Islamic World

The Islamic world refers to countries and regions where Islam is dominant, influencing various aspects of life, including culture, politics, law, and education. It is not just limited to the Middle East; it spans Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Critical Aspects of the Islamic World:
1. Geographical Spread:
Middle East and North Africa (MENA): The heartland of Islam, including countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, and Turkey.
South Asia: Countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, where Islam plays a central role.
Southeast Asia: Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, Malaysia, and Brunei.
Sub-Saharan Africa: Countries like Nigeria, Sudan, and Somalia have significant Muslim populations.
Europe: There are significant Muslim communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and growing populations in Western Europe due to migration.
2. Cultural and Religious Practices:
Religious Practices: The Five Pillars of Islam (Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm, Hajj) are central to Islamic life.
Islamic Law (Sharia): In many Muslim-majority countries, Sharia law influences or directly governs legal systems, covering everything from criminal law to personal status issues like marriage and inheritance.
Language: Arabic is the liturgical language of Islam, but other languages, such as Persian, Turkish, Urdu, and Malay, are widely spoken in the Islamic world.
3. Historical Contributions:
The Golden Age of Islam (8th to 14th century) was a period of significant advancements in science, medicine, mathematics, and philosophy, with learning centres in cities like Baghdad, Cairo, and Cordoba.
Architecture: Islamic architecture is renowned for its mosques, madrasas (schools), and palaces, featuring minarets, domes, and intricate geometric designs.
4. Modern-Day Dynamics:
Political Landscape: The Islamic world includes various governance systems, from monarchies in the Gulf States to republics in Iran and Turkey. Political Islam and movements like the Muslim Brotherhood have had significant influence in some regions.
Economic Power: The Islamic world includes some of the world's largest oil producers, like Saudi Arabia and Iran, which play a critical role in global energy markets.
Social Issues: The Islamic world faces diverse social challenges, from modernisation and globalisation to debates over women's rights, democracy, and the role of religion in the state.
5. Global Influence:
Diaspora: Significant Muslim communities in Europe, North America, and other parts of the world contribute to the global influence of Islam.
Interfaith Relations: Islam is one of the world's major religions, with interfaith dialogue becoming increasingly important in promoting understanding and cooperation between different religious communities.
The Islamic world is diverse and complex, with a rich history and significant impact on global culture, politics, and economics.

Top 10: The largest cities in the world

1. Tokyo, Japan - 37.4 million people

2. Delhi, India - 29.3 million people

3. Shanghai, China - 26.3 million people

4. São Paulo, Brazil - 21.8 million people

5. Mexico City, Mexico - 21.6 million people

6. Cairo, Egypt - 20.4 million people

7. Dhaka, Bangladesh - 20.2 million people

8. Mumbai, India - 20.1 million people

9. Beijing, China - 19.4 million people

10. Osaka, Japan - 19.2 million people

View more Selâm News

Yusuf Ma Dexin, a Hui Chinese Hanafi-Maturidi scholar from Yunnan, was known for his expertise in Arabic and Persian languages and profound understanding of Islam. He was also known as Ma Fuchu in Chinese.

In 1841, Yusuf Ma embarked on the Hajj pilgrimage, his departure from China caused disruptions due to the First Opium War. He accompanied a contingent of Muslim merchants who traveled overland, crossing the Sipsong Panna and then a riverboat journey along the Irrawaddy River. They were allowed to embark on a vessel from Yangon, which took them to the Arabian Peninsula.

After performing Hajj and visiting holy cities of Makkah and Madina, Yusuf Ma remained in the Middle East for eight years. He studied at al-Azhar University in Cairo and explored the Ottoman Empire, visiting cities like Suez, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Istanbul, Cyprus, and Rhodes. He died in 1874.

Below is a portrait of Yusuf Ma Dexin, and a Chinese book shows - Shakl Masjid-AlHaram AlKaba.
#ChineseMuslim #islaminchina #historyofhajj #HajjPilgrims

Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi Citadel or Mountain Castle

Salah al-Din Citadel is one of the most important landmarks of Islamic Cairo, and one of the most ancient military castles built in the Middle Ages. Its strategic location at the top of Mount Mokattam provided a wonderful view of all of Cairo’s historical landmarks. The fortified walls around the capitals of Islamic Egypt, along with the citadel, provided further protection against any attack. .

Al-Azhar University was founded in 970 or 972 by the Fatimid Caliphate, is the chief center of Arabic literature and Islamic learning worldwide.

By the mid-19th century, al-Azhar was considered the capital of Sunni legal expertise, a main center of power in the Islamic world, and a rival to Damascus, Mekkah, and Baghdad.

Below is a rare late-19th-century photo of Al Azhar University in Cairo, where students and teachers are seen engaged in study and discussion.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was welcomed with an official ceremony at Al-Ittihadyiya Palace in Cairo, met with President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who arrived in Egypt to pay an official visit, was welcomed with a ceremony by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi of Egypt at Cairo International Airport.

Cairo - Egypt

International Coffee Day, October 1

The first coffee house/shop in the world (Kiva Han) is said to have appeared in Ottoman Istanbul back in 1475 AD during the reign of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.

In the 15th century, Yemenis made a significant discovery: they found that coffee beans from the coffee plant could be roasted, ground, and brewed to create an invigorating beverage. Ethiopians also lay claim to this discovery, but Yemen was the first place where coffee beans were exported from the Red Sea region, and it became closely associated with coffee production in the Ottoman Empire's geographical perception.

According to Islamic tradition, the initial consumers of this drink were Sufis who aimed to stay awake all night for their religious devotion, known as dhikr, or the act of invoking God. Once the coffee was found, the practice of drinking it quickly spread to the Holy CIty of Makkah.

Pilgrims returning from Mecca introduced coffee to the cities like Cairo and Damascus. By the mid-16th century, it had made its way to the heart of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul. From then on, coffee became a widespread phenomenon within the empire, enjoyed by both sultans and the general population.

During the 17th century, coffeehouses became a common sight in every Ottoman city, and some villages even boasted their own. A 17th-century Ottoman travel writer, Evliya Çelebi, vividly described coffeehouses in major cities, some of which could accommodate up to 1,000 customers at once.

By the early 18th century, Europeans had successfully introduced coffee plants, which were smuggled out of Ethiopia, to their colonies in the Caribbean Sea. By the end of the century, coffee beans from the Americas began to replace those from Yemen, even in the Ottoman Empire's markets.

Join our Selâm News

In 1164AD, Salah ud Din Ayubi officially became a state employee of the Ismaili Fatimid Empire. He rose up the ranks owing to his charisma and military successes against Crusaders. Salah ud, as a Sunni Muslim began to undermine Fatimid regime by feigning loyalty. He managed to get the rank of a Vizer. After the death of Al-Adid in 1171AD, Salah ud Din Ayubi abolished the Cairo based Fatimid state and established Ayubbid Sultanate with himself as the First Sultan.

This shows that Salah ud Din Ayubi was indeed a man who possessed cunningness and also employed deception to achieve his goal of realigning Egypt with the Sunni based Abbasid Caliphate. The force behind Sultan Salah ud Din Ayubi Hazretleri was Sayyidina Abdul Qadir Jillani (رحمه الله تعالی) the leader of all Awliyah, Imam of all Orthodox Sunnis, and the 13th direct descendant of the Fifth Rightly Guided Caliph Sayyidina Imam Hassan ibn Ali رضي الله عنهم.

Source: "Saladin" Longman