Middle Eastern religions are those religions asserted to have originated in or arisen to prevalence within the geography of the Middle East, and are typically distinguished from both Western religions and Eastern religions. The term includes Abrahamic religions, which have been predominant in the region for the best part of a millennium, alongside a range of non-Abrahamic faiths, including those from among the Iranian religions.
The three best-known Abrahamic religions originate from the Middle East: Judaism and Christianity emerged in the Levant in the 6th century BCE and the 1st century CE, respectively, while Islam emerged in Arabia in the 7th century CE. Today, Islam is the region's dominant religion, being adhered to by at least 80% of the population in every Middle Eastern country except for Jewish-majority Israel, religiously diverse Lebanon and Christian-majority Cyprus. Muslims constitute 18% of the total Israeli population, ~67% of the Lebanese population (estimates vary) and 25% of the total Cypriot population, or approximately 2% if Northern Cyprus is excluded from this figure.Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project: Cyprus. Pew Research Center. 2010.
There are a number of minority religions present in the Middle East, belonging to the Abrahamic tradition or other religious categories, such as the Iranian religions. These include the Baháʼí Faith, Druzism, Bábism, Yazidism, Gnosticism, Rastafari, Mandaeism, Manichaiesm, Yarsanism, Samaritanism, Ishikism, Ali-Illahism, Yazdânism, Sabianism, Shabakism, and Zoroastrianism. While contemporary Middle Eastern religious practices are overwhelmingly monotheistic, most of the region's ancient traditions were polytheistic, including the Semitic religions and various Iranian religions.
Historical religions originated in the Middle East
Islam
Islam is the most widely followed religion in the Middle East. About 20% of the world's Muslims live in the Middle East, and about 71.17% percent of people in the Middle East are Muslim. Islam is a monotheistic religion, teaching belief in one God (Allah) and is based on the Quran. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the final prophet of God in a long chain of prophets, from Adam on down to John the Baptist, Jesus, and finally Muhammad. The majority of the Muslims are Sunni, followed by Shi'a. Smaller sects include Ibadism, Sufism, non-denominational, and the Ahmadiyya.See, for example: Ahmadis are considered by the majority of Muslims as heretical.Ahmadis - Oxford Islamic Studies Online
A major source of conflict in the Muslim Middle East is the divisive nature between the two main sects of Islam: Sunni and Shi'a. Although these two sects agree on the fundamentals of Islam and the teachings of the Quran, they are in conflict about who would lead the Muslim community after Muhammad's death. The Battle of Siffin and the Battle of Karbala caused a significant schism between the two sects. Throughout the years, differences have arisen between practices, beliefs and culture. Many conflicts between the two communities have occurred. +CountryTotal PopulationMuslim PercentageMuslim Population1,505,00373.7%1,109,187854,80018.0%153,864109,546,72080%98,592,04881,871,50078%80,234,07039,339,75387.0%38,159,5608,930,68011.7%1,580,73010,261,30094.0%9,645,6224,420,11074.6%3,297,4026,093,50945%3,515,9554,664,84485.9%4,007,1014,780,97873.0%4,446,3092,561,64367.7%1,734,23233,413,66093.0%31,000,00018,284,40787.0%15,907,43480,810,52599%74,196,9919,992,08376%7,593,98328,915,28499.1%28,655,046Middle East419,425,72891.17%382,425,728
Sunni
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam in most countries in the Middle East. According to Sunni traditions, Muhammad left no successor and the participants of the Saqifah event appointed Abu Bakr as the next-in-line (the first caliph).
The Quran, together with hadith (especially those collected in Kutub al-Sittah) and binding juristic consensus, form the basis of all traditional jurisprudence within Sunni Islam. Sharia rulings are derived from these basic sources, in conjunction with analogical reasoning, consideration of public welfare and juristic discretion, using the principles of jurisprudence developed by the traditional legal schools. In matters of creed, the Sunni tradition upholds the six pillars of imān (faith) and comprises the Ash'ari and Maturidi schools of Kalam (theology) as well as the textualist school known as traditionalist theology.
Shia
Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest branch of Islam. Although there are many Shia subsects, modern Shia Islam has been divided into three main groupings: Twelvers, Ismailis and Zaidis, with Twelvers being the largest and most influential group, making up perhaps 85 percent of Shias.Tabataba'i (1979), p. 76God's rule: the politics of world religions, p. 146, Jacob Neusner, 2003Esposito, John. What Everyone Needs to Know about Islam, Oxford University Press, 2002. . p.40 Twelver Shia have their largest populations in the Middle East in Iran (75%), Iraq (45%), Bahrain (35-40%), Azerbaijan (75%), Kuwait (15%), Yemen (30%), Syria (12.5%) Lebanon (20%), Saudi Arabia (8%), Oman (6%), UAE (5%), Turkey (12.5%), and Qatar (5%).
The schism between Shi'as and Sunnis happened after the death of Muhammad. Members of the 'ummah' who later on became representatives of the Shi'ita branch preferred Abu Bakr over Ali ibn Abi Talib, as the successor of the Prophet and as the rightful rulers of the Muslim community. Abu Bakr was appointed caliph by senior Muslims, while Ali ibn Abi Talib was the cousin and son-in-law of Muhammad.
Zaydi
Followers of the Zaydi Islamic jurisprudence are called Zaydi Shi'a and make up about 30% of Muslims in Yemen. Zaidis emerged in the eighth century out of Shi'a Islam. They are named after Zayd ibn ʻAlī, the grandson of Husayn ibn ʻAlī who they recognize as the fifth Imam.
Alawites
Alawis, also rendered as Alawites, Alawīyyah or Nusạyriyya, is a syncretic sect of the Twelver branch of Shia Islam, primarily centered in Syria. The eponymously named Alawites revere Ali (Ali ibn Abi Talib), considered the 1st Imam of the Twelver school. However, they are generally considered to be Ghulat by most other sects of Shia Islam. The sect is believed to have been founded by Ibn Nusayr during the 9th century, and fully established as a religion. For this reason, Alawites are sometimes called Nusayris ( Nuṣayrīyyah), although the term has come to be used as a pejorative in the modern era. Another name, Ansari ( Anṣāriyyah), is believed to be a mistransliteration of Nusayri. Today, Alawites represent 11 percent of the Syrian population and are a significant minority in Turkey and northern Lebanon. There is also a population living in the village of Ghajar in the Golan Heights. They are often confused with the Alevis of Turkey. Alawites form the dominant religious group on the Syrian coast and towns near the coast which is also inhabited by Sunnis, Christians, and Ismailis.
Alawites have historically kept their beliefs secret from outsiders and non-initiated Alawites.Friedman, Nuṣayrī-ʿAlawīs, 2010: p.68Friedman, Nuṣayrī-ʿAlawīs, 2010: p.67 At the core of Alawite belief is a divine triad, comprising three aspects of the one God.
Alawites have traditionally lived in the An-Nusayriyah Mountains along the Mediterranean coast of Syria. Latakia and Tartus are the region's principal cities. They are also concentrated in the plains around Hama and Homs. Alawites also live in Syria's major cities, and are estimated at 12 percent of the country's population (2.6 million, out of a total population of 22 million).
Alevism
Alevism is a small syncretic, heterodox form of Islam, following Shia, Sufi, Sunni and local traditions, whose adherents follow the mystical (bāṭenī) teachings of Ali, the Twelve Imams, and a descendant—the 13th century Alevi saint Haji Bektash Veli. There are between 8–12 million Alevi and they are found primarily in Turkey among ethnic Turks and Kurds, and make up between 10 and 15% of Turkey's population, the largest branches of Islam there after the majority Sunni Islam.
Some of the differences that mark Alevis from mainstream Muslims are the use of cemevi halls rather than mosques; worship ceremonies that feature wine, music and dancing, and where both women and men participate. And non-observance of the five daily salat prayers and prostrations (they only bow twice in the presence of their spiritual leader), Ramadan, and the Hajj (considering true pilgrimage to be an internal one). Alevis have some links with Twelver Shia Islam (such as importance of the Ahl al-Bayt, the day of Ashura, the Mourning of Muharram, commemorating Karbala), but do not follow taqlid towards a Marja' "source of emulation". Some practices of the Alevis are based on Sufi elements of the Bektashi tariqa.
Christianity
Christianity originated in the region in the 1st century AD, and was one of the major religions of the region until the Muslim conquests of the mid-to-late 7th century AD. Christianity in the Middle East is characterized by its diverse beliefs and traditions compared to other parts of the old world.
Christian communities have played a vital role in the Middle East. Scholars and intellectuals agree Christians in the Middle East have made significant contributions to Arab and Islamic civilization since the introduction of Islam, and they have had a significant impact contributing to the culture of the Mashriq, Turkey, and Iran.
Christians now make up 5% of the population, down from 20% in the early 20th century. The number of Middle Eastern Christians is dropping in some regions in the Middle East due to such factors as extensive emigration. Political turmoil, persecution by extreme Islamists and declining birth rates contribute to driving indigenous Near Eastern Christians of various ethnicities towards seeking security and stability outside their homelands.
Presently, the only Christian majority country in the Middle East is Cyprus.
Copts
The largest Christian group in the Middle East is the originally Coptic-speaking, but now Arabic-speaking Coptic Orthodox Christian population. This Egyptian ethnoreligious community of Copts, is cited by the official census as consisting of 6–11 million people at the end of the 20th century "estimates [for the Coptic Orthodox Church] ranged from 6 to 11 million; 6% (official estimate) to 20% (Church estimate)" although Coptic sources cite the figure as being closer to 15–20 million. "In 2008, Pope Shenouda III and Bishop Morkos, bishop of Shubra, declared that the number of Copts in Egypt is more than 12 million" (Arabic) "In 2008, father Morkos Aziz the prominent priest in Cairo declared that the number of Copts (inside Egypt) exceeds 16 million." Copts reside mainly in Egypt, but also in Sudan and Libya, with tiny communities in Israel, Cyprus and Jordan.
In Egypt, Copts are better educated, wealthier and have a stronger representation in white collar job types than the general population, but limited representation in security agencies. The majority of demographic, socioeconomic and health indicators are similar among Copts and Muslims.Mohamoud YA, Cuadros DF, Abu-Raddad LJ. Characterizing the Copts in Egypt: Demographic, socioeconomic and health indicators, QScience Connect 2013:22 http://dx.doi.org/10.5339/connect.2013.22 Historically; many Copts were accountants, and in 1961 Coptic Christians owned 51% of the Egyptian banks. According to the scholar Andrea Rugh, Copts tend to belong to the educated middle and upper-middle class, and according to scholar Lois Farag "The Copts still played the major role in managing Egypt's state finances. They held 20% of total state capital, 45% of government employment, and 45% of government salaries".
Maronites