Saturday, September 24, 2005

Islam - The Religion of Peace
In the Name of Allah, most Compassionate, most Merciful

It was the inherent force of truth, reason and logic that was responsible for the rapid spread of Islam.

Islam means peace
Islam comes from the root word `salaam', which means peace.
It also means submitting one's will to Allah (swt).

No compulsion in Islam
Islam is acquired by submitting one's will to the will of the Supreme Creator, Allah (swt). The Qur'an says in the following verse:

"Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error" [Al-Qur'an 2:256]
Increase in the world religions (1934 - 1984)An article in Reader's Digest 'Almanac', year book 1986, gave the statistics of the increase of percentage of the major religions of the world from 1934 to 1984. This article also appeared in 'The Plain Truth' magazine. Islam increased by 235% while Christianity increased by 47%.

Islam is the fastest growing religion in America, Europe & East Coast of AfricaWhy has the West accepted Islam in such large numbers?


Sword of the Intellect
It is the sword of intellect that conquers the hearts and minds of people. The Qur'an says in Surah Nahl, chapter 16 verse 125:

"Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious." [Al-Qur'an 16:125]
Opinion of historian De Lacy O'Leary
A reply to the misconception about Islam is given by De Lacy O'Leary in the book, "Islam at the cross road":

"History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myth that historians have ever repeated." (Page 8)
Opinion of Thomas Carlyle
Another reply to the misconception about the spread of Islam is given by Thomas Carlyle in his book "Heroes and Hero worship":

"The sword indeed, but where will you get your sword? Every new opinion, at its starting is precisely in a minority of one. In one man's head alone. There it dwells as yet. One man alone of the whole world believes it, there is one man against all men. That he takes a sword and try to propagate with that, will do little for him. You must get your sword! On the whole, a thing will propagate itself as it can."
Opinion of Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson
He rightly says, "People who worry that nuclear weaponry will one day fall in the hands of the Arabs, fail to realize that the Islamic bomb has been dropped already, it fell the day MUHAMMED (pbuh) was born".

Did you know...
There was no Islamic Army invasion to Malaysia, Indonesia, India and Spain:
  • Yet Malaysia and Indonesia remained countries with a majority Muslim population.
  • In India, although Islam spread its wings there, tody 80% of India's population remained non-Muslim. This meant that no force was imposed on them to convert to Islam as Islam believes that there is no compulsion in religion.
  • Islam ruled Spain for 800 years. After the invasion of the Christians, not a single Muslim is allowed to recite the 'Adhaan' (call to the obligatory prayer) in public.
Source: Credit to "Naima Naveed" (Text sent by W_Oransa)

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