Module 19:
Islam in Muslim-Majority Countries

Module 19 explains that Islam in Muslim-majority countries is both unified and diverse. Muslims around the world share core beliefs and practices, but Islam is expressed differently across regions because it is shaped by local culture, language, history, politics, and social customs. The module emphasizes that Muslim-majority societies are not all the same: some are more secular, some are more religiously conservative, and some blend Islam with national, cultural, and legal traditions in very different ways.

The module also examines major issues affecting modern Muslim-majority societies, including religious freedom, blasphemy laws, women’s roles, modernization, migration, technology, and global influence. It shows that rights and freedoms exist on a wide spectrum, from relatively open and pluralistic societies to more restrictive ones. Overall, the module argues that Islam in the modern world cannot be reduced to one culture, one political system, or one social reality, but must be understood through both its shared religious foundations and its wide regional variation.