Religion in Qatar

Last updated

Religion in Qatar (2022) [1] [2]

   Islam (official) (65.5%)
   Christianity (15.4%)
   Hinduism (14%)
   Buddhism (3%)
  Other religions/Unaffiliated (2%)

Qatar is an Islamic state with multi-religious minorities like most of the Persian Gulf countries with waves of migration over the last 30 years. The official state religion is Sunni Islam. The community is made up of Sunni and Shi’a Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and small groups of Buddhists and Baha’is. [3] Muslims form 65.5% of the Qatari population, followed by Christians at 15.4%, Hindus at 14.2%, Buddhists at 3.3% and the rest 1.9% of the population follow other religions or are unaffiliated. Qatar is also home to numerous other religions mostly from the Middle East and Asia. [4]

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The country has also hosted numerous interfaith dialogue conferences.


Welcoming: People of all religions and cultures are welcomed in Qatar, which is renowned for its warmth and dedication to inclusiveness. The nation recognises and encourages the freedom of other faiths, enabling communities to construct places of worship even if Islam is the official religion. Everyone, regardless of background, feels appreciated and at home in Qatar thanks to this atmosphere of tolerance and respect for one another.

Islam

The state religion in Qatar is Islam. [5] Most Qataris belong to the Sunni sect of Islam. [6] [7] [8] Shiites comprise around 10% of Qatar's Muslim population. [9] Religious policy is set by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Islamic instruction is compulsory for Muslims in all state-sponsored schools. [5]

The state mosque is the Mohammed Bin Abdul Wahab mosque, which is located in the Lejbailat neighbourhood and was designed by renowned Qatari architect Ibrahim Jaidah, drawing on traditional Qatari architecture.

The Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center is located in the Al Souq neighbourhood of Doha, adjacent to Souq Waqif. The center provides Arabic lessons to beginners and intermediate speakers.

At the tertiary level, Islamic Studies is taught at Qatar University, and at Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) Faculty of Islamic Studies where a master's degree is offered. Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the consort of the Father Emir and mother of current Emir, is the most notable graduate. [10]

Education City is also home to the Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE), a think tank founded in 2012 and headed by Swiss political philosopher Professor Tariq Ramadan of the University of Oxford. [11]

Islam’s role in scientific discovery has also been an area of interest for the Qatar Foundation, and recently, the Society for Muslim Scientists was established with prominent members. In 2010, the joint venture between Bloomsbury Publishing and the Qatar Foundation began, publishing the book ‘Science in Islam’. [12]


Islam emphasises harmony and justice for all, and it is a religion of peace, compassion, and unity. It promotes a feeling of togetherness (Ummah) that cuts across racial and national boundaries by teaching virtues like kindness, forgiveness, and generosity. Its central tenet of fostering mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence is reflected in the term "Islam," which is derived from the word "salaam" (peace).

Hinduism

Hindus make up 14% of Qatar. There are an estimated 422,118 Hindus in the country. [2] Many Hindus are from South and Southeast Asia. [13] [14]

Christianity

The Christian community in Qatar is a diverse mix of European, North and South American, Asian, Middle Eastern and African expatriates. In 2023, they form around 15.1% of the total population, being mainly made up of foreign workers from the Philippines, Europe, and India. [5] [2]

No foreign missionary groups operate openly in the country. In May 2005, the Qatari Government leased a piece of property on the outskirts of Doha to the representatives of Christian churches in the country for the construction of Church buildings. [15] A 2015 study estimates some 200 believers in Christ from a Muslim background, though not all of those are necessarily citizens. [16]

Buddhism

In 2020, Buddhism was represented by between 1.8-3.8% of the population of Qatar, [5] [17] mainly comprising migrant workers from South-East Asia and East Asia especially from China, South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.

Freedom of religion

In 2023, the country was scored 2 out of 4 for religious freedom by Freedom House. [18]

Religious complex The Religious Complex in Qatar, which houses a number of places of worship for non-Muslim people, is evidence of the country's cultural and religious inclusiveness. Churches of all religions and other faiths can be found in this area, enabling expatriates to freely practise their religion. In addition, Qatar promotes its cultural variety by providing venues and activities that allow individuals from all backgrounds to interact. These initiatives demonstrate the nation's dedication to creating a friendly atmosphere where everyone is valued and included

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islam in Pakistan</span> Role and impact of Islam in Pakistan

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Azerbaijan</span>

Islam is the majority religion in Azerbaijan, but the country is considered to be the most secular in the Muslim world. Estimates include 97.3% and 99.2% of the population identifying as Muslim. Of these, a majority belong to the Shia branch (60%-65%), while a significant minority (35%-40%) are Sunni. Traditionally, the differences between these two branches of Islam have not been sharply defined in Azerbaijan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani</span> Emir of Qatar since 2013

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani is Emir of Qatar, reigning since 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Jordan</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Uganda</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Afghanistan</span>

Sunni Islam (Hanafi/Deobandi) is the largest and the state religion of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. According to The World Factbook, Sunni Muslims constitute between 84.7 and 89.7% of the population, and Shia Muslims between 10 and 15%. Other religions are followed by 0.3% of the population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islam in Qatar</span>

Qatar is a Muslim-majority country with Islam as the state religion. Salafi version of Islam is the state sponsored brand of Sunni Islam in the country, making Qatar one of the many Salafi states in the Muslim world, along with Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Syria, Pakistan, Sudan, Indonesia and Palestine.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Ghana</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Tanzania</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Culture of Qatar</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Religion in Uzbekistan</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islam by country</span> Population of Muslims by country

Adherents of Islam constitute the world's second largest and fastest growing major religious grouping, maintaining suggested 2017 projections in 2022. As of 2020, Pew Research Centre (PEW) projections suggest there are a total of 1.9 billion adherents worldwide. Further studies indicate the worldwide spread and percentage growth of Islam, may be attributed to high birth rates followed by a trend of worldwide adoption and conversion to Islam.

References

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  2. 1 2 3 Global Religious Landscape. Pew Forum.
  3. "Qatar". rpl.hds.harvard.edu. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  4. "Religious Composition by Country" (PDF). Global Religious Landscape. Pew Forum. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 4 US State Dept 2022 report
  6. "Tiny Qatar's growing global clout". BBC. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  7. "Qatar's modern future rubs up against conservative traditions". Reuters. 27 September 2012.
  8. "Rising power Qatar stirs unease among some Mideast neighbors". Reuters. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  9. "Mapping the Global Muslim Population" (PDF). Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. October 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  10. "Class of 2015 graduates honoured". Gulf Times. 6 May 2015.
  11. "CILE Center - about us". CILE. 2012.
  12. "Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation publishing and delfina foundation announce winner of Arab writing residency programme". Al Bawaba. 5 March 2015.
  13. "Population structure". Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics. 31 January 2020.
  14. "Population By Religion, Gender And Municipality March 2020". Qatar Statistics Authority.
  15. "International Religious Freedom Report 2006". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  16. Johnstone, Patrick; Miller, Duane Alexander (2015). "Believers in Christ from a Muslim Background: A Global Census". Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion. 11: 17. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  17. The ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-28
  18. Freedom House website, retrieved 2023-08-08