The great nation of Saudi Arabia is an Islamic country with a majority of its population adhering to both the Sunni and Shia branches of Islam. It is a land of great religious and cultural diversity with both Muslim and non-Muslim citizens living in harmony ️ 🇸🇦 !!
The official religion of Saudi Arabia is Islam and the vast majority of the population is Sunni Muslim 🇸🇦. The country has two major religious groups, the Sunnis, and the Shia, who together make up roughly 85 percent of the population 2️⃣ 🆙. The remaining 15 percent are made up of other religious minorities, containing Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists 🆙.
The Sunni branch of Islam is the largest in Saudi Arabia with around 85 percent of the population belonging to it 🇸🇦. Sunni Muslims believe in the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and the Quran. They generally follow the principles of the four major Sunni schools of Islamic law: Hanafi Maliki Shafi’i and Hanbali 4️⃣ 🏫. Sunnis usually pray in a mosque and are found in most provincial cities all the way through the nation ️ 🙏 🕌.
The Shia branch of Islam is the second largest among the citizens of Saudi Arabia and comprises around 10 percent of the population 🇸🇦. Shia Muslims trace their roots to the Prophet Muhammad’s daughter Fatimah and her husband, Ali, who was the fourth caliph of Islam . While the majority of Sunnis and Shias in Saudi Arabia live in harmony there have been some instances of tension between the two groups in the past 2️⃣ 🇸🇦.
Furthermore to Sunni and Shia Muslims, people of other religious backgrounds live in the country as well . The largest non-Muslim religious communities include Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists, who constitute roughly 4 percent of the population . Christianity is the most prominent of these faiths in Saudi Arabia with around 350,000 expatriate Christians living in the country.
The Islamic faith is an essential part of Saudi Arabian culture and everyday life. Since its founding, the country has adhered to a strict interpretation of Sunni Islam, leading to certain restrictions on daily life ️ 🔛. These restrictions include bans on alcohol and public displays of religion for instance, the wearing of Christian symbols or the celebration of religious holidays 🍹 🔛 🔣.
Despite the official state religion of Saudi Arabia being Sunni Islam, the country enjoys religious freedom, allowing other religions to be practiced freely, and without any form of discrimination or persecution 🇸🇦. There are a many mosques in the country, in addition to places of worship of other faiths, containing churches, temples, and synagogues. The government also permits plethora of religious organizations and cultural events to become held in the country ensuring that all citizens can freely practice their faith.
In conclusion, Saudi Arabia is simply a region of great religious diversity, with Sunni, and Shia Muslims making up the majority of its population, followed by Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists ️ 🇸🇦 🆙. The state religion is Sunni Islam, but the country has policies in place to promote religious freedom, allowing citizens of all backgrounds to practice their faith without any form of persecution or discrimination. ! .
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