International Encyclopedia of Communication Online

Extract

Traditional Islamic modes of communication have evolved to become very effective at enhancing conformity and obedience, and in strengthening ingroup cohesion (→  Communication and Social Change: Research Methods ). Three illustrative examples are discussed here: the azan (call to prayer), the daily prayer, and the month of Ramadan . It is particularly important to attend to Islamic modes of communication, because Islam is the fastest-growing major religion in the world, soon to constitute about a quarter of the world population. Although the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism ( Moghaddam 2006 ; →  Mediated Terrorism ) has focused attention on Middle Eastern countries, particularly Saudi Arabia which is the home of Wahhabism, the most populous Islamic countries are outside the Middle East. Indonesia alone has about 220 million Muslims. Approximately 90 percent of Muslims in the world belong to the Sunni sect; Shi'a is the second largest sect, Shi'a Muslims make up the vast majority of the populations of Iran, southern Iraq, and southern Lebanon. The historic conflict between Sunni and Shi'a Muslims has intensified since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003; on the borders of India and Pakistan, Islamic fundamentalists are fighting for control over Kashmir. Anyone traveling in Muslim societies immediately experiences the azan , the call to prayer, which is heard from ... log in or subscribe to read full text