Are all Muslims Arabs? (And where do most Muslims live?)?

Question

Shaykh Ibn Baz · Accepted Answer

This is a common misconception. The vast majority of Muslims are not Arabs. In fact, Arab Muslims make up only about 20% of the global Muslim population. The countries with the largest Muslim populations are Indonesia, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh—none of which are Arab countries. Islam is a universal religion sent for all of mankind, not for a specific race or ethnicity.

Shaykh Ibn Baz, like all scholars of Ahlus-Sunnah, clarified that there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, or a non-Arab over an Arab, except through piety (taqwa). This principle is established directly in the Qur

Shaykh Ibn Baz · Answer

The belief that all Muslims are Arabs, or that Islam is a religion exclusively for Arabs, is a grave misconception and contrary to the foundational principles of Islam. The message of the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was sent for all of humanity, not a specific race or ethnicity.

Shaykh Ibn Baz, like other major scholars, affirmed this universality. While acknowledging the special status of the Arabic language as the language of the Qur'an and the Prophet being an Arab, he clarified that this does not confer inherent superiority upon Arabs. The true measure of a person's worth in the sight of Allah is their piety (taqwa).

In fact, the vast majority of the world's Muslims are not Arabs. The country with the largest Muslim population is Indonesia, located in Southeast Asia. Large Muslim populations also reside in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nigeria, with non-Arab Muslims far outnumbering Arab Muslims globally. The "Arab world" only accounts for about 20% of the total global Muslim population.

This is based on the clear statement of Allah in the Qur'an and the teachings of the Prophet. The principle of equality is a cornerstone of the faith, erasing distinctions of race and lineage and uniting believers from all backgrounds upon the creed of Tawhid (the Oneness of Allah). Any ideology that promotes racial or ethnic preference over another is a form of forbidden tribalism (asabiyyah) which Islam came to abolish.

General Beliefs

Are all Muslims Arabs? (And where do most Muslims live?)?

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