Is Islam's Rapid Growth Proof of its Truth?

July 1, 20240 Comments

Is Islam’s Rapid Growth Proof of its Truth?

Islam is often cited as the fastest growing religion in the world, and Muslims claim that this growth is evidence of the truth of their faith. However, when we look closely at the reasons behind the increasing number of Muslims and compare it to the flaws in using popularity to prove truth, we can see a more detailed picture.

Factors Contributing to Islam's Growth

Demographic Factors:
- High birth rates in Muslim-majority countries contribute significantly to the increase in the global Muslim population.
- According to the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, Islam’s growth is primarily due to the relatively high birth rate among Muslims, a large number of Muslims of childbearing age, and increased life expectancy in Muslim-majority countries.
Financial Influence:
- The Saudi government invests billions of dollars in funding Muslim organizations and conversion activities worldwide.
- However, this financial support does not necessarily lead to genuine spiritual conversions but rather supports organizational activities.
Legal and Social Pressure:
- Leaving Islam can be a perilous decision in some Muslim-majority countries, where apostasy is punishable by death.
- This legal and social pressure may deter some disenchanted Muslims from openly leaving Islam, contributing to the appearance of sustained adherence.
Research Findings:
- Research by Dr. Ilyas Ba-Yunus indicates that a significant percentage of new Muslim converts in the United States leave the faith within a few years, with a high attrition rate of 75%.
- This statistic suggests that while there may be initial conversions, the retention rate within the faith is not as strong as it might seem at first glance.

Growth in Numbers: A Flawed Indicator of Truth

The argument that Islam’s rapid growth proves its truth is a logical fallacy. The truth of a belief system cannot be determined by the number of its adherents. Historical and contemporary examples can illustrate this fallacy:

Alcohol and Drug Consumption: Globally, the consumption of alcohol and drugs is on the rise. By the logic that popularity equates to truth, one would have to argue that alcohol and drugs are beneficial or true, which is clearly not the case given their well-documented negative impacts on health and society.
The Sex Industry and Crime: The increase in the sex industry, pornography, sexual immorality, and crime in many countries does not imply that these practices are morally or ethically correct. Their prevalence reflects societal issues rather than any inherent truth or goodness.
Fast Food Consumption: Fast food is incredibly popular and widely consumed across the globe. Chains like McDonald’s and KFC have millions of customers daily. However, this popularity does not imply that fast food is healthy or beneficial. In fact, excessive consumption of fast food is linked to numerous health problems, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

These examples demonstrate that widespread acceptance or practice does not inherently validate the truth or value of a belief or behavior.

Insights from Gurbani

Gurbani offers profound wisdom on the matter of truth and popularity. The teachings emphasize that truth is not necessarily found where the crowds are.

For instance, comparing a shop selling gold and diamonds to a busy fruit market, Gurbani suggests that just because the fruit market has more customers, it does not mean that the gold and diamonds lose their value. The true value is often recognized by a discerning few.

One passage from Gurbani states:

ਨਾਮ ਰਤਨ ਕੋ ਕੋ ਬਿਉਹਾਰੀ ||
“How rare is that trader who deals in the jewel of the Naam, the Name of the Lord.”
(Ang 180)

Another passage reinforces this idea:

ਸਾਚ ਵਖਰ ਕੇ ਵਾਪਾਰੀ ਵਿਰਲੇ ਲੈ ਲਾਹਾ ਸਉਦਾ ਕੀਨਾ ਹੇ ||੧੨||
“Very few are those who trade in the merchandise of Truth. Those who deal in it, obtain the true profit.”
(Ang 1028)

These passages highlight that true spiritual wealth is not always popular or widespread but is instead appreciated by those with the insight and good fortune to recognize it.

The truth of a religion or belief system should be judged by its teachings, practices, and the personal experiences of its followers, not just by how many people follow it. Many things can make a religion popular that have nothing to do with whether it is true. So, saying that Islam is the fastest growing religion does not automatically prove that it is the ultimate truth.