| During the last 20 years, the number of Muslims in | | | | growth of interfaith dialogue. These dialogues start |
| the world has been increasing steadily. Statistics for | | | | by stating that the three monotheistic religions have |
| the year 1973 indicate that the world population of | | | | a common beginning and can come together at a |
| Muslims was 500 million; now, it has reached 1.5 billion. | | | | common point. Such dialogues have been quite |
| Today, every fourth person is a Muslim. It is probable | | | | successful and have engendered an important |
| that the Muslim population will continue to increase | | | | rapprochement, especially between Christians and |
| and that Islam will become the world's largest religion. | | | | Muslims. In the Qur'an, God informs us that Muslims |
| The reason for this steady rise is not only the | | | | invite the People of the Book (Christians and Jews) |
| increasing population in Muslim countries, but also the | | | | to unite on a common ground: |
| growing numbers of people who are turning to Islam, | | | | Say: "O People of the Book, come to a proposition |
| a phenomenon that has gained momentum, especially | | | | that is the same for us and you-that we should |
| after the attack on the World Trade Center on | | | | worship none but God, and not associate any |
| September 11, 2001 (hereinafter referred to as 9/11). | | | | partners with Him, and not take one another as lords |
| This attack, deplored by everyone, especially Muslims, | | | | besides God." If they turn away, say: "Bear witness |
| has suddenly turned people's attention (especially | | | | that we are Muslims." (Qur'an, 3: 64) |
| Americans) to Islam. People in the West are talking a | | | | The three monotheistic religions have common beliefs |
| lot about what kind of a religion Islam is, what the | | | | and the same moral values. Belief in God's Existence |
| Qur'an says, what obligations come with being a | | | | and Unity, angels, Prophets, the Last Day, Heaven |
| Muslim, and how Muslims are required to conduct their | | | | and Hell are their basic tenets of faith. Furthermore, |
| affairs. This interest has naturally brought about a rise | | | | self-sacrifice, humility, love, tolerance, respect, mercy, |
| in the number of people worldwide turning to Islam. | | | | honesty, avoiding wrongdoing and injustice, and acting |
| So, the commonly heard prediction after 9/11 that | | | | according to conscience are all commonly accepted |
| "this attack will change the course of world history" | | | | moral qualities. Therefore, since these three religions |
| has, in a sense, started to come true. The process | | | | are on the same level, they must work together to |
| of returning to religious and spiritual values, which the | | | | eradicate the strife, conflict, and pain caused by |
| world has been experiencing for a long time, has | | | | irreligious ideologies. When considered from this point |
| become a turning to Islam. | | | | of view, interfaith dialogue assumes far more |
| The extraordinary nature of what is taking place can | | | | importance. The seminars and conferences that bring |
| be seen when one sets out these developments | | | | representatives of these religions together, and the |
| regarding this trend, which we have started to read | | | | messages of peace and brotherhood that come out |
| about in newspapers or hear of in television reports. | | | | of them, have continued regularly since the |
| These developments, generally reported as just one | | | | mid-1990s. |
| element of the day's agenda, are actually very | | | | The Glad Tidings of a Holy Age |
| important indications that Islamic moral values have | | | | When all the facts are brought together, they reveal |
| begun to spread very rapidly across the whole world. | | | | that there is a strong movement toward Islam in |
| As in the rest of the world, Islam is in the midst of a | | | | many countries, and that Islam is increasingly |
| rapid growth in Europe. This development has been | | | | becoming the most important topic of world interest. |
| attracting more attention in recent years, as | | | | These developments indicate that the world is |
| evidenced by the many theses, reports, and articles | | | | moving toward a totally new era, one in which, God |
| published on "the place of Muslims in Europe" and | | | | willing, Islam will gain in importance and the Qur'an's |
| "dialogue between European society and Muslims." | | | | moral teachings will spread like a rising tide. It is |
| Along with these academic reports, the media has | | | | important to realize that this highly significant |
| carried frequent reports about Islam and Muslims. The | | | | development was announced in the Qur'an 14 |
| root of this interest lies in the continual growth of | | | | centuries ago: |
| Muslim population figures in Europe, and that this | | | | They desire to extinguish God's Light with their |
| increase cannot be ascribed solely to immigration. | | | | mouths. But God refuses to do other than perfect |
| While immigration certainly has had a significant effect | | | | His Light, even though the unbelievers detest it. It is |
| on the Muslim population's growth, so many | | | | He Who sent His Messenger with guidance and the |
| researchers have addressed this matter for quite | | | | True Religion to exalt it over every other religion, |
| another reason: high conversion rates. A June 20 | | | | even though the idolaters detest it. (Qur'an, 9:32-33) |
| 2004 story on NTV News, headed "Islam is the most | | | | The spread of Islamic morality is one of God's |
| rapidly expanding religion in Europe," dealt with a | | | | promises to believers. In addition to these verses, |
| report drawn up by the French domestic intelligence | | | | many sayings of our Prophet, may God bless him and |
| agency. The report stated that the number of those | | | | grant him peace, assert that the Qur'an's moral |
| converting to Islam in Western countries had risen still | | | | teachings will prevail. In the last days before the end |
| further, particularly in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. | | | | of the world, humanity will experience a period in |
| For example, the number of converts to Islam in | | | | which wrongdoing, injustice, deceit, fraud, wars, |
| France increased by between 30 and 40,000 last | | | | strife, conflict, and moral degeneration is wide-spread. |
| year alone. | | | | Then will come the Golden Age, in which these moral |
| The Catholic Church and the Rise of Islam | | | | teachings will begin to spread among people like a |
| The Roman Catholic Church, headquartered in Vatican | | | | rising tide and finally prevail throughout the world. |
| City, is one of the institutions that follows conversion | | | | Some of these sayings, as well learned commentaries |
| trends. One of the main topics during the October | | | | upon them, are given below: |
| 1999 meeting of the European synod, which was | | | | During this [period], my ummah [people] would lead |
| attended by almost all of the Catholic clergy, was the | | | | such a comfortable and carefree life which they |
| Church's position in the new millennium. The | | | | never led like that. [The land] would bring forth its |
| conference's main theme was the rapid growth of | | | | yield and would not hold back anything and the |
| Islam in Europe. The National Catholic Reporter | | | | property at that time would be a stack. (Sunan Ibn-i |
| reported that some radical individuals stated that the | | | | Majah) |
| only way to prevent Muslims' gaining power in Europe | | | | … The dwellers of the heavens and the earth will |
| was to stop tolerating Muslims and Islam; other more | | | | be pleased. The earth will bring forth all that grows, |
| objective and rational individuals underscored the fact | | | | and the heavens will pour down rains in abundance. |
| that since the two religions believe in one God, there | | | | From all the good that God will bestow on the |
| should be no room for any conflict or struggle | | | | inhabitants of the earth, the living will wish that the |
| between them. In one session, Archbishop Karl | | | | dead would come to life again. (Muhkhtasar Tazkirah |
| Lehmann of Germany stressed that there is more | | | | Qurtubi, p. 437) |
| internal pluralism within Islam than many Christians | | | | The earth would turn like the silver tray growing |
| perceive, and that the radicals' claims about Islam had | | | | vegetation... (Sunan Ibn-i Majah) |
| no basis in truth. (1) | | | | The earth will be filled with equity and justice as it |
| Considering the position of Muslims when elucidating | | | | was pre viously filled with oppression and tyranny. |
| the Church's position in the new millennium was quite | | | | (Abu Dawud) |
| proper, for a 1999 United Nations' survey showed | | | | Justice will prevail to such an extent that every |
| that between 1989 and 1998, Europe's Muslim | | | | possession taken by force will be returned to his |
| population grew by more than 100 percent. It is | | | | owner; furthermore, some other person's thing, even |
| reported that there are some 13 million Muslims living | | | | if it rests within one's teeth, will be given back to its |
| in Europe today: 3.2 million in Germany, 2 million in | | | | owner... Security will permeate all over Earth and |
| Great Britain, 4-5 million in France, and the rest | | | | even a few ladies will be able to fulfil their hajj |
| dispersed over Europe as a whole, especially in the | | | | without the company of men. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, |
| Balkans. This figure represents more than 2% of the | | | | Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar, p. 23) |
| total population of Europe. (2) | | | | Based upon these statements, the Golden Age will |
| Muslims' Religious Awareness Is Rising in Europe | | | | be an era in which justice, plenty, abundance, |
| Relevant research also has revealed that while the | | | | well-being, security, peace, and brotherhood will |
| number of Muslims in Europe continues to grow, | | | | prevail among humanity, and one in which people will |
| there is a deepening of religious awareness among | | | | experience love, self-sacrifice, tolerance, compassion, |
| Muslims. According to a survey conducted by the | | | | mercy, and loyalty. In his sayings, our Prophet, may |
| French newspaper Le Monde in October 2001, | | | | God bless him and grant him peace, says that this |
| compared to data collected in 1994, many Muslims | | | | blessed period will be experienced through the |
| continue to perform their prayers, go to the mosque, | | | | mediation of the Mahdi, who will come in the end |
| and fast. This awareness is seen much more among | | | | times to save the world form chaos, injustice, and |
| university students.(3) | | | | moral collapse. He will eradicate godless ideologies and |
| In a report based upon the foreign press in 1999, the | | | | bring an end to the prevailing injustice. Moreover, he |
| Turkish Aktüel magazine stated that Western | | | | will make religion like it was in the days of our |
| researchers estimate that in another 50 years Europe | | | | Prophet (peace be upon him), cause the Qur'an's |
| will become one of Islam's main centers of expansion. | | | | moral teachings to prevail among humanity, and |
| Islam Is an Inseparable Part of Europe | | | | establish peace and well-being throughout the world. |
| Along with this sociological and demographic research, | | | | The rise of Islam being experienced in the world |
| we also must not forget that Europe has not | | | | today, as well as Turkey's role in the new era are |
| become acquainted with Islam only recently, but that | | | | important signs that the period announced in the |
| Islam is actually an inseparable part of Europe. | | | | Qur'an and in our Prophet's sayings is very close. It is |
| Europe and the realm of Islam have had close | | | | our heartfelt desire that God will let us witness this |
| relations with each other for centuries. First, the | | | | blessed time. |
| state of Andalusia (756-1492) on the Iberian | | | | Under the pen name of Harun Yahya, Adnan Oktar |
| Peninsula, and later the Crusades (1095-1291) and the | | | | has written some 250 works. His books contain a |
| Ottoman capture of the Balkans (1389), brought | | | | total of 46,000 pages and 31,500 illustrations. Of |
| about a constant interrelation between the two | | | | these books, 7,000 pages and 6,000 illustrations deal |
| societies. Many historians and sociologists assert | | | | with the collapse of the Theory of Evolution. You can |
| today that Islam was the leading cause of Europe's | | | | read, free of charge, all the books Adnan Oktar has |
| movement from the darkness of its Middle Ages to | | | | written under the pen name Harun Yahya on these |
| the brilliance of its Renaissance. At a time when | | | | websites |
| Europe was backward in medicine, astronomy, | | | | References: |
| mathematics, and many other fields, Muslims | | | | 1. "Europe's Muslims Worry Bishops," National Catholic |
| possessed a vast treasure of knowledge and great | | | | Reporter, October 22, 1999 |
| possibilities of development. | | | | 2. "Muslims in Europe," The Economist, October 18, |
| Uniting on a Common Ground: "Monotheism" | | | | 2001. |
| The growth of Islam is also reflected in the recent | | | | 3. Time, December 24, 2001. |