Islam in our World Today

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20th and 21st Century Islam :: "Since 1945 the number of mosques in England grew from 1 to well over 1000. Over 300 of these mosques are in former churches."

The Oil Boom

The second half of the twentieth century brought a new identity and strength to the Islamic world. Oil became the engine of the economic growth of many of these newly independent Islamic states. The oil embargo of 1973 caused tremendous concern in the West; it brought the realization of the great strength and political power of the Islamic states.

In the last several years and today, Islam has reached new heights in its ideology and its global expansion. Millions of Muslims have emigrated to the West. Mosques are being built as rapidly as possible in Europe, formerly a place Islam had very little success. Some fifty million people annually are being drawn to Islam and in fact, after Christianity, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world.

The Resurgence of Conservative Islamic Values

The majority of these states were supported by Western governments. Oil was traded for military equipment and Western technology. The Western influence upon these secular, pro-Western governments paved the ways for the resurgence of conservative Islamic values. To the conservatives, the Western lifestyle was a threat to the Islamic community and its law.

The Revival of Islam

In many of these states, increasing inflation, unemployment, governmental corruption, and the lack of political freedom and human rights set the stage for the revival of Islam. The radical and militant Islamic movement was being revived also. Contributing factors to its rise included the Islamic revolution of 1979 in Iran led by Khomeini, the Palestinian situation; the occupation of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union and the rise of Saddam Hussein in Iraq.

Twenty-First-Century Explosion

In the last several years, Islam has reached new heights in its ideology and its global expansion. Millions of Muslims have emigrated to the West. Mosques are being built as rapidly as possible in Europe, formerly a place Islam had very little success. Some fifty million people annually are being drawn to Islam and in fact, after Christianity, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world.

Sources and Thanks

This Short History of Islam was compiled from the following sources: Matthew S. Gordon, "Islam" (New York: Facts on Files, 1991); Malise Ruthven, "Islam in the World" (New York: Oxford University Press, 1984); JM Roberts, "History of the World" (Helicon Publishing Ltd, 1993) and Reza Safa, "Inside Islam" (Charisma House, 1996). Many thanks to all.

Filed under: History of Islam by TDI | Email this story