Islam: Some Basic Facts

Compiled and presented by Sandy Soohoo-Refaei, Linfield College, for NAFSA 2005 Region I Conference session on Learning and Teaching about Islam and Muslims

Here is some basic information about Islam that most people do not know.

There are approximately 1.3 billion Muslims in the world today. This equals to about 20 percent of the total world population.

Name the five countries with the largest Muslim populations.

Indonesia
Pakistan
Bangladesh
India
Turkey

What is Islam?

It is a monotheistic religion that calls for the submission to Allah (God) and the acceptance of Muhammad as the last prophet.

Who are Muslims?

Muslims are those who claim to be followers of Islam. Fundamentally, all Muslims follow what's written in the Qur'an. They may practice differently in different times, societies, and cultures; e.g., music may be used in India but not others where contemplation and silence are expected.

What are the three monotheistic world religions? In what ways are they similar or different?

Christianity, Judaism, and Islam - All worship the God of Abraham. Muslims believe in the same god, the principle of monotheism. Unlike Christians, Muslims believe that Jesus was a mortal man inspired by God, but that he was not the son of God. Muslims also perceive the Qur'an to be a refinement of the Torah and the Bible, completing the gaps and correcting the distortions. Muslims hold respect for Christians and Jews and refer to them as "people of the book" because, like Islam, their religions are based on scripture.

What are the five Pillars of Islam? (see separate handout)

Public declaration of belief, or "profession of faith"; to testify in Arabic that "There is no god but God and Muhammad is His messenger
Ritual Prayer, five times each day
Month of Fasting or Ramadan
Annual alms or annual payment of 2.5 percent of total wealth to benefit the poor
Pilgrimage to Mecca once in your life, if physically and financially able

What are some of the major achievements and contributions of Islamic civilization?

Mathematics (Arabic numerals, the concept of zero, and many concepts of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and physics; astronomy; medical science; chemistry; geography; philosophy; art and architecture; and literature and music.

What is the Qur'an? What does the name mean? How many chapters, or suras, are in the Qur'an? How is it organized?

Islam's holy book, meaning "The Recitations." For Muslims, it is the eternal, nontemporal word of God. It is composed of sacred writings accepted by Muslims as Allah's revelations to His messenger, Muhammad.
There are 114 chapters, or suras. Each sura opens with an invocation (prayer) called the bismillah: "In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate." The chapters are arranged by descending order of length. The book is organized into 30 "portions" called juz. Each juz contains readings to be conducted during each day of Ramadan (the month of fasting). During Ramadan, the Qur'an is recited in its entirety at mosques around the world. The book can also be read in "sevenths" to allow followers to focus on each part for each day of the week during the non-Ramadan months. Each verse of the Qur'an is called a "sign" (ayah).

What is the Hadith?

The "report" or compilation of the deeds and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. It is used as a guide for proper living.

What is the connection between the Arabic language and Islam?

The words of Islam's God, Allah, were revealed to Prophet Muhammad in Arabic. Hence, those who practice Islam believe Arabic is the language of God. Islam's holy book (the Qur'an) is written in classical Arabic. Muslims must study some classical Arabic to be able to read and understand the Qur'an.

Other Important Words and Concepts

Shari'ah - Major sources and principles of Islamic law.
Common themes of Islamic art
- No representation of art in the mosque but everywhere else
- Monotheism – no images/idols; applying the concept of "significant emptiness"
- Garden as depiction of paradise and frequent use of flowers and architecture
Allah – One God, the God of everyone. Singular, no gender. One humanity; no chosen people or nation. God has 99 names; each represents an attribute of God. Allah is the all-inclusive proper name that God has given himself.
Hajj – The pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. Hajj takes place during the last month of the Islamic calendar and involves special prayer and dress and abstention from certain behavior. It is the largest pilgrimage in the world, and hundreds of thousands of Muslims participate annually.
Hijra - Muhammad's emigration from Mecca to the oasis of Yathrib (Medina).
Mecca – A city in southwestern Saudi Arabia and the Prophet Muhammad's birthplace. It is considered the holiest Islamic city and is the pilgrimage destination for Muslims from all over the world.
Ramadan – The ninth month of the Muslim calendar, when all Muslims fast during the daylight hours in an attempt to think constantly of Allah and be obedient to Allah's laws.
Medina – A city in the northern part of present-day Saudi Arabia to which Muhammad fled from Mecca in 622 after meeting with opposition to his new system of belief.
SHI'I (also SHI'A)– One of the two main traditions of Islam. The SHI'I sect maintains that Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad, was the first true spiritual leader after the Prophet's death. Approximately 15 percent of Muslims practice the SHI'I tradition; the Muslims in Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen are predominately SHI'I.
SUNNI – One of two main traditions of Islam, the SUNNI sect believes that after Muhammad died, the leadership of Islam rightfully passed to three caliphs (religious and political leaders), who were followed by Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad. SUNNI s comprise approximately 85 percent of Muslims and practice traditional ways of Islam, as taught by orthodox scholars.

Important Dates (provided by Dar al Islam)

570 Birth of Prophet Muhammad in Makkah (Mecca)
610 First revelation
622 Hijrah (Muslims leave Makkah for Madinah)
623 Battle of Badr
624 Constitution of Madinah (Medina)
630 Makkah capitulates to the Muslims
631 Death of Prophet Muhammad

Ruling clan of Makkah: Quraysh
Clan of the Prophet: Hashim
Name of the uncle who raised the Prophet: Abu Talib
The four rightly guided caliphs: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali

Ali was married to Fatimah, daughter of the Prophet. Fatimah and Ali had two sons, Hasan and Hussein. Hussein was martyred in 680 in Karbala (present day Iraq). This was a major turning point in Islamic history because it marked a clear SUNNI – SHI'A split, with those supporters of Ali and his descendents calling themselves "Partisans of Ali" or SHI-A.

661-750 The Ummayad Caliphate of Damascus
750-1258 The Abbasid Caliphate of Baghdad
909-1171 The Fatimid Dynasty of Egypt
711-1492 Muslim rule in Spain (Spanish inquisition)
1095-1202 Crusades
1501-1732 Safavid Dynasty (based in Persia)
1526-1858 Mughal Dynasty (based in India)
1281-1922 Ottoman Empire (based in Turkey)

Resources

Arab World and Islamic Resources (AWAIR)
Publishes a catalog that has excellent resource materials such as books, films, videos, posters, and information on a fully funded staff development program on teaching about the Arab World and Islam.

Aramco World
A bimonthly magazine, free of charge to educators, covers a variety of topics related to the Arab world. Write to Aramco World and request for a free subscription.

Teaching about Islam and Muslims in the Public School Classroom: A Handbook for Educators Fountain Valley, Calif.: Council on Islamic Education, 1995. This straightforward guide to basic information on Islam and the Islamic world also offers information useful for teachers who have Muslim students.

Five Popular Misconceptions about Islam from Anderson, Roy R. et al. Politics and Change in the Middle East: Sources of Conflict and Accommodation, Sixth Edition. Prentice Hall, New Jersey: 2001.

"The Arab World: The Image of God." Films for the Humanities and Sciences, 1997. "In this program, Bill Moyers and experts discuss the religion of Islam – its history, sectarian division, core beliefs, and use by Arab politicians as a legitimizing force. Distortions of the Islamic image in the American media are discussed. Holy war – jihad – is defined and put into context."

"Ramadan: A Fast of Faith." Films for the Humanities and Sciences, 1999. "Fasting is the fourth pillar of Islam, and Ramadan is the most sacred fast of the year. This lyrical program, beautifully filmed in Java and Sumatra, gently unfolds to tell the story of this month long Muslim fast through the eyes of a young couple. From the ritual purification that precedes the observance to the festival of Id-al-Fitr that ends it, Ramadan is described in detail…."

"Islam Rising. The Our' an and the American Dream." Films for the Humanities and Sciences, 2000. "…This program traces the rapid expansion of Islam in New York City where it sustains and brings hope to Muslim citizens, recent Muslim immigrants, and converts drawn primarily from the downtrodden sectors of society. The program also features the Council on Islamic Relations, which strives to root out legal injustices and dispel prejudicial stereotypes…"

CIA – The World Factbook
Provides maps, country profiles, flags of the world, and other information.

Islamic Civilization and the Arts, developed by Stefanie Lamb, et al., 2003. Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE), Stanford Institute for International Studies (SIIS). Good collection of information and lesson plans, including many handouts and pullout activity cards.

Understanding Islam and the Muslims prepared by The Islamic Affairs Department of The Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington, DC. A free introductory booklet on Islam with color photographs and short explanation of key terms and concepts.