Introduction to Islam

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What is Islam?

The religion of approximately one billion people worldwide, Islam is the second largest religion in the world (Christianity is the largest).

"Islam" is an Arabic language word that means "peace" or "submission" - specifically, submission to the will of God.

The Arabic word "Muslim" means "one who submits" - a Muslim is a follower of Islam.

Contrary to common perception, Islam is not an Eastern religion. Islam developed in the Near East, not in India or the Far East. Ideologically, Islam has much more in common with Judaism and Christianity than it does with any other major religion. It is but a circumstance of politics and geography that Islam is more prevalent in the Middle East, Asia and Africa than in Europe and the Americas. But geography is not as significant as origins and ideology when it comes to classifying a religion as Eastern or Western.

Also contrary to common perception, Islam is not an Arabic religion. Although it began amongst the Arabs almost 1400 years ago, Islam quickly spread beyond the Arabian peninsula to become a "universal" or "world" religion. Much as Christianity spread to every corner of the earth, to peoples of all nationalities and races, so too did Islam. In fact, today most Muslims are not Arabs and some Arabs are not Muslim (there are Christian Arabs).

Nor is Islam a "Black" religion. Although about one third the Muslims in America are African Americans who either converted to Islam or were born to parents who had converted decades earlier, Islam is not the religion of any particular people. As a "universal" religion, Islam sees its message as true for all people, its way of life as virtuous for all people.

Ethnicity of Muslims in America:

One more point of clarification: Muslims worship the same God as do Jews and Christians. The Muslim name for God comes from the Arabic language: Allah simply means "the God". Christian Arabs also refer to God as "Allah"

Approximately how many Muslims are there in the world today? a. Half a billion b. 700 million c. Just over one billion d. 1.5 billion e. almost 2 billion

Islam is the religion of the Arab peoples? True False

Islam is an African and African-American religion True False

Muslims worship the same god as do Jews and Christians True False

In what areas of the world is Islam most likely to be found? a. The Middle East b. North Africa c. Indonesia d. Southwest Asia e. throughout all of Africa [mark all correct answers]

There are more Muslims in America of African American heritage than of any other ethnic group. True False

 

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