Islam
The religion of Islam is the second largest in the world after Christianity with an estimated 1.6 billion Muslims. Almost two thirds of Muslims can be found in the Asia-Pacific areas, many of them living in Pakistan and India than in the whole of North Africa and the Middle East regions. However, these areas have the largest concentration of Muslims than any other part of the world in relation to the whole population (Lipka, 1). India in particular has the largest population of Muslims in relation to the population of other countries even though they represent a minority in that particular country (Lipka, 1). The wold Islam means submission to God and the most basic belief is that the religion was given by God. The basis of this religion’s faith revolves around belief in one God, angels, messengers, holy books, the Last Day and Eternal life. Muslims belief that the Knowledge of God comes from Himself and no other source and man can only know of God what He has revealed to him. This concerns His names and attributes which are ninety-nine. God believed to be the creator, shaper, all present and everlasting. All His attributes are contained in the name Allah and no one else can be called by that name. The divine scriptures are contained in the Holy book of Quran (Shah, 4).
The major religious practices of Islam involve its five pillars which include the assertion of faith, obligatory charity, obligatory worship, the pilgrimage to Ka’bah and fasting in the month of Ramadan. The assertion of faith holds that a person should declare by their tongue and confirm in their heart the presence of no other god but God and that Muhammad is his messenger and servant. The second pillar obligates Muslims to worship five times daily, cleanliness being a prerequisite to this worship. Cleanliness involve the body, clothes and the ritual ablution of washing their hands, face, mouth and feet thrice daily (Shah, 12). A special service is given by the imam on Friday at noon in a mosque. The mosque is viewed to be the heart of the Muslims and the foundation of Islamic civilization. Charity involves Zakat which connotes purifying and growth where one is required to purify their wealth by away part of the surplus to the society. The fourth pillar requires Muslims to fast during Ramadan in the calendar of Muslims where all bodied individuals should fast from dawn to sunset for the whole month. The other pillar requires every Muslim who is able bodied and who can afford to perform the Ka’abah pilgrimage at least once in their life (Shah, 15).
Practising Islam in United States may be an enlightening process for most Muslims since they have to embrace the religion while doing away with all ethical, political and cultural aspects that are attached to most of the Muslim countries especially in the Middle East. Although Islam is absolute, the manner of living as a Muslim and practicing the major pillar of praying and fasting cannot be termed as absolute. Moreover, the fact that one is living in a country with Muslims as the major population doesn’t mean that they will practice Islam in it truest form so there is the possibility that American Muslims would make the best believers. The Muslim community in the United States is thus exposed to democratic ideals, freedom of speech, tendency to be law abiding and the need to tolerate the American people (Ali, Liu &Humedian, 635)). Since the Muslims are part of the country, the constitution provides for their freedom of praying and practising other rights and where religious prosecution is outlawed. This conforms to the basic root of Islam as a religion that does not allow mistreatment of people who are not Muslims. This has everything to do with the community being a minority in a non- Muslim nation whose foundation is human rights and religious freedom. The difference with those Muslims from countries with Islam as the main religion comes in the way of following the culture. Muslims in the American society are able to detach from the culture associated with Muslims while those in the countries where they are the majority have to strictly follow the cultures. For instance, the women Muslims in America have the freedom of choosing to identify themselves with their religious identity. Thus, some may decide to express themselves fully by wearing burqa or hijab ass their religious identity while others may reason that it is not a requirement in the American setting and thus opt for the western clothing. Other differences may arise in practices such polygamy where the community may find it hard in performing them since they are illegal in the United States (Ali, Liu &Humedian, 635). Those women in the majority Muslim countries have to live as per their culture and religious requirements on clothing since many of them are ingrained in the constitutions. In addition, many societies in the Majority Muslim countries are normally collectivistic, but in the American society the Muslim communities might be forced to turn to individualism as the norm is. The difference in praying and attending to other religious practices may not be big considering that in both societies, Muslim have the freedom to partake in them (Ali, Liu &Humedian, 636). The difference will thus appear due to the difference in individual level of religiosity.
The formative periods of Islam involved a lot of preaching and crusades efforts by the first believers starting with Muhammad. The periods spurns from the mid-7th century. These periods saw Muhammad went around proclaiming the Allah’s message from Mecca, and with his followers they departed from there towards Medina where they sought support which saw Mecca submit to Islam within a few years. Following the death of Mohammad in 632, four caliphs succeeded him in series during which period the faith was brought to the Mediterranean shores in Iraq from Arabia (Khan, 636). The overthrowing of the Persian Empire ended the Sasanian dynasty reign and this was followed by the assignation of the last caliphs in 661 AD. This marked the beginning of factionalism both religious and political which lead to formation of Shiite sect of Islam. The growth of Islam continued after the spread of the Islamic empire which had conquered Spain, North Africa and penetrated India and central Asia. The Arab period of 638 – 1099 saw a big growth in Islamic period due to many conquest by the caliphs. The period of 1099-1187 AD so the many events of holy wars after the elapse of peaceful coexistence of Islam with other religions (Khan, 14). This period show the greatest development and growth of this religion.
Reference
Khan, Arshad. Islam, Muslims and America: Understanding the Basis of Their Conflict. New York: Algora Pub, 2007. Internet resource. 12-20
Lipka, Michael. Muslims and Islam: Key findings in the U.S. and around the world.2016.1. Available at. http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/07/22/muslims-and-islam-key-findings-in-the-u-s-and-around-the-world/
Ali, S., Liu, W., Humedian, M. Islam 101: Understanding the Religion and Therapy Implications. 2004. 635-638.Available at: http://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic551849.files/Ali%20Liu%20and%20Humedian.pdf
Shah, Qadeer B. An Introduction to Islam: Fundamental beliefs and practices. 2016.2-19 http://muslimcanada.org/introislam.pdf
