Islam in Asia


Islam in Asia began in the 7th century during the lifetime of Muhammad. In 2010, the total number of Muslims in Asia was about 1.1 billion. About 62% of the world's Muslims live in Asia, with Indonesia, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh having the largest Muslim populations in the world. Asia is home to the largest Muslim population, with West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia being particularly important regions. A number of adherents of Islam have lived in Asia especially in West Asia and South Asia since the beginning of Islamic history. According to Pew in 2009 Islam was the largest religion in Asia followed by Hinduism.

History

The spread of Islam outside of the Arabian peninsula and into other parts of the continent can be linked to the extensive trade routes connecting West Asia to China.
The Barmakid family was an early supporter of the Abbasid Revolution against the Umayyads and of As-Saffah. This gave Khalid ibn Barmak considerable influence, and his son Yaḥyā ibn Khālid was the vizier of the caliph al-Mahdi and tutor of Hārūn ar-Rashīd. Yaḥyā's sons al-Faḍl and Ja'far both occupied high offices under Harun. Many Barmakids were patrons of the sciences, which greatly helped the propagation of Indian science and scholarship from the neighboring Academy of Gundishapur into the Arabic world. They patronized scholars such as Gebir and Jabril ibn Bukhtishu. They are also credited with the establishment of the first paper mill in Baghdad. The power of the Barmakids in those times is reflected in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights; the vizier Ja'far appears in several stories, as well as a tale that gave rise to the expression “Barmecide feast”.
Many of the early governors of the Caliphate were Barmakids. Khalid ibn Barmak built Mansura, Sindh and later Baghdad. His son was the governor of what is now Azerbaijan.

Demographics

Central Asia

CountryTotal PopulationMuslim PercentageMuslim Population
18,744,54870.2%13,158,672
6,019,48086.3%5,194,811
8,734,95198.0%8,560,251
5,851,46693.3%5,459,417
32,653,90096.5%31,511,013
Central Asia72,004,34588.7%63,884,165

East Asia

CountryTotal PopulationMuslim PercentageMuslim Population
1,394,620,0001.8–3.6%25,000,000–50,000,000
7,448,9004.1%305,404
658,9001.5%10,000
126,420,0000.1%126,420
25,610,6720.4%100,000
51,635,2560.2%100,000
3,231,2005.0%161,560
23,577,4880.3%70,732
East Asia1,633,202,4163.13%51,080,436

North Asia

CountryTotal PopulationMuslim PercentageMuslim Population
33,765,00515%5,064,750
North Asia33,765,00515%5,064,750

South Asia

CountryTotal PopulationMuslim PercentageMuslim Population
31,575,01899.0%31,259,267
165,000,00090.4%149,100,000
727,1450.2%<10,000
1,338,270,00014.2%194,600,000
378,114100%378,114
29,218,8674.4%1,285,630
212,742,63196.2%204,828,605
21,444,0009.7%2,080,068
South Asia1,789,309,14436.39%651,090,456

Southeast Asia

CountryTotal PopulationMuslim PercentageMuslim Population
443,59382.7%366,851
16,204,4861.9%312,540
1,291,3580.3%4,000
260,580,73987.2%227,226,404
7,126,7060.01%8,000
31,381,99261.3%19,500,000
55,123,8144.15%2,300,000
106,000,0005–11.0%5,300,000–10,600,000
5,888,92615.0%883,338
68,414,1355.0%3,420,706
96,160,1630.1%65,000
Southeast Asia641,775,79741.3%264,786,839

West Asia

CountryTotal PopulationMuslim PercentageMuslim Population
2,975,0000.03%1,000
10,027,87496.9%9,727,038
1,496,30081.2%1,214,995
854,80025.4%217,119
3,723,46410.7%463,062
81,871,50099.4%81,380,271
39,339,75398.0%38,552,957
8,930,68017.7%1,580,730
10,261,30094.0%9,645,622
4,226,92085.0%3,592,882
6,093,50954.0%3,200,000
4,651,70699.0%4,605,188
4,816,50393.0%,4,479,347
2,561,64377.5%1,985,273
33,413,660100.0%33,413,660
18,284,40787.0%15,907,434
80,810,52599.8%80,648,903
9,582,34080.0%7,665,872
28,915,284100.0%28,915,284
West Asia352,837,16893.26%329,065,133