NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Muslim World

The term Muslim world (or Islamic world) has several meanings. In a cultural sense it refers to the worldwide community of Muslims, adherents of Islam. This community numbers about 1.3-1.4 billion people, about one-fifth of the world. This community is spread across many different nations and ethnic groups connected only by religion. In a historical or geopolitical sense the term usually refers collectively to majority Muslim countries or countries in which Islam dominates politically. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1357x628, 40 KB) Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1357x628, 40 KB) Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... For other uses, see Culture (disambiguation). ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: Ù…Ø³Ù„Ù…, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: Ù…Ø³Ù„Ù…Ø§Ù†, Turkish: MÃ¼slÃ¼man, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Major religious groups as a percentage of the world population in 2005. ... For other uses, see Nation (disambiguation). ... HIStory - Past, Present and Future, Book I is a double-disc album (one half greatest hits, one half studio album) by American musician Michael Jackson released in June of 1995 by the Epic Records division of Sony BMG. The first disc, (HIStory Begins) contains fifteen hit singles from the past... Geopolitics is the study which analyses geography, history and social science with reference to international politics. ... Nations with a Muslim majority appear in green, while nations that are approximately 50% Muslim appear yellow. ...

The worldwide Muslim community is also known collectively as the ummah. Islam emphasizes unity and defense of fellow Muslims, although many divisions of Islam (such as the Sunni-Shia split) exist. In the past both Pan-Islamism and nationalist currents have influenced the status of the Muslim world. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The religion of Islam has many divisions, sects, schools, traditions, and related faiths. ... Sunni Islam and Shia Islam are the two major denominations of Islam. ... Pan-Islam is a religious movement calling for the Muslims of the world to unite. ... EugÃ¨ne Delacroixs Liberty Leading the People, symbolising French nationalism during the July Revolution 1830. ...

History

Muslim history began in Arabia with Muhammads first recitations of the Quran in the 7th century. ...

Islamic Culture

Art and architecture

The term "Islamic art and architecture" denotes the works of art and architecture produced from the 7th century onwards by people (not necessarily Muslim) who lived within the territory that was inhabited by culturally Islamic populations.^[1]^[2]

Aniconism, Iconoclasm, and Arabesques

No Islamic visual images or depictions of God are meant to exist because such artistic depictions may lead to idolatry. Moreover, Muslims believe that God is incorporeal, making any two- or three- dimensional depictions impossible. Instead, Muslims describe God by the names and attributes that he revealed to his creation. All but one sura of the Qur'an begins with the phrase "In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful". Images of Mohammed are likewise prohibited. Such aniconism and iconoclasm^[3] can also be found in Jewish and some Christian theology. This article or section contains too many quotations for an encyclopedic entry. ... Statues in the Cathedral of Saint Martin, Utrecht, attacked in Reformation iconoclasm in the 16th century. ... Arabesque pattern at the Alhambra An element of Islamic art usually found decorating the walls of mosques, the arabesque is an elaborate application of repeating geometric forms that often echo the forms of plants and animals. ... Idolatry is a major sin in the Abrahamic religions regarding image. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... // The 99 Names of God, also known as The 99 attributes of Allah (Arabic: â€Ž translit: ), are the names of God revealed to man in the Quran;[1] even though His names (as adjectives, word constructs, or otherwise) exceed ninety-nine in the Quran. ... Basmala or Bismillah Basmala calligraphy Basmala (Arabic Ø¨Ø³Ù…Ù„Ø©) is an Arabic language noun which is used as the collective name of the whole of the recurring Islamic phrase . This phrase constitutes the first verse of the first sura (or chapter) of the Quran, and is used in a number of... Aniconism is the absence of representations, in a restricted sense that of God and living beings, and more generally of any type of artificial production of substitutes. ... Statues in the Cathedral of Saint Martin, Utrecht, attacked in Reformation iconoclasm in the 16th century. ...

Islamic art frequently adopts the use of geometrical floral or vegetal designs in a repetition known as arabesque. Such designs are highly nonrepresentational, as Islam forbids representational depictions as found in pre-Islamic pagan religions. Despite this, there is a presence of depictional art in some Muslim societies, although this is not widespread. Another reason why Islamic art is usually abstract is to symbolize the transcendence, indivisible and infinite nature of God, an objective achieved by arabesque.^[4] Arabic calligraphy is an omnipresent decoration in Islamic art, and is usually expressed in the form of Qur'anic verses. Two of the main scripts involved are the symbolic kufic and naskh scripts, which can be found adorning the walls and domes of mosques, the sides of minbars, and so on.^[4] Arabesque pattern at the Alhambra An element of Islamic art usually found decorating the walls of mosques, the arabesque is an elaborate application of repeating geometric forms that often echo the forms of plants and animals. ... The stylized signature of Sultan Abdul Hamid I of the Ottoman Empire was written in an expressive calligraphy. ... Surah Al-Baqarah written in Kufic form. ... Naskh - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Minbar in the OrtakÃ¶y mosque in Istanbul. ...

Distinguishing motifs of Islamic architecture have always been ordered repetition, radiating structures, and rhythmic, metric patterns. In this respect, fractal geometry has been a key utility, especially for mosques and palaces. Other significant features employed as motifs include columns, piers and arches, organized and interwoven with alternating sequences of niches and colonnettes.^[5] The role of domes in Islamic architecture has been considerable. Its usage spans centuries, first appearing in 691 with the construction of the Dome of the Rock mosque, and recurring even up until the 17th century with the Taj Mahal. And as late as the 19th century, Islamic domes had been incorporated into Western architecture.^[6]^[7] In art, a motif is a repeated idea, pattern, image, or theme. ... A fractal is a geometric object which can be divided into parts, each of which is similar to the original object. ... The Dome of the Rock in the center of the Temple Mount, or Mount Moriah The Dome of the Rock (Arabic: Ù…Ø³Ø¬Ø¯ Ù‚Ø¨Ø© Ø§Ù„ØµØ®Ø±Ø©, translit. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Taj Mahal Location of the Taj Mahal within India The Taj Mahal (Devanagari: à¤¤à¤¾à¤œ à¤®à¤¹à¤², Nastaliq: ØªØ§Ø¬ Ù…ØÙ„) is a mausoleum located in Agra, India. ...

Ceramics

From between the eighth and eighteenth centuries, the use of glazed ceramics was prevalent in Islamic art, usually assuming the form of elaborate pottery.^[8] Tin-opacified glazing was one of the earliest new technologies developed by the Islamic potters. The first Islamic opaque glazes can be found as blue-painted ware in Basra, dating to around the 8th century. Another significant contribution was the development of stonepaste ceramics, originating from 9th century Iraq.^[9] Other centers for innovative ceramic pottery in the Islamic world included Fustat (from 975 to 1075), Damascus (from 1100 to around 1600) and Tabriz (from 1470 to 1550).^[10] Composite body, painted, and glazed bottle. ... Unfired green ware pottery on a traditional drying rack at Conner Prairie living history museum. ... Tin-glazing is the process of giving ceramic items a tin-based glaze which is white, shiny and opaque. ... This article is about the city of Basra. ... (7th century — 8th century — 9th century — other centuries) Events The Iberian peninsula is taken by Arab and Berber Muslims, thus ending the Visigothic rule, and starting almost 8 centuries of Muslim presence there. ... A Staffordshire stoneware plate from the 1850s with transferred copper print - (From the home of JL Runeberg) Stoneware is a category of clay and a type of ceramic distinguished primarily by its firing and maturation temperature (from about 1200Â°C to 1315 Â°C). ... As a means of recording the passage of time the 9th century was the century that lasted from 801 to 900. ... Fostat (also spelled Fustat; Arabic: ) was the first capital city of Egypt under Arab rule. ... Events Coronation of King Edward the Martyr Births Deaths July 8 Edgar of England Categories: 975 ... Events Revolt of the Earls. ... August 5 - Henry I becomes King of England. ... 1600 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Events May 15 - Charles VIII of Sweden who had served three terms as King of Sweden dies. ... Events February 7 - Julius III becomes Pope. ...

Architecture

Perhaps the most important expression of Islamic art is architecture, particularly that of the mosque.^[11] Through it the effect of varying cultures within Islamic civilization can be illustrated. The North African and Spanish Islamic architecture, for example, has Roman-Byzantine elements, as seen in the Alhambra palace at Granada, or in the Great Mosque of Cordoba. Persian-style mosques are characterized by their tapered brick pillars, large arcades, and arches supported each by several pillars. In South Asia, elements of Hindu architecture were employed, but were later superseded by Persian designs. The most numerous and largest of mosques exist in Turkey, which obtained influence from Byzantine, Persian and Syrian designs, although Turkish architects managed to implement their own style of cupola domes.^[11] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1800x1200, 1412 KB) Selimiye Mosque, Dome File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Islamic architecture Turkey Selimiye Mosque Ottoman architecture Portal:Turkey/Photo archive Metadata This file contains... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1800x1200, 1412 KB) Selimiye Mosque, Dome File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Islamic architecture Turkey Selimiye Mosque Ottoman architecture Portal:Turkey/Photo archive Metadata This file contains... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... â€œAdrianopleâ€ redirects here. ... The Alhambra (Arabic: Ø§Ù„ØÙ…Ø±Ø§Ø¡ = Al-Ä¦amrÄ; literally the red) is a palace and fortress complex of the Moorish monarchs of Granada, in southern Spain (known as Al-Andalus when the fortress was constructed), occupying a hilly terrace on the south-eastern border of the city of Granada. ... Interior of the Mezquita The Mezquita (Spanish for mosque, from the Arabic Ù…Ø³Ø¬Ø¯ Masjid), is a Roman Catholic cathedral in CÃ³rdoba, Spain that was at one time the second largest mosque in the world. ... For other uses, see Arcade. ... Cupola of St Peters Basilica, Rome In architecture, a cupola consists of a dome-shaped ornamental structure located on top of a larger roof or dome, often used as a lookout or to admit light and provide ventilation. ...

Philosophy and literature

One of the common definitions for "Islamic philosophy" is "the style of philosophy produced within the framework of Islamic culture."^[12] Islamic philosophy, in this definition is neither necessarily concerned with religious issues, nor is exclusively produced by Muslims.^[12] The Turkish scholar Ibn Sina (Avicenna) (980-1037) had more than 450 books attributed to him. His writings were concerned with many subjects, most notably philosophy and medicine. His medical textbook was used as the standard text in European universities for centuries. His work on Aristotle was a key step in the transmission of learning from ancient Greeks to the Islamic world and the West. He often corrected the philosopher, encouraging a lively debate in the spirit of ijtihad. His thinking and that of his follower ibn Rushd (Averroes) was incorporated into Christian philosophy during the Middle Ages, notably by Thomas Aquinas. Islamic philosophy (Ø§Ù„ÙÙ„Ø³ÙØ© Ø§Ù„Ø¥Ø³Ù„Ø§Ù…ÙŠØ©) is a branch of Islamic studies, and is a longstanding attempt to create harmony between philosophy (reason) and the religious teachings of Islam (faith). ... This article needs cleanup. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Averroes (1126 - December 10, 1198) was an Andalusi philosopher and physician, a master of philosophy and Islamic law, mathematics and medicine. ... Saint Thomas Aquinas, O.P.(also Thomas of Aquin, or Aquino; c. ...

Science and technology

Muslim scientists made significant advances in mathematics and astronomy. The mathematician Al-Khwarizmi, from whose name the word algorithm derives, contributed significantly to algebra (which is named after his book, kitab al-jabr).^[13] Recent studies show that it is very likely that the Medieval Muslim artists were aware of advanced decagonal quasicrystal geometry (discovered half a millennium later in 1970s and 1980s in West) and used it in intricate decorative tilework in the architecture.^[14] The astrolabe developed by the Greeks was used in the Islamic world and subsequently brought to Europe. In technology, the Muslim world adopted papermaking from China many centuries before it was known in the West. The knowledge of gunpowder was also transmitted from China via Islamic countries. Knowledge of chemical processes (alchemy) and distilling (alcohol) spread to Europe from the Muslim world. Advances were made in irrigation and farming, using technology such as the windmill. Crops such as almonds and citrus fruit were brought to Europe through al-Andalus, and sugar cultivation was gradually adopted by the Europeans. Image File history File links Zahrawi1. ... Image File history File links Zahrawi1. ... Abu al-Qasim (936 - 1013), (Arabic: أبو القاسم) also known as Abul Qasim Khalaf ibn al-Abbas al-Zahrawi known in the West as Abucalsis, is medieval Islams most prominent scholar of medicine. ... In the history of science, Islamic science refers to the science developed under the Islamic civilisation between the 8th and 15th centuries (the Islamic Golden Age). ... Euclid, Greek mathematician, 3rd century BC, as imagined by by Raphael in this detail from The School of Athens. ... For other uses, see Astronomy (disambiguation). ... Soviet postage stamp commemorating the 1200th anniversary of Muhammad al‑Khwarizmi in 1983. ... In mathematics, computing, linguistics, and related disciplines, an algorithm is a finite list of well-defined instructions for accomplishing some task that, given an initial state, will terminate in a defined end-state. ... This article is about the branch of mathematics. ... A page from the book (Arabic for The Compendious Book on Calculation by Completion and Balancing), also known under a shorter name spelled as Hisab al-jabr wâ€™al-muqabala, Kitab al-Jabr wa-l-Muqabala and other transliterations) is a mathematical book written approximately 820 AD by the Persian... A 16th century astrolabe. ... The Diamond Sutra of the Chinese Tang Dynasty, the oldest dated printed book in the world, found at Dunhuang, from 868 AD. Papermaking is the process of making paper, a material which is ubiquitous today for writing and packaging. ... Smokeless powder Gunpowder is a pyrotechnic composition, an explosive mixture that burns rapidly, producing volumes of hot gas which can be used as a propellant in firearms and fireworks. ... For other uses, see Alchemy (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Irrigation is the artificial application of water to the soil usually for assisting in growing crops. ... A Dutch tower windmill, sporting sails, surrounded by tulips A windmill is an engine powered by the wind to produce energy, often contained in a large building as in traditional post mills, smock mills and tower mills. ... Binomial name (Mill. ... Species & major hybrids Species Citrus aurantifolia - Key lime Citrus maxima - Pomelo Citrus medica - Citron Citrus reticulata - Mandarin & Tangerine Major hybrids Citrus Ã—sinensis - Sweet Orange Citrus Ã—aurantium - Bitter Orange Citrus Ã—paradisi - Grapefruit Citrus Ã—limon - Lemon Citrus Ã—limonia - Rangpur lime Citrus Ã—latifolia - Persian lime See also main text for other hybrids Citrus... Al-Andalus is the Arabic name given the Iberian Peninsula by its Muslim conquerors; it refers to both the Caliphate proper and the general period of Muslim rule (711–1492). ... This article is about sugar as food and as an important and widely-traded commodity. ...

Arab merchants dominated trade in the Indian Ocean until the arrival of the Portuguese in the sixteenth century. Hormuz was an important center for this trade. There was also a dense network of trade routes in the Mediterranean, along which Muslim countries traded with each other and with European powers such as Venice, Genoa and Catalonia. The Silk Road crossing Central Asia passed through Muslim states between China and Europe. (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Distorted from Persian Ohrmuzd, Ahura Mazda. ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... For other uses, see Venice (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Genoa (disambiguation). ... Anthem: Capital Barcelona Official language(s) Catalan,Spanish and Aranese. ... The Silk Road Silk Route redirects here. ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ...

Muslim physicians contributed significantly to the field of medicine, including the subjects of anatomy and physiology: such as in the 15th century Persian work by Mansur ibn Muhammad ibn al-Faqih Ilyas entitled Tashrih al-badan ("Anatomy of the body") which contained comprehensive diagrams of the body's structural, nervous and circulatory systems; or in the work of the Egyptian physician Ibn al-Nafis, who proposed the theory of pulmonary circulation. Abu'l Qasim al-Zahrawi (also known as Abulcasis) contributed to the discipline of medical surgery with his Kitab al-Tasrif ("Book of Concessions"), a medical encyclopedia which was later translated to Latin and used in European and Muslim medical schools for centuries. Other medical advancements came in the fields of pharmacology and pharmacy.^[15] The Doctor by Luke Fildes This article is about the term physician, one type of doctor; for other uses of the word doctor see Doctor. ... Medicine is the science and art of maintaining andor restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of patients. ... Human heart and lungs, from an older edition of Grays Anatomy. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The nervous system of an animal coordinates the activity of the muscles, monitors the organs, constructs and also stops input from the senses, and initiates actions. ... For transport in plants, see Vascular tissue. ... Ala-al-din abu Al-Hassan Ali ibn Abi-Hazm al-Qarshi al-Dimashqi (Arabic: Ø¹Ù„Ø§Ø¡ Ø§Ù„Ø¯ÙŠÙ† Ø£Ø¨Ùˆ Ø§Ù„ØØ³Ù† Ø¹Ù„ÙŠÙ‘ Ø¨Ù† Ø£Ø¨ÙŠ ØØ²Ù… Ø§Ù„Ù‚Ø±Ø´ÙŠ Ø§Ù„Ø¯Ù…Ø´Ù‚ÙŠ ) known as ibn Al-Nafis (Arabic: Ø§Ø¨Ù† Ø§Ù„Ù†ÙÙŠØ³ ), was an Arab physician who is mostly famous for being the first to describe the pulmonary circulation of the blood. ... Pulmonary circulation is the portion of the cardiovascular system which carries oxygen-depleted blood away from the heart, to the lungs, and returns oxygenated blood back to the heart. ... Abu al-Qasim (936 - 1013), (Arabic: أبو القاسم) also known as Abul Qasim Khalaf ibn al-Abbas al-Zahrawi known in the West as Abucalsis, is medieval Islams most prominent scholar of medicine. ... â€œSurgeonâ€ redirects here. ... For other uses, see Latin (disambiguation). ... Pharmacology (in Greek: pharmakon (Ï†Î¬ÏÎ¼Î±ÎºÎ¿Î½) meaning drug, and lego (Î»ÎÎ³Ï‰) to tell (about)) is the study of how drugs interact with living organisms to produce a change in function. ... For other uses, see Pharmacy (disambiguation). ...

Modern Muslim world

Geographic spread

Many Muslims not only live in, but also have an official status in the following regions: This article includes a list of 57 Organization of Islamic Conference(OIC) countries sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita, the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year divided by the average population for the... Nations with a Muslim majority appear in green, while nations that are approximately 50% Muslim appear yellow. ...

The countries of Southwest Asia, and many in Northern Africa are considered part of the Middle East. This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Languages Arabic and other minority languages Religions Islam, Christianity, Druzism and Judaism An Arab (Arabic: , arabi) is a member of a complexly defined ethnic group who identifies as such on the basis of one or more of either genealogical, political, or linguistic grounds. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Categories: Africa geography stubs | North Africa ... Sub-Saharan Africa, Africa south of the Sahara Desert, is the term used to describe those countries of Africa that are not part of North Africa. ... Southern Europe is a region of the European continent. ... Pre-1989 division between the West (grey) and Eastern Bloc (orange) superimposed on current national boundaries: Russia (dark orange), other countries of the former USSR (medium orange),members of the Warsaw pact (light orange), and other former Communist regimes not aligned with Moscow (lightest orange). ... North Caucasus in Russia The North Caucasus (sometimes referred to as Ciscaucasia or Ciscaucasus) is the northern part of the Caucasus region between Europe and Asia. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Motto ÐŸÑ€Ð¾Ñ†Ð²ÐµÑ‚Ð°Ð½Ð¸Ðµ Ð² ÐµÐ´Ð¸Ð½ÑÑ‚Ð²Ðµ(Russian) Protsvetanie v edinstve(transliteration) Prosperity in unity Anthem ÐÐ¸Ð²Ñ‹ Ð¸ Ð³Ð¾Ñ€Ñ‹ Ñ‚Ð²Ð¾Ð¸ Ð²Ð¾Ð»ÑˆÐµÐ±Ð½Ñ‹, Ð Ð¾Ð´Ð¸Ð½Ð°(Russian) Nivy i gory tvoi volshebny, Rodina(transliteration) Your fields and mounts are wonderful, Motherland Location of Crimea (red) with respect to Ukraine (light blue). ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... Map of South Asia (see note on Kashmir). ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... A map showing countries commonly considered to be part of the Middle East The Middle East is a region comprising the lands around the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean Sea, a territory that extends from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the Persian Gulf. ...

Also worthy of mention are provinces of Kosovo in the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Kosovo (Albanian: Kosova or KosovÃ«, Serbian: , transliterated ; also , transliterated ) is a region in southern Serbia which has been under United Nations administration since 1999. ... Capital Belgrade Language(s) Serbian Government Republic President - 1992 - 1993 Dobrica Ä†osiÄ‡ - 1993 - 1997 Zoran LiliÄ‡ - 1997 â€“ 2000 Slobodan MiloÅ¡eviÄ‡ - 2000 - 2003 Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica Prime Minister - 1992 - 1993 Milan PaniÄ‡ - 1993 - 1998 Radoje KontiÄ‡ - 1998 - 2000 Momir BulatoviÄ‡ - 2000 - 2001 Zoran Å½iÅ¾iÄ‡ - 2001 - 2003 DragiÅ¡a Pe...

In Chechnya, Dagestan, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Ingushetia, Tatarstan, Bashkiria in Russia, Muslims are in the majority. The Chechen Republic (IPA: ; Russian: , Chechenskaya Respublika; Chechen: , NoxÃ§iyn Respublika), or, informally, Chechnya (; Russian: ; Chechen: , NoxÃ§iyÃ§Ã¶), sometimes referred to as Ichkeria, Chechnia, Chechenia or NoxÃ§iyn, is a federal subject of Russia. ... The Republic of Dagestan IPA: (Russian: ; Avar: , ), older spelling Daghestan, is a federal subject of the Russian Federation (a republic). ... Capital Nalchik Area - total - % water Ranked 83rd - 12,500 kmÂ² - negligible Population - Total - Density Ranked 60th - est. ... Karachay-Cherkess Republic (Russian: , or, less formal, Karachay-Cherkessia ) is a federal subject of Russia (a republic). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Republic of Tatarstan (Russian: ; Tatar: ) is a federal subject of Russia (a republic). ... The Republic of Bashkortostan or Bashkiria (Russian: Респу́блика Башкортоста́н or Башки́рия; Bashkir:) is a federal subject of the Russian Federation...

Muslims are majority in Xinjiang, Ningxia and Qinghai provinces of People's Republic of China. For the county in Shanxi province, see Xinjiang County. ... Ningxia (Simplified Chinese: å®å¤; Traditional Chinese: å¯§å¤; Pinyin: NÃngxiÃ ; Wade-Giles: Ning-hsia; Postal Pinyin: Ningsia), full name Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (Simplified Chinese: å®å¤å›žæ—è‡ªæ²»åŒº; Traditional Chinese: å¯§å¤å›žæ—è‡ªæ²»å€; Pinyin: NÃngxiÃ HuÃzÃº ZÃ¬zhÃ¬qÅ«), is a Hui autonomous region of the Peoples Republic of China, located on the northwest Loess... Qinghai (Chinese: é’æµ·; Hanyu Pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ching-hai; Postal System Pinyin: Tsinghai; Tibetan: à½˜à½šà½¼à¼‹à½¦à¾”à½¼à½“à¼‹ mtsho-sngon; Mongolian: KÃ¶ke NaÎ³ur; Manchu: Huhu Noor) is a province of the Peoples Republic of China, named after the enormous Qinghai Lake. ...

For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Motto: Je Maintiendrai (Dutch: Ik zal handhaven, English: I Shall Uphold) Anthem: Wilhelmus van Nassouwe Capital Amsterdam1 Largest city Amsterdam Official language(s) Dutch2 Government Parliamentary democracy Constitutional monarchy - Queen Beatrix - Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende Independence Eighty Years War - Declared July 26, 1581 - Recognised January 30, 1648 (by Spain... Minimum estimates of Muslim populations in Western Europe (EU15 plus Norway and Switzerland) as a percentage of total country population: (Source: The Economist, April 3, 2003) (Second Source: BBC ) The figures are minimum estimates, and not necessarily exactly comparable, due to differences in method of data collection and data presentation... The Republic of Adygea (Russian: ; ) is a federal subject of Russia (a republic) enclaved within Krasnodar Krai. ... The Republic of North Ossetia-Alania (Russian: Респу́блика Се́верная Осе́тия-Ала́ния; Ossetic: Цæгат Иры&#1089... Motto ÐŸÑ€Ð¾Ñ†Ð²ÐµÑ‚Ð°Ð½Ð¸Ðµ Ð² ÐµÐ´Ð¸Ð½ÑÑ‚Ð²Ðµ(Russian) Protsvetanie v edinstve(transliteration) Prosperity in unity Anthem ÐÐ¸Ð²Ñ‹ Ð¸ Ð³Ð¾Ñ€Ñ‹ Ñ‚Ð²Ð¾Ð¸ Ð²Ð¾Ð»ÑˆÐµÐ±Ð½Ñ‹, Ð Ð¾Ð´Ð¸Ð½Ð°(Russian) Nivy i gory tvoi volshebny, Rodina(transliteration) Your fields and mounts are wonderful, Motherland Location of Crimea (red) with respect to Ukraine (light blue). ...

Demographics

One fifth of the world population share Islam as an ethical tradition. Muslims are the majority in 51 nations. They speak about 60 languages and come from diverse ethnic backgrounds. There are over 1.3 billion Muslims in total. See Islam by country and Demographics of Islam for more information. Muslim percentage of population by country Distribution of Islam per country. ... The following table analyzes the Demographics of Islam as of mid-year 2005. ... For other uses, see World (disambiguation). ... Ethics is a branch of philosophy dealing with right and wrong in human behaviour. ... The term state may refer to: a sovereign political entity, see state unitary state nation state a non-sovereign political entity, see state (non-sovereign). ... An ethnic group is a group of people who identify with one another, or are so identified by others, on the basis of a boundary that distinguishes them from other groups. ... Muslim percentage of population by country Distribution of Islam per country. ... The following table analyzes the Demographics of Islam as of mid-year 2005. ...

Important organizations

The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is an inter-governmental organization grouping fifty-seven States. These States decided to pool their resources together, combine their efforts and speak with one voice to safeguard the interest and ensure the progress and well-being of their peoples and those of other Muslims in the world over. The flag of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) OIC redirects here. ...

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries includes many nations that are also in the Arab League. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is made up of Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela; since 1965, its international headquarters have been in Vienna, Austria. ... Headquarters Cairo, Egypt1 Official languages Arabic Membership 22 Arab states 2 observer states Leaders - Secretary General Amr Moussa (since 2001) - Council of the Arab League Sudan - Speaker of the Arab Parliament Nabih Berri Establishment - Alexandria Protocol March 22, 1945 Area - Total 13,953,041 (Western Sahara Included) = 13,687,041...

A politically motivated oil embargo in 1974 (to support Egypt and Syria in the 1973 Yom Kippur War against Israel after the US re-equipped Israel with armaments) had drastic economic and political consequences in the United States and Europe. Recently Danish products faced a boycott by Muslim world after the 2005 Prophet Muhammad cartoons controversy, although that move was not supported by the Muslim governments, it demonstrates the power of the Muslim World acting in concert, and the key role of religion and ethnicity in the politics of oil regions, with which the Muslim world intersects. The 1973 Oil Crisis began in earnest on October 17, 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC, consisting of the Arab members of OPEC plus Egypt and Syria) announced, as a result of the ongoing Yom Kippur War, that they would no longer ship petroleum... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Israel Egypt, Syria, br/> Iraq Commanders Moshe Dayan, David Elazar, Ariel Sharon, Shmuel Gonen, Benjamin Peled, Israel Tal, Rehavam Zeevi, Aharon Yariv, Yitzhak Hofi, Rafael Eitan, Abraham Adan, Yanush Ben Gal Saad El Shazly, Ahmad Ismail Ali, Hosni Mubarak, Mohammed Aly Fahmy, Anwar Sadat, Abdel Ghani el-Gammasy, Abdul... A C-5 Galaxy unloads an M-60 Patton Tank at Ben Gurion International Airport. ... The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after twelve editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 2005-09-30. ...

Main denominations of Islam

The two main denominations of Islam are the Sunni and Shia sects. The difference between them is primarily in terms of how the life of the ummah ("faithful") should be governed, and the role of the imam. These two main differences stem from the understanding of which hadith are to interpret the Quran. The Shia minority believes that the Family of the Prophet's traditions are exclusively to be followed, whereas the Sunni majority believes in traditions from the Companions of the Prophet and other common people to be followed. The religion of Islam has many divisions, sects, schools, traditions, and related faiths. ... Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ... Shiʻa Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite) makes up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%–35% of all Muslim. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Quran (Arabic al-qurʾān أَلْقُرآن; also transliterated as Quran, Koran, and less commonly Alcoran) is the holy book of Islam. ... This is an Arabic phrase literally translated as People of the House, or family. ... In Islam, the SÌ£ahÌ£Äbah (Arabic: â€Ž companions) were the companions of Muhammad. ...

The overwhelming majority of Muslims in the world, approximately 85%, are Sunni. Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ...

Shias make up the rest, about 15% of overall Muslim population. Among the countries with Shi'a majority of Muslim population are Iran (90%), Iraq (66%), Azerbaijan (80%), Bahrain (70%), and Lebanon (35%). Shia Islam ( Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite or Shiite) is the second largest Islamic denomination; some 20-25% of all Muslims are said to follow a Shia tradition. ...

The Kharijite Muslims, who are less known, have their own stronghold in the country of Oman holding about 75% of the population. The rest of the population being 10% Sunni and the rest Shi'a. Al-IbÄá¸iyyah (Arabic Ø§Ù„Ø§Ø¨Ø§Ø¶ÙŠØ©) is a form of Islam distinct from the Shiite and Sunni denominations. ... Sunni Islam (Arabic سنّة) is the largest denomination of Islam. ... Shia Islam ( Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite or Shiite) is the second largest Islamic denomination; some 20-25% of all Muslims are said to follow a Shia tradition. ...

Islam in law and ethics

In some places, Muslims implement a form of Islamic law, called shariah in Arabic. The Islamic law exists in many variations, but the main forms are the five (four Sunni and one Shia) schools of jurisprudence (fiqh): Sharia (Arabic: transliteration: ) is the dynamic body of Islamic religious law. ... Sharia (Arabic شريعة also Sharia, Shariah or Syariah) is traditional Islamic law. ... Madhhab(مذهب) (Madhahib, pl) is an Islamic term that refers to a school of thought or religious jurisprudence (fiqh) within Sunni Islam. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

All five are centuries old and many Muslim feel a new fiqh must be created for modern society. Islam has a method for doing this, al-urf and ijtihad are the words to describe this method, but they have not been used in a long time by Sunni Muslims, and few people are trusted enough to use them to make new laws. The Shi'i Jaferi school of fiqh never ended the tradition of ijtihad. The Hanafi (Arabic ØÙ†ÙÙŠ) school is the oldest of the four schools of thought (Madhhabs) or jurisprudence (Fiqh) within Sunni Islam. ... Western Africa (UN subregion) Maghreb[1] West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. ... This page deals with Islamic thought. ... Northern Africa (UN subregion) geographic, including above North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Africa. ... Western Africa (UN subregion) Maghreb[1] West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. ... The Å ÄfiË¤Ä« madhab (Arabic: Ø´Ø§ÙØ¹ÙŠ) is one of the four schools of fiqh, or religious law, within Sunni Islam. ... Eastern Africa (UN subregion) East African Community Central African Federation (defunct) geographic, including above East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easternmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. ... Hanbali (Arabic: ØÙ†Ø¨Ù„Ù‰ ) is one of the four schools (Madhhabs) of Fiqh or religious law within Sunni Islam. ... The Arabian Peninsula The Arabian Peninsula is a mainly desert peninsula in Southwest Asia at the junction of Africa and Asia and an important part of the greater Middle East. ... Twelvers or the Ithna Asharia are members of the group of Shias who believe in twelve Imams. ... Shiʻa Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite) makes up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%–35% of all Muslim. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Society (disambiguation). ... In Islamic law (Sharia Arabic: شريعة), al-urf العرف is the custom of a given society, leading to change in the Egypt, marriage the Urfi way means to get married without offical papers issued by the state (Zawag Urfi:زو&#1575... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Muslim women often dress extremely modestly, mostly by choice. Thus, in some countries an interpretation of the Islamic law requires women to cover either just legs, shoulders and head or the whole body apart from the face. In strictest forms, the face as well must be covered leaving just a mesh to see through. These rules for dressing are one of the things the cause tension between the Western World and the Muslim, concerning particularly Muslim living in western countries, since many in the Western World consider these restrictions both sexist and oppressive. Most Muslims oppose this charge, and instead declare that the media-fuelled world of the West is itself sexist and oppressive in that women are forced to reveal irrational amounts of flesh to be considered attractive. This article or section seems to contain too many quotations for an encyclopedia entry. ... The term Western world, the West or the Occident (Latin occidens -sunset, -west, as distinct from the Orient) [1] can have multiple meanings dependent on its context (e. ...

Islamic economics bans interest or Riba (Usury) but in most Muslim countries Western banking is allowed. Islamic economics is economics in accordance with Islamic law. ... It has been suggested that Interest expense be merged into this article or section. ... Look up usury in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Bank (disambiguation). ...

Islam in modern politics

Many people in Islamic countries also see Islam manifested politically as Islamism. Political Islam is powerful in all Muslim-majority countries. Islamic parties in Turkey, Pakistan and Algeria have taken power at the provinvial level. Many in these movements call themselves Islamists, which also sometimes describes more militant Islamic groups. The relationships between these groups and theirIn democratic countries there is usually at least one Islamic party views of democracy are complex. For the religion of Islam, see Islam. ... An Islamic party are those political parties that promote Islam as a political movement by running for elections in a democracy - of which there are several in the Islamic world. ... Islamism is a political ideology derived from the conservative religious views of Muslim fundamentalism. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... An Islamic party is a party that works for promoting Islam while an Islamic political party is a political party that promotes Islam as a political movement by offering nominees for election in a democracy - of which there are several in the Islamic world. ...

Conflicts with Israel

Israel is subject to varying levels of hostility in the Muslim world due to the prolonged Arab-Israeli conflict and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This page discusses the many projects that work to create a peaceful and productive co-existence between Israelis and Arabs including the Palestinians. ... The UN Partition Plan Map of the State of Israel today The Peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has taken shape over the years, despite the ongoing violence in the Middle East. ... The State of Israel joined the United Nations on May 11, 1949. ... Combatants Arab nations Israel Arab-Israeli conflict series History of the Arab-Israeli conflict Views of the Arab-Israeli conflict International law and the Arab-Israeli conflict Arab-Israeli conflict facts, figures, and statistics Participants Israeli-Palestinian conflict Â· Israel-Lebanon conflict Â· Arab League Â· Soviet Union / Russia Â· Israel and the United... Israel, with the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights The Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is often claimed to be at the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict, is an ongoing dispute between two peoples, Jewish Israelis and Arab Palestinians, who both claim the right to sovereignty over the Land...

Turkey was the first Muslim-majority state to recognise Israel, just one year after its founding, and they have the long shared close military and economic ties. Prior to the Iranian Revolution, Iran and Israel maintained a strong political friendship, however the current Iranian government is strongly anti-Israeli and has repeatedly called for Israel's destruction. Once at war, both Egypt and Jordan have established diplomatic relations and signed peace treaties with Israel, and attempts to resolve the conflict with Palestinians have produced a number of interim agreements. Nine non-Arab Muslim states maintain diplomatic ties with Israel, and since 1994, the Gulf states have lessened their enforcement of the Arab boycott, with Saudi Arabia even declaring its end in 2005, though it has yet to cancel its sanctions. States like Morocco that have large Jewish populations have generally been less hostile relations with Israel. // Turkey was the first Muslim-majority nation to formally recognize the State of Israel [1].Israel has been a major supplier of arms to Turkey. ... After Islamic Conquest Modern SSR = Soviet Socialist Republic Afghanistan Azerbaijan Bahrain Iran Iraq Tajikistan Uzbekistan This box: The Iranian Revolution (also known as the Islamic Revolution,[1][2][3][4][5][6] Persian: Ø§Ù†Ù‚Ù„Ø§Ø¨ Ø§Ø³Ù„Ø§Ù…ÛŒ, EnghelÄbe EslÄmi) was the revolution that transformed Iran from a monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza... Relations between Iran and Israel have alternated from close political alliances between the two states during the era of the Pahlavi dynasty to hostility following the rise to power of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. ... During his presidency, Mahmoud Ahmadinejads speeches and statements have contributed to increased tensions between Iran and Israel, and between Iran and a few Western nations. ... The UN Partition Plan Map of the State of Israel today The Peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has taken shape over the years, despite the ongoing violence in the Middle East. ... Yitzhak Rabin, Bill Clinton, and Yasser Arafat during the Oslo Accords on September 13, 1993. ... Boycotts of Israel are a series of economic and political campaigns against the State of Israel in the course of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. ... Moroccan Jews constitute an ancient community. ...

Nuclear capabilities

The United States government responded to Pakistan's testing of nuclear weapons in 1998 with sanctions. Following the Gulf War, the United Nations put in place decade-long sanctions against the Government of Iraq with the stated purpose of preventing the government from developing weapons of mass destruction. The 2003 Invasion of Iraq was partly based on the idea that Iraq had developed, or was in the process of developing, weapons of mass destruction. See also: Nuclear program of Iran Pakistan started focusing on nuclear development in January 1972 under the leadership of Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... For the Xzibit album, see Weapons of Mass Destruction (album). ... The subject of this article is the 2003 invasion of Iraq. ... For the Xzibit album, see Weapons of Mass Destruction (album). ... This article is about Irans nuclear power program. ...

Recent history

1979 was a critical year in the Muslim world's relationship with the rest of the world. In that year, Egypt made peace with Israel, the government of Iran was overthrown in the Iranian Revolution, and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan began. Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... After Islamic Conquest Modern SSR = Soviet Socialist Republic Afghanistan Azerbaijan Bahrain Iran Iraq Tajikistan Uzbekistan This box: The Iranian Revolution (also known as the Islamic Revolution,[1][2][3][4][5][6] Persian: Ø§Ù†Ù‚Ù„Ø§Ø¨ Ø§Ø³Ù„Ø§Ù…ÛŒ, EnghelÄbe EslÄmi) was the revolution that transformed Iran from a monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza... A Soviet soldier on guard in Afghanistan in 1988. ...

Some of the events pivotal in the Muslim world's relationship with the outside world in the post-Soviet era were: â€œCCCPâ€ redirects here. ...

The U.S.-led War on Terrorism has been criticized as a War on Islam by Hizb ut-Tahrir and other Islamist organizations. Combatants Iran Iraq Commanders Ruhollah Khomeini Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Ali Shamkhani Mostafa Chamran â€ Saddam Hussein Ali Hassan al-Majid Strength 305,000 soldiers 500,000 Pasdaran and Basij militia 900 tanks 1,000 armored vehicles 3,000 artillery pieces 470 aircraft 750 helicopters[1] 190,000 soldiers 5,000 tanks... See also: 2003 invasion of Iraq and Gulf War (disambiguation) C Company, 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment, 1st UK Armoured Division The Persian Gulf War was a conflict between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations led by the United States. ... The date that commonly refers to the attacks on United States citizens on September 11, 2001 (see the September 11, 2001 Attacks). ... Combatants Taliban al-Qaeda IMU Hezbi Islami Afghanistan Northern Alliance ISAF Commanders Mohammed Omar Obaidullah Akhund # Mullah Dadullah Jalaluddin Haqqani Osama bin Laden Ayman al-Zawahiri Mohammad Atef Juma Namangani Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Bismillah Khan Mohammed Fahim Abdul Rashid Dostum William J. Fallon Bantz J. Craddock Egon Ramms Dan McNeill Guy... The subject of this article is the 2003 invasion of Iraq. ... The humanitarian response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was prompted by one of the worst natural disasters of modern times. ... The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after twelve editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 2005-09-30. ... Pope Benedict XVI, January 2006 The Pope Benedict XVI Islam controversy arose from a lecture delivered on 12 September 2006 by Pope Benedict XVI at the University of Regensburg in Germany. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Combatants factions of the SLA Justice & Equality Movement Janjaweed Sudan Minnawi-faction of the SLA Commanders SLA: SalaBob and Sulaiman Gamos JEM: Ibrahim Khalil Janjaweed: ? Sudan: Omar al-Bashir SLA: Minni Minnawi Casualties 300,000 civilians killed (est. ... This article is about Irans nuclear power program. ... Kashmir : Shown in green is the Kashmiri region under Pakistani control. ... Combatants Russian Federation Pro-Russian Chechens Republic of Ichkeria Caucasian insurgents and foreign fighters Commanders Vladimir Putin Akhmad Kadyrovâ€ Ramzan Kadyrov Aslan Maskhadovâ€ Abdul Halim Sadulayevâ€ Doku Umarov Shamil Basayevâ€ Strength At least 93,000 in Chechnya in 1999. ... | combatant1=Participants in operations United States United Kingdom Israel Canada Australia Poland Iraq Afghanistan India Pakistan Philippines Somalia Ethiopia Lebanon Fatah Algeria et al. ... War on Islam is a critical term used by some Muslims and westerners to describe some military actions by Western powers (and nations like Russia and Pakistan) as being allegedly against Muslims, prior to and after 9/11. ... Hizb ut-Tahrir (Arabic: ØØ²Ø¨ Ø§Ù„ØªØØ±ÙŠØ±; English: Party of Liberation) is an international, Sunni, pan-Islamist vanguard[2] political party whose goal is to unite all Muslim countries in a unitary Islamic state or caliphate, ruled by Islamic law and headed by an elected head of state (caliph). ... Islamism is a political ideology derived from the conservative religious views of Muslim fundamentalism. ...

Political currents

In Pakistan, a prominent U.S. ally, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal - an Islamic political party - won local elections in two out of four of the country's provinces and became in mid-2003 the third largest party in the national parliament, their strongest showing up to that point. They had support from urban areas for the first time. See also: Politics of Pakistan This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In recent history, the Pakistani political processes have taken place in the framework of a federal republic, where the system of government has at times been parliamentary, presidential, or semi-presidential. ...

In Kuwait elections in July 2003 returned Islamic traditionalists and supporters of the royal family, while liberals suffered a severe defeat. See also: Elections in Kuwait Elections in Kuwait are held for both the National Assembly (Majlis al-Umma) and for the Municipality. ...

In Indonesia, the growth of various groups allied to those considered responsible for the Bali Bombing most of which have previously been invisible, has been marked.^{[citation needed]} National flags at Kuta explosion site (October 17, 2002) The 2002 Bali Bombing occurred on October 12, 2002 in the town of Kuta on the Indonesian island of Bali, killing 202 people and injuring a further 209. ...

In Iran in 1979, a popular revolution saw the exile of the Shah and the rule going to Ayatollah Khomeini, a cleric from the Shia school of thought. The country has what it claims is a theocratic democracy, and has kept the "revolution" as part of the state's survival and growth. Shah or Shahzad is a Persian term for a monarch (ruler) that has been adopted in many other languages. ... Ayatollah Khomeini founded the first modern Islamic republic Ayatollah Seyyed Ruhollah Khomeini (آیت‌الله روح‌الله خمینی in Persian) (May 17, 1900 – June 3, 1989) was an Iranian Shia cleric and the political... Shiʻa Islam (Arabic شيعى follower; English has traditionally used Shiite) makes up the second largest sect of believers in Islam, constituting about 30%–35% of all Muslim. ...

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