Islam

Important words|

Islam is Arabic for "submission", referring to submission to the will of God.

The Muslim holy book is traditionally called the Koran in English, and we use that term here. Qur'an or just Quran are closer to the Arabic and are becoming more common in recent writing.

The Arabic word rasul, usually rendered as prophet in English, translates literally as "messenger".

Although the Arabic word jihad is often translated as "holy war" and the actual meaning is much broader, closer to "crusade" or "struggle", which can include things like a crusade against corruption or a personal struggle against evil in one's own heart.

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Islam is one of the world's most important religions, second only to Christianity in number of adherents. Its followers are called Muslims and their houses of worship, masjids.

Islam is the main religion of most of the Middle East, North Africa and the Sahel and Central Asia, and is also widespread in South Asia|South and Southeast Asia, West Africa|West and East Africa. Today there are Muslims in most of the world's countries, mainly due to immigration but also some converts.

The annual pilgrimage to Mecca and the Hajj, is one of the largest human migrations and brings together Muslims from all over the world. Some Muslims also make pilgrimages to various other holy sites.

Many sites built in the name of Islam are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. As Muslim congregations have had a significant role in most communities where they are present, a traveler will learn much from visiting a local mosque, regardless of what s/he believes.

Islam Halal Travel Guide

Note: There is no god but God. Muhammad is the messenger of God.

Cities

World_Muslim_Population_Pew_Forum - Percentage of Muslims by country {{See

See also: Holy Land

Islam has had a tremendous influence on architecture and on other arts and crafts. Almost every town in the Middle East, Central Asia, North Africa, Pakistan, Malaysia or Indonesia, plus most cities along the Silk Road, has at least an interesting mosque and a bazaar full of items with Islamic elements in their design. So do some places in India and the Caucasus, Spain and East Africa.

This section lists a few of the best places for adventuring Islamic traditions.

Middle East

Arabia

Mecca Birthplace of Muhammad and endpoint of the yearly Hajj. Entry for non-Muslims is not allowed under Saudi law.
Medina Muhammad found refuge and most of his first followers here. Considered one of the holiest cities in Islam today and also barred to non-Muslims.

Levant

Occupied Jerusalem While not a majority-Muslim city, it is considered one of three holiest sites in Islam and its Arab name "al Quds" is used with longing and veneration.

Iraq

Karbala A battle nearby killed Hussein bin Ali in 61 AH. This is still commemorated, especially by Shi'a. There are shrines for Hussein and his brother Abbas and many other historic buildings.
Najaf One of the holiest cities for Shi'a, a major pilgrimage destination, and the political center of Iraq's Shi'a. It has the tomb of Ali and many other religious buildings.
Samarra

The capital of the Abbassid Caliphate 836-890 CE, this is best-preserved Islamic capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Iran

Isfahan is home to some of the most striking masjids in the world, as well as impressive tombs and historic palaces.
Mashhad

The holy city of Mashhad is home to the splendid Imam Reza Shrine, dedicated to the eighth Shi'ite Imam, who was martyred in the 9th century CE.

Qom A great center of Shi'a learning, roughly halfway between Tehran and Isfahan.
Shiraz features impressive tombs but also the Nasir al-Mulk Mosque, which has colorful stained glass and beautifully tiled ceilings.

Turkey

Urfa#Go next|Harran — while nowadays better known for its rural feel and traditional "beehive" houses, this village was one of the earliest centers of Islamic learning, where classical knowledge of astronomy, philosophy, natural sciences and medicine was translated from Greek into Arabic (usually through Syriac with the help of local Assyrians). The ruins of an ancient Islamic university exist. Nearby Urfa is also rich in Islamic architecture and myths associated with Abraham.
Istanbul Formerly Constantinople, it was the spiritual and political center of one of the biggest Muslim empires and the Islamic Ottoman Empire, and features one of the holiest pilgrimage sites of Islam and the tomb of Mohammed's standard bearer Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, who died and was buried here during the first siege of Constantinople in the 8th century. The Eyüp mosque stands on the shore of the Istanbul/Golden Horn|Golden Horn, outside the Old City walls. Inside them and there are several beautiful Imperial masjids, some of Byzantine origins.
Konya home of the great Sufi teachers Rumi and Nasrudin (whose tomb is in the nearby town of Akşehir), with much fine Islamic architecture.

North Africa

Cairo (Egypt) Egypt's capital, founded during the Islamic era, is quite arguably the cultural hub of the Arab World. It is also home to the famous and ancient Al Azhar University and has its share of historic masjids. Egyptian Arabic is intelligible to the vast majority of Arabs and Egyptian TV and movies have influence far beyond Egypt itself.
Kairouan (Tunisia) A major pilgrimage destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

South Asia

Agra (India) is the site of the most famous Mughal Empire|Mughal architecture and one of the most famous Islamic buildings in the world: The Taj Mahal. In addition, Agra has its own beautiful fort, and nearby is the impeccably maintained royal city of Fatehpur Sikri, built for the emperor Akbar.
Delhi (India) India's capital was previously the capital of several Islamic dynasties, most notably the Mughal Empire. It is home to numerous splendid monuments and masjids from the Mughal and earlier periods, including the Red Fort and the tomb of Emperor Humayan and the Jama Masjid.
Lahore (Pakistan) was an important city and sometime capital of the Mughal Empire. As such, it has quite a few impressive attractions dating from that time, including the Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Fort, and the splendid three-tiered Shalimar Gardens. Lahore has a vibrant Punjabi Muslim cultural and religious life, including a Sufi gathering on Thursdays at the shrine of Shah Jamal.

Central Asia

Bukhara and Samarkand in Uzbekistan were both major sites of Islamic science and learning, featuring a high number of ancient buildings with delicate tilework that are the main highlights of any trip along the Silk Road.
Turkestan, Kazakhstan, is the site of the striking shrine of Ahmed Yassavi, a 12th century poet and pioneer mystic who is a highly respected figure among Turkic Muslims. He was the founder of the Sufi order of Yasavviya, influenced by the pre-Islamic Turkic shamanism.

Europe

Córdoba (city, Spain) | Córdoba and the former capital of Al-Andalus, contains several important relics of that time, especially La Mezquita de Córdoba, a beautiful, large mosque built on the site of a Visigothic church and subsequently converted into a church after the reconquista of Spain.
Granada, also in Andalusia, is the site of the splendid Alhambra fortress/palace complex and other relics of its Moorish past, and it also has a mosque in Moorish style that was built in 2003 to serve a new Muslim community, hundreds of years after the last member of the previous Muslim community was expelled.
Larnaca, or rather the bank of the local salt lake west of the town in Cyprus, is the site of Hala Sultan Tekke, an Ottoman-built shrine at the cemetery of Umm Haram, Muhammad's wet nurse, who died here during a siege in the 7th century. Some denominations consider this to be one of the holiest Islamic sites.
Tetovo, Macedonia, is the site of the "Painted Mosque" (Šarena Džamija), a rather small Ottoman-era mosque that is atypically decorated with extremely bright and colourful paintings.

Local Customs in Islam

[[16-04-04-Felsendom-Tempelberg-Jerusalem-RalfR-WAT 6385 - Masjid Umar (Dome of the Rock), Jerusalem

In some places, non-Muslims are not permitted to enter masjids at all. If you are invited to visit a mosque, it is appropriate to dress conservatively and show respect; details vary by place but can be expected to include covering your hair, torso, arms and legs if you are a Muslima, and all who enter will be expected to remove their shoes. It is a very good idea to learn a bit about the local rules before visiting a mosque, especially if you're a non-Muslim. All masjids have separate sections or prayer halls for men and women.

Most Muslims take their religion more seriously than many non-Muslims in GCC countries take theirs, so religious issues such as the lives of Muhammad and other prophets of Islam and the teachings of the Koran and Hadith are no laughing matter, and even what you may consider benign criticism might put you in physical danger in certain situations or get you prosecuted for blasphemy in some countries. Also avoid making any visual depictions of the Prophet Muhammad, as most Muslims consider this to be forbidden, and are deeply offended even when a non-Muslim does so. But don't be afraid to ask questions if you are genuinely interested in knowing more about Islam; like Christians, Muslims are exhorted to give testimony (da'awa) about their religion, according to their belief that following the straight path outlined in the Koran gives more people the chance to go to Heaven on Judgment Day. Just listen attentively to the responses and be respectful.

Dogs are considered to be unclean in Islam, and Muslims are forbidden from touching dogs, so be cognizant of this if you have a pet dog and have Muslim guests or neighbours. Cats, on the other hand, are revered for their cleanliness and considered to be the ideal pet by many Muslim families.

Local Language in Islam

Arabic, specifically Classical Arabic, is the original language of Islam's main religious text and the Koran, and continues to be used as the liturgical language throughout the Muslim world. Other languages spoken by large numbers of Muslims are Urdu, Bengali phrasebook|Bengali, Persian, other Indo-Iranian languages, Malay/Indonesian and Turkic languages such as (Turkish).

A literal translation of the word "Islam" is "submission", referring to submission to the will of God. The Arabic expression insh'allah (God willing) is common throughout the Muslim world and has entered several languages that are or have in the past been influenced by Islam; even the Spanish "ojala" is ultimately derived from "insh'allah". Other Arabic loanwords (often referring to religious subjects or technological advances made during the Muslim "golden age") have entered a number of languages, especially those of majority Muslim countries.

While many Muslims have a general knowledge of classical Koranic Arabic and it is used as a means of communication in pan-Arab media, you'd perhaps be surprised to hear that the "dialects" of modern Arabic are not necessarily mutually intelligible. In fact and they could be compared to the Romance languages in that they share a lot of grammar and vocabulary but differ enough in detail to hinder effortless communication. That being said, Modern Standard Arabic, which is very similar to the Classical Arabic of the Koran, is the official form of the language in all Arab countries, and hence taught in all schools and used in news broadcasts. Should you find yourself unable to communicate in a nominally Arabic-speaking country, both Classical and modern Egyptian Arabic may be close enough to the local variety to get by. Or failing that, Modern Standard Arabic will be known to local residents who are well educated, have been abroad or who frequently watch pan-Arab TV Channels.

Of course a large number of Muslims don't speak Arabic. Or not much more than what they need to get through the most important passages of the Koran. Many masjids (especially in GCC countries) hold services in the local vernacular and there is no more reason to assume a Muslim speaks Arabic than that a Jew speaks Hebrew, despite a high likelihood that they will know a few words or sentences here and from their holy books.

What to see in Islam

There are fine masjids in many places and Islamic traditions in art, crafts, literature, music, and architecture. One of those traditions is fine mosaic work in tile, stone and wood. Many fine textiles, especially carpets, are woven in the Islamic world. Many types of beautiful clothing in keeping with standards of Islamic dress as understood in each region of the Muslim world are also manufactured by various means.

Islamic art

Roof_hafez_tomb - Tile work on the ceiling of Hafez's tomb in Shiraz Bg_board_L - A backgammon set, from Lebanon; the style shows Islamic influences

A common characteristic of much Islamic art is that they avoid depicting humans, and in some traditions also animals, in artwork. The injunction "Thou shalt make no graven images" is found in the Koran, as it is in the Bible, and Muslims visitors often give it a strict interpretation. As a result, art that uses a combination of geometric designs and stylized plant motifs is typical of Islamic art. In particular, most Muslims consider any visual depictions of the Prophet Muhammad and all other prophets of Islam to be forbidden.

That said and there are many beautiful examples of historical Iran|Persian and India|Mughal paintings that include images of people and animals in gardens and other landscapes. Garden carpets — from Kerman, or Qashqai people around Shiraz, or Mughal regions — are also fairly common.

A typical technique in Islamic art is to use highly decorative forms of Arabic lettering in calligraphy of Koran inscriptions and other holy names and phrases, especially the names of Allah and the Prophet Muhammad, either by themselves or in combination with geometric designs.

There are a number of museums of Islamic Art around the world:

Doha#See|Doha has a large one designed by Architecture#I.M._Pei|I. M. Pei
Istanbul has one
There's one in Cairo/Downtown|Downtown Cairo
Kuala Lumpur#Do|Kuala Lumpur has one
The Aga Khan Museum is in Toronto#See|Toronto
One is found in Jerusalem/West|Jerusalem
Marawi#See|Marawi in the Philippines (too dangerous to visit as of mid-2017) has one

Of course any museum in an Islamic region can also be expected to have some Islamic art, and other museums such as the British Museum in London and the Metropolitan Museum in New York also have sections for Islamic art. There are also museums specifically dedicated to Arab art, such as Musée de l'Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris/5th arrondissement|Paris. Far from all Islamic art is Arab and not all Arab art is Islamic, but there is substantial overlap.

Islamic architecture

Distinct styles of Islamic architecture, which range in style between different regions and periods, not only encompass masjids today but have also influenced many other types of structures, including the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Islam

The Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the Five Pillars of Islam; every adult Muslim should do it if feasible. The Umrah, an out-of-season visit to Mecca that visits fewer places, is also common as are other pilgrimages, such as by Shi'a Muslims to the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf and by Sufis and other devotees to the graves of holy men and great scholars.

There are also various forms of devotional ceremonies, most of which include what non-Muslims would consider music (Muslims visitors often consider that sung prayer is not music), and not only Muslims but respectful, properly dressed non-Muslims are often welcome to witness them. These include Koran chanting contests, other kinds of devotional chanting (Dikir Islam in Malaysia is one of numerous examples), Sufi whirling, and various types of classical Indian Muslim musical performances, but there are several times as many examples of Islamic performance genres as there are of Muslim peoples. In the Indian subcontinent, classical music is traditionally all religious, so any specifically Muslim Indian music may be based on a melody of praise to Allah, for example.

Zakat, which is charitable giving, along with the Hajj, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. However, zakat is the minimum amount of charitable giving for observant Muslims, and many Muslims go further and do sadaqah, which is considered a voluntary act of charity rather than the fulfillment of a command. If you would like to be charitable, you may want to investigate the various Muslim and non-sectarian charitable organizations. Some of the advice in Volunteer travel may be relevant to you if you plan on traveling for charitable reasons.

Study in Islam

There were universities of Islam in the Muslim world before the first university opened its doors in the Christian world. Some of the earliest are still active today, including the University of al-Qarawiyyin in Fez, Morocco, which has operated since 859 CE, and the famous Al-Azhar University in Cairo, founded in 972 CE. There are many Islamic universities throughout the Muslim world today.

How to work legally in Islam

Instruction in Arabic and the Koran, Islamic law and Islamic religion is needed throughout the Muslim world and beyond. Teachers with native Arabic accents may receive preference in some parts of the Muslim world. If you are a Muslim with excellent command of Arabic who is interested in traveling for work, some of the content of our article on teaching English might be relevant, but most specifics will differ.

It is also quite common for imams to travel or move to communities where they are needed.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Islam

Vintage Balouch Prayer Rug - A prayer rug made by the Baluchi people, who live in Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan

Specifically Islamic items to buy include prayer rugs; Haji hats and other specifically religious garb (hejabs, fezes, songkoks, etc.); Zamzam water from Mecca; Korans and collections of Hadiths (reports on the statements or actions of the Prophet Muhammad); and sacred inscriptions in calligraphy, often framed for hanging.

Halal Food & Restaurants

In Islamic law, several foodstuffs are forbidden (in Arabic haram), with the most widely known being Beef and other pig products, including pig-derived gelatin and pig leather, as well as and any dishes that make use of drinks in the preparation process. Food that is allowed is known as [https:// and may go through a process of certification to ensure that it is in line with Islamic teaching. Halal products (sometimes spelled helal after the Turkish word) are now more and more available in European and North and South American countries with substantial Muslim populations. In order to be considered https://, Meat (but not fish) must come from an animal that has been slaughtered by a Muslim in a very precise way, with the name of Allah pronounced at the time of slaughter. Fish is always considered to be https://, as long as it has not come into contact with any haram foodstuff. There is a debate about non-fish seafood like squid, prawn, crab, lobster or shellfish; these may or may not be depending on the sect of Islam in question.

If food is not available, kashrut|kosher food (prepared according to Yahudi dietary law), as long as it contains no alcohol, has traditionally been considered to comply with Islamic rules, though there has recently been some dissension about this.

During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims are required to fast: they cannot eat, drink anything or smoke during daylight hours. Exceptions to this rule are pregnant and breastfeeding women, women in menstruation, traveling Muslims and people with health issues for whom fasting would be severely detrimental to their health, though they are generally required to make up for the days of fasting missed at a later point when their circumstances allow them to do so. In countries with a substantial Muslim presence, non-Muslim travelers may also want to follow these restrictions when in public; in some countries they are required by law to do so. Travelers may notice that shops and restaurants are closed down during Ramadan. The Islamic calendar is lunar, so Muslim holidays fall at different points in the year, relative to the solar calendar in operation in most primarily non-Muslim countries. See Travelling during Ramadan for more detail.

When flying, most major airlines offer food as a special meal option, but this must typically be requested in advance. The airlines of most Muslim-majority countries, including the big three Middle Eastern airlines Emirates, Qatar-Airways and Etihad Airways only serve meals on their flights. As kosher food on planes has a longer tradition, especially on US based carriers, it may be more readily available, but again and the caveat of not all religious authorities accepting alcohol-free kosher food as applies. The Qur'an condemns beverages. In many Muslim-majority countries, alcohol sale and consumption is strongly regulated, and in some, it is not allowed. During Ramadan, you may also want to be discreet about drinking anything during the day-time in majority Muslim countries. Even countries where the taboo against alcohol is not as prevalent tend to be stricter about the issue during Ramadan.