What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam

Contents......Page 8
Preface......Page 14
Acknowledgments......Page 18
Are all Muslims the same?......Page 22
Where do most Muslims live?......Page 23
What do Muslims believe?......Page 25
Why do Muslims say they are descended from Abraham?......Page 26
How did Islam originate?......Page 27
What is the Muslim scripture?......Page 29
Why is Arabic so important in Islam?......Page 30
What role does Muhammad play in Muslim life?......Page 31
Why is so much known about Muhammad’s life?......Page 33
Did Muhammad have multiple wives?......Page 35
What do Muslims believe about a worldwide Muslim community (ummah)?......Page 36
What are the core beliefs that unite all Muslims?......Page 38
What do Muslims do on the pilgrimage to Mecca?......Page 43
What is the Kaaba?......Page 44
How do Muslims pray?......Page 45
Do Muslims believe in angels?......Page 48
Do Muslims believe in heaven and hell?......Page 49
Do Muslims believe in saints?......Page 51
What do Muslims believe about Mary and Jesus?......Page 52
Do Muslims have a Sabbath like Jews and Christians?......Page 53
Do Muslims have a weekly worship service?......Page 54
Do Muslims have religious holidays or holy days?......Page 55
Does Islam have a clergy?......Page 56
What is a mosque?......Page 57
What is an Islamic center?......Page 59
Are there any divisions in Islam?......Page 60
What is the difference between Sunni and Shii Muslims?......Page 66
What are the divisions among Shii Muslims?......Page 69
What is Wahhabi Islam?......Page 70
Is there a difference between Muslims and Black Muslims?......Page 73
Are Sufis Muslims?......Page 77
Who are these Islamic fundamentalists?......Page 79
Is Islam medieval and against change?......Page 82
Is Islam compatible with modernization?......Page 84
Are there any modern Muslim thinkers or reformers?......Page 86
Do Muslims believe Islam is the only true religion?......Page 90
Is Islam intolerant of other religions?......Page 91
How is Islam similar to Christianity and Judaism?......Page 94
How do Muslims view Judaism? Christianity?......Page 96
Why do Muslims persecute Christians in Muslim countries?......Page 97
Haven’t Jews and Christians always been enemies of Islam?......Page 100
Why does Islam separate men and women?......Page 108
Are women second-class citizens in Islam?......Page 110
What kinds of roles did women play in early Islam?......Page 114
Why do Muslim women wear veils and long garments?......Page 116
Why aren’t women allowed to work or drive in Islam?......Page 119
Why do Muslim men wear turbans or caps?......Page 121
Does Islam require circumcision?......Page 122
Can Muslim men have more than one wife?......Page 123
Can Muslims marry non-Muslims?......Page 125
What does Islam have to say about domestic violence?......Page 126
How does Islam treat divorce?......Page 128
How do Muslims feel about pets, or petting animals?......Page 130
What is Islam’s attitude toward alcohol and pork?......Page 131
Why are Muslims against dancing?......Page 133
Why are some Muslims opposed to music?......Page 134
How do Muslims greet each other and why?......Page 136
Why do Muslims say “Peace be upon him”? What does PBUH mean?......Page 137
What is jihad?......Page 138
Does the Quran condone terrorism?......Page 140
How can Islam be used to justify terrorism, hijackings, and hostage taking?......Page 143
Does Islam permit suicide bombers?......Page 145
Why are Muslims so violent?......Page 148
Do Muslims support extremist and terrorist groups?......Page 150
Do most Muslim organizations support terrorism?......Page 152
Do Muslims have a martyrdom complex?......Page 153
Why do they hate us?......Page 155
Why was Salman Rushdie condemned to death?......Page 157
What is Islamic law?......Page 160
What does Islamic law say about marriage, divorce, and inheritance?......Page 163
What does Islam say about abortion?......Page 167
What does Islam say about slavery?......Page 168
Why are Islamic punishments for crimes so harsh?......Page 170
Why don’t Muslims practice a separation of church and state?......Page 172
Why does religion play such a big role in Muslim politics?......Page 174
Why do Muslims reject secularism?......Page 177
Why is Jerusalem so important to Muslims?......Page 178
Is Islam compatible with democracy?......Page 180
Why aren’t Muslim countries more democratic?......Page 181
Why does Islam reject capitalism?......Page 182
What does Islam have to say about poverty and social justice?......Page 184
Why does Islam prohibit the charging of interest?......Page 186
What is Islamic banking?......Page 187
Who are the Muslims of America?......Page 190
What kinds of problems do Muslims face in America?......Page 192
Who and where are the Muslims of Europe?......Page 196
What are the issues that European Muslims face?......Page 198
B......Page 202
F......Page 203
I......Page 204
K......Page 205
M......Page 206
S......Page 207
T......Page 208
Z......Page 209
Suggestions for Further Reading......Page 210
A......Page 215
C......Page 216
F......Page 217
I......Page 218
J......Page 219
M......Page 220
O......Page 221
Q......Page 222
S......Page 223
W......Page 224
Z......Page 225