Contemporary World Problems

Family Resources

June 2020

Contemporary World Problems

Study the maps showing the growth of the Islamic Empire and the map showing the World Muslim

Population. Then answer the questions on the graphic organizer.

Where do most Muslims

in the world today live?

What are similarities

between the two maps?

What are differences

between the two maps?

Write at least two places

where Islam gained

popularity from the

medieval world to today.

Why might Islam have

become more popular in

some of these places?

Write at least two places

where Islam lost

popularity from the

medieval world to today.

Why might Islam have

become less popular in

some of these places?

Read the three articles on the next pages. Complete the graphic organizer by

adding information from each of the different articles.

Article Name Key information about

the early days of Islam

Regions of the world

where Islam is

practiced

Information about

Muslims today

Technology and innovation in the

Middle East

The Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan

Famous Speeches: President George W.

Bush’s “Islam is Peace”

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.

Technology and innovation in the Middle East

Image 1. The stars of Canis Major on the Manuchihr Globe. The globe was made almost 400 years ago, under the orders of ManuchihrKhan, a Middle Eastern ruler. Photo from the Adilnor Collection/Wikimedia

The religion of Islam started around 1,400 years ago. Followers of Islam are called Muslims. For

hundreds of years, Muslims made new discoveries in math and science. During that time, science

in the Muslim world was far ahead of Europe.

In math, Muslims used the number zero before Europeans. Muslim astronomers learned a great

deal about the stars and planets. They knew the Earth was round and were able to find out how

wide it is. This was 600 years before European astronomer Galileo discovered that the Earth

moved around the sun.

Ibn Sina was a Muslim thinker who lived about 1,100 years ago. In Europe, he was also known as

Avicenna. He was an expert in medicine, and wrote five books called the "Canons of Medicine."

They talked about how to treat certain diseases and medical problems. European doctors used the

books for 700 years.

The West Catches Up

By WGBH, adapted by Newsela staff on 01.09.18Word Count 727Level 830L

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.

Around 400 years ago, many Muslim leaders stopped

supporting science and new discoveries. Many wanted

to keep things as they were. These leaders became

more powerful than those who wanted change.

Meanwhile, Europe's scientific and industrial

revolutions began. Europeans were inventing new

technology and building factories to make more

goods. They were using what they learned from

Muslim thinkers. The West, or European countries

and the U.S., were able to form more powerful armies

and gain more wealth than Middle Eastern countries.

By the 1800s, Middle Eastern countries like Egypt,

Iran and the Ottoman Empire (now Turkey) decided

to build railroads and start using electricity. They had

to hire businesses from Europe who knew how to do

it. But they did not have enough money to hire these

companies. So, they had to sell these projects to

European businesses. In other words, foreign

companies were able to make money from the

railroads and other technology in the Middle East.

Soon, European governments got more involved in

Middle Eastern governments. Europeans wanted to

make sure they could keep getting money. The West strengthened its power in the region. At the

same time, Middle Eastern countries began to dislike the West. They thought the independence

and freedom of the Islamic world were under threat.

Technology And The Environment

Some of the most important technologies in the Middle East involve the use of water. For example,

the ancient qanats were underground canals in the country of Iran. They brought water from the

mountains to the deserts.

In 1898, the Aswan Dam was a major dam project in

Egypt. The dam controls the water that flows from the

Nile River to the farmland. This stops the river from

flooding, while the water is used to make electricity.

The dam also caused problems for the environment,

though.

Before the dam, the Nile flooded every year. It would

leave behind nutrients in the fields. These nutrients

made the soil fertile and allowed plants to grow. Now,

because of the dam, these nutrients are sent to Lake

Nasser behind the Aswan Dam instead. Farmers are forced to use chemical fertilizers to grow their

crops. These fertilizers end up in the Nile and pollute the river.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.

Since much of the Middle East is dry, some countries have used new technologies to handle water.

They have become experts in water recycling, solar energy and removing salt from seawater.

Access To Technology Varies

Technology is used differently in different areas in the Middle East. For example, the country

of Israel is a leader in computer technology. But, some people in the Middle East still don't have

access to the Internet.

Cellphones, however, are getting more popular in the

Middle East. They allow people in more remote,

faraway communities to communicate. Internet cafes

have also sprung up. This has allowed people who

cannot afford a computer to access information. TV

stations, like Al-Jazeera in the country of Qatar, are

also able to bring information to people.

Poorer countries cannot take advantage of these new

technologies. The ability to use new technology

depends on a country's wealth and how strict its

government is.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.

Issue Overview: Sunni-Shiite divide

TOP: First Friday prayers of Ramadan at the East London Mosque in London, England. Photo by Rob Stothard. BOTTOM:Map courtesy ofDr. M. Izady, Gulf/2000 project.

Christians are split into Protestants and Catholics, and Jews into Orthodox, Conservative and

Reform. Muslims are divided, too, into Sunnis and Shiites. It began as a dispute over who was

entitled to lead Islam following the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 A.D., about 1,400

years ago. The split led to differing religious ideas and worldviews for Sunnis and Shiites. It has

pitted empires, nations and neighbors against each other on and off for 14 centuries. In the many

civil wars in the Middle East today, it is sometimes a driving force and sometimes an aggravating

factor. Local struggles are worsened by the competition between Sunni power Saudi Arabia and

Shiite Iran.

The Situation

In 2016, Saudi Arabia executed a prominent Shiite religious leader. In response, Iranian protesters

set fire to the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, and then Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic relations with Iran.

In Syria, a civil war, sparked by a popular revolt against dictator Bashar al-Assad in 2011, quickly

turned into a religious conflagration between Sunnis and Shiites. Syria's conflict, in turn, ignited

the Sunni-Shiite fighting next door in Iraq. Yemen's civil war has been intensified by outside

By Bloomberg, adapted by Newsela staff on 10.06.16Word Count 789Level 1140L

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.

powers that have chosen sides along Sunni-Shiite

lines. Sunnis worry that Iran is trying to establish

what Jordan's King Abdullah called a Shiite crescent,

encompassing Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Their fear

escalated after Iran negotiated an international

agreement limiting its nuclear program. In exchange,

world governments lifted crippling economic

sanctions that prevented most trade to the Middle

Eastern nation, strengthening the Shiite country. The

Sunni-Shiite schism also provokes violence between

Muslims in such places as Pakistan, Nigeria and

Indonesia. About 85 percent of the world's 1.6 billion

Muslims are Sunnis. Shiites form a majority only in

Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan and Bahrain, which is ruled by

Sunni royals. In countries where Sunnis are a majority

or dominate the government, Shiites frequently

complain of discrimination. The opposite is also true.

Iraq has traditionally been seen as an important force

in the Arab world. In 2003, Iraqi dictator Saddam

Hussein was overthrown and power shifted from

Sunnis, who are in the minority, to the majority

Shiites. Since then, Sunnis in the Middle East have

expressed anxiety about rising Shiite influence. This

unease has been exploited by extremist groups,

notably the Islamic State. The extremist group is

attempting to set up its own country governed by

Islamic law. It has also been called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Islamic State of

Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The group's fighters have captured parts of Syria and Iraq. The Islamic State

is rooted in Saudi Arabia's 200-year-old ultra-conservative Wahhabi movement. Wahhabis regard

themselves as Sunnis, though many Sunnis consider them to be extreme in their beliefs.

The Background

Muhammad's followers quarreled over whether he

should be succeeded by a blood relative or someone

chosen by the community on the basis of merit. In the

event, his companion Abu Bakr was chosen the first

ruler, or caliph. The Shiites' candidate was the

prophet's cousin Ali ibn Abi Talib. He was selected as

the fourth caliph in 656. After Ali was assassinated,

Shiites followed separate leaders, or imams, from

Muhammad's bloodline, whom they believed were

appointed by God. The split deepened in 680 when

the Sunni caliph's army killed the third imam, Ali's

son Hussein. Today, Shiites mark Hussein's death in an annual day of mourning. Most Shiites

believe there were 12 rightful imams, the last of whom went into hiding in the ninth century, 1,200

years ago, and will return as the messiah. If there is no imam, Shiites believe that important

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.

scholars can interpret the Quran and other religious writings. Sunnis say that only Muhammad

and the other prophets in the Quran were divinely chosen. Many Sunnis disapprove of the Shiite

practice of revering Muhammad's relatives. The Shiites make shrines of their graves and celebrate

feast days on their birthdays. Sunnis believe religious authority comes directly from the Quran and

the traditions of Muhammad. Their scholars have less room to interpret Islam.

The Argument

In part, the friction between Sunnis and Shiites undoubtedly comes from being genuinely offended

by each other's beliefs. Yet today's conflicts are largely fueled by politics. The issue is less how

Muslims should observe their faith than who should have power. Saudi Arabia and Iran are

archrivals. When one of them supports — or is perceived to support — fellow Sunnis or Shiites in

other countries, the other side gets involved on the opposite side of the conflict. Even the

murderous Islamic State has a political purpose in targeting Shiite civilians. It seeks to sow chaos

in Muslim countries in pursuit of its ultimate goal: an international Islamic country, or caliphate.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.

The Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan

A young Palestinian Muslim girl walks in an alley of Jerusalem's old city in August 2010 holding a traditional Ramadan lantern whilecelebrating with other children the announcing of the holy month of Ramadan. Millions of Muslims around the world mark the start ofRamadan with a month of intense prayer, dawn-to-dusk fasting and nightly feasts. AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen

Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, introspection and prayer for Muslims, the followers of Islam.

Fasting is one of the five fundamental principles of Islam. Each day during Ramadan, Muslims do

not eat or drink from sunrise to sunset. They are also supposed to avoid impure thoughts and bad

behavior. Muslims break their daily fasts by sharing meals with family and friends, and the end of

Ramadan is celebrated with a three-day festival known as Eid al-Fitr, one of Islam’s major

holidays.

Islam at a glance

Islam is the world’s second largest religion, after Christianity, with more than 1 billion followers.

Islam originated in Arabia and has spread all over the world.

Countries with the largest Muslim populations include Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria,

Egypt, Turkey and Iran. There are an estimated 7 million Muslims in America, along with Islamic

places of worship, called mosques, in all 50 states.

By History.com on 05.26.17Word Count 778Level MAX

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.

Muslims believe that around 610 A.D. a man named Muhammad (c.570-632) from the Arabian

city of Mecca started receiving revelations from God, or Allah, via the angel Gabriel. The

revelations were collected into a 114-chapter holy book known as the Quran (or Koran), which

Muslims believe contains the exact words of God.

The Five Pillars of Islam

Muhammad is, according to Muslims, the final prophet in a line of prophets (including Adam,

Abraham, Moses and Jesus) who were chosen by God to act as messengers and teach mankind.

Muslims believe there is one, all-knowing God, and people can achieve salvation by following his

commandments. In Arabic, Islam means “submission” or “surrender” (to God).

A series of formal acts of worship, known as the Five Pillars of Islam, are fundamental to the lives

of Muslims. The pillars include shahada (a declaration of faith: “There is no deity but God, and

Muhammad is the messenger of God”); prayer (Muslims pray five times a day); zakat (charitable

giving); fasting; and pilgrimage (Muslims are supposed to make a trip, or “hajj,” to the city of

Mecca, Saudi Arabia, at least once in a lifetime if they are physically and financially able).

The Islamic calendar

Ramadan is the ninth month of the 12-month Islamic calendar, a lunar calendar that’s based on

the phases of the moon. The lunar calendar falls short of the solar calendar by 11 days.

As a result, Ramadan doesn’t start on the same date each year and instead, over time, passes

through all the seasons. Ramadan is celebrated as the month during which Muhammad received

the initial revelations of what became the Quran.

Ramadan 2017 begins at sunset on May 26, and ends on June 25; the following year, Ramadan

2018 will begin at sunset on May 15.

Ramadan practices

During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk each day. They are supposed to avoid eating,

drinking, smoking and sexual activity, as well as unkind or impure thoughts and words, and

immoral behavior.

Ramadan is a time to practice self-restraint and self-reflection. Fasting is seen as a way to cleanse

the soul and have empathy for those in the world who are hungry and less fortunate. Muslims go

to work and school and take care of their usual activities during Ramadan; however, some also

read the entire Quran, say special prayers and attend mosques more frequently during this time.

All Muslims who have reached puberty and are in good health are required to fast. The sick and

elderly, along with travelers, pregnant women and those who are nursing are exempt, although

they are supposed to make up for the missed fast days sometime in the future or help feed the

poor.

The first pre-dawn meal of the day during Ramadan is called “suhoor.” Each day’s fast is broken

with a meal known as “iftar.” Traditionally, a date is eaten to break the fast. Iftars are often

elaborate feasts celebrated with family and friends. The types of foods served vary according to

culture.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.

Eid al-Fitr

The conclusion of Ramadan is marked with a major celebration known as Eid al-Fitr (or Eid ul-

Fitr), the Feast of Fast-Breaking. It starts the day after Ramadan ends and lasts for three days.

Eid al-Fitr includes special prayers and meals with friends and relatives, and gifts are often

exchanged.

In 1996, then-first lady Hillary Clinton hosted the first Eid al-Fitr dinner at the White House.

President Bill Clinton continued the tradition throughout the rest of his time in office.

His successor, President George W. Bush, hosted an iftar at the White House in 2001 and

continued the dinners every year of his two terms in power. President Barack Obama followed

suit, hosting his first White House Ramadan dinner in August 2010.