Did You Know?

There are 1.4 Billion Muslims in the world, including nearly 6 million in the United States.

There are all types of races and ethinic groups of muslims in the United States including immigrants from Africa and Asia, US Muslims of African American descent, Hispanic descent and Anglo descent.

The term Muslim means one who submits to the will of Allah

Muslims believe in only one G-d (Allah means G-d in arabic)

Muslims read the Quran (holy book) for guidance. The Quran was revealed in arabic but has been translated into hundreds of languages including Spanish, English and French.

Muslims are required to perform Salat (prayer) 5 times daily and fast from dawn to sunset during the Islamic month of Ramadan. Muslims are also required to make one pilgrimage during their lifetime to visit the Holy Kabba (sacred site located in Saudi Arabia). In addition, muslims must be regular in charity to others.

The Indian Sub-continent (Bangladesh, Cambodia, India) contains 30% of muslim population in the world.

Middle Eastern nations represent 20% of the worlds' muslim population.

18% of the worlds' muslims live in Sub-Saharan Africa

17% of the worlds' muslims live in South East Asia (Indonesia and Malaysia)

10% of the worlds' muslims live in former Soviet Union States

5% live in China, United States, Europe, Canada, South America combined

On 13 occasions in the last 100 years women have been elected President (or equivalent) in majority muslim nations. During the same time period this has happened once in Europe (Margaret Thatcher - Great Britain) and never in the United States

Contrary to some western journalism, Islam gave equal rights to men and women 1400 years ago through the revelation of the holy Quran. Nonreligious based Cultural Practices in some majority muslim nations have not followed this guidance.

The vast majority of muslims unequivocally denounce Terrorism.

The Holy Quran stresses living peacefully with all people regardless of differences in faith and this is excepted by the vast majority of muslims.

In conclusion, Muslims live all over the world and represent literally thousands of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

These facts have been provided with intent to counter misconceptions about Islam.  Reference statistics have been provided by the Muslim Journal publication a member of the Association of Black Publishers (ABA).

Written By Khalid Shaheed (12/10/2004)