Islam

{{bronze}}[[File:Istanbul, Hagia Sophia, Allah.jpg|thumb|right|165px|The name of [[Allah]] in the {{wpl|Hagia Sophia||,}} [[Turkey]].]]
{{cquote|Islam is often seen as a monolith, when it is as diverse as any other tradition, with followers running the gamut from modernizers to traditionalists. Some commentators talk as if the world of Islam was more or less identical with the Arab world — whereas in fact a majority of Muslims are not native Arabic speakers... Stereotypes also depict Muslims as opposed to the West, despite a history not only of conflict but also of commerce and cooperation, and of influencing and enriching each other's art and science. European civilization would not have advanced to the extent it did had Christian scholars not benefited from the learning and literature of Islam in the [[Middle Ages]], and later.|||Kofi Annan, seventh Secretary General of the [[United Nations]], 2004.<ref>[https://www.un.org/press/en/2004/sgsm9637.doc.htm Secretary-general, Addressing Headquarters Seminar On Confronting Islamophobia, Stresses Importance Of Leadership, Two-way Integration, Dialogue]. United Nations.</ref>}}

{{cquote|If the people of this religion are asked about the proof for the soundness of their religion, [[Fundamentalism|they flare up, get angry and spill the blood of whoever confronts them with this question]]. They forbid [[rational]] speculation, and strive to kill their adversaries. This is why truth became thoroughly silenced and concealed.|||Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi.<ref>Butterworth, Charles E., Ph.D. The Political Aspects of Islamic Philosophy: Essays in Honour of Muhsin S. Mahdi. Cambridge, MA: Distributed for the Centre for Middle Eastern Studies of Harvard U by Harvard UP, 1992. Print. ISBN 9780932885074</ref>}}
{{Islam}}

'''Islam''' (Arabic: ''إِسْلَامُ'')‎, is chronologically the third major [[monotheism|monotheistic]] [[Abrahamic religion|Abrahamic]] [[religion]]. It is the second-largest religion in the world after [[Christianity]], with an estimated number of 1.8 billion followers (known as '''Muslims''') worldwide.<ref>[http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/08/09/muslims-and-islam-key-findings-in-the-u-s-and-around-the-world/ Muslims and Islam: Key findings in the U.S. and around the world], Pew, 2017</ref> Islam was founded by [[Muhammad]] (Arabic: ''مُحَمَّد'') (c. 570 CE - c. 632 CE), whom his followers regard as the last divine [[prophet]] and who relayed the text of the [[Qur'an]], which believers in Islam see as the authentic and final revelation of [[God]] (Arabic: [[Allah]], الله); Muhammad later became a powerful military leader whose followers spread Islam across the [[Middle East]],<ref>{{wpa|Muhammad}}</ref> northern Africa, the Iberian peninsula, and central and southern Asia.

There is no central religious authority in Islam; the two most widespread sects are [[Shi'a]] and [[Sunni]], but many other forms are practiced worldwide. Most Muslims follow 5 basic tenets, known as the Five Pillars of Islam (Proclamation of Faith, Prayers, Fasting, Pilgrimage, and Alms). They also obey particular dietary rules, known as [[halal]], and other restrictions on behavior, including a set of rules for women and restrictions on depicting God, [[Mohammed]], and often living creatures. More controversially, many Muslims feel duty-bound to spread their religion: a prominent concept is [[Jihad]], a pious struggle which can take many forms, ranging from intellectual, social, and economic efforts to holy [[war]].<ref>{{wpa|Jihad}}</ref>

In Arabic, "Islam" means "submission" (root word ''aslama'' — "submits"<ref>[http://corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp?chapter=2&verse=111 Sūrat l-Baqarah (Surah 2), verse 111], ''Quranic Arabic Corpus''</ref>; compare also the common root word for ''as-salamu alaykum'', Arabic greeting meaning "peace be upon you"). Some argue [[Etymological fallacy|that if the root word is the same, then the meaning is also the same]], and claim that since ''salam'' means peace, [[Religion of Peace|''Islam'' means "peace through submission"]] (to [[God]], specifically), as it descends etymologically from the root word ''aslama'', meaning "submission"; therefore, a Muslim is "one who has submitted to (or made peace with) God".{{cn}} However, the root word being the same does not necessarily mean that the meaning is the same, hence "Islam" most plausibly means ''just'' "submission" [to God].<ref>The Oxford English Dictionary gives: "[...] literally 'submission or resignation (to the will of God)', noun of action < ''aslama'' to submit oneself to the will of God, to surrender, ultimately < ''salima'' to be or become safe, secure, or free. The underlying Arabic verb is also the ultimate source of salaam n. and Muslim n."</ref>{{better source}}

Historically, English-speakers long referred to Islam  as '''Mohammadanism''' or '''Mahometanism'''; [[politically correct]] circles now consider this an insult since it implies worship of Mohammed, as Christians worship Christ. Islamic belief goes the other way, denying the divinity of Christ, though Muslims do revere him as a prophet.

'''Mussulman''' and '''Moslem''' are also old words for a Muslim; again, these are no longer used in English, but equivalent terms remain in common use in other European languages (such as Portuguese, Russian, and French) and in Asian languages (such as Urdu, Hindi, and Persian). Islam's pejorative term for non-Muslims is "Kaffirs", which means [[Psychological projection|"Deniers of truth"]].

Islam is particularly controversial in the West, [[Islamophobia|hated by a section of the Western population]], because of [[9/11]] and because of the rise of [[Islamism]], the idea that Islam should be a political system with control over most elements of society, and the use of Islamic [[terrorism]] to establish a wholly Islamic society (often conflated by anti-Muslims with [[Sharia]] law, which is a more general term for any Islamic jurisprudence). Whether or not to classify violent holy warriors like [[Osama bin Laden]] (1957–2011) as [[No True Scotsman|"true Muslims"]] remains a matter for debate among Muslim scholars. This is a common problem with many religions that preach peace and harmony, yet frequently have violent histories and [[theology]].

==Tenets==
[[File:Eid prayers at the Badshahi Mosque.JPG|thumb|right|350px|Eid prayers at Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, [[Pakistan]].]]
{{cquote|[R]ighteous is he who believes in God, and the Last Day, and the angels, and the Scripture, and the prophets. Who gives money, though dear, to near relatives, and orphans, and the needy, and the homeless, and the beggars, and for the freeing of slaves; those who perform the prayers, and pay the obligatory charity, and fulfill their promise when they promise, and patiently persevere in the face of persecution, hardship, and in the time of conflict.|||{{Quran|2|177}}.}}
===God===
Muslims believe in [[Monotheism|one god]], whom they call [[Allah]]. Islam's god is (generally) the same deity as the one in [[Judaism]] and [[Christianity]]; Allah is merely the Arabic word for 'God'. We say "generally" because an issue arises in the fact that Christians believe in the [[Trinity]], and Muslims emphatically do not because it clashes with their concept of absolute monotheism.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2015/12/20/460480698/do-christians-and-muslims-worship-the-same-god Do Christians And Muslims Worship The Same God?] ''NPR.''</ref> 

The nature of Allah/God is the defining doctrine of Islam. Called the ''tawḥīd'' or "tawhid" (Arabic: توحيد‎), the doctrine declares that God is the single, whole, and unique creator and sustainer of the universe.<ref>[http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e2356 Tawhid]. ''Oxford Islamic Studies.''</ref> It comes from sura 112 of the Quran, stating "He is God—One and Indivisible; God—the Sustainer ˹needed by all˺. He has never had offspring, nor was He born. And there is none comparable to Him."<ref>{{wpa|Al-Ikhlas|}}</ref> 

Muslims typically view Allah as an absolute power, to the point where they attribute all good and bad things in the universe to Him and focus on their sincere acceptance of this absolute control.<ref>[https://academyofislam.com/reflection-no-412-on-q-1049-allah-controls-all-things/ Reflection No. 154 on Q 10:49 – Allah controls all things]. ''Academy for Learning Islam.''</ref> Since nothing can happen without Allah's say-so, Muslims often say ''in sha' allah'' (God willing) when making plans, speculations, or predictions.<ref name-"inshaall">[https://theconversation.com/who-is-allah-understanding-god-in-islam-39558 Who is Allah? Understanding God in Islam]. ''The Conversation.''</ref> 

Allah's absolute supremacy is also constantly affirmed by another common Muslim saying, the Takbir, "''Allahu akbar''" (Arabic: ٱللَّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ).<ref>{{wpa|Takbir|}}</ref> The takbir is a reminder that Allah is greater than all things, and it's said during prayers, festivals, and in certain social situations of either distress or joy.

===Iman (belief in the six articles of faith)===
[[File:Mohammed receiving revelation from the angel Gabriel.jpg|thumb|right|275px|Ilkhanate [[Iran]]ian depiction of Muhammad's first revelation from the angel Jibril.]]
Along with the tawhid, Islamic theology generally centers around six articles of faith, one's belief in which is called iman (إِيمَان). According to the Quran, iman must be combined with righteous deeds in order for one to enter Paradise.<ref>{{wpa|Iman (Islam)|}}</ref> The six articles are:

*Acceptance of the tawhid, or the oneness and supremacy of God.
*Belief in [[angels]] (Arabic: ملاًئِكة ''malā'ikah'', "messengers"). Angels are a central part of the Islamic religion, with the Archangel Gabriel, or Jibril, being the one who gave Muhammad the first revelation.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Jibril Jibril]. ''Britannica.''</ref> According to Islam, there are millions of angels which God uses as intermediaries when interacting with humans, since God is apparently too good for that kind of busywork.<ref name="sixart">[https://www.ben.edu/student-life/faith-communities/islamic-faith/articles-of-faith.cfm The Articles of Faith (Iman)]. ''Benedictine College.''</ref> They are explicitly ''not'' God's helpers, since God doesn't need no damn helpers.
*Belief in the Revelations. Muslims believe that their special book, the Quran, was revealed verbatim to Muhammad by God's angels. They also notably accept earlier revelations as well, such as the [[Torah]] revealed to [[Moses]], the Psalms revealed to King David, and the [[Gospel]] revealed to [[Jesus]].<ref name="sixart"/> Muslims believe that their book, however, is the most up-to-date.
*Belief in God's prophets. According to Islam, God has sent a great number of prophets to aid humanity when they went astray. Prophets named in the Quran include some names that might be familiar to Christians, including [[Abraham]] (''ʾIbrāhīm''), Moses (''Mūsā''), [[Book of Job|Job]] (''ʾAyyūb''), and Jesus (''Īsā'').<ref name="sixart"/> ([[Wikipedia]] has a full list if you're interested for some reason<ref>{{wpa|Prophets and messengers in Islam|}}</ref>). Yes, contrary to what some dumbass Christian fundamentalists might think, you actually can't be a Muslim without following Jesus. Muslims, though, believe Jesus was just a very special prophet and ''not'' the Son of God, and Muslims believe that Jesus was taken into Paradise directly by God rather than being crucified.<ref name="sixart"/><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2009/dec/23/religion-islam Jesus in Islam]. ''The Guardian.''</ref> The most important prophet in Islam, though, is Muhammad, who Muslims believe presented the most recent and most important revelations. 
*Belief in [[Judgement Day]], which Muslims call ''Yawm al-Qiyāmah'', or the "Day of Resurrections." On Resurrection Day, Muslims believe that God will raise every human being from the dead in a very literal sense and then give all of us our final judgements on whether we go to Heaven or Hell for eternity.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zvm96v4/revision/5 Muslim teaching about resurrection, judgement and life after death]. ''BBC News.''</ref> 
*Belief in [[predestination]]. Since God is omniscient, Muslims take a similar view to [[Calvinists]] in believing that God already knows who will go to heaven or hell and indeed knows everything that will happen period.<ref>Cohen-Mor, Dalya (2001). ''A Matter of Fate: The Concept of Fate in the Arab World as Reflected in Modern Arabic Literature.'' Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-513398-1. p. 4</ref> This somehow also doesn't interfere with free will.

===The Five Pillars===
The concept of "Five Pillars" in Islam does not occur in Qur'an, but only in hadith.<ref>[http://sunnah.com/nawawi40/3 Book 40, Hadith 3], ''Sunnah''</ref>

Islam ({{IdEst}}, the Qur'an, plus Hadiths) has five core pillars, which are considered to be vitally important parts of Islam. ''All'' Muslims are expected to follow them, and both Sunnis and Shias agree on the essential details of carrying out the five pillars.<ref>[http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e1859 Pillars of Islam]. ''Oxford Islamic Studies.''</ref> 

====Shahada (Profession of Faith)====
[[File:Sahadah-Topkapi-Palace.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The shahada inscribed at Istanbul's Topkapı Palace.]]
The ''Shahada'' (Arabic: ٱلشَّهَادَةُ) is a simple declaration that one accepts the tawhid, or the oneness of God. It is normally said in Arabic: "'' lā ʾilāha ʾillā-llāhu muḥammadun rasūlu-llāh'' (لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله), meaning "There is no god but God (and) Muhammad is the messenger of God." In order to be considered a Muslim, one must recite and truly believe the shahada at least once in a lifetime.<ref>[https://www.islamreligion.com/articles/193/first-pillar-of-islam/ The first pillar of Islam: the Muslim Profession of Faith]. ''The Religion of Islam.''</ref> Muslims also believe that reciting the shahada as their last words before [[death]] are promised to enter Paradise.

Once a convert has professed their faith, they cannot change their mind and take it back without being considered an [[apostasy|apostate]] by the Muslim community. Many Muslim scholars believe that the [[punishment]] for apostasy should be death,<ref>[http://answering-islam.org/Hahn/Mawdudi/index.htm Apostasy], ''Answering Islam''</ref> and such death penalties are imposed in a number of Islamic countries, including [[Pakistan]]<ref>[http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=9218&size=A Death penalty laws in Pakistan], ''Asia News''</ref> and [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref>[http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi_arabia/10236558.html Death penalty laws in Saudi Arabia], ''Gulf News''</ref>

The shahada is, however, often spoken into the ear of newborn babies as both a blessing and a proxy oath.<ref>Cornell, Vincent J. (2007). ''Voices of Islam.'' Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 1400. ISBN 978-0275987336.</ref> The five daily Muslim prayers also include recitations of the shahada, so practicing Muslims are pretty much guaranteed to hit that once-a-lifetime quota. Still, the person's true belief in the phrase is what matters, far more so than than the phrase itself.<ref>Andrew Rippin (2005). ''Muslims: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices.'' Psychology Press. pp. 104–105. ISBN 9780415348881.</ref>

[[Saudi Arabia]]'s national flag notably has the shahada as its central design.<ref>{{wpa|Flag of Saudi Arabia|}}</ref> Yes, that's what that writing means.

====Salah (prayer)====
[[File:USMC-110817-M-PH073-031.jpg|thumb|right|275px|Lt. Asif I Balbale of the US Marine Corps leads Afghans in their final prayer of the day.]]
[[Prayer]] must be performed five times per day for Muslims. In Muslim-majority areas, the prayer times will be announced by a ''muezzin'' who will sing the call to prayer known as the ''adhān''.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/topic/muezzin Muezzin]. ''Britannica.''</ref> They're picked carefully for the quality of their character and their voices, and good ones can put on a very beautiful performance. In Turkey, there's an annual competition for the most talented muezzin.<ref>{{wpa|Müezzin|}}</ref> 

The five prayers are performed at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset, and after dark. Luckily, God is apparently a reasonable fella, so the five daily prayers can be waived or modified during special times like [[war]], travel, or illness.<ref name="salat">[https://www.britannica.com/topic/salat Salat]. ''Britannica.''</ref> Private prayers are appreciated, but public worship in a mosque is generally preferred by Muslims due to the unity and community found in public practice.<ref name="salat"/>

Salah is led by an imam, and Muslims perform a ritual cleansing called ''wudu'' prior to beginning their prayers.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z94dtfr/revision/1 Islam: Public worship]. ''BBC.''</ref> When they enter the mosque, Muslims remove their shoes and sit on the floor facing the ''qiblah'' or prayer wall, which faces them in the direction of the [[Kaaba]] shrine at [[Mecca]]. Each prayer consists of a series of prostrations and is divided into a number of sections called Raka'ah.  Each ''raka'ah'' includes recitations from the Qur'an including Al-Fatihah, the first ''[[sura]]''.  Prayers are made during the dawn, early afternoon, late afternoon, evening, and night-time and are of prescribed lengths.  The dawn prayer is 2 Raka'ah, the early afternoon and late afternoon prayers are 4 Raka'ah, the evening prayer is 3 Raka'ah, and the night-time prayer is 4 Raka'ah. This becomes impossible once you are around [[Arctic]] and [[Antarctic]] poles, where morning and nights can last for months. The Qur'an is ''ambivalent'' on the existence of such poles. It is also impossible in [[outer space]].<ref>[https://www.wired.com/2007/09/mecca-in-orbit/ A Muslim Astronaut's Dilemma: How to Face Mecca From Space] by Patrick Di Justo (09.26.07; 12:00 pm) ''Wired''.</ref>

Muslims aren't unreasonable about things, though, and public prayer rituals are altered for major events. During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], for instance, major Muslim mosques around the world took necessary but unhappy steps such as closing down and telling Muslims to pray at home or else simply banning prayer in close groups.<ref>[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/4/6/praying-in-time-of-covid-19-how-worlds-largest-mosques-adapted Praying in time of COVID-19: How world’s largest mosques adapted]. ''Al Jazeera.''</ref>

====Zakat (charity)====
The third pillar involves donating a portion of their incomes to charity. Typically, a Muslim gives 2.5% of their accumulated wealth (or savings) to [[Charity|charities]], often organized through local mosques; however, it is becoming acceptable to bypass the mosque's role as a middleman to charities and donate directly to the charity.<ref>[https://www.islamreligion.com/articles/46/third-pillar-of-islam/ The Third Pillar of Islam: Compulsory Charity] Imam Kamil Mufti, ''Islamreligion.com''</ref> Faithful Muslims believe that it is the responsibility of all to help the needy and reduce economic inequality.<ref>Ridgeon, Lloyd (2003). ''Major World Religions'' (1st ed.). RoutledgeCurzon. ISBN 978-0-415-29796-7. p. 258</ref> It's a much nicer belief and practice than American-style "fuck you, I got mine" [[capitalism]].

Also important is ''sadaqah'', which is an act of voluntary charity which goes beyond the zakat and brings one closer to God.<ref>{{wpa|Sadaqah|}}</ref> Charities around the world exist for sadaqah, including in the United States.<ref>[https://irusa.org/sadaqah-jariyah/ What is Sadaqah Jariyah?] ''Islamic Relief USA.''</ref> Acts of service (basically being a nice person), as Muhammad is stated to have said "It is also charity to utter a good word."<ref>[https://sunnah.com/riyadussalihin:693 (88)Chapter: Excellence of Meeting with a Smiling Countenance and Politeness in Speech] ''Sunnah.com''</ref><ref>[https://www.zakat.org/what-is-sadaqah What Is Sadaqah?]. ''Zakat.org''</ref>

====Sawm (fasting)====
[[File:البيت المفتوح.jpg|thumb|right|265px|Malaysians celebrating Eid ul-Fitr.]]
The fourth pillar stresses [[fasting]] during the month of [[Ramadan]]. During this month, which rotates throughout the year due to the fact that the Islamic calendar is lunar, Muslims must abstain from food, drink (including [[water]]), [[smoking]], and [[sexual intercourse]] from sunrise (specifically when a thread of light can be discerned from the darkness) to sunset. The goal of the fast, as with most ascetic pursuits, is to rid oneself of material concerns and to bring oneself closer to God. Women who are [[pregnant]] or [[Menstruation|menstruating]], those who are ill or elderly, and pre-pubescent children are exempt from the need to fast. It is worth noting that during Ramadan, life typically flips around: people sleep during the day and at night wake up to do normal life.<ref>[http://www.alnoum.com/index.php/en/encrecord/getEncRecord/525/524 Sleep in Ramadan].</ref> 

Luckily, there is some flexibility. Muslims who are physically or mentally unwell may be excused from some or all parts of the fast, as are children under twelve, the very old, people travelling, and women who are pregnant, breast-feeding, or menstruating.<ref name="sawm">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/practices/sawm.shtml Sawm: fasting]. ''BBC News.''</ref> Adults who take the exemption are expected to either make it up later or donate extra to charity.

Muslims are meant to participate in the fast in order to build self-discipline, practice obedience to God, and experience empathy for the starving poor.<ref name="sawm"/> At the end of the fast, Muslims celebrate Eid ul-Fitr, a festival which celebrates the end of the fast and thanks God for helping Muslims through it.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays/eidulfitr.shtml Eid al-Fitr (1 Shawwal)]. ''BBC.''</ref> Presumably quite hungry at this point, Muslims partake in a daytime feast with friends and family. 

====Hajj (pilgrimage)====
[[File:Kaaba Mirror like.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Kaaba in Mecca. Quite the popular travel destination.]]
{{main|Hajj}}
A pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca during the month of Dhul-Hijah. Every Muslim must make the pilgrimage at least once in a lifetime so long as they are financially able and so long as their absence won't place hardship on their family.<ref name="hajj">[https://www.britannica.com/topic/hajj Hajj]. ''Britannica.''</ref> ''Hajj al-badal'', or Hajj by proxy, is an option for those who are unable to make the journey themselves, although Muslims greatly frown on appointing someone to take your place if you are capable of going yourself.<ref>[https://islamqa.info/en/answers/111794/guidelines-and-rulings-on-hajj-al-badal-proxy-hajj Guidelines and rulings on Hajj al-badal (proxy Hajj)]. ''Islam Question and Answer.''</ref> 

Once approaching the city of Mecca, Muslims wear white sheets in order to make them more uniform in appearance and attempt to eliminate class differences. During the Hajj, Muslims partake in certain rituals meant to evoke the actions of Muhammad. They circumambulate the Kaaba or "House of Allah", a practice that earlier [[pagans]] also used to perform, and then they walk seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah (where Hagar searched for water for her baby [[Ishmael]]), travel to Mt. Arafat (where Muhammad delivered his Farewell Sermon), and symbolically stone the [[Satan|devil]]. 

Unfortunately, the meaning of the Hajj has been undermined somewhat since the Saudi Arabian government has taken control. Although all pilgrims of the hajj are supposed to be equal according to Muhammad's vision, better tents cost more, and the truly rich get to stay in the glitzy hotels that directly overlook the Grand Mosque; the poor meanwhile trudge through garbage-filled areas to buy from open air markets and sleep in ramshackle structures.<ref>[https://middle-east-online.com/en/rich-poor-reveal-differences-hajj Rich, poor reveal differences at hajj]. ''Middle East Online.''</ref> Admittance used to be just $800, but it's now gone up via mandatory travel packages ranging between $1,000 to $20,000 depending on distance while fees for even basic accommodations can go as high as $7,000 once the Saudis are done nickel-and-diming you.<ref name="inara">[https://insidearabia.com/how-saudi-arabia-politicizes-and-profits-from-islamic-pilgrimage/ How Saudi Arabia Politicizes and Profits from Islamic Pilgrimage]. ''Inside Arabia.''</ref> Mecca is now a glittering skyline of skyscrapers, shopping malls<ref>[https://www.fairmont.com/makkah/activities-services/destination-guide/shopping/ Abraj Al Bait Shopping Complex]</ref> and luxury hotels, including a massive Big Ben-like clock tower that looms over the main mosque of Mecca.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/mecca-for-the-rich-islams-holiest-site-turning-into-vegas-2360114.html Mecca for the rich: Islam's holiest site 'turning into Vegas']</ref> [[Tower of Babel|What was that religious story about offending God with a big tower]]? There's even a freaking KFC.<ref name="kfc">[https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293993-d3327827-Reviews-KFC-Mecca_Makkah_Province.html Mecca Restaurants: KFC] ''Tripadvisor''</ref>

===Texts===
[[File:عکس های مراسم ترتیل خوانی یا جزء خوانی یا قرائت قرآن در ایام ماه رمضان در حرم فاطمه معصومه در شهر قم 20.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Reciting the Quran for Ramadan in Iran.]]
The [[holy text]] of Islam is the [[Qur'an]], which Muslims treat as the revealed word of Allah. Muslims [[belief|believe]] that the [[angel]] Gabriel transmitted its verses to [[Muhammad]], Allah's final [[prediction|prophet]]. Muhammad, who was illiterate, dictated the revelations to his followers. The followers eventually compiled these teachings, both written and transmitted orally, to form the Qur'an. Muslims regard Muhammed as the chief and final [[prophet]]. 

The ''sunnah'', or recorded practices of the Prophet as passed down in books of ''[[hadith]]'' (literally: "news"), clarify the practices of Islam, and are nearly as important to the practice of the religion as the Qur'an itself (except for {{wpl|Quranism|Quranists|.}}) The [[Sunni]] hadith collections are called the '''Kutub al-Sittah''' (the six books), the [[Shi'a]] hadith collections are called the '''Kutub al-Arba'a''' (the four books). [[Ibadi]]s have their own hadiths, in particular the ''Jami Sahih''. Although Muslims do not regard [[Jesus Christ]] as the son of Allah, he functions as an historically important Islamic prophet, ranking as a precursor to Muhammad and helping prepare the world for the "final revelation". Additionally, Muslims believe that Jesus [[Messiah|will]] [[Second Coming|return]] at the [[end times|end of times]].<ref>https://sunnah.com/muslim:2901a</ref>

One issue that Islam struggles with that other religions do not is that it has a policy of abrogation,<ref>{{wpa|Abrogation in Islam}}</ref> wherein later revelations can supersede earlier ones.<ref>[http://www.hadith-studies.com/Burton-Theories-Abrogation.pdf Theories on Abrogation], ''Hadith Studies''</ref> Most of Muhammad's more peaceful pronouncements came from earlier revelations [during the early Mecca period — when Muslims were weaker], and the more warlike revelations came after [Medina period, after 622 — when Muslims gained military strength], so unfortunately [[Salafism]] and other militant interpretations of the Qur'an are consistent with this policy, and also with Muhammad's own actions — several hadiths and Quranic verses tell of him taking part in raids during the war periods.{{fact}}

==Schisms and denominations==
[[File:Islam_branches_and_schools..png|right|400px|thumb|Phylogeny of Islamic denominations and schools of thought.]]
[[File:Madhhab Map3.png|thumb|right|400px|Islamic {{wpl|Madhhab|schools}} by general area of influence.]]
{{cquote|"Indeed, those who have divided their religion and become sects — you, [O Muhammad], are not [associated] with them in anything. Their affair is only [left] to Allah; then He will inform them about what they used to do."|||{{Qur'an|6|159}}}}

A literal reading of Qur'an and hadiths would lead to a conclusion that only ''one'' Islam is legitimized under its theology. Hadith Abu Dawood 4597<ref>[http://sunnah.com/abudawud/42 ''Sunan Abi Dawud'' 4596; Book 42, Hadith 1]. ''Sunnah''</ref> stated that there will be 73 sects, and only 1 of them will go to [[Heaven]], and rest will go to [[Hell]]. Therefore, the existence of differences among Muslims is not ''necessarily'' a proof of Islamic theological pluralism. 

There are many different [[denomination]]s within Islam,<ref>{{wpa|Islamic schools and branches}}</ref> but the two most notable groups within modern Islam are the [[Sunni]] and the [[Shi'a]]. The [[schism]] between the Sunni and Shi'a is akin to the schism between the [[Roman Catholic Church]] and the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]es — it is interesting that both splits occurred as a result of power struggles, personality clashes, and theological differences. Before dying, Muhammad did not make clear instructions as to how the [[caliph]]s were to be elected, and the Qur'an does not have such instructions either. It is ambivalent on that account, despite Qur'an claiming that "… We [Allah] have revealed the Book to you explaining clearly everything." {{quran|16|89}}<ref>[http://corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp?chapter=16&verse=89#(16:89:1) Sūrat l-Naḥl (Surah 16), verse 89], ''Quranic Arabic Corpus''</ref>

Muhammad's cousin Ali was expected by some followers, the party of Ali (Shiat Ali), to be his successor in the fledgling Rashidun Caliphate. Instead, Muhammad's companion Abu Bakr became the first Caliph from 632 to 634. He died of natural causes in 634, but his reign was mostly marked by a fight against 'Ridah', or [[apostasy]], in the form of [[tax]] collection (''Zakat'' was collected by the government at the time). After him came Omar, from 634 to 644, who called himself the 'Commander of the Faithful', tying the Church and military together. The third Caliph was Uthman, from 644 to 656, and who called himself 'Caliphate Allah' (lit. the Successor to God). Uthman was 'elected' through a quid pro quo style election in which he made promises to families with lots of power and money, and he is ''hated'' by the people. Uthman today is a major source of contention with Islam because late into his reign, he collected all copies of the Qur'an and burned those not exactly like his. Typically, it is considered that A) he did it or B) the people hated him so much that they just pinned the event onto him. He was murdered in 656. Finally, as the fourth caliph, Ali took his place, and reigned from 656 to 661. It is worth mentioning that Ali refused the title of caliph because he regarded it as tainted by Uthman. After that, the murder of Ali's son Husayn solidified the schism. Ali was later killed in a fight with the [[Kharijite]]s, lead by Mu'awiyah, and with his death, the [[golden age]] of Islam is considered over.

Within and around these groups there are other subsets of Islam. Among these is [[Sufism]], which is generally thought of as an ascetic spiritual movement similar in philosophy to [[Buddhism]], but could be as [[fundamentalist]] as [[Salafism]] and [[Wahhabism]], as Hassan Al Bana, the founder of the [[Muslim Brotherhood]], was a Sufi. [[Druze]], [[Yazidi|Yazidism]], and [[Ba'hai]] are offshoots of Islam, though not traditionally considered to be included within the Islamic faith, but as independent religions.

* '''Shi'a/Shi'ites''', who represent about 10-20% of Muslims globally,<ref name="mpercent">[https://www.pewforum.org/2009/10/07/mapping-the-global-muslim-population/ Mapping the Global Muslim Population] Pew Research Center. Oct. 7, 2009.</ref><ref name=cia>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2122.html World Factbook - Religions], ''The Central Intelligence Agency''</ref> believe that the prophet Muhammad appointed Ali ibn Abi Talib as his successor. Shi'a prefer hadiths attributed to the Ahlul Bayt (the prophet's family) and close associates. Shi'as consider the city of Karbala holy.

* '''Sunnis''' are about 87-90% of the global Muslim population.<ref name="mpercent"/> They consider Abu Bakr to be Muhammad's legitimate successor. There are four major schools of legal interpretation among Sunnis; Hanafi, Maliki, Hanbali, and Shafi'i. They make up roughly 80+% of the world's Muslims.<ref name=cia/> Sunni beliefs are typically based on the Qur'an and the Kutub al-Sittah (the six books of hadith). The Kutub al-Sittah consists of Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Sunan al-Sughra, Sunan Abu Dawood, Jami al-Tirmidhi, and Sunan ibn Majah. Sunnis are sometimes called ''Bukharists''.

* '''Sufism''' is a pan-denominational movement which promotes "Islamic mysticism". It's unpopular with non-Sufis, as the movement emphasizes personal faith over legalism, contemplation over action, and development of the soul over social interaction.<ref>[http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e2260 Sufism] Oxford Islamic Studies.</ref> Sufis have come under attack from Islamic extremists because their focus on introspection and their reverence towards saints are considered heretical in some circles.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/24/world/middleeast/sufi-muslim-explainer.html Who Are Sufi Muslims and Why Do Some Extremists Hate Them?] Megan Specia. ''New York Times.'' Nov. 24, 2017</ref> Sufism is also more popular in some regions (such as Senegal, where more than 95% of the Muslims in the country belong to a Sufi brotherhood)<ref>{{cws|https://phmuseum.com/projects/the-sufi-brotherhoods-of-senegal|The Sufi Brotherhoods of Senegal|Photography Museum}}</ref> than others.

* '''[[Ahmadiyya]]''' is a reformist denomination founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmed in 1889, who called himself subordinate prophet within Islam, and is considered to be the Mahdi.<ref name="ahmadi">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8711026.stm Who are the Ahmadi?] ''BBC''</ref> Their motto is "love for all; hatred for none."<ref>[http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-12-30/local-news/Love-for-all-hatred-for-none-6736201424 Love for all, hatred for none] Jeremy Micallef. ''Malta Independent''. 30 December 2018</ref> Mainstream Muslims reject Ahamadiyya as heresy because they view Muhammad as the last prophet of Islam and Ahmed as a pretender.<ref name="ahmadi"/>

* '''[[Quranism|Ahl al-Quran]]''', also known as Quraniyoon, is an Islamic denomination that generally rejects the authoritative nature of hadith collections, and considers the Qur'an to be the only dependable religious text.

* '''Nondenominational Muslims''' are those who do not follow a particular branch and simply call themselves "Muslim".{{fact|joke}}

* [[Ibadi]] is a very small branch of Islam with only 3 million followers that is only dominant in [[Oman]].<ref>[https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2018/12/18/who-are-the-ibadis Who are the Ibadis?] ''The Economist''</ref> Ibadism developed out of the Seventh Century Khawarij sect; nowadays their theology is characterized by a more accommodating attitude towards the "corrupt monotheist", a rejection of the physical nature of God, and a rejection of the need for an overall leader of the Islamic faith.<ref>[http://islam.uga.edu/ibadis.html Ibadi Islam: An Introduction.] Valerie J. Hoffman (Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Illinois)</ref>

* '''Alawites''' are an off-shoot of the Shi'a movement which deifies Ali (regarding him as incarnation of God), Muhammad's son-in-law, and considers the Five Pillars of Islam to be symbolic and non-mandatory. They also do not recognize the prohibition on alcohol.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8684113/Secretive-sect-of-the-rulers-of-Syria.html Secretive sect of the rulers of Syria], ''The Telegraph'', August 5, 2011</ref><ref>[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Alawite ʿAlawite] ''Britannnica''</ref>They, allegedly, have their own scripture. The Assad dynasty in [[Syria]] is Alawite, and their harsh rule over the country's Sunni majority helped feed the tensions that led to [[Syrian Civil War|that country's civil war]].<ref>[https://www.thoughtco.com/the-difference-between-alawites-and-sunnis-in-syria-2353572 The Difference Between Alawites and Sunnis in Syria] ''ThoughtCo''</ref>

* The [[Nation of Islam]] is a [[US]]-based organization which blends elements of Islamic teaching with elements of [[liberation theology]] and black [[nationalism]].<ref>{{wpa|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation_of_Islam|}}</ref> Originally, the movement held its founder, Wallace D. Fard, as the Mahdi, though since the late 1970s it has largely reintegrated with mainstream Sunni Islam.  [[Louis Farrakhan]], a prominent minister within the movement, rejected this reintegration and led a [[schism]] of the organization, retaining the Nation of Islam name but introducing huge amounts of [[antisemitism]] along with the study of [[Dianetics]].<ref>[https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/nation-islam Nation of Islam] ''Southern Poverty Law Center''</ref>

* '''5-percenters''' self-identify as Muslims and follow the [[Five-Percent Nation]], which holds that black people are the original humans and that Islam is a way of life, not just a religion.<ref name="fivep">[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5614846 God, the Black Man and the Five Percenters] ''NPR.''</ref> Their name comes from the idea that 10% of the world are the elites who keep the 85% ignorant while the remaining 5% are those who seek to spread the truth.<ref name="fivep"/>

* '''Liberal Reformist''', refers to many movements of Islamic modernists and progressives who seek to reform the religion in a more liberal or progressive direction. Some argue the religion has been traditionally interpreted in a conservative manner and isn't inherently conservative while others argue, according to [[Postmodernist]] thinking, that the Qur'an, like any religious scripture, is so vague it can be interpreted in endless varieties. Note there is no unified group representing this denomination. Rather, it's made up of many individuals and organizations. A modern example would be Muslims for Progressive Values, an organization that uses Islamic history and scripture to argue for progressive positions such as interfaith marriage and LGBT rights. Conservative and traditionalist Muslims, in addition to other critics, argue that these movements often ignore the Hadith (in which many of traditional Islam's more rigid social positions are found), support positions that are clearly against Islamic teachings, or whitewash Islam to fit a liberal agenda.

==Muhammad's theological importance and hadiths==
[[File:Dark vignette Al-Masjid AL-Nabawi Door800x600x300.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The gates of the {{wpl|Prophet's Mosque}} in Medina. It says, "Muhammad the Apostle of God."]]
In Islam, Muhammad is the ideal human being, for all times, greater than all other prophets [Jesus, Abraham etc.], and an example for all Muslims to emulate. He is the last prophet sent by God to mankind, the Qur'an being the last book, which contains solutions to all problems humans have/will have/can have, ever. 

After Muhammad, no more prophets will be sent, and no other further revelations from God will be made. Muhammad was the source on how Islam is to be followed, and what a verse actually means. 

This necessitated that the hadiths [which were not codified until 200 years after Muhammad's death], as the Qur'an by itself lacks context and chronology. 

According to critics, this leads to an inherent problem within Islamic theology. As the Qur'an claims that it was revealed ''because'' earlier messages [the Bible and Torah] were corrupted by fallible humans and that only the Qur'an is protected by Allah from corruption,<ref>[http://corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp?chapter=15&verse=9#(15:9:1) Sūrat l-Hij'r (Surah 15), verse 9], ''Quranic Arabic Corpus''</ref> Hadiths have no such protection and were recorded and transmitted by fallible humans, and hence are possibly as erroneous as the Bible and Torah. However, without hadiths, the Qur'an would lose all context and chronology, and Islam's five pillars of support would also be lost.

This is a point of endless conflict between Quranists and non-Quranists [Quran + Hadiths]. Liberal reformers do not consider it a problem, as per them, "Islam is whatever you think it is".

==Social mores==
[[File:Haga Sofia RB5.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Islamic calligraphy decorates the Hagia Sofia. Not bad.]]

Muslims also adhere to a number of dietary and behavioral rules, including [[halal|prohibitions on eating unclean meat like pork]]<ref>[https://www.islamreligion.com/articles/2513/viewall/why-pork-is-forbidden-in-islam/ Why Pork is Forbidden in Islam]</ref> and never consuming [[alcohol]], and maintaining certain standards of cleanliness. 

A related concept is ''[[Taqiyya]]'', an allowance for Muslims to conceal their religious beliefs during times of persecution, such as the [[Spanish Inquisition]], though it has also been practiced by Shi'a facing persecution at the hands of Sunni Muslims. Some non-Muslims believe that it really means that you can pretend to have peaceful viewpoints while secretly harboring extremist ones. This has unfortunately been used to validate persecution of Muslims by Islamophobes. 

Making artworks depicting God's creations is seen as a form of [[idolatry]] and as such is strictly forbidden by certain hadiths. Hence traditional Islamic art very rarely depicts people, and seldom animals, but focuses instead on geometric patterns, calligraphy and non-pictorial decoration. Not all Muslims believe this due to varying interpretations of the hadiths, while some believe only making 3D models is ''haram''. Most Islamic art depicting humans or animals most likely came from [[Persia]], as Persian traditions of paintings depicting humans sometimes won out over an artist's religious beliefs. The vast majority of devout Muslims hold that images of the prophet Muhammad to be particularly [[blasphemy|blasphemous]], though there is no evidence in the hadiths that confirms this. Because of all this, the most important aspects of Islamic art include architecture, such as the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, intricate geometric patterns, and calligraphy. <!--This might include sculptures and engravings, not just drawings, but I'll need to check Google to verify. ~Darkmatter2525-->

Some Muslims, mostly Salafi, believe it is forbidden to play or listen to musical instruments, due to it being a "distraction" or supposedly "[[Satanic]]" noises made by instruments,<ref>[http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/index.php?page=showfatwa&Option=FatwaId&Id=82320 Rules on playing musical instruments: Fatwa No. 82320], ''Islam Web''</ref> basing this on a hadith. Many believe music with instruments is okay as long as it's not mixed with lewd content.<ref>[http://www.virtualmosque.com/islam-studies/sciences-of-quran-and-hadith/regarding-the-permissibility-of-music/ Regarding the permissibility of music], ''VirtualMosque''</ref> Despite the common viewpoint against it, listening to music with instruments is widely accepted in Islamic countries, even Saudi Arabia to a certain extent.<ref group=note>Well, it's not ''illegal'' per se.</ref>

===Alcohol===
{{main|Alcohol}}
{{cquote|O you who believe! Do not approach the prayer while you are drunk, so that you know what you say…|||{{quran|4|43}}}}
The position of Alcohol within Islam is not as simple as many people think. [[Wine]] was grown and enjoyed in parts of Arabia before the advent of Islam. The Koran has varying views on wine, but the final chronological statement on alcohol is regarded by most modern Muslims and the ''final word'' on the topic:<ref name=rowell>[https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-complicated-and-scandalous-history-of-islamic-wine-poetry The Complicated and Scandalous History of Islamic Wine Poetry: The millions of Muslims around the world who drink may do so knowing that some of the religion's greatest poets, thinkers, scientists, and politicians enjoyed a glass or two.] by Alex Rowell (05.05.18 9:33 PM ET) ''Daily Beast''.</ref>
{{cquote|O you who believe! Intoxicants, [[gambling]], idolatry, and [[divination]] are [[abomination]]s of [[Satan]]'s doing. Avoid them, so that you may prosper. Satan wants to provoke strife and hatred among you through intoxicants and gambling, and to prevent you from the remembrance of God, and from prayer. Will you not desist?|||{{quran|5|90|91}}}}
Notably, the passage only said to avoid alcohol, not that it was forbidden outright (''haram''), so Islamic scholars have at times argued over whether this was a strict prohibition or not.<ref name=rowell/>

There was a syncretic schism of the Shia branch of Islam known as the {{wpl|Qarmatians}} (or Carmathians) (c. 900-1077) who actually embraced alcohol consumption, and were notorious for their sacking of Mecca and theft of the black stone from the Kaaba.<ref name=gately>''Drink: A Cultural History of Alcohol'' by Iaian Gately (2008) Gotham Books. ISBN 1592403034.</ref>{{rp|74}} During the [[Middle Ages]] "Muslim science" made advances while European science largely languished in [[protoscience]] and [[pseudoscience]]. {{wpl|Jabir ibn Hayyan}} (a.k.a. Geber) {{lived|c. 721|c. 815}} is regarded as the father of modern [[chemistry]]; among other advances, he developed the process of distillation (which [[Aristotle]] had previously worked out in principle but not in practice).<ref name=gately/>{{rp|71-72}} Later, the Persian polymath {{wpl|Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi}} {{lived|854|925}} discovered alcohol (Arabic etymology: الكحل‎, al-kuḥl) by using the distillation process.<ref name=gately/>{{rp|72}} The physician {{wpl|Al-Zahrawi}} {{lived|936|1013}}, who lived where alcohol was forbidden was nonetheless perhaps the first person to describe some of the health effects of excessive drinking (convulsions, apoplexy, dementia, paralysis, gout, and liver disease).<ref name=gately/>{{rp|72}}

During the Middle Ages, some prominent Muslims (e.g., {{wpl|Avicenna}} {{lived|c. 930|1037}}, {{wpl|Omar Khayyam}} {{lived|1048|1131}} and {{wpl|Averroes}} {{lived|1126|1198}}) argued that wine could be beneficial, at least under some circumstances.<ref name=gately/>{{rp|72-73}} Caliphs were known at this period to hold impressive drinking parties,<ref name=rowell/> and it was also a period of Islamic wine poetry, most notably by {{wpl|Abu Nuwas||.}}<ref>''Vintage Humour: The Islamic Wine Poetry of Abu Nuwas'' by Alex Rowell (2018) Hurst. ISBN 1849048975.</ref>

Many modern Muslims do drink. For example, the CEO of the {{wpl|Murree Brewery}} of [[Pakistan]] guessed that 99% of his domestic customers were Muslim (at least in part because 97% of Pakistan is Muslim).<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1543915/Pakistan-brewery-produces-Muslim-worlds-first-20-year-whisky.html Pakistan brewery produces Muslim world's first 20-year whisky] by Isambard Wilkinson (12:01AM GMT 26 Feb 2007) ''The Telegraph''.</ref>

==Islam, politics and Arab identity==
[[File:Islam percent population in each nation World Map Muslim data by Pew Research.svg|thumb|right|300px|Population percentage of Muslims per nation.]]

The fact that Islam arose in the Arabian peninsula and that translations of the Qur'an are considered to be less faithful than the original Arabic text means that Islam has become largely associated with Arab culture. Insistence on the infallibility of the Qur'an and the fallibility of humans give theological support to perspective that all translations are necessarily prone to errors. The Arabic association can lead to [[Arab nationalism|nationalistic]] tendencies within the Arab world being blended with, and indeed disguised as, expressions of Islamic faith; believers are duped, with the promise of a glorious [[martyrdom]], into serving nationalist causes, often violently. This is consistently demonstrated by [[Al Qaeda]] and other militant groups; a fundamental reason for their existence is to protest perceived [[imperialism]] and aggression by Western governments in the [[Middle East]]. Seen as particularly offensive is Western support for the nation of [[Israel]], and to a lesser degree, other non-[[democratic]], [[secular]], corrupt, and oppressive regimes in [[oil]]-rich nations, especially pre-revolutionary [[Iran]]. Al Qaeda made no objection to the non-democratic and oppressive (but Sharia-based) regime of the [[Taliban]] in [[Afghanistan]].

This philosophy has translated even to non-Arab Muslim extremists, such as those active in [[Kashmir]], [[southeast Asia]], and sub-Saharan [[Africa]]. Almost invariably, statements from Islamic militants are in Arabic, regardless of their background. Perhaps because of this, being "Muslim" is often viewed as no different from being "Arab" in the mindsets of many people throughout the (non-Arab) world despite the fact that the largest Muslim populations in the world are not [[ethnic|ethnically]] Arabs. Interestingly, Heinrich Himmler of the [[Nazi]] [[SS]] was a supporter of Islam<ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/how-nazis-courted-the-islamic-world-during-wwii/a-41358387 How Nazis courted the Islamic world during WWII] Nastassja Shtrauchler, ''Deutsche Welle'' 13.11.2017</ref> — particularly extreme Islam, as he thought it engendered a warrior spirit — and he recruited [[Bosnian]] Muslims, Arabs, and Indians into the [[racism|'racially pure']] SS.

Since Mohammad's day, Islam retains a strong element of [[tribalism]], particularly the use of loyalty oaths to living persons, and a theological dichotomy between Muslims and non-Muslims. The separation is heavily and repeatedly referred to in Qur'an, and it is almost practically impossible to turn to a random chapter in the Qur'an and find nothing disparaging or demonizing said about Kuffars/non-Muslims.

===Islamic law and statehood===
[[File:Supreme leader Ali Khamenei meeting with the air force commanders and personnel (4).jpg|thumb|right|250px|Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.]]
Literal reading of Islam, as well as its application by Muhammad, shows a necessary [[theocracy|overlap between state and religion]]. 

"Legislation is not but for Allah."<ref>[https://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=12&verse=40 Sūrat Yūsuf (Surah 12), verse 40], ''Quranic Arabic Corpus''</ref><ref>[https://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious-texts/hadith/muslim/020-smt.php Kitab Al-Imara (The Book on Government)], ''The Centre for Muslim-Jewish Engagement''</ref>

An increasing number of [[nation]]s use [[Sharia|Islamic law]]{{fact}} as the entire or partial basis of their legal systems; states governed entirely by religion in this way are known as [[theocracies]]. [[Indonesia]] is the world's largest Muslim-majority country.<ref>''Islam in Indonesia: Contrasting Images and Interpretations'', p 68,  ‎Kees van Dijk - 2013</ref> Islamic theocracies such as [[Saudi Arabia]] and Iran have been sharply criticized by [[human rights]] advocates for their cruel and illiberal treatment of women, [[homosexuals]] (who are sometimes executed),<ref>[https://www.butterfliesandwheels.org/2016/theocrats-call-lgb-activists-far-right/ Theocrats call LGBT activists "far right"], ''Butterflies and Wheels''</ref> and "apostates" (ex-Muslims).

''Sharia'' is Islamic law, based on the teachings of the Qur'an and other texts regarded as sacred, such as the ''[[hadith]]''.  Most sharia deals with aspects of the social contract, though treatment of crime and punishment is also covered. Interpretations of ''Sharia'' vary widely, and some of the stricter variants, enforced in the [[fundamentalist]] Islamic states of the [[Middle East]] can involve brutal punishments for crimes such as [[sodomy]] ([[homosexuality]]), [[adultery]], and fornication ([[premarital sex]]). In some countries, including Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, victims of [[rape]] have been [[victim blaming|punished]] as adulterers or fornicators when they have been unable to prove rape charges; this has obviously had the effect of discouraging women from filing rape charges with police.

Muslims also follow rulings from various schools of Islamic jurisprudence called ''[[fatwa]]s''. Though the term ''fatwa'' has come to be synonymous with declarations of [[war]] by some extremists within Islam (leading to a certain amount of envy from [[Fundamentalist Christianity|fundamentalist Christians]] who wish ''they'' could [[fatwa envy|pronounce death sentences on anyone they disagree with]] rather than settling for mere [[imprecatory prayer]]), a ''fatwa'' can be issued by Islamic scholars on issues as simple as questions regarding conduct in daily life. Fatwas are not legally enforced and can be simply refuting another fatwa or Islamic viewpoint.

===Jihad: Crusade and/or puritanism===
[[File:Mohammad adil-Rashidun empire-slide.gif|thumb|right|300px|The early Islamic conquests.]]

Another highly disputed concept in Islam is ''[[jihad]]'', which has often come to be synonymous with the concept of war waged by Muslims against the Western world. The misunderstanding occurs because the only jihad that ''affects'' non-Muslims is the lesser jihad.

Theologically, jihad has two meanings. The ''greater'' jihad is the struggle to improve one's self and one's society (read: "become better Muslims"). The ''lesser'' jihad is against the enemies of Islam, and can be violent or non-violent, as well as aggressive or defensive. In all history, it was used to expand as well as defend the Islamic state under order of the caliph. Muhammad engaged in both aggressive and defensive jihad. 

"It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the '''religion of truth to manifest it over all religion''', although those who associate others with Allah [Polytheists] dislike it" — {{Quran|9|33}}<ref>[http://corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp?chapter=9&verse=33 Sūrat l-Tawbah (Surah 9), verse 33], ''Quranic Arabic Corpus''</ref>

"The Messenger of Allah was asked about the best jihad. He said: "The best jihad is the one in which your horse is slain and your blood is spilled." — cited by Ibn Nuhaas and narrated by Ibn Habbaan."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091229051337/http://www.kalamullah.com/Books/MashariAl-AshwaqilaMasarial-Ushaaq-RevisedEdition.pdf The Book of Jihad], ''Web Archive''</ref>

While Muslim apologists argue that it is in propagation of "morality and justice", it is essentially the same as the propagation of Islam, as you will find that the vision of "morality and justice" they are referring to is that of their particular religion.

===Book of Jihad===

'''Book 019, Number 4292:'''
"Ibn 'Aun reported: I wrote to Nafi' inquiring from him whether it was necessary to [[proselytization|extend (to the disbelievers) an invitation to accept (Islam)]] before m[eet]ing them in fight. He wrote (in reply) to me that it was necessary in the early days of Islam. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) made a raid upon Banu Mustaliq while they were unaware and their cattle were having a drink at the water. He killed those who fought and imprisoned others. On that very day, he captured Juwairiya bint al-Harith. Nafi' said that this tradition was related to him by Abdullah b. Umar who (himself) was among the raiding troops."<ref name=bookofjihad>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130209235418/http://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious-texts/hadith/muslim/019-smt.php ''Kitab Al-Jihad wa'l-Siyar'' (''The Book of Jihad and Expedition'')], ''The Centre for Muslim-Jewish Engagement'' (archived from February 9, 2013).</ref>

'''Book 019, Number 4294''':
"It has been reported from Sulaiman b. Buraid through his father that when the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) appointed anyone as leader of an army or detachment he would especially exhort him to fear Allah and to be good to the Muslims who were with him. He would say: Fight in the name of Allah and in the way of Allah. Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war, do not embezzle the spoils; do not break your pledge; and do not mutilate (the dead) bodies; do not kill the children. When you meet your enemies who are polytheists, invite them to three courses of action. If they respond to any one of these, you also accept it and withold yourself from doing them any harm. Invite them to (accept) Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them. Then invite them to migrate from their lands to the land of Muhairs and inform them that, if they do so, they shall have all the privileges and obligations of the Muhajirs. If they refuse to migrate, tell them that they will have the status of Bedouin Muilims and will be subjected to the Commands of Allah like other Muslims, but they will not get any share from the spoils of war or Fai' except when they actually fight with the Muslims (against the disbelievers). If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands. If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah's help and fight them. When you lay siege to a fort and the besieged appeal to you for protection in the name of Allah and His Prophet, do not accord to them the guarantee of Allah and His Prophet, but accord to them your own guarantee and the guarantee of your companions for it is a lesser sin that the security given by you or your companions be disregarded than that the security granted in the name of Allah and His Prophet be violated When you besiege a fort and the besieged want you to let them out in accordance with Allah's Command, do not let them come out in accordance with His Command, but do so at your (own) command, for you do not know whether or not you will be able to carry out Allah's behest with regard to them."<ref name=bookofjihad/>

By some, the term jihad is considered analogous to the English word "crusade", which can here refer to any noble Islamic endeavour, or it can mean, well, [[crusade]]. However, this is arguable, as Crusades are not inherent in the doctrine of Christianity in the way jihad is in Islam — as it was exemplified by Muhammad himself.

===Treatment of non-Muslims===
[[File:Janissary Recruitment in the Balkans-Suleymanname.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Conscription of Christian boys in the Ottoman Empire, 1558.]]
Historically, all the first four Islamic states under the "Righteously guided Caliphs" required that [[Jews]] and [[Christians]] pay the ''jizya'', a tax levied exclusively against non-Muslims which was of a higher amount than ''zakat''.<ref>A. Ben Shemesh, Taxation in Islam Volume II, Qudama b. Ja'far's Kitab Al-Kharaj. Leiden, E.J. Brill, 1965, p. 14</ref><ref>K.S. Lal, Theory and Practice of Muslim State in India, Delhi, 1999, pp. 139-140.</ref>

{{Qur'an|9|29}}<ref>[http://corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp?chapter=9&verse=29#(9:29:1) Sūrat l-Tawbah (Surah 9), verse 29], ''Quranic Arabic Corpus''</ref> is cited as the justification of this:

"Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture — [fight] until they give the ''jizya'' willingly while they are humbled."

The [[freedom of religion|free practice of religion]] in Muslim countries is a source of controversy. The Qur'an guarantees the free practice of religion for Jews and Christians (although adherents to these religions are expected to pay tribute and to acknowledge Muslim rule if in certain Islamic states). Regardless, the reality is sometimes quite the opposite. In some countries, such as Saudi Arabia, other religions are banned from open practice and [[apostasy]] can be a [[capital punishment|capital offense]].  

As Sahih Muslim Hadith 4366 says, "Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab Umar heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslims."

Other states, such as Iran, nominally allow other religions to exist, though those religions (including the [[Ba'hai]] and [[Zoroastrian]] faiths) are typically persecuted. Some states including [[Egypt]], [[Turkey]], Indonesia, and Pakistan, have significant [[infidel|non-Muslim]] minorities which are treated with varying degrees of persecution, though the rise of fundamentalism in these countries has led to an increase in outbreaks of violence.

Historically speaking, oppression of non-Arab Muslims and non-Muslims in general lead to the {{wpl|Abbasid Revolution}}. This had the effect of changing Islam from what was previously regarded as an Arab ethnoreligion to a universal religion. The Abbasid Revolution also saw the nature of the Caliphate itself change, from an Arab empire to a cosmopolitan, multiethnic state.<ref>Saïd Amir Arjomand, [https://www.jstor.org/stable/i401381  Abd Allah Ibn al-Muqaffa and the Abbasid Revolution]. ''Iranian Studies'', vol. 27, Nos. 1–4. London: Routledge, 1994.</ref>

==Critics and criticism==

===Freedom of expression===
[[File:Karikatur_7.jpg|right|200px|thumb|An example of an Islamophobic cartoon.]]
{{cquote|Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas: A blind man had a [[slave]]-mother who used to abuse the Prophet (ﷺ) and disparage him. He forbade her but she did not stop. He rebuked her but she did not give up her habit. '''One night she began to slander the Prophet (ﷺ) and abuse him. So he took a dagger, placed it on her belly, pressed it, and killed her.''' A child who came between her legs was smeared with the blood that was there. […] He sat before the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: Messenger of Allah! I am her master; she used to abuse you and disparage you. I forbade her, but she did not stop, and I rebuked her, but she did not abandon her habit. I have two sons like pearls from her, and she was my companion. Last night she began to abuse and disparage you. So I took a dagger, put it on her belly and pressed it till I killed her. Thereupon the Prophet (ﷺ) said: Oh be witness, no retaliation is payable for her blood.|||Sunan Abi Dawud 4361, Eng Book 39, Hadith 4348, Book 40, Hadith 11<ref>[http://sunnah.com/abudawud/40 ''Sunan Abi Dawud'' 4351. Book 40, Hadith 1], ''Sunnah''</ref>}}
[[File:"Freedom go to hell".jpg|thumb|right|200px|An Islamist protester in London, 6 February 2006.]]

The most famous recent case of free expression conflicting with fundamentalist dogma is that of the [[Charlie Hebdo]] massacre, which echoed the controversy regarding the [[Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons|Danish cartoons]], only with a considerably higher body count. Both instances involved unflattering depictions of [[Muhammed]], which violates (Sunni) Islamic teachings regarding both [[blasphemy]] and [[idolatry]].

[[Salman Rushdie]]'s 1988 novel ''The [[Satanic Verses]]'' provoked outrage among many Muslims. The book was banned in [[India]] and protests in which the book was [[book burning|burned]] were held in London, [[England]]. [[Ayatollah Khomeini]], then-Supreme Leader of Iran, issued a fatwa against Rushdie, calling on all good Muslims everywhere to do their best to kill him. Guess what? He had to go into hiding too. Even worse, governments that should have known better, like the [[UK]] and the [[US]], shunned him instead of coming to his aid and defending his right to [[free speech]].{{cn}}

However, while an argument can be made (as it is above) that prohibitions on the depiction of Muhammad are a violation of the principle of freedom of expression, this is  arguably a double edged sword. Islam is a politically sensitive topic, and Muslims in the West are a marginalized group. Depictions of Muhammad can easily turn into a vehicle for Islamophobia (as evidenced by the caricature to the right).

===Women===
[[File:Group of Women Wearing Burkas.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Women in Afghanistan veiled in burkas]]

{{Qur'an|4|34}} states "Men [[patriarchy|are in charge of women]] by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance — [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand."

Muslim men are allowed to have up to [[polygamy|4 wives]], [[double standard|but Muslim women can not have 4 husbands]]. Many argue the justification for it is due to many men dying in war and thus leaving their wives widowed.{{cn}}

The often-forced wearing of the [[burqa]] and sister garments by many in the Middle East is another example of societal coercion. These women [[blaming the victim|must dress in a conservative fashion in public at all times to avoid social harassment or worse.]] Granted, in the West Muslim women face discrimination ''for'' covering up.<ref>[https://www.aclu.org/other/discrimination-against-muslim-women-fact-sheet Discrimination against Muslim women fact sheet] - [[ACLU]]</ref>

However, there are open feminists who are practicing and devout Muslims, such as Amina Wudud and Irshad Manji, who maintain the two are compatible. The criticism of Muslim feminists is that Western feminism patronizes Muslim women, and denies them agency. Reducing Muslim women to the status of "victims." To quote Cornell University:

{{quotebox|The debate over women's rights and Islam is often politicized and riddled with stereotypes. Muslim women are not all victims, renegades or standard-bearers for religious or cultural authenticity. They are not foils with which to bash Islam or through which sympathetic Westerners can congratulate themselves on their cultural superiority. True solidarity with women in the Muslim realm means paying less attention to self-serving male rulers and to cosmetic official initiatives and more to the lively, often contentious debates taking place within Muslim societies. True solidarity means paying more attention to the diverse voices of women and to their ideas of how they want to advance their own cause. These voices are secular and religious, young and old; they are also often critical of Western policies in the region.<ref>"[https://guides.library.cornell.edu/IslamWomen/Feminism Women in Islam and and Muslim Realms: Muslim Feminism]" - Cornell University Guides</ref>}}


This view of Muslim women as being helpless victims has also been a justification for colonialism.<ref>"[https://themuslimvibe.com/muslim-lifestyle-matters/women/female-muslim-empowerment-post-colonialism-feminism-and-the-hijab Female muslim empowerment] post colonialism, feminism, and the hijab."</ref>

===Comments on non-Muslims===
[[File:2012 Sydney protest.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Extremist believers during a protest in a non-Muslim majority country, Australia.]]

The Qur'an states that those who, after receiving the message of Qur'an, do not convert, [[Ad hominem|are dumb, deaf, and blind]]. The Qur'an's term for non-Muslims (especially atheists, Christians, and/or Jews) is "Kuffar", which literally means "Denier of truth".

{{quran|2|171}} "And the example of the disbelievers is similar to one who calls upon one that hears nothing except screaming and yelling; deaf, dumb, blind — so they do not have sense."

{{quran|6|39}} "And those who deny Our signs are deaf and dumb in realms of darkness; Allah may send astray whomever He wills; and may place on the Straight Path whomever He wills."

However, as "signs" of Allah, Qur'an states things like {{quran|16|79}}: "[[Argument from beauty|Do they not see the birds suspended in mid-air up in the sky? Nothing holds them there except Allah.]] There are certainly Signs in that for people who have faith." So it is nothing more than [[argument from ignorance]]. 

Holding views such as these about non-Muslims are not just limited to fringes in Taliban. Even among the most modern of Muslims, liberal defenders of Islam and critics of Islamists, like Mehdi Hassan (back when he was a far-right islamist before his turn to the left), these views are found —

{{quotebox|The kuffar, the disbelievers, the [[atheists]] who remain deaf and stubborn to the teachings of Islam, the [[Bullshit|rational]] message of the Qur'an; they are described in the Qur'an as “a people of no intelligence”, Allah describes them as not of no morality, not as people of no belief – people of “no intelligence” – because they’re incapable of the intellectual effort it requires to shake off those blind prejudices, to shake off those easy assumptions about this world, about the existence of God. In this respect, the Qur'an describes the atheists as “cattle”, as cattle of those who grow the crops and do not stop and wonder about this world.<ref>[https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/on-question-time-will-someone-please-ask-mehdi-hasan-about-his-views-on-infidels- Douglas Murray, "On Question Time, will someone please ask Mehdi Hasan about his views on infidels?"], [[The Spectator]]</ref>}}

A response to criticism of these verses is that it was only referring to non-believers that they were at war with, and that Muslims can't start wars but only fight defensively. A counter to this response is the offensive wars undertaken by the caliphs, especially the {{wpl|Rashidun caliphate}} (the first four successors to Muhammad), considered to be role models for Muslims, as well as by the prophet Muhammad himself.<ref>[https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rashidun Rashidun caliphate on Britannica]</ref><ref>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Muhammad Muhammad's biography on Britannica]</ref> However, a counter to this criticism is that the {{wpl|Umayyad caliphate}} (the successors to the Rashiduns, and who expanded on the size of the Caliphate even more than the Rashiduns) didn't ''want'' people converting. It hurt their [[greed|bottom line]] when people converted, since they no longer had to pay the ''jizya'' tax. To quote G.R. Hawting:

{{quotebox|The problem for the Umayyads was that they had come to power as leaders of a conquering Arab elite and to have allowed the conquered peoples to enter Islam en masse would have abolished or at least weakened the distinction between the elite and the masses. The crucial privileges of Islam, from this point of view, were in the area of taxation. In principle the Arabs were to be the recipients of the taxes paid by the non-Arabs. If the conquered peoples were allowed to become Muslims, and to change their position from that of payers to that of recipients of taxes, the whole system upon which the Umayyads depended would collapse. But as the pressure from the non-Arabs built up, and the universalist notion of Islam became stronger, this problem became increasingly urgent for the dynasty and played a major part in the generally negative attitude of Muslims towards the Umayyad dynasty.<ref>''The First Dynasty of Islam - The Umayyad Caliphate AD 661–750'' p. 5. G.R. Hawting. ISBN 9780415240734</ref>}}

In fact, the Umayyad ambivalence towards converts (converts to Islam were still required to pay the ''jizya'', Islamic law be damned) played a large part in the collapse of the Umayyad caliphate.<ref>"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MdITJvZymo Abbasid Revolution:] Collapse of the Umayyads" - a video by History Youtuber "History Time"</ref> It does show however that Islam was initially regarded as an ''Arab'' property, and not a universal one (which is again contrary to Islamic doctrine). In fact, it can be argued that the spread of Islam to non-Arabs was an unintended consequence of Islamic law than deliberate policy. (Again, conversion hurt the caliphate's bottom line.)

===Jews===
{{main|Antisemitism}}
{{cquote|The Day of Judgement will not come about until Muslims fight the Jews, when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Muslims, O Abdullah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him. Only the Gharkad tree, (the Boxthorn tree) would not do that because it is one of the trees of the Jews.|||Sahih Muslim, 41:6985}}

Jews have been persecuted in all Muslim countries to various degrees, and by Muhammad himself. 

"You [Jews and Christians] should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle, and I wish that I should expel you from this land Those of you who have any property with them should sell it, otherwise they should know that the earth belongs to Allah and His Apostle (and they may have to go away leaving everything behind)."<ref>[http://cmje.usc.edu/religious-texts/hadith/muslim/019-smt.php Book 019, Number 4363] ''The Book of Jihad and Expedition (Kitab Al-Jihad wa'l-Siyar)''</ref>

===Homophobia===
{{main|Homophobia}}
Homosexuals are severely punished in Islamic states such as Iran and Saudi Arabia (except that Iran [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad|doesn't have any]]). Punishments can include flogging, beatings, mutilation of the genitals, and in some cases, execution. Gays being thrown off roofs and then stoned (not in [[marijuana|the good way]]) has been the common punishment in [[ISIS]]-controlled parts of [[Syria]] and [[Iraq]].

Death penalty for acts of homosexuality are mentioned in numerous hadiths such as the following:
{{cquote|Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: The Prophet said: If you find anyone doing as Lot's people did, kill the one who does it, and the one to whom it is done... (Sahih)|||[https://sunnah.com/abudawud/40/112 Sunan Abi Dawud (4462 / 40:112 / 39447)] (Also mentioned in several Hasan Haddith such as:
[https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi/17/40 Jami` at-Tirmidhi (1456 / 17:40 / 3:15:1456)] & Sunan of Ibn Majah [https://sunnah.com/urn/1268780 (3:20:2561 / 20:2658)] - [https://sunnah.com/urn/1268790 (3:20:2562 / 20:2659)], as well as [https://sunnah.com/urn/2015030 Bulugh al-Maram (10:1255 / 10:1216)])}}

In hadiths, even "effeminate men" were ordered to be turned out of houses by Muhammad:

{{cquote|Narrated Ibn Abbas: the Prophet cursed effeminate men and those women who assume the similitude [manners] of men. He also said: "Turn them out of your houses." He turned such and such a person out, and Umar [a principal companion of Muhammad] also turned out such and such person.|||[https://quranx.com/Hadith/Bukhari/USC-MSA/Volume-8/Book-82/Hadith-820 Bukhari (6834 / 8:82:820)] & [https://quranx.com/Hadith/Bukhari/USC-MSA/Volume-7/Book-72/Hadith-774 Bukhari (5886 / 7:72:774)]}}

Secular states that have large Muslim populations tend to be more ambivalent regarding queer matters. Bosnia for instance has legalized homosexual activity, and progress is being made, but is still less LGBTQ friendly than comparable nations in Western Europe.<ref>[https://theculturetrip.com/europe/bosnia-herzegovina/articles/whats-it-like-to-be-lgbt-in-bosnia/ What's it like to be LGBT in Bosnia]</ref> Granted, until very recently the West wasn't very queer friendly either, and still isn't in some aspects and areas (just try being openly gay in the American South or openly [[trans]] in the UK).

Historically speaking, despite the condemnations of homosexuality in certain sections of the Sunnah, Muslim societies tended to be more tolerant towards homosexuality than they are in the present.<ref>Everett K. Rowson (2004). "Homosexuality". In Richard C. Martin (ed.). ''Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World.'' MacMillan Reference USA.</ref> Homophobia became more standard with the advent of Western colonialism.<ref>{{cite news |author=Viola van Melis |date=16 November 2011 |title=Islam tolerierte früher Homosexuelle |url=https://hpd.de/node/12315 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503163831/https://hpd.de/node/12315 |archive-date=3 May 2019 |access-date=20 January 2019 |newspaper=HPD Humanistischer Pressedienst}}</ref>

===Corporal punishment for children in religious schools===
{{main|Corporal punishment}}
{{cquote|The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Command a boy to pray when he reaches the age of seven years. When he becomes ten years old, then beat him for prayer.|||Abu Dawud<ref>[http://www.usc.edu/org/cmje/religious-texts/hadith/abudawud/002-sat.php#002.0494 Hadith 2], ''The Centre for Muslim-Jewish Engagement''</ref>}}

This is a notable problem in certain Islamic regions. This has been known to even take place in certain madrassas (religious schools) in the United Kingdom.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-lancashire-19519444 Reform call as madrassa teacher guilty of child cruelty], ''The British Broadcasting Company''</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95GxhqjHZ3E ''YouTube'']</ref>

===Sharia as applying to non-Muslims===
The notion that non-Muslims should also be subject to Islamic jurisprudence is a key tenet of [[Islamism]], and both instances brought [[Islamism|Islamists]] scurrying out of the woodwork. Such individuals, like any religious [[fanatic]]s, lack a sense of humor, and provoked a seemingly endless and quite unnecessary series of absurd debates across the Western world based entirely on whether they find something personally offensive or not. Should we allow this? Well, we allow jokes about Christians and Jews? Why not? Should we exercise restraint when using our right to [[freedom of speech]]? Are we refusing to show the cartoons on national news because we don't want to offend Muslims, or because we're scared of offending Muslims? The answer to those questions, in order, is: Yes, Yes, and the news networks were scared of being blown up or something equally horrid. In our eyes, the cartoons' only real crime were being unfunny. And no violence is needed to make that point. Yet the extremist Muslim position survives and thrives in the latest [[South Park]] episode which parent companies Comedy Central and Viacom heavily [[censorship|censored]] in order not to offend the already ridiculously fragile sensibilities of many Muslims. Appropriately for South Park, however, the images of Muhammad were so cartoonishly over-censored (especially Kyle's speech at the end, of which only a few words — mostly pronouns and conjunctions — can be heard) that the censorship itself has the feeling of [[satire]].

People can be assaulted or even murdered because a militant Muslim or [[lynch mob]] believes they have broken sharia in some way.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/06/10/man-is-attacked-with-machetes-by-muslim-boys-who-were-upset-he-wasnt-fasting/ Man Is attacked with machetes by Muslim boys who were upset he wasn’t fasting], ''FriendlyAtheist''</ref> In [[Bangladesh]] 3,000 people have been arrested following attacks and killing of [[atheist]] and other bloggers. As of June 2016, it is unclear whether this will make a difference.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/06/11/bangladeshi-police-arrest-more-than-3000-people-to-prevent-further-attacks-on-atheists-and-others/ Bangladeshi police arrest more than 3,000 people to prevent further attacks on atheists and others], ''FriendlyAtheist''</ref>

===Promotion of creationism and pseudoscience===
{{main|1=Creationism|3=Pseudoscience}}
The Qur'an in several places concurs with the outline of the Creation story in [[Genesis]]. Specifically, [[Adam]] is taken to be the first human, formed by God in an act of creation out of clay. Unlike the Bible, the Qur'an explicitly claims to be the ''actual word'' of God, and so it is unusual for Muslims to believe that the Qur'an contains errors. However, the Islamic text is somewhat vaguer than Genesis, leaving some room for interpretation, and it is not impossible to find Muslims who accept [[evolution]] as fact, though it might be impossible to find Qur'anic support for evolution of man from "non-man" organisms.

Many Muslims (such as liberal Muslims) are [[theistic evolution]]ists and support the idea that Muslim religious teachings are compatible with evolution. For example, Shaikh Nuh Ha Mim Keller, an American Muslim and specialist in Islamic law has argued in Islam and Evolution that a belief in [[macroevolution]] is not incompatible with Islam, as long as it is accepted that "God is the Creator of everything" ({{Qur'an|13|16}}) and that God specifically created humanity (in the person of Adam; {{Qur'an|38|71|76}}).<ref>[http://www.masud.co.uk/ISLAM/nuh/evolve.htm Evolution and Islam], ''Masud''</ref> However other Muslims claim that evolution contradicts Muslim teachings and take a position similar to the position of Christian creationists.

In modern times, [[anti-science]] attitudes are a serious problem in some Islamic states; although [[creationism]] is more usually associated with fundamentalist Christianity. While some Muslims, such as [[Zakir Naik]], tacitly promote creationism and pseduoscience by defending the inaccuracy of the Qur'an, people like [[Harun Yahya]] ''actively'' promote creationism and pseudoscience and attack evolution.

By contrast, [[medieval]] Islam was at least relatively pro-science, with early scientists such as [[Ibn al-Haytham]] and {{wpl|Avicenna}} significantly advancing their fields and paving the way for similar movements in Europe in the centuries to follow.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL41gX0fJng Science and Islam],''The British Broadcasting Company''</ref>

===Violence===
Islam has been used as an excuse for violence in the past and present. [[DAESH]] notably wants to recreate the [[Caliphate]], and has embarked on a violent (ironically enough) crusade to reach its goal. The expansion of Islam was also violent in certain aspects, but so was the expansion of Christianity into the New World. Islam, in Southeast Asia, was notably spread by traders and not warriors.<ref>"[https://en.unesco.org/silkroad/content/did-you-know-spread-islam-southeast-asia-through-trade-routes Did you know?] The spread of Islam in Southeast Asia by way of trade routes." - UNESCO</ref>

However, Islam also has a pacifistic current. Muslims in {{wpl|Senegal}} even created a non-violent resistance movement to [[French colonialism]].<ref>"[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtzUfbHMoWE The Muslims who fought French colonialism] with non violence." - a video by the scholar of religion "Let's Talk Religion" on Youtube</ref> Islam is in this respect like other religions in that it has both militaristic and pacifistic currents. The argument that Islam is [[special pleading|special]] in its capacity for violence is [[fallacious]].

===Muhammad's character===
In literal Islam, Muhammad is the ideal human being which Muslims should strive to emulate (only to a degree that the Qur'an allows).

Muhammad had 13 wives, owned slaves, and prescribed severe torture ({{Qur'an|8|12}}). Among Muhammad's wives, one (named Aisha) was 6 years old at the time of marriage and [[Pedophilia|9 years old at the time of the consummation of the marriage]]<ref group=note>Yes, we're using euphemisms to try to soften the blow.</ref> (Sahih Bukhari 5:58:236), when Muhammad was around 54. 

These have become problematic facts for some Muslims, as their modern sensibilities contradict with the infallible moral nature of Muhammad, for all times.

Muslims generally respond by saying it was culturally accepted then or claiming [[cultural relativism]] (which implies that Muhammad is not an ideal for all places and all times), totally denying the validity of hadiths, or taking the postmodern [[revisionism]] approach where "Anything can mean anything" (liberal Muslims). Another massive problem for the apologists is the fact that the fourth verse of the 65th chapter of the Quran ("Surah at-Talaq") seems to imply the consummation of marriages to pre-pubescent girls, and this is how virtually all Muslim scholars have interpreted it.<ref>https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=65&tAyahNo=4&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2</ref> (Criticism of Mohammed's marriage to Aisha possibly when she was 9 is by far the most commonly used criticism of Islam as well.){{fact}}

===Criticism from Muslim scholars===
In Islamic history, there have been a number of Muslim scholars who criticized certain practices and beliefs of the religion. A notable example was the famous polymath {{wpl|Al-Biruni|Abū Rayḥān Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad Al-Bīrūnī|.}} In his book "The Chronology of Ancient Nations", he dedicated many parts in refuting unfounded ideas which he believed to be irrational or unscientific. For example, he writes with a ridiculing tone:
{{quoteblock|This is certainly the same sort of hallucination frequently occurring among those Muslims who try to derive mystical wisdom from the comparison of the name of Muhammad (محمد) with the human figure. According to them the Mīm is like his head, the Hā like his body, the second Mīm like his belly, and the Dāl like his two feet. These people seem to be completely ignorant of lineaments, if they compare the measure of the head and the belly (both expressed by the same letter Mīm) and the quantity of the limbs which project out of the mass of the body, forgetting at the same time the means for the perpetuation of our race. Perhaps, however, they meant individuals of the feminine, not of the masculine sex. I should like to know what they would say of such name as in their outward form, but for the addition or omission of one letter, resemble the form of the name of Muhammad, for instance, حمید or مجید {Hamīd or Majīd), and others. If you would compare some of them according to their method, the matter would simply become ridiculous and ludicrous."<ref name=albiruni>Al-Bīrūnī.  [https://archive.org/details/chronologyofanci00biru/page/292/mode/2up The Chronology of Ancient Nations]. London: W.H. Allen & Co, 1879. ISBN 1402160798.</ref>{{rp|293}}}}

In the same book, he criticizes the way Islamic clerics knowingly attempt to deceive adherents for financial gains through superstitious beliefs relating to gem stones:

{{quoteblock|To this category, too, belong certain forgeries, e.g. some Shi'a preacher once asked me to teach him something which he might utilize. So I produced to him from the Kītāb-altalwī of Alkindī the recipe of (an information how to make) an ink composed of various pungent materials. This ink you drop upon an agate and write with it; if you then hold the tone near the fire the writing upon the stone becomes apparent in white colour. Now, in this manner he wrote (upon stones) the names Muhammad, 'Ali, etc., even without doing the thing very carefully or understanding it particularly well, and then he proclaimed that these stones were formations of nature and had some from such and such a place. And for such forgeries he got much money from the Shi'a people."<ref name=albiruni/>{{rp|294}}}}

Many people either identifying as Muslims or those who have left the religion but reside in countries with strict Islamic laws against criticizing the religion do so using pseudonyms to avoid repercussions or being identified.

==Islamophobia==
{{main|Islamophobia}}
Islamophobia is a defined as "an irrational fear of Muslims", and considered a form of bigotry.

The term is controversial, with some arguing that it is a [[Snarl word|label]] used to de-legitimise and silence every criticism of Islam and every argument that shows that Islamism is a plausible (and the most probable) result of Islamic doctrine, and others claiming that it describes the pattern of irrational fear-mongering and [[Ignorance|ignorance]] that leads to hate crimes against minorities and the restriction of their rights. Additionally, some other people (including some Muslims themselves) might also argue that since opposing a religion is ''not always'' the same as hating everyone who follows it, a more accurate term for anti-Muslim bigotry would be '''“Muslimophobia”'''.<ref>https://www.google.com/amp/s/nation.com.pk/28-Mar-2017/let-s-call-it-muslimophobia%3fversion=amp</ref>

Basically, Islamophobes are generally those who think there is ''something bad'' in Islamic text itself, and hence ''something bad'' in all ''true'' Muslims, [[No true Scotsman|where definition of ''true'' Muslims being those Muslims who do not use inconsistent methods to interpret Islam based on personal moral conveniences]].

Some who argue against Islamophobes claim that there is [[Bullshit|''nothing bad'' in Islamic text]] as text has no meaning beyond what one forces it to mean, and ''all bad'' committed in the name of Islam is a result of "[[No True Scotsman|wrong]]" interpretations of Islam, where a wrong interpretation is any interpretation that leads to something negative.

While it is important to allow criticism of Islam, it is also important to note that many self-professed "critics" of Islam will often engage in a [[bait-and-switch]] where they will pretend to critique the excesses of Islam (not always unjustifiably) but do so not out of desire to reform Islam or encourage critical discussion of the religion, rather doing so as a means of promoting a Western-supremacist, Western-imperialist, hyper-Zionist, Hindu nationalist, or racist political agenda, often going as far as to mesh criticism of Islam with whatever right-wing political cause they promote. Examples of this abound, but the best example is [[Sam Harris]], who oftentimes seems to fail to understand the difference between criticism of Islam and Zionist propaganda, going as far as to associate Palestinian resistance efforts (the Second Intifadah specifically) with Muslim immigration in Europe, even when said immigration is decidedly not Palestinian. Moreover, in recent years, Harris has begun promoting scientific racialism. Is this related to his racist biases against culturally Muslim ethnicities? You decide.

==See also==
{{collist|3|
'''Organizations'''
*[[Al Jazeera]]
*[[CAIR]]
*[[DAESH]]
*[[ENGAGE]]
*[[Hamas]]
*[[Hezbollah]]
*[[Muslim Patrol]]
'''People'''
*[[Christopher Hitchens]]
*[[Sam Harris]]
*[[Richard Dawkins]]
'''Et cetera'''
*[[9-11]]
*[[Burqa]]
*[[East London Mosque]]
*[[Gospel of Barnabas]]
*[[Halal]]
*[[Ground Zero Mosque]]
*"[[Qur'anic scientific foreknowledge]]"
*[[Sufism]]
*"[[Religion of Peace]]"
*[[Terrorism]]
}}

==External links==
Academic resources
* [http://www.patheos.com/Library/Islam.html Patheos Library – Islam]
* [http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA University of Southern California Compendium of Muslim Texts]
* [http://philtar.ucsm.ac.uk/encyclopedia/islam Encyclopedia of Islam (Overview of World Religions)]
*[http://www.ethicaldemocracy.org/ Ethical Democracy Journal] views on Islam, other ethical systems and democracy
Online resources
* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9105852/Islam Islam], ''Encyclopaedia Britannica Online''
*[http://ideas.repec.org/p/iza/izadps/dp4459.html Asabiyya: Re-Interpreting Value Change in Globalized Societies], ''University of Connecticut''
Directories
* [http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/us/islamus.htm Islam], ''UCB Libraries GovPubs''

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Islam]]
[[Category:Abrahamic religions]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Homophobia]]
[[Category:Sexism]]
[[Category:Transphobia]]
[[Category:Purity culture]]

Categories: Islam, Abrahamic religions, Religion, Homophobia, Sexism, Transphobia, Purity culture