The country with the largest Muslim population is ____________?

Although Islam began in the middle east, there are far more Muslims in Asian countries, specifically Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, India and Indonesia. Indonesia is very close to 100% Muslim and has a high population which accounts for it coming in at number one.

Before Islam arrived, the primary religions in Indonesia were Buddhism and Hinduism.

There are many different theories as to how Islam spread to Indonesia. One theory holds that Islam spread directly to Indonesia in the 9th century. Others believe that Islam came to Indonesia in the 12th and 13th centuries via Sufi merchants from India and Pakistan.

Sufism is a type of Islamic mysticism, more concentrated on the inward dimension of Islam, its rituals, values, doctrines and institutions.

We do know the spread of Islam accelerated greatly in the 15th century with the Melaka Sultanate and other Islamic sultanates dominating the region. These sultanates required their subject to convert. Unlike other areas in the South Pacific, Christianity never gained a foothold in Indonesia. It is interesting to note how Islam took over in Indonesia as opposed to India, where multiple religions have strong footholds.

More Info: www.worldatlas.com

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38 Comments

Linda Stone Ferguson

Stephen Nelson, his mother taught at an English language school but he attended the catholic school which spoke the native language--and he did not have to be a catholic!!! You guys are such idiotic followers of any nonsense that allows you to be racist fools. Get over it!

Terri Blue

Obama can change his religion every day and it will still not be your business Mr Stephen Nelson

Andy Wright

Stephen Nelson, Even if he was a muslim (and I don't think he was), what on earth has that to do with his ability to be POTUS? This sounds like a smokescreen to draw people's attention away from the current occupant of that position?

sftcw

Stephen Nelson, Such stupidity.

anthonygriffin

It's unfortunate how the "Muslim World" has been stereotyped for the sins of a few committing henious crimes against innocent people in life.

billyboy915

Stephen Nelson, It is not necessary to be a Muslim to attend a madrasa. Barack Obama’s parents separated when he was two years old, his father moving to Connecticut to continue his education before returning to Kenya. When the younger Obama was six years old, his mother married again, this time to Lolo Soetoro, an Indonesian oil manager. Barack and his mother moved to Jakarta, Indonesia, where Obama spent 4-5 years attending both Muslim and Catholic schools before his mother sent him back to the United States to live with his maternal grandmother. The school Barack Obama attended in Indonesia was “Muslim” primarily in the sense that the preponderance of its student body was Muslim, because Indonesia is a predominantly Muslim country, but both the Muslim and Catholic schools he attended in Indonesia offered a few hours of religious instruction each week. See this link for more information. http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp Obama denies nothing that is true about his past. You just have to realize what the truth is and not let lies and bigotry cloud your point of view.

Jonathan Onike Roberts

Stephen Nelson, if you live in other parts of the world muslim kids go to Catholic schools only for educational standards, but they are not Catholics.

sftcw

Wendye Curran, Indonesia IS a single country. I don't know where you get the idea that it is several countries.

Richard D. Boyle

Yes, Obama spent his early years in Indonesia but he did not attend Muslim schools, training or indoctrination. He attended American schools while there just like the children of all other adult Americans stationed or employed in Indonesia. He left for Hawaii in 1971 where he completed his secondary and high school education living with his American grandparents. For any troglodytes who may not be aware of the fact, Hawaii is part of the United States and was at the time Obama lived there as well as when he was born there in 1961. Just facts.

Yunus Ghaznavi

THERE WAS NO PAKISTAN IN THE 13TH CENTURY,ISLAM CAME TO INDONESIA VIA MUSLIM SAINTS.AND FROM INDIA WHICH WAS THEN UNDER MUSLIMS MUGHAL EMPIRE.

Karin Johansson

Sarwat Cherkawi, and India have around 125 million muslims! Next time do research BEFORE you comment!

Karin Johansson

Sarwat Cherkawi, Indonesia has a population of 275.5 millions!

Karin Johansson

majohnson, that is not a religion

Karin Johansson

Thelma McKinney, he was never a muslim

Sarwat Cherkawi

Although almost all Indonesian are Muslim but the number of Muslim in India is more than 300 million while all the population in Indonesia around half of this number