Definition and Beliefs of Muslims
– Muslims adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition.
– They consider the Quran to be the verbatim word of God as revealed to Muhammad.
– Muslims believe in previous revelations such as the Torah, Psalms, and Gospel.
– The majority of Muslims follow the teachings and practices attributed to Muhammad.
– Muslims comprise around 25% of the world’s total population.
Muslim Population and Demographics
– Africa: 45% of the population identifies as Muslim.
– Asia and Oceania: 25% of the population identifies as Muslim.
– Europe: 6% of the population identifies as Muslim.
– Americas: 1% of the population identifies as Muslim.
– Sub-Saharan Africa: 42% of the population identifies as Muslim.
– Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world (12% of all Muslims).
– India and China have the second-largest and third-largest Muslim populations, respectively.
– Arab Muslims form the largest ethnic group among Muslims worldwide.
– Sunni Muslims make up the majority (75-90%) of the Muslim population.
– Islam is the second-largest and fastest-growing religion in the world.
Islamic Practices and Beliefs
– The Five Pillars of Islam: declaration of faith, daily prayers, almsgiving, fasting during Ramadan, and pilgrimage to Mecca.
– Muslims believe in the prophethood of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad.
– Muslims consider themselves to be followers of the monotheistic faith of Islam.
– The shahada, or declaration of faith, is a central aspect of Islamic belief.
– Quranist Muslims believe in the testimony that there is no god but Allah.
Muslim Culture and Diversity
– Muslim culture refers to the cultural practices common to Muslims and historically Islamic people.
– Early forms of Muslim culture were influenced by Arab, Byzantine, Persian, and Levantine cultures.
– Muslim culture has assimilated influences from various regional cultures.
– The expansion of Arab Islamic empires played a significant role in spreading and influencing Muslim culture.
– Muslim culture has a rich and diverse heritage due to its interaction with various regional cultures.
– Cultural Muslims are individuals who identify with Muslim culture but may not actively practice the religion.
– Cultural Muslims contribute to the diversity and richness of Muslim culture.
Islamic Schools, Branches, and Holidays
– Islam has various schools of thought and branches, including Sunni, Shia, Sufism, Ibadi, and Ahmadiyya.
– The major branches of Islam are Sunni and Shia.
– Islamic holidays are based on the lunar calendar and include Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Mawlid al-Nabi, Ashura, and Laylat al-Qadr.
– Islamic holidays are celebrated with prayers, fasting, feasting, charity, and community gatherings.
– The Muslim world refers to countries with a significant Muslim population and cultural influence.
– The Muslim world encompasses diverse regions, including the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim
