A great number of the critics of Islam confuse Islam, which is a teaching with Muslims who are people. People are sinners with various limitations and defects. The teaching came because of these limitations in order that people may improve and develop by following the recommended discipline. The coming of this discipline can be regarded as part of the evolutionary process. But if they will not study, understand and apply it then no improvement can be expected.

However, it is also the case that there is a bias in perception. People vary about what is regarded as good and evil and this depends on their knowledge and level of development. Many people are called Muslims though they practice no religion. This is not always the case with other religions such as Christianity. When it suits people they will call all the inhabitants of European or American countries Christians, or only those who actually profess to be Christians, or even only those who live according to its principles. If some act is done, of which a certain set of people disapprove, by someone with a muslim sounding name or from a country where muslims live then they are called Islamic Fundamentalists or Islamic Terrorists. No difference is perceived between the meaning of these terms. Nor is a distinction made between a religious motive and a political, economic or cultural one. But if such acts are done by Serbians, Africans, South Americans, Indians or by European organizations then they are not called Christian, Hindu etc. Terrorists. If some of these fight for the freedom of their country from oppression, then they are freedom fighters, but not if they are Muslims doing the same thing. The fact that atheistic regimes such as the Nazis and the Communists under Stalin perpetrated even greater atrocities on a much wider scale or that these acts may be the consequences of all manner of injustices perpetrated on people who have no other way of rectifying this, is completely ignored. All this appears to be a brain washing activity by mischief makers, or their victims, designed to create even more blood baths on a global scale.

There is no doubt that:-

(1) There are many that profess to be Muslims but do not know or practice Islam at all.

(2) There are many that do not know or understand Islam, except as dogma or in a superstitious manner, and mispractice Islam, going through rituals in an automatic way.

(3) There are many who practice Islam more sincerely and with knowledge and understanding to various degrees. Here the benefits may be mostly social.

(4) There are Muslims who practice Islam devotedly and reap the spiritual benefits.

The same, no doubt is the case in other religions. But there are probably more Muslims in the fourth group than there are in other religions. Even if only 1% of Muslims belong to group 4, this still makes many millions.

There are many people who like to criticize Islam and to do this by observing the first two sets of people and ignoring the second two. Some of these claim to be Muslim but belong to the first two sets. Some actually detect malpractices but do nothing to set them right. They do not enlighten or guide those who do the malpractices, but merely broadcast their defects. This gives them a feeling of superiority and righteousness. They think they are better than those whom they criticize, but this is highly doubtful. What Islam requires is :-

(1) Firstly that the person looks to his own soul and make the relevant studies and correct practices.

(2) Then to exhort, encourage, help and facilitate the good, and to discourage and counter the bad.

(3) Not to broadcast the failings of others in case this acts as an influence to evil. It may, for instance give the impression that these evils are widespread and acceptable. A newspapers and scandal sheet usually concentrates attention of evils and this helps spread evil. The relative frequency of bad impressions to good impressions conveyed by the media bears no relationship to the actuality. This cannot, therefore, be regarded as objective reporting as is often claimed. Nor is it virtuous or useful reporting.

Most Muslim countries are economically, politically and educationally backwards, partly because they have stagnated, having become habituated or conditioned by a system of thinking, motivation and behaviour which had made them successful and dominant in the past, and they did not adapt to the changes. And partly because they have been dominated and exploited by other people. This was made possible because of their stagnation.

Most Muslim countries are governed by power groups which consist of people who do not know or understand Islam and have abandoned it. They are people who have established themselves in advantageous positions often by repressing and exploiting their own peoples with the help of the dominating foreign powers. They are usually educated in the West or in the Western style and their business, cultural and political interests are intimately connected with the West. They cannot possibly be said to represent the people. There is, therefore, always a tension between the rulers and the people in Muslim Countries. Peace is kept only in so far as the rulers use sufficient force. But this force by reaction creates militant groups, the presence of which causes the governments to use even more force. The two groups maintain and stimulate each other to ever increasing excesses, while the majority of the population, not involved on either side, suffers. This suffering may cause them to support one or the other side. If, as a result, the oppressive dictatorial power of the ruling party is broken, then a vacuum is created. There is no one with sufficient expertise to take over the reigns of government and modern affairs, and the nation plunges into chaos.

Another result of the confrontation in these countries is that the militant action causes concern and opposition in all other countries lest the same chaos should come to them. This results in a global campaign against Islam, secretly and openly. This in its turn creates publicity that arouses increased general interest in Islam. The conversion rate to Islam then increases. This conversion is helped by several factors:-

(1) Islam is a relatively simple doctrine that can be understood by all levels of human beings. It is fully self-consistent and comprehensive without requiring convoluted thinking which does damage to the thinking process. This tends to remove confusion, anxiety and doubt.

(2) Islam is objective in the sense that it is consistent with human nature and the nature of existence (30:30). It connects human consciousness with the natural forces which are responsible for his existence. Because of this those who are free from strong prejudices or can overcome these, are able to sense or feel, even if only vaguely, an affinity towards Islam. A reading of the Quran tends to affect this dormant deep seated sub-conscious sensitivity. Entry into Islam, therefore, creates a feeling of fulfillment, arrival, security, and peace.

(3) Increasing number of people can identify themselves as oppressed, deprived and victims of injustice and prejudice. To them Islam gives a certain dignity and hope and a way out.

(4) It has been noticed by many people that the Western system of life is "active" with respect to Nature. It creates atheism, human arrogance, individualism, selfishness, competition, aggression, confrontation, the struggle for power, the desire to dominate and exploit nature and fellow human beings, causing constant change and stresses. Yet all these ambitions are set at naught by death while creating pollution, chaos and disruption. It is also spiritually unsatisfying and meaningless to an increasing number of people. In contrast, the Eastern system of life, where man is part of nature, is "passive" with respect to Nature. It is much more communal, religious, steeped in tradition and convention, unitary and changeless. Life and death are two parts of the same cycle. The World, however, continues to evolve. This difference leads to maladjustment, to being exploited and increasing poverty and disability. There is, therefore, a complete opposition between these two systems and each leads to numerous problems and, by reaction, they lead to each other. Islam, on the other hand is a religion of balance in which man is a vicegerent who works on behalf of Allah. Here activity and passivity are combined - He is in a state of surrender but nevertheless an agent for evolution and harmonious development. He must both strive and conform. Though unity is a goal, it is not a static but a dynamic state. The cycles are really spirals. But those who do not understand Islam accuse it, according to which of the above position they take, either as being too aggressive or too convention bound.

The problems created by these two opposite forces and the opposition to Islam brings about a general awakening of muslims throughout the world, which leads to a re-examination of Islam. From this re-examination three groups begin to emerge:-

(a) Traditionalists or Purists who wish to go back to Islam as it was in the beginning because that state is thought to have led to its expansion. But political, economic, technological and educational conditions have changed and cannot be ignored.

(b) Modernists. Those who adopt Western ideas to various degrees. Those who see that times and conditions of life have changed radically and that new ideas, attitudes, methods and institutions are required. They wish to Westernize, and they are imitators. The aim appears to be the achievement of prosperity and political power. But this seems to be a case of the cart before the horse. These things came as a side effect of a spiritual discipline. People create external conditions according to their inner state. The reverse is not possible.

(c) Reformers. Those who see that a spiritual revival is required and that the West has also created a number of environmental, social and psychological problems which must be avoided and rectified. But in order to unite the people of a muslim nation and, indeed, the Islamic world, it will be necessary to reform both the ruling class and the people in general. Without this the Muslim world will certainly crumble. This appears to be a greater task than can be achieved by ordinary men. Perhaps a Prophet must return before this can happen. But he will require helpers and followers and these are those who understand the problems and have already done something about them. In general, the number of people who wake up to the realities because the shell or prison of past conditioning has cracked open, is proportional to the amount of suffering, which is itself proportional to the deterioration of the conditions of life. It is when this reaches a certain threshold then the reformers and Prophets also come.

Some of the problems facing these groups is connected with the opposition and conflict between self-indulgence and discipline, rights and duties, personal needs and the needs of the community, freedom and compulsion, individuality and conformity, militancy and passivity; tolerance and intolerance; endurance and striving; obedience, self-discipline and self-will. There is a range of opinions, as among all other people about any subject, from one extreme to another. Inertia and habit in man obstructs change and progress and requires wisdom, sustained effort and patience and these are not readily available. This leads to impatience that leads to violence and opposition, which also obstructs.

"And the heaven, He raised it high, and He made the Balance, that you may not exceed the measure (or transgress beyond limits). And keep up the balance with justice (or equity) and do not make the measure deficient." 55:7-9

"O ye who believe! Endure and vie with one another in endurance, and be on the alert, and fear Allah, in order that ye may succeed." 3:199

"Endure thou patiently. Thy endurance is only by the help of Allah. Grieve not about them; and be not distressed because of that which they devise." 16:127

"Say: If ye love Allah then follow me (Muhammad), and Allah will love you and forgive you your sins, for Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." 3:31

"O ye who believe! be ye steadfast in justice, witnesses for Allah, though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kindred, be it rich or poor, for Allah is nearer akin than either. Follow not, then, lusts, so as to act unjustly (or with bias); but if ye swerve or turn aside, Allah is well Aware of what you do." 4:135

"Whoso judges not by what Allah has revealed, these are the wrong-doers (the unjust)." 5:45

".. whoso takes misbelief in exchange for faith has erred from the Level Way." 2:108

"Allah wishes to turn towards you in mercy, but those who follow their own lusts (or desires) wish that ye should go far astray!" 4:27

"Follow not, then, lusts, so as to act unjustly (or with bias); but if ye swerve or turn aside, Allah is well Aware of what you do." 4:135

"The Messenger believes in what is sent down to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. Each believes in Allah, and His angels, and His Scriptures, and His Messengers, - We make no distinction between any of His Messengers - and they say, "We hear and we obey, Thy pardon, O Lord! Unto Thee is our journeying." 2:285

"O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger and those in authority amongst you; and if ye dispute (quarrel or argue) about anything, refer to Allah and the Messenger, if ye (in truth) believe in Allah and the Last Day; that is better and fairer in the end." 4:59

"....obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance, and who follows his own lusts, and whose affair has been abandoned." 18:29

"O ye who believe! Ye have charge of your own souls; he who errs can do you no hurt if ye are rightly guided: unto Allah will you all return, and He will declare to you the truth of that which ye do." 5:105

"Say, O mankind! There has come to you the Truth from your Lord, and he who is guided by it, his guidance is only for his own soul; and he who errs, errs only against it; and I am not a warder over you." 10:109

"Those who believe and have left their homes and striven strenuously in the cause of Allah, and those who have given them a refuge and a help, these are the believers. For them is forgiveness and generous provision." 8:74

"Did ye think that ye can enter Paradise without Allah testing those of you who strive (or fight) hard, and remain steadfast? " 3:142

"But whoso desires the Hereafter, and strives for it with the necessary effort, for such, their striving shall find favour." 17:19

"And strive in the cause of Allah, with the effort which is His due. He has chosen you, and has not laid upon you any hardship in religion." 22:78

"... fear Allah, and know that Allah is with those who practice restraint." 2:194

"..Persecution is a greater sin than slaughter." 2:217

"In retaliation (or the law of Equivalence) there is life for you, O ye possessors of understanding! that ye may ward of evil." 2:179

"Hold to forgiveness, and command what is kind, and shun the ignorant." 7:199

"And those who shun the great sins and indecencies, and whenever they are angry they forgive." 42:37

"And the recompense of evil is punishment like it, but whoever forgives and amends, he shall have his reward from Allah; surely He does not love the unjust. And whoever defends himself after he has been wronged (or been oppressed), for such there is no blame against them. The blame is only against those who oppress men and revolt (insolently exceed all bounds) in the earth unjustly; these shall have a painful punishment. And whoever is patient and forgiving, these most surely are actions of courage and resolution." 42:40-43

"Tell those who believe that they should forgive those who fear (or hope) not the days of Allah, that He may reward a people for what they earn. Whoever does good, it is for his own soul, and whoever does evil, it is against it; then you shall be brought back to your Lord." 45:14-15

"And of His sign is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. Lo! Herein indeed are portents for men of knowledge." 30:22

"For each We have appointed a divine law and a traced out way. Had Allah willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by that which He has given you, (He has made you as you are). So vie with one another in good works. Unto Allah ye will all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein ye differ." 5:48

"Verily, your efforts are dispersed to diverse ends! But as for him who gives alms and fears Allah, and believes in goodness, We will ease his way to ease! But as for him who is niggardly and thinks himself independent (or self-sufficient), and calls the good a lie, We will ease his way to misery (adversity)! And his wealth shall not avail him when he falls down (into hell)!" 92:4-9

"There is no compulsion in religion; the right is henceforth distinct from wrong. And whoso rejects false deities and believes in Allah, he has grasped a firm handle which will not break; but Allah is both Hearer and Knower." 2:256

"Verily, many are lead astray (or will lead you astray) by their lusts through ignorance. Verily, thy Lord knows best the transgressors." 6:120

"But if they turn their backs, thy duty is only to convey the Clear Message." 16:82

"We know best what they say, and thou (O Muhammad) are not one to compel them; but admonish by means of the Quran him who fears My warning." 50:45

"Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and beware, for if ye turn back then know that the duty of Our Messenger is only to deliver the message clearly?" 5:92

There is no virtue in imitation nor in compulsion. Neither of them can be called intelligent behaviour and this has only superficial effects. They do not cause spiritual growth. On the other hand, neither does self-indulgence, conditioned behaviour or following one's whims. Spiritual growth requires self-discipline.

But though compulsion is not allowed, exhortation to do good is required. It is not the case that everyone can believe or do as he pleases. What people believe or do affects their own state and this affects other people also. We live in communities and must respect the rights of others and this is conditional on our obligations or duties to respect and uphold the rights of others and to prevent oppression. We are responsible, therefore, not only for ourselves but also for others. No community tolerates what it regards as evil, though the idea of what is good or evil may vary with community, place and times - with the degree of development, the knowledge, standards, awareness, virtue, conscience of the people.

On the other hand:-

A person becomes a Muslim when he utters the Shahadah:- There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. This is also regarded as an oath of loyalty to the Islamic community, the community of those who have made the same commitment. Like every contract the person who makes it is bound by its terms.

The Terms of the Covenant or Contract may be regarded as having seven parameters: -

(1) Accountability. Man is accountable to Allah alone.(3:109, 129, 4:59)

(2) Powers. Human beings have been given special powers when Allah bestowed on them His own Spirit. That is, He has consciousness, conscience and will. Therefore he has the title Vicegerent. (15:29, 32:9, 38:73

(3) Area of Jurisdiction. Collectively He is to rule on this earth. Individually he is responsible for everything coming into his sphere of influence. (2:30, 6:166)

(4) Authority. He has been given control over all things. (2:29, 22:65)

(5) Responsibilities. To act on Allah's behalf. Fidelity is, therefore, important. He is responsible for the welfare and development of all things, including himself. (5:35,44, 61:14, 76:8-9)

(7) Certain rules and guidelines define the function of human beings. This includes certain basic beliefs, moral principles, and obligations towards the environment, the society and oneself. (2:177)