| During the last 20 years, the number of Muslims in | | | | Europe's movement from the darkness of its |
| the world has been increasing steadily. Statistics | | | | Middle Ages to the brilliance of its Renaissance. At |
| for the year 1973 indicate that the world | | | | a time when Europe was backward in medicine, |
| population of Muslims was 500 million; now, it has | | | | astronomy, mathematics, and many other fields, |
| reached 1.5 billion. Today, every fourth person is a | | | | Muslims possessed a vast treasure of knowledge |
| Muslim. It is probable that the Muslim population will | | | | and great possibilities of development. |
| continue to increase and that Islam will become | | | | Uniting on a Common Ground: "Monotheism" |
| the world's largest religion. The reason for this | | | | The growth of Islam is also reflected in the |
| steady rise is not only the increasing population in | | | | recent growth of interfaith dialogue. These |
| Muslim countries, but also the growing numbers of | | | | dialogues start by stating that the three |
| people who are turning to Islam, a phenomenon | | | | monotheistic religions have a common beginning |
| that has gained momentum, especially after the | | | | and can come together at a common point. Such |
| attack on the World Trade Center on September | | | | dialogues have been quite successful and have |
| 11, 2001 (hereinafter referred to as 9/11). This | | | | engendered an important rapprochement, |
| attack, deplored by everyone, especially Muslims, | | | | especially between Christians and Muslims. In the |
| has suddenly turned people's attention (especially | | | | Qur'an, God informs us that Muslims invite the |
| Americans) to Islam. People in the West are | | | | People of the Book (Christians and Jews) to unite |
| talking a lot about what kind of a religion Islam is, | | | | on a common ground: |
| what the Qur'an says, what obligations come with | | | | Say: "O People of the Book, come to a |
| being a Muslim, and how Muslims are required to | | | | proposition that is the same for us and you-that |
| conduct their affairs. This interest has naturally | | | | we should worship none but God, and not |
| brought about a rise in the number of people | | | | associate any partners with Him, and not take |
| worldwide turning to Islam. So, the commonly | | | | one another as lords besides God." If they turn |
| heard prediction after 9/11 that "this attack will | | | | away, say: "Bear witness that we are Muslims." |
| change the course of world history" has, in a | | | | (Qur'an, 3: 64) |
| sense, started to come true. The process of | | | | The three monotheistic religions have common |
| returning to religious and spiritual values, which the | | | | beliefs and the same moral values. Belief in God's |
| world has been experiencing for a long time, has | | | | Existence and Unity, angels, Prophets, the Last |
| become a turning to Islam. | | | | Day, Heaven and Hell are their basic tenets of |
| The extraordinary nature of what is taking place | | | | faith. Furthermore, self-sacrifice, humility, love, |
| can be seen when one sets out these | | | | tolerance, respect, mercy, honesty, avoiding |
| developments regarding this trend, which we have | | | | wrongdoing and injustice, and acting according to |
| started to read about in newspapers or hear of in | | | | conscience are all commonly accepted moral |
| television reports. These developments, generally | | | | qualities. Therefore, since these three religions are |
| reported as just one element of the day's | | | | on the same level, they must work together to |
| agenda, are actually very important indications | | | | eradicate the strife, conflict, and pain caused by |
| that Islamic moral values have begun to spread | | | | irreligious ideologies. When considered from this |
| very rapidly across the whole world. As in the | | | | point of view, interfaith dialogue assumes far |
| rest of the world, Islam is in the midst of a rapid | | | | more importance. The seminars and conferences |
| growth in Europe. This development has been | | | | that bring representatives of these religions |
| attracting more attention in recent years, as | | | | together, and the messages of peace and |
| evidenced by the many theses, reports, and | | | | brotherhood that come out of them, have |
| articles published on "the place of Muslims in | | | | continued regularly since the mid-1990s. |
| Europe" and "dialogue between European society | | | | The Glad Tidings of a Holy Age |
| and Muslims." Along with these academic reports, | | | | When all the facts are brought together, they |
| the media has carried frequent reports about | | | | reveal that there is a strong movement toward |
| Islam and Muslims. The root of this interest lies in | | | | Islam in many countries, and that Islam is |
| the continual growth of Muslim population figures in | | | | increasingly becoming the most important topic of |
| Europe, and that this increase cannot be ascribed | | | | world interest. These developments indicate that |
| solely to immigration. While immigration certainly | | | | the world is moving toward a totally new era, one |
| has had a significant effect on the Muslim | | | | in which, God willing, Islam will gain in importance |
| population's growth, so many researchers have | | | | and the Qur'an's moral teachings will spread like a |
| addressed this matter for quite another reason: | | | | rising tide. It is important to realize that this highly |
| high conversion rates. A June 20 2004 story on | | | | significant development was announced in the |
| NTV News, headed "Islam is the most rapidly | | | | Qur'an 14 centuries ago: |
| expanding religion in Europe," dealt with a report | | | | They desire to extinguish God's Light with their |
| drawn up by the French domestic intelligence | | | | mouths. But God refuses to do other than |
| agency. The report stated that the number of | | | | perfect His Light, even though the unbelievers |
| those converting to Islam in Western countries | | | | detest it. It is He Who sent His Messenger with |
| had risen still further, particularly in the wake of | | | | guidance and the True Religion to exalt it over |
| the 9/11 attacks. For example, the number of | | | | every other religion, even though the idolaters |
| converts to Islam in France increased by between | | | | detest it. (Qur'an, 9:32-33) |
| 30 and 40,000 last year alone. | | | | The spread of Islamic morality is one of God's |
| The Catholic Church and the Rise of Islam | | | | promises to believers. In addition to these verses, |
| The Roman Catholic Church, headquartered in | | | | many sayings of our Prophet, may God bless him |
| Vatican City, is one of the institutions that follows | | | | and grant him peace, assert that the Qur'an's |
| conversion trends. One of the main topics during | | | | moral teachings will prevail. In the last days before |
| the October 1999 meeting of the European | | | | the end of the world, humanity will experience a |
| synod, which was attended by almost all of the | | | | period in which wrongdoing, injustice, deceit, fraud, |
| Catholic clergy, was the Church's position in the | | | | wars, strife, conflict, and moral degeneration is |
| new millennium. The conference's main theme | | | | wide-spread. Then will come the Golden Age, in |
| was the rapid growth of Islam in Europe. The | | | | which these moral teachings will begin to spread |
| National Catholic Reporter reported that some | | | | among people like a rising tide and finally prevail |
| radical individuals stated that the only way to | | | | throughout the world. Some of these sayings, as |
| prevent Muslims' gaining power in Europe was to | | | | well learned commentaries upon them, are given |
| stop tolerating Muslims and Islam; other more | | | | below: |
| objective and rational individuals underscored the | | | | During this [period], my ummah [people] would |
| fact that since the two religions believe in one | | | | lead such a comfortable and carefree life which |
| God, there should be no room for any conflict or | | | | they never led like that. [The land] would bring |
| struggle between them. In one session, | | | | forth its yield and would not hold back anything |
| Archbishop Karl Lehmann of Germany stressed | | | | and the property at that time would be a stack. |
| that there is more internal pluralism within Islam | | | | (Sunan Ibn-i Majah) |
| than many Christians perceive, and that the | | | | ... The dwellers of the heavens and the earth will |
| radicals' claims about Islam had no basis in truth. | | | | be pleased. The earth will bring forth all that |
| (1) | | | | grows, and the heavens will pour down rains in |
| Considering the position of Muslims when | | | | abundance. From all the good that God will bestow |
| elucidating the Church's position in the new | | | | on the inhabitants of the earth, the living will wish |
| millennium was quite proper, for a 1999 United | | | | that the dead would come to life again. |
| Nations' survey showed that between 1989 and | | | | (Muhkhtasar Tazkirah Qurtubi, p. 437) |
| 1998, Europe's Muslim population grew by more | | | | The earth would turn like the silver tray growing |
| than 100 percent. It is reported that there are | | | | vegetation... (Sunan Ibn-i Majah) |
| some 13 million Muslims living in Europe today: 3.2 | | | | The earth will be filled with equity and justice as it |
| million in Germany, 2 million in Great Britain, 4-5 | | | | was pre viously filled with oppression and tyranny. |
| million in France, and the rest dispersed over | | | | (Abu Dawud) |
| Europe as a whole, especially in the Balkans. This | | | | Justice will prevail to such an extent that every |
| figure represents more than 2% of the total | | | | possession taken by force will be returned to his |
| population of Europe. (2) | | | | owner; furthermore, some other person's thing, |
| Muslims' Religious Awareness Is Rising in Europe | | | | even if it rests within one's teeth, will be given |
| Relevant research also has revealed that while the | | | | back to its owner... Security will permeate all over |
| number of Muslims in Europe continues to grow, | | | | Earth and even a few ladies will be able to fulfil |
| there is a deepening of religious awareness among | | | | their hajj without the company of men. (Ibn Hajar |
| Muslims. According to a survey conducted by the | | | | al-Haythami, Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 23) |
| French newspaper Le Monde in October 2001, | | | | Based upon these statements, the Golden Age |
| compared to data collected in 1994, many Muslims | | | | will be an era in which justice, plenty, abundance, |
| continue to perform their prayers, go to the | | | | well-being, security, peace, and brotherhood will |
| mosque, and fast. This awareness is seen much | | | | prevail among humanity, and one in which people |
| more among university students.(3) | | | | will experience love, self-sacrifice, tolerance, |
| In a report based upon the foreign press in 1999, | | | | compassion, mercy, and loyalty. In his sayings, our |
| the Turkish Aktüel magazine stated that | | | | Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, |
| Western researchers estimate that in another 50 | | | | says that this blessed period will be experienced |
| years Europe will become one of Islam's main | | | | through the mediation of the Mahdi, who will come |
| centers of expansion. | | | | in the end times to save the world form chaos, |
| Islam Is an Inseparable Part of Europe | | | | injustice, and moral collapse. He will eradicate |
| Along with this sociological and demographic | | | | godless ideologies and bring an end to the |
| research, we also must not forget that Europe | | | | prevailing injustice. Moreover, he will make religion |
| has not become acquainted with Islam only | | | | like it was in the days of our Prophet (peace be |
| recently, but that Islam is actually an inseparable | | | | upon him), cause the Qur'an's moral teachings to |
| part of Europe. | | | | prevail among humanity, and establish peace and |
| Europe and the realm of Islam have had close | | | | well-being throughout the world. |
| relations with each other for centuries. First, the | | | | The rise of Islam being experienced in the world |
| state of Andalusia (756-1492) on the Iberian | | | | today, as well as Turkey's role in the new era are |
| Peninsula, and later the Crusades (1095-1291) and | | | | important signs that the period announced in the |
| the Ottoman capture of the Balkans (1389), | | | | Qur'an and in our Prophet's sayings is very close. |
| brought about a constant interrelation between | | | | It is our heartfelt desire that God will let us |
| the two societies. Many historians and sociologists | | | | witness this blessed time. |
| assert today that Islam was the leading cause of | | | | |