Muslims

Muslims
Group	Muslims
Population	c. 2 billion
Founder	Muhammad
Founded date	7th century CE
Founded place	Arabian Peninsula
Scriptures	Quran
Theology	Tawhid
Language	Classical Arabic
Area	Worldwide

Muslims. A Muslim is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion centered on the Quran, believed by its followers to be the verbatim word of God as revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. With approximately two billion followers globally, they form the world's second-largest religious group, encompassing a vast diversity of ethnicities, cultures, and interpretations of their faith. The core declaration of faith, the Shahada, states there is no deity but God and Muhammad is His messenger, uniting a global community known as the Ummah.

Etymology and terminology

The word "Muslim" is an Arabic term meaning "one who submits" to the will of God. It is derived from the same root as the word Islam, which signifies "submission" or "surrender." In a theological context, the term is understood to describe an individual who consciously and willingly accepts the tenets of the faith. Historically, the term has been used in various texts, including the Quran and the Hadith, to refer to the followers of Muhammad. In English and other languages, the term has been adopted with this specific religious connotation, though variations like "Moslem" were once common. The collective community of Muslims worldwide is referred to as the Ummah.

Demographics

Muslims constitute a significant and growing portion of the global population, with major concentrations in Asia and Africa. The countries with the largest Muslim populations include Indonesia, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, while significant communities exist in Nigeria, Egypt, Iran, and Turkey. There are also substantial Muslim minorities in China, Russia, and across Europe and the Americas. The faith is comprised of two major denominations, Sunni Islam and Shia Islam, with Sunnis forming the majority. Demographic studies, such as those by the Pew Research Center, project continued growth due to younger population ages and higher fertility rates in many Muslim-majority regions.

Beliefs and practices

The foundational beliefs are articulated in the Six Articles of Faith, which include belief in one God, angels, revealed scriptures, prophets, the Day of Judgment, and divine predestination. Central practices are encapsulated in the Five Pillars of Islam: the Shahada (profession of faith), Salah (ritual prayer performed five times daily), Zakat (almsgiving), Sawm (fasting during the month of Ramadan), and the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca). Religious law, known as Sharia, derived from the Quran and the Sunnah, guides many aspects of life. Diverse schools of jurisprudence, such as the Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, and Hanbali madhhabs, along with theological traditions like Ash'ari and Maturidi, shape interpretation and practice.

History

The history begins with the life of Muhammad in 7th-century Arabia and the subsequent establishment of the first Muslim community in Medina. Following Muhammad's death, the Rashidun Caliphate expanded the faith rapidly, conquering the Sasanian Empire and much of the Byzantine Empire. The subsequent Umayyad Caliphate and Abbasid Caliphate presided over a Golden Age of science, philosophy, and culture, with centers of learning in Baghdad, Córdoba, and Cairo. Later, empires such as the Ottoman Empire, Safavid Persia, and the Mughal Empire were major political and cultural powers. The modern period has been shaped by Colonialism, the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the creation of nation-states, and movements for reform and revival.

Culture and society

Cultural expressions are immensely diverse, influenced by local traditions from Morocco to Malaysia. This is reflected in distinct architectural styles, from the Great Mosque of Mecca and the Alhambra to the Taj Mahal and the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. Literary traditions include classical poetry in Persian and Arabic, and works by figures like Rumi and Ibn Arabi. Calligraphy, geometric art, and music vary widely across regions. Social structures and customs, including practices related to marriage, dress (such as the hijab), and cuisine, differ significantly between communities in Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Senegal, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Contemporary issues

Muslim communities worldwide engage with a complex array of modern challenges and discourses. These include debates on the interpretation of Sharia in modern legal systems, the relationship between religion and state, and issues of religious pluralism and minority rights within Muslim-majority countries. Movements such as Islamic modernism, Islamism, and Salafism represent different responses to modernity and politics. Global events, including the Iranian Revolution, the September 11 attacks, and conflicts in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, have had profound impacts on global perceptions and interfaith relations. Meanwhile, Muslim diasporas in the United States, United Kingdom, and France navigate issues of integration, identity, and discrimination.

Category:Islam Category:Religious groups Category:Abrahamic religions