Islam in Oman for Beginners: What percentage of the Omani population are Muslims and what do they believe?

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE OMANI POPULATION IS MUSLIM?

As in the other Arabic countries, Islam stands as the main religion in Oman. Islam is in fact, the official religion of Oman, though the Basic Law of the country is liberal towards the other religions as well.


About eighty six percent of the country's population comprises of Muslims who have been residing in the region since the advent of Islam. Omanis accepted Islam during the Prophet Mohamed's lifetime. The other religious groups which the country accommodates have actually migrated to settle in the country in recent years, or have been formed as a result of the country's interaction with the foreign nations. About thirteen percent of the population in Oman comprises of Hindus, who have primarily migrated to the country. A small section of the country follows Christianity as Catholicism had entered the country in some phase of history. Previously, before Islam, many Omanis in various regions were pagans, Christian, or Jewish.


WHAT DOES THIS 86% OF THE POPULATION BELIEVE?
Oman has three major Islamic groups (ways of labelling a set of beliefs concerning Islamic Principles that often have small differences in jurisprudance and politics). All are Muslims under Omani Law

Most of the Muslims in Oman belong to the Ibadi sect, and though the branch has gradually waned in the other Muslim countries. Oman alone still boasts of a majority of Ibadi population. The non Ibadi population comprises mostly of Sunni muslims, who contribute to about twenty five percent of the religion in Oman. A minor portion of the population follows the Shia sect.