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Religious Beliefs and Spirituality in United Arab Emirates

Despite the diverse cultures of the people inhabiting in the Arabian Peninsula, the United Arab Emirates has united its people through common religion, the Islam. The seven emirates of the country have around 96% of Muslims which are Sunni and Shia. The Sunni population is greater than of the Shia. The practice of Sunni in the country mostly follows the Maliki legal tradition which is one of the four schools of the sharia law, or the Madh’hab. Others of the Sunni tradition adhere to the Hanbali legal school and the Shafi’i legal school. The foreign people residing in the country practice Sunni and Shia Islam, Christianity, and Hinduism.

The Muslims are prohibited from converting to other religions, but non-Muslims to Muslims are widely accepted. Islam, being the official religion of all the seven constituent emirates of the nation, is being practiced with utmost reverence and respect. The federal authority of the country updates guidance to the Shia sheiks and the Sunni imams weekly, in terms of the sermons they give to the people. One of the most significant religious events in the country is the Ramadan, a fasting for the sake of God, or Allah. Strict observance of the Ramadan is implemented in the country, including to the visitors and the residents.

Introduction of other religion to public schools is prohibited as well as the non-Muslims distributing other religious literature. Firm preservation of the Islamic religion is observed in the country. However, Christian churches can also be seen and are authorized to be built in the country.