Islam in Brief
Relevant Quotes
Muhammad, Prophet of Islam: "In avenging injuries inflicted on us, do not
harm non-belligerents in their homes, spare the weakness of women, do not injure
infants at the breast, nor those who are sick. Do not destroy the houses of
those who offer no resistance, and do not destroy their means of subsistence,
neither their fruit trees, nor their palms."
"The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), along with other Muslim
organizations throughout North America, today condemned the terrorist attacks in
New York and Washington and offered condolences to the families of those who
were killed or injured."
"American Muslims utterly condemn what are vicious and cowardly acts of
terrorism against innocent civilians. We join with all Americans in calling for
the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators. No political cause
could ever be assisted by such immoral acts."
Signatories:
American Muslim Alliance
American Muslim Council
Association of Muslim Scientists and Engineers
Association of Muslim Social Scientists
Council on American-Islamic Relations
Islamic Medical Association of North America
Islamic Circle of North America
Islamic Society of North America
Ministry of Imam W. Deen Mohammed
Muslim American Society
Muslim Public Affairs Council
From Brian Levin,
Director, Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism:
"We unequivocally abhor and condemn any and every act of intolerance
anywhere directed against any human being because they are, or are, perceived to
be of any faith including our brethren of the Muslim faith. We encourage all
people of good will to use the recent attacks in New York, Washington and
Pennsylvania to learn about others and the bonds that all decent people
everywhere share."
Islam- Beginnings:
Approx. 622 in what is now the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
View of God
Allah is one unified God who created the world and its inhabitants. Allah has
bestowed a purpose for all life within he endowed.
Judgment
Allah will determine end time on Judgment day when all will be held accountable.
Only those who have conducted themselves in accordance with God's wishes will be
permitted to enter Paradise.
Sacred Texts
The Qur'an is Islam's sacred text. It is believed to have been written by Allah
before the beginning of time, and then later presented to the prophet Muhammad
by the Angel Jibra'il. Sunna is a collection describing the life of Muhammad.
Adherents
1.15 billion.
Dominant from the western portion of Africa, through the Middle East, central
Asia, Western China, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Africa 310, 000,000
Asia
807,000,000
Europe 31,000,000
Latin America 1,600,000
Northern America 6,200,000
Australia area 292,000
Total 1.155 billion
Largest concentration: Indonesia, 191,000,000, Pakistan, 139,000,000
Indonesia is the fourth largest nation by population while Pakistan is seventh
Concentrations in the United States:
California 132,000 .6%
New York 110,000 .8%
New Jersey 36,000 . 6%
Illinois 35,000 .4%
Total: 6,000,000
Canada: 150,000-200,000
Major Figures
While God is the
creator, Islam recognizes various prophets including Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and
the final one: Muhammad (570-632).
Summary
Islam is one of the world's great monotheistic religions. The word Islam means
"submission to God." It is the largest religion in the world next to
Christianity and preaches that God has spoken to humanity through myriad
prophets, the last one being Muhammad. Its adherents number 1.014 billion
worldwide, including 6-7 million in the United States. Adherent vary widely by
both ethnicity and religious philosophy.
While Christianity is popular in Europe, Russia and the Americas,
Australia, Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, Islam is the dominant faith in the
Middle East, Central Asia, North Africa and Indonesia.
The majority of Muslims believe in the Five Pillars that require them to give
back or pay a tithe to the poor known as "zakat." Most aid is
distributed through local mosques. Since the 1980s, humanitarian organizations
have popped up around the world -- including in the UK and Pakistan -- to
help the unemployed, dispossessed farmers, and refugees fleeing from war in
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Somalia and the Sudan. Islamic states such as Saudi Arabia
give large sums to poorer Islamic countries, usually for health, education and
welfare projects.
Islamic law is rooted in the Qur'an or Koran, based on God’s word and that of
Muhammad, a 40-year-old Arabian from Mecca who in 610 called for justice
in society. Islam was founded in 622.
Muslims take part in dawn-to-dusk fasting in the month of Ramadan and try to
make at least one trip to Mecca during their lives According to the faith,
God the creator is just and merciful, and willing to forgive humans
tempted by Satan. Those who repent to God will be saved while the evil will face
Hell.
The term Shari'ah means "clear path" and governs upright behavior in
all aspects of public and private life. All Muslims and those people who live in
Arab states may fall under its precepts. Arab nations differ in how strictly
they apply this set of laws and some rely on combinations of secular and
religious law. A number of nations seek Islamic renewal through stricter
imposition of the Shari'ah.
Islam is egalitarian in nature, but has a significant conservative influence.
Both Christianity and Islam believe in expansion to other peoples and inactive
members of their own faiths. Often, the two religions are in contestation
for followers, but in some nations, the growth of either threatens local
traditional religions, such as in Nigeria, Tanzania and Kenya. There also are
small Christian populations within majority Islamic nations. While there are
places where religious minorities, even fellow Muslims, have been brutalized,
Islam regards other monotheistic faiths such as Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians
as "protected peoples. "
The Arabian peninsula was under Muslim rule by 644, and it soon influenced the
whole region. Centuries later, Christian leaders launched an offensive following
Islam's reach into what is now modern Turkey and extreme Eastern Europe. In 1095
Pope Urban II promoted a "crusade" against Islamic control of Asia
Minor and the Holy Land. While the crusades failed they created animosities that
lasted for some time.
There are two primary Islamic groups -- the Sunni majority and the Shiite
minority. Sunni have a stronger belief in God's predestination over their lives,
while Shiites believe in free will and human choice. This cleavage started early
in the history of the faith, when adherents split regarding the future
leadership of the faith after Muhammad passed in 632. Most adherents followed
caliph Abu Bakr and hi successors, while the Shiites supported Muhammad's cousin
Ali.
For more information:
Islamic Society of North America
P.O. Box 38
Plainfield, IN 46168
http://www.isna.net/default.asp
Islam: A Short History
(Modern Library Chronicles), by Karen Armstrong Hardcover - 222 pages Modern lib
edition (August 22, 2000)
Modern Library; ISBN:
0679640401
PBS Home Video: Islam-Empire of Faith
The Oxford History of Islam -- by John L. Esposito (Editor);
Hardcover
Understanding
Islam: An Introduction by T.W. Lippman (1990)
Silent No More : Confronting America's False Images of Islam
by Paul Findley (Paperback - July 2001)
The Holy Quran
by Abdul Mannan Omar (Translator), Allamah Nooruddin (Translator) (Leather
Bound)
The Holy Qur'an: Text, Translation & Commentary
by Abdullah Yusuf Ali (Editor) (Hardcover)
A History of God : The 4000-Year Quest of Judaism,
Christianity and Islam
by Karen Armstrong (Paperback - September 1994)
The Meaning of the Holy Qur'an
by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Abdullah Yusuf Ali (Hardcover)
The Art and Architecture of Islam : 650-1250 (Pelican
History of Art)
by Richard Ettinghausen, Oleg Grabar (Contributor) (Paperback - June 1992)
The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern Islamic World (4
Volume Set)
by John L. Esposito (Editor) (Paperback - April 2001)
Encyclopedia of Islamic Law : A Compendium of the Major
Schools
by Laleh Bakhtiar, Kevin Reinhart (Paperback - October 1996)
-- Sara Levin/Brian Levin