Islam 101
Nearly a quarter of humanity
A quarter of humanity is Muslim. Most of them are not Arab.
3 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 3
About six in ten Muslims live in Asia and the Pacific. Only about one in five lives in the Middle East and North Africa. Indonesia has the most Muslims, then Pakistan and India (estimates differ on which is second), then Bangladesh.
Qur'an 49:13
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَٰكُم مِّن ذَكَرࣲ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلۡنَٰكُمۡ شُعُوبࣱا وَقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوٓاْۚ إِنَّ أَكۡرَمَكُمۡ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتۡقَىٰكُمۡۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرࣰ ١٣
13 O people, We have created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may recognize one another. Indeed, the most noble of you before Allah is the most righteous among you. Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.
Lesson
Most Muslims are Asian, not Arab.
Part 2 of 3
According to Pew Research Center, Islam is the fastest-growing major religion. The growth comes mainly from age and family size, not mainly from conversion: Muslims are, on average, younger and have more children than other groups.
Lesson
Muslim growth comes mainly from youth, not conversion.
Part 3 of 3
From Senegal to Indonesia, Bosnia to Cape Town, Muslims share prayer, fasting and the Qur'an. They differ in language, dress, food and politics. Lantern's own home, South Africa, has about a million Muslims by recent estimates.
Lesson
Muslims share one core, lived out in very different cultures.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
A quarter of humanity is Muslim. Most of them are not Arab.