Islam
Islam (Template:Lang-ar) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centered on the Quran and the teachings of Muhammad, the religion's founder and the final prophet and messenger of God (Allah). Adherents of Islam, called Muslims, believe that the Quran is the verbatim word of God as revealed to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel. Muslims consider Muhammad, through his teachings and normative example (the Sunnah), to be the perfect model for human life. Islam is the world's second-largest religion, with approximately 1.9 billion followers, known as Muslims, constituting about 25% of the global population (Pew Research Center, 2020).[1]
Etymology and meaning
The word "Islam" is derived from the Arabic root s-l-m (س ل م), which carries meanings of peace, purity, submission, and surrender. In a religious context, it means "voluntary submission to the will of God (Allah)" (Esposito, 2002).[2] A follower of Islam is called a Muslim (مُسْلِم), meaning "one who submits (to God)."
Beliefs
The core beliefs of Islam are articulated in the articles of faith (ʿAqīdah).
Six articles of faith In Sunni Islam, the foundational creed is based on six core beliefs:
Oneness of God (Tawhid): The absolute, uncompromising monotheism that God is one (Al-ʾAḥad) and unique (Al-Wāḥid). Associating partners with God (shirk) is the gravest sin.
Angels (Malāʾikah): Belief in angels, created from light, who are unseen beings that carry out God's commands.
Prophets and Messengers (Rusul wa Anbiyāʾ): God has sent prophets and messengers to every nation, beginning with Adam and including Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and culminating in Muhammad, who is the "Seal of the Prophets" (Khatam an-Nabiyyin).
Revealed Books (Kutub): Belief in the divine scriptures revealed to various prophets, including the Torah (Tawrat) to Moses, the Psalms (Zabur) to David, the Gospel (Injil) to Jesus, and the Quran to Muhammad. Muslims believe the Quran is the final, unaltered, and perfect revelation.
Day of Resurrection and Judgment (Yawm al-Qiyāmah): Belief in an afterlife where all humans will be resurrected and held accountable for their deeds, leading to eternal paradise (Jannah) or hell (Jahannam).
Divine Decree (Qadr): Belief that everything, good and evil, occurs by the will and knowledge of God, though humans possess free will and are responsible for their choices (Brown, 2009).[3]
In Shia Islam, beliefs also include the concepts of divine justice (Adl) and the Imamate (the leadership of the divinely appointed Imams).
Practices: The Five Pillars
The core religious practices of Islam are encapsulated in the Five Pillars of Islam (Arkān al-Islām), which are considered obligatory for all able Muslims.
Shahada (Profession of Faith): The declaration: "I bear witness that there is no god but God (Allah), and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God." This is the fundamental statement of faith.
Salah (Prayer): Performing the five daily ritual prayers at prescribed times while facing the Kaaba in Mecca.
Zakat (Almsgiving): Giving a fixed portion (usually 2.5%) of one's accumulated wealth to the poor and needy each year.
Sawm (Fasting): Abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations from dawn to sunset during the month of Ramadan.
Hajj (Pilgrimage): Undertaking a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime for those who are physically and financially capable (Denny, 2010).[4]
Scripture: The Quran
The Quran (القرآن, "the recitation") is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God. It is divided into 114 chapters (suras), which are further divided into verses (ayahs). The Quran covers a wide range of topics, including theology, law, narratives of earlier prophets, ethics, and eschatology. Muslims consider its Arabic text to be the literal word of God, inimitable and preserved from corruption (Nasr, 2015).[5] The Quran is supplemented by the Hadith, which are collections of reports detailing the sayings, actions, and approvals of Muhammad, forming the basis of the Sunnah.
History
Origins in Arabia (610–632 CE) Islam emerged in the 7th century CE in the commercial city of Mecca in the Arabian Peninsula. In 610 CE, Muhammad, then a merchant aged 40, began receiving revelations. He started preaching monotheism, social justice, and the coming Day of Judgment, attracting followers but facing persecution from Mecca's polytheistic elite. In 622 CE, he and his followers migrated to Medina (an event known as the Hijrah), which marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar. In Medina, Muhammad established a socio-political community (Ummah). After a series of military conflicts, he eventually conquered Mecca in 630 CE, clearing the Kaaba of idols. By his death in 632 CE, most of Arabia had embraced Islam (Armstrong, 1992).[6]
Caliphates and empires (632–1918 CE) After Muhammad's death, leadership passed to a series of caliphs (successors). The Rashidun (632–661), Umayyad (661–750), and Abbasid (750–1258) caliphates oversaw the rapid expansion of the Islamic world, from the Iberian Peninsula to the Indus Valley. This period saw the "Islamic Golden Age" with major advances in science, philosophy, medicine, and art. Subsequent empires, such as the Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal, were major Islamic political and cultural powers (Lapidus, 2014).[7]
Modern era (20th–21st centuries) The abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate in 1924, European colonialism, and the creation of modern nation-states fundamentally changed the Muslim world. Key developments include the rise of Arab nationalism, Islamism (political Islam), the establishment of the state of Israel, the Iranian Revolution of 1979, and the Arab Spring uprisings. Islam today is a global religion with diverse communities across every continent.
Demographics == Islam is the majority religion in approximately 50 countries, primarily across the Middle East, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, the Sahel, Central Asia, and parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia. The country with the largest Muslim population is Indonesia. Significant minority communities exist in Europe, the Americas, and China (Pew Research Center, 2011).[8]
Schools of thought and sects
Sunni Islam Sunni Islam is the largest denomination, comprising about 85–90% of Muslims. Sunnis emphasize the authority of the Quran, the Sunnah, and consensus (ijma) of the community. They follow one of four major schools (madhhab) of jurisprudence: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi‘i, and Hanbali.
Shia Islam Shia Islam is the second-largest denomination, making up about 10–15% of Muslims. Shias believe that leadership after Muhammad rightly belonged to his cousin and son-in-law, Ali ibn Abi Talib, and his descendants, the Imams. The largest branch is Twelver Shi'ism, followed by Isma'ilism and Zaidism.
Other groups Other significant denominations include the Kharijites, whose sole surviving branch is Ibadi Islam, and movements like the Ahmadiyya and the Nation of Islam, whose Islamic classification is disputed by mainstream Muslim scholars.
Culture and law
Islamic culture and Islamic law (Sharia) are deeply intertwined. Sharia, derived from the Quran and Sunnah and interpreted by Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh), governs many aspects of Muslim life, including prayer, contracts, family law, inheritance, and dietary restrictions (halal). Islamic art, architecture, literature, and music have made profound contributions to world heritage, often characterized by an emphasis on calligraphy, geometric patterns, and aniconism (Brend, 1991).[9]
Contemporary issues
Muslim communities today engage with a wide array of contemporary issues, including debates on:
The relationship between Islam and democracy
Islamic feminism and women's rights
Religious pluralism and interfaith dialogue
Extremism and terrorism, often associated with groups like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, which are widely condemned by Muslim scholars and organizations.
See also
Index of Islam-related articles
References
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedPew2020 - ↑ Esposito, J. L. (2002). What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam. Oxford University Press.
- ↑ Brown, D. W. (2009). A New Introduction to Islam (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
- ↑ Denny, F. M. (2010). An Introduction to Islam (4th ed.). Pearson.
- ↑ Nasr, S. H. (Ed.). (2015). The Study Quran: A New Translation and Commentary. HarperOne.
- ↑ Armstrong, K. (1992). Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet. HarperSanFrancisco.
- ↑ Lapidus, I. M. (2014). A History of Islamic Societies (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
- ↑ Pew Research Center. (2011). The Future of the Global Muslim Population. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2011/01/27/future-of-the-global-muslim-population/
- ↑ Brend, B. (1991). Islamic Art. Harvard University Press.
External links
Islam – Encyclopædia Britannica
IslamiCity – A major Islamic portal and resource