Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world especiallysince sept. 11.
(English)
الإسلام أكثر الأديان انتشارا خاصة بعدأحداث 11 سبتمبر
( إنجليزي )
Yusuf Estes
يوسفاستس
Salam Alaykum:
Your question about the increase in the "reversion to Islam" is agood one. You have given me the excuse to do something that I have wanted to dofor a long time. I have wanted to write on the subject of "Reverts toIslam in Modern Times" and the message that it carries to all of usMuslims about Islam TODAY.
BACK TO Islam?
Reverts to Islam In Modern Times
"Revert" As Opposed to"Convert"
I like to use the word "revert" asopposed to the word "convert" as it more suits the occasion of a personreturning back to his natural condition at birth. The baby is born in truesurrender, submission, obedience and peace with his Creator. And this is thedesirable position of the Muslim, to be in peace and submission to the Will ofAllah (God in English). Instead of thinking in terms of "converting"people over to Islam, it is better understood that they are simply returningback to their natural state at birth. And this is from the teachings of ourbeloved prophet, Muhammad, peace be upon him. (Muslims should always say"Peace be upon him/them" when referring to any of the prophets).
Like A Baby
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: "Every child is born on the "fitrah" (naturalinclination) of "Islam" (surrender,submission and peace to the Creator on His Terms). Andit is their parents who raise them up to be Jews, Christians or fireworshippers."
Dr. Ted Campbell who is the professor of religion at the seminary school in Marylandand I were both sharing the speakers platform last year in Maryland University.At the closing of a very nice interfaith dialog there came a strange questionfor both of us. Noah, the moderator said: "Thislast question is for both speakers: "Why are each of you in yourreligion?"
Dr. Campbell took his position in front of the microphone and then lookedaround the room as he thought about the question. I will never forget hiswords. He said: "I guess I would have to saythat I am a Methodist because, well because, my parents raised me that way. Asa Methodist."
He was right.
That is what we know as Muslims. However, as I mentioned in my answer to thesame question: "And then some are brought back to their original state asa baby." They are "reverted" to Islam by the Mercy of Allah.
Actual or Factual Numbers of American Muslims
Many people are claiming that twice as many,or three times or four times, or even ten times as many people are coming intoIslam as they did prior to the events of September 11. Who could possibly knowthe numbers? We are not even sure how many Muslims live here in America. I haveheard the numbers range from around 3,000,000 all the way up to 11,000,000. I'msure that only Allah Knows for sure how many Muslims there are in America.
Rate of "Reversion"
Actually, I can'tgive accurate statistics before or after the September events. I have heardfrom some "experts" that Islam was the fastest growing religion inthe world prior to the September 11 events. I have no reason to doubt iteither. In the many Masjids around the United States and in the many countriesthat I have been fortunate enough to visit I have found thousands who haveentered into Islam. The Anglican Church of England expressed concern that ifsomething does not change in the trend of new Muslims in England that theMuslims will out number the Anglicans by the year 2010.
The number one name of the birth certificatesfor new born boys in England was not John, or Michael, or William. It is"Muhammad." In Mexico, Sweden, Denmark and Canada I have witnessed somany coming into Islam that I cannot count them all. Everywhere I go I meet newMuslims. Prisons, universities and even in the military I have personally seenthousands who came to Islam. This is all before the events of September 11.
More Exposure to the Message
What I feel comfortable saying is that moreand more people are being to exposed to Islam all over the world. Whether ornot the picture they are receiving is painted correctly or not is not asimportant a factor as is the fact that at long last many people on this planetare looking at Islam as something very real. Therefore, when they ask aboutIslam some of the information is stimulating feelings inside of the people.Naturally we are going to see those who are stimulated to be against Islam. Atthe same time you have to understand that there are a number of people who willtake the position that you cannot always believe everything in the news media.These are the ones whom Allah guides to inquire and learn more.
Allah is the Only Guide
It is only Allahwho Guides the people and it is only Allah who Misguides. The biggest problemin the past used to be the lack of interest in Islam. People were notinterested in talking about Islam or any religion for that matter, even theirown. Now the problem is the lack of correct knowledge of Islam. There simplywas not anything about Islam out there.
Then the events ofthe 1970s with the actions of some of the Iranians when they hijacked airplanesand we saw on the news, men prostrating on the ground outside the airplanes. Wein the West learned a new word; "Shi'ism". People said this is somestrange religion (Islam). What is going on? Then came the 1980s and we saw actsof terrorism that occurred in Palestine and the words"fundamentalist" and "Muslim" became associated together.
At the very beginning of the next decade wesaw something take place in Iraq and Kuwait. Again religion is brought into thepicture. Not a pretty picture, but a picture. Midway through the 1990s we sawbig actions taking place everywhere in the world. The Trade Center in New York,airplanes, embassies, attacks and counter attacks. All along we are hearingsomething about "Islam" and "Moslems." Still not verypositive to say the least. Then what occurred in September brought out moreinformation, although distorted, about this religion of the East.
President Says "Islam is Peace"
Every home, everybusiness, every place on earth became exposed to this religion called:"Islam." The president of the United States went on television at atime when everyone who had a TV set was watching to see what the United StatesCommander in Chief was going to say about the events of September 11, and whatUS was going to do. His message contained a lot of threats and promises aboutwhat the Americans were going to do to those who committed these horrific actsof terrorism. But the words that stick in my mind are the words that introducedIslam to a lot of people around the world who had never heard of Islam beforein their lives.
The words of President G. W. Bush when hesaid: "Islam is a religion of peace."Every single place on earth that could receive the broadcast signal from the TVtowers or the satellites orbiting the earth got the message. And for those whowere not so fortunate as to have a TV set, it was simultaneously broadcast onevery radio station in the world. And for those who might have slept throughthe broadcast, it was rebroadcast over and over. And then for those who did notspeak English of course there was translation. And then the written word tookover where the broadcasting left off. There was not a newspaper in the world exceptthat it carried something of the meaning of what Mr. Bush said on thatoccasion. It was a historical speech. One that will go down in the books ofhistory as the retaliation of a nation against terrorism. He said it. "Islam IS A RELIGION OF PEACE."
Divide Muslims
Now we know that Mr. Bush is not promotingIslam by any stretch of the imagination. However, he still could not afford tosay something derogatory against all the Muslims in the world by attackingIslam. That would then unite all the Muslims against America (at least most ofthem).
In fact it was to the advantage of the Americans to make statements that wouldhelp divide the Muslims over the situation existing in Afghanistan and thesituation that was sure to occur. By making this statement, he left the dooropen for the Muslims who did not want to see any problem between the materialismof the West (which they personally enjoyed or would like to enjoy) and thesacrificing of those who were willing to stand up against the tyranny andoppression of the Western society and all that comes along with it.
So the strategy was to say things that made certain Muslims look bad while atthe same time not exactly attacking Islam. This led up to the next desirablesituation for shaytan (the devil): Divide the Muslims against each other. So,now we had "mainstream Muslims" and "fundamentalistMuslims" and "terrorist Islam" and "modern Islam." Itworked too. The Muslims did the thing that the non-Muslims could never havedone. The Muslims defeated themselves. Anytime that Muslims fight Muslims andMuslims kill Muslims, then Allah's Protection is lifted from them and they willloose. That is what happened.
People Want to Know
Still in the midst of all of this negativepropaganda and bad press, non-Muslim people were curious to learn more of this"cult" of Islam, its people and their beliefs. Books about Islam andMuslims were disappearing off the shelves of the bookstores faster than theycould replenish them. Unfortunately almost every single book was written eitherby a non-Muslim or authors from the various deviant sects of Muslims. So thepeople were still not getting the real message of the true Islam.
Websites, chat rooms, email and message boards became alive with information(and misinformation) about Islam, Muslims, Quran, Muhammad, peace be upon him.Some people wanted to know the truth, others wanted to hide it. Discussions andarguments about what Islam is about and what Muslims do were very common place.This was the most exposure that these subjects had ever had in the world at onetime.
Open Communication BetweenMuslim & Non-Muslim
The good news came when the various dialogsbetween the Muslims and Christians began to take place. When the non-Muslimsbegan to enter the masjids and sit with the Muslims and shared together indiscussions and shared together enjoying the food and traditions of othercultures an amazing thing began to happen. They opened their minds and their heartsto the true message of the submission and surrender and obedience to the OneTrue God, Allah -- in Islam.
Back to Islam
Since September 11th, I have seen a hugeincrease in the interest of people wanting to know about Islam and at the sametime a marked increase in the "dawah" (invitation) to Islam on thepart of the Muslims around the world. This is how the people are coming toIslam. The same way people have come to Islam for 1,400 years. By learning thetrue message and being with real Muslims. Those who are inclined to"revert" back to the natural state of baby-like submission and peacewith Allah, are finding their way back to Islam.
Many New Muslims
Islam today, isgrowing faster than ever. It is the Will of Allah, for only He Guides. Thepeople want to know. The interest is keen. The materials are available in moresimple terms in many languages. The Muslims are starting to carry the responsibilityof sharing the message of the true "Peace With God in Islam."
Islam In Every Home
Somewhere in themiddle of all of this is occurred to me an expression of our prophet Muhammad,peace be upon him. When he said what might translate to English as:
"The Last Day will not come untilIslam has entered every house on earth, whether it is made of animal skins orfrom the earth."
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