[rainbow]

Preface

ISLAM IS ON THE RISE

During the last 20 years, the number of Muslims in the world has been increasing steadily. Statistics for the year 1973 indicate that the world population of Muslims was 500 million; now, it has reached 1.5 billion. Today, every fourth person is a Muslim.1 It is probable that the Muslim population will continue to increase and that Islam will become the world's largest religion.

The reason for this steady rise is not only the increasing population in Muslim countries, but also the growing numbers of people who are turning to Islam, a phenomenon that has gained momentum, especially after the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 (hereinafter referred to as 9/11). This attack, deplored by everyone, especially Muslims, has suddenly turned people's attention (especially Americans) to Islam. People in the West are talking a lot about what kind of a religion Islam is, what the Qur'an says, what obligations come with being a Muslim, and how Muslims are required to conduct their affairs. This interest has naturally brought about a rise in the number of people worldwide turning to Islam. So, the commonly heard prediction after 9/11 that "this attack will change the course of world history" has, in a sense, started to come true. The process of returning to religious and spiritual values, which the world has been experiencing for a long time, has become a turning to Islam.

Sometimes, when such developments are reported by the media, we see how extraordinary these events really are. Although sometimes presented as ordinary occurrences, in reality they are signs that Islamic morality has begun to spread throughout the world very quickly.

We must realize that these signs are either ignored in favor of other events, or cannot properly be appreciated by many people. However, it is of great importance that:

* Prominent statesmen quote the Qur'an in their speeches and take every occasion to express their reverence for it.
* They have begun to visit mosques and ask for detailed information about Islam.
* For the first time in history, the Pope has invited Christians and Muslims to fast together for one day.
* Christian clergy quote the Qur'an in their sermons.
* For weeks, the Qur'an has been the best selling book in Western countries
* There have been internationally televised special news programs, reports, and discussion programs introducing Islam.
* World-renowned newspapers have published articles about Islam and Muslims.
* The most popular books in libraries are those about Islam and Islamic history