The Human Truth Foundation

Islam: A Critical Look at Contemporary Issues

https://www.humanreligions.info/islam.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2006

#atheism #france #germany #islam #japan #judaism #monotheism #polytheism #saudi_arabia

Islam
Links: Pages on Islam, Other Religions
The symbol of Islam
God(s)Atheist / Monotheist / Polytheist / Other
AdherentMuslim
AdherentsMuslims
TextsQur'an and Hadiths
AfterlifeHeaven or hell
Founding
HeritageJudaism
Area of OriginSaudi Arabia
When610
FounderBy Muhammad
Numbers in the UK (Census results)
20011.547 million20112.7 million
Muslims Worldwide (Pew & WM)
World: 20.1%. Mauritania (99%), Tunisia (99%), Yemen (99%), Iran (99%), Iraq (99%), Morocco (99%), Western Sahara (99%), Afghanistan (99%), Somalia (99%), Mayotte (98.6%) 1

Islam is a monotheistic religion based on the revelations of prophet Muhammad as recorded in the Qur'an. The religion was founded in Mecca and Medina in present-day Saudi Arabia. 'Allah' is simply the Arabic word for 'God'. Islam is counted as one of the great world religions2,3,4. Whilst Europe went through its dark ages of Christian fundamentalism, Islam went through a relatively enlightened era, retaining some scientific knowledge, translating some Greek texts and developing maths. But the colonial era saw a resurgent Europe come to rule 38 of 42 Muslim countries5. This caused long-term resentment and Muslim cultures still retain an anti-Western outlook that is versed in anti-imperialism. Islam is going through its own dark ages; some signs are that things are continuing to get worse, whilst in some places there are signs of a creeping secularism.


1. Main Pages on Islam

2. Numbers of Muslims Around the World, by Country

#religion

Pos.Pew Forum (2010)6Worldmapper (2005)7
1Mauritania99.0%99.1%
2Tunisia99.0%99.0%
3Yemen99.0%98.9%
4Iran99.0%98.3%
5Iraq99.0%96.7%
6Morocco99.0%98.5%
7Western Sahara99.0%99.4%
8Afghanistan99.0%99.5%
9Somalia99.0%99.0%
10Mayotte98.6%
11Niger98.4%90.4%
12Maldives98.4%98.4%
13Comoros98.3%98.3%
14Turkey98.0%97.4%
15Algeria97.9%96.8%
16Palestine97.6%79.9%
17Jordan97.2%93.9%
18Azerbaijan96.9%87.0%
19Djibouti96.9%96.9%
20Uzbekistan96.7%76.4%
21Tajikistan96.7%84.0%
22Libya96.6%96.5%
23Senegal96.4%87.7%
24Pakistan96.4%95.8%
25Gambia95.1%86.3%
26Egypt94.9%84.8%
27Turkmenistan93.0%88.2%
28Saudi Arabia93.0%92.2%
29Syria92.8%92.3%
30Mali92.4%80.7%
31Sudan90.7%71.3%
32Bangladesh89.8%86.9%
33Kyrgyzstan88.0%65.1%
34Indonesia87.2%56.0%
35Kosovo87.0%
36Oman85.9%89.1%
37Guinea84.4%68.8%
38Albania80.3%38.7%
39Sierra Leone78.0%45.9%
40UAE76.9%76.0%
q=232.

The population of 52 countries are half (or mostly) Muslim (2011)1. In 2003 a different count placed the number at 448. Comparing those 52 country(ies) to the rest of the world:

Population growth in the world is highest amongst the poor and the uneducated. Muslims have a disproportionate share of such people14, so their numbers are rising. Factors such as war and instability in the Middle East keep the reproduction rate higher. But this will not continue indefinitely. The Muslim world is slowly aging. "In 1990 Islam's share of the world's youth was 20%; in 2010, 26%. In 2030 it will be 29% (of 15-29-year-olds)". But on average, Muslims are starting to age. "The media age in Muslim-majority countries was 19 in 1990. It is 24 now, and will be 30 by 2030. (For French, Germans and Japanese the figure is 40 or over.) This suggests Muslim numbers will ultimately stop climbing, but later than the rest of the population"13.

3. Calendar (2024)

#religious_calendars

DateEventNotes
Feb 8th
Thursday

(this year)

Lailat Ul Isra Wa-l-miraj (Propher's Night Journey and Ascent)

On the 27th day of 7th month of Islamic calendar (Rajab).

Feb 25th
Sunday

(this year)

Lailat Ul Barah'ah (Night of Forgiveness)

On 15th day of month of Shaban The seeking of forgiveness and fixing of destiny for the next year. Prayers and maybe fasting, and visiting the graves of relatives. Maybe fireworks.

Mar 12nd
Tuesday

(29 days)
(this year)

Ramadan

The 9th month of the Islamic calendar. The month in the Islamic Calendar when Mohammad received the first verses from the Qur'an.

Apr 9th
Tuesday

(this year)

Eid Ul Fitre (End of Fast Feast)

Ramadan ends on the sighting of the new moon. A feast.

Jun 16th
Sunday

(5 days)
(this year)

The Hajj

The pilgrimage to Makka

Jun 17th
Monday

(6 days)
(this year)

Yaum Arafah (Day of Arafat)

For the final revelation to Muhammad.

Jun 18th
Tuesday

(4 days)
(this year)

Eid Ul Adha (Festival of Sacrifice)

For Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son.

Jun 26th
Wednesday

(this year)

Eid Ul Ghadir

(Shi'a). A festival for the date that Muhammad appointed his cousin-and-son-in-law, Ali, to be his successor. However, the muslim community instead voted-in Abu Bakr, causing an enduring rift in Islam (i.e., Sunni and Shi'a).

Jul 8th
Monday

(this year)

Islamic New Year

The migration of Muhammad and his followers from Makka to Medina. Not celebrated by many Sunnis. In 2022, Islamic year 1444 AH begins.

Jul 17th
Wednesday

(this year)

Ashura

(Sunni). A minor feast.

4. Denominations

#afghanistan #bangladesh #egypt #india #iraq #islam #pakistan #saudi_arabia #syria

The first division in Islam was after the prophet Muhammad's death in 632CE. He left no guidance on who should succeed him15, resulting in the split between Sunnis and Shias, which is still a hot and sensitive debate today; disagreements "often overlap with ethnic, cultural, and political differences, which sometimes form lines of violent sectarian conflict"16. It is difficult to see how their conflict can ever be resolved; it's not a question of theology or divinity, but of human power-games.17

Since then, a wide range of specific schools of thought have arose. Most were not aiming to create new movements, but were attempts to restore proper Islam and correct Islamic positions on theological, social and moral issues18. Often, followers have to remain hidden because of traditionalist persecution and the 'misunderstandings' of powerful established Muslim communities19.

For more, see:

Use the link above for full descriptions; here they are in brief:

See: "Islamic Denominations, Schools, Movements and Groups" by Vexen Crabtree.