Science > Physics > Islam: The Most Rapidly Expanding Religion in Europe
| Topic: |
Science > Physics |
| User: |
"harunyahya" |
| Date: |
15 Sep 2005 05:42:26 PM |
| Object: |
Islam: The Most Rapidly Expanding Religion in Europe |
Islam: The Most Rapidly Expanding Religion in Europe
HARUN YAHYA
www.harunyahya.com
During the last 20 years, the number of Muslims in the world has been
increasing steadily. Statistics for the year 1973 indicate that the
world population of Muslims was 500 million; now, it has reached 1.5
billion. Today, every fourth person is a Muslim. It is probable that
the Muslim population will continue to increase and that Islam will
become the world's largest religion. The reason for this steady rise is
not only the increasing population in Muslim countries, but also the
growing numbers of people who are turning to Islam, a phenomenon that
has gained momentum, especially after the attack on the World Trade
Center on September 11, 2001 (hereinafter referred to as 9/11). This
attack, deplored by everyone, especially Muslims, has suddenly turned
people's attention (especially Americans) to Islam. People in the West
are talking a lot about what kind of a religion Islam is, what the
Qur'an says, what obligations come with being a Muslim, and how Muslims
are required to conduct their affairs. This interest has naturally
brought about a rise in the number of people worldwide turning to
Islam. So, the commonly heard prediction after 9/11 that "this attack
will change the course of world history" has, in a sense, started to
come true. The process of returning to religious and spiritual values,
which the world has been experiencing for a long time, has become a
turning to Islam.
The extraordinary nature of what is taking place can be seen when one
sets out these developments regarding this trend, which we have started
to read about in newspapers or hear of in television reports. These
developments, generally reported as just one element of the day's
agenda, are actually very important indications that Islamic moral
values have begun to spread very rapidly across the whole world. As in
the rest of the world, Islam is in the midst of a rapid growth in
Europe. This development has been attracting more attention in recent
years, as evidenced by the many theses, reports, and articles published
on "the place of Muslims in Europe" and "dialogue between European
society and Muslims." Along with these academic reports, the media has
carried frequent reports about Islam and Muslims. The root of this
interest lies in the continual growth of Muslim population figures in
Europe, and that this increase cannot be ascribed solely to
immigration. While immigration certainly has had a significant effect
on the Muslim population's growth, so many researchers have addressed
this matter for quite another reason: high conversion rates. A June 20
2004 story on NTV News, headed "Islam is the most rapidly expanding
religion in Europe," dealt with a report drawn up by the French
domestic intelligence agency. The report stated that the number of
those converting to Islam in Western countries had risen still further,
particularly in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. For example, the number
of converts to Islam in France increased by between 30 and 40,000 last
year alone.
The Catholic Church and the Rise of Islam
The Roman Catholic Church, headquartered in Vatican City, is one of the
institutions that follows conversion trends. One of the main topics
during the October 1999 meeting of the European synod, which was
attended by almost all of the Catholic clergy, was the Church's
position in the new millennium. The conference's main theme was the
rapid growth of Islam in Europe. The National Catholic Reporter
reported that some radical individuals stated that the only way to
prevent Muslims' gaining power in Europe was to stop tolerating Muslims
and Islam; other more objective and rational individuals underscored
the fact that since the two religions believe in one God, there should
be no room for any conflict or struggle between them. In one session,
Archbishop Karl Lehmann of Germany stressed that there is more internal
pluralism within Islam than many Christians perceive, and that the
radicals' claims about Islam had no basis in truth. (1)
Considering the position of Muslims when elucidating the Church's
position in the new millennium was quite proper, for a 1999 United
Nations' survey showed that between 1989 and 1998, Europe's Muslim
population grew by more than 100 percent. It is reported that there are
some 13 million Muslims living in Europe today: 3.2 million in Germany,
2 million in Great Britain, 4-5 million in France, and the rest
dispersed over Europe as a whole, especially in the Balkans. This
figure represents more than 2% of the total population of Europe. (2)
Muslims' Religious Awareness Is Rising in Europe
Relevant research also has revealed that while the number of Muslims in
Europe continues to grow, there is a deepening of religious awareness
among Muslims. According to a survey conducted by the French newspaper
Le Monde in October 2001, compared to data collected in 1994, many
Muslims continue to perform their prayers, go to the mosque, and fast.
This awareness is seen much more among university students.(3)
In a report based upon the foreign press in 1999, the Turkish Akt=FCel
magazine stated that Western researchers estimate that in another 50
years Europe will become one of Islam's main centers of expansion.
Islam Is an Inseparable Part of Europe
Along with this sociological and demographic research, we also must not
forget that Europe has not become acquainted with Islam only recently,
but that Islam is actually an inseparable part of Europe.
Europe and the realm of Islam have had close relations with each other
for centuries. First, the state of Andalusia (756-1492) on the Iberian
Peninsula, and later the Crusades (1095-1291) and the Ottoman capture
of the Balkans (1389), brought about a constant interrelation between
the two societies. Many historians and sociologists assert today that
Islam was the leading cause of Europe's movement from the darkness of
its Middle Ages to the brilliance of its Renaissance. At a time when
Europe was backward in medicine, astronomy, mathematics, and many other
fields, Muslims possessed a vast treasure of knowledge and great
possibilities of development.
Uniting on a Common Ground: "Monotheism"
The growth of Islam is also reflected in the recent growth of
interfaith dialogue. These dialogues start by stating that the three
monotheistic religions have a common beginning and can come together at
a common point. Such dialogues have been quite successful and have
engendered an important rapprochement, especially between Christians
and Muslims. In the Qur'an, God informs us that Muslims invite the
People of the Book (Christians and Jews) to unite on a common ground:
Say: "O People of the Book, come to a proposition that is the same for
us and you-that we should worship none but God, and not associate any
partners with Him, and not take one another as lords besides God." If
they turn away, say: "Bear witness that we are Muslims." (Qur'an, 3:
64)
The three monotheistic religions have common beliefs and the same moral
values. Belief in God's Existence and Unity, angels, Prophets, the Last
Day, Heaven and Hell are their basic tenets of faith. Furthermore,
self-sacrifice, humility, love, tolerance, respect, mercy, honesty,
avoiding wrongdoing and injustice, and acting according to conscience
are all commonly accepted moral qualities. Therefore, since these three
religions are on the same level, they must work together to eradicate
the strife, conflict, and pain caused by irreligious ideologies. When
considered from this point of view, interfaith dialogue assumes far
more importance. The seminars and conferences that bring
representatives of these religions together, and the messages of peace
and brotherhood that come out of them, have continued regularly since
the mid-1990s.
The Glad Tidings of a Holy Age
When all the facts are brought together, they reveal that there is a
strong movement toward Islam in many countries, and that Islam is
increasingly becoming the most important topic of world interest. These
developments indicate that the world is moving toward a totally new
era, one in which, God willing, Islam will gain in importance and the
Qur'an's moral teachings will spread like a rising tide. It is
important to realize that this highly significant development was
announced in the Qur'an 14 centuries ago:
They desire to extinguish God's Light with their mouths. But God
refuses to do other than perfect His Light, even though the unbelievers
detest it. It is He Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the True
Religion to exalt it over every other religion, even though the
idolaters detest it. (Qur'an, 9:32-33)
The spread of Islamic morality is one of God's promises to believers.
In addition to these verses, many sayings of our Prophet, may God bless
him and grant him peace, assert that the Qur'an's moral teachings will
prevail. In the last days before the end of the world, humanity will
experience a period in which wrongdoing, injustice, deceit, fraud,
wars, strife, conflict, and moral degeneration is wide-spread. Then
will come the Golden Age, in which these moral teachings will begin to
spread among people like a rising tide and finally prevail throughout
the world. Some of these sayings, as well learned commentaries upon
them, are given below:
During this [period], my ummah [people] would lead such a comfortable
and carefree life which they never led like that. [The land] would
bring forth its yield and would not hold back anything and the property
at that time would be a stack. (Sunan Ibn-i Majah)
..=2E. The dwellers of the heavens and the earth will be pleased. The
earth will bring forth all that grows, and the heavens will pour down
rains in abundance. From all the good that God will bestow on the
inhabitants of the earth, the living will wish that the dead would come
to life again. (Muhkhtasar Tazkirah Qurtubi, p. 437)
The earth would turn like the silver tray growing vegetation... (Sunan
Ibn-i Majah)
The earth will be filled with equity and justice as it was pre viously
filled with oppression and tyranny. (Abu Dawud)
Justice will prevail to such an extent that every possession taken by
force will be returned to his owner; furthermore, some other person's
thing, even if it rests within one's teeth, will be given back to its
owner... Security will permeate all over Earth and even a few ladies
will be able to fulfil their hajj without the company of men. (Ibn
Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 23)
Based upon these statements, the Golden Age will be an era in which
justice, plenty, abundance, well-being, security, peace, and
brotherhood will prevail among humanity, and one in which people will
experience love, self-sacrifice, tolerance, compassion, mercy, and
loyalty. In his sayings, our Prophet, may God bless him and grant him
peace, says that this blessed period will be experienced through the
mediation of the Mahdi, who will come in the end times to save the
world form chaos, injustice, and moral collapse. He will eradicate
godless ideologies and bring an end to the prevailing injustice.
Moreover, he will make religion like it was in the days of our Prophet
(peace be upon him), cause the Qur'an's moral teachings to prevail
among humanity, and establish peace and well-being throughout the
world.
The rise of Islam being experienced in the world today, as well as
Turkey's role in the new era are important signs that the period
announced in the Qur'an and in our Prophet's sayings is very close. It
is our heartfelt desire that God will let us witness this blessed time.
References:
1=2E "Europe's Muslims Worry Bishops," National Catholic Reporter,
October 22, 1999
2=2E "Muslims in Europe," The Economist, October 18, 2001.
3=2E Time, December 24, 2001.
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| User: "Jan Panteltje" |
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| Title: Re: Islam: The Most Rapidly Expanding Religion in Europe |
16 Sep 2005 05:17:06 AM |
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On a sunny day (15 Sep 2005 15:42:26 -0700) it happened "harunyahya"
<harunyahya2011@yahoo.com> wrote in
<1126824146.901196.174260@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>:
Islam: The Most Rapidly Expanding Religion in Europe
HARUN YAHYA
www.harunyahya.com
During the last 20 years, the number of Muslims in the world has been
increasing steadily.
So has the number of people with aids.
IS there a connection?
Statistically I'd say yes!
This is sci.physic, your personal refuge to your personal view of god is
of no concern to those who left the tree worshippers to go and use the
scientific method.
It is NOT too late! You can always come back.
Allah
How about a fatwa?
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| User: "Jan Panteltje" |
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| Title: Re: Islam: The Most Rapidly Expanding Religion in Europe |
16 Sep 2005 06:35:37 AM |
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On a sunny day (Fri, 16 Sep 2005 10:17:06 GMT) it happened Jan Panteltje
<pNaonStpealmtje@yahoo.com> wrote in <432a9dd1@news.usenetzone.com>:
during the last 20 years, the number of Muslims in the world has been
increasing steadily.
So has the number of people with aids.
IS there a connection?
Statistically I'd say yes!
Oops, I forgot the possibliity of a connection with global warming!
Allah
How about a fatwa?
_________________________________________
Usenet Zone Free Binaries Usenet Server
More than 140,000 groups
Unlimited download
http://www.usenetzone.com to open account
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