History: Within two centuries after its rise in the 7th century, Islam spread from its original home in Saudi Arabia into Syria, Egypt, North Africa, and Spain to the west, and into Persia, India, and, by the end of the 10th century, beyond to the east. In the following centuries, Islam also spread into Anatolia and the Balkans to the north, and sub-Saharan Africa to the south. The Muslim community comprises about 1 billion followers on all five continents. Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world.
Beliefs: Foremost among Islamic belief are the five pillars, the essential religious duties required of every adult Muslim. The five pillars are each described in some part of the Qur’an. They are the profession of faith (shahada), prayer (salat), almsgiving (zakat), fasting (sawm) and pilgrimage (hajj).
Dome of the Rock: Many Muslim pilgrims travel to Jerusalem, which is the third sacred city for Islam. Muslims believe Muhammad was carried to Jerusalem in a vision. The Dome of the Rock houses the stone from which Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven and Allah in a night journey.

History: Judaism is one of the world’s oldest continuing religious traditions. It originated in the land of Israel (also known as Palestine) in the Middle East. Jewish communities have existed at one time or another in almost all parts of the world, a result of both voluntary migrations of Jews and forced exile or expulsions.
Beliefs: The major tenets of Judaism are monotheism (the belief in a single, transcendent God who created the universe), revelation (God’s will expressed as commandments in the form of the Torah) and the covenant (a contractual agreement between God and the Jewish people).
Jerusalem: The city lies at the intersection of Israel and the West Bank, located between the Mediterranean Sea and the Dead Sea. It is composed of two distinct sections: West Jerusalem and East Jerusalem. West Jerusalem is inhabited almost entirely by Jews; East Jerusalem has a large Palestinian Arab population.
Western Wall: The holiest existing Jewish monument, the Western Wall, also called the Wailing Wall, is the retaining wall built by Herod the Great to support the Temple Mount. The name “Wailing Wall” refers to the prayers offered at the site in lamentation for the destruction of the temples and the persecution of Jews.