Islam in Saudi Arabia
Islam is the state religion of Saudi Arabia, officially known as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which is located in the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia is the place of pilgrimage - a journey made by followers of a religion - for Muslims across the world. It is where two Islamic holy cities exist, called Mecca and Medina.
Birth of Islam change
The First Quranic Revelation change
The Prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570 A.D[1][2] He lived in what is now called Saudi Arabia. The first year of the Arabic calendar begins in 622 A.D, when Muhammad moves (in Arabic, hijra) from Mecca to Medina. These are the two holy cities in Islam, which are in Saudi Arabia.[3] The pre-Islamic name for Medina is Yathrib. This is the word used by the Prophet Muhammad.[4]
The Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad across 23 years. They began when he 40 years old until his death at 63. The first revelation happened during the month called Ramadan. The revelation was brought by the angel Gabriel, who told him to repeat the word of God (in Arabic, Allah)[5]
- "Read in the name of your Lord who created
- Created man from a clinging substance.
- Read, and your Lord is most Generous–
- He who taught by the pen–
- Taught man that which he knew not."[6]
After the death of Prophet Muhammad change
After the Prophet Muhammad's death, the Arabian Peninsular had united into one Muslim community because of his military conquest. This was done by the conquering of many Arabian tribes, including the Quraysh tribe (the tribe that the Prophet belonged to [2]), the Aws tribe, and lots of smaller Jewish communities.[7]
Hajj change
The Hajj is a pilgrimage to the Kaaba, a stone monument that is covered in black silk. It is in Mecca. The Hajj started in the 7th century, when the Prophet Muhammad was alive. Hajj is one of five ‘pillars’ of Islam. This means it is one of the obligatory acts of worship for Muslims. The Hajj also includes many other rituals during the 40 day event. These include walking around the Kaaba in a circle (in Arabic, tawaf) and travelling in between the hills of Safa and Mawra 7 times. [8]
Millions of Muslims travel for the Hajj every year. For the 2023 season, the number of visitors for the Hajj was about 1.8 million, the majority of them male. [9]
Hajj Infrastructure change
This modernisation includes the building of new train lines, with a 450km railroad that connects Mecca to Medina[10]. The modernisation of the Hajj pilgrimage route caused the destruction of more than 300 historical buildings in the past sixty years[11].
The Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP) organised a "Hajj hackathon" in Jeddah. Engineers had to introduce new technologies to facilitate the pilgrims experience in Saudi Arabia.[12] This contest was created to prevent deadly accidents and natural disasters that have impacted the Hajj in the past.
European countries have tried to get involved in the Hajj for economic reasons. A Dutch shipping union called Kongsi Tiga transported pilgrims to Saudi Arabia from the Dutch West Indies[13]. In 1986, King Ibn Saud expanded "His Majesty" title to "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques". This was to send the message that Mecca belongs to the Saudis[3]. It has been used by every King since.
The Local Population change
The Saudi population is estimated at 35.4 million in 2022. About 21 million (85 to 90%) of the Saudis are Sunni muslims. Shia muslims constitute 10 to 12% of the Saudi citizen population[14], they are mainly located in the eastern part of the country, near Qatar. Saudi Arabia also counts non-muslim minorities, with about 2 million of Christians and 700 000 of Hindus.
The country's official religion is Islam and the Constitution is based is the Quran and Sunna[15] (rules based on prophet Muhammad's lifestyle). The legal system is inspired by Sharia, interpreted by Sunni Islamic jurisprudence. All the features of the Saudi government and its legal system are depicted in the 1992 Basic Law of Governance[16]. This piece introduces a chapter about the values of Saudi society, promoting the importance of national unity and education. However, the emphasis is put on family, virtue and once again, on Islamic creed.
References change
- ↑ The Pluralism Project (2020). "Muhammad: The Messenger of God" (PDF).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Morrissey, Fitzroy (2022). A short history of Islamic thought. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-19-752201-1.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Robinson, Chase (2010), Robinson, Chase F. (ed.), "The rise of Islam, 600–705", The New Cambridge History of Islam: Volume 1: The Formation of the Islamic World, Sixth to Eleventh Centuries, The New Cambridge History of Islam, vol. 1, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 171–225, doi:10.1017/chol9780521838238.007, ISBN 978-0-521-83823-8, retrieved 2024-04-16
- ↑ Morrissey, Fitzroy (2022). A short history of Islamic thought. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-19-752201-1.
- ↑ "Teachers Guide - Muslims | Teacher Center | FRONTLINE | PBS". www.pbs.org. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
- ↑ Abdel Haleem, M. A.; Abdel Haleem, M. A., eds. (2005). The Qur'an. Oxford world's classics (First publ., with corrections, as an Oxford World's Classics paperback ed.). Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press. pp. xiv. ISBN 978-0-19-283193-4.
- ↑ Rodgers, Russ (2012). The generalship of Muhammad: battles and campaigns of the Prophet of Allah. Gainesville (Fa.): University Press of Florida. pp. 109–110, 232. ISBN 978-0-8130-3766-0.
- ↑ "What is Hajj? A step-by-step guide to the Muslim pilgrimage". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
- ↑ "'Largest Hajj pilgrimage in history' begins in Saudi Arabia". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
- ↑ "How Saudi Arabia's high-speed railway allows Hajj pilgrims to travel in comfort and style". Arab News. 2023-06-30. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
- ↑ Amanullah, Shahed (2009). ""Hajj 2.0: Technology's Impact on the Muslim Pilgrimage"". Georgetown Journal of International Affairs.: 75–82 – via JSTOR.
- ↑ "Saudi Arabia looks to technology to make hajj safer". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2024-04-21.
- ↑ Miller, Michael B. (2006). "Pilgrims' Progress: The Business of the Hajj". Past & Present (191): 189–228. ISSN 0031-2746.
- ↑ Department of State, U.S (2022). "Report on International Religious Freedom : Saudi Arabia, sections I and II". U.S Department of State.
- ↑ Al-Atawneh, Muhammad (2009). "Is Saudi Arabia a Theocracy? Religion and Governance in Contemporary Saudi Arabia". Middle Eastern Studies. 45 (5): 721–737. ISSN 0026-3206.
- ↑ "Basic Law of Governance | The Embassy of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia". www.saudiembassy.net. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
