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The Story of Islam. Islam in Canada. Islam is one of the fastest-growing religious groups in Canada Much of this growth is due to immigration Canadian Muslims come from all over the world – India, Pakistan, the Middle East (a total of over 50 nations) Most Muslims in Canada live in big cities
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Islam in Canada • Islam is one of the fastest-growing religious groups in Canada • Much of this growth is due to immigration • Canadian Muslims come from all over the world – India, Pakistan, the Middle East (a total of over 50 nations) • Most Muslims in Canada live in big cities • Muslims have been portrayed negatively in the media and some find discrimination to be a challenge for them
History of Islam • Islam is the 2nd largest religion in the world • Muslims come from many different cultures • Only about 15-20% of Muslims are Arab • Over 22 million people in China are Muslim • Indonesia has the largest Muslim population (over half of the world’s Muslim population live in SE Asia) • The greatest prophet of Islam was Muhammad, although many earlier prophets are shared with Judaism and Christianity • Muslims trace their ancestry to the prophet Abraham
Abraham • According to both the Qur’an and the Old Testament, Abraham had a son with Hagar before Isaac. • This son, Ishmael, returned to Arabia with his mother • The House of God (Kaaba) in Mecca is said to have been built by Abraham
Muhammad • Born in 570 CE in Mecca • The Kaaba had been taken over by polytheists and filled with idols • Muhammad never accepted polytheism • Had a revelation from God starting in 610 CE • These words were written down as the Qur’an
Muhammad, cont’d • His revelations were not well received in Mecca • Business in Mecca relied on visitors to the Kaaba • Muhammad’s experiences included his Night Journey when he visited heaven and met God • Ascended to heaven from the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem (connect to Judaism and Christianity) • He eventually fled to Medina (622 CE, “hijra”) • He assembled an army of supporters, who marched on Mecca in 628 CE • Mecca accepted Islam and Muhammad reclaimed the Kaaba for the one God • Before his death, Muhammad instituted the hajj (pilgrimage) and emphasized Muslim equality
Islam after Muhammad • After Muhammad’s death, Islam spread quickly – for 2 main reasons: • The message was simple and easy to teach • At times, it was spread through conquest • Within the first 100 years, it spread as far west as Spain and east to India and SE Asia • People could not agree on who should spread Islam (descendants of Muhammad?) • This led to the development of 2 groups
Sunni and Shi’a • Sunni Muslims make up the vast majority of Muslims in the world (almost 90%) • Shi’ite Muslims believe that the leaders should be blood relatives of Muhammad • Today the main differences between the two groups are: • Sunnis believe that individuals have a direct relationship with God (no need for a leader or mediator) • Shi’ites put a much greater emphasis on human leadership