While there are several Islamic schools and branches, as well as non-denominational Muslims, the two

largest denominations are Sunni Islam (75–90% of all Muslims)[57] and Shia Islam (10–20% of all
Muslims).[18][19][20] By sheer numbers, South Asia accounts for the largest portion (31%) of the global
Muslim population.[58][59] By country, Indonesia is the largest in the Muslim world, holding around 12%
of all Muslims worldwide;[60][61] outside of the Muslim-majority countries, India and China are home to
the largest (11%) and second-largest (2%) Muslim populations, respectively.[62][63][64] Due to high
Muslim population growth, Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the world.[65][66][67]

Etymology

See also: Islam § Etymology

The word muslim (Arabic: ‫مسلم‬, IPA: [ˈmʊslɪm]; English: /ˈmʌzlɪm/, /ˈmʊzlɪm/, /ˈmʊslɪm/ (MUZZ-lim,
MUUZ-lim, MUUSS-lim) or moslem /ˈmɒzləm/, /ˈmɒsləm/ (MOZ-ləm, MOSS-ləm)[68]) is the active
participle of the same verb of which islām is a verbal noun, based on the triliteral S-L-M "to be whole,
intact".[69][70] A female adherent is a muslima (Arabic: ‫( )مسلمة‬also transliterated as "Muslimah"[71]).
The plural form in Arabic is muslimūn (‫ )مسلمون‬or muslimīn (‫)مسلمين‬, and its feminine equivalent is
muslimāt (‫)مسلمات‬.

The ordinary word in English is "Muslim". In the 20th century the preferred spelling in English was
"Moslem", but this has now fallen into disuse.[72][better source needed] The word Mosalman (Persian:
‫مسلمان‬, alternatively Mussalman) is a common equivalent for Muslim used in Central and South Asia. In
English it was sometimes spelled Mussulman and has become archaic in usage; however, cognates of
this word remain the standard term for "Muslim" in various other European languages. Until at least the
mid-1960s, many English-language writers used the term Mohammedans or Mahometans.[73] Although
such terms were not necessarily intended to be pejorative, Muslims argue that the terms are offensive
because they allegedly imply that Muslims worship Muhammad rather than God.[74] Other obsolete
terms include Muslimite[75] and Muslimist.[76] In Medieval Europe, Muslims were commonly called
Saracens.

The Muslim philologist Ibn al-Anbari said:

a Muslim is a person who has dedicated his worship exclusively to God, for just as we say in Arabic that
something is ‘salima’ to a person, meaning that it became solely his own, so in the same way ‘Islām’
means making one's religion and faith God's alone.[77]

In several places in the Quran, the word muslim conveys a universal meaning, beyond the description of
the followers of Muhammad, for example:[78]
"Abraham was not a Jew, nor a Christian, but he was a true Muslim [‫]ُّم ۡس ِل ࣰما‬, and he was not a polytheist."
-- Quran 3:67 [79]

"Then when Jesus perceived their disbelief he said, 'Who will be my helpers of God.' The disciples said
'We will be the helpers of God; we believe in God and bear witness that we are Muslims [ ‫]ُم ۡس ِلُم وَن‬.'" --
Quran 3:52 [80]