People have a very short Islam, based on headlines and not history. Islam has two interesting facts about islam that change the way most non-Muslims view the religion: and dozens more, if you consider Islam’s scholars, art, holy sites, etc. This guide provides information about Islam that has been well documented but not widely taught such as where Muslims live, how the Quran was preserved word for word, and more.
Two Interesting Facts About Islam You May Not Know:
The two interesting facts about Islam that most people don’t know are that they are very easy to understand but surprising: in Islam most people aren’t Arab, and Islam is the fastest-growing major religion in the world today. Muslims are primarily found in South and Southeast Asia, and Islam’s population more than doubled between 2010 and 2020 primarily due to its birth rates and not conversion.
Recap: Two interesting facts about Islam to remember.
- The majority of Muslims are not Arabs, nor do they reside in the Middle East.
- Islam is the fastest growing major world religion in terms of percentage.
Here are two interesting facts about Islam that you should bear in mind— they are the ones who set up nearly everything else in this guide.
Why Most Muslims Do Not Live in the Middle East?
The majority of Muslims reside in Asia-Pacific, and not in the Middle East. Pew Research Center estimates that only some 20% of the world’s Muslims reside in the Middle East and North Africa, whereas some 59% reside in Asia and the Pacific. Now one of the two curious things about Islam, which even a diligent reader will not expect, is that Indonesia has a greater population of Muslims than any single country in the Middle East.
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What Does the Word Islam Literally Mean?
The Arabic root of Islam is s-l-m, which means peace and submission (submission to God). Many people are surprised by an interesting fact about Islam: a Muslim is a “one who submits,” and the name does not refer to any particular founder, nation, or ethnic group, as is the case with many religions.
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How the Quran Was Revealed and Preserved?
- The Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad in about 23 years through the angel Jibril (Gabriel).
- It was not written all at once, but was memorized in full in his lifetime by his companions.
- This has been collated into a standardised written copy during the caliphate of Uthman within decades of the Prophet’s death.
- The memorization of the entire text is known as hifz, and is still practiced by millions of Muslims today.
Another of the two fascinating facts about Islam, which help explain its uniform character over 1,400 years, is this preservation system.
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Surprising Facts About Prophet Muhammad:
- He was born in Mecca about 570 CE and was a businessman in his early days before his first revelation at the age of 40.
- He was unable to read or write, and Muslims believe that this is evidence that the Quran was not self-composed
- In 622 CE, he migrated to Medina, and the year is counted as one in the Islamic calendar.
- He created a multi-religious community in Medina, not only a religious community
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How Islam Connects With Judaism and Christianity?
- All three religions have their origin with the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham).
- The Quran presents the same numbers as in the Bible, such as Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus), and Maryam (Mary).
- The Torah and Gospel are considered as Anticipatory messages from the same God by Muslims.
- Jerusalem is important to all three religions, and to early Muslim prayer direction.
One of the two interesting facts about islam that were overlooked in the treatment of the faiths as separate is this common heritage.
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The Five Pillars of Islam: Quick Facts You Should Know
- Shahada : declaration of faith in one God and Muhammad as His messenger
- Salah : five daily prayers at set times
- Zakat : obligatory charity, typically 2.5% of savings yearly
- Sawm : fasting from dawn to sunset during Ramadan
- Hajj : a pilgrimage to Mecca, required once in a lifetime for those able
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How Muslim Scholars Shaped Mathematics and Medicine?
- Algebra was named from the Arabic word al-jabr in Al-Khwarizmi’s 9th century work.
- For centuries the Canon of Medicine by Ibn Sina was a standard medical book in the universities of Europe.
- Al-Zahrawi invented surgical instruments which are still used in contemporary surgery.
- In medieval Europe Muslim astronomers maintained and advanced Greek and Indian science.
This is one of the two interesting facts about Islam that few people have heard outside specialist study of history classes.
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Interesting facts about islamic faith Art and Architecture:
- Islamic art, particularly in religious buildings, tends to depict geometric patterns and inscriptions rather than people; Islamic art emphasizes geometric patterns and calligraphy over figures, especially in religious settings
- The Great Mosque of Cordoba and the Alhambra continue to be exemplary examples of Islamic design.
- Arabic calligraphy made writing a decorative art form for buildings and manuscripts. The Arabic calligraphy made a decorative art form of writing of buildings and manuscripts, and it became a scripture.
- Domes and minarets made their mark on mosques in widely diverse regions and eras
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How Ramadan and the Islamic Calendar Work?
- The Islamic month is lunar month has 354 or 355 days, which are approximately 10-11 days shorter than the solar year.
- This means that Ramadan can fall anywhere from seven to 14 days earlier in the Western calendar each year.
- Ramadan is the 9th month in which Muslims fast from dawn till sunset.
- The last day of the month is the day of Eid al-Fitr, the end of the fast.
Another of the some facts about Islam is this changing calendar; that is why dates of Ramadan change every year.
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Interesting Facts About Mecca and the Kaaba:
- The Kaaba is cube-shaped structure believed to be constructed by Ibrahim & his son Ismail.
- It is the direction Muslims pray in the holiest mosque of Islam and is located in the heart of the mosque.
- No non-Muslim is allowed to enter the city of Mecca.
- The annual Hajj is one of the world’s greatest religious pilgrimages, with millions of Muslims making the journey around the Kaaba every year.
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Common Misconceptions About Islam Explained:
- Myth: All Muslims are Arabs. The fact is that most of them are from South or Southeast Asian countries.
- Myth: Jihad is “holy war. Fact: literally means “struggle,” usually a struggle with one’s own moral character.
- Myth: By default Islam oppresses women. Fact: “Everyone interprets what they read differently depending on their culture; texts give certain inheritance and property rights.”
- Myth 1: Islam is a single tradition. Fact: It contains a variety of ideas and practices.
These three points are as important as the two facts earlier surveyed about Islam.
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Start Learning More Than Two Interesting Facts About Islam
At Mubarak Academy, our Islamic Studies course is taught by qualified teachers covering Aqeedah (creed), Fiqh (jurisprudence), the Seerah (life of the Prophet), and Islamic ethics in structured lessons. More than 1,000 students across 20+ countries have studied with our teachers through 80,000+ hours of live instruction, with individual assessment and regular parent follow-up. Every plan starts with a free trial class, with support available 24/7.
Reading a list is a good start, but a structured Islamic Studies course goes deeper than any article can. Book a free trial class with Mubarak Academy and let a qualified teacher guide you or your child through these facts about Islam religion at a pace that fits your schedule.
FAQ
Are these facts about Islam accepted by all Muslims equally?
In Islam most historical facts are agreed upon by the Muslims, and the interpretation of the religious facts varies among the schools of thought. These differences can relate to jurisprudence, theology, or interpretation of history but do not alter the beliefs held by the faith as a whole.
Where can I find more Muslim facts and Muslim faith facts for kids?
Muslim facts for kids can be found in Islamic studies lessons that are age-appropriate, books, and trustworthy educational materials. Lessons are introduced in a gradual way, introducing beliefs, prophets, worship, Islamic history and values in a language and activity appropriate to each child’s level of reading, understanding and learning needs.
Is it true most Muslims don’t speak Arabic as a first language?
Indeed, most Muslims are not the Arabs. Many Muslims can speak Indonesian, Urdu, Bengali, Turkish, Persian, English, or other languages besides Arabic, which is very important in Islamic worship, particularly for the recitation of the Quran and prayer.
Why do people search for just two interesting facts about Islam instead of many?
There are two interesting facts people look for when trying to find information about Islam; because the little they find is short and to the point, they can easily digest it, recall it, and share it with others. A few things can spark an interest in something new without making it all the more overwhelming to the reader, and make them want to learn more about Islamic history, beliefs, culture and practice.
Ustadh Ahmed Mahmoud Abdulaziz is an experienced teacher of Arabic and the Holy Quran for native and non-native speakers. He holds a verified Ijazah in Hafs ‘an Asim and is certified in the foundational Tajweed texts Al-Jazariyyah and Tuhfat Al-Atfal. Drawing on his extensive background in traditional Quranic recitation and international pedagogy, he writes scholar-verified, accessible articles to help students worldwide master Tajweed rules and Arabic linguistics safely and accurately.
