Islam is the world's second-largest religion, with about 1.3 billion followers — called Muslims — spread over nearly every continent. It is a revealed, monotheistic religion from the same source as Judaism and Christianity.

As such, Muslims, Christians and Jews have much in common. And yet it is misunderstood and often misrepresented, particularly in the West.

Islam is not an Arab religion, nor are all Arabs Muslims.

Arabs form a mere 15 to 18 percent of the world's Muslims. The largest single Muslim population is in Indonesia. There are more Muslims in China than in Saudi Arabia. There are an estimated 5 million to 7 million Muslims living in the United States.

Muslims believe Muhammad, a descendant of Prophet Abraham through his son Ishmael, is the last in a long chain of prophets of God.

What was to become the completed text of the Quran was revealed to him by God, through Archangel Gabriel, over a span of about 23 years. His message of returning to the monotheistic faith of earlier prophets, and in particular the Prophet Abraham, was rejected by the idol worshippers of Mecca, not as much on religious grounds as for social, political and economic reasons. After 13 years of persecution in Mecca, terminating in attempts to assassinate him, Mohammed accepted an invitation to migrate to Medina, where the first Muslim community was established. However, the people of Mecca persisted in their attempts to overthrow the Muslims. After minor skirmishes, a truce and final surrender of Mecca, the generous terms of Muhammad won over the Meccans and the surrounding tribes.

The medieval fallacy that the sword spread Islam still persists today. A little thought would make it obvious that killing people is unlikely to persuade them to be anything except dead. Hardly an efficient method of obtaining converts. In fact, Islam guarantees peaceful freedom of faith and forbids compulsion in religion:

"There is no compulsion in religion; Truth stands out clear from error; whoever rejects evil and believes in God has grasped the most trustworthy handhold, that never breaks; And God hears and knows all things. (Quran 2:256) And say: The truth (has now come) from your Lord'; let, then, him who wills believe in it, and let him who wills, reject it " (Quran 18:29)

The Quran also says: "O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other (not that you may despise each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things)." (49:13)

Before his death, Muhammad gave a historic sermon during his pilgrimage to Mecca, which included the following words:

"O people! Your Lord and Cherisher is one and only. You are all the offspring of Adam. And Adam was fashioned out of clay. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab over an Arab; a white has no superiority over a black, nor a black over a white, except by piety and good action."

Finally, Islam 1,400 years ago granted women equal rights with men in respect to ownership of property, ownership of business, inheritance, education and vote.

It is the shame of men who restrict the rights granted to women by God and not the fault of Islam. Incidentally, women have been head of state in four large Muslim countries, something they have yet to achieve in America.

— Yahya Merchant, who lives in Simi Valley, is a founding member of Discover Islam, a member of the Conejo Valley Interfaith Association and the Ventura County Interfaith Community. He can be contacted at Yahya_merchant@hotmail.com. This column is arranged by the Conejo Valley Interfaith Association, which meets monthly and welcomes clergy and representatives of all religious faiths.