Preface
ISLAM IS ON THE RISE 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.1
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.
Sometimes, when such developments are reported by the media, we see how
extraordinary these events really are. Although sometimes presented as
ordinary occurrences, in reality they are signs that Islamic morality
has begun to spread throughout the world very quickly.
We must realize that these signs are either ignored in favor of other
events, or cannot properly be appreciated by many people. However, it
is of great importance that:
- Prominent statesmen quote the Qur'an in their speeches and take every
occasion to express their reverence for it.
- They have begun to visit mosques and ask for detailed information
about Islam.
- For the first time in history, the Pope has invited Christians and
Muslims to fast together for one day.
- Christian clergy quote the Qur'an in their sermons.
- For weeks, the Qur'an has been the best selling book in Western countries
- There have been internationally televised special news programs, reports,
and discussion programs introducing Islam.
- World-renowned newspapers have published articles about Islam and
Muslims.
- The most popular books in libraries are those about Islam and Islamic
history.
This map, published in Der Spiegel, shows
where the Muslim population is dense. The dark green areas indicate
places where the Muslim population is more than 90%. |
This book presents and evaluates these developments so that readers may
appreciate their importance. On the one hand, this book will attempt to
make believers more determined and resolved and, on the other hand, show
the importance of telling everyone about Islamic morality. All of these
developments have been revealed in the Qur'an: "When
God's help and victory have arrived, and you have seen people entering
God's religion in droves, then glorify your Lord's praise and ask His
forgiveness" (Qur'an, 110: 2-3) and it is important to know that
what this verse says will come true very soon. It is even happening now.
God will indeed fulfill this promise. Therefore, believers must do whatever
they can to take part in these developments.
This book presents and evaluates these developments so that readers
may appreciate their importance. On the one hand, this book will attempt
to make believers more determined and resolved and, on the other hand,
show the importance of telling everyone about Islamic morality. All of
these developments have been revealed in the Qur'an: When God's help and
victory have arrived, and you have seen people entering God's religion
in droves, then glorify your Lord's praise and ask His forgiveness Qur'an,
110: 2-3 and it is important to know that what this verse says will come
true very soon. It is even happening now. God will indeed fulfill this
promise. Therefore, believers must do whatever they can to take part in
these developments.
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| For the last 10 years, the number of
Muslims has been increasing throughout the world, and Islam has been
growing. Today every fourth person is a Muslim. This number is expected
to grow even more in the near future. |
(Above) A CNN program entitled "Fast Growing
Islam Winning Converts in the Western World" pointed to the increasing
number of Christians converting to Islam. An ABC program reported
that the number of Muslims has long since passed one billion, and
gave information on the basic tenets of Islam, The article below
refers to the growth of interest in Islam particularly after 9/11. |
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