9781422281154

T RADITION AND D IVERSITY

13

comes to daily activities, Bosnian Muslims have more in common with Bosnian Christians than with Muslims who live in Pakistan. In other cases Islamic practices have been influenced by their set- tings. In Indonesia, for example, aspects of Asian culture have been integrated into Islamic rituals and ceremonies. In some countries, local traditions show the desire of Muslims to set themselves apart from neighboring non-Muslim cultures. One notable example of this practice occurs in India, where Muslims tend to eat specific foods and to avoid using certain col- ors and decorations in their wedding ceremonies in order to dis- tinguish themselves from Hindus. In India, Muslims form only 14 percent of the population, and many feel it is important that their religious practices be unique and separate from those of the major- ity Hindus. The Islamic world today is highly diverse, with Muslims in dif- ferent places claiming different ethnic backgrounds and national identities, occupying a range of socioeconomic statuses, speaking different languages, and holding divergent attitudes toward the modern world. The purpose of this book is to provide demograph- ic information about how the worldwide Muslim population is dis- tributed. In preparation, earlier chapters provide basic information about the religious beliefs of Muslims, a background about the his- tory of Islamic government, and the basis for Islamic law.

Text-Dependent Questions 1. What are three European countries where Muslims may be found in fairly large numbers? 2. In what US states are the largest Muslim populations found?

Research Project Two of the most important religious holidays in Islam are Eid al-Fitr, which occurs at the end of the sacred month of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, the last day of the hajj period. Choose one of these festivals, and do some research to find out more about why that particular festival is important to Muslims and how it is traditionally celebrated. Write a two-page report on the festival.