The Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life recently published a detailed report about the unity and diversity in Muslim world. It is one of the most interesting such surveys conducted in recent years by an international research organization.

The 160-pages report seeks to describe the unity and the diversity of Islam around the globe. It claims to be based on more than 38,000 face-to-face interviews conducted in over 80 languages with Muslims in 39 countries and territories that collectively are home to roughly two-thirds (67%) of all Muslims in the world. Pew says the survey includes every country that has a Muslim population of more than 10 million, except those (such as China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Syria) where political sensitivities or security concerns prevented opinion research among Muslims.

The report has some of the most revealing public opinion data on issues ranging from sectarian to political with a religious emphasis on identity. Who counts as a Muslim, and who does not? Which beliefs and practices are Islamic, and which are not?

The most shocking finding of this interesting report is public opinion among Sunni Muslims about Shias. In many Sunni majority Muslim countries, majority of respondents do not consider Shia as Muslim, Pakistan being in the top 3, while Afghanistan in top 3 with highest percentage of people affirmative, a positive case in point that despite our centuries old tribal and ethnic conflicts deeply rooted in our politics and culture, the poisonous issue of sectarian conflict does not exist. But our neighbors such as Pakistan, this believes is way higher.

In today's op-ed I have taken excerpts from and pointed out the interesting Afghanistan-related findings of The World's Muslims: Unity and Diversity. In the question about perceptions of Sufis, who embrace mystical or esoteric dimensions of Islam and often mix standard religious practices with a range of supplementary spiritual practices, including the chanting of God's :
According to common belief, Imam Mehdi will rid the world of injustice and his return – along with the return of Jesus – will precede the Day of Judgment . The survey asked Muslims in 23 countries whether they expect the imam Mehdi to return in their lifetime.

Highest number of people who believe not only in return of Mehdi, but also to see him in their lifetime. Other countries include Iraq (72%), Tunisia (67%) and Malaysia (62%). It is least common in Bangladesh (29%) and Indonesia (23%). Outside of these three regions, belief that the return of the imam Mehdi is imminent is much less prevalent. In Turkey about two-thirds (68%) expect to witness his return.

The highest number of people believing to see imam Mehdi in their lifetime in Afghanistan is an eye-opening revelation important to understand the collective suffering of our people. Our selective outrage, insensitiveness to wider issues of social life and ethics could be attributed to the belief in return of imam Mehdi.

Following are some of the statistics found about Afghanistan:
Importance of Religion: 92%
Jinn exist: 83%
Witchcraft: 35%
Acceptance of Sufis: 77%

The Quran and Hadith both make reference to witchcraft and sorcery in the time of the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H). Today, the survey finds, substantial numbers of Muslims continue to believe in the existence of witchcraft, although levels of belief vary widely across the countries included in the study, and – as discussed later in this report – very few Muslims believe the use of sorcery is an acceptable practice under Islam.
Acceptance of Sufis as Muslims is most widespread in South Asia. Broad majorities in Bangladesh (83%), Afghanistan (77%) and Pakistan (70%) agree that Sufis belong to the Islamic tradition.

In another example, interviewers in Afghanistan said they were uncomfortable asking respondents whether they believe there is only one God and that Muhammad (P.B.U.H) is God's Prophet, as respondents could interpret the question to be blasphemous. Therefore, the question was omitted in Afghanistan.

In nine of the 23 nations where the question was asked, half or more of Muslim adults say they believe that the return of the imam Mehdi will occur in their lifetime, including at least two-thirds who express this view in Afghanistan (83%), Iraq (72%), Turkey (68%) and Tunisia (67%).

Belief in fate is also widespread across Southeast Asia and South Asia, with the number of Muslims who affirm this article of faith ranging from 95% in Indonesia and Afghanistan to 74% in Bangladesh.
Reliance on traditional religious healers is most prevalent among Muslims in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, with roughly two-thirds or more in Senegal (73%), Chad (68%) and Afghanistan (66%) saying they have turned to traditional healers to help cure someone who is ill.

Overall, Muslims in South Asia most consistently agree that Shias share their religion. At least three-quarters express this view in Afghanistan (84%) and Bangladesh (77%), while about half (53%) agree in Pakistan.
Sunnis are also more likely to embrace Shias as fellow Muslims in Azerbaijan, Russia and Afghanistan – countries where 6% or more of Muslims self-identify as Shia.

Rates of acceptance range from 90% in Azerbaijan, to 85% in Russia, to 83% in Afghanistan. Overall, these three countries – along with Iraq and Lebanon – represent five of the six countries where Sunnis are most accepting of Shias. (The sixth is Bangladesh, at 77%.)

Acceptance of Sufis as Muslims is most widespread in South Asia. Broad majorities in Bangladesh (83%), Afghanistan (77%) and Pakistan (70%) agree that Sufis belong to the Islamic tradition.
The research was conducted in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan, with larger number of interviews face-to-face.

The research was conducted in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan, with larger number of interviews face-to-face.