Religion in Iraq

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Religion in Iraq is diverse. The major religion is Islam, which is practiced by about 95% of Iraqis.

Contents 1 Islam 1.1 Shi'a Islam 1.2 Sunni Islam 2 Other religions 2.1 Christianity 2.2 Judaism 2.3 Yazdânism 2.4 Zoroastrianism 2.5 Mandaeans 3 Religious conflict 4 See also

[edit] Islam

Main article: Islam in Iraq

Islam first came to what is now Iraq during the Islamic conquest of Persia. Between 637 and 638 Muslim forces from Arabia, under the leadership of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, conquered almost all of Iraq which then became a province of the Muslim Caliphate.

[edit] Shi'a Islam

Iraq's main Islamic sect are the Shi'a Muslims who constitute 55-60% of Iraq. The Iraqi holy city of Najaf is considered the center of Shi'a learning.

[edit] Sunni Islam

A minority 35-40% of the Iraq's population are Sunni Muslims.

[edit] Other religions

[edit] Christianity

Iraq's Assyrian minority population whom are Christian compose 3%.

[edit] Judaism

Judaism first came to Iraq under the rule of the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon. It was a part of the Babylonian Captivity. The once thriving Jewish community has survived through a series of state-sponsored and local persecution and discrimination. The majority have fled, largely to Israel. Less than 100 Jews remain in Iraq.

Further information: History of the Jews in Iraq

[edit] Yazdânism

The Yazidi live near Mosul and are primarily made up of ethnic Kurds. Yazdânism dates to pre-Islamic times and Mosul is the Yazidi branch's principal holy site. The holiest Yazidi shrine is that of Sheikh Adi located at the necropolis of Lalish. Aside from the Yazidi religion, there are also the religions of the Yarsani, Alevi and the non-Yazdanist Kakai 'davidism' among the Iraqi Kurds.

[edit] Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism first came to Iraq when Babylon was conquered by the Persian Empire. Zoroastrianism in Iraq declined after after the fall of the Sassanid Empire and very few, if any, Zoroastrians remain.

[edit] Mandaeans

The Mandaean faith has existed in Iraq since the reign of Artabanus V according to the Haran Gawaitha (secret wanderings) scroll of secondary Mandaean writ. This would make the Iraqi presence of Mandaeans at least 1,800 years old, making it the third oldest continually professed faith in Iraqi society after Zoroastrianism and Judaism. There are more Mandaeans in Iraq then there are Zoroastrians or Jews combined. In Iraq estimates of around 60,000 have been made, making the country second only to Iran in population numbers.^{[citation needed]} The oldest independent confirmation of Mandaean existence in the region is the Kartir inscription. The Mandaean faith is commonly known as the last surviving Gnostic faith and its adherents believe it to be the oldest faith on Earth, with at least some scholarly support for it being as old if not older then Christianity perhaps even being a major influence in the development of heterodox Jewish circles which eventually led to the formation of Christian beliefs, practices, rituals and theology. John the Baptist or Yahia Yuhanna is considered to have been the final Mandaean prophet and first true Ris'Amma, or Ethnarch, of the Mandaean people. Most Iraqi Mandaeans live near waterways because of the practice of total immersion (or baptism) in flowing water every sunday. The highest concentrations are in the Mesene province with headquarters in Amarah, Qalat Saleh and Basra. Besides these southern regions bordering Kuzistan in Iran large numbers of Mandaeans can be found in Baghdad in Jewller's Quarters of that city giving them easy access to the Tigris River.

[edit] Religious conflict

Contrary to prior belief, Christians and Muslims get along better than Shi'a and Sunni Muslims. Conflict between these two Islamic sects has turned into riots, tit-for-tat bombings, and what has been considered a small-scale civil war in Baghdad.

Further information: Sectarian violence in Iraq

[edit] See also

• Islam in Iraq
• Demographics of Iraq