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Began around the year 610 CE (early 7th century).
Was founded by the Prophet Muhammad (Muhammad ibn ʿAbd Allāh).
Spread to these areas: the Arabian Peninsula, the Middle East and Levant, Persia (Iran), North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus), Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent (South Asia), parts of West Africa, and later Southeast Asia and Anatolia/Balkans.
- Tawhid — belief in the oneness and uniqueness of God (Allah). God is single, indivisible, and the sole object of worship.
- Belief in Angels — spiritual beings created by God who carry out His commandments (e.g., Gabriel as receiver/communicator of revelation).
- Belief in Revealed Books — the Qur’an as the final revelation, and recognition that God revealed earlier scriptures (Torah, Psalms, Gospel) in their original form.
- Belief in Prophets — God’s messengers (including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad as the final prophet) who convey guidance to humanity.
- Belief in the Day of Judgment — a final resurrection and accountability when deeds are judged and people are rewarded or punished in the afterlife.
- Belief in Divine Decree (Qadar) — God’s knowledge and will encompass all things; humans have responsibility for their choices within God’s knowledge and decree.
1. Ramadan (9th Islamic month) — Month of fasting, prayer and Qur’an recitation; Muslims fast dawn to sunset (suhur/iftar), perform nightly Taraweeh, increase charity and spiritual reflection.
2. Eid al‑Fitr (1 Shawwal) — Festival marking the end of Ramadan; communal Eid prayer, Zakat al‑Fitr, visiting family, feasting and gift‑giving.
3. Eid al‑Adha (10 Dhu al‑Hijjah) — Festival of Sacrifice tied to Hajj; Eid prayer and qurbani (animal sacrifice) with meat shared among family and the poor, plus charitable giving.
4. Hajj (8–12 Dhu al‑Hijjah) — Mandatory pilgrimage once in a lifetime for those able; performing rites in Mecca (Tawaf, standing at Arafat, stoning) culminating in Eid al‑Adha.
5. Ashura (10 Muharram) — For Sunnis: a recommended fast commemorating Moses’ deliverance; for many Shia: a major day of mourning for Husayn ibn Ali, observed with processions and recitations.
6. Islamic New Year (1 Muharram) — Marks the Hijri year’s start and the Hijra; observances vary from quiet reflection and special prayers to communal gatherings.
Islam is practiced worldwide, but is concentrated as a majority religion across North Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, much of South and Southeast Asia, and large parts of West Africa. There are also substantial Muslim minorities (diasporas) in Europe, North America, and parts of sub‑Saharan Africa, Latin America and Oceania.
About 1,900 million (≈1.9 billion) followers.
Mostly practiced in the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and Southeast Asia.
The Holy Book is called the Qur'an (Quran).
can you give me sources for theses
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Sure — below are reliable primary and secondary sources you can use to support the statements in your summary of Islam. I group them by topic and include key Qur’an verses and hadith references you can cite.
If you want, I can format these into a bibliography in APA/Chicago/MLA style or provide direct web links.
General overviews and encyclopedias
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — entries on “Islam,” “Muhammad,” “History of Islam,” “Ashura,” etc. (concise, reliable summaries).
- Oxford Islamic Studies Online — articles on doctrine, history, practices (requires institutional access).
- John L. Esposito, Islam: The Straight Path (4th ed., 2010). Good textbook-level introduction to beliefs, practices, and history.
- Frederick M. Denny, An Introduction to Islam (5th ed., 2015). Clear coverage of theology, law and practice.
Origins, Muhammad, and historical spread
- Martin Lings, Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources (1983) — classic biography based on early Arabic sources.
- W. Montgomery Watt, Muhammad at Mecca and Muhammad at Medina (two volumes) — academic studies of early Islamic history.
- Ira M. Lapidus, A History of Islamic Societies (3rd ed., 2014) — good synthesis of how Islam spread across regions (Arabia, Middle East, Persia, North Africa, Iberia, Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Anatolia/Balkans).
- Marshall G. S. Hodgson, The Venture of Islam (3 vols.) — comprehensive historical treatment of expansion and cultural development.
- Richard M. Eaton, The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier (and related articles) — on South Asian conversion processes.
Primary texts (Qur’an and Hadith)
- The Qur’an (any widely accepted translation for citation; e.g., M.A.S. Abdel Haleem, The Qur’an: A New Translation; or Saheeh International).
- Tawhid and oneness: Sūrah 112 (al‑Ikhlāṣ); see also 2:163.
- Angels: e.g., 35:1; 2:30.
- Revealed Books: e.g., 3:3–4; 2:285.
- Prophets: e.g., 4:164; 33:40.
- Day of Judgment: e.g., Sūrah 75 (al‑Qiyāmah) and many others.
- Divine decree (qadar): e.g., 57:22; 54:49.
- Ramadan (fasting): 2:183–185.
- Hajj: 2:196; 22:27–29.
- Hadith collections (primary reports of the Prophet’s words and practice)
- Sahih al‑Bukhari and Sahih Muslim — authoritative collections widely used by Sunni scholars.
- Hadith of Gabriel (Jibril) — appears in Sahih Muslim (book on Faith), enumerating Islam, Iman and Ihsan and core beliefs/practices.
- Hadiths on fasting Ashura, Eid prayers, Hajj rites, Qurbani appear in Bukhari/Muslim and classical fiqh manuals.
Beliefs (Six articles of faith / “Iman”)
- Classical and modern expositions:
- The Hadith of Gabriel (Sahih Muslim) and Qur’anic verses noted above.
- John L. Esposito, What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam (short reference).
- Oxford Islamic Studies Online — entries on “Aqīdah” (creed) and “Tawhid.”
Rituals, festivals, and the Hajj
- Qur’an passages cited above for Ramadan and Hajj.
- Sahih al‑Bukhari and Sahih Muslim — collections of prophetic practice (Sunnah) for details on fasting, Taraweeh, Eid prayers, and sacrifice.
- Classical fiqh manuals (e.g., Al‑Muwattaʾ of Malik for early legal rulings; later works by al‑Ghazzali, al‑Nawawi) for ritual detail and jurisprudential rules.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica entries on “Ramadan,” “Eid al‑Fitr,” “Eid al‑Adha,” and “Hajj.”
Ashura and sectarian observance (Sunni vs Shia)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — entry “Ashura.”
- For Shia perspectives: Moojan Momen, An Introduction to Shi’i Islam (1985); the Encyclopedia Iranica entries on Husayn and Ashura.
- For Sunni practice and the hadith recommending fasting on Ashura: Sahih Muslim / Sahih Bukhari references and classical exegesis.
Demographics and global distribution
- Pew Research Center:
- The Future of the Global Muslim Population (2011) — baseline estimates and projections.
- The Changing Global Religious Landscape (2017) and other Pew reports on global religion give regional breakdowns and numbers (Pew is widely cited for the ~1.6–1.9 billion range depending on year).
- Pew Research Center, “Mapping the global Muslim population” (interactive and country/region breakdowns).
- United Nations population data (for denominators used in percentage estimates).
- World Religion Database / World Atlas of Religion (subscription sources) for regional distributions.
Specialized academic works (spread to particular regions)
- Al‑Andalus (Iberia): W. Montgomery Watt, A History of Islamic Spain; David Levering Lewis and others.
- Anatolia and the Balkans (Ottoman expansion): Halil İnalcık, The Ottoman Empire: The Classical Age 1300–1600; Norman Itzkowitz.
- Central Asia: Richard Foltz and R. D. McChesney (in Cambridge histories).
- Southeast Asia: M. C. Ricklefs, A History of Modern Indonesia (for Islam in Indonesia), Anthony Reid, Southeast Asia in the Age of Commerce (on spread of Islam in maritime Asia).
Reference works for further scholarly reading
- The Cambridge History of Islam (2 vols.) — edited collections by P. Holt, Ann K.S. Lambton, B. Lewis.
- The Encyclopaedia of Islam (Leiden) — authoritative articles on theology, history, law and regional topics (subscription).
How to cite primary texts exactly
- Qur’an: cite by chapter and verse (e.g., Qur’an 2:183–185). If you quote, give the translation you used.
- Hadith: cite collection, book/chapter number and hadith number where possible (e.g., Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith, Hadith of Gabriel).
Notes and cautions
- Historical reconstructions of early Islam and the details of territorial expansion vary among historians and rely on different types of sources (Arabic chronicles, archaeology, numismatics). For academic work, prefer Lapidus, Hodgson, Watt and the Cambridge histories.
- “Six articles of faith” is the common Sunni formulation; Shia theology expresses core beliefs somewhat differently (e.g., Imamate). Use Shia sources for statements about Shia doctrine and practice.
If you tell me which specific statements you need sources for (e.g., origin c. 610 CE; Prophet Muhammad’s life; the six beliefs; Ramadan rules; global population = 1.9 billion), I can give targeted citations (exact book chapters, Qur’an verse lists, hadith references, and page numbers) or produce a formatted bibliography. Would you like that?
If you want, I can format these into a bibliography in APA/Chicago/MLA style or provide direct web links.
General overviews and encyclopedias
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — entries on “Islam,” “Muhammad,” “History of Islam,” “Ashura,” etc. (concise, reliable summaries).
- Oxford Islamic Studies Online — articles on doctrine, history, practices (requires institutional access).
- John L. Esposito, Islam: The Straight Path (4th ed., 2010). Good textbook-level introduction to beliefs, practices, and history.
- Frederick M. Denny, An Introduction to Islam (5th ed., 2015). Clear coverage of theology, law and practice.
Origins, Muhammad, and historical spread
- Martin Lings, Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources (1983) — classic biography based on early Arabic sources.
- W. Montgomery Watt, Muhammad at Mecca and Muhammad at Medina (two volumes) — academic studies of early Islamic history.
- Ira M. Lapidus, A History of Islamic Societies (3rd ed., 2014) — good synthesis of how Islam spread across regions (Arabia, Middle East, Persia, North Africa, Iberia, Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Anatolia/Balkans).
- Marshall G. S. Hodgson, The Venture of Islam (3 vols.) — comprehensive historical treatment of expansion and cultural development.
- Richard M. Eaton, The Rise of Islam and the Bengal Frontier (and related articles) — on South Asian conversion processes.
Primary texts (Qur’an and Hadith)
- The Qur’an (any widely accepted translation for citation; e.g., M.A.S. Abdel Haleem, The Qur’an: A New Translation; or Saheeh International).
- Tawhid and oneness: Sūrah 112 (al‑Ikhlāṣ); see also 2:163.
- Angels: e.g., 35:1; 2:30.
- Revealed Books: e.g., 3:3–4; 2:285.
- Prophets: e.g., 4:164; 33:40.
- Day of Judgment: e.g., Sūrah 75 (al‑Qiyāmah) and many others.
- Divine decree (qadar): e.g., 57:22; 54:49.
- Ramadan (fasting): 2:183–185.
- Hajj: 2:196; 22:27–29.
- Hadith collections (primary reports of the Prophet’s words and practice)
- Sahih al‑Bukhari and Sahih Muslim — authoritative collections widely used by Sunni scholars.
- Hadith of Gabriel (Jibril) — appears in Sahih Muslim (book on Faith), enumerating Islam, Iman and Ihsan and core beliefs/practices.
- Hadiths on fasting Ashura, Eid prayers, Hajj rites, Qurbani appear in Bukhari/Muslim and classical fiqh manuals.
Beliefs (Six articles of faith / “Iman”)
- Classical and modern expositions:
- The Hadith of Gabriel (Sahih Muslim) and Qur’anic verses noted above.
- John L. Esposito, What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam (short reference).
- Oxford Islamic Studies Online — entries on “Aqīdah” (creed) and “Tawhid.”
Rituals, festivals, and the Hajj
- Qur’an passages cited above for Ramadan and Hajj.
- Sahih al‑Bukhari and Sahih Muslim — collections of prophetic practice (Sunnah) for details on fasting, Taraweeh, Eid prayers, and sacrifice.
- Classical fiqh manuals (e.g., Al‑Muwattaʾ of Malik for early legal rulings; later works by al‑Ghazzali, al‑Nawawi) for ritual detail and jurisprudential rules.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica entries on “Ramadan,” “Eid al‑Fitr,” “Eid al‑Adha,” and “Hajj.”
Ashura and sectarian observance (Sunni vs Shia)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — entry “Ashura.”
- For Shia perspectives: Moojan Momen, An Introduction to Shi’i Islam (1985); the Encyclopedia Iranica entries on Husayn and Ashura.
- For Sunni practice and the hadith recommending fasting on Ashura: Sahih Muslim / Sahih Bukhari references and classical exegesis.
Demographics and global distribution
- Pew Research Center:
- The Future of the Global Muslim Population (2011) — baseline estimates and projections.
- The Changing Global Religious Landscape (2017) and other Pew reports on global religion give regional breakdowns and numbers (Pew is widely cited for the ~1.6–1.9 billion range depending on year).
- Pew Research Center, “Mapping the global Muslim population” (interactive and country/region breakdowns).
- United Nations population data (for denominators used in percentage estimates).
- World Religion Database / World Atlas of Religion (subscription sources) for regional distributions.
Specialized academic works (spread to particular regions)
- Al‑Andalus (Iberia): W. Montgomery Watt, A History of Islamic Spain; David Levering Lewis and others.
- Anatolia and the Balkans (Ottoman expansion): Halil İnalcık, The Ottoman Empire: The Classical Age 1300–1600; Norman Itzkowitz.
- Central Asia: Richard Foltz and R. D. McChesney (in Cambridge histories).
- Southeast Asia: M. C. Ricklefs, A History of Modern Indonesia (for Islam in Indonesia), Anthony Reid, Southeast Asia in the Age of Commerce (on spread of Islam in maritime Asia).
Reference works for further scholarly reading
- The Cambridge History of Islam (2 vols.) — edited collections by P. Holt, Ann K.S. Lambton, B. Lewis.
- The Encyclopaedia of Islam (Leiden) — authoritative articles on theology, history, law and regional topics (subscription).
How to cite primary texts exactly
- Qur’an: cite by chapter and verse (e.g., Qur’an 2:183–185). If you quote, give the translation you used.
- Hadith: cite collection, book/chapter number and hadith number where possible (e.g., Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith, Hadith of Gabriel).
Notes and cautions
- Historical reconstructions of early Islam and the details of territorial expansion vary among historians and rely on different types of sources (Arabic chronicles, archaeology, numismatics). For academic work, prefer Lapidus, Hodgson, Watt and the Cambridge histories.
- “Six articles of faith” is the common Sunni formulation; Shia theology expresses core beliefs somewhat differently (e.g., Imamate). Use Shia sources for statements about Shia doctrine and practice.
If you tell me which specific statements you need sources for (e.g., origin c. 610 CE; Prophet Muhammad’s life; the six beliefs; Ramadan rules; global population = 1.9 billion), I can give targeted citations (exact book chapters, Qur’an verse lists, hadith references, and page numbers) or produce a formatted bibliography. Would you like that?
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