Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world today, with 1.9 billion followers globally - that’s almost 25% of the world population.
While Islam was established in the seventh century in modern-day Saudi Arabia - today, it is practiced across the world - from Timbuktu to China.
In fact, one of China’s oldest mosques was constructed in the seventh century, when Muslim traders came to China through the silk route.
This early, pergola-style mosque reinforces a teaching from the Qur’an: “We created you all from a single man and a single woman, and made you into races and tribes so that you should get to know one another” (49:13)
No singular race or culture can lay claim to Islam, because it was created for all people and for all time. As a result, Muslim cultures are widely diverse: Muslims in Brazil, for example, will have a different culture to Muslims in Senegal.
In his last sermon, the Prophet Muhammad stated: "All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a White has no superiority over a Black nor a Black has any superiority over a White except by piety and good action.
Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood.”
The thing that connects all Muslims universally is their belief in one God, Muhammad as His messenger, and the commitment to do good deeds in this life for reward in the Hereafter.