Ramadan on the Net - Islam and Arabia: Where faith and nationality converge

Islam and Arabia:
Where faith and nationality converge
and diverge

Islam is one of the world's three monotheistic faiths, founded in the 7th century by Muhammad. Born in what is today Saudi Arabia in 570 CE, Muhammad was meditating in a cave outside of Mecca when he received his first prophecy from Allah (God) at the age of 40.

Muslims believe that Muhammad was the last and most important prophet in a series of Jewish and Christian prophets. Muslims also embrace the prophecy of others like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus.

Adherents to Islam are called Muslims (or Moslems, as is frequently mispronounced). There are between 1.3 and 1.5 billion Muslims in the world, comprising nearly 1/5th of the world population. Many of these Muslims -- approximately 18 percent -- live in Arab countries, such as Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, Iraq, Egypt and Jordan. The largest Muslim community, however, lives not in the Arab world, but in Indonesia. There are also large communities in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa and significant Muslim minorities live in North and South America and Europe.

Despite the fact that less than 1/5th of all Muslims live in the Arab world, there is a pervasive assumption and misconception that Arab and Muslim are synonymous terms. In fact, Arab refers to those who share a linguistic, cultural, ethnic and historic heritage from the Arabian Peninsula. Muslim, on the other hand, refers to those who practice Islam. Just as Muslims can and do live in Arab countries -- and anywhere else in the world, not everyone living in an Arab country is a Muslim. They can be Christian, Druze, Bahai and even Jewish.

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Comments

chedli belahya from United Kingdom (Great Britain)

05:44 09/19/2009

salam to all muslim brothers and sister i wish a happy eid.......eid mobarak salam .

Waqas ahmed from Pakistan

08:10 08/26/2009

i wont to say that the ramadan moth is a very high month god help those wh help them selfs

idajaa from Rhode Island, US

20:07 08/24/2009

salaam all muslim brothers and sis,happy ramadan i hope u enjoin during ramdan time and mye alaah accept ur fast and salaad..and give as his marcefull,,,,,,,min,,minm,,,

iram from United Kingdom (Great Britain)

13:44 08/24/2009

Salam alaikum to the all of muslims and unmuslims people as u know ramadam is the most important month so holy month and we have to more pray than another month and in this month the doors of JANAT are open and i say seriously to my all of Mulsims brothers and sisters that please more pray in this month and what do you want you can ask from ALLAH and he will give you ok thanks from this site.

Sameer from Peru

06:20 08/22/2009

Salam alaikum to the all of muslims and unmuslims people whos use from this site i can say just that RAMADAN is the most important month and so holy month and we have to more pray than another month and in this month the doors of JANAT are open and i say seriously to my all of Mulsims brothers and sisters that please more pray in this month and what do you want you can ask from ALLAH and he will give you ok thanks from this site.

keith from Fiji

07:53 06/10/2009

I love all the prophets! especially Buhhda! He didnt believe in violence like the christians, jews, or muslims. He was peaceful and a pacisfist. Maybe that is why the religion didnt last. LOL!

Abdallah from United Arab Emirates

07:42 05/27/2009

I am a muslim & i like to correct the information of : Muslims believe that Muhammad was the last and most important prophet in a series of Jewish and Christian prophets we do beleive he was the last & most important prophet since adam till today & not only jewish & crisitan prophets

RATHER BILAL AHMAD from Romania

05:15 03/11/2009

A GOOD AND USEFUL SITE!

john from Alabama, US

07:54 03/03/2009

this is cool

mohammed jobara

13:55 12/16/2008

well done thank you.

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Islam and Arabia:Where faith and nationality convergeand diverge

Islam and Arabia:
Where faith and nationality converge
and diverge