The profile of Mohammed and his followers has been substantially raised during the first decade of the 21st century although Islam has been a world force for 1600 years. Having been relegated to backseat status by western nations, Islam promises a continued dramatic impact upon the future of the world.
Oddly, this world changer flounders in obscurity and confusion. Consider that there are reportedly twenty-seven different ways to spell Mohammed in English. Even saying that shows that the western worldview labels him and his followers as second class citizens, for if you were reading this article in Arabic, the mother tongue of original Islam, there would be one way to spell Mohammed.
Mohammed rose up from the Arabian deserts during the sixth and seventh centuries having been impacted heavily by Jews and Christians. His religious piety was tempered by a thirst for men's devotion, a desire that has been adopted by his followers so strongly that Islam has been spread largely by the sword. Mohammed's claim that he received direct scriptural revelation from God is disputable, considering the historical and textual issues prevalent in the Koran, the main book of Islam.
The enigma that is Islam will not extinguish, regardless of world preference. Islam is clearly the second largest religion, but it is much more than numbers, it is a way of life. Adherents of other faiths would be good to sit up and take notice of how Islam changes the lives of those it conquers. Muslims do not view Islam as a religion, but rather a community and an approach to life. Sure, Muslims practice the standard religious duties of prayer, giving to the poor, and meeting together to worship God. But asking a Muslim to change his or her belief system is like asking a Republican in America to become a Democrat.
Islam has swept across North Africa, the Middle East, and much of Asia during the past 1500 years, while in recent decades it has invaded Europe, Australia, and the America's. The message of Islam is one of love and peace to some and hate to others. Islam itself has an internal debate as it has struggled to assimilate different peoples on different continents with diverse agendas. Classifying Islam into any discernable category threatens to offend the ardent Muslim, minimize the faithful Koranic scholar, and subjugate the nations governed by Islamic sharia law to misunderstanding and irrelevance. Thus, a subset of Islam has elevated its profile through terrorism and the renewed threat of incendiary world domination.
And yet, Islam once contributed heavily to the fields of science, mathematics, and art. The Arabic language is widely considered a language of precision and superb oratory. Many aspects of the sharia law spell out just principles and an honest, peaceful way of life.
Muslims are beautiful people who love life to the fullest. Their substantial and historical contribution to society cannot be overlooked. Nevertheless, the air of confusion surrounding Islam will not easily disappear unless legitimate Islamic leaders can bridge the gap of misunderstanding to the billions who see it as a religion of ignorance.
For more information on Islam, visit [http://islammicroblog.com] and [http://quranmicroblog.com]