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{{Islam}} |
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{{Islam}} |
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'''Islam''' (]: {{Audio|ar-al_islam.ogg|الإسلام; ''al-islām''}}) is a barbaric, desert religion based upon the ], which adherents believe was sent by ] (Arabic: '']'') through ]. Followers of Islam, known as ]s (Arabic: {{Ar|مسلم}}), believe the Western world is decadent and immoral and seek to remove it through savage notions of holy war (jihad) and the slaughter of innocent Western civilians, women and children. They believe in the ficitcious god allah, and believe killing innocent White people will get them into heaven upon death. |
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'''''Islam is a barbaric, desert religion. Followers of Islam, known as Muslims, believe the Western world is decadent and immoral and seek to remove it through savage notions of holy war (jihad) and the slaughter of innocent Western civilians, women and children. They believe in the ficitcious god allah, and believe killing innocent White people will get them into heaven upon death.''''' |
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Like ] and ], Islam is classified as an ].<ref>{{cite book | author=Vartan Gregorian | title=Islam: A Mosaic, Not a Monolith | publisher=Brookings Institution Press | location=Washington D.C. | year=2003 | id=ISBN 0-8157-3283-X|pages=p. ix}}</ref> It is estimated that there are 1.4 billion adherents<ref>{{cite book |author= Teece, Geoff |title=Religion in Focus: Islam |publisher=Smart Apple Media| year=2005| pages=p. 10}}</ref>, making Islam the ] in the world. The majority of Muslims are not ]s (only 20 percent of Muslims originate from Arab countries). <ref> {{cite book |author= John L Esposito|title=What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam |publisher=Oxford University Press US| year=2002| pages=p. 2| id=ISBN 0-19-515713-3}}</ref> Islam is the second largest religion in the ], <ref> {{cite web| title=Religion In Britain| url= http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=293| author=Office for National Statistics| date=]| accessdate=2006-08-27}} </ref> and if current trends continue it will soon become the second largest in the ]. <ref> {{cite book |author= John L Esposito|title=What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam |publisher=Oxford University Press US| year=2002| pages=p. 1| id=ISBN 0-19-515713-3}}</ref> |
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Secular historians place Islam's beginnings during the late 7th century in ]. Under the leadership of Muhammad and his successors, Islam rapidly spread by religious conversion and military conquest.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nelson|first=Lynn Harry|url=http://www.ku.edu/kansas/medieval/108/lectures/islam.html|title=Islam and the Prophet Muhammad|accessdate=2006-06-17|publisher=Kansas University}} - "One must remember that we are talking about the Muslim expansion, not Arab conquests. The expansion of Islam was as much, or perhaps much more, a matter of religious conversion than it was of military conquest."</ref> Today, followers of Islam may be found throughout the world, particularly in the ], ], ] and ]. |
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==Etymology== |
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In Arabic, ''Islam'' derives from the ] root ], while this verb literally means 'to make peace' the word 'Islam' is derived from a form of this word 'istislam' which itself derives from 'silm' meaning 'submission'. ''Islam'' is an abstract nominal derived from this root, and literally means "submission to 'The God' (Arabic:])". The legislative meaning is to submit to God by singling Him out in all acts of worship, to yield obediently to Him and to free and disassociate oneself from Polytheism and its people. Other Arabic words derived from the same root include: |
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* '']'', the word salaam literally translates to 'peace'. Therefore the common salutation, '']'' ("may Peace be upon you"). |
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* '']'', a Muslim is a person who other people "salimou" ,(i.e. were left unharmed/assulted, left at peace) from his tongue and hands (i.e. no physical or verbal harassment). |
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* ''Muslim'', an agentive noun meaning "one who submits wholeheartedly ". |
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* ''Salamah'', meaning "safety", also used in the common farewell ''ma' as-salamah'' (" with safety"). |
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*''Aslam'' (with a short "a" vowel) also means "I submit", since the addition of a ] to the beginning of the ] root, followed by the first two consonants, a short vowel, and the final consonant, is the first-person singular imperfect tense in Arabic. (For example, from Sĩn-Kãf-Nũn, the word "'askun" means "I live" .) |
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==Beliefs== |
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{{main|Aqidah}} |
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]" in ].]] |
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Muslims believe that God revealed his direct word for humanity to Muhammad (c. 570– July 6, 632) through the angel ] and earlier ], including ], ], ], ], and ]. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last prophet, based on the Qur'anic phrase "]" and sayings of the prophet of Islam himself, and that his teachings for humanity will last until ]. Muslims assert that the main written record of revelation to humanity is the ], which is flawless, immutable, and which Muslims believe is the final revelation of God to humanity. |
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Muslims hold that Islam is the same belief as that of all the messengers sent by God to humanity since Adam, with the Qur'an, the text used by all sects of the Muslim faith, codifying the final revelation of God. Islamic texts depict Judaism and Christianity as prophetic successor traditions to the teachings of Abraham. The Qur'an calls Jews and Christians "]", and distinguishes them from "]". In order to reconcile the often radical disagreements regarding events and interpretation that exist between the earlier writers and the Quran, Muslims posit that Jews and Christians distorted the word of God after it was revealed to them, deliberately altering words in meaning, form and placement in their respective holy texts, with Jews changing the ] and Christians the ] (Gospels). Without this distortion, known as '']'', or ''tabdīl'', meaning "alteration, substitution", the content of the Torah and Gospels would ostensibly have been in accord with the later teachings of the Prophet. |
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===Fundamental practices=== |
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{{main|Five Pillars of Islam|Roots of Religion}} |
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=====Shahadah===== |
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{{main|Shahadah}} |
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The basic creed or tenet of Islam is found in the ] ("two testimonies"): ''{{ArabDIN|ašhadu 'an lā ilāha illā-llāhu wa ašhadu 'an muhammadun-r-rasūlu-llāh}}'' — "I testify that there is none worthy of worship except God (Arabic:]) and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of God."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/pillars/shahadah/shahadahprereq.html|title=USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts|accessdate=2006-09-12}}</ref> As the most important pillar, this testament can be considered a foundation for all other beliefs and practices in Islam. Children are taught to recite and understand the shahadah as soon as they are able to do so. Muslims must repeat the shahadah in prayer, and non-Muslims must use the creed to formally convert to Islam.<ref>{{cite book | title=Islam: Its History, Teaching, and Practices |author= Nigosian, S A| publisher=Indiana University Press |year=2004 |location=Bloomington, Indiana}}</ref> |
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=====Salat===== |
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] (prayer).]] |
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{{main|Salat}} |
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Muslims must perform five daily prayers throughout the day as a form of submission to God. The ritual combines specific movements and spiritual aspects, preceded by wudu', or ]. It is also supposed to serve as a reminder to do good and strive for greater causes,<ref>{{cite book |author=Eastman, Roger |title=The Ways of Religion: An Introduction to the Major Traditions |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1999 |location=New York, New York| pages=p. 431}}</ref> as well as a form of restraint from committing harmful or shameful deeds. |
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It is believed that the prayer ritual was demonstrated to Muhammed by the angel ], or Gabriel in English. |
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=====Zakat===== |
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{{main|Zakat}} |
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Zakat, or alms-giving, is a mandated giving of charity to the poor and needy by able Muslims based on the wealth that he or she has accumulated. It is a personal responsibility intended to ease economic hardship for others and eliminate inequality.<ref>{{cite book |title=Major World Religions: From Their Origins to the Present |author=Lloyd Ridgeon |year= 2003 |publisher= RoutledgeCorizon |location= New York, NY |pages= p. 258}}</ref> |
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=====Sawm===== |
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{{main|Sawm}} |
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Sawm, or fasting, is an obligatory act during the month of ]. Muslims must abstain from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn to dusk during this month, and are to be especially mindful of other sins that are prohibited. This activity is intended to allow Muslims to seek nearness to God as well as remind them of the needy.<ref>{{cite book |title=Islam 101: Principles and Practice |author=Arshad Khan |publisher= Writers Club Press |year=2003 |location=Lincoln, Nebraska |pages= p.54}}</ref> |
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=====Hajj===== |
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]'') to ], ], ], is an important practice for Muslims to perform]] |
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{{main|Hajj}} |
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The Hajj is a pilgrimage that occurs during the month of ] in the city of ]. The pilgrimage is required for all Muslims who are both physically and financially able to go and is to be done at least once in one's lifetime.<ref>{{cite book |title= A Concise History of the Middle East| author= Goldschmidt, Arthur| publisher=Westview Press |year=2002 |location= Boulder, Colorado |pages=p. 48}}</ref> |
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===God=== |
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{{main|Allah|God|Islamic concept of God}} |
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] in Arabic]] |
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The fundamental concept in Islam is the Oneness of ] ('']''), monotheism which is absolute, not relative or pluralistic. God is described in ] ], as follows: |
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:"Say: He is God, the One and Only; God, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him." {{Quran-usc-range|112|1|4}} |
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In Arabic, God is called ''Allāh''. The word is etymologically connected to ''ʾilāh'' "]", ''Allāh'' is also the word used by Christian and Jewish Arabs, translating ''ho theos'' of the ] and ]; it predates Muhammad and, at least in origin, does not specify a "God" different from the one worshipped by Judaism and Christianity, the other Abrahamic religions. One of the most common misconceptions about "Allah," however, is that Christians and Jews both worship a different God than Muslims. This, however, is not true as "Allah" literally means "God" and all three religions are monotheistic and Abrahamic. All three religions, however, hold different conceptions about God. |
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The name "Allah" shows no plural or gender. God is described numerous times in the Qur'an. |
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:"(He is) the Creator of the heavens and the earth: He has made for you pairs from among yourselves, and pairs among cattle: by this means does He multiply you: there is nothing whatever like unto Him, and He is the One that hears and sees (all things)." {{Quran-usc|42|11}}. |
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The implicit usage of the ] in ''Allah'' linguistically indicates the divine unity. Muslims believe that the God they worship is the same God of Abraham. Muslims reject the Christian doctrine concerning the ] of God, seeing it as akin to ]. Quoting from the Qur'an, |
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] ]: |
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:"O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: Nor say of God aught but the truth. Jesus Christ, the son of Mary, was (no more than) a messenger of God, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in God and His messengers. Say not "Trinity": desist: it will be better for you: for God is one God: Glory be to Him: (far exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is God as a Disposer of affairs." {{Quran-usc|4|171}} |
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No Muslim visual images or depictions of God are meant to exist because such artistic depictions may lead to ] and are thus disdained. Moreover, most Muslims believe that God is ], making any two- or three- dimensional depictions impossible. Such ] can also be found in Jewish and some Christian theology. Instead, Muslims describe God by the names and attributes that he revealed to his creation. All but one Sura (chapter) of the Qur'an begins with the phrase "]". |
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===The Qur'an=== |
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] ] in a Qur'anic manuscript by ].]] |
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{{main|Qur'an}} |
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The Qur'an is considered by Muslims to be the literal, undistorted word of God, and is the central ] of Islam. It has also been called, in English, "the Koran" and (archaically) "the Alcoran." Qur'an is the currently preferred English transliteration of the Arabic original (قرآن); it means “recitation”. Although the Qur'an is referred to as a "book", when Muslims refer in the abstract to "the Qur'an," they are usually referring to the scripture as recited in Arabic -- the words themselves -- rather than to the printed work or any translation of it. |
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Muslims believe that the Qur'an was revealed to the prophet Muhammad by God through the ] on numerous occasions between the years 610 and up till his death on July 6, 632. In addition to memorizing his revelations, his followers had written them down on parchments, stones, and leaves, to preserve the revelation. |
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Most Muslims regard paper copies of the Qur'an with veneration, washing as for prayers before reading the Qur'an. Old Qur'ans are not destroyed as wastepaper, but burned. |
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Most Muslims memorize at least some portion of the Qur'an in the original language (i.e. Arabic). Those who have memorized the entire Qur'an are known as '']'' (plural ''huffaz''). |
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Muslims believe that the Qur'an is perfect only as revealed in the original Arabic. Translations, they maintain, are the result of human effort, and are deficient because of differences in human languages, because of the human fallibility of translators, and (not least) because any translation lacks the inspired content found in the original. Translations are therefore regarded only as commentaries on the Qur'an, or "interpretations of its meaning", not as the Qur'an itself. Many modern, printed versions of the Qur'an feature the Arabic text on one page, and a vernacular translation on the facing page. |
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==Organization== |
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===Islamic law=== |
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] |
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{{main|Sharia}} |
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The Sharia (Arabic for "well-trodden path") is Islamic law, as shown by traditional Islamic scholarship. The ] is the foremost source of ]. The second source is the ] of Muhammad and the early Muslim community. The ] is not itself a text like the Qur'an, but it is the practical adherence of Muslims to matters of worship. The place of ] is a disputed one in Islamic law. ] (Arabic for ''report'') contains narrations of Muhammad's sayings, deeds, and actions. According to a few scholars, such as ], it is secondary to Qur'an, whereas others, such as ] and the ] scholars, hold it in subjugation to ] and oftentimes reject a hadith if it goes against established practices, i.e. sunnah. ] (consensus of the community of Muslims) and ] (analogical reasoning) are generally regarded as the third and fourth sources of Sharia, but have been contested by some scholars, based on the source (a hadith) from which these are derived. They believe that according to Qur'an, there are other sources that be given higher importance instead. |
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Islamic law covers all aspects of life, from the broad topics of governance and foreign relations all the way down to issues of daily living. Islamic laws that were covered expressly in the Qur’an were referred to as ''hudud'' laws and include specifically the five crimes of theft, highway robbery, intoxication, adultery and falsely accusing another of adultery, each of which has a prescribed "hadd" punishment that cannot be forgone or mitigated. The Qur'an also details laws of inheritance, marriage, restitution for injuries and murder, as well as rules for fasting, charity, and prayer. However, the prescriptions and prohibitions may be broad, so how they are applied in practice varies. Islamic scholars, ''the ulema'', have elaborated systems of law on the basis of these broad rules, supplemented by the hadith reports of how Muhammad and his companions interpreted them. |
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In current times, as Islam has spread to countries such as Iran, Indonesia, Great Britain, and the United States, not all Muslims understand the Qur'an in its original Arabic. Thus, when Muslims are divided in how to handle situations, they seek the assistance of a ] (Islamic judge) who can advise them based on Islamic ] and hadith. |
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{{see also|Sin}} |
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===Islamic calendar=== |
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{{main|Islamic calendar}} |
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Islam dates from the ], or migration from Mecca to Medina. Year 1, AH (Anno Hegira) corresponds to AD 622 or 622 CE, depending on the notation preferred (see ]). It is a ], but differs from other such calendars (e.g. the ]) in that it omits ]s, being synchronized only with ]s, but not with the ], resulting in years of either 354 or 355 days. Therefore, Islamic dates cannot be converted to the usual CE/AD dates simply by adding 622 years. Islamic holy days fall on fixed dates of the lunar calendar, which means that they occur in different seasons in different years in the ]. |
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==Denominations== |
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{{main|Divisions of Islam}} |
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There are a number of Islamic religious denominations, each of which have significant theological and legal differences from each other but possess similar essential beliefs. The major schools of thought are ] and ]; ]sm is generally considered to be a mystical inflection of Islam rather than a distinct school. According to most sources, present estimates indicate that approximately 85% of the world's Muslims are Sunni and approximately 15% are Shi'a. <ref> {{cite book |author= John L Esposito|title=What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam |publisher=Oxford University Press US| year=2002| pages=p. 2| id=ISBN 0-19-515713-3}}</ref> <ref>, ''Country Studies'', retrieved April 04, 2006</ref> |
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===Sunni=== |
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The ] are the largest group in Islam. In ], ''as-Sunnah'' literally means '''principle''' or '''path'''. |
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Sunnis and Shi'a believe that Muhammad is a perfect example to follow, and that they must imitate the words and acts of Muhammad as accurately as possible. Because of this reason, the ], the practices which the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) established in the community, are described are a main pillar of Sunni doctrine, with the place of ] having been argued by scholars as part of the sunnah. |
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Sunnis recognize four major legal traditions (]s): ], ], ], and ]. All four accept the validity of the others and Muslims choose any one that he/she finds agreeable to his/her ideas. There are also several orthodox theological or philosophical traditions (]). |
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===Shi'a=== |
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] on the ] in ], a holy site in Islam]] |
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] Muslims, the second-largest branch, differ from the Sunni in rejecting the authority of the first three caliphs. They honor different accounts of Muhammad (]) and have their own legal traditions. Shi'a scholars have a larger authority than Sunni scholars and have greater room for interpretation. The concept of ] (leadership) plays a central role in Shi'a doctrine. Shi'a Muslims hold that leadership should not be passed down through a democratic system such as the ], but rather, descendants of Muhammad should be given this right as ]. |
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{{see also|Historic background of the Sunni-Shi'a split}} |
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===Sufism=== |
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] is a spiritual practice followed by both Sunni and Shi'a. Sufis generally feel that following Islamic law or jurisprudence (or '']'') is only the first step on the path to perfect submission; they focus on the internal or more spiritual aspects of Islam, such as perfecting one's faith and fighting one's own ego ('']''). Most Sufi orders, or ]s, can be classified as either Sunni or Shi'a. However, there are some that are not easily categorized as either Sunni or Shi'a, such as the ]. Sufis are found throughout the Islamic world, from ] to ]. Their innovative beliefs and actions often come under criticism from ], who consider certain practices to be against the letter of Islamic law. |
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===Others=== |
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]s a more recent Sunni offshoot, however the movement sees itself as restorationist and derives its teachings from all of the original sources of the religion. To other Muslims and non-Muslims ''Wahabi'' is the term most popularly associated with them. Followers of Salafism often also use the term "Ahl-us Sunnah Wa Jama'ah" as a label for their following, which would translate to English as "Congregation of the Followers of Sunnah". Salafiyyah is a movement commonly thought as founded by ] in the 18th century in what is present-day ]. They are classified as Sunni. One of the foremost principles, however, is the abolition of "schools of thoughts" (legal traditions), and the following of Muhammad directly through the study of the sciences of the Hadith (prophetic traditions). The ] legal tradition is the strongest school of thought where the Islamic law in Saudi Arabia is derived from, and they have had a great deal of influence on the Islamic world because of Saudi control of ] and ], the Islamic holy places, and because of Saudi funding for ]s and schools in other countries. The majority of Saudi Islamic scholars are considered as ]s by other parts of the Islamic world. |
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Another sect which dates back to the early days of Islam is that of the ]. The only surviving branch of the Kharijites are the ]s. Ibadhism is distinguished from Shiism by its belief that the Imam (Leader) should be chosen solely on the basis of his faith, not on the basis of descent, and from Sunnism in its rejection of ] and ] and strong emphasis on the need to depose unjust rulers. Ibadi Islam is noted for its strictness, but, unlike the Kharijites proper, Ibadis do not regard major sins as automatically making a Muslim an unbeliever. Most Ibadi Muslims live in ]. |
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Another trend in modern Islam is that which is sometimes called progressive. Followers may be called ]. They may be either Sunni or Shi'ite, and generally favor the development of personal interpretations of Qur'an and Hadith. Commonly associated with liberal movements in Islam are the ] Muslims, who reject ] and ]. |
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There is also a small sect in India and Pakistan which identifies themselves as ] Muslims, who believe in the continuation of prophethood after Muhammad. Although this sect is altogether rejected by mainstream Islamic scholars, they continue to identify themselves as Muslims. Likewise, Ahmadis believe that rest of the ] who do not share faith with them are non-Muslims. |
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==Islam and other religions== |
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{{main|Islam and other religions}} |
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The Qur'an contains both injunctions to respect other religions, and to fight and subdue unbelievers during war. Some Muslims have respected ] and ] as fellow ] (monotheists following ]), while others have reviled them as having abandoned monotheism and corrupted their scriptures. At different times and places, Islamic communities have been both intolerant and tolerant. Support can be found in the Qur'an for both attitudes. |
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The classical Islamic solution was a limited tolerance — Jews and Christians were to be allowed to privately practice their faith and follow their own family law. They were called ] and paid a special tax called the ], since the ] paid by Muslims was not compulsory on them. The status of dhimmis is a matter of dispute, with some claiming that dhimmis were persecuted second-class citizens, and others that their lot was not difficult. |
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The medieval Islamic state was often more tolerant than many other states of the time which insisted on complete conformity to a state religion. The record of ] Muslim-majority states is mixed. Some are generally regarded as tolerant, while others have been accused of intolerance and human rights violations. |
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One of the open issues is the claim from hardline ] that once a certain territory has been under 'Muslim' rule, it can never be relinquished anymore, and that such a period of Islamic rule would give the Muslims an eternal right on the claimed territory. This claim is particularly controversial with regard to ] and to a lesser degree ] and parts of the ]. |
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===Related Faiths=== |
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The ], ], ], ], ] and ] religions either emerged out of an Islamic milieu or have beliefs in common with Islam in varying degrees; in almost all cases those religions were also influenced by traditional beliefs in the regions where they emerged, but consider themselves independent religions with distinct laws and institutions. The last two religions no longer have any followers. |
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==History== |
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] |
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{{main|History of Islam}} |
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Islamic history begins in ] in the 7th century with the emergence of Muhammad. Within a century of his death, an Islamic state stretched from the ] in the west to ] in the east, which, however, was soon torn by civil wars (]s). After this, there would always be rival dynasties claiming the ], or leadership of the Muslim world, and many Islamic states or empires offering only token obedience to an increasingly powerless ]. |
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Nonetheless, the later empires of the ] caliphs and the ] were among the largest and most powerful in the world.{{fact}} After the disastrous defeat of the Byzantines at the ] in 1071, Christian Europe launched a series of ] and for a time captured Jerusalem. ], however, recaptured ] and defeated the ] ]s. |
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From the 14th to the 17th centuries, one of the most important Muslim territories was the ], whose capital was ]. |
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In the 18th century, there were three great Muslim empires: the ] in Turkey, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean; the ] in Iran; and the ] in India. By the 19th century, these realms had fallen under the sway of European political and economic power, due to European ] and ]. Following ], the remnants of the Ottoman empire were parceled out as European ]s or ]. Islam and Islamic political power have revived in the 20th century. However, the relationship between the West and the Islamic world remains uneasy.{{fact}} |
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==Contemporary Islam== |
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Although the most prominent movement in Islam in recent times has been ] ], there are a number of ], which seek alternative ways to align the Islamic faith with contemporary questions.{{fact}} |
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Early ] had a much more flexible character than is currently associated with ], and many modern Muslim scholars believe that it should be renewed, and the classical jurists should lose their special status. This would require formulating a new ] suitable for the modern world, e.g. as proposed by advocates of the ], and would deal with the modern context. One vehicle proposed for such a change has been the revival of the principle of ], or independent reasoning by a qualified Islamic scholar, which has lain dormant for centuries.{{fact}} |
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This movement does not aim to challenge the fundamentals of Islam; rather, it seeks to clear away misinterpretations and to free the way for the renewal of the previous status of the Islamic world as a centre of modern thought and freedom.{{fact}} |
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Many Muslims counter the claim that only "liberalization" of the Islamic Sharia law can lead to distinguishing between ] and true Islam by saying that meaningful "fundamentalism", by definition, will eject non-Islamic cultural inventions — for instance, acknowledging and implementing Muhammad's insistence that women have God-given rights that no human being may legally infringe upon. Proponents of modern Islamic philosophy sometimes respond to this by arguing that, as a practical matter, "fundamentalism" in popular discourse about Islam may actually refer, not to core precepts of the faith, but to various systems of cultural traditionalism.{{fact}} |
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{{see also|Modern Islamic philosophy}} |
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===The demographics of Islam today=== |
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{{main|Islam by country|Demographics of Islam}} |
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] majority and blue represents a ] majority.]] |
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Based on the figures published in the 2005 ] (), Islam is the second largest religion in the world. According to the , and ], Islam is ] than any of the other ]. estimate that it is growing at about 2.9% annually, as opposed to 2.3% per year global population growth.<ref name="ont"></ref> Most of this growth is due to the high population growth in many Islamic countries (six out of the top-ten countries in the world with the highest birth rates are majority Muslim <ref>, ''NationMaster.com'', retrieved March 27, 2006</ref>). The birth rates in some Muslim countries are now declining <ref>, by Spengler, ''Asia Time Online'', August 23, 2005, retrieved March 27, 2006</ref>. |
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Commonly cited estimates of the Muslim population today range between 900 million and 1.5 billion people (cf. ); estimates of ] based on U.S. State Department figures yield a total of 1.48 billion, while the Muslim delegation at the United Nations quoted 1.2 billion as the global Muslim population in September 2005.{{fact}} |
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Only 18% of ]s live in the ] world; 20% are found in Sub-Saharan Africa, about 30% in the ]n region of ], ] and ], and the world's largest single Muslim community (within the bounds of one nation) is in ]. There are also significant Muslim populations in ], ], ], and ]. |
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] has the highest Muslim population of any nation in Western Europe, with up to 6 million Muslims (10% of the population <ref>, ''CIA - The World Factbook'', January, 2006, retrieved March 27, 2006</ref>). ] has the highest proportion of Muslims as part of its population in Europe (70%), although this figure is only an estimate (see ]). Countries in Europe with many Muslims include ] (estimated around 50 % are Bosniaks, Muslims) and Macedonia where over 30 % of the population is Muslim, mostly ethnic Albanians in Macedonia. The country in Europe with most Muslims is Russia. |
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The number of Muslims in ] is variously estimated as anywhere from 1.8 to 7 million.<ref name="ont" /> |
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==Symbols of Islam== |
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{{main|Islamic symbols}} |
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Muslims do not accept any icon or color as sacred to Islam as they believe that worshipping symbolic or material things is against the spirit of monotheism. Many people assume that the ] symbolize Islam, but these were actually the insignia of the ], <ref>, by Huda, ''About'', retrieved April 01, 2006</ref> not of Islam as a whole. The color green is often associated with Islam as well; this is custom and not prescribed by religious scholars. However, Muslims will often use elaborately ] verses from the ] and pictures of the ] as decorations in mosques, homes, and public places. The Qur’anic verses are believed to be sacred. |
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==Political and religious extremism== |
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The term ''Islamism'' describes a set of political ideologies derived from ].<ref> Encyclopedia of the Orient</ref> Most Islamist ideologies hold that Islam is not only a religion, but also a ] that governs the legal, economic and social imperatives of the state according to interpretations of ]. |
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] refers to acts of terrorism claimed by its supporters and practitioners to be in furtherance of the goals of Islam. The validity of an Islamic justification for these acts is contested by other Muslims.<ref> Harun Yahya</ref>, <ref></ref> Islamic extremist violence is not synonymous with all terrorist activities committed by Muslims. Nationalists, separatists, and others in the Muslim world often derive inspiration from ] ideologies. These are not well described as either Islamic extremist or Islamist. <ref> New York Times</ref> |
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==Controversies and criticisms== |
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{{See also|Criticism of Islam|Islamophobia}} |
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In recent years, Islam has been the subject of criticism and controversy, and is often viewed with considerable negativity in the West.<ref>Ernst, Carl (2002). Rethinking Muhammad in the Contemporary World) p. 11</ref> Islam, the Qur'an, and Muhammad, have all been subject to both criticism and vilification. <ref> Ernst, Carl (2002). Rethinking Muhammad in the Contemporary World) p. 11 </ref> |
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The main points of ] criticism are: |
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*The use of ] to punish violations committed by Muslims (e.g. the death edict against British writer ]). <ref> The New York Times</ref>, <ref> The Guardian</ref> |
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*Human rights abuses by the ] and other fundamentalist governments. <ref> by David Littman</ref>, <ref> by Human Rights First</ref> |
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*The use of violence by ] militant organizations as a means of spreading Islam. <ref> by Martin Kramer </ref>, <ref> Spiegel Online</ref> |
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*The state of women's rights in muslim societies. <ref></ref>, <ref> Geneva Humanitarian Forum</ref> |
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*The suppression of free speech (e.g. ]). <ref> masud.co.uk</ref>, <ref> BBC News</ref> |
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Some of the criticism of Islam has been interpreted as a product of ]. The ] which has a party platform of opposing Islam, and has described Islam as a "menace",<ref> by Leslie Dale of the ]. </ref> has been described as Islamophobic by numerous organisations and individuals, including a ] ].<ref> ], ]</ref> Organisations, such as the ] (''OIC'') have claimed that Islamophobia is based on an ignorance of the religion of Islam. To combat such ignorance, the ] (''CAIR'') has set up campaigns called "Explore the Qur'an", where non-Muslims are given a free copy of the Qur'an,<ref> ]</ref> "Explore the life of Muhammad", where non-Muslims are given a free DVD or book explaining the Life of Muhammad, "Not in the Name of Islam", where American Muslims are asked to sign a petition signalling their opposition to terrorism, <ref> ]</ref> and "Hate Hurts America", which is designed to counter anti-Muslim hate on radio talk shows.<ref> ]. ], ]</ref> |
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==See also== |
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{{portal}} |
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{{Further|]}} |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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* ] |
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==References== |
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<div class="references-small"> |
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<references /> |
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</div> |
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== Bibliography == |
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* Khan, Muhammad Muhsin & Al-Hilali, Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din. ''Noble Quran'', ISBN 1-59144-004-1 |
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* Mubarkpuri, Saifur-Rahman. ''The Sealed Nectar: Biography of the Noble Prophet''. Dar-us-Salam, ISBN 9960-899-55-1 |
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* Al-Asqalani, Ibn Hajar. ''Bulugh Al-Maram'', ISBN 1-59144-056-4 |
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* Arberry, A. J. ''The Koran Interpreted: a translation by A. J. Arberry''. Touchstone, ISBN 0-684-82507-4 |
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* Kramer, Martin. ''The Islamism Debate''. University Press, (1997) ISBN 965-224-024-9 |
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* Rahman, Fazlur. ''Islam''. University of Chicago Press; 2nd edition, (1979) ISBN 0-226-70281-2 |
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* Safi, Omid. ''Progressive Muslims: On Justice, Gender and Pluralism''. Oneworld Publications, (2003) ISBN 1-85168-316-X |
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* Tibi, Bassam. ''The Challenge of Fundamentalism: Political Islam and the New World Disorder''. Univ. of California Press, (1998) ISBN 0-520-08868-9 |
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* Najeebabadi, Akbar Shah. ''History of Islam''. Dar-us-Salam, ISBN 1-59144-031-9 |
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* ]. ''Foundations of Islam: The Making of a World Faith,'' Peter Owen Publishers, London and New York, 1978, ISBN 0-7206-1038-9; Harper Collins, New Dehli, 1999. |
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==External links== |
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{{sisterlinks}} |
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===Academic resources=== |
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* |
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* |
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* from the ] Arab Culture and Civilization Online Resource |
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* |
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===Directories=== |
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*Islam in , , and |
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* (a list of links of Islam) |
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* |
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===Islam and the arts, sciences, and philosophy=== |
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* (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) |
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* (Foundation for Science Technology and Civilisation, UK) |
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* illustrated descriptions and reviews of a large number of mosques, palaces, and monuments. |
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* (Journal of Islamic Philosophy, University of Michigan) |
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* |
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* Photos from Muslim locations from all over the world |
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