Table of Contents

Adopt the World: learn about it!®

2008 Islam in the World

Authors:
Grant Brown
Ingrid Navas
Giuliano Speziani
John Valvo

Editors:
Marsha B. Cohen, Ph.D.
Samantha A. Reynolds

Miami Initiative for Global Enrichment

This publication was produced for the University of Miami-Master

of Arts in International Administration (MAIA) in joint cooperation
with the Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
 Islam in the World 2

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This publication was produced for the University of Miami-Master of
Arts in International Administration (MAIA) in joint cooperation with
the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Miami Initiative for Global Enrichment

Copyright Pending 2009

 Islam in the World 3

Table of Contents

Religion: Why learn about it? ................................... 4 Eid-Al-Fitr ........................................................... 17

Major Religions Around the World: ......................... 6 Eid-Al-Adha ........................................................ 17
Origins of Islam ......................................................... 7 Diversity within Islam ............................................ 18
Beliefs and Practices ............................................... 10 Sunnis................................................................. 18
Shariah ................................................................ 10 Shi’ism................................................................ 19
Qur’an ................................................................. 10 Sufism ................................................................ 20
Prophets ............................................................. 10 Ibadiyya.............................................................. 20
Five Pillars of Islam ............................................. 11 Muslim Diversity ................................................ 20
The Shahada: declaration of faith .................. 11 Islam in the World ................................................. 21
Salat ................................................................ 13 Glossary ................................................................. 21
Zakat ............................................................... 13 Electronic Resources.............................................. 21
Sawm .............................................................. 13 Miami Initiative for Global Enrichment -MiGlobE® 21
Hajj .................................................................. 14 References ............................................................. 21
Clothing............................................................... 14
Dietary laws ........................................................ 15
Jihad .................................................................... 15
Muslim Holidays ..................................................... 16
The Islamic Calendar........................................... 16
Muharram: the Muslim New Year ..................... 16
Ashura................................................................. 16
Mawlid an-Nabi .................................................. 17
Isra Mer'Aj .......................................................... 17
Ramadan ............................................................. 17

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Religion: Why learn about it?
The United States is a magnet for people of
different beliefs and cultures, where they can live
together without surrendering their traditions and
identity. It is not just a “melting pot” where all
differences disappear. Our country prides itself on
accepting people of all religions and backgrounds. The
United States is a secular nation, which means that
government and religious institutions don’t interfere
with one another. The first amendment to the
foundation of our society, the U.S. Constitution,
which is part of the Bill of Rights, states,
“Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting
1
the free exercise thereof.”
Americans are free to choose
whichever religion they want follow,
if any. Surprisingly, the United
States is home to more than
2
seventeen different religions.
With that in mind, it is essential to
learn about religious differences in
our society. It is important to
recognize and respect the different
perspectives of others, especially since we
3
live in a very diverse country.
What is religion exactly? Religions, broadly
defined, are belief systems that try to explain the
meaning of human existence and the place of human
beings in the world. Religions provide rules about how
people should behave towards one another, and how to
observe the rituals which are performed on holidays and
at life cycle events—birth, coming of age, marriage, and
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Islam in the World 4
even death. Some religions have rules that tell their
followers what foods to eat and not eat and specify
certain days, called “fasts” when they should not eat at
all. Some religions even have rules about what to wear.
These rules are often based on or derived from passages
found in sacred texts, while others are based on
traditions which have been passed on from one
generation to another for hundreds of years. Most
religions tell their followers when and where to pray, and
what to say when they do. Many religions provide
places of worship where their followers can
gather together for study, prayer and
rituals.
Religions have played
important roles in the shaping of
human history. Religion is often
considered a private matter, a
topic that should not be discussed
outside of one’s home. But since
religion a matter of beliefs but
about rules that, for many people,
influence everyday living, it is not
surprising that religion is not
something invisible or hidden away but
rather very much in evidence in our society.
When you drive down the street you see
different houses of worship--churches, synagogues,
temples and mosques. You may have friends who wear
religious symbols or head-coverings that you don’t
understand the meaning of, who may not come to school
on certain holidays you’ve never heard of, or don’t eat
certain foods you offer them. Because the U.S. is a
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 Islam in the World 5

Religion: Why learn about it?

secular society, there is a strong possibility that you will

encounter a person who practices Islam. Islam is the
second largest religion in the world and many reside in
the U.S. Islam in the U.S.

The word Islam comes from the same root as the

Arabic word for peace (salaam). It means “a strong The Islamic Center of America opened in
commitment to God (Allah—the Arabic word for God)” 2005 and is the largest mosques in the
or, according to some Muslim theologians, “attaining United States. It is located in Dearborn,
4 Michigan.
peace through commitment to God’s will.” Followers of
Islam are known as Muslims.

Islam is a monotheistic, revealed religion, with

5
historical links to Judaism and Christianity, with whom it
shares some common sources of tradition. Sometimes
Muslims are referred to as “Muhammedans,” which
implies that Muslims worship Muhammad. Muslims do
not consider Muhammad to be God, but rather the last
and greatest of the Prophets and God’s messenger to all
humanity.

This unit will explain some of major Islamic beliefs

and practices, and a few of the various interpretations of
what it means to be a Muslim. We will explore the
history, the major divisions, as well as the most
important holidays. For true interfaith respect and
understanding to be possible, it is important not only to
learn about the concepts and customs of minority
religions, but to learn about the history, evolution and More information about this mosque can be
diversity of Islam. found at: www.icofa.com

Let’s find out more…

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 Islam in the World 6

Major Religions Around the World: Where is Islam?

With over a billion followers--a fifth of the world’s
6
population -- Islam is the second largest religion in the
7
world next to Christianity. It is the second
largest religion in Europe and Canada and Major
in Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nigeria.
Although Arabic is the language of the Qur’an and of
most Muslim religious texts, only about
World Religions 20% of Muslims speak Arabic.
12

8
the third largest in the United States. This Christianity 2.1 billion
1,400 year old religion represents a vast Islam 1.3 billion Islam is the world’s fastest growing
range of human experience because it is Hinduism 851 million religion, and some estimates predict it will
practiced by so many people in so many Buddhism 375 million have more followers than Christianity
13
countries. Sikhism 24 million within the next two decades. At least
Judaism 14 million 40,000 Muslims live in Miami-Dade County,
There are Muslim majorities or 20,000 in Broward County and 10,000 in
14
significant Muslim minorities in 57 *The figures above are a collective Palm Beach County.
11
countries around the world. The world’s representation from various
five largest Muslim communities are found sources and are estimates. 910

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Origins of Islam
Islam originated in Arabia in the early seventh
century CE. The region was tribal and the people were
15
largely pagan. Muhammad ibn Abdallah was born
16
around 570 in the city of Mecca (Makkah). He was a
member of the Quraysh tribe. Mecca was a cultural
center on the major trading route linking Africa to Asia,
The members of the Quraysh tribe were traders and
17
merchants. Muhammad’s parents died when he was a
child. He was raised by his grandfather and, after his
grandfather’s death, by his uncle, Abu Talib. Muhammad
became a merchant. When Muhammad was around 25
years old, he married a wealthy widowed
18
businesswoman named Khadijah, who was impressed
by Muhammad’s honesty in handling her business
transactions. They had four children--two sons and four
19
daughters--but only the girls survived.
Gabriel appears to Muhammad
Muhammad would sometimes meditate in
20
isolation at Mount Hira near Mecca. In the month of
Ramadan, around 610 CE, when he was around 40 years
old (in Muslim tradition, the age of spiritual maturity),
Muhammad began hearing voices and seeing visions.
The voice of the angel Gabriel told him to recite
messages from God. These messages were later written
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Islam in the World 7
down by his followers, and became the Qur’an
21
(sometimes spelled Koran).
Muhammad began preaching these messages to
his family and friends and he gained followers. However,
most of the Quraysh and other tribes of Mecca were
hostile to his teachings. To escape persecution, he and
his followers fled north to Yathrib in 622 CE. This historic
event, the Hijrah, marks the beginning of the Islamic
22
calendar.
In Yathrib, Muhammad became the leader of
the first Muslim community, with military, political, and
23
religious authority. Yathrib became known as the “City
of the Prophet” (Madinat al-Nabiy) and then simply as
“the City,”(Madinah/Medina).
Did You Know…
Muslims, like Jews, prefer not to date historical
events as taking place BC (before Christ) or AD—after
Christ—“in the year of our Lord”). When referring to
historical events, they prefer to use the religiously
neutral designations BCE (before the Common Era) and
CE (Common Era instead).
Muslim scholars also date historical events
according to Islamic chronology and the Muslim
calendar. The reference point for Islamic dating of
events is the first day of the month of Muharram, 1 AH
(July 26, 622 CE). Events are dated according to the
number of years they took place before or after the year
of the Prophet Muhammad’s Hijira from Mecca to
Medina (BH=before Hijira, AH=after Hijira).
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 Islam in the World 8

Origins of Islam

Medina became the first Islamic capital. Medina
and Mecca would become sacred cities of Islam as it
24
spread throughout western Arabia. By the time of
Muhammad’s death in 632 CE, the Islamic community
(ummah) included nearly all of the Arabian Peninsula.
is the capital of modern day Syria. The fifth Umayyad
caliph, Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (685–705) built the
Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, making it the third
holiest city of Islam.

After Muhammad died, the community was

faced with the problem of who should succeed him as
leader. Arguments about whether or not Muhammad
had chosen a successor and who it should be divided the
ummah. These arguments would lead to the split
between Sunnis and Shiites. Four of Muhammad’s
closest companions would lead the community for the
next thirty years: his father-in-law, Abu Bakr (632-634);
‘Umar (634-644), ‘Uthman (644-656) and his son-in-law
‘Ali (656-661). There were many disagreements within
the community, and changes from one leader to another
did not always go smoothly. Three of the four “rightly
guided caliphs” (al-Khulafa-ur Rashidun) died violent
deaths.

The last of the “rightly guided caliphs,” ‘Ali was
killed in a civil war (known as the fitna). Mu'awiyah, a
relative of ‘Uthman who had fought against Ali and his
supporters, became the first caliph of the Umayyad
dynasty, which lasted from 661-760. During this time the
Arab empire of the Umayyads expanded its territory
beyond Arabia to the north, including present day Syria
and Iraq, east to Iran, Afghanistan and northern India,
and west into Palestine and northern Africa, Spain, and
Portugal. The Umayyad capital was in Damascus, which
Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, Israel
At first the Umayyads encouraged conversion to
Islam in the territories that they conquered. Non-
Muslims living in Muslim-conquered territories had to
pay special taxes (jiziyah and kharaj). The Umayyads did
not want to lose this source of revenue, so they gradually
25
relaxed the pressure to convert.

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 Islam in the World 9

Origins of Islam

The ‘Abbasid dynasty (758-1030), came to

power with the support of non-Arab Muslims. Some
Umayyad rulers had made non-Arab Muslims pay
the same jiziyah and kharaj taxes that non-Muslims
had to pay. Non-Arabs resented Arab claims that
they were superior because they had adopted Islam
first. When the Abbasids took over, the Umayyads
moved to Spain, where they established a caliphate
in 929 CE that ruled for 300 years.

The Abbasids encouraged conversion to

Islam, and Islam became the main religion in the
Middle East, throughout all of North Africa and
parts of east Africa, Persia, Central and southwest
Asia, and India. The Abbasid empire was The Spread of Islam
prosperous and powerful. Its capital was Baghdad,
which is also the capital of modern Iraq. Shiite
rebellions weakened the Abassids, and their empire
began to crumble. For the next five hundred years,
the Muslim world was no longer an empire with a
central ruling authority. Political power was
divided among many local rulers.

The Ottomans were the third great Muslim

empire. They ruled from 1500 to 1924. Although
the Ottoman Empire was smaller in geography than
the ‘Abbasid empire, it spread into Eastern Europe
and was one of the most powerful states in the
western world. These three dynasties, along with
other regional dynasties, helped spread Islam
Ottoman Empire
through most of the Africa, Asian and European
26
continents.

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Beliefs and Practices
Muslims believe in striving for goodness, piety,
and social justice. They learn these from the Islamic way
of living, known as Shariah, the Qur’an (the sacred text of
Islam) and from, the teachings and examples of the
prophets, especially the Prophet Muhammad. They also
believe in the five pillars of Islam and follow certain
dietary and clothing requirements.
Shariah
Shariah means “the path leading to the water
source” in Arabic. It is a code of law and a custom that
gives rules for all aspects of daily living including
business, contracts, marriage, family, social issues, diet
and even hygiene. The interpretations and ways of
enforcing Shariah differ among Muslim societies and
communities, based upon the place, the culture, and the
27
religious scholars who interpret the laws.
Muslim religious scholars have developed
Shariah from two main sources: the Sunnah and the
Hadiths. Sunnah means “path” or “way” in Arabic, and
refers to the actions and practices of Muhammad. The
Sunnah has its roots in the customs and way of life in
ancient Arabia. Hadith means “report” or “narrative” in
Arabic. Collected stories and sayings of Muhammad,
recorded by his family and followers, are used by
religious scholars as guides for daily living or dealing with
problems facing the community. Many Hadiths have
been collected by and can be quoted by religious
scholars. Some Hadiths are accepted as authentic and
authoritative by some Muslim religious scholars but not
by others.
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Islam in the World 10
Qur’an
The Qur’an is the primary sacred text of Islam.
The Qur’an is a collection of the revelations Muhammad
received from God through Gabriel from his first
28
revelation in 610 to the time of his death in 632. These
revelations were written by Muhammad’s followers after
his death. The Qur’an is comprised of 114 chapters
(surahs) and 6,236 verses (ayahs).
29
The word Qur’an
comes for the Arabic word for “recitation.” From a very
early age, Muslim children all over the world, learn to
recite the Qur’an in Arabic, the language in which God
spoke to Muhammad, with proper enunciation,
inflections and intonations. It is considered a milestone
when a Muslim is able to recite the entire Qur’an from
30
memory. Even Muslims who cannot read can quote the
teachings of the Qur’an.
Prophets
Islam is considered to be an Abrahamic religion
because it is monotheistic that recognizes some of the
key figures and traditions of the Jewish Torah and
31
Christian Bible as prophets.
Prophets are considered to be great teachers
from whom Muslims should learn lessons about how to
live their lives and to whom they should show the
greatest respect. When speaking about or referring to a
prophet, it is customary to add the phrase "peace be
upon him" (alayhi salaam in Arabic) after the prophet’s
name. According to the Qur’an (35:24), all of these
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Beliefs and Practices

prophets taught the same basic message of one God, and Five Pillars of Islam
all are regarded as having been Muslims.
Religious commitment is at the core of Muslim
According to the Qur’an, God’s creation of the 33
identity. There are certain practices that a person must
world began with Adam, the first prophet. The names of do in order to be a pious Muslim. These are called the
19 prophets of Islam are mentioned in the TaNaKh “Five Pillars of Islam.” They are:
(Hebrew Bible):
Shahada – Declaration of faith
Prophets of Islam Salat – Prayer
Adam Ayyub (Job)
Zakat – Giving alms
Idris (Enoch) Musa (Moses)
Nuh (Noah) Harun (Aaron) Sawm – Fasting during Ramadan
Ibrahim (Abraham) Dhu'l-kifl (Ezekiel) Hajj –Making a pilgrimage to Mecca
Isma'il (Ishmael) Dawud (David)
Ishaq (Isaac) Sulaiman (Solomon)
Lut (Lot) Ilias (Elijah)
Ya'qub (Jacob) Al-Yasa (Elisha)
Yousef (Joseph) Yunus (Jonah) The Shahada: declaration of faith
Zakariyya (Zechariah)
Faith (iman) in the oneness of God (tawhid) and
Two are in the New Testament: Yahya (John)
believing that the Prophet Muhammad was God’s
and Isa (Jesus). According to Muslim tradition, Ibrahim
greatest and final messenger are necessary in order to be
and his son Ismail not only were prophets, they were the
a believing Muslim. Nothing and no one but God is
ancestors of the Prophet Muhammad, the last and
allowed to be worshipped, and living according to God’s
greatest of the prophets.
will is the goal of human existence.

Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad

was the last and greatest messenger of God. His
messages from God restate and replace the messages
given to early prophets in Torah (Tawrah) of Moses and
the Psalms (Zabur) of David in Hebrew, and through the
32
Gospel (Injil) of Jesus in Greek.
The Prophet Muhammad is the model as well as
the messenger for the Muslim way of life. Faith is
expressed by reciting the Shahadah: La ilaha illa Allah
wa-Muhammad rasul Allah (There is no god but God and
Muhammad is the prophet of God). It is recited many
34
times each day by Muslims who pray regularly. To
become a Muslim, one must publicly recite these words
in a prescribed manner.

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 Islam in the World 12

Beliefs and Practices

must be separated during Muslim prayer, so mosques

36
have separate sections for men and women. It is
Salat considered especially important to pray at a mosque on
Friday.
Salat are the daily prayers that observant
35
Muslims recite when they pray five times a day. These
prayers include:

1. Salatul-Fajr - the early morning prayer which

must be offered after dawn and before sunrise
2. Salatus-Zuhr -the early afternoon prayer
3. Salatul-'Asr - the late afternoon prayer
4. Salatul-Maghrib -the sunset prayer
5. Salatul-'Isha' -the evening prayer

Wherever they are when they pray, Muslims face

toward Mecca. Many Muslims have a prayer mat on
which they bow, kneel, and stretch out with their face on
the ground in submission; and offer their prayers.
Muslims may pray in their home, a prayer room, or at a
mosque. In some Muslim countries, when the muezzin
tell Muslims that it is time for prayer, all activities stop at
prayer time. In some places, cars stop driving and people
get out of their cars, unroll their prayer mats, and face
Mecca for prayer. In non-Muslim countries, many
Muslims find a quiet room in which to discreetly pray at
prayer time.

A mosque (masjid) is a building where Muslims

gather for prayer. It also serves as a court of law, a
school for teaching, a place to provide social services,
and even a forum for political discussions. Whenever
possible, Muslims purify themselves by washing before
they pray, so most mosques have a place for worshipers
to wash their face, hands, and feet. Men and women
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Beliefs and Practices

Zakat
Since the month of Ramadan, like other Muslim
months, can fall during different seasons of the year, the
Zakat (almsgiving, sometimes translated as
length of the daily fast can be a few hours longer in
“charity”) is the financial contribution Muslims are
summer than in the winter. Travelers, people who are ill,
expected to donate to support the poor, widows and
nursing mothers, and small children are not required to
orphans, the sick and suffering, as well as students and
fast. Muslims follow the lunar calendar, this month may
religious institutions. Since all wealth comes from God,
fall during different times of the year. According to
Muslims are required to share it. Under Islamic law, zakat
Muslim belief, the sins of those who complete the fast
is considered to be social responsibility as well as a 39
will be pardoned for their sins by God.
religious obligation. Muslims are expected to give 2.5
percent of their wealth, not of their income, each year.
Because giving charity is so important in Islam, begging is
37
not considered dishonorable. However, according to a
saying of the Prophet Muhammad, it is better to give
38
zakat than to take it.

Sawm

Sawm is the practice of fasting during the

month of Ramadan. Observant Muslims abstain from
eating, drinking, smoking, and engaging in sexual
relations during the daylight hours. One of the reasons
given for fasting during daylight hours for an entire
month is so that a rich person understands how a poor
person, who is always hungry, feels.

According to Muslim tradition, the fast begins

when there is enough light to distinguish between a
Muslims practice Sawm to understand how it feels to be
black thread and a white thread, and it ends at sundown. hungry and poor.
The fast is broken by a light meal with family and friends.

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 Islam in the World 14

Beliefs and Practices

Hajj

Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca. Each year,

more than two million Muslims travel to Mecca from all
over the world to visit the place where the Prophet
Muhammad was born and received his revelations from
God. The preferred time to visit Mecca for pilgrimage is
during the month of Dhul Hijja, for celebration of the Eid
al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice.

Inside Mecca is the black cube-shaped stone

shrine called the Ka’bah, which, according to Muslim
tradition, was originally built by Adam, rebuilt by The Ka'bah is the holiest shrine for Muslims and it is believed
Abraham, and dedicated to God by the Prophet. to be built by Adam.
However, when pilgrims arrive in Mecca, they must walk
from the outskirts of the city to the Ka’bah. Pilgrims,
both men and women, must dress in simple garments Clothing
and sandals, so there is no distinction between rich
people and poorer people. Pilgrims must not eat or drink Both Muslim men and women are expected to
during the day and must refrain from cutting their hair dress modestly, not showing off the physical form of
and nails. When they reach the Ka’bah they must circle it their bodies. This means different things in different
seven times and then kiss the black stone. On the tenth places and cultures. For women, it often means wearing
day of the pilgrimage, they offer a sacrifice or a goat or garments that cover their hair and fit loosely so that they
sheep to honor the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice reveal as little of their form and flesh as possible (hijab).
his own son to obey God’s commands. In some Muslim countries such as
Iraq and Lebanon, women
Every person who can afford to do so is who choose Islamic dress,
expected to make the hajj at least once in his or her life. particular older Shiite
When they return home, pilgrims have the title of haji women, do not wear bright
attached to their names to declare to the entire Muslim colors. Instead they dress
world that they have done their duty and fulfilled this almost entirely in black or
40 Traditional Muslim woman white. A chador covers them
important obligation. wearing a hijab
from head to toe except for
parts of their faces. In other places such as Afghanistan,

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 Islam in the World 15

Beliefs and Practices

women can dress in bright colors, but no part of their
faces, including their eyes, can be uncovered. Thin
material is sewn into their burqas where their eyes are so
they can see where they are going. In Iran, where the
government requires all women to cover their hair, some
girls and women wear a headscarves and a loose-fitting
coats (manteau) over their clothes. Many Muslim girls
and women all over the world, including in the US,
Canada and Europe, are choosing to wear a headscarf as
an expression of their Muslim identity.
Dietary laws
Muslims are not allowed to eat pork or pork
products such as ham or bacon. Some observant
Muslims will only eat meat that has
been slaughtered according to
certain religious rules, and is
considered hallal. Some
Shiites will not eat any food
that has been prepared by a
non-Muslim.
Jihad is also used to mean defending Islam and
the Muslim community. The Qur’an gives the Prophet
Muhammad’s followers the right to defend themselves
when attacked. The Qur’an’s rules for warfare did not
permit attacking women, children, and religious scholars
who are not involved in the fighting. They also discuss
proportional responses to violence, how to treat
prisoners, and making peace when the enemy agrees to
stop fighting. At some points in Muslim history,
however, the concept of jihad has used to justify
territorial conquest, rebellion, assassination, and other
acts of violence. In recent years, Muslim religious
extremists have used the concept of jihad to justify acts
41
of terrorism. Today, almost all Muslims focus on the
spiritual, internal warfare of the “greater jihad” as they
42
devote their lives to serving God through Islam.

Jihad

Jihad means “struggle” or “striving” in Arabic.

Throughout Islamic history it has had multiple and
sometimes conflicting meanings. Most Muslim scholars
explain “the greater jihad” as an inner struggle against
the distractions and temptations that interfere with
leading the life of a good, responsible and pious Muslim.

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Muslim Holidays

The Islamic Calendar Muharram: the Muslim New Year

The Muslim religious The Muslim New Year is observed on the first
calendar is lunar, which means day of the month of Muharram, the first month of the
that it is based upon the year. The Islamic new year is celebrated quietly, by
moon’s revolutions around the reading and reflecting upon the hijra and reciting
earth. There are 12 months in prayers. Because the Islamic year has only 354 days,
the Muslim lunar year, which is each year Muharram is observed about 11 days earlier
354 days long. The Muslim months are: than it was the previous year, according to the solar
calendar. Because of this, Muharram has no association
1. Muharram with any particular season of the year. In some years the
2. Safar Muslim year begins in the summer or autumn, and
3. Rabi' al-awwal during other years in the winter or spring.
4. Rabi' al-thani
5. Jumada al-awwal
6. Jumada al-thani Ashura
7. Rajab
8. Sha'ban Ashura is observed on the 10th day of
9. Ramadan Muharram. It is a day on which Muhammad fasted, as
10. Shawwal well as Moses before him. For Shiites, Ashura has special
11. Dhu al-Qi'dah significance because it is the day that Husayn, the
12. Dhu al-Hijjah Prophet’s grandson and the son of Muhammad’s son-in-
law, was killed at the battle of Karbala in 61 AH (Dec. 19,
Each month begins when a crescent of the 680 CE).
moon can be seen in the sky after a new moon (when the Shiites in many countries mark 10 Muharram
moon cannot be seen at all). Since local weather with mourning rituals expressing intense grief at the
conditions can make it difficult or impossible to see the death of the second Imam. Performances that dramatize
moon’s crescent, most Muslims rely on their religious Husayn’s martyrdom are held at mosques and special
leaders to announce when the new Muslim month is auditoriums (husayniyas) built especially for these
about to begin and when the holidays are to be performances.
observed.

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Muslim Holidays

Mawlid an-Nabi Eid-Al-Adha

Mawlid an-Nabi is celebrated to mark the Eid-Al-Adha is the

birthday of the Prophet Muhammad on the 12th day of second major holiday celebration
the month of Rabi al-Awwal. Some very conservative (eid) of Islam. It is observed
sects of Islam consider it idolatrous to observe it. beginning on the 10th day of the
month of Dhul Hijja, the twelfth
month of the Muslim year, for
Isra Mer'Aj two or three days. Eid-Al-Adha
(the Festival of the Sacrifice) commemorates the
Isra Mer'aj, observed on the 27th day of Rajab, willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son,
in the seventh month of the Islamic calendar, Ismail (Ishmael), when Allah asked him to prove his
commemorates the night of Muhammad’s night journey faith. God sent a ram as a substitute sacrifice for
and ascension (Laylat Al-Isra wa Al-Miraj). Ibraham to offer. It is ideally observed in Mecca, where
the sacrifice took place, while on pilgrimage (hajj).
Ramadan Muslims who do not go on the hajj celebrate Eid-Al-Adha
by visiting, entertaining, and exchanging gifts.
The entire month of Ramadan, the ninth month
of the Muslim year, is considered to be holy. It is marked
by daily fasting from sunrise to sunset (see Sawm under
“Five Pillars of Islam”), spiritual reflection, and Common Arabic Phrases
reaffirmation of faith. At the end of each day of the fast,
it is customary to join family members and friends in Arabic Meaning
breaking the fast with a meal. In Muslim countries and
communities, special television programs are broadcast Salam Hi
during Ramadan that deal with religious themes. Ma’a salama Goodbye
Mabrook Congratulations
Ramadan Mobarak Happy Ramadan!
Eid-Al-Fitr
Eid Mobarak Happy Eid!

Eid-Al-Fitr is a three day feast that marks the

*Although Arabic is the language of the Qur’an, only 20% of
conclusion of Ramadan. It is one of the two major feasts
Muslims speak Arabic!
(eid) of the Islamic calendar. It is a time of religious
joyfulness, gift-giving and celebration. It begins as soon
as the new moon after Ramadan can be seen.
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 Islam in the World 18

Diversity within Islam

There are three major interpretive traditions Most Sunnis follow one of four orthodox schools
within Islam: Sunni, Shi’I, and Sufi. Historically the of legal thought (fiqh) that define the boundaries of
division between Sunnis and Shiites had its origin in the Islamic belief and law (Sharia). The four schools are
45
dispute over who would succeed Muhammad after his Maliki, Hanifi, Shafii, and Hanbali. They base their legal
death. The internal struggles and civil wars split the decisions on different Hadiths and rulings of earlier
43
emerging religion into Sunni and Shia factions. Today, religious scholars. A majority of the followers of the
there are doctrinal and practical differences between Maliki school are found in North Africa, the Muslim areas
many varieties of Islam that have to do with acceptance of West Africa, and several of the Arab states of the
of the rulings of different religious authorities who cite Persian Gulf. The Hanafi school, predominates in Turkey,
different traditions (Hadiths) and have different Pakistan, the Balkans, Central Asia, Indian subcontinent,
interpretations of religious law (Shariah). Afghanistan, China, and Egypt. The Shafi'i school can be
found in the Arabian Peninsula, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Sunnis Egypt, Somalia, Eritrea, Yemen and southern parts of
India, while the Hanbali school is mostly found in Arabia.
About 85% of the world’s Muslims are Sunnis.
Most Muslim countries have Sunni majorities. The term
“Sunni” comes from the Arab word for “followers” and is
short for “followers of the prophet.” In 632, when
Muhammad died without naming a successor, most of
Country Profile: Indonesia
his followers believed that the community’s new leader
did not have to be a member of his family. Any qualified
man who could govern the community the way
Muhammad had done was eligible to be its leader.
Supporters of Abu Bakr, Muhammad’s friend and father-
in-law, called themselves the “People of the Sunna
(prophetic example) and the Assembly”—Sunnis for
short. Abu Bakr became the first Caliph (Khalifah),
succeeding Muhammad as the leader of the Islamic Indonesia has one of the largest Muslim
44
community. Sunnis accept the first four Caliphs as communities with over 196 million
“rightly guided” followers of the ways of the Prophet
adherents with the majority being
Sunni.
Muhammad.

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Diversity within Islam
Shi’ism
About 10-15% of Muslims are Shia. Shiites are
a majority in Iran, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, and Yemen.
Shi’ites believe that Muhammad chose Ali ibn Abi Talib,
Muhammad's first cousin who became his son-in-law
when he married Muhammad’s daughter, Fatima, to
46
succeed him. After Muhammad’s death in 632, the
Shiat Ali, which means “the Party of Ali,” argued that Ali
should become the leader of the Muslim community.
However, Ali was passed over three times before he
became the fourth of the “rightly guided caliphs.” Many
Shia question the legitimacy of the rule of the first three
Turkey
Map of the Middle East and Surrounding Countries
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Islam in the World 19
caliphs, Ali became the first Shiite imam (leader). Imams
served as both spiritual and political leaders. Religious as
well as political authority was passed down from Ali to
his son, Husayn, and to the imams who succeeded them.
Each Imam chose his own successor, and passed down
his spiritual knowledge to him.
There are three main branches of Shiism, based
on their view of the legitimacy of the various imams who
followed Muhammad. About 85% of Shiites are Ithna
Ashariya (Twelvers), who believe that were 12 imams
who followed Muhammad. The last of the 12, called the
Mahdi, disappeared. According to Shiite tradition, he was
Azerbaijan
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 Islam in the World 20

Diversity within Islam

taken up into the arms of God. He became known as the
“hidden imam.” The hidden Imam, called al-Mahdi, will
47
return one day and play the role of savior. A battle
between good and evil will amount bringing peace to the
48
world. Twelvers are in the majority in Iran, Azerbaijan,
Iraq and Bahrain, and significant minorities in Iraq,
Lebanon, Yemen and Kuwait.
Zaydis, who are mostly found in Yemen, reject
the fifth Imam. They believe that any descendant of the
second and third imams who leads a rebellion against a
corrupt government qualifies as an imam. The Ismailis,
who question the succession of the seventh imam, are
found in small communities in several countries, mostly
in Central and Southwest Asia. Their leader today is the
Aga Khan.
Sufism
Sufism is a mystical approach to Islam. It
teaches that a Muslim can seek an understanding of the
divine and has a personal experience with God through
devotional practices. Sufism started to develop in the
ninth century and it has attracted large groups of
followers who learned to follow the tariqa, which means
the “path” in Arabic. The tariqa is a set of mental and
sometimes physical exercises designed to aid in the
development of unity with God as well as the everyday
49
folk Islam practiced by many of the world’s Muslims.
popular religious practices by promoting individuals and
holy shrines in several parts of the Muslim world.
Ibadiyya
There are other Muslims who are neither Sunni
nor Shiite. Ibadiyya Muslims live in Oman, in a corner of
the Arabian Peninsula. Ibadis believe they are the earliest
and most authentic form of Islam, dating back before the
Sunni-Shiite split.
Muslim Diversity
Finally, it is important to understand that
Muslims, regardless of whether they are Sunni or Shia, or
what legal school of thought dominates in the country
they live in, take different attitudes toward the beliefs
and practices of their religion. They may be conservative
or liberal, fundamentalist or reformist, mainstream or
50
extremist. Like Christians and Jews, some are
observant, some are not observant. They may go to the
mosque every day or hardly ever. They may celebrate
holidays, even if they do not consider themselves
particularly “religious.” Regardless of A Muslim’s attitude
toward his or her religion, Muslims dodo not like their
religion to be misunderstood, made fun of, stereotyped,
or spoken of disrespectfully.

Sufism is an approach to Islam, not a separate

branch. Many Sufis share some Sunni or Shi’ite beliefs
and practices. Sufism has contributed to the spread of

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 Islam in the World 21

Islam in the World

Islam, like other major religions, is diverse and has a rich history. By now, you should know a little more about
Islam and how it influences the daily lives of millions all over the world. As the second largest religion in the world, it is
important to understand how a system of beliefs can impact a person as well as groups of people. Here are some of
the key points that you should remember:

Islam is the fastest growing religion in the
world, with 1.3 billion followers. Muslims are
the majority or a significant minority in 57
countries around the world. Most Muslims do
not live in the Middle East.
The Muslim calendar dates back to the Prophet
Muhammad’s hijra from Mecca to Medina in
622 CE.
Observant Muslims pray as many as five times a
day, facing Mecca.

Muslims are monotheistic, believing in one God.

Allah is the Arabic word for “God.”
Muhammad is the last and greatest prophet of
Islam.
The sacred text of Islam is the Qur’an
(sometimes spelled Koran). Observant Muslims
live their lives according to the five pillars of
Islam—faith, prayer, charity, fasting and
pilgrimage.
A Muslim place of worship is called a mosque. It
is especially important to pray at a mosque on
Fridays.
Observant Muslims do not eat pork. Some will
only eat meat slaughtered in a certain way
(hallal).
The two most important Muslim holidays are Eid
al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha,
the Feast of the Sacrifice.

The main division in Islam is between Sunnis and

Shiites. About 85% of Muslims are Sunni.

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Glossary
Caliph: (in Arabic, khalifah meaning “successor”) for
Sunnis, the successor of Muhammad as head of the
Muslim community.
Five Pillars of Islam: the core principles of Islam that
form the framework for a devout life: faith, prayer,
charity, fasting, and pilgrimage.
Hadith: reports about the pronouncements and sayings
of Muhammad recounted by his companions.
Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca where every adult Muslim of
sound mind and body must perform once in her/his
lifetime.
Hijrah – the flight of Muhammad and his companions
from Mecca to Yathrib (Medina) around 622 CE which
marks the founding of the first Muslim community and
the start of the Muslim calendar.
Imam: a prayer leader in general, and, for Shi’as, the
legitimate leader of the Muslim community in particular.
For Sunnis, any great scholar might be called an imam.
For Shi’as, the Imam is one of the 12 successors of
Muhammad, descended from Muhammad’s cousin, Ali
ibn Abi Talib.
Jahiliyya: the time of ignorance before the coming of
Islam.
Jihad: struggle or striving in the way of God. Struggle
may be waged against oneself or against unbelievers.
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Islam in the World 22
Ka’bah: cube shaped building in the center of the
sanctuary of the Great Mosque at Mecca where Muslims
believe that Adam erected and Abraham rebuilt the first
house for the worship of one God.
Mecca: birthplace of Muhammad where he received his
revelations from God.
Medina: city where the first Muslim community was
established.
Mosque: place of worship.
Qur’an: (previously spelled as ‘Koran’). The primary text
and sacred book of Islam containing God’s direct
revelations through Muhammad as his prophet.
Shahadah: basic statement of Muslim belief: “There is no
god but God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God”.
Shariah: a system of Islamic religious laws based on the
Qur’an, Sunnah and Hadith.
Sunnah: the customs, practices and traditions of
Muhammad and his followers.
Ummah: the community of Muslims.
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Electronic Resources
BBC Online
This site provides background information about the
history and practices of Islam.
Website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/
PBS Online
This site provides information about Muhammad, the
legacy of a prophet.
Website:
http://www.pbs.org/muhammad/virtualhajj.shtml
Center for Muslim-Christian
Understanding
The Center's mission is to improve relations between the
Muslim world and the West and to enhance
understanding of Muslims in the West.
Website: http://cmcu.georgetown.edu/
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Islam in the World 23
Oxford Islamic Studies Online
Oxford Islamic Studies Online brings together current
scholarship in the field and promotes accurate and an
informed understanding of the Islamic world.
Website: http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com
Arab Culture and Civilization
This site will introduce you to the basic principles of the
Islamic faith, as well as a sense of how it functions on a
social level.
Website: http://dev.arabworld.nitle.org
Council on American-Islamic Relations
The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) is a
Muslim civil liberties and advocacy group. CAIR’s vision is
to promote justice and mutual understanding.
Website: http://www.cair.com
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 Islam in the World 24

Miami Initiative for Global Enrichment -MiGlobE®

Adopt the World: learn about it!®

We adopt highways, chimpanzees, manatees, seals, affecting the globe; and to provide professional
anything. Until now, nobody has thought of adopting the development opportunities for teachers to enhance their
world of the twenty first century. Critical events have knowledge of global concerns.
brought the humanities to the forefront. It is no longer
acceptable for U.S. students to be culturally illiterate. The Miami Initiative for Global Enrichment
Thus, global affairs are in need of better articulation and (MiGlobE) is dedicated to conducting research and
demonstration. analysis of world affairs as well as advocating
community development of global
At their first meeting in 2006, the knowledge. It manages MAIA’s non-
Master of Arts in International What is MiGlobE? governmental organizations for
Administration (MAIA) program community development at home
and the Miami-Dade County and abroad. This includes
M = Miami, University of
Public Schools (M-DCPS) research, production and
Curriculum and Instruction, i = Initiative: to take action
management of Adopt the
Social Sciences Department, Globe = represents MAIA: World, World at Risk, and MAIA
joined forces to identify ways commitment to world affairs and for Maya. The Initiative
of improving the state of interdisciplinary global studies oversees the partnership
global education in Miami’s E = signifies, enrichment, between the University of
public schools. entrepreneurship, engagement, Miami’s MAIA program and the
and education Miami-Dade County Public School’s
M-DCPS Curriculum and (M-DCPS) social sciences department,
Instruction, Social Sciences has which includes operation of all digital
developed criteria that schools must meet in materials.
order to earn the distinction of having Adopted the
World. The Adopt the World curriculum units introduce
and examine global and cultural issues, helping to
overcome the challenges associated with teaching and
learning about globalization such as: the scale, breadth,
and complexity of the subject matter. Adopt the World’s
mission is to help teachers improve global elements in
their curricula; to prepare materials downloadable from
For more information about Adopt the World: learn
MAIA’s webpage focusing on current issues and crises ®
about it, please visit www.MAIAProgram.org

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 Islam in the World 25

References

1 21
US. National Archives and Records Administration. U.S. Bill of Schimmel, Annemarie. Islam: An Introduction. Albany: State
Rights. National Archives, 15 Nov. 2007 University of New York Press. 1992. p. 7-12.
22
<http://www.archives.gov/national-archives- Zeitlan, Irving M. The Historical Muhammad. Cambridge:
experience/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html>. Polity Press. 2007. p. 11.
2 23
Warf, Barney and Peter Vincent. “Religious diversity across Robinson, Francis. Atlas of the Islamic World. Oxford:
the globe: a geographic exploration.” Social & Cultural Equinox. 1982. p. 22.
24
Geography 8.4 (Aug. 2007): p. 599. Adamec, op. cit., p. 181.
3 th 25
Denver, Martha, et al. “The 4 R: Teaching about Religion in Baron, Salo Wittmayer. Social and Religious History of the
the Public Schools.” The Social Studies (Sept. /Oct. 2001): 220. Jews. New York: Columbia University Press, 1958. vol. III, p. 96.
4 26
Esposito and Mogahed, op. cit., p.7. Robinson, op. cit., p. 72-73.
5 27
Katsch, Abraham I. Judaism in Islam: Biblical and Talmudic Nigosian, op. cit., p. 80-86, 110-111.
28
Backgrounds of the Koran and its Commentaries. 3rd Ed. New Ibid.
29
York: Sepher-Hermon Press. 1980. p. xvii-xx. Adamec, op. cit., p. 165.
6 30
Ruthven, Malise. Islam: a very short introduction. New York: Riaz, Hassan. “On Being Religious: Patterns of Religious
Oxford University Press. 1997. p. v. Commitment in Muslim Societies”. The Muslim World. Volume
7
Nigosian, Solomon Alexander. Islam: its history, teaching and 97, Number 3 (July, 2007). pp. 437-478. p. 455.
31
practices. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. 2004. p. xv. Gregorian, Vartan. Islam: a mosaic, not a monolith.
8
Esposito, John L. and Mogahed, Dahlia. Who Speaks for Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press. 2003. p. 9-11.
32
Islam? What a Billion Muslims Really Think. New York: Gallup Adamec, op. cit., p. 138.
33
Press. 2007. p. 2 Riaz, Hassan. Op. cit., p. 437-478.
9 34
“Religion,” World Almanac & Book of Facts, (New York: World Esposito and Mogahed. p. 10.
35
Almanac Education Group Inc., 2007) p. 711-722. Ruthven, op. cit., p. 147.
10 36
Warf, op. cit., p. 603. Adamec, op. cit., p. 185-186.
11 37
Ibid. p. 3. Nigosian, op. cit., p. 107.
12 38
Ibid. p. 28. Esposito and Mogahed. op. cit., p. 15.
13 39
Gregorian, Vartan. Islam: a mosaic, not a monolith. Adamec, Ludwig W. op. cit., p. 94.
40
Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press. 2003. p. 1. Schimmel, op. cit., p. 37-38.
14 41
Solomon, Lois K. “South Florida Muslims gathering to urge Esposito and Mogahed. p. 17-21.
42
involvement in Communities.” South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 18 Cook, David. Understanding Jihad. Berkeley: University of
Aug. 2008. California. 2005. p. 32-39.
43
15
Berkey, Jonathon P. Formation of Islam: Religion and Society Berkey, op. cit., p. 70-72.
44
in the Near East, 600-1800. New York: Cambridge University Adamec, op. cit., p. 70.
45
Press. 2003. p. 41-42. Nigosian, op. cit., p. 23, 44-46, 86-87.
46
16
Armstrong, Karen. Islam: A Short History. New York: Gregorian, Vartan. op. cit., p. 15, 17-21.
47
Random House Publishing Group. 2002. p. 3-4. Berkey, Jonathan P. op. cit., p. 87, 138-139.
48
17
Adamec, Ludwig W. The A to Z of Islam. Lanham: Scarecrow Berkey, op. cit., p. 87, 138-139.
49
Press. 2002. p. 2. Adamec, op. cit., p. 248.
50
18
Nigosian, op. cit., p. 7-8. Esposito and Mogahed, op. cit., p. 3.
19
Ibid.
20
Karsh, Efraim. Islamic Imperialism: a history. New Haven:
Yale University Press. 2006. p. 9.

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