Why has Islam continued to be so successful in the modern world?

Society Religion & Philosophy
1

Islam happens to be the fastest growing religion.

Why has Islam continued to be so successful in the modern world?

Answer :

Praise be to Allaah.

Islam continues to be successful in the developed world, and elsewhere, because its call is in accordance with the fitrah or natural inclinations of mankind, and it advocates the best of human values, such as tolerance, love, mercy, truthfulness and sincerity.

Islam educates people and lifts them up to righteous conduct, good manners and virtue. Its call is distinguished from others by its realism, balance and moderation. Islam pays due attention to both the soul and the body. It neither suppresses physical desires nor allows extravagance in this regard; it makes a distinction between the natural inclination to enjoy the pleasures of this world and forbidden desires that come under the heading of depravity and perversion.

People embrace Islam because they find security, comfort and peace in it, they see a cure for their problems in it, and through it they are able to get rid of their feelings of confusion, anxiety and loss.

Islam is the religion of the fitrah, the natural inclination or pattern on which Allaah has created mankind. For this reason, people of sound minds and upright inclinations embrace Islam, as Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘There is no child who is not born in a state of fitrah (i.e., Islam), then his parents make him into a Jew, a Christian or a Magian (Zoroastrian), just as animals produce whole animals (i.e., the animals are born perfect with no part of their bodies missing). Do you find any born with their ears cut off?’” Then Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “ ‘… Allaah’s handiwork according to the pattern on which He has made mankind: no change (let there be) in the work (wrought) by Allaah: that is the Standard Religion…’ [al-Room 30:30 – interpretation of the meaning – Yusuf Ali’s translation].” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 1359). What is meant is that Allaah has created mankind with the potential to learn the truth, accept Tawheed (pure monotheism) and submit to Allaah. Their natural inclination is to learn Islam and love it, but a bad education, a kaafir (disbelieving) environment, their own whims and desires and the devils among jinn and mankind turn them away from the truth. Mankind is basically inclined towards Tawheed (pure monotheism), as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) reported that his Lord (Allaah) said: “I created all my slaves as ‘hunafa’ (pure monetheists), but the devils turned them away from their religion.” (Reported by Muslim). For this reason the one who becomes a Muslim after having been a disbeliever is described as having “reverted” to Islam, as this is more correct than saying that he “converted.” When Islam enters a country where there is no nationalism or great legacy of jaahiliyah (ignorance), it spreads quickly because of its strength and the small number of obstacles. You may also see that Islam is suitable for all people, educated and uneducated, male and female, old and young; everyone finds in it what he wants and needs. Those who become Muslim in developed countries realize what their country’s civilization and laws, which have been fabricated from men’s whims and desires, have done to them, and they realize the extent of the misery in which people in developed countries are living. They see how prevalent psychological illnesses, nervous breakdowns, insanity and suicides are, despite the technological advances and great number of discoveries and inventions and modern systems of management. This is because all of that is concerned only with the physical and the outward, but it neglects the inward and fails to nourish and nurture the heart and soul. Allaah says of these people (interpretation of the meaning): “They know only the outside appearance of the life of the world, and they are heedless of the Hereafter.” [al-Room 30:7]

Islam will continue to succeed, with the permission of Allaah, so long as those who work for its sake are sincere and its followers adhere to it and believe in it, and apply its laws.

The fact that there are those who are not committed or who fall short will not prevent Islam from succeeding, with the permission of Allaah, and nothing can distort its beauty. Its light will not falter because some people abandon it or fail to adhere to it. What Islam has given humanity in the way of progress and civilization, and lifting them up from the darkness of oppression and enmity, is pride enough.

Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid (www.islam-qa.com)

2

What do you mean that Islam is a fastest growing religion? If you are proud of high birth rate among Muslims?
The mass conversions are a thing of past, when people were illiterate, village after village were becoming Muslims. This all happened till 19th century or till half of 20th century.
Why mass conversions do not take place today in the age of information, hence Islam must attract the literates more and more?

Islamic press usually reports that in so and so country in West, thousands accepted Islam. Make an enquiry. I assure you that such reports are based on false information.
Sometimes the Christian press makes such statements of conversions, to beware the Christians of Islamic phobia and in return the Islamic press exploits the news spread by the Christians.
What a pity that many among Muslims feel proud over these false statements of conversions.

Majority of Muslims do not live as per Islam. It is my turn to question, how much Islam is really successful?

3

^ Haven’t you ever seen a western Muslim? Not even one? Educated, intelligent, wise, who came to Islam by his own free will. If not try this:
http://www.convertstoislam.org/group/convertpages.htm

4

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by anjjan: *
What do you mean that Islam is a fastest growing religion? If you are proud of high birth rate among Muslims?

[/QUOTE]

thats the only excuse u ppl come up with to contradict the statement????
it has been proven time and again that high birth rate is NOT the reason for the growth....

5

what is the use with huge population without
economic and miltary power. also all the muslims dont live in one country like
chinese and indians .may be pakistan is only viable islamic country because of its nukes?
after running out of oil and without agricultural land most of the countries will be dependant on outside for basic needs.

6

Ok Islamabad & Armughal,
you have ignored a very relevant issue.

Why ‘mass’ conversions do not take place now, in our age of information?
What were the reasons of mass conversions till 19th century, or till half of 20th century?

7

Ignorance…

Islamic conversions have been at their highest AFTER 911.
For statistics see

“Islam is the fastest-growing religion in America, a guide and pillar of stability for many of our people…” Hillary Rodman Clinton, Los Angeles Times, May 31, 1996, p.3

“Already more than a billion-people strong, Islam is the world’s fastest-growing religion.” ABCNEWS, Abcnews.com

“Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the country.” NEWSDAY, March7,1989, p.4

“Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the United States…” NEW YORK TIMES, Feb 21, 1989, p.1

“Moslems are the world’s fastest-growing group…” USA TODAY, The population referance bureau, Feb. 17, 1989, p.4A

“Muhummed is the most successful of all Prophets and religious personalities.” Encyclopedia Britannica

“There are more Muslims in North America then Jews Now.” Dan Rathers, CBSNEWS

“Islam is the fastest growing religion in North America.” TIMES MAGAZINE

“Islam continues to grow in America, and no one can doubt that!” CNN, December 15, 1995

“The religion of Islam is growing faster than any other religion in the world.” MIKE WALLACE, 60 MINUTES

8

//what is the use with huge population without
economic and miltary power. also all the muslims dont live in one country like
chinese and indians .may be pakistan is only viable islamic country because of its nukes?
after running out of oil and without agricultural land most of the countries will be dependant on outside for basic needs.
//
Exactly what is the point. Muslims are being treated like s**** everywhere. Countries are bombed on the whims and fancies of one guy.

Islamic countries have to failed to stand upto Israel. Surrounding countries live in perpetual fear of Israel.
The only way they can respond is with suicide bombing and hostage taking.
Muslims have to realise that they are living in the past. They should look into the future. As OG mentioned in another thread they have to start educating themselves(not what OBL teaches). This will give them the power to influence world policy.

9

Islam has no state to represent it or defend it.

Today islam is alhamdulilah in terms of numbers massive. If there was islamic state today with the 55 muslim countries combined as one as they supposed to be then you will see true success and strength as it has shown in the past.

10

[QUOTE]
Ignorance.....
[/QUOTE]

As the many sources you provided indicate, Islam is in fact the fastest growing religion in America.

However, my guess is that you don't recognize what these statements are referring to from a mathmatical standpoint. That is, Islam is experiencing the highest growth rate in terms of percentages because it has a smaller base of followers here in the US. In terms of "raw numbers", Islam is growing slower than christianity.

Not dissing Islam here at all, just pointing out what these statements mean for those of us who could benefit from a math lesson.

11

what do you exactly mean by 'successful'? In my eyes, not the number of people, but the number of people contributing significantly to various aspects of life (e.g. science, economy, charity, peace) counts.

In that respect 'Islam' (note the quotation marks!) is perhaps the most unsuccessful religion??????????????????????????????????

12

I believe that this is the century of the rise of Islam again.

13

^ i agree

the signs are there in every land much more since the invasion of iraq and afghanistan by the colonialists its as if the muslims have finally opened there eyes after sleeping for 50 years!

14

And it's happening without Mehdi or Esa AS, or may be they there and we have not seen them yet.

15

Does anyone have any stats to share?

As far as North America is concerned, the increase is mainly due to migration. According to rescent survey (by NPR) about 20,000 new convertions to Islam take place in US every year. Though, no one knows the retention rate. But about 1.5 million Muslims immigrated to US since the 1980s.

16

So, is it started happening just now or it was happening last century too? If its was not than what happened which cause this to happen now. Well Islam was same, right...

17

following article examines how present day islam moving away from sceince

Traditionally, Muslims had said that the Islamic world achieved its greatest splendor when it had been closer to the true faith. But that argument, as noted, could not explain why splendor had now passed to the infidels. The hypothesis that used science to explain the difference fit the facts better, in Muslim eyes. The Islamic world had achieved its greatest splendor when it had been the world leader in science. Now the infidels led in science, and that is why their civilization was superior.

But how had this reversal come about? “In the development and transmission of the various branches of science, men in the medieval Middle East…played a vital role. They had inherited the ancient wisdom of Egypt and Babylon. They had translated and preserved much that would have otherwise been lost of the wisdom and science of Persia and Greece. Their enterprise and openness enabled them to add much that was new from the science and technique of India and China” (pp. 78-79) And then, approximately at the end of the Western Middle Ages, the process stopped. In the view that came to prevail, “the corpus of medical knowledge had reached perfection in the days of Avicenna [980-1037], and in principle no change or addition was needed. Indeed, any change or addition was seen as impious” (p. 39). The only exception was if a new disease appeared, as when syphilis arrived from the New World, and therefore, “until the late eighteenth century, only one medical book was translated into a Middle Eastern language—a sixteenth-century treatise on syphilis” (p. 7).

http://www.objectivistcenter.org/text/rdonway_decline-east.asp

18

Bhai, Judgement day is near for every body. next time to cross the road, be carefull or your's will start tomorrow.

Khali Haath hey jai ga buchay, make sure you add my name in your will.

19

Trust you guys to turn every discussion into a ahmadi-slugfest. Shame on all of you who are diverting from the main discussion. :nook:

Focus on Islam as a whole, for a change. Will you?

20

yes i agree
but i guess this ahamdi thing i really distrubing for Muslims
any way..i guess this should come to an end
We have Better thing Regarding Islam and Religion then ...Talking about Ahamdi's
i guess every one will agree