Surprising statistics drawn by surveys in the West have shown that Islam is the fastest spreading religion in the West. A national survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2003 reported that the number of Americans with a favorable view of Islam has become 34 percent in 2003. Moreover, the response rate to the question that Islam is a religion that encourages violence fell from 44 % in 2003 to 36 % in 2005.

As per “The Almanac Book of Facts”, within the last decade, the world population grew by 137%, Christianity increased by 46%, whilst Islam grew by 235%. Islam, the fastest spreading religion in America, is also the second largest religion over there. According to a recent poll in the United States, 100,000 people convert to Islam every year. The proportion of Male converts to females is 1:4.

According to a news headline on NTV News on June 24, 2004, “Islam is the fastest growing religion in Europe”. The report was made by a French Domestic Intelligence Agency, which said that an increasing number of people were converting to Islam in the West, especially after the incident of September 11, 2001.

The basic reason behind creating all this drama was to defame Islam, to pose it as a demonic religion, and to label  Muslims as terrorists. For this very purpose, hundreds and thousands of publishers in the US started publishing books, leaflets and fliers showing Muslims holding weapons, blasting bombs to derogate the Muslims. Although they did succeed in achieving their motives largely, what they did not foresee the side effects of their actions.

Due to popular propaganda against Muslims, more and more people started exploring the teachings of Islam. By reading the translation of the Qur’an, people in the west finally began to understand the logic behind the messages of Allah. An increasing number of people came to know that Islam was a religion that promoted peace and harmony, not only among Muslims but that it also propagated an attitude of tolerance and brotherhood towards non-Muslims. Hence, this way, the west came to know that terrorism and violence did not fall under the ambit of Islamic teachings, and whoever, indulged in such practices was not fit to be called a Muslim. Those who were involved in such practices and were calling themselves Muslims had misinterpreted Islam.

Thereby, after coming to know of the positives that Islam teaches, more and more people started entering the circle of Islam. These new converts to Islam in the western world are more familiar with Islamic teachings than people who are born into the religion. As a result, generally speaking, those who have converted to Islam are far better Muslims than other traditional Muslims in the east who as they take their religion for granted, and hardly follow its practices. The newly converts are generally fully aware of the positive message that Islam spreads, as it was that very message that compelled them to convert to it in the first place.

 

About the author

A meditator. An unorthodox person. Searching for the truth, knowing more about Islam and spreading its message has always been my passion and I plan to excel in it Insha Allah.

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A new survey by Paris-based Ipsos research company on Thursday showed 74% of French respondents believe the Muslim religion is ''intolerant'' and incompatible with their social values.

The survey, published on the Le Monde newspaper website, also showed eight out of 10 French people believe the Islamic religion tries to impose its views on others, 10% believe a majority of Muslims are fundamentalists, and another 44% believe a many but not all Muslims are fundamentalists. Most respondents did not know how to define fundamentalism, however.

The data varied across age groups and political affiliations, but represents a majority in each category of respondents.

ANSAmed, 24 January 2013

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Islam is a unique religion, and Muslims are the followers of this religion. In Islam, there is no distinction between the status of men and women. The Holy Qur’an and Hades show a clear picture of women’s rights in Islam. Islam teaches every man to respect the rights of Muslim women in the forms of Daughter, Wife and Mother.

Rights of Muslim Women as Wives

A wife has many rights over her husband. The first basic right that Islam provides to the wife is the amount of ‘’Maher’’ at the time of marriage. The amount of the “Maher”, or dowry, is obligatory for every man to pay his wife at the time of “Nikah”, the wedding. In ancient days, the amount of ‘’Maher’’ was not given to the wives, but the father of the wife. Islam stressed the issue that the amount of ‘’Maher’’ must be given to the wives through her husband at the time of marriage. The amount of ‘’Maher’’ is not fixed; it is adjusted according to the status of the husband.

Rights of Muslim Women as Daughters

Islam gives some basic rights to Muslim daughters. As a daughter, women have more rights than the son. Before Islam, there was no concept of a daughter’s rights in any religion. The parents buried their newborn daughters alive. Islam gives rights to the women as a daughter. According to Islam, the daughter is the symbol of ”Rehmat”, or blessing from ALLAH ALMIGHTY. Islam also gives daughters the right to receive 1/3 of the parent’s property.

Rights of Muslim Women as Mothers

There are many rights regarding mothers in Islam. Motherhood is the most precious gift that ALLAH ALMIGHTY  can give. Motherhood is the best blessing of Allah. In Islam, motherhood is considered the shape of God on the Earth. It is the duty of every Muslim man and woman to treat their parents well. Disrespect is especially prohibited towards mothers.

Hades of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) shows a clear picture of the mother’s rights.

‘’Paradise lies under the feet of Mother’’.

This Hades quote shows the important of the mother. It is the duty of everyone to treat their mothers in the best way possible according to the teaching of Islam. In childhood it is the mother that teach how to stand, how to walk, how to speak and how to eat. It is the mother that protects her children from harm. In return, it is the duty of everyone to keep their parents happy and provide them protection regarding any matter.

Above, the rights of Muslim women are listed according to the teachings of Islam, which provides firm guidelines for good treatment of women.

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Weighing and Measuring of Goods for Business

Allah Says (what means): “Give full measure when you measure, and weigh with an even (i.e., honest) balance. That is the best (way) and best in result.” [Quran 17:35]

Prohibition of Bribery

Allah Says (what means): “And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it (in bribery) to the rulers in order that (they might aid) you (to) consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know (it is unlawful).” [Quran 2:188]

‘Abdullaah bin ‘Amr bin al-’Aas narrated that he heard Allah’s Messenger , saying: “Fornication will not appear among any people without their being punished by famine, and bribery will not appear among any people without their being punished by terror.” [At-Tirmithi]

Avoidance of Hoarding and Monopoly

The Prophet, sallallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “Do not withhold your money by counting it (i.e. hoarding it), (for if you did so), Allah would also withhold His blessings from you.” [Al-Bukhaari]

Paying Salaries, Wages of Employees and Laborers on Time

The Prophet , said: “Allah says: ‘I will be against three persons on the Day of Resurrection: 1. One who makes a covenant in My Name, but he proves treacherous; 2. One who sells a free person (as a slave) and eats the price; and 3. One who employs a laborer and gets the full work done by him but does not pay him his wages.’” [Al-Bukhaari]

Prohibition for Fighting, Murder and Other Crimes

Allah’s Messenger , said: “When two Muslims fight (meet) each other with their swords, both the murderer as well as the murdered will go to Hell-fire.” It was said: “O Allah’s Messenger! It is all right for the murderer but what about the murdered? Allah’s Messenger, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wasallam replied: “He surely had the intention to kill his companion.’” [Al-Bukhaari]

Peace and Reconciliation

Allah Says (what means): “The recompense for an injury is an injury equal thereto (in degree): but if a person forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is due from Allah; for Allah loves not those who do wrong.” [Quran 42:40]

Respect and Kindness to Women

Allah Says (what means): “O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women against their will. Nor should you treat them with harshness, that you may take away part of the dower you have given them, except where they have been guilty of open lewdness. On the contrary live with them on a footing of kindness and equity if you take a disliking to them it may be that you dislike a thing, and Allah brings about through it a great deal of good.” [Quran 4:19]

Kindness to the Family, Parents, Relatives, Orphans, the Poor, the Needy and the Weak

Allah Says (what means): “…Treat with kindness your parents and kindred, and orphans and those in need; speak fair to the people; be steadfast in prayer; and give zakaah (poor due)…” [Quran 2:83]

Respect to Non-Muslims (People of the Book)

Allah Says (what means): “And dispute not with the People of the Book, except in the best way; unless it be with those of them who do wrong but say: ‘We believe in the Revelation which has come down to us and in that which came down to you; our God and your God is One; and it is to Him we submit (in Islam).’” [Quran 29:46]

Conclusion

This compilation, although far from being complete, proves that Islam as the perfect religion for the whole mankind is indeed complete. Allah Almighty has chosen Islam as the only religion acceptable to Him. Islam is the best way of life for all. It serves as the best solution to all sorts of problems no matter how perplexing they may be. Islam is the absolute answer to those who seek a perfect religion and a complete way of life. It guides us to a well-balanced life, one that makes us happy and contented in this world and in the life Hereafter. It is the way to attaining supreme success in the everlasting world to come. In short, Islam, as the complete way for all, is Allah’s Mercy to the whole of mankind.

reference: http://www.ediscoverislam.com

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Momo Khan

Life has given you wings to fly, why to crawl through your life !!
Freelance writer and an agony aunt to my friends.
Dreamer, Love my family and is a peaceful creature !!

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Tiada apa yang lebih menyakitkan selain daripada mendengar seseorang “memandikan”anda dengan nasihat tentang apa yang anda perlu lakukan dan yang tidak perlu lakukan! Dan tiada apa yang lebih memalukan selain daripada memberikan nasihat kepada seseorang yang kemudiannya kembali memberi nasihat kepada anda! Apa yang kita benar-benar benci dalam situasi berkenaan adalah bukannya nasihat tersebut, tetapi adalah “cara” kita memberi nasihat yang menyebabkan nasihat kita tidak diketepikan. Memandangkan Islam merupakan agama yang beretika, ia menyediakan kita dengan adab seni memberi nasihat kepada seseorang tanpa sebarang sindiran atau maksud-maksud tertentu   Berikut adalah beberapa nasihat tentang cara bagaimana untuk memberi nasihat:

• Belas kasihan. Adalah amat payah untuk anda memberi nasihat kepada seseorang yang anda tidak tahu banyak mengenainya. Rakan yang turut mengalami obesiti, yang anda fikir kuat makan, boleh menghadapi beberapa masalah psikologi. Jadi, antara adab yang paling penting dalam seni memberi nasihat adalah dengan mempunyai hubungan yang baik dengan orang yang anda sedang berikan nasihat, supaya nasihat anda diterima atau dipertimbangkan.

• Berkelakuan Baik. Tidak akan dipanggil seni jika seseorang yang memberikan nasihat tersebut tidak mempunyai kelakukan yang baik. “… Kamu (Muhammad) haruslah berlembut dengan mereka. Dan jika anda telah biadap [dalam ucapan] dan keras di tengah-tengah ucapan tersebut, maka mereka tidak akan mendengar pendapat atau nasihat daripada anda … “(3:159). Jadi, apabila anda memberi nasihat letakkan diri anda dalam fikiran orang yang anda sedang nasihatkan tersebut. Adakah anda akan mendengar seseorang yang kasar atau bodoh?

• Memberi nasihat secara peribadi. Antara asas-asas seni memberi nasihat adalah bukannya untuk memalukan orang berkenaan secara umum mengenai kesalahan yang ia telah lakukan. Ini akan menyakitikan perasaannya dan juga boleh menegur ANDA kembali di khalayak ramai, dan adalah ANDA yang akan menerima padah berikutan tindakan anda tadi:D Sebaliknya, nasihatkan secara peribadi kepada seseorang itu, dan ini akan membuatkan ia mendengar nasihat anda. Rasulullah (SAW) menguasai seni memberi nasihat; apabila dia tahu bahawa salah seorang daripada rakan-rakannya melakukan sesuatu yang silap, dia tidak bercakap dengannya secara langsung, sebaliknya, beliau bercakap mengenai topik ini secara umum dengan mengatakan sesuatu seperti “sesetengah orang melakukan beberapa kesilapan, atau ramai orang tidak tahu bahawa ini atau itu adalah salah.”

Kesimpulannya, memberi nasihat adalah seperti memberi hadiah. Sekiranya anda berkelakuan baik, belas kasihan, pintar, dan sentiasa senyum, hasilnya usaha yang anda lakukan akan kembali kepada anda

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There is nothing can be nastier than hearing someone showering you with advices of what you should do and what you should not! And nothing can be more embarrassing than offering advice to someone who then shuts you up! What we really hate in these situations is not the advice itself, but it is the “manner” that drives us away or drives the person we are offering advice to away. As Islam is the religion of etiquette, it provides us with the manners of the art of giving advice to people without any silly or nasty moments  Here are some advices on how to give advice:

• Be compassionate. It is very harsh of you to give advice to someone you do not know much about. The same obese friend, who you think is a food lover, could be facing some psychological troubles that deceive him into considering food as solace. So, among the most important manners of the art of giving advice is to have a good account of the person you are giving advice to, so that your advices are more likely to be heard by him\her and taken into consideration.

• Be nice. It would not be called an art if the person giving advice is not nice. “… you (Muhammad) were lenient with them. And if you had been rude [in speech] and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you…” (3:159). So, when you give advice put yourself in the person you are advising shoes. Would you listen to someone rude or silly?

• Give advice in private. Among the basics of the art of giving advice is not to embarrass the person you are advising by rebuking him publically for whatever wrong he is doing. This will hurt his\her feelings and may even backfire by rebuking YOU in public, and it is YOU who will pay the price then:D Instead, seek privacy when you give advice to someone for this will make you sound compassionate enough to listen to you. The Prophet (PBUH) mastered the art of giving advice; when he knew that one of his friends did something wrong, he did not talk to him directly, rather, he talked about the topic generally by saying something like “some people commit some mistake, or many people do not know that this or that is wrong”.

To conclude, giving advice is like giving a gift. Unless you are nice, compassionate, smart, and smiling, your gift will be thrown to your face

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Anda harus mengakui bahwa setiap kali anda membaca judul semcam “Kristen dan Islam” pasti anda akan mengira bahwa artikel bersangkutan akan membandingkan keduanya. Berbicara tentang mana lebih baik dari yang lain, apa saja perbedaannya, seberapa salahnya Islam, atau seberapa salahnya Kristen. Seolah-olah hal ini adalah semacam kompetisi. Nah, saya senang memberitahu anda bahwa artikel ini bukan artikel seperti itu. Saya tidak akan mengajak anda meninggalkan Islam dan masuk Kristen karena Islam begini dan begitu, dan sebaliknya juga tidak akan mengajak anda meninggalkan Kristen dan masuk Islam karena Kristen itu begini dan begitu.

Saya benar-benar melawan perbandingan semacam itu. Saya melihat banyak program Tv baik saluran Islam maupun Kristen. Mereka menghabiskan waktu mereka untuk membuktikan bahwa agama lain adalah salah, alih-alih berfokus pada agama mereka sendiri. Untuk membuktikan bahwa anda benar, anda tidak harus membuktikan orang lain salah. Yang perlu anda lakukan adalah mempraktekkan agama anda dengan benar, sehingga orang lain melihat betapa baik agama anda, sehingga mereka ingin masuk ke dalam agama anda. Tapi jika tidak, maka itu terserah mereka. Apakah Islam atau Kristen akan bertambah besar jika orang-orang bergabung? Tentu tidak. Agama-agama ini sudah besar meski tak ada yang bergabung maupun keluar darinya. Mereka sama-sama firman Tuhan. Yang perlu anda lakukan hanyalah melayani agama anda, menjalankan apa yang diperintahkan dalam kitab suci, memberitakan betapa agung agama anda, dan kemudian anda melayani agama anda. Bukan dengan menyerang agama orang lain dan keyakinan mereka.

Jadi, saya telah memutuskan daripada membangun tembok perbedaan akan lebih baik membangun jembatan dan menunjukkan kesamaan antara Kristen dan Islam. Inilah yang harus kita lakukan bersama. Perbedaan menjauhkan kita, kesamaan menyatukan kita. Misalnya ketika anda menonton berita tentang timur tengah, kemudian anda melihat seseorang meneriakkan kata “Allah”, beberapa orang akan berpikir bahwa “Allah” yang dimaksud adalah Tuhan kaum Muslim. Padahal sebenarnya, “Allah” hanyalah terjemahan bahasa Arab untuk “Tuhan” secara umum. Mereka berdoa dan memohon pada “Tuhan” dengan menggunakan kata “Allah”. Apakah anda tahu bahwa sebagai kristen Barat, anda juga berdoa pada Allah? Dalam Alkitab “Tuhan” diterjemahkan sebagai “Allah” karena keduanya memiliki kesamaan arti.

Hal lainnya, kedua agama ini adalah agama perdamaian. Mengenai ekstrimis, hal ini adalah perbuatan mereka sendiri. Mereka tidak mengikuti Alkitab maupun al-Quran, mereka hanya memakainya untuk mendapat kekuatan dan menggunakannya sebagai tameng atas tindakan mereka.  Tidakkah anda pernah sejenak berpikir, adakah kitab suci Tuhan yang memerintahkan untuk membunuh orang tak bersalah, dan menganiaya anak muda?. Ini bukan firman Tuhan, ini kelakuan kita sendiri. Kita perlu mengetahui perbedaan antara dua hal: firman Tuhan dan perbuatan manusia; ini adalah sifat alamiah kita, melakukan kejahatan dengan mengatas namakan Tuhan.

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