Scholar Edward Said: "Islams rather than Islam - once one gets a tiny step beyond core beliefs and the centrality of the Quran, one has entered an astoundingly complicated world."
Slide 8 - Tekstslide
Arabian Peninsula around 570CE
Slide 9 - Tekstslide
Beginnings
Muhammad born 570CE born in Mecca
Final prophet
Allah revealed himself to earlier prophets but the message was changed and corrupted
Monotheistic
Oneness of God - Tawhid
Qur'an final revelation
Written in Arabic -> translations are considered interpretations
Slide 10 - Tekstslide
Where do Muslims live?
- Dominant religion in North Africa and the Middle East
Largest Muslim populations: Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India
Islam is not only an Arab religion (and not all Arabs are Muslim)