When I first read this piece at HuffPo I didn't think much of it. I actually brushed it aside thinking it a sad fulfillment of our dear Prophet Muhammad's 1400 year old prophecy (Muslims will one day be as the foam on the ocean – in such great volume but of little weight/value). It even depressed me a little when I thought of the vast potential that is being squandered on a daily basis.
But it was only when I read Br. Dawud's entry on this topic that I felt inspired to turn my frown upside-down. If nothing else, this news ought to be used as an opportunity for praising and glorifying our Creator. I really like how he cited Sura Nasr as a reminder of what we all should do when reminded of the masses entering the folds of Islam.
At the end of the day, no matter how miserable our plight may seem, there are over a billion people that have recognized the truth of our Creator and His beloved messenger.
So let us put aside all the negativity permeating our daily lives and celebrate this news with an extra prayer or some extra dhikr, preferably in the company of family or friends – spread the Good News!
And you see that the people enter Allah’s religion (Islam) in crowds, So glorify the Praises of your Lord, and ask for His Forgiveness. (110:2-3)
WAW
4 days ago
7 comments:
Assalaamu alaikum,
I felt the same when I first read this piece of news about Islam now having the highest number of followers - just felt deflated and 'nothingy'... thanks to Dawud for putting it into perspective! Umm Ibrahim
I don't know. I'm still somewhere in between how you felt and how Brother Dawud feels.
It feels great to know that we're so many. But it feels bad that we're still not as united as we'd hope to be.
Imagine traveling anywhere between Indonesia and Morocco without needing a visa. Your only visa is your kalimah. That's what we need.
I pray that our children see that day if not us. Ameen.
Salaam
A few months ago I was making a new presentation for our da'wah committee and included in it the statistic that Islam was the world's largest religion.
I was shot down and forced to remove it in favor of other less dramatic statistics like 1.5 billion, 1 in 5 people, 20%.
So two months ago people didn't believe Islam was the largest religion but today they do? Uh, that's not something that changes in two months.
Muslims have outnumbered Catholics for a while now. On the other hand, Muslims still don't outnumber all Christians... but I guess the Vatican doesn't include them. That's why this report is coming from the Vatican.
AA-
@Umm Ibrahim, glad to see that I wasn't the only one feeling that way...
@Islamblog, obviously I understand where you're coming from (although I no more believe in the kalimah being the visa...not practical nor possible nor really worth it...), let us use this opportunity to celebrate our Lord!
Nothing wrong with that. I'm always gloom and doom when I ponder over our Ummah, but that really isn't a healthy way. Surely our Prophet wasn't pessimistic, was he?
@Amy, I thought about a similar point...there wasn't an exact recognizable moment where we became #1 - like the one millionth customer in a store where balloons fall and music plays.
So the celebration of this news is not meant to be in that manner. I see it as a celebration of an overall trend that is worthy of our attention if for no other reason but as a continuation of a Quranic prophecy.
There are many things to be down about, but let us use this occasion to bring a positive spirit into our lives.
Salaam Naeem,
I got your comment on my blog and I decided to take the post down for further consideration. I think you made a really good point. InshaaAllah I will write a follow-up soon. Jazakallahu khair for sharing your thoughts.
we can't help it anything what is going on right now, just conforting thought is, that one day we are all be muslims, living in peace
regards from Poland
AA- Amina,
Welcome to the blog!
"just conforting thought is, that one day we are all be muslims, living in peace"
What do you mean?
Post a Comment