Arab+and+Non-Arab+Countries

= = __Arab and Non-Arab Muslim Countries __

Arab countries are countries whose official language is Arabic and who are members of the Arab nations. Non-Arab Muslim countries are countries whose official language is not Arabic, but in which Islam is the primary religion.

__toc ** Hajj **__** islaminformation/Hajj **
The Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, that Muslims are expected to make at least once in their lifetime. The trip is believed to free a Muslim of all sins, and renew beliefs. The spirit of the hajj is that all men are created equal, and that they are united under Islam. The white robes worn by Muslims on hajj represent equality and submission to Allah. Although expected to go at least once, a Muslim must be financially and physically able for the pilgrimage.

__** Cultures vs. Religion: **__
There is a common misunderstanding about which Muslim traditions are religious, and which are cultural. Culture represents a country's way of life, and doesn't always have to do with the religion of the country. In some Muslim countries, cultural traditions are put before Islamic beliefs, generally in Non-Arab countries.

To most Pakistanis, their old and routinely observed culture is more important than the practice of Islam. In Pakistani culture, the day after the last day of Ramadan, Eid, is celebrated in many households; people invite friends and family to their houses to share the event. Pakistanis who are expecting guests often do not fast for the last day of Ramadan, and use the energy to clean and prepare the house for the following day, defeating the purpose of fasting. Many Pakistanis justify putting culture first by saying that their culture is their religion. They explain that their fathers have merged Islam with their Pakistani traditions, creating the unique culture.

In Saudi Arabia, religion comes first. The culture is based almost entirely around Islam, including the law, which abides by the Sharia. Being Muslim is not law in Saudi Arabia, but not being Muslim is heavily frowned upon. The Holy Qu'ran and the Sunni School of Islam are the constitution of the country. Prayers are called five times a day, and all people are expected to participate. Food and drink restrictions, haram, are applied throughout the country in markets and in restaurants. Dress has the same restrictions as in Islam, and men and women must wear clothes that cover their whole body. Visitors to the country are expected to adhere to the Islamic law and wear modest clothing.

__** Practice of Islam: **__
In Saudi Arabia, the interpretation of Islam is strict, and is practiced regularly. Unlike the Qu'ran and Muhammad's teachings, women are treated as less than equals. They are unable to work or drive cars and are expected to stay home and care for their family. Appropriate dress is required, and modesty must be shown by a woman to all but her father, husband, and sons. In Non-Arab countries, Islam is practiced the same way, but as a choice and not as law. Prayers are done at the time that an individual finds most appropriate, and the stores are not required to have or not have specific items. Dress style is determined by the indivdual and is not imposed by the government.

The Sharia is a code originally designed to guide all aspects of life in Muslim societies, including the behavior and habits of individuals and the workings of the criminal justice system and financial institutions. The code is based on the Qu'ran and Sunna (Muhammad's example). Some countries support the Sharia, and others find the law to be too strict and not correct. Countries such as Mali, Kazakhstan, and Turkey have limited the Sharia to personal and family matters. In Pakistan, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Egypt, Sudan, Morocco, and Malaysia, the code has influenced the development of legal systems. Saudi Arabia and Iran use the Sharia as the supreme law, and Nigeria is beginning to adopt it.



**__ Muslims in Non-Arab Countries: __**
Contrary to popular belief, the majority of muslims do not come from the Middle East. There are more Muslims in Southeast Asia than in Arab countries by about 600 million people. Studies show that many Non-Arab countries have rapidly increasing Muslim populations. At the top, Indonesia has about 203 million Muslims. Somalia is not an Arab country, but 100 percent of it's population is Muslim.



Country ||~ Muslims (% of total) || 10 minute quiz
 * || Somalia* || 100% ||
 * Afghanistan || 99.7% ||
 * Iran || 99.4% ||
 * Azerbaijan || 99.2% ||
 * Niger || 98.6% ||
 * Maldives || 98.4% ||
 * Comoros* || 98.3% ||
 * Turkey || 98% ||
 * Djibouti* || 96.9% ||
 * Pakistan || 96.3% ||
 * Uzbekistan || 96.3% ||
 * Senegal || 96% ||
 * Gambia || 95% ||
 * Turkmenistan || 93.1% ||
 * Mali || 92.5% ||  ||   ||~ Non- Arab
 * Kosovo || 89.6% ||
 * Bangladesh || 89.6% ||
 * Indonesia || 88.2% ||
 * Kyrgyzstan || 86.3% ||
 * Guinea || 84.4% ||
 * Tajikistan || 84.1% ||
 * Albania || 79.9% ||
 * Sierra Leone || 71.3% ||
 * Brunei || 67.2% ||
 * Malaysia || 60.4% ||
 * Burkina Faso || 59% ||
 * Kazakhstan || 56.4% ||
 * Chad || 55.8% ||
 * Nigeria || 50.4% ||  ||

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