Israeli Muslims More Devout Than Jews — but Less Than Others in Middle East
Israeli Muslims are more devout than the country’s Jews, Christians and Druze, but less so than other Muslims in the region, according to Pew research released Wednesday.
About 68% of Muslims living in the Jewish state say religion is “very important” in their lives, a figure that is lower than in all countries in the region, except Lebanon.
In contrast, a plurality of Israeli Jews, 44%, say religion is not important in their lives, according to another Pew study.
A smaller share of Israeli Muslims than the median in the Middle East practiced four of the five pillars of Islam — professing the Muslim proclamation of faith, praying five times a day, giving charity and fasting during Ramadan.
Muslims in Israel scored higher only on one of the religion’s principles, making a pilgrimage to Mecca, with 23% having made the trip, compared to a 17% median in the Middle East.
Nearly all Israeli Muslims, 97%, agree with Islam’s central tenet, that there is only one god and that Muhammad is his prophet — close to the almost 100% of Muslims in the Middle East and Africa who believed it to be true.
Pew conducted the survey on Israeli Muslims in October 2014- May 2015 and the survey on Muslims in the region in November 2011- January 2012.
Contact Josefin Dolsten at dolsten@forward.com or on Twitter, @JosefinDolsten
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