Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

It is said that Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. All the followers believe that it is the one true religion. In countries where Islam is not the main religion like the U.K , India, USA etc Muslims are allowed to freely practice their religion- call to prayer, festivals, mosques etc. They want secularism.There is even a mosque in Rome!! How is that then in a country which has Islam as the main religion they do not pemit other religions to follow their own religion like building of temples,holding church services? Secularism is not encouraged? 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Building churches temples

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: …..How is that then in a country which has Islam as the main religion they do not pemit other religions to follow their own religion like building of temples,holding church services? Secularism is not encouraged? 

It is not at all true that in nations where Islam is the main religion, the state does not allow the followers of other beliefs to follow their religion, or build their places of worship, or hold services in their places of worship, etc.

Except for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wherein are the Holy Places, every single muslim nation allows absolute freedom to the followers of other faith to follow their beliefs however they will and please without any restriction whatsoever.

There are in excess of 50-60 nations which hold muslim majority in the world today, and I humbly ask you to name even only one nation (other than Saudi Arabia of course) which does not allow the followers of other faiths to practice their religion! To completely satisfy your query and prove to you that your claim is absolutely unsubstantiated, you name me a muslim nation, and I will locate the temples and churches or other places of worship for you!!!

Beloved brother in humanity, Islam was the sole superpower in the known world for almost 800-900 years of its 1400+ history….from almost all of northern Africa, into the heart of Western Europe unto Spain in the west; almost all of central Europe to the north, and all the way upto Malaysia and Indonesia in the East. History is proof that in all these places, the Muslim rulers never ever forced their subjects to accept Islam as their faith if they did not wish to do so, nor did they destroy their places of worship, nor did they stop their subjects from following and practicing their beliefs.

Thus brother, if indeed you still believe that Muslim nations do not allow their subjects to follow their beliefs, you give me the name of a nation which has a muslim government or muslim majority….and I will provide for you the list of its temples, churches, etc……

On the contrary, it is the very nations who champion the slogan of ‘secularism’ today like France, the US, the UK, Germany, Spain, Australia, etc….which have hindered the Muslim women to dress modestly as she wills, placed restrictions on the opening and running of their religious schools, and strictly monitor the services at their places of worship, etc…..

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan