Islam Islam Islam () is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion which teaches that there is only one God (Allah), and that Muhammad is the messenger of God. It is the world's second-largest religion with over 1.8 billion followers or 24.1% of the world's population, most commonly known as Muslims. Muslims make up a majority of the population in 50 countries. Islam teaches that God is merciful, all-powerful, unique and has guided humankind through prophets, revealed scriptures and natural signs. The primary scriptures of Islam are the Quran, viewed by Muslims as the verbatim word of God, and the teachings and normative example
Prophets and messengers in Islam and Malachi were the last prophets, all of whom lived at the end of the 70-year Babylonian exile. With them, the authentic period of "Nevuah" ("prophecy") died, and nowadays only the "Bath Kol" (בת קול, lit. "daughter of a voice", "voice of God") exists (Sanhedrin 11a). In the New Testament, however, the word "messenger" becomes more frequent, sometimes in association with the concept of a prophet. "Messenger" may refer to Jesus, to his Apostles and to John the Baptist. But the last book of the Old Testament, the Book of Malachi, speaks of a messenger that Christian commentators interpret as