SubscribeAsk The Imam - Why Is Islam So Successful?
Our latest installment of enlightenment from the all-seeing worthies at Islam Question and Answer:
Why does Islam continue to be successful in the developed world?
Question No 3143
Question:
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
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
Ah, that explains everything.
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21 Responses to “Ask The Imam - Why Is Islam So Successful?”
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March 31st, 2007 at 11:56 am
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.
Uh, I must have missed that part.
March 31st, 2007 at 12:09 pm
The religion of peace is the only thing that makes me miserable — and only when I think about it. I tend to be rather happy knowing how blessed I am to be born in a developed country.
March 31st, 2007 at 12:28 pm
Why don’t you see if you can get these guys a gig on The Comedy Channel.
March 31st, 2007 at 1:02 pm
huh? Are we talking about the same thing here?
March 31st, 2007 at 2:05 pm
First–that’s what they claim credit for. In reality, it’s what they got from everyone else when they slaughtered a few of their people, but they tend to ‘forget’ that part.
The only thing that islam has ‘given’ humanity is the spread of slavery.
March 31st, 2007 at 8:24 pm
I’d sooner die than be a muslime. And I swear by God that if it comes to that, I’ll take as many of them with me as I can.
March 31st, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Islam has given society IED’s…suicide bombers…, senseless slaughter of each other….in the name of Islam….car bombs…truck bombs…chlorine gas attacks…aircraft as missles…women as property….mindless indoctrination of children… see? Islam has given society a lot of things that Christianity seemed to have left out. Yeah, that religion of peace sure is giving it to us now, arent they?
March 31st, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Islam was very advanced, about 900 years ago. Way ahead of the rest of the world in art and science. Then they turned inward, abandoning any form of progress, accomplishing nothing since. Their countries are ruled by despots and tyrants. They blame the west for their own incompetence. IMHO, any ‘religion’ that not only allows but sometimes requires you to kill people who don’t accept your beliefs has no place in this world. Sharps is right. They show up here, it’s lock and load.
March 31st, 2007 at 9:34 pm
“Islam was very advanced, about 900 years ago. Way ahead of the rest of the world in art and science.”
Not really. At least their science and math contributions have been greatly exaggerated.
Mostly they co-opted from countries they took over.
March 31st, 2007 at 10:04 pm
They show up here, it’s lock and load. Sharps has it spot on. Old Grouch understands Islam. We are in for the fight of our lives. I’ve lived mine, so I dont mind giving it to you guys.
March 31st, 2007 at 11:39 pm
Like I mentioned, Old, they’ve gathered, not discovered, a lot of knowledge. While it is true (and commendable) that–in some areas!–they respected knowledge, that statesmen and warriors were not respected unless they were also scholars and writers, and that minor caliphs owned thousands of books while in Europe a dozen books was a ‘great library’, their knowledge of mathematics and philosophy came from the Greeks, of alchemy from the Chinese, of metallurgy from India, and so on.
SJ is right in that they’ve made the things she listed staples of their culture, but those were used previously by other terrorist regimes. I still hold that the only thing islam has “given” humanity is a widespread and entrenched slave-trade.
I also think it’s telling that their progress came to an abrupt halt around the time of the Crusades. Once they tried to take over a determined foe willing to fight back, they wilted, deprived of the concquest that their religion is based on and requires for its subsistence.
Fortunately, there weren’t any Democrats back then.
April 1st, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Can you imagine the outrage if Spielberg tried to make the final Indiana Jones movie (the Last Crusade) today? The imams would issue a dozen fatwas ordering his death. And the ‘Rats would support them. SG, Islam was really advanced, with art far beyond the people they clobbered (remember the furor over Benedict’s comments about this?) but totally folded afterward. Never drew the connection to the Crusades, I think Red has it right. Still true today. They won’t stand and fight. Sucker punch and run away. Iran won’t use the Bomb when they get one, just give it to nutcases who will and deny everything. Does anyone besides me think that this latest provocation with the Brits is mostly an excuse to keep the price of oil up? Every time it drops below $60/bbl, somebody does something to pump it back up. The mullahs have pretty well wrecked Iran’s economy, they need external revenue. Maybe ‘the religion of peace’ would be more peaceful if we bombed them back into the 11th century. (another thing we won’t do. sigh.)
April 1st, 2007 at 1:08 pm
The question is asked…”Why does Islam continue to be successful in the developed world?”
The answer is quite simple. Islam continues to be successful (in its attempts to dominate the world) due to the hard work done on its behalf by weak-kneed, spineless, no-guts left wingers. They would rather have the entire world be destroyed than do anything that might offend their Mooselimb friends. Western Europe has pretty much already fallen and the ‘Rats are doing everything they can to make sure the US gets toppled next. The fantatics know the lefties will cave in to their demands on any complaint they throw out, which seems to be on a daily basis at this point. Political Correctness is their biggest weapon and their lefty appeasers are quick to deploy this weapon on their behalf.
My rhetorical question to all this is….Will Nancy respect her Syrian masters when she visits them by wearing the traditional female garb so as not to offend?
April 1st, 2007 at 1:50 pm
OG…I agree that a lot of this sabre-rattling over the Brits is economy/oil price driven. I think I even mentioned that in a post the other day. And the population really doesn’t seem to be interested in this whole affair as evidenced by the low turnout (about 200 screaming “outraged” idiots) at the U. K. embassy today. I also noticed that, unlike 1979, the Iranian security forces were keeping the outraged well away from the embassy entryway. This would seem to indicate the iranian government’s wish to make a big stink, run the price of oil up but not actually get a shooting war started over the hostages. It is very serious, however, because it could easily escalate out of control given the people in Iran that are involved with this. I also think that’s the reason they decided to take Brits, because they know the Brits were very weak and wouldn’t likely do anything about it other than talk, talk, talk and negotiate. Had it been us, I would hope a few well placed “smart bombs” or cruise missles would have gotten their attention quickly.
April 1st, 2007 at 2:00 pm
RW….you’re spot on it what you posted about Islam and the left, but you didn’t carry it far enough. As guilty as the libs/left is about the spread and success of imposing islamic will on the world, the right is equally as guilty, especially since 9/11. Bush and the republican congress pretty much had a blank check to take care of this in the months after 9/11 and they didn’t. What the administration did instead was serveral islam enabling things:
a. Reaching out to the imams of NYC, Detriot and other large citys to show our tolerance of their religioin. The imams at the 9/11 memorial service the following week really made me want to puke at the time.
b. Not firing Mineta (or appointing him in the first place before 9/11) on the spot after Mineta’s pronouncement that we weren’t going to have another Japenese/American sytle internment on his watch. Of course, no one was even suggesting that, but he had to say it anyway to justify his “no profilling” policy.
c. Not backing up his “you are with us or against us” words.
d. Playing footsie with the Palestineans.
e. Not killing those needing killing and breaking what needed breaking in Iraq, quickly after we went in.
The list is longer I don’t want to beat up Bush too bad. I think he had good intentions with terrible advice, planning and execution. But we all know the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
April 1st, 2007 at 2:23 pm
WI,
IMO, Bush’s biggest problem is pulling the trigger.
When this happened the US had two, count them, two carrier groups war gaming off the coast of Iran. Planes in the air 24/7. Just how long would it have taken to have several F/A-18’s buzzing the kidnapping Iranian speed boats?
Lets get it on, we are going to have to do it sooner or later anyway.
April 1st, 2007 at 2:31 pm
You’re right 1st. But it doesn’t matter whether you have them in your sights and can’t pull the trigger, never find them through the scope or never pick up the weapon to begin with. The result is the same. Bush and the congress had the weapons, ammo and the people’s will to use them after 9/11 and didn’t. If they had, with the full force we have at our disposal (and I’m not talking nukes here), we wouldn’t have a dhimmi controlled congress right now and probably wouldn’t be worried about losing the WH next year.
Oh…and the freaking iranians wouldn’t be picking on the cripples (Britian) and grabbing their sailors….they would be too damned scared, much like they were on inaguration day in 1981, of a Reagan putting a cruise missle up their ass. As weak and dumb as the Brits have acted here, it wouldn’t surprise me if they really were 500-1000 yards inside Iranian waters…..but that still doesn’t justify grabbing them.
April 2nd, 2007 at 1:04 am
Islam is “successful”, just like Stalin was “successful”.
In order to use the phrase “success”, one must inherently be in a free society, of which Islam is even further away than Communism.
Wealth is concentrated to a few family members and their loyal mullahs - in oil rich nations only. And there is a good reason why liberals love Muslims. Inherently - Muslims and liberals do share many things in common. For one - it is the underlying reality that those feeling like “victims” and oppressed throughout their lives need to have an enemy - which usually is the majority , aka “status quo. By creating an “us vs them” scenario - liberals and Muslims can always identify the target of their “hate”. Poor, 4th world nations are ripe with Muslims - for the wealthy “Western world” is the preverbial enemy. Yet, their own leaders have an enormous amount of wealth - that is doled out upon “obeying” to said wealthy leaders. And very little at that. IN the same way liberals rail against “global corporate greed” and argue these points while sipping a latte at the Starbucks in Cal Berkely while wearing the latest Patagonia fleece.
The majority of liberals represent the minority of people who have always felt inferior or an “outcast”. I understand how radical liberals and Muslims are created. Again, the “us vs them” is a constant source of blame, and quite frankly - their excuse for not having________.
Thats where the fanaticism and radical nutjobs come from - the scary part is they now have a much greater audience and voice to yell about. I guarantee you take a radical Muslim or liberal, put them in front of a panel of psychiatrists and remove their ideology, religion and certain identifying words — 90% would be diagnosed as bona fide psychotics.
Hate crime laws in America is a perfect example. The very small minority “statistically speaking” usurps the majority. Our penal code already had established a penalty, based on the severity of crime. But when the ultra liberals hijacked the laws of the land - they became “more important”. A pediphile gets on average 3 years in jail. Yelling n****** or queer while punching someone gets you 10.
I have always defended the “fat kid” or nerd, whether in grade school or later in life. BUt I dont think they are more important and deserving of more protection. Sometimes the world is unfair. Sometimes we all can’t be “in”. But I’ll be damned if “out” is the norm.
April 2nd, 2007 at 4:58 am
Odie 44….spot effing on. Hey, you are my kind of person.
April 3rd, 2007 at 1:57 pm
“Why Is Islam So Successful?”
Compare Islam’s description of Mohammad and the Bible’s description of the un-named evil one whose charisma subverts humanity before the end of days. Only an idiot or a Muslim would not see the similarities and an almost match in descriptions. And the god this person gets people to worship is the great Satan, so by implication this Allah is Satan.
So “Why Is Islam So Successful?” because worship of Allah is Satanism, and the cult of Islam is Mohmmad’s evil plan to rule us all.
April 3rd, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Some bible wacko’s, but the most of the historical references used are correct.
http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/moongod.htm
http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/islam.htm