1. Islam Religion

2. Main Cultures of Islam Culture Language Locations Arab Arabic
Arabian peninsula
Persian
Farsi
Iran
Turkish
Turkey, central Asia
Indian
Hindi
Pakistan, Bangladesh
Indonesian
Indonesia, Malaysia
African
North and West African countries

3. Muslim Rulers, Religious Officials, etc.
Caliph – religious and political leader
Sultan – Muslim political ruler
Sheik – Arab ruler or Bedouin tribal chief
Shah – Persian ruler
Mufti – Muslim legal scholar
Imam – prayer leader in a mosque
Muzzein – calls Muslims to prayer
Raja – Mughal ruler
Moors – Spanish Muslims

4. Sects of Islam Sunni Muslims 85% of Muslims are Sunni
Majority in Indonesia, Pakistan, Africa, Saudi Arabia and Syria
They endorse the first four caliphs who ruled after Muhammad, and believe caliphs are to be chosen by consensus of the Muslim community.
Shi’ite Muslims
15% of Muslims are Shi’ite
Majority in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen
They believe only direct descendents of Muhammad are legitimate caliphs.

5. Sects of Islam Sufis Mystical branch of Islam Whirling dervishes
Black Muslims
Nation of Islam – separatist
Malcolm X

6. Muslims’ Complaints against the West
Crusades
Imperialism after World War I
Women’s freedoms – “debauchery”

7. Islamic Problems Lack of democracy
Little progress of Arab countries in technology
Little income from anything except the oil industry
Qur’an forbids charging interest on loans
Some Muslims opposed to modernizing
Sunni vs. Shi’ite sects

8. Problematic Elements of Islam, to the West
Qur’an describes duty to wage war to impose Islamic law on the world
However, Islam has been the most tolerant toward other religions through most of history
Apostasy punishable by death
Anti-Semitism
Treatment of women
Muslim schools that teach nothing except the Qur’an

9. Problematic Elements of Islam
Muslim schools that teach hatred against Jews, Americans and the West
Radical Muslims who seek to destroy the United States
Suicide bombers who ignore Qur’an’s prohibition against suicide
Lack of democracy in any Muslim country except Turkey