1. On Islam and Muslims ESOL Cadre Training

2. Muslims as a World Population
Islam is the second largest religion in the world, with over 1.6 billion followers.
A Muslim is a follower or a believer in Islam.
Muslims reside in 184 countries and represent many different ethnic groups and linguistic backgrounds
Most of the world’s Muslims live outside the Middle East; over half live in South and Southeast Asia.
Though Islam is often associated with Arab ethnicity, Muslims actually span a wide variety of ethnicities. In the United States, there are significant proportions of Muslims who self-identify as white, African-American, Asian, and Hispanic.

3. Muslims in the United States
Muslims have been a part of the population of the western hemisphere since before the United States was founded.
Muslim Americans today belong to over 75 different ethnicities and nationalities and representing different interpretations of Islam.
Like any other world religion, Islam is practiced and interpreted in many different ways.
Recognition of the religious, ethnic, and cultural plurality of Islamic communities is crucial to understanding the many different ways of being Muslim in America
today. One should be careful not to presuppose that the narrow and exclusionary visions of Islam espoused by some Islamic groups and organizations are representative of the whole.

4. Muslims as Refugees
The number of refugees admitted to the U.S. has fallen, especially among Muslims.
Number of Muslim refugees entering the U.S. has shrunk the most so far in 2018.
Muslim ban

5. Muslims from Varied Cultures: Commonality & Diversity
Islam is considered by Muslims to be one religion, all Muslims profess the same Shahada (declaration of faith).
The two major branches of Islam are Sunni (85%) and Shi’a (15%, primarily found in Iran and Iraq).
While Muslims throughout the world share the same essential beliefs and values, cultural overlays cause differences in the ways individuals and groups observe their faith.
While Muslims throughout the world share the same essential beliefs and values, cultural overlays cause differences in the ways individuals and groups observe
their faith.

6. Islamic Worldview Islam is a monotheistic religion.
God is known as “Allah” in Arabic
The Quran is the holy book of Islam.
Different schools of thought
Islam is a total way of life, guided by the Quran and then by the Sunna, or teachings of
Prophet Muhammad (last prophet)
Sharia, which means “way” or “path” in Arabic
A set of interpretations of the Quran
Guides everyday life
No singular set of “Sharia laws”
Determined by religious scholars, Muslim community, society, country, etc.
Sharia, which means “way” or “path” in Arabic, is a set of interpretations of the Qu’ran and the teachings of Muhammad that guides everyday life and society for Muslims and influences the legal code in many Muslim-majority countries. Sharia is commonly interpreted as “Islamic law,” though actual laws comprise a very small portion of the larger body of teachings and practices contained within Sharia. Sharia is determined by religious scholars and by the consensus of Muslim communities. There is no singular set of Sharia laws, as there is no universal interpretation of the Qu’ran and the Hadith.

7. 5 Pillars of Islam… Shahada, or testimony of faith Salat, or prayer
Zakat, or giving a certain amount of one’s wealth to charity
Ramadan, or the holy month
Hajj, or pilgrimage
*Practices of individuals can very greatly depending on culture or individual believes

8. Practices and Holidays
Friday is the holy day of the week for Muslims
Observance of Ramadan, 9th month of the Islamic calendar
Eid ul-Fitr is the festival of breaking the fast of Ramadan
Eid ul-Adha is celebrated at the end of Hajj

9. Practices and Accommodations
Family bond
Obligation towards extended family
Food and drink
Pork, alcohol, and halal (Islamic custom, like kosher)
School menus
Dress and grooming
Modesty for both men and women
Kufi (a small cap), beard, hijab (head covering)
School uniform, sports
Praying 5 times a day
Fasting through the month of Ramadan during school or work
Lunchtime pass, P.E. class
Social impact strongest on women

10. Resources Local: Islamic Society of Wichita
Muslim Student Association at Wichita State
Online:
Cultural Orientation Resource Exchange (CORE) Backgrounder
Cultural Orientation Resource (COR) Center
Muslim Refugees Service Provider Guide

11. Thank you.