The 'sword' of Islam

The first few people who embraced Islam at the hands of the Prophet Muhammad , were his wife Khadeejah his adopted son Zayd and his eleven-year-old cousin ‘Ali .

Among the ones who later joined this faith in Makkah were the honest merchant, Abu Bakr; the iron man of Arabia, ’Umar; the shy businessman, ‘Uthmaan; the Prophet's brave uncle Hamzah; and the slave of a pagan family, Bilaal . They simply could not resist the alleged ‘magic sword’ of a humble and lonely prophet! The negligible minority of the believers in the new faith were soon driven away from Makkah.

In the city of their migration, Al-Madeenah, people not only welcomed the Muslims, but the ‘sword’ with which it is alleged that people converted to Islam, as well. It did not cease to work even there and its magnetic force continued to "pull" people towards it until the whole of Arabia joined the faith. Compared to the population of the rest of the world, at that time, the Arabs constituted a tiny minority. A fraction of this minority decided to take the sword beyond the boundaries of the Arabian desert to the mighty empires of Rome and Persia, the shores of the Mediterranean, the coast of Malabar and the far away East Indies Islands. All these people ostensibly went on surrendering to this ‘sword’ and joining the faith.

So sharp was the edge of the ‘sword’! It simply conquered the hearts, the bodies yielded automatically.

What is this ‘sword’ by which Islam spread?

It is the sword of truth, whose shine eliminates falsehood just like light wipes away darkness.

Has the sword gone blunt?

No, far from it.

It continues to pierce the heart of countless men and women even today -- in spite of the relentless efforts by people with vested interests, who would like darkness to prevail, instead of the light of Islam.

Given below are the impressions of some people who were recently conquered by the same sword. They are from different countries, speak different languages and have different backgrounds. Their present addresses are also given. Perhaps you may like to ask them how it feels to be struck by the sword of truth.

1- Leopold Weiss (Mohammed Asad):

Austrian statesman, journalist and author; former foreign correspondent for the Frankfurter Zeitung; author of Islam at Cross Roads and Road to Makkah and translator of the Quran. (Embraced Islam in 1926).

"Islam appears to me like a perfect work of architecture. All its parts are harmoniously conceived to complement and support each other. Nothing is superfluous and nothing lacking, with the result of an absolute balance and solid composure."

Present address: Dar Al-Andalus, 3 Library Ramp, Gibraltar, Morocco.

2- Ahmad Holt: British civil contractor

Traveled extensively in search of the Divine truth. Spent much time in search and comparative study of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

(Embraced Islam in 1975).

"The sword of Islam is not the sword of steel. I know this by experience, because the sword of Islam struck deep into my own heart. It didn't bring death, but it brought a new life; it brought an awareness and it brought an awakening as to who am I and what am I and for what am I here?"

Present address: 23, Welland Garden Perivale, Middlesex UB6 8SZ, UK.

3- Bogdan Kopanksi (now Bogdan Ataullah Kopanski):

Originally Polish, now American. Ph.D. in History and Politics. Had a very interesting journey to Islam and faced severe hardship; was imprisoned twice by the Polish Communist regime (1968, 1981-82).

(Embraced Islam in 1974)

"When I was 12 years old I rejected the illogical and contradictory faith of the Church. Two years later in 1962, I was fascinated by the victorious struggle of the Algerian Muslim Mujaahideen against French colonialism. It was the first ' arrow' of Islam... in high school and the earliest days of my education in the university, I was a typical example of the 'rebel generation' of reds...My way to the truth of al-Quran was slow and unpaved...in 1974 I visited Turkey, I wrote my M.A. dissertation about Sultan and Caliph Suleiman Kanuni’s policy towards Polish Kingdom. There, I was hit by the most beautiful voice of mankind: Athaan, the call to prayer. My hair stood up. An unknown powerful force led me to an old masjid in Istanbul. There, old smiling Turkish, bearded men taught me wudhoo, (ablution), I confessed to tears the shahaadah (testimonies of faith) and I prayed my first salaah (prayer) at Maghrib...I swept out the rubbish ideologies ...for the first time in my life, my mind was relaxed and I felt the pleasure of Allaah's love in my heart, I was a Muslim...”.

Present address : 3013, Harrel, Drive 203 Grand Prairie Tx 75051 USA

4- Vengatachalam Adiyar (Now ‘Abdullaah Adiyar) :

Indian, noted Tamil writer and journalist; worked as a News Editor in Dr. M. Karunanidhi's daily Murasoli for 17 years. Worked with three former Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu. Received Kalimamani Award from T.N Government in 1982.

(Embraced Islam in 1987).

"In Islam I found suitable replies to nagging queries arising in my mind with regard to the theory of creation, status of women, creation of the universe etc. The life history of the Holy Prophet , attracted me very much and made easy for me to compare with other world leaders and their philosophies."

Present address: 1 Ashok Avenue, Rangarajapuram, Kodambakkam, Madras, India.

5- Herbert Hobohm: ( Now Aman Hobohm)

German diplomat, missionary and social worker. An intellectual, who has been serving the German Diplomatic Mission in various parts of the world. Presently working as Cultural attache in German Embassy in Riyadh.

(Embraced Islam in 1941).

"I have lived under different systems of life and have had the opportunity of studying various ideologies, but have come to the conclusion that none is as perfect as Islam. None of the systems has got a complete code of a noble life. Only Islam has it; and that is why good men embrace it. Islam is not theoretical; it is practical. It means complete submission to the will of God.'

Present address: Cultural Attaché, German Embassy, PO Box 74, Riyadh -11492, Saudi Arabia.

6- Cat Stevens: (Now Yousuf Islam).

British, formerly Christian, world famous pop singer.

(Embraced Islam in 1973).

"It will be wrong to judge Islam in the light of the behavior of some bad Muslims who are always shown on the media. It is like judging a car as a bad one if the driver of the car is drunk.”
Present address: Chairman, Muslim Aid, 3 Furiong Road, London, N7. UK

7- Ms. Margaret Marcus (Now Maryam Jamilah):

American, formerly Jewish. Essayist and journalist. Author of many books.

(Embraced Islam in 1962).

"The authority of Islamic morals and laws proceeds from Almighty God. Pleasure and happiness in Islam are but the natural by products of emotional satisfaction in one's duties conscientiously performed for the pleasure of God to achieve salvation. In Islam duties are always stressed above rights. Only in Islam was my quest for absolute values satisfied. Only in Islam did I at last find all that was true, good, beautiful and which gives meaning and directions to human life and death."

Present address: c/o Mr. Mohammed Yusuf Khan, Sant Nagar, Lahore , Pakistan.

8- Wilfried Hofman: (Now Murad Hofman).

Ph.D (law) Harvard, German social scientist and diplomat. Presently German ambassador in Algiers.

(Embraced in Islam in 1980)

"For some time now, striving for more and more precision and brevity, I have tried to put on paper, in a systemic way, all philosophical truths, which, in my view, can be ascertained beyond reasonable doubt. In the course of this effort it dawned on me that the typical attitude of an agnostic is not an intelligent one; that man simply cannot escape a decision to believe; that the createdness of what exists around us is obvious; that Islam undoubtedly finds itself in the greatest harmony with overall reality. Thus I realize, not without shock, that step by step, in spite of myself and almost unconsciously, in feelings and thinking I have grown into a Muslim. Only one last step remained to be taken; to formalize my conversation. As of today I am a Muslim. I have arrived."

Present address: Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, BP 664, Alger-gare, Algeria.

9- Cassius Clay (Now Mohamed Ali Clay):

American boxer (three times world heavyweight champion). Formerly Christian.

(Embraced Islam in 1965).

"I have had nice moments in my life. But the feeling I had while standing on Mount ‘Arafaat on the day of 'Hajj' (pilgrimage), was the most unique. I felt exalted by the indescribable spiritual atmosphere there, as over a million and a half pilgrims invoked God to forgive them of their sins and bestow on them His choicest blessings. It was an exhilarating experience to see people belonging to different colors, races and nationalities, kings, heads of states and ordinary men from very poor countries all clad in two simple white sheets praying to God without any sense of either pride or inferiority. It was a practical manifestation of the concept of equality in Islam."

(Speaking to the daily "Al-Madinah" Jeddah, 15, July 1989).

Present address: 1200 E, 49 St., Chicago, Ill 60615.

These were the impressions of a few persons who had been struck by the sword of truth themselves.

As for the propaganda that it was the sword of steel (i.e. the force ) which was instrumental in the universal expansion of Islam, we give below remarks of some prominent non-Muslims refuting this baseless claim:

1- M K Gandhi:

".......I become more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and his own mission. These, and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every trouble."

Young India, 1924.

2- Edward Gibbon:

"The greatest success of Mohammed's life was effected by sheer moral force without the stroke of a sword." History of the Saracen Empire, London, 1870.

3- A S Tritton:

"The picture of the Muslim soldier advancing with a sword in one hand and the Quran in the other quite false." Islam, London, 1951-page 21.

4- De Lacy O'Leary:

" History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims, sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated."

Islam at Crossroads, London. 1923-page 8.

5- KS Ramakrishna Rao:

"My problem to write this monograph is easier because we are not generally fed now on that (distorted) kind of history and much time need not to be spent on pointing out our misrepresentations of Islam. The theory of Islam and sword, for instance, is not heard now in any quarter worth its name. The principle of Islam that: ' there is no compulsion in religion' is well known".

Mohammed the Prophet of Islam, Riyadh 1989-page 4.

6- James A. Michener:

"No other religion in history spread so rapidly as Islam...The West has widely believed that this surge of religion was made possible by the sword. But no modern scholar accepts that idea, and the Quran is explicit in support of the freedom of conscience".

Islam- The Misunderstood Religion, Readers' Digest (American Edition ) May 1955.

7- Lawrence E Browne:

"Incidentally these well-established facts dispose off the ideas so widely fostered in Christian writings that wherever the Muslims went, they forced people to accept Islam at the point of the sword."

Islam: a home of tolerance, not fanaticism

Media speculation since the horrific terrorist attacks on America has pointed the finger at Muslims and the Arab world, and that has meant ordinary citizens of the US and other Western countries becoming easy prey for anti-faith hooligans. Shame.

Sadly, the latest horror to hit the US looks to have been caused by people of Middle Eastern origin, bearing Muslim names. Again, shame.

This fuels more hatred for a religion and a people who have nothing to do with these events. This is why I want to explain some basic facts about this noble way we call Islam, before, God forbid, another disaster occurs -- next time probably aimed at Muslims.

I came to Islam in my late 20s, during my searching period as a wandering pop star. I found a religion that blended scientific reason with spiritual reality, in a unifying faith far removed from the headlines of violence, destruction and terrorism. One of the first interesting things I learned in the Quran was that the name of the faith comes from the word Salaam -- peace.

Far from the kind of Turko-Arab-centric message I expected, the Quran presented a belief in the universal existence of God, one God for all. It does not discriminate against peoples; it says we may be different colors and from different tribes, but we are all human and "the best of people are the most God-conscious".

Today, as a Muslim, I have been shattered by the horror of recent events; the display of death and indiscriminate killing we've all witnessed has dented humanity's confidence in itself.

Terror on this scale affects everybody on this small planet, and no one is free from the fallout. Yet, we should remember that such violence is almost an everyday occurrence in some Muslim lands: it should not be exacerbated by revenge attacks on more innocent families and communities.Along with most Muslims, I feel it a duty to make clear that such orchestrated acts of incomprehensible carnage have nothing to do with the beliefs of most Muslims.

The Quran specifically declares (what means): "If anyone murders an (innocent) person, it will be as if he has murdered the whole of humanity. And if anyone saves a person it will be as if he has saved the whole of humanity." [Quran 5:32]

The Quran that our young people learn is full of stories and lessons from the history of humanity as a whole. The Injeel (Gospels) and the Torah are referred to; 'Eesaa (Jesus) and Ibraaheem (Abraham), may Allaah exalt their mention, are mentioned. In fact there is more mention in the Quran of the prophet Moosaa (Moses) than of any other. It acknowledges the coexistence of other faiths, and in doing so, acknowledges that other cultures can live together in peace.

It states (what means): "There is no compulsion in religion" [Quran 2:256] meaning that people should not be compelled to change their faith. Elsewhere it states (what means): "To you, your religion; to me mine." [Quran 109:6]

Respect for religious values and justice is at the Quran's core. The Quranic history we teach our young provides ample examples of inter-religious and international relationships of how to live together.

But some extremists take elements of the sacred scriptures out of context. They act as individuals, and when they can't come together as part of a political structure or consultative process, you find these dissident factions creating their own rules, contrary to the spirit of the Quran -- which demands that those recognized as being in charge of Muslims must consult together regarding society's affairs. There is a whole chapter in the Quran entitled ‘Consultation’.

Communal wellbeing is central to human life, so there is a concept in Islam called Istihsaan, which means "to look for the common good". Even though the Quran may lay down a diktat, scholars are also supposed to consider the circumstances prevalent at the time. Sometimes that means choosing the lesser of two evils or even suspending legislation if necessary: for instance, a person who steals bread during a famine is not treated as a thief.

Once I wrote in a song: "Where do the children play?" Our sympathy and thoughts go out to the families of all those who lost their lives in these tragic acts of violence, as well as all those injured. But life must go on. Children still need to play and people need to live and learn more about their neighbors, so that ignorance doesn't breed more blind fanaticism.

Moderation is part of faith, so those who accuse Muslim schools of fostering fanaticism should learn a bit more about Islam.

The Prophet , said: "Ruined are those who insist on hardship in faith" and "A believer remains within the scope of his religion as long as he doesn't kill another person illegally." Such knowledge and words of guidance are desperately needed at this time, to separate fact from falsehood, and to recognize the Last Prophet's , own definition of that which makes a person representative or otherwise, of the faith he lived and the one we try to teach.

By Yusuf Islam

Sunday : 22/07/2007

Islamic Concept of God

(Abu Ameenah Bilal Philiphs)

What makes Islam's concept of God unique? What sets it apart from other religions?
Chapter 112 of the Quran entitled Surat al-Ikhlas (SINCERITY), serves as a good starting point to discuss the unique way in which God is viewed in Islam.

The first verse of this chapter declares the oneness of "Allah", the Arabic word for God. The word "Allah" itself is worthy of reflection with regards to this discussion.

"Allah" in Arabic is derived from "Ilah" which means god. Whereas "Ilah" can be changed to a plural form "Aliha" (gods), or a feminine form "Ilaha" (goddess), the word "Allah" has neither a sex nor does it have a plural form. In fact there are no other forms of the word "Allah". The word itself is unique.

Furthermore, "Allah" is the amalgamation of two words: "al-Ilah" or The God, indicating an unambiguous and clear reference to the one and only God.

Other than the implications of the word "Allah", the first verse goes on to re-emphasize the uniqueness of God by declaring Him to be one.

In Islam this oneness of God or monotheism is absolutely unequivocal as it is fundamental.

The verses that follow go on to outline the exclusive and absolutely unique nature of God by declaring that only He is independent of all things (verse 2), He does not beget nor is He begotten (verse 3) and that there is none like Him (verse 4).

Although Islam may share the concept of monotheism with other religions, it is its unmoving and uncompromising attitude towards this fundamental belief that sets it apart from the other faiths.

For instance, although Christians testify to the oneness of God, the concept is muddled by the trinity and the belief that Jesus is the Son of God whereas Islam rejects the worship of God in the form of any of his creations, be they men or women, animals, images or inanimate objects even if they are perceived to be intermediaries.

Human characteristics such as the need to rest or regretting decisions when attributed to God are also dismissed in Islam since they liken Him to His creation, thus contradicting the 4th verse translated above.

Conversely, attributing characteristics that are inherently exclusive to God such as all-Knowing and all-Seeing or infallibility to humans is also veering off away from the true understanding of God in Islam.

In conclusion, Islam's unique view of God lies in its pure and absolute monotheism or the oneness of God.

Question from the audience: What is the view of Islam about Jesus? Speaker: Jesus as seen as another prophet who brought the same message as those prophets and messengers before him and those after him: to submit to the will of God.

Question from the audience: What is the difference between meditation and prayer in Islam? Speaker: Prayer in Islam is a form of meditation but with limits. Prayer or meditation should not be so consuming as to isolate a person from the world in which they live.

Question from the audience: Can those who do not speak Arabic, do their daily prayers in their own language? Speaker: It is required by all Muslims to know their prayers in Arabic since the original revelation was in Arabic and a Muslim is expected to know at least the portions that pertain to their prayer. Furthermore by having all Muslims, irrespective of where they are from and what language they can speak, call to prayer in Arabic and perform their prayer in Arabic, it makes it convenient for traveling Muslims to pray together and understand the calls to prayer in foreign lands.

Question from the audience: Is it permissible to celebrate the birth of Prophet Mohammad? Speaker: In a hadith reported from the Prophet, it is said that any addition to religion after him are innovations and unacceptable. Hence, it is not permissible to celebrate the birth of Prophet Mohammad as a part of the Islamic religion.

Listen to the original tape here And a related tape Reflection on Surat Al-Ikhlas

7 Reasons to Read the Glorious Quran

By: Shabir Ali

(1) Intimate:

It dares you to disprove it. How? It says that humans can not write a book like this even if they pooled all their resources together and got help also from the spirits. The Quran said this fourteen hundreds years ago and yet no one has been able to disprove it. Billions of books have been written - but not another one like the Quran.

(2) Incorruptible:

It is the only religious sacred writing which has been in circulation for such a long time and yet remains as pure as it was in the beginning. The Quran was kept intact. Nothing was added to it; nothing was changed in it; and nothing was taken away from it ever since it was completely revealed 1400 years ago.

(3) Unsurpassable:

The Quran is God's final revelation to humankind. God revealed the Torah to Moses, the Psalms to David, the Gospel to Jesus, and finally the Quran to Muhammad. Peace be upon all of them. No other book will come from God to surpass his final revelation.

(4) Indisputable:

The Quran withstands the test of time and scrutiny. No one can dispute the truth of this book. It speaks about past history and turns out right. It speaks about the future in prophecies and it turns out right. It mentions details of physical phenomena which were not known to people at the time; yet later scientific discoveries confirm that the Quran was right all along. Every other book needs to be revised to accord with modern knowledge. The Quran alone is never contradicted by a modern discovery.

(5) Your Roadmap for Life and Afterlife:

The Quran is the best guidebook on how to structure your life. No other book presents such a comprehensive system involving all aspects of human life and endeavor. The Quran also points out the way to secure everlasting happiness in the afterlife. It is your roadmap showing how to get to paradise.

(6) God's Gift of Guidance:

God has not left you alone. You were made for a reason. God tells you why he made you, what he demands from you, and what he has in store for you. If you operate a machine contrary to it's manufacture specification you will ruin that machine. What about you? Do you have an owner's manual for you? The Quran is from your function for success lest you fail to function. It is a healing mercy from God. It satisfies the soul, and cleans the heart. It removes doubts and brings peace.

(7) Your Calling Card to Communicate with God:

Humans are social creatures. We love to communicate with other intelligent life. The Quran tells us how to communicate with the source of all intelligence and the source of all life- the One God. The Quran tells us who God is, by what name we should address God, and the way in which to communicate with God. Are these not seven sufficient reasons for reading the Quran?

Is there a Creator ?!

We will answer by quoting a number of aayaat (verses) from the Book of Allaah (the Qur’aan – the scripture of Islam), then you can think to yourself about the matter and if the truth becomes clear to you, you will have no choice but to follow it. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“We created you, then why do you believe not?

Then tell Me (about) the human semen that you emit.Is it you who create it (i.e., make this semen into a perfect human being), or are We the Creator?
We have decreed death unto you all, and We are not unable,To transfigure you and create you in (forms) that you know not.
And indeed, you have already known the first form of creation (i.e., the creation of Adam). Why then do you not remember or take heed?
Tell Me! The seed that you sow in the ground.Is it you that make it grow, or are We the Grower?

Were it Our Will, We could crumble it to dry pieces, and you would be regretful (or left in wonderment),(Saying), ‘We are indeed Mughramoon (i.e., ruined, or lost the money without any profit, or punished by the loss of all that we spent for cultivation, etc.)!‘Nay, but we are deprived!’Tell Me! The water that you drink,Is it you who cause it from the rainclouds to come down, or are We the Causer of it to come down?If We willed, We verily could make it salt (and undrinkable). Why then do you not give thanks (to Allaah)?

Tell Me! The fire which you kindle,Is it you who made the tree thereof to grow, or are

We the Grower?We have made it a Reminder (for the Hell-fire, in the Hereafter); and an article of use for the travellers (and all others, in this world).

The glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.
So I swear by mawaaqi’ (setting to the mansions, etc.) of the stars (they traverse),And verily, that is indeed a great oath, if you but knew,That (this) is indeed an honourable recital (the Noble Qur’aan).” [Quran 56:57-77]

Were they created by nothing, or were they themselves the creators?Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nay, but they have no firm Belief. Or are with them the treasures of your Lord? Or are they the tyrants with the authority to do as they like?” [Quran 52:35-37]

“Verily, the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, and the ships which sail through the sea with that which is of use to mankind, and the water (rain) which Allaah sends down from the sky and makes the earth alive therewith after its death, and the moving (living) creatures of all kinds that He has scattered therein, and in the veering of winds and clouds which are held between the sky and the earth, are indeed aayaat (proofs, evidences, signs) for people of understanding.” [Quran 2:164]

“It is He Who sends down water (rain) from the sky, and with it We bring forth vegetation of all kinds, and out of it We bring forth green stalks, from which We bring forth thick clustered grain. And out of the date-palm and its spathe come forth clusters of dates hanging low and near, and gardens of grapes, olives and pomegranates, each similar (in kind) yet different (in variety and taste). Look at their fruits when they begin to bear, and the ripeness thereof. Verily! In these things there are signs for people who believe.” [Quran 6:99]

“And it is He Who sends the winds as heralds of glad tidings, going before His Mercy (rain), till when they have carried a heavy-laden cloud, We drive it to a land that is dead, then We cause water (rain) to descend thereon. Then We produce every kind of fruit therewith. Similarly, We shall raise up the dead, so that you may remember or take heed.” [Quran 7:57]

“Is not He (better than your gods) Who created the heavens and the earth, and sends down for you water (rain) from the sky, whereby We cause to grow wonderful gardens full of beauty and delight? It is not in your ability to cause the growth of their trees. Is there any god with Allaah? Nay, but they are a people who ascribe equals (to Him)!” [Quran 27:60]

“He has created the heavens and the earth without any pillars that you see, and has set on the earth firm mountains, lest it should shake with you. And He has scattered therein moving (living) creatures of all kinds. And We send down water (rain) from the sky, and We cause (plants) of every goodly kind to grow therein.” [Quran 31:10]

And the two seas (kinds of water) are not alike, this fresh, sweet and pleasant to drink, and that saltish and bitter. And from them both you eat fresh tender meat (fish), and derive the ornaments that you wear. And you see the ships cleaving (the sea-water as they sail through it), that you may seek of His Bounty, and that you may give thanks.” [Quran 35:12]

And it is He Who has let free the two seas (kinds of water), one palatable and sweet, and the other salt and bitter, and He has set a barrier and a complete partition between them.” [Quran 25:53]

This is a selection of clear aayaat that include the answer to your question. We invite you to join the community of the believers and to enter the religion of Islam which Allaah has chosen as the religion for all mankind. Peace be upon those who follow true Guidance.

Islam and crime

Crime in its different forms – organized crime, street crime, State crime, social crime – is considered as a major threat to peace and security in our world. A detailed discussion of the magnitude of the problem of crime as a universal catastrophe is beyond the scope of this study.

Hence, we will present the Islamic viewpoint on the matter.

A summary of statistics about the spread of crimes in the US, based on US Government references, is presented below:

One crime index offense every 3 seconds
One violent crime every 27 seconds
One murder every 24 minutes
One forcible rape every 7 minutes
One robbery every 68 seconds
One property crime every 3 seconds
One burglary every 10 seconds
One larceny /theft every 5 seconds
One motor vehicle theft every 29 seconds

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reports.

The Uniform Crime Report (UCR) issued by the US Federal Bureau of investigation (FBI) revealed that the number of reported crimes in the US increased by 4.6 percent in one year, from 1984 to 1985. Arrests in 1985 totaled 11.9 million, an increase of 3 percent over 1984.

The UCR figures are widely believed by criminologists to be low. A more reliable index is probably the US Bureau of Justice Statistics' National Crime Survey (NCS), an annual report on household crime victimization based on census surveyors. This survey under covers crimes not reported to police. Its 1985 survey showed that 25 percent of the US population (1 in every 4 households in the US) had experienced crimes against individual members of the household or against the household itself during that year.

As these statistics show, crime, in all its different forms has become a major threat to societal and individual security. Nevertheless, most of the methods used to fight against crime have backfired and fall short of meeting such a challenge. The failure of the Western methods of combating crime – as stated by the continual rise of crime rates – leads one to suggest a solution, which treats criminal activity not piecemeal but in the total scheme of life.

The Islamic solution

The Islamic concept of security is a very comprehensive one, more comprehensive than any of the other existing systems. It looks at humankind in relation to the universe and the factors influencing it. It encompasses physical, mental, psychological and spiritual domains as integral parts of an overall societal security system. Islamic teachings do not merely provide solutions to exceptional instances of criminal behavior, but emphatically focus on measures that halt their existence. In other words, Islam executes as many means as possible to avert temptation. While modern societies flaunt temptation – liquor, pornography, violence, etc. – before the people, a true Islamic society removes the sources of these temptations, and when the need for correction emerges, the punishment is serious and effective.

Crime has prospered in modern society because a completely contradictory approach is followed to controlling it. All forms of temptation are prevalent and easily accessible and when the time comes for correction or punishment of a crime, it is done leniently and without seriousness.

Sentencing is often biased and protective of the criminal's rights over those of the victim.

Through the various practical forms of worship like Salaah (the five daily prayers), fasting and Zakaah (obligatory charity), Islamic teachings aim at implanting feelings of inner peace and security, responsibility towards others and mutual respect. In a video film by the Christian Science Monitor about Islam in America, a large portion was devoted to describing the lives of maximum-security prison inmates before and after becoming Muslims. Before reverting to Islam, many were serial killers, drug smugglers, addicts and professional criminals. When they embraced Islam while in prison, they turned into dignified, secure and contributing citizens.

Western statistical indices show that in the majority of maximum-security prisons, the criminals get involved in criminal acts and end up back in prison. Such statistics are reversed when those inmates become Muslims. The success of Islam in providing the best solution to crimes in the midst of the American society, where all types of correction programs have failed, is strong contemporary evidence for the universality of Islam and the pressing need for adopting its teachings.

Note: Most of the statistical data collected are about Western societies that are due to the availability of documentation on the matter. We realize that crime is prevalent in all societies -- Eastern and Western alike. The main thrust of our topic is that adopting the Islamic solution is more fruitful than man-made solutions.

Summarized From: The Universality of Islam by Dr. Abdullah Al-Kahtany

The world of Islam

A fifth of humankind follows Islam, the fastest growing and perhaps most misunderstood religion on earth. Faced with a secular modern world, Muslims are turning anew to the roots of their faith.Borne aloft five times a day, from Shanghai to Chicago, Jakarta to Timbuktu, Islam's call to prayer stirs the soul of devout Muslims everywhere.

Whether cast from metal loudspeakers over teeming city streets or lifted as the murmured song of camel drivers kneeling in the sand, it begins with the same Arabic phrase Muslims have used for nearly 1400 years, Islam's melodic paean to the Creator: "Allaahu Akbar -- God is Great."

Some 1.3 billion human beings -- one person in five -- heed Islam's call in the modern world, embracing the religion at a rate that makes it the fastest growing on Earth, with 80 percent of believers now outside the Arab world.

The term Islam, is an Arabic word meaning "submission to God," with its etymological roots firmly planted in "salaam", or peace.

Muslims revere all Prophets of God, including Moses and Jesus, may Allaah exalt their mention, and regard the books revealed to these prophets – Torah and Injeel -- as an integral part of their tradition.

They disagree with Christians about the divinity of Jesus but honor him as an especially esteemed Messenger from God.

The ultimate Messenger for Muslims is the Prophet Muhammad .Born about 570 CE at Makkah, Muhammad , was an orphan raised by his grandfather and uncle. He grew up to be a modest and respected businessman who rejected the widespread polytheism of his day and turned to the One God. At about age 40, Muhammad , retreated to a cave in the mountains outside Makkah to meditate. There, he was visited by the archangel Gabriel, who began reciting to him the Word of God. Until his death 23 years later, Muhammad , passed along these revelations to a growing band of followers, including many who wrote down the words or committed them to memory.

These verses became the Quran, or "recitation," the literal Word of God and confirmation of the real Jewish and Christian Scriptures. The Quran consists of 114 chapters, and covers everything from the nature of God (Compassionate and Merciful) to laws governing the mundane affairs of men. Among its commands are (what mean): "Do not usurp one another's property by unjust means" and "Do not kill anyone which God has forbidden." The Quran is also a source of the pure Arabic language memorized by Muslim school children and recited by Muslim adults on every important occasion.One of the five pillars of Islam, along with the two testimonies of faith (Shahaadah), prayer (Salaah), fasting the month of Ramadhaan (Sawm), charity (Zakaah), the pilgrimage (Hajj) is required of all who can manage it at least once in a lifetime.

By the time the Prophet , passed away in 632 CE, Islam was established throughout the Arabian Peninsula, bringing peace and unity to the tribes for the first time in memory.

Within a century of his death the armies of Islam, empowered by faith, had conquered a vast swathe of territory -- stretching from India to the Atlantic coasts of Spain and Portugal, including North Africa and the Middle East.

This Islamic world built on the intellectual achievements of other civilizations, sponsoring an explosion of learning unparalleled until the Renaissance. At a time when Europe was languishing in the early Middle Ages, Muslim scholars and thinkers were giving the world a great center of Islamic learning (Al-Azhar in Cairo) and refining everything -- from architecture to the use of numbers.

At the same time, seagoing Muslim traders were spreading the faith to southern Asia, China and the east coast of Africa. Flourishing by the end of the first millennium, the realm of Islam was tested as western Europe, spurred by its contact with the Islamic near East, awoke and lashed out, launching a series of armed Crusades to wrest Jerusalem from Muslim control.Though fragmented and initially overcome, Muslims rallied to ultimately defeat the invading Christian armies, whose blood-soaked legacy -- the indiscriminate killing of thousands of innocent Muslim and Christian Arabs, and the Jews of Jerusalem -- lives on in the minds of people to this day. As Europe rose to glory during the Renaissance and beyond, the Islamic world continued to thrive after the creation of the Ottoman Empire in the late 1200s CE.

This powerful state fell at the end of World War I, resulting in the subdivision of its mostly Muslim lands into the Middle Eastern countries we know today.

Although a few Muslim nations are wealthy from oil resources, most are poor and increasingly demoralized by their position in the world. Disaffected and disenfranchised, many people in these societies are turning to Islam to assert their identity and reclaim power over their own lives.

In addition many Muslims, especially in the Arab world, are angry at the United States’ continued support of Israel, the war and the economic sanctions against ‘Iraq, which are widely perceived to have hit the people of ‘Iraq -- who are fellow Muslims -- right between the eyes.For most of the world's 1.3 billion Muslims, Islam is a way of life, a discipline based on looking at the world through the eyes of faith. "Islam gave me something that was lacking in my life," says Jennifer Calvo of Washington, DC. Calvo is 28 and looks as if she just stepped out of a painting by Botticelli, with aquiline features and striking blue eyes, set off by a white head scarf tucked neatly into her full-length robe.

Calvo was raised Catholic and works as a registered nurse. Two years ago, as people have done for 1,400 years, Jennifer became a Muslim by simply declaring the words: "Laa ilaaha illallaah, Muhammad Rasoolullaah” (There is none worthy of being worshipped except Allaah (God), and Muhammad is His Messenger)." "Everything is so much simpler now," she said. "It's just me and God. For the first time in my life I'm at peace." For Calvo and most Muslims on Earth, that is what Islam's call to prayer represents. Kneeling to God five times a day, in unison, facing Makkah from wherever they happen to be, they find peace in an act of surrender.

Why Islam ?

Islam and Security
One of the basic needs of man is to feel secure. The feeling of security is a psychological need which has to be satisfied so as to achieve the individual’s harmony and adjustment. As we know, human needs are of two types: physical and psychological. Physical needs include the need for water, food, and shelter. Psychological needs include the need for belonging, security, and affection. If a physical need is not satisfied, this usually causes harm to the body. On the other hand, if a psychological need is not satisfied, this usually leads to psychological disorders, lack of happiness, anxiety, and a variety of maladjustment symptoms.

Internal harmony
Islam emphasizes the moral and ethical aspects, because man needs more than bread to live happily. Man needs internal harmony. Man is body and soul -- not body or soul only. Therefore, man needs what satisfies both his body soul.
Islam provides man with the feeling of security. This feeling of security is built in different ways.
This feeling will remove despair, hopelessness and anxiety, and will make man more hopeful, active, and self-confident.
Allaah’s Mercy
Islam instructs the believer that Allaah is the Most Merciful. This concept of Allaah’s Mercy is essential in Islam. Allaah’s Mercy affects the Muslim in two ways: by example and forgiveness. If Allaah is the Merciful, man must be merciful. Man must be merciful to other persons of all races and all religions. He must be merciful to animals as well. He must be merciful to women, relatives and strangers, to parents and children, and to all living beings.

This atmosphere of mercy in Islam gives the person a feeling of security for one’s life, honor, rights and property, because mercy is something you give to others and others give it to you.

Allaah’s Mercy works in another way, if man sins, he is not driven out of Allaah’s blessings forever. In Islam, if you sin, the door of Allaah’s forgiveness remains open. If you sin and then sincerely repent, Allaah forgives. This formula of Allaah’s Mercy and forgiveness keeps the Muslim secure about his relation with Allaah and secure about his ethical code and moral future.

Human Mercy
This concept of Allaah’s Mercy and interhuman mercy is emphasized by Islam. When a Muslim eats, he begins by saying: “In the name of Allaah, the Most Merciful and the Most Gracious.”

When a Muslim reads the Quran or quotes the Quran he starts by mentioning Allaah’s Mercy. In prayer, the Muslim mentions Allaah’s Mercy a number of times every day.
Thus, the Muslim lives in an atmosphere of mercy, both physically and psychologically. A Muslim is led to feel that God is merciful and that his brethren are merciful. If a person’s relations with Allaah and men are controlled by mercy, this will make him feel secure in the present and the future.

Belief in Allaah
Believing in Allaah gives the believer a sense of security. How can a person feel secure if he does not believe in Allaah? Research has shown that mental disorders show up in non-believers more frequently and more severely than in believers. A non-believer is not sure about anything. He is not sure about his beginning, his end, or his goals. A non-believer is not sure about values, ideals, right, wrong, good, or bad. A non-believer is usually a sceptical person, anxious, disordered and hesitant.

On the contrary, a Muslim knows the origin and purpose of his life. He is one hundred percent sure about what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is bad. A Muslim is certain about himself, his life, the Universe, his social relations, his rights, and his duties. He is sure of his ideals and values.

Certainty of Values
The Muslim’s certainty about his values and ideals springs from the comprehensive code of ethics given by God to man. When a person has clear values, clear ideals, a clear beginning, and a clear destination, he feels secure, because he know where he is going.
Coming to more specific data, if we look at some non-Islamic communities, we find that there is a high frequency of persons with mental disorders. This is due to the lack of religion in those communities. With no religion, man feels lost, unsupported, and feels that he has no significant purpose. On the other hand, with belief in Allaah, man feels secure, because he feels that he is guided and supported by Allaah and that he has a significant purpose.

Thus, Islam provides man with the psychological security he needs throughout life, through the mercy and guidance of Allaah.
When you know that Allaah guides and protects those who believe in Him, you would feel secure.


By: Dr. Muhammad Ali Al-Khuli