Understanding Islam and the Muslims

 

This information
is taken from a fairly popular brochure entitled Understanding Islam
and the Muslims.

List of Questions

What is Islam? Who are the Muslims? What do Muslims believe? How does someone become a Muslim? What does 'Islam' mean? Why does Islam often seem strange? Do Islam and Christianity have different origins? What is the Ka'bah? Who is Muhammad? How did he become a prophet and a messenger of God? How did the spread of Islam affect the world? What is the Qur'an? What is the Qur'an about? Are there any other sacred sources?

What are the 'Five Pillars' of Islam? Does Islam tolerate other beliefs? What do Muslims think about Jesus? Why is the family so important to Muslims? What about Muslim women? Can a Muslim have more than one wife? Is an Islamic marriage like a Christian marriage? How do Muslims treat the elderly? How do Muslims view death? What does Islam say about war? What about food? What is Islam's presence in the United States? How does Islam guarantee human rights? What is the makeup of The Muslim World?

 

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Question
1 "What is Islam?"

Islam is not
a new religion, but the same truth that God revealed through all
His prophets to every people. For a fifth of the world's population,
Islam is both a religion and a complete way of life. Muslims follow
a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the majority have
nothing to do with the extremely grave events which have come to
be associated with their faith.

Question
2 "Who are the Muslims?"

One billion
people from a vast range of races, nationalities and cultures across
the globe--from the southern Philippines to Nigeria--are united
by their common Islamic faith. About 18% live in the Arab world;
the world's largest Muslim community is in Indonesia; substantial
parts of Asia and most of Africa are Muslim, while significant minorities
are to be found in the Soviet Union, China, North and South America,
and Europe.

Question
3 "What do Muslims believe?"

Muslims believe
in One, Unique, Incomparable God; in the Angels created by Him;
in the prophets through whom His revelations were brought to mankind;
in the Day of Judgment and individual accountability for actions;
in God's complete authority over human destiny and in life after
death. Muslims believe in a chain of prophets starting with Adam
and including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Job,
Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, Elias, Jonah, John the Baptist, and
Jesus, peace be upon them. But God's final message to man, a reconfirmation
of the eternal message and a summing-up of all that has gone before
was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) through Gabriel.

Question
4 "How does someone become a Muslim?"

Simply by saying
'There is no god apart from God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of
God.' By this declaration the believer announces his or her faith
in all God's messengers, and the scriptures they brought.

Question
5 "What does 'Islam' mean?"

The Arabic word
'Islam' simply means 'submission', and derives from a word meaning
'peace'. In a religious context it means complete submission to
the will of God. 'Mohammedanism' is thus a misnomer because it suggests
that Muslims worship Muhammad (SAW) rather than God. 'Allah' is
the Arabic name for God, which is used by Arab Muslims and Christians
alike.

Question
6 "Why does Islam often seem strange?"

Islam may seem
exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because
religion does not dominate everyday life in the West today, whereas
Muslims have religion always uppermost in their minds, and make
no division between secular and sacred. They believe that the Divine
Law, the Shari'ah, should be taken very seriously, which is why
issues related to religion are still so important.

Question
7 "Do Islam and Christianity have different origins?"

No. Together
with Judaism, they go back to the prophet and patriarch Abraham,
and their three prophets are directly descended from his sons--Muhammad
(SAW) from the eldest, Ishmael, and Moses and Jesus, peace be upon
them, from Isaac. Abraham established the settlement which today
is the city of Makkah, and built the Ka'abah towards which all Muslims
turn when they pray.

Question
8 "What is the Ka'ba?"

The Ka'ba is
the place of worship which God commanded Abraham and Ishmael to
build over four thousand years ago. The building was constructed
of stone on what many believe was the original site of a sanctuary
established by Adam. God commanded Abraham to summon all mankind
to visit this place, and when pilgrims go there today they say 'At
Thy service, O Lord', in response to Abraham's summons.

Question
9 "Who is Muhammad?"

Muhammad (SAW)
was born in Makkah in the year 570, at a time when Christianity
was not yet fully established in Europe. Since his father died before
his birth, and his mother shortly afterwards, he was raised by his
uncle from the respected tribe of Quraysh. As he grew up, he became
known for his truthfulness, generosity and sincerity, so that he
was sought after for his ability to arbitrate in disputes. The historians
describe him as calm and meditative. Muhammad (SAW) was of a deeply
religious nature, and had long detested the decadence of his society.
It became his habit to meditate from time to time in the Cave of
Hira near the summit of Jabal al-Nur, the 'Mountain of Light' near
Makkah.

Question
10 "How did he become a prophet and a messenger of God?"

At the age of
40, while engaged in a meditative retreat, Muhammad received his
first revelation from God through the Angel Gabriel. This revelation,
which continued for twenty-three years, is known as the Qur'an.

As soon as he
began to recite the words he heard from Gabriel, and to preach the
truth which God had revealed to him, he and his small group of followers
suffered bitter persecution, which grew so fierce that in the year
622 God gave them the command to emigrate. This event, the Hijra,
'migration', in which they left Makkah for the city of Madinah some
260 miles to the north, marks the beginning of the Muslim calendar.

After several
years, the Prophet (SAW) and his followers were able to return to
Makkah, where they forgave their enemies and established Islam definitively.
Before the Prophet (SAW) died at the age of 63, the greater part
of Arabia was Muslim, and within a century of his death Islam had
spread to Spain in the West and as far East as China.

Question
11 "How did the spread of Islam affect the world?"

Among the reasons
for the rapid and peaceful spread of Islam was the simplicity of
its doctrine. Islam calls for faith in only One God worthy of worship.
It also repeatedly instructs man to use his powers of intelligence
and observation.

Within a few
years, great civilizations and universities were flourishing, for
according to the Prophet (SAW) 'seeking knowledge is an obligation
for every Muslim man and woman'. The synthesis of Eastern and Western
ideas and of new thought with old, brought about great advances
in medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy, geography, architecture,
art, literature, and history. Many crucial systems such as algebra,
the Arabic numerals, and also the concept of the zero (vital to
the advancement of mathematics), were transmitted to medieval Europe
from Islam. Sophisticated instruments which were to make possible
the European voyages of discovery were developed, including the
astrolabe, the quadrant and good navigational maps.

Question
12 "What is the Qur'an?"

The Qur'an is
a record of the exact words revealed by God through the Angel Gabriel
to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW). It was memorized by Muhammad (SAW)
and then dictated to his Companions, and written down by scribes,
who cross-checked it during his lifetime. Not one word of its 114
chapters, Surahs, has been changed over the centuries, so that the
Qur'an is in every detail the unique and miraculous text which was
revealed to Muhammad (SAW) fourteen centuries ago.

Question
13 "What is the Qur'an about?"

The Qur'an,
the last revealed Word of God, is the prime source of every Muslim's
faith and practice. It deals with all the subjects which concern
us as human beings: wisdom, doctrine, worship, and law, but its
basic theme is the relationship between God and His creatures. At
the same time it provides guidelines for a just society, proper
human conduct and an equitable economic system.

Question
14 "Are there any other sacred sources?"

Yes, the Sunnah,
the practice and example of the Prophet (SAW), is the second authority
for Muslims. A hadith is a reliably transmitted report of what the
Prophet (SAW) said, did, or approved. Belief in the Sunnah is part
of the Islamic faith.

Examples of
the Prophet's sayings

The Prophet
(SAW) said:

• 'God has
  no mercy on one who has no mercy for others.'
• 'None of
  you truly believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes
  for himself.'
• 'He who eats
  his fill while his neighbour goes without food is not a believer.'
• 'The truthful
  and trusty businessman is associated with the prophets the saints,
  and the martyrs.'
• 'Powerful
  is not he who knocks the other down, indeed powerful is he who
  controls himself in a fit of anger.'
• 'God does
  not judge according to your bodies and appearances but He scans
  your hearts and looks into your deeds.'
• 'A man walking
  along a path felt very thirsty. Reaching a well he descended into
  it, drank his fill and came up. Then he saw a dog with its tongue
  hanging out, trying to lick up mud to quench its thirst. The man
  saw that the dog was feeling the same thirst as he had felt so
  he went down into the well again and filled his shoe with water
  and gave the dog a drink. God forgave his sins for this action.'
  The Prophet (SAW) was asked: 'Messenger of God, are we rewarded
  for kindness towards animals?' He said, 'There is a reward for
  kindness to every living thing.' (From the hadith collections
  of Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi and Bayhaqi.)

Question
15 "What are the 'Five Pillars' of Islam?"

They are the
framework of the Muslim life: faith, prayer, concern for the needy,
self-purification, and the pilgrimage to Makkah for those who are
able.

1. First Pillar:
   Faith

There is no
god worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is His messenger.
This declaration of faith is called the Shahadah, a simple formula
which all the faithful pronounce. In Arabic, the first part is la
ilaha illa'Llah - 'there is no god except God'; ilaha (god) can
refer to anything which we may be tempted to put in place of God--wealth,
power, and the like. Then comes illa'Llah: 'except God', the source
of all Creation. The second part of the Shahada is Muhammadun rasulu'Llah:
'Muhammad is the messenger of God.' A message of guidance has come
through a man like ourselves.

There is no
god worthy of worship except God and Muhammad is His messenger.
This declaration of faith is called the Shahadah, a simple formula
which all the faithful pronounce. In Arabic, the first part is la
ilaha illa'Llah - 'there is no god except God'; ilaha (god) can
refer to anything which we may be tempted to put in place of God--wealth,
power, and the like. Then comes illa'Llah: 'except God', the source
of all Creation. The second part of the Shahadah is Muhammadun rasulu'Llah:
'Muhammad is the messenger of God.' A message of guidance has come
through a man like ourselves.

1. Second Pillar:
   Prayer

Salat is the
name for the obligatory prayers which are performed five times a
day, and are a direct link between the worshiper and God. There
is no hierarchical authority in Islam, and no priests, so the prayers
are led by a learned person who knows the Qur'an, chosen by the
congregation. These five prayers contain verses from the Qur'an,
and are said in Arabic, the language of the Revelation, but personal
supplication can be offered in one's own language.

Prayers are
said at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and nightfall, and thus
determine the rhythm of the entire day. Although it is preferable
to worship together in a mosque, a Muslim may pray almost anywhere,
such as in fields, offices, factories and universities. Visitors
to the Muslim world are struck by the centrality of prayers in daily
life.

A translation
of the Call to Prayer is:

'God is most
great. God is most great. God is most great. God is most great.
I testify that there is no god except God. I testify that there
is no god except God. I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of
God. I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God. Come to prayer!
Come to prayer! Come to success (in this life and the Hereafter)!
Come to success! God is most great. God is most great. There is
no god except God.'

Once Muslims
prayed towards Jerusalem, but during the Prophet's lifetime it was
changed to Makkah. From the minbar, the pulpit, the Imam who leads
the prayer gives the sermon at the Friday noon community prayers.

1. Third Pillar:
   Zakat

One of the most
important principles of Islam is that all things belong to God,
and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The
word zakat means both 'purification' and 'growth'. Our possessions
are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need, and,
like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages
new growth.

Each Muslim
calculates his or her own zakat individually. For most purposes
this involves the payment each year of two and a half percent of
one's capital. A pious person may also give as much as he or she
pleases as sadaqah, and does so preferably in secret. Although this
word can be translated as 'voluntary charity' it has a wider meaning.
The Prophet (SAW) said: 'Even meeting your brother with a cheerful
face is charity.'

The Prophet
(SAW) said: 'Charity is a necessity for every Muslim.' He was asked:
'What if a person has nothing?' The Prophet (SAW) replied: 'He should
work with his own hands for his benefit and then give something
out of such earnings in charity.' The Companions asked: 'What if
he is not able to work?' The Prophet (SAW) said: 'He should help
poor and needy persons.' The Companions further asked 'What if he
cannot do even that?' The Prophet (SAW) said 'He should urge others
to do good.' The Companions said 'What if he lacks that also?' The
Prophet (SAW) said 'He should check himself from doing evil. That
is also charity.'

1. Fourth Pillar:
   The Fast

Every year in
the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from first light until sundown,
abstaining from food, drink, and sexual relations. Those who are
sick, elderly, or on a journey, and women who are pregnant or nursing
are permitted to break the fast and make up an equal number of days
later in the year. If they are physically unable to do this, they
must feed a needy person for every day missed. Children begin to
fast (and to observe the prayer) from puberty, although many start
earlier.

Although the
fast is most beneficial to the health, it is regarded principally
as a method of self purification. By cutting oneself off from worldly
comforts, even for a short time, a fasting person gains true sympathy
with those who go hungry as well as growth in one's spiritual life.

1. Fifth Pillar:
   The Pilgrimage (Hajj)

The annual pilgrimage
to Makkah, the Hajj, is an obligation only for those who are physically
and financially able to perform it. Nevertheless, about two million
people go to Makkah each year from every comer of the globe providing
a unique opportunity for those of different nations to meet one
another. Although Makkah is always filled with visitors, the annual
Hajj begins in the twelfth month of the Islamic year (which is lunar,
not solar, so that Hajj and Ramadan fall sometimes in summer, sometimes
in winter). Pilgrims wear special clothes: simple garments which
strip away distinctions of class and culture, so that all stand
equal before God.

The rites of
the Hajj, which are of Abrahamic origin, include circling the Ka'abah
seven times, and going seven times between the mountains of Safa
and Marwa as did Hagar during her search for water. Then the pilgrims
stand together on the wide plain of Arafat and join in prayers for
God's forgiveness, in what is often thought of as a preview of the
Last Judgment.

In previous
centuries the Hajj was an arduous undertaking. Today, however, Saudi
Arabia provides millions of people with water, modem transport,
and the most up-to-date health facilities.

The close of
the Hajj is marked by a festival, the Eid al-Adha, which is celebrated
with prayers and the exchange of gifts in Muslim communities everywhere.
This, and the Eid al-Fitr, a feast-day commemorating the end of
Ramadan, are the main festivals of the Muslim calendar.

Question
16 "Does Islam tolerate other beliefs?"

The Qur'an says:
God forbids you not, with regards to those who fight you not for
[your] faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly
and justly with them; for God loveth those who are just. (Qur'an,
60.8)

It is one function
of Islamic law to protect the privileged status of minorities, and
this is why non-Muslim places of worship have flourished all over
the Islamic world. History provides many examples of Muslim tolerance
towards other faiths: when the caliph Omar entered Jerusalem in
the year 634, Islam granted freedom of worship to all religious
communities in the city.

Islamic law
also permits non-Muslim minorities to set up their own courts, which
implement family laws drawn up by the minorities themselves.

When the caliph
Omar took Jerusalem from the Byzantine, he insisted on entering
the city with only a small number of his companions. Proclaiming
to the inhabitants that their lives and property were safe, and
that their places of worship would never be taken from them, he
asked the Christian patriarch Sophronius to accompany him on a visit
to all the holy places.

The Patriarch
invited him to pray in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, but he
preferred to pray outside its gates, saying that if he accepted,
later generations of Muslims might use his action as an excuse to
turn it into a mosque. Above is the mosque built on the spot where
Omar did pray.

According to
Islam, man is not born in 'original sin'. He is God's vicegerent
on earth. Every child is born with the fitrah, an innate disposition
towards virtue, knowledge, and beauty. Islam considers itself to
be the 'primordial religion', din al-hanif, it seeks to return man
to his original, true nature in which he is in harmony with creation,
inspired to do good, and confirming the Oneness of God.

Question
17 "What do Muslims think about Jesus?"

Muslims respect
and revere Jesus (SAW) and await his Second Coming. They consider
him one of the greatest of God's messengers to mankind. A Muslim
never refers to him simply as 'Jesus', but always adds the phrase
'upon him be peace'. The Qur'an confirms his virgin birth (a chapter
of the Qur'an is entitled 'Mary'), and Mary is considered the purest
woman in all creation. The Qur'an describes the Annunciation as
follows:

'Behold!' the
Angel said, 'God has chosen you, and purified you, and chosen you
above the women of all nations. O Mary, God gives you good news
of a word from Him, whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of
Mary, honoured in this world and the Hereafter, and one of those
brought near to God. He shall speak to the people from his cradle
and in maturity, and shall be of the righteous.' She said: 'O my
Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?' He said:
'Even so; God creates what He will. When He decrees a thing He says
to it, "Be!" and it is.' (Qur'an, 3.42-7)

Jesus (SAW)
was born miraculously through the same power which had brought Adam
(SAW) into being without a father:

Truly, the likeness
of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of
dust, and then said to him, 'Be!' and he was. (3.59) During his
prophetic mission Jesus (SAW) performed many miracles. The Qur'an
tells us that he said:

'I have come
to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as
it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it and it becomes
a bird by God's leave. And I heal the blind, and the lepers, and
I raise the dead by God's leave.' (3.49)

Neither Muhammad
(SAW) nor Jesus (SAW) came to change the basic doctrine of the belief
in One God, brought by earlier prophets, but to confirm and renew
it. In the Qur'an Jesus (SAW) is reported as saying that he came:

'To attest the
law which was before me. And to make lawful to you part of what
was forbidden you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord,
so fear God and obey Me.' (3:5O)

The Prophet
Muhammad (SAW) said:

'Whoever believes
there is no god but God, alone without partner, that Muhammad (SAW)
is His messenger, that Jesus is the servant and messenger of God,
His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and
that Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven.'
(Hadith from Bukhari)

Question
18 "Why is the family so important to Muslims?"

The family is
the foundation of Islamic society. The peace and security offered
by a stable family unit is greatly valued, and seen as essential
for the spiritual growth of its members. A harmonious social order
is created by the existence of extended families; children are treasured,
and rarely leave home until the time they marry.

Question
19 "What about Muslim women ?"

Islam sees a
woman, whether single or married, as an individual in her own right,
with the right to own and dispose of her property and earnings.
A marriage dowry is given by the groom to the bride for her own
personal use, and she keeps her own family name rather than taking
her husband's.

Both men and
women are expected to dress in a way which is modest and dignified;
the traditions of female dress found in some Muslim countries are
often the expression of local customs.

The Messenger
of God said:

'The most perfect
in faith amongst believers is he who is best in manner and kindest
to his wife.'

Question
20 "Can a Muslim have more than one wife?"

The religion
of Islam was revealed for all societies and all times and so accommodates
widely differing social requirements. Circumstances may warrant
the taking of another wife but the right is granted, according to
the Qur'an, only on condition that the husband is scrupulously fair.

Question
21 "Is an Islamic marriage like a Christian marriage?"

A Muslim marriage
is not a 'sacrament', but a simple, legal agreement in which either
partner is free to include conditions. Marriage customs thus vary
widely from country to country. As a result, divorce is not common,
although it is not forbidden as a last resort. According to Islam,
no Muslim girl can be forced to marry against her will: her parents
will simply suggest young men they think may be suitable.

Question
22 "How do Muslims treat the elderly?"

In the Islamic
world there are no old people's homes. The strain of caring for
one's parents in this most difficult time of their lives is considered
an honour and blessing, and an opportunity for great spiritual growth.
God asks that we not only pray for our parents, but act with limitless
compassion, remembering that when we were helpless children they
preferred us to themselves. Mothers are particularly honoured: the
Prophet (SAW) taught that 'Paradise lies at the feet of mothers'.
When they reach old age, Muslim parents are treated mercifully,
with the same kindness and selflessness.

In Islam, serving
one's parents is a duty second only to prayer, and it is their right
to expect it. It is considered despicable to express any irritation
when, through no fault of their own, the old become difficult.

The Qur'an says:
Your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him, and be kind
to parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, do
not say 'uff' to them or scold them, but speak to them in terms
of honour and kindness. Treat them with humility, and say, 'My Lord!
Have mercy on them, for they did care for me when I was little'.
(17.23-4)

Question
23 "How do Muslims view death?"

Like Jews and
Christians, Muslims believe that the present life is only a trial
preparation for the next realm of existence. Basic articles of faith
include: the Day of Judgment, resurrection, Heaven and Hell. When
a Muslim dies, he or she is washed, usually by a family member,
wrapped in a clean white cloth, and buried with a simple prayer
preferably the same day. Muslims consider this one of the final
services they can do for their relatives, and an opportunity to
remember their own brief existence here on earth. The Prophet (SAW)
taught that three things can continue to help a person even after
death; charity which he had given, knowledge which he had taught
and prayers on their behalf by a righteous child.

Question
24 "What does Islam say about war?"

Like Christianity,
Islam permits fighting in self-defence, in defence of religion,
or on the part of those who have been expelled forcibly from their
homes. It lays down strict rules of combat which include prohibitions
against harming civilians and against destroying crops, trees and
livestock. As Muslims see it, injustice would be triumphant in the
world if good men were not prepared to risk their lives in a righteous
cause. The Qur'an says:

'Fight in the
cause of God against those who fight you, but do not transgress
limits. God does not love transgressors.' (2.190)

'If they seek
peace, then seek you peace. And trust in God for He is the One that
heareth and knoweth all things.' (8.61)

War, therefore,
is the last resort, and is subject to the rigorous conditions laid
down by the sacred law. The term jihad literally means 'struggle',
and Muslims believe that there are two kinds of jihad. The other
jihad is the inner struggle which everyone wages against egotistic
desires, for the sake of attaining inner peace.

Question
25 "What about food?"

Although much
simpler than the dietary law followed by Jews and the early Christians,
the code which Muslims observe forbids the consumption of pig meat
or any kind of intoxicating drink. The Prophet taught that 'your
body has rights over you', and the consumption of wholesome food
and the leading of a healthy lifestyle are seen as religious obligations.

The Prophet
(SAW) said: 'Ask God for certainty [of faith] and well-being; for
after certainty, no one is given any gift better than health!'

Question
26 "What is Islam's presence in the United States?"

It is almost
impossible to generalize about American Muslims: converts, immigrants,
factory workers, doctors; all are making their own contribution
to America's future. This complex community is unified by a common
faith, under-pinned by a countrywide network of a thousand mosques.

Muslims were
early arrivals in North America. By the eighteenth century there
were many thousands of them, working as slaves on plantations. These
early communities, cut off from their heritage and families, inevitably
lost their Islamic identity as time went by. Today many Afro-American
Muslims play an important role in the Islamic community.

The nineteenth
century, however, saw the beginnings of an influx of Arab Muslims,
most of whom settled in the major industrial centres where they
worshiped in hired rooms. The early twentieth century witnessed
the arrival of several hundred thousand Muslims from Eastern Europe:
the first Albanian mosque was opened in Maine in 1915; others soon
followed, and a group of Polish Muslims opened a mosque in Brooklyn
in 1928.

In 1947 the
Washington Islamic Centre was founded during the term of President
Truman, and several nationwide organizations were set up in the
fifties. The same period saw the establishment of other communities
whose lives were in many ways modelled after Islam. More recently,
numerous members of these groups have entered the fold of Muslim
orthodoxy. Today there are about five million Muslims in America.

Question
27 "How does Islam guarantee human rights ?"

Freedom of conscience
is laid down by the Qur'an itself: 'There is no compulsion in religion'.
(2.256)

The life and
property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred
whether a person is Muslim or not.

Racism is incomprehensible
to Muslims, for the Qur'an speaks of human equality in the following
terms:

'O mankind!
We created you from a single soul, male and female, and made you
into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know one another.
Truly, the most honoured of you in God 's sight is the greatest
of you in piety. God is All-Knowing, All-Aware'. (49.13)

Question
28 "What is the makeup of The Muslim World?"

The Muslim population
of the world is around one billion. Most Muslims live east of Karachi.
30% of Muslims live in the Indian subcontinent, 20 % in Sub-Saharan
Africa, 17% in Southeast Asia, 18% in the Arab world, 10% in the
Soviet Union and China. Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan comprise 10%
of the non-Arab Middle East. Although there are Muslim minorities
in almost every area including Latin America and Australia, they
are most numerous in the Soviet Union, India, and central Africa.
There are 5 million Muslims in the United States.