Islam is one of the world’s fastest growing religions. Many non-Muslims, however, may know little about it. It is the world’s second largest faith after Christianity and has made an invaluable contribution to the sciences, art, culture, and politics in both the Islamic world and the West. Muslims around the world—from countries like Indonesia, Iran, and Algeria, to American cities places like New York City, Dearborn, Michigan, and Toledo, Ohio—are an amazingly diverse group. Like the many different faith groups within Christianity and Judaism, Muslims worship in many ways. Some are very devout, while others are more secular. In this book, you will meet members of a worldwide Islamic community. At the same time, you will see them struggle to fit in with their non-Muslim neighbors, while negotiating the jagged lines running among fundamentalism, moderation, and secular life.
