Islam: A Primer
Abstract
There are about one billion Muslims in the world, concentrated primarily in North Africa, the Middle East, and South and Southeast Asia. Islam teaches that Allah selected Muhammad, a merchant from Mecca, as the last of the prophets following Adam, Moses, Jesus, and others, to deliver God's message to humankind. This report discusses the historical background of Islam; divisions within Islam; written guidance (e.g., the Quran, Hadith, Sunnah); the Islamic clergy; the tenets of Islam; Jihad; Osama bin Laden and the fundamentalists; people of the book (i.e., Christians and Jews); the status of women in Islam; the importance of Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem; dietary and other restrictions; and non-Muslim practices that are sometimes associated with Islam (e.g., female circumcision and honor killings). The report will not be updated.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 19, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA469025
Entities
People
- Clyde Mark
Organizations
- Library of Congress