor and rewards the rich. Investment in business is highly encouraged because it involves risk, making profit a fair return, and promotes the circulation of wealth. Today there are over five hundred financial institutions offering Islamic finance in over eighty countries, generating income through shareholding, leasing, lease purchasing, and rent sharing. Islamic b