Is Islam a universal religion.

[Sha'irullah]

Yes please.. where, because the majority that are Muslims are from Asia.

Very familiar that Arabs make a small portion of Muslims but it is ayat 2 in Surat Yusuf I believe or it is in as-Zukh'ruf. But is mentions the Qur'an being in the Arabic of its era and in Surat Yunus ayat 32 or 47 (working on memory power here ) it states that a messenger is to be sent to every people. I admit to not remembering if it is in verbal form but clearly this would invalidate the divinity of a Qur'an being made only in Arabic when it is translated by men and often inaccurately to other nations. A messenger for every people yet Islam is still unremoved from its Arabiyyah origins?
I am not debating authenticity here but I am just stating that Islam and the Qur'an is purely Arabic in origin, revelation and culture and one cannot expect god to be the destroyer of culture if one believes in Surat al Ma'idah ayat 48.

 

[England my lionheart]

Yes, it is. Previous Prophets were sent to a particular tribe/nation/clan while Muhammed was sent to the Arabs and the non-Arabs (hence, everyone else).

And the Qur'an states that there is no distinction between an Arab and a non-Arab, just as there is no distinction between a white man and a black man and just as there is no distinction between a man and a woman except through piety.

Britain never had a Prophet so I don't think it is,IMO Abraham and co are local heroes from folklore and particular to the cultures from which they came.

 

[paarsurrey]

Well, is it?

Yes, it is.

 

[paarsurrey]

The Qur'an is quite clear that the correct religion for Jews and Christians (read: gentiles) is Islam. Not only can anyone become a Muslim, but everyone is called to become a Muslim.

However, Arab tribal customs codified by the Hadith are what is preventing the spread of Islam throughout the West. Practically anyone can conform to practice, but not necessarily to belief.

I agree with you.

 

[Gharib]

Britain never had a Prophet so I don't think it is,IMO Abraham and co are local heroes from folklore and particular to the cultures from which they came.

Muhammed was sent to all humanity not just to Arabs. I thought you knew that.

 

[YmirGF]

Muhammed was sent to all humanity not just to Arabs. I thought you knew that.

Nobody told me personally. Was there an email sent?

 

[Gharib]

Nobody told me personally. Was there an email sent?

No, emails weren't sent. Would you like me to send you one.

 

[YmirGF]

No, emails weren't sent. Would you like me to send you one.

The notion that "Muhammed was sent to all humanity not just to Arabs" is patently absurd.

 

[Gharib]

The notion that "Muhammed was sent to all humanity not just to Arabs" is patently absurd.

Lets hear it then. Why do you believe that to be so Ymir?

 

[paarsurrey]

Islam claims that it has been sent to all human beings.
And Islam has spread in all the countries of the world; I don't think there is any country in the world where Muslims don't live.

Simple concepts; easy to practice religion.

Country/Region[3] Muslim population Muslim percentage (%) of total population Percentage (%) of World Muslim population Muslim population Muslim percentage (%)
2010 Pew Report[3] 2010 Pew Report[3] 2010 Pew Report[3] Other sources Other sources
Afghanistan 29,047,000 99.8 1.8
Albania 2,601,000 82.1 0.2 1,587,608[15] 38.8%-85%,[16][17]*56.7%[18]
Algeria 34,780,000 98.2 2.1
American Samoa < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Andorra 1,000 1.1 < 0.1
Angola 195,000 1 < 0.1
Anguilla < 1,000 0.3 < 0.1
Antigua and Barbuda < 1,000 0.6 < 0.1
Argentina 1,000,000 2.5 0.1
Armenia 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Aruba < 1,000 0.4 < 0.1
Australia 399,000 1.9 < 0.1
Austria 475,000 5.7 < 0.1 400-500,000[19] ~6.0%[20]
Azerbaijan 8,795,000 98.4 0.5
Bahamas < 1,000 0.1 < 0.1
Bahrain 655,000 81.2 < 0.1 866,888[21] 70.2%[21]
Bangladesh 148,607,000 90.4 9.2
Barbados 2,000 0.9 < 0.1
Belarus 19,000 0.2 < 0.1
Belgium 638,000 6 < 0.1 628,751[22] 6.0%[22]
Belize < 1,000 0.1 < 0.1
Benin 2,259,000 24.5 0.1
Bermuda < 1,000 0.8 < 0.1
Bhutan 7,000 1 < 0.1
Bolivia 2,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Bosnia-Herzegovina 1,564,000 41.6 0.1 45%[23]
Botswana 8,000 0.4 < 0.1
Brazil 204,000 0.1 < 0.1 35,167[24] 0.03%[24]
British Virgin Islands < 1,000 1.2 < 0.1
Brunei 211,000 51.9 < 0.1 67%[25]
Bulgaria 1,002,000 13.4 0.1 577,139[26] 10%[26]
Burkina Faso 9,600,000 58.9 0.6 60.5%[27]
Burma (Myanmar) 1,900,000 3.8 0.1
Burundi 184,000 2.2 < 0.1
Cambodia 240,000 1.6 < 0.1
Cameroon 3,598,000 18 0.2 20.9%[28]
Canada 940,000 2.8 0.1 1.9%[29]
Cape Verde < 1,000 0.1 < 0.1
Cayman Islands < 1,000 0.2 < 0.1
Central African Republic 403,000 8.9 < 0.1 15%[30][31]
Chad 6,404,000 55.7 0.4
Channel Islands < 1,000 0.1 < 0.1
Chile 4,000 < 0.1 < 0.1 2,894[32] 0.03% (over 15+ pop.)[32]
China 23,308,000 1.8 1.4 50,000,000 - 100,000,000[33][34]
Colombia 14,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Comoros 679,000 98.3 < 0.1
Congo 969,000 1.4 0.1
Cook Islands < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Costa Rica < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Croatia 56,000 1.3 < 0.1
Cuba 10,000 0.1 < 0.1
Cyprus 200,000 22.7 < 0.1
Czech Republic 4,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Denmark 226,000 4.1 < 0.1 210,000[35] 3.7%[35]
Djibouti 853,000 97 0.1
Dominica < 1,000 0.2 < 0.1
Dominican Republic 2,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Ecuador 2,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Egypt 80,024,000 94.7 4.9 91%[36]
El Salvador 2,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Equatorial Guinea 28,000 4.1 < 0.1
Eritrea 1,909,000 36.5 0.1 50%[37]
Estonia 2,000 0.1 < 0.1 1,400[38]
Ethiopia 28,721,000 33.8 1.8
Faeroe Islands < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Falkland Islands (Malvinas) < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Federated States of Micronesia < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Fiji 54,000 6.3 < 0.1
Finland 42,000 0.8 < 0.1
France 4,704,000 7.5 0.3 8%-10%[39]
French Guiana 2,000 0.9 < 0.1
French Polynesia < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Gabon 145,000 9.7 < 0.1
Gambia 1,669,000 95.3 0.1
Georgia 442,000 10.5 < 0.1
Germany 4,119,000 5 0.3 4,300,000[40] 5,4%[40]
Ghana 3,906,000 16.1 0.2
Gibraltar 1,000 4 < 0.1
Greece 527,000 4.7 < 0.1
Greenland < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Grenada < 1,000 0.3 < 0.1
Guadeloupe 2,000 0.4 < 0.1
Guam < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Guatemala 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Guinea 8,693,000 84.2 0.5
Guinea Bissau 705,000 42.8 < 0.1 50%[41]
Guyana 55,000 7.2 < 0.1
Haiti 2,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Honduras 11,000 0.1 < 0.1
Hong Kong 91,000 1.3 < 0.1
Hungary 25,000 0.3 < 0.1
Iceland < 1,000 0.1 < 0.1 770[42] 0.24%[42]
India 177,286,000 14.6 10.9 22%[43]
Indonesia 204,847,000 88.1 12.7
Iran 74,819,000 99.6 4.6
Iraq 31,108,000 98.9 1.9
Ireland 43,000 0.9 < 0.1 84,064[19] 2%[19]
Isle of Man < 1,000 0.2 < 0.1
Israel 1,287,000 17.7 0.1
Italy 1,583,000 2.6 0.1 825,000[20] 1.4%[20]
Ivory Coast 7,960,000 36.9 0.5 40%[44][45][46]
Jamaica 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Japan 185,000 0.1 < 0.1
Jordan 6,397,000 98.8 0.4
Kazakhstan 8,887,000 56.4 0.5 70.2%[47]
Kenya 2,868,000 7 0.2 10%[48]
Kiribati < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Kosovo 2,104,000 91.7 0.1 1,584,000[49]
Kuwait 2,636,000 86.4 0.2
Kyrgyzstan 4,927,000 88.8 0.3
Laos 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Latvia 2,000 0.1 < 0.1
Lebanon 2,542,000 59.7 0.2
Lesotho 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Liberia 523,000 12.8 < 0.1
Libya 6,325,000 96.6 0.4
Liechtenstein 2,000 4.8 < 0.1
Lithuania 3,000 0.1 < 0.1
Luxembourg 11,000 2.3 < 0.1
Macau < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Macedonia 713,000 34.9 < 0.1
Madagascar 220,000 1.1 < 0.1 7%[50]
Malawi 2,011,000 12.8 0.1
Malaysia 17,139,000 61.4 1.1
Maldives 309,000 98.4 < 0.1
Mali 12,316,000 92.4 0.8
Malta 1,000 0.3 < 0.1
Marshall Islands < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Martinique < 1,000 0.2 < 0.1
Mauritania 3,338,000 99.2 0.2
Mauritius 216,000 16.6 < 0.1
Mayotte 197,000 98.8 < 0.1
Mexico 111,000 0.1 < 0.1
Moldova 15,000 0.4 < 0.1
Monaco < 1,000 0.5 < 0.1
Mongolia 120,000 4.4 < 0.1
Montenegro 116,000 18.5 < 0.1 118,477*[51] 19.11%*[52]
Montserrat < 1,000 0.1 < 0.1
Morocco 32,381,000 99.9 2 99%[53]
Mozambique 5,340,000 22.8 0.3
Namibia 9,000 0.4 < 0.1
Nauru < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Nepal 1,253,000 4.2 0.1
Netherlands 914,000 5.5 0.1 5.8%[54]
Netherlands Antilles < 1,000 0.2 < 0.1
New Caledonia 7,000 2.8 < 0.1
New Zealand 41,000 0.9 < 0.1
Nicaragua 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Niger 15,627,000 98.3 1
Nigeria 75,728,000 47.9 4.7
Niue < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
North Korea 3,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Northern Mariana Islands < 1,000 0.7 < 0.1
Norway 144,000 3 < 0.1 163,180 in 2008[55]
Oman 2,547,000 87.7 0.2
Pakistan 178,097,000 96.4 11
Palau < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Palestinian territories 4,298,000 97.5 0.3 99.3% (Gaza Strip),[56]*75% (West Bank)[57]
Panama 25,000 0.7 < 0.1
Papua New Guinea 2,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Paraguay 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Peru < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Philippines 4,737,000 5.1 0.3
Pitcairn Islands < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Poland 20,000 0.1 < 0.1
Portugal 65,000 0.6 < 0.1
Puerto Rico 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Qatar 1,168,000 77.5 0.1
Republic of Congo 60,000 1.6 < 0.1
Reunion 35,000 4.2 < 0.1
Romania 73,000 0.3 < 0.1
Russia 16,379,000 11.7 1 15%[58]
Rwanda 188,000 1.8 < 0.1
St. Helena < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
St. Kitts and Nevis < 1,000 0.3 < 0.1
St. Lucia < 1,000 0.1 < 0.1
St. Pierre and Miquelon < 1,000 0.2 < 0.1
St. Vincent and the Grenadines 2,000 1.7 < 0.1
Samoa < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
San Marino < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Sao Tome and Principe < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Saudi Arabia 25,493,000 97.1 1.6
Senegal 12,333,000 95.9 0.8
Serbia 280,000 3.7 < 0.1
Seychelles < 1,000 1.1 < 0.1
Sierra Leone 4,171,000 71.5 0.3
Singapore 721,000 14.9 < 0.1
Slovakia 4,000 0.1 < 0.1
Slovenia 49,000 2.4 < 0.1
Solomon Islands < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Somalia 9,231,000 98.6 0.6 99.9%[59][60][61][62][63]
South Africa 737,000 1.5 < 0.1
South Korea 75,000 0.2 < 0.1
Spain 1,021,000 2.3 0.1 1,000,000[20] 2.3%[20]
Sri Lanka 1,725,000 8.5 0.1
Sudan 30,855,000 71.4[Note 1] 1.9 97.0% (only the*Republic of Sudan)[64]
Suriname 84,000 15.9 < 0.1 19.6%[65]
Swaziland 2,000 0.2 < 0.1
Sweden 451,000 4.9 < 0.1 450-500,000[66] ~5%[66]
Switzerland 433,000 5.7 < 0.1 400,000[67] 5%[67]
Syria 20,895,000 92.8 1.3
Taiwan 23,000 0.1 < 0.1
Tajikistan 7,006,000 99 0.4
Tanzania 13,450,000 29.9 0.8 35%[68]
Thailand 3,952,000 5.8 0.2
Timor-Leste 1,000 0.1 < 0.1
Togo 827,000 12.2 0.1 20%[69]
Tokelau < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Tonga < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Trinidad and Tobago 78,000 5.8 < 0.1
Tunisia 10,349,000 99.8 0.6
Turkey 74,660,000 98.6 4.6
Turkmenistan 4,830,000 93.3 0.3
Turks and Caicos Islands < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Tuvalu < 1,000 0.1 < 0.1
Uganda 4,060,000 12 0.3
Ukraine 393,000 0.9 < 0.1 2,000,000[70]
United Arab Emirates 3,577,000 76 0.2
United Kingdom 2,869,000 4.6 0.2 2,422,000[19] 2.4%[20]
United States 2,595,000 0.8 0.2 7,000,000[71]
U.S. Virgin Islands < 1,000 0.1 < 0.1
Uruguay < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Uzbekistan 26,833,000 96.5 1.7
Vanuatu < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Vatican City 0 0 0
Venezuela 95,000 0.3 < 0.1
Vietnam 160,000 0.2 < 0.1 71,200[72]
Wallis and Futuna < 1,000 < 0.1 < 0.1
Western Sahara 528,000 99.6 < 0.1
Yemen 24,023,000 99 1.5
Zambia 59,000 0.4 < 0.1
Zimbabwe 109,000 0.9 < 0.1
South & Southeast Asia 1,005,507,000 24.8 62.1
Middle East-North Africa 321,869,000 91.2 19.9
Sub-Saharan Africa 242,544,000 29.6 15
Europe 44,138,000 6 2.7
Americas 5,256,000 0.6 0.3
World Total 1,619,314,000

Islam by country - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[McBell]

Yeah, I just started this thread cause someone was discussing it on another thread. So I hope that person can move over here. Weird when you ask someone to start a thread so the one you're on doesn't go way way off topic, and they won't, so you do it for them, but then they won't participate. I must be having a boring day.

I suggest putting a link to this thread in the other thread so they can easily find this thread.

Not that it matters in the least, but I agree with you. I think that my sense of 'universal' has something to do with inclusive and exclusive, regarding other views. Since I view Islam as pretty exclusive, it's not even leaning towards universalism. But there are many definitions of universalism. So who knows?

this pretty much describes my answer to the OP.

 

[LuisDantas]

Islam claims that it has been sent to all human beings.
And Islam has spread in all the countries of the world; I don't think there is any country in the world where Muslims don't live.

Simple concepts; easy to practice religion.

Technically speaking there are a few micronations that probably don't have any living Muslims, but that is neither here nor there.

A more significant factor is that Islam is all-out impossible to practice in good faith by those of us that happen to be atheists. That alone makes it unable of fulfilling its desire of being universally practiced.

 

[YmirGF]

The notion that "Muhammed was sent to all humanity not just to Arabs" is patently absurd.

Lets hear it then. Why do you believe that to be so Ymir?

I do not believe in submission to your god (or any god, for that matter), therefore, on that point alone, since I am a part of humanity, the idea fails. Obviously, Muhammad's ramblings are not for everyone. More germane to the point is that those who opposed Muhammad when he was just starting out didn't feel the love of his message either, so the idea fails on that point as well...

When you consider that Muhammad bitterly fought those who opposed him, it's a bit weird to say that his message was for everyone on earth. Evidently, many did not think so, and died because of their opposition, which makes the very idea of universality - patently absurd.


Anything else?

 

[Gharib]

I do not believe in submission to your god (or any god, for that matter), therefore, on that point alone, since I am a part of humanity, the idea fails. Obviously, Muhammad's ramblings are not for everyone. More germane to the point is that those who opposed Muhammad when he was just starting out didn't feel the love of his message either, so the idea fails on that point as well...

When you consider that Muhammad bitterly fought those who opposed him, it's a bit weird to say that his message was for everyone on earth. Evidently, many did not think so, and died because of their opposition, which makes the very idea of universality - patently absurd.


Anything else?

Ymir, thanks for taking the time to explain but I think you've misunderstood what I meant with my statement: "Muhammed was sent to all humanity not just to Arabs"

It doesn't mean that everyone will accept his message and become Muslim, it just means that there will be no other Prophet after him and that anyone who wishes to attain Paradise must accept Islam. No people are rejected and no people are favoured.

Hence, the message is universal. Whether it is accepted or not has nothing to do with the universality of Islam.

 

[paarsurrey]

Technically speaking there are a few micronations that probably don't have any living Muslims, but that is neither here nor there.

A more significant factor is that Islam is all-out impossible to practice in good faith by those of us that happen to be atheists. That alone makes it unable of fulfilling its desire of being universally practiced.

That does not affect the universality of Islam.
Islam does not enjoin any force for conversion:

[109:7] &#8216;For you your religion, and for me my religion.&#8217;
The Holy Quran Arabic text with Translation in English text and Search Engine - Al Islam Online

So there will be some unbelievers here and there. This in fact proves of open-mindedness and universality of Islam, in my opinion.

Of course one could differ with me.

 

[Vinayaka]

I suggest putting a link to this thread in the other thread so they can easily find this thread.

Looks like the mods cleaned it up, but thanks anyway.

 

[paarsurrey]

Islam presents attribute of the one true God, in the very first chapter of Quran which speaks of its universality:

[1:2] All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds,

The Holy Quran Arabic text with Translation in English text and Search Engine - Al Islam Online

 

[LuisDantas]

That does not affect the universality of Islam.
Islam does not enjoin any force for conversion:

[109:7] ‘For you your religion, and for me my religion.’
The Holy Quran Arabic text with Translation in English text and Search Engine - Al Islam Online

So there will be some unbelievers here and there. This in fact proves of open-mindedness and universality of Islam, in my opinion.

Of course one could differ with me.

How can a religion be universal while also rejecting Atheists?!?

 

[Sha'irullah]

I would like to propose a new religion. It is called Nothingism. The only rule in this faith is that one does not have to do anything.
Atheists, Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Shintoists, and Buddhists are welcome along with anybody else.
With this statement I believe I have created a more universal religion than any other invalidating all other religions meant for mankind.

My point by saying this is that the absolute belief in the universality of a religion is incoherently wrong on all levels of reasoning. All religions are born in a time frame, culture and era and that alone makes in universal if anything. No religion can condescend universal acceptance or else it would have been accepted universally by now. Islam does not fit with my believes hence it is not universal because people from different cultures and perspective will not adhere to Islam. Although Islam is not universal it is conformative as it restricts and individual to not think for himself and adhere to one way of thinking. Islam is essentially anti-universal at the end of the day as it "does not permit certain actions".

Does Islam forbid pork? Yes. Do people eat pork? Yes. So it is not universal.
Does Islam prohibit alcohol? Yes. Do people drink alcohol? Yes. So it is not universal.

You declare surrender to Allah. If you must surrender then it is not universal or else there would be no need to surrender to Allah's will if your actions were already within his will.
I can pull out semantics and oxymorons all throughout debating the universality of Islam. The point being is that if it requires Dos or Don'ts then it is not universal. This is why I do not even adhere to Islam anymore and just pick and choose as I like. Because obviously Islam is so non-universal that it cannot conform entirely to me.


Oh by the way LuisDantas, you still interested in joining Nothingism? It is a free membership

 

[LuisDantas]

Actually, an universal religion can be conceived of. Hinduism comes pretty close.