April 14, 1997
Web posted at: 11:41 p.m. EDT (0341 GMT)
From Correspondent Gayle Young
CAIRO (CNN) -- In the port city of Suez -- and across the Islamic world -- they are celebrating the Hajj, the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.
"This is a joyous day and the best day in the life of a man," said pilgrim Hussein Suleiman Hussein. "It is as if I am being born anew."
Millions of Muslims across the world will trek to Mecca this week for the annual religious event. They circle the Kaaba, a shrine that contains a black stone sacred to the Prophet Mohammed.
Mohammed decreed that every Muslim who can afford it make the Hajj at least once. It is one of five holy duties required in Islam.
A Muslim's first duty is to proclaim that there is only one God and that Mohammed is his prophet. Muslims also must pray five times a day, give charity to the poor and fast during the daylight hours of the holy month of Ramadan.
When a cannon signals that the sun has set during Ramadan, Muslims in Cairo break their fast with friends and family, often inviting the poor to share their meals.
Fastest-growing religion
The second-largest religion in the world after Christianity, Islam is also the fastest-growing religion. In the United States, for example, nearly 80 percent of the more than 1,200 mosques have been built in the past 12 years.
Some scholars see an emerging Muslim renaissance as Islam takes root in many traditionally Christian communities.
Islam has drawn converts from all walks of life, most notably African-Americans. Former NAACP President Benjamin Chavis, who joined the Nation of Islam recently, personifies the trend.
"In societies where you have minorities that are discriminated against, I think they may find an appeal in Islam," said Waleed Kazziha of American University in Cairo.
Many moderate Islamic countries such as Turkey and Egypt are becoming more conservative.
Two decades ago, few middle-class Egyptian women wore scarves or veils on their heads. Now they crowd into special emporiums that advertise Islamic clothing.
The shift toward Islamic fundamentalism worries many in the secular world, a fear underscored when splinter groups target Westerners with violent attacks.
Islam vs. the West
But most scholars argue that the extremists are a very small minority and that most Muslims adhere to principles in the Koran that teach peace and tolerance.
"The Islamic world is like any other society we have known in history," said Kazziha. "You might say it has the good, the bad and the ugly."
Founded in 622 A.D., Islam is among the newer major religions. But to the non-Muslim world, it sometimes appears inflexible. Clashes between Islamic tradition and Western influence are sweeping the globe.
In Islam, contrary to Western beliefs, the rights of the community are considered more important than the rights of the individual. Women are seen primarily as caretakers of the home, and religion strongly influences schools, government and courts.
Many Muslims today are trying to find a balance between being members of a global society and maintaining ties to a religion that calls for strict adherence to the Koran.
A case in point is 35-year-old Hisham Hussein, a wealthy playboy who turned to religion and swore off alcohol after an automobile accident.
He is going to Mecca this spring. "The most important thing is to maintain the purity of the Hajj, to lead a pure life," he said.
Re: Fast-growing Islam winning converts in Western world by CNN
format_quote Originally Posted by wilberhum
I thought CNN was one of those evil American propaganda machines.
I always like the concept of “If I like what they say, they are right, if I don’t like what they say, they are wrong”.
Interesting.
It's not like that actually.
It's pretty simple, people think that if they have something which they might gain in then they might give out wrong info knowingly or unknowingly, but what would they have to gain out of saying Islam is the fastes thing.
Anyhow, in reality for all those who like conspiracy stuff, then we could say, maybe they just lied to make people become more scared that Muslims are brainwashing.
The path is long but I hope we meet,
After the grave and the Day, in paradise in bliss upon a reclined seat.
A traveler traveling - travelled from shirk to tawheed,
If I'm remembered for anything - let it be the Mercy I seek.
Re: Fast-growing Islam winning converts in Western world by CNN
format_quote Originally Posted by wilberhum
I thought CNN was one of those evil American propaganda machines.
I always like the concept of “If I like what they say, they are right, if I don’t like what they say, they are wrong”.
Interesting.
Seriously dude, get a job! Nobody had bad opinions about CNN. All news stations have bias, and people agree with news stations that appeal to their views. Conservatives dislike BBC while liberals hate FOX. I dunno if you were sarcastic, but most of your posts reflect scarcity of critical thinking.
Re: Fast-growing Islam winning converts in Western world by CNN
format_quote Originally Posted by Philosopher
Also, does anyone have real statistics regarding the conversion rate of Islam in the West?
Of course not.
Seriously dude, get a job!
Many have had bad opinions about CNN. All news stations have bias, even IslamOnline and people agree with news stations that appeal to their views. Conservatives dislike BBC while liberals hate FOX. Also those that like really bias news love Fox. I dunno if you were sarcastic, but obviously I was. That would explain you think most of my posts reflect scarcity of critical thinking.
But then a Philosopher should know better.
Re: Fast-growing Islam winning converts in Western world by CNN
format_quote Originally Posted by wilberhum
Of course not.
Seriously dude, get a job!
Many have had bad opinions about CNN. All news stations have bias, even IslamOnline and people agree with news stations that appeal to their views. Conservatives dislike BBC while liberals hate FOX. Also those that like really bias news love Fox. I dunno if you were sarcastic, but obviously I was. That would explain you think most of my posts reflect scarcity of critical thinking.
But then a Philosopher should know better.
Re: Fast-growing Islam winning converts in Western world by CNN
A message for BOth sides
In case if you think CNN as Bad go for another new channel which you hope delivers the real news and you will surely find out some info on this news. or provide proper source for your argument
if you think CNN is good then dig more about this news and provide more info such that those who think your post is not accurate will settle down after seeing that
Re: Fast-growing Islam winning converts in Western world by CNN
I thought CNN was one of those evil American propaganda machines.
I always like the concept of “If I like what they say, they are right, if I don’t like what they say, they are wrong”.
Interesting.
CNN is not doing anything against its nature/type, their message can also serve to frighten non-Muslims or cause alarm at the very least. [stir people to start a culling drive (as if it has not already begun)]
does anyone have real statistics regarding the conversion rate of Islam in the West?
The growth rate of Islam, according to the U.S. Center for World Mission, at 2.9% is higher than the 2.6% growth rate of the world's population. Thus, the percentage of Muslims in the world is growing on the order of 0.6% per year.
Barrett & Johnson's estimated in an article in the International Bulletin of Missionary Research that the number of Muslims would grow from 1.22 billion in the year 2000 to 1.89 billion by 2025.
Author Samuel Huntington predicts that "Muslims in the world will continue to increase dramatically, amounting to 20 percent of the world's population about the turn of the [21st] century, surpassing the number of Christians some years later
Re: Fast-growing Islam winning converts in Western world by CNN
format_quote Originally Posted by RighteousLady
Two decades ago, few middle-class Egyptian women wore scarves or veils on their heads. Now they crowd into special emporiums that advertise Islamic clothing.
In Malaysia, in the early 1980s, only religious teachers wears hijab, now more than 90% of the Malaysian Muslim women wears hijab. Even our queen wears hijab.
The best thing of it, the more educated the woman, the higher the possibility that she'll be wearing the hijab. Many of them are professors, engineers, lawyers, scientists and current Hijab clad Malaysian girls conquering between 60% - 75% of the whole universities' students..
Re: Fast-growing Islam winning converts in Western world by CNN
format_quote Originally Posted by Muezzin
Deleting posts is my part time occupation.
Actually, it's more of a bad habit.
Seriously folks, let's just discuss the first post and not get sidetracked.
C'mon man, I'm so tired of this. Last time in a similar thread, I posted a text, where I copy paste dozens of links prooving the opposite, that islam loose much people, and guess what : I got 20 points warning from our copy/paste hero for spamming and blasphemy.
So where is the sense of discussing, or running a forum, when we must be all the same opinion.
Now you can warn me also and delete my post (again) !
Im Always Right,Its Like,When Im Right,Im Right,And When Im Wrong,I Could've Been Right,So Im Still Right,'Cause I Could've Been Wrong!
Re: Fast-growing Islam winning converts in Western world by CNN
format_quote Originally Posted by mas
i heard nation of islam is not apart of islam
i heard they got another prophet
dont know . they say its made up!!!
any info about it guys!
you are correct - nation of islam is not a part of islam, mainly because they have their own prophet.
malcolm x realized this toward the end of his life and left them and embraced islam.
each man thinks of his own fleas as gazelles
question authority
Re: Fast-growing Islam winning converts in Western world by CNN
format_quote Originally Posted by guyabano
C'mon man, I'm so tired of this. Last time in a similar thread, I posted a text, where I copy paste dozens of links prooving the opposite, that islam loose much people, and guess what : I got 20 points warning from our copy/paste hero for spamming and blasphemy. http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/boese/a025.gif
So where is the sense of discussing, or running a forum, when we must be all the same opinion.
Now you can warn me also and delete my post (again) !
Dude, it's an Islamic forum for G-ds sake! No Muslim wants to read about someone leaving Islam. Especially when most of us are here to get closer to our faith. And we are well aware of it. And most of them end up bashing, so uh yea, common sense helps :X
Last edited by Nσσя'υℓ Jαииαн; 04-18-2007 at 08:33 AM.
*Without Allah, without Islam, life would be meaningless. If I've ever learned patience, it's because of this. Alhamdulillah...*
Re: Fast-growing Islam winning converts in Western world by CNN
format_quote Originally Posted by guyabano
C'mon man, I'm so tired of this. Last time in a similar thread, I posted a text, where I copy paste dozens of links prooving the opposite, that islam loose much people, and guess what : I got 20 points warning from our copy/paste hero for spamming and blasphemy. http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/boese/a025.gif
So where is the sense of discussing, or running a forum, when we must be all the same opinion.
Now you can warn me also and delete my post (again) !
I'm not saying you have to agree with the first post, just don't get sidetracked as some people here have when they started discussing the veracity of the media, which is a discussion that belongs in another thread.
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