Modern+Day+Islam


 * // __Modern Day Islam__ //**

=5  Pillars of Islam : =

Prayer: (Salaah) Muslims pray five times a day facing towards Mecca and the Kaaba. Charity: (Zakat) Also known as the giving of alms, Muslims give away part of their earnings to those less fortunate. Faith: (Shahadah) Muslims believe Allah is the one and only god and that Muhammad is the prophet. “I bear witness that there is no god, but God; I bear witness that Muhammad is the prophet of God.” When someone says this and means it, they enter the Islamic faith. Fasting: (Saum) Muslims fast for the month of Ramadan, during which they reflect on their behavior and try to purify their thoughts. Pilgrimage: <span style="color: #009900; font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 10.5pt; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 150%;">(Hajj) <span style="font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 10.5pt; font-style: normal; language: en-US; line-height: 150%;">If possible, Muslims are supposed to make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in their lifetime.

==<span style="font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 20pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US;">I <span style="color: #009900; font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 20pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US;">s <span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 20pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US;">l <span style="font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 20pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US;">a <span style="color: #009900; font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 20pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US;">m <span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 20pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US;">i <span style="font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 20pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US;">c <span style="color: #009900; font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 20pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US;">C <span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 20pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US;">o <span style="font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 20pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US;">l <span style="color: #009900; font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 20pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US;">o <span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 20pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US;">r <span style="font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 20pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; language: en-US;">s: ==

<span style="font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 13pt; font-style: normal; language: en-US; line-height: 150%;">Black, white, red, and green are the dominate colors in Islamic society. These four colors dominate the flags of Arab states. Green is especially significant because it is said to be Muhammad’s favorite color and that after him, only caliphs were allowed to wear green turbans. It was also used by Islamic soldiers. Today, the color is often found in mosques as well as on the Saudi Arabia flag. There is also a reference to green in the Qur’an.

Muslim Population:


 * || Christian || Muslim ||
 * 1900 world population || 26.9% || 12.4% ||
 * 1980 world population || 30% || 16.5% ||
 * 2000 world population || 29.9% || 19.2% ||
 * 2025 world population (PROJECTED) || ** 25% ** || ** 30% ** ||

Islam is growing 2.9% each year, while the total world population is growing only 2.3% each year. This means that every year, a larger percent of the world is Muslim. Today, it is estimated that 21.5% of the world is Muslim and according to the table above, in 2025, there will be a larger percent of Muslims than Christians.

<span style="color: #009900; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Countries With The Largest Muslim Populations (2009):


 * Country || Number of Muslims ||
 * Indonesia || 203 million ||
 * Pakistan || 174 million ||
 * India || 161 million ||
 * Bangladesh || 145 million ||
 * Egypt || 79 million ||
 * Nigeria || 78 million ||
 * Iran || 74 million ||
 * Turkey || 74 million ||
 * Algeria || 34 million ||
 * Morocco || 32 million ||
 * Iraq || 30 million ||
 * Sudan || 30 million ||
 * Afghanistan || 28 million ||
 * Ethiopia || 28 million ||
 * Uzbekistan || 26 million ||
 * Saudi Arabia || 25 million ||
 * Yemen || 23 million ||
 * China || 22 million ||
 * Syria || 20 million ||
 * Russia || 16 million ||

<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> <span style="color: #009900; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Ramadan: This holiday celebrates the gift of the Qur'an. It's for the duration of the <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> month that M uslims must fast between sunrise and sunset. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;"> <span style="color: #009900; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Eid-al-Fitr: The celebration for the first day after Ramadan. <span style="color: #009900; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">Dhu Al-Hijja: During this month is when Muslims make their pilgramige to Mecca. (See the 5 Pillars of Faith) **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Eid-al-adha: ** This hoilday, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, happens seventy days after Eid-al-Fitr. It celebrates Abraham's commitment to God when he was about to sacrafice his own son. If able, every family should slaughter an animal and divide the meat between family, friends, and the poor. **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">The first day of Muharram: ** Also known as the start of the Islamic New Year, this is the day Muhammad left Mecca for Medina. <span style="color: #009900; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">The twelfth day of Rabi' al-awwal: This month is the third month of the Islamic calender and it celebrates the birth of Muhammad. Sunni Muslims believe the exact date of birth was the twelth day, while Shi'a Muslims believe he was born on the seventeenth.
 * Key Festivals:**


 * <span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">// Well Known Mosques in the U.S. // **

<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Mosque Tuscan:

Tuscon Islamic Center (University of Arizona):

Mosque Maryam: <span style="color: #009900; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">(Originally a Greek Orthodox Church, this building was purchased by the Nation of Islam in 1972) <span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">

Islamic Center of America:

Islamic Center of Washington: <span style="color: #cf2117; font-family: Perpetua; font-size: 150%; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; language: en-US; line-height: 150%;">

__ Stereotyping and Double Standards:

__ <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif;">Muslims have always been stereotyped just for their unique culture and ties to crimes, but after September 11th the stereotyping became much worse. Some people believe that every Muslim person is a terrorist, so in return they are treated differently. For example, airport security keeps a special eye on Muslims just because of 9/11. Muslims are a minority group, so no one ever wants to offend them. On the other hand, Christianity is a major religion so when people criticize it, it's not a big of deal. As the cartoon describes, it is okay to hate on Christians, but it is a crime to talk poorly of Muslims. This is a great example of a double standard.