Najmuddin A. Farooqi.
“The wisdom that comes from God teaches love, justice, righteousness, humility, mercy, self-control and reverence for God. Unlike any other form of knowledge, Godly wisdom does not merely increase a person’s ability; it transforms a person’s character.”
“Likewise, we should not be jealous when others grow in wisdom. Instead, we should pray that God grants them even greater wisdom than He has granted us.”
Introduction
Religion has been one of humanity’s most influential forces, shaping civilizations, cultures, moral values and social institutions across the globe. While faith traditions have overwhelmingly promoted peace, compassion and justice, extremist groups have occasionally sought to misuse religious identities to justify violence, separatism, or political agendas.
To understand these issues objectively, it is useful to examine both the global demographic distribution of religions and the manner in which contemporary security agencies classify extremist and terrorist organizations.
Global Population by Religion
The world’s population is distributed approximately as follows: Religion Population
Christianity 2.3–2.5 billion (31%)
Islam 2.0 billion (25.8%)
Hinduism 1.17–1.20 billion (15%)
Buddhism 320–500 million (4–6%)
Others Approximately 23%
Largest Religious Denominations and Sects Worldwide
When examined by specific denominations rather than broad religious categories, the largest religious groups in the world are:
| RANK | SECT | RELIGION | POPULATION (Millions) |
| 1 | Sunni | Islam | 1,690 |
| 2 | Roman Catholic | Christianity | 1,240 |
| 3 | Protestant (Combined) | Christianity | 586 |
| 4 | Vaishnavism | Hinduism | 399 |
| 5 | Shaivism | Hinduism | 385 |
| 6 | Mahayana | Buddhism | 376 |
| 7 | Shaktism | Hinduism | 305 |
| 8 | Eastern Orthodoxy | Christianity | 291 |
| 9 | Shia | Islam | 188 |
| 10 | Theravada | Buddhism | 135 |
Sunni Islam is the world’s largest theological denomination, followed by Roman Catholicism.
Major Branches of World Religions
Christianity comprises Roman Catholics (1.24 billion), Protestants (586 million), Eastern Orthodox Christians (291 million), and various independent churches and movements.
Islam is primarily divided into Sunni Muslims (approximately 85–90% of the Muslim population), Shia Muslims (10–15%), and smaller traditions such as the Ibadis.
Hinduism includes the major traditions of Vaishnavism, Shaivism and Shaktism, while Buddhism is mainly represented by the Mahayana, Theravada and Vajrayana schools.
Judaism, with a global population of approximately 14.8 million, consists primarily of Orthodox, Reform and Conservative traditions.
Terrorism, Extremism and Religious Identity
Modern security agencies classify extremist organizations according to their ideology, objectives and methods rather than attributing responsibility to entire religious communities. Virtually all major religions reject terrorism and the deliberate targeting of civilians.
Jihadist Organizations
Among the most prominent contemporary extremist groups are: Islamic State (ISIL/Daesh) and affiliated networks.
Al-Qaeda and associated organizations such as Al-Shabaab and AQAP Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Other organizations frequently discussed in international security assessments include Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi movement in Yemen.
Ethno-Nationalist and Religious Militancy
Certain groups combine religious identity with political or separatist objectives. Examples include Babbar Khalsa International and other fringe separatist movements.
Right-Wing Extremism
Security agencies in North America and Europe increasingly regard violent right-wing extremism as a significant threat. Such movements often operate through decentralized cells and online networks. Examples include white supremacist organizations, Christian Identity-inspired extremist groups and various ultra- nationalist movements.
Ultra-nationalist Hindu vigilante extremist groups are active for quite sometime, associated with mob violence, hate crimes and communal tensions in the Indian subcontinent,
Faith, Respect and Human Limitations
The overwhelming majority of the world’s nearly eight billion people practise their faith peacefully and contribute positively to society. Extremists represent only a tiny minority within any religious tradition.
In my humble view, no individual has the right to denounce or disparage another person’s faith. Ultimately, determining who is on the right path is a matter best left to the Supreme Being the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. Human knowledge is limited, whereas divine judgment alone is perfect and absolute.
Sunni Islam possesses a remarkable ability to appeal to diverse peoples and cultures across the world. This may partly explain why it has become the largest denomination within any religious tradition and has established a presence in virtually every region of the globe.
Sunni Muslims are united by their belief in the Oneness of Allah, acceptance of the Holy Qur’an as the final revealed word of God and belief in all Prophets and Messengers from Adam to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), whom they regard as the final Messenger and the last human on earth to receive God’s sermons directly through the angel Gabriel.
The Sunni tradition neither disputes the established succession of the Rightly Guided Caliphs (Khulafa-e-Rashideen) nor accepts the concept of separate outward (temporal) and inward (spiritual) caliphates.
At the same time, Sunni Muslims hold profound love and respect for Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and his noble descendants, while also honouring Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman (may Allah be pleased with them), as well as Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), the beloved wife of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Much is sometimes made of the existence of different schools of thought within Sunni Islam. While such diversity exists, it should not be mistaken for division. Sunni Muslims remain united in their core beliefs and fundamental tenets of faith.
Their shared belief in the Oneness of Allah, the finality of Prophethood, the divine authority of the Qur’an and the pillars of Islam creates a powerful bond that transcends geographical, linguistic, cultural and ethnic differences. Variations
generally relate to jurisprudential interpretations and secondary matters rather than foundational beliefs.
Consequently, despite its internal diversity, Sunni Islam continues to represent a remarkably cohesive global community bound together by a common creed and shared religious convictions.
Conclusion
Just as we expect others to respect our beliefs, we also bear a moral responsibility to respect theirs. Constructive dialogue, mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence are far more beneficial to humanity than hostility, intolerance or attempts to undermine another person’s faith.
Religious wisdom, at its best, promotes justice, compassion, humility and peace. Any objective analysis of terrorism or hate crimes must therefore distinguish between mainstream religious teachings and the actions of extremist minorities who exploit religious identities for ideological or political motives.
A balanced understanding of religious demographics, diversity and the realities of extremism can contribute significantly to social harmony, informed dialogue and mutual respect among the peoples of the world.
Sources
Pew Research Center; World Religion Database (WRD); Center for the Study of Global Christianity; Global Religious Landscape Report; Encyclopaedia Britannica; United Nations Security Council; Global Terrorism Index (GTI); National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC); Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP); START Consortium; Europol TE-SAT Reports; U.S. Department of State Country Reports on Terrorism.
