The diversity of cultural and religious practices of Islam is reflected by the geographic expanse of the Muslim World. Like Judaism and Christianity. Islam is one of the great Monotheistic meaning 1 God, a God of Love, only, that traces it’s ancestry to Abraham. Muslims share certain core beliefs, but cultural practices interpretations, and realities of Islam vary across time and space. Although Islam over a million followers live in some 56 countries around the world, many are in the West and know little about the real Faith and are familiar only with a few extremists. Islam is the second largest and fastest growing religions, and is part of the religious landscape of America and Europe and has had a significant impact on world affairs.
The geographic Cultural and religious diversity of Islam reflects the status as a World Religion with a global presence and impact.
Islam is the second largest and one of the fastest growing of the World’s religions. Its followers can be found in some 56 countries and include people, Races, languages, ethnic groups, tribes, and cultures. Only 20% of the World’s Muslims are Arabs, the majority of Muslims live in Asian and African societies. Islam is as visible in the West as the second largest religions in Europe and soon to be the second largest in America. Despite the Islamic communities, size, global presence and significance, myths, stereotypes and misinformation about Islam and Muslims abound.
The Study of this Religion today is often motivated by and cannot escape the threat that radical Islam, Muslim extremists and terrorists have posed to the rest of the World, and to their own societies, but especially to the West. There is significant interest in Islam in recent decades and was not driven by Islam as the second largest and perhaps growing world religions but by the Challenge and Political threat Islam poses to Fundamentalism. This is especially true after September 11th, 2001, in the context of the war against Global terrorism and in particular Al-Queda.
Although it is assumed that All Muslims believe in God, the Quran and the teachings of Muhammad, there is a rich University of Interpretation and Cultural practices. Understanding Islam requires a bridging of religions, and history, Politics and culture. The word “Islam” means “submission.” or “Surrender.” A Muslim seeks to follow and “Actualize” God’s will in history, as an individual and a member of a World Wide Religion and Faith driven community. The Muslim community (UNYAH) is Trans-National community of believers that God ordained and guided to spread an Islamic order to create a socially Just Society.
Islam belongs to the family of great Monotheistic Faiths, the Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Jews and Christians trace their genealogy to Abraham through Sara and her son Isaac; Muslims represent the branch of the family which descends from Abraham’s son Ismail and Sarah’s handmaid, his Mother Hagar. Although specific and significant differences exist among Judaism, Christianity and Islam all 3 Faiths share a profound monotheism, belief in the one transcendent God, who is creator, sustainer and ruler of the Universe. All believe in Angels, Satan, prophets, revelations, moral accountability, responsibility, divine judgment and eternal reward or punishment. Thus Islam is the fulfillment and completion of earlier revelations.
Islam has a significant impact on World affairs. It is a dynamic religion that interfaces and at times, competes with other faiths. In contrast to a separation of Church and State, for many Muslims Religion and society has faith and Power, and are closely intertwined. From the creation of the First Muslim community in the seventh – century, Arabs to contemporary times, Muslims have debated and sought to implement God’s will in their personal, as well as Public Lives, in their families, as well as States and Societies, thus to be a Muslim was to live in a Islamic community – State governed by Islamic Law.
From the time of Mohamed to the Present, Muslims have engaged in a continuous process of applying Islam to the realities of Life, Islamic Law, theology and Mysticism, reflecting a complex practice. Religious doctrines, laws and practices result not only from sacred texts, but also from fallible interpreters, whose conclusions reflect their intelligence, political and social contexts, and customs as well as power and privilege. The fact that interpreters of Islam were males living in Patriarchal societies, naturally affected the development of Islamic Law, especially it’s impact on Women and the family.
Islamic Doctrines and Laws were developed in response to political and social questions and issues. Thus, it is correct to say there is one Islam revealed in the Quran and the traditions of the Prophet, but Islamic traditions and heritage reveals many interpretations of Islam, some complementing each other, and others in are in conflict.
As Muslims like Jews and Christians, contend with the relationship of faith to the modern world many questions arise. Should Islam be restricted to personal life, or integral to the State of Law, and Society.
As Muslims today like Jews and Christians contend with the relationship of Faith to the modern world many questions arise. Is Islam compatible with democracy, secularism, human rights, and the States of Religions minorities, non Muslims and Women?
Is the relationship of the Muslim Islamic World compatible with the West? The Muslim World is often seen through the stereotypical of Jihad and extremism as a Militant Judeo Christian tradition of Crusades, Inquisitions, European Colonialism, and American Neo-colonialism. Such perceptions lead both sides to for-see an impending clash of civilizations. In recent years the questions of Islam and the West are joined to those of Islam in the West. Many issues are related to Muslim assimilation in non-Muslim countries.
Is it lenient to the choices of Religion today, or Religious Minority? Are people of any religion tolerant of Women?
Are Muslim Religions tolerant of of other Religions today.
Is Canada tolerant of a person’s self realization, self determination, through successive learning and the hippocampus widening our worlds of recollection and reconstructing?
Is America tolerant of a person’s self realization, self determination, through successive learning and the hippocampus widening our worlds of recollection and reconstructing as we grow elderly as life time learners?