Islam in Today's World

Introduction

Islam is a highly controversial and sensitive issue in today's world. There are numerous misconceptions about its beliefs, values and goals. Across the world, ordinary citizens have suffered indiscriminate, violent, and cruel assaults by Islamists (Hoodbhoy, 2005). In today's world, there is a global "war against terror". Hoodbhoy (2005) reports, the recent rise of fundamentalist, neototalitarian Muslim movements that use terrorism are an anomaly, not a norm in Muslim history. Islam is a religion that covers every aspect of life: spiritual, political, economic, social, and the family. Islam, like Christianity and Judaism, is practiced in many different cultures. Islam shapes and also is shaped by those different cultures. Although certain attributes and attitudes are associated with particular cultural groups, not all people from the same cultural background share the same behaviors and views ("Understanding Transcultural Nursing," 2005). This paper is intended to review the teachings of Islam and how Islam is interpreted and practiced in various cultures. The understanding of Islam in different cultures and how it contrasts with Christianity and Judaism will then be reviewed. Finally, I will look at how these understandings impact the way that Muslims and non-Muslims interact and communicate with one another. As a registered nurse, ethics codes specify that professionals should attempt to acquire competence in the area of religious diversity. As a healthcare provider, I choose this topic with a goal to ensure ethical and effective treatment for Muslim clients.

Islamic Faith and Beliefs

Islam was created in Mecca around 600 A.D., by a man named Muhammad. In his youth, he was well-known as an upright, honest, and chivalrous man, and was titled by people as trustworthy (Alizadeh, 2012). At about age forty, he came to believe he was receiving revelations from the angel Gabriel. These revelations were collected in a book, the Qur'an (the holy book of Muslims). This book explains about Allah and his expectations. According to Muhammad, there should be worship of one God, Allah. He called this religion Islam and those who submit to Allah are called Muslim.

In Islam, the five pillars of faith include the Creed (Shahada), Prayer (Salat), Almsgiving (Zakat), Fasting (Siam), and Pilgrimage (Hajj). The creed proclaims there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger. Almsgiving indicates that a Muslim must give one-fortieth of his income to the poor. Fasting occurs in healthy Muslims from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan. Pilgrimage is a movement toward Kabba and the practice of symbolic rituals. Islam teaches that Allah is the absolute possessor of everything and mankind is his vicar on the earth (Alizadeh, 2012). This world is considered a place of test and trial for him. Muslims believe that people will be judged according to their good intentions and conduct, and will ultimately be judged according to those good intentions and deeds after death. Islam emphasizes that man should act on the basis of rules, rely upon God, and know that nothing happens without God's permission.

More than sixty different countries are represented in the Muslim population. The majority of Muslims adhere to the Sunni tradition of Islam. Other groups include Shiite, Sufis, and the Nation of Islam. The fundamental beliefs of followers of the Islamic faith include belief in the oneness of Allah, the purpose of creation, the concept of free will, and belief in the prophets and books. Harmony is essential in Islam. Muslims look for guidance in the Qur'an and the Hadith. The Hadith are a recording of the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad that provide the specific details for Muslim life. Muslims believe that Allah has sent prophets and books to guide them.

According to Hamdan (2007), "All Muslims believe in one God, the Creator, Provider, and Maintainer of the universe. Allah is merciful, loving and compassionate, and he is also just. Faithful Muslims put their complete trust in Allah, submit to him, and rely upon his help and assistance." Muslims believe that Allah tests them in this life to determine their level of sincerity and faith. The believer is always prepared to meet his Lord, Allah. Muslims continuously focus on the hereafter. Because the hereafter is for eternity and this life is a short passage, a Muslim will strive to obtain success in the hereafter and have this as their ultimate goal.

Islamic Culture Worldwide

Assumptions about Muslims pose unique problems for Western societies. Many Americans view Islam and Muslims with suspicion and hostility. Countless Americans have the attitude that "All I need to know about Islam, I learned on 9/11" (Grosh/Dearborn, 2010, para. 7). According to Hamdan (2007), the Muslim community in the United States (U.S.) is made up of 33% from South Asian descent (Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan), 30% are African American, and 25% are of Arab descent. Islam is the fastest growing religion in America. This rapid growth is due to a combination of immigration, conversion and high birth rates among Muslims in general. The U.S. has probably the most diverse Muslim population of any country. American Muslims represent practically every race and sect, even those regarded by many Islamic states as heretical (Grosh/Dearborn, 2010). Both president Obama and Bush before him drew sharp distinctions between the extremist, violent interpretation of Islam by followers of bin Laden and its peaceful majority. The practice of Islam in the U.S. requires creativity. Places of worship are often the most noticeable targets for hatred. Therefore, many worship in makeshift prayer rooms in shops and offices. The American Muslim population tends to be much more diffusely scattered than Europe's. Polls have shown that most Muslims feel safer and freer in the U.S. than anywhere else in the Western World. Even though there is an immense fear of Islam in the U.S., it does not compare to other countries where Muslims are a minority.

Muslims in Britain are considered the most organized and involved in society of any Muslim minority in Europe. London has more diverse Muslims from different countries than any other city in the world. Muslims have been in Britain in some form since at least the 8th century. Nearly half of Britain's Muslims are now British born, with most of the rest coming from Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Middle East (Wood & Finlay, 2008). Many Muslims in Great Britain (because of family connections) have associations with diverse traditions of belief in the Indian subcontinent (Hopkins, 2011). Many Britain's are also having their doubts. Politicians