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