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Mohammedanism
OED Definition:
Mohammedanism: The religion founded by Muhammad; Islam.
Mohammedan: An adherent of the religion of the prophet Muhammad; a follower of Islam; a Muslim.
The term is not employed or favoured by Muslims, and its use is now widely seen as depreciatory or offensive. As was noted in Eng. Today (1992) Apr. 39: ‘The term Mohammedan is considered offensive or pejorative to most Muslims since it makes human beings central in their religion, a position which only Allah may occupy’.
How this term should be used
The term “Mohammedan” must never be used as a synonym for “Muslim”. It is archaic, pejorative and deeply offensive to Muslims, who consider Tawhid (the oneness of God) to be the central concept in Islam.
- When referring to the religion of the Muslims, journalists should always use ‘Islam’.
- When referring to adherents of Islam, journalists should always use ‘Muslim’.
The term “Mohammedanism” is generally considered archaic, and as noted in the Oxford English Dictionary, is widely seen as offensive by Muslims on the grounds that Islam prohibits the veneration of human beings.
These days it is uncommon to encounter the term in news output unless as a quotation. The News on the Web Corpus records only 75 usages of the term in the British Press with the vast majority referring to “Mohammedan Sporting Club”, a football club based in Kolkata.