What is Islam and what are the main branches of Islam?
What will be an ideal response?
Answer: The word Islam in Arabic means submission to the will of God. It also has a similar root to the Arabic word for peace (salaam). An adherent of the religion of Islam is known as a Muslim, which in Arabic means one who submits to the will of God or Allah. Globally, the religion has over 1.3 billion people. It is the predominant religion from North Africa to Central Asia. Half of the world's Muslims live outside the Middle East, mainly in Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India.
There are two main branches in Islam: sunni and shi'ite. Differences between the two main branches go back to the earliest days of Islam and reflect disagreement over the line of succession in Islamic leadership after the Prophet Muhammad, who had no surviving son, nor a follower of comparable leadership ability.
The Sunni branch comprises 83 percent of Muslims and is the largest branch in most Muslim countries. The word sunni is from the Arabic word for orthodox.
The Shi'ite branch is clustered in Iran, Pakistan, and Iraq. The word shi'ite is from the Arabic word for sectarian, Shi'ites (sometimes written Shia), comprise nearly 90 percent of the population in Iran and a substantial share in neighboring countries.
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Which of these elements of folk culture has the most long-lasting impact as a mark of the origins and diffusions of folk culture?
A. transportation vehicles B. vernacular housing C. foods and music D. tools
Referring to Map 9.8.5, which countries would be more likely to be able to pay their loans back?
A) Brazil and India B) Mexico and Argentina C) Kazakhstan and Sudan D) Peru and Mongolia E) Papua New Guinea
Consider a sample of porphyritic andesite, which is common in Pacific Rim volcanoes. Speculate how this sample may have formed (simply defining porphyritic isn't enough, be specific)
What will be an ideal response?
What combination of factors was responsible for the disaster west of Yellowstone National Park on August 17, 1959?
A) Rock falls filled a lake with debris until the water overtopped the dam and eroded through the concrete. B) Water migrating along foliation layers in the metamorphic rock destabilized a dam, which collapsed and flooded the valley. C) A severe earthquake triggered a slide that blocked a river and flooded a campground. D) Drainage from the reservoir generated a lahar, which destroyed small towns downstream.