ISLAM IN AMERICA GROWING FAST
By Septia Eka Putri Journalist at Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
Although Islam is growing so rapidly in America, many American are still cynical on Islam and Muslims are often associated to terorrists. Indeed this is a test for Muslims around the world.
The accusation is echoed in various ways to destroy Islam. This accusation seems will never stop, until later it is Allah who ultimately doom that will befall them.
Islam has always condemned, vilified, accused of being a terrorist in order to have the religion been rejected worldwide. Moreover, after the tragedy of 11 September 2001, in which American Muslims blamed for the attack.
But the enemies of Islam stunned, because it turns out Islam continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Their attempts to discredit this religion and its followers, in vain. World actually began to wonder, is it true that Islamic teachings are really so bad, because it has incited its followers to commit act of terrorism?.
Then the American people are looking for answers to these questions. They began to hunt and learn the contents of the Qur’an and books on Islam. Instead of hating Islam, otherwise after understanding the Qur’an and Islam, they instead found the teachings of peace.
They find coolness in Islam and the Qur’an, so many are attracted to Islam … it’s amazing. It is true the word of Allah in the letter As-Shof verse 8: “They want to extinguish the light (of religion) of Allah with their mouths (the utterances) them, and Allah remains perfect His light, though the disbelievers hate it.”
Wonders on 9/11 Tragedy
Moeflich Hasbullah (Mind, March 6, 2008)
A number of data is composed by Demented Vision (2007) of an observation in the United States on the development of number of followers of world religions is interesting to observe. From the data it contained figures that show the growth ratio of followers of Islam and Christianity in the world. The agency noted, in 1900, the number of Christians is 26.9% of the total world population, while Muslims only 12.4%. 80 years later (1980), the figure was unchanged.
Christian grew 3.1% to 30%, and Muslims increased 4.1% to 16.5% of the entire population of the earth. At the turn of the second millennium, that 20 years later (2000), the number was changed again but there is a difference of interest. Cristian decreased 0.1% to 29.9% and Muslims rose again to 19.2%. By 2025, that figure is projected to turn into: the Christian population 25% (down 4.9%) and Muslims would be 30% (rapidly rising 10.8%).
When taken on average, Islam adherents increased 2.9% per year. This growth is faster than the population growth of the earth itself is only 2.3% per year. 17 years from now, when Islam was constant growth, from birth rate and converted to Islam in various countries, means that the prediction is true, Islam will be the religion of the number one most adherents in the world, Christians shifting to second.
World Almanac and Book of Fact, the New York Times Bestseller noted, the total number of Muslims worldwide in 2004 were 1.2 billion more (1.226403 billion), the year 2007 has reached 1.5 billion (1,522,813,123 people). This means that, within three years, Muslims have additional amount of about 300 million people (equal to the number of Muslims in Southeast Asia).
American phenomenon itself is very interesting. It does not make sense the government of George Bush and the leaders of America. Americans flocked converted to Islam just after the bombing of the World Trade Center on 11 September 2001, known as 9/11 very detrimental to the image of Islam.
Pasca 9/11 Islam is the fastest-growth era that never existed precedent in American history. There are eight million Muslims now in the United States and 20,000 Americans convert to Islam each year after the bombing. Shahada sign people to Islam continued to be heard in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, California, Chicago, Dallas, Texas and others.
Based on this fact, plus the incoming waves of Islam outside the United States, as in Europe and some other countries, some American figures stated conclusions. The Population Reference Bureau’s own USA Today concluded: “Moslems are the world fastest growing group.
“Hillary Rodham Cinton, wife of former President Clinton was quoted as saying by the Los Angeles Times said,” Islam is the fastest growing religion in America. “Then, Geraldine Baum revealed:” Islam is the fastest growing religion in the country “(Newsday Religion Writer, Newsday). “Islam is the fastest growing religion in the United States,” said Ari L. Goldman, as quoted by the New York Times.
Over the magnetic power of Islam here, on April 19, 2007, held a conference at Middlebury College, Middlebury Vt. to anticipate the future of Islam in America with the headline “Is Islam a trully American religion?” featuring Prof. Jane Smith who has written books on Islam in America.
The conference itself is a series of lectures on Immigrant and Religion in America. From the conference, clearly illustrated how the openness of American society accept a new wave of inevitable that, Islam will become the dominant identity in the country’s super power.
Alhamdulillah
Hand of Allah in the form of a real blessing in disguise was behind the events of 9/11 and is recognized by the American Muslim community. Because of the terrible events of 9/11 were blamed on Islam, the various layers of American society precisely then moved curiosity to know Islam more deeply.
Most people studying Islam as merely pure curiosity, partly to seek answers to a question in his mind: “how is it possible in modern times and civilized religion” teaches “terror, violence and suicide bombings by hundreds of innocent victims? “But both are based on the same thing: ignorance of Islam (ignorance of Islam).
Earlier, a source of knowledge in the West (America and Europe) about Islam only one that is media which portray Islam is nothing but a bad stereotypes such as terrorists, uncivilized, cruel towards women and others.
Eric, a Muslim player to watch cricket Texan example, after 9/11, Americans became curious Islam, they then busy buying and studying the Qur’an every day, read the biography of Muhammad and Islamic books to learn contents. As a result, they become aware of the true teachings of Islam. Instead of increasing hatred, the opposite happened.
Islam became the answer to their spiritual search process for this. Islam became liquefying spiritual stagnation that had been experienced by the American people. This is the trigger for the Islamization of America astonishing social and political observers there. This is the blessing behind the events 9/11.
Motivation for Muslims around the world
Many Muslim American women conclude, Islam turned out very protect and respect women. Women in Islam honored and highly respected position, compared to the modern Western civilization. Although they do not agree with polygamy.
An American woman, Tania, felt his life chaotic and unfocused often in freedom in America. He can do whatever he wants for pleasure, but he felt it was actually harmful and degrading to women. After studying Islam he understand. “Women in Islam is so honored. This is a nice religion not for people like me! “He said. He converted to Islam after studying this religion a few months of her Muslim friends.
The development of Islam in the Western world is actually more prospective because they are accustomed to thinking open. In the American family, religion election conducted freely and independently. Many parents support their children to be Muslim as long as it is his choice.
They are easy to convert to Islam when finding the truth in it. Angela Collin, an artist in California which is famous for the film Leguna Beach became Muslim with the support of her parents. When interviewed by NBC television, parents should feel proud because Angela is an “independent person.” Nancy a teenager 15 years, converted to Islam after his hang close to the Pakistanis. The girl’s family did not impede her choice, although it has long lived in the Christian tradition. (P007/RO6)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
