Page 141 - Bible Geography and Near East Studies

The only countries that are not under governments
that impose Islamic rule are Cyprus and Israel.

Some of these countries impose the death penalty
for blasphemy or apostasy (changing your religion
from Islam). They are Afghanistan, Iran, Malaysia,
Maldives, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, United Arab
Emirates, and Yemen. All of these countries, except
Pakistan, allow for capital punishment against
apostasy, while Pakistan imposes the death penalty
for blasphemy, including disbelief in God.

Here is a map of the Middle East countries:

A Short History of Islam

Islam began in the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi
Arabia) when the Prophet Muhammad received
the first revelation from the angel Gabriel in the
cave of Hira in the month of Ramadan.
According to tradition, he was supposedly
commanded by Allah to convey this message to
the people and to be patient with those hostile
to it. Tradition maintains that he received a
series of revelations dictated by Gabriel over
roughly 20 years. These revelations, codified
and put into writing after Muhammad’s death,
compose the Quran and are accepted by
Muslims as the final Revelation of God. After
13 years of spreading this message, despite
increased persecution by the Quraysh, the ruling
tribe of Mecca, Muhammad and his followers
migrated to Medina to establish a new state
under the prophet’s leadership and away from
persecution. This migration, called the Hijra, marks the first year of the Islamic calendar. Islam was the
spread to other parts of the Arabian Peninsula over the course of Muhammad’s life.

After Muhammad died in 632, his successors continued to lead the Muslim community based on his
teachings and the guidelines of the Quran. Muhammad is said to be the last and greatest of the
prophets. Most Muslims consider the first four successors to be chosen by Allah. The Arab Muslims
were unable to conquer the entire Christian Byzantine Empire in Asia Minor. The Muslims attempted
two failed sieges of Constantinople in 674 and 717. Meanwhile, the Muslim community tore itself apart
into the rivaling Sunni and Shia sects since the killing of the caliph, Uthman, in 656 resulted in a
succession crisis that has never been resolved to this date.

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