9781422281109

I SLAM ’ S R OLE IN THE W ORLD

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who submits to the will of Allah. Devout Muslims everywhere submit themselves to Allah daily, both through their faith and by following Islamic law and the commandments in their holy text, the Qur’an, which was revealed by Allah to the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims believe that Allah’s will must be obeyed in every sphere of life, and that they will be eternally rewarded if they follow His commands. This ded- ication to Allah’s will is visible in daily acts—prayer, cleanliness in word and deed, commitment to family. Islam is the youngest of the major world religions, and its origins highlight the meshing of religions and cultures in that part of the world during the seventh century. Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad was sent as a messenger to humanity in order to affirm and develop Allah’s divine message, which had been partially revealed by earlier prophets. Muslims see Muhammad as the last prophet in a line that includes Abraham, a Biblical figure also revered by Jews and Christians, and such other patriarchs and prophets as Noah, Isaac, Ishmael, Moses, and Jesus. Islam, Judaism, and Christianity stand apart from other major religions because of their monotheism, or belief in a single god. As cultural and political tensions between Muslims and non- Muslims continue in the 21st century, the shared origins of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism lend a growing sense of urgency to Westerners’ task of learning more about Islam.

Text-Dependent Questions 1. How many times do Muslims pray each day? 2. What values do Muslims share with Christians and Jews?

Research Project The CIA World Factbook website (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook) has population and religious adherence figures for all nations. Print out a large map of the world, and note the number of Muslims living in each country. What countries have the largest number of Muslims? Why? Do research in your school library or the Internet to support your conclusions.