Islam was quickly perceived by a wide variety of social groups and strata. The origin of Islam is based on the scriptures. Due to the simplicity and accessibility of its dogmas and rituals, no preparation was required for their assimilation, in addition, the norms of Sharia coincided in many respects with traditional customs. For these reasons, this religion has gained such a rapid spread in Afro-Eurasia.
One of the reasons for the popularity of Islam is that it unites its adherents and is suitable for the masses. This religion carries many different variations in order to join this or that environment or current. Islam, first of all, is the religion of poor, unpretentious inhabitants of deserts and regions such as Oceania, Indonesia, and Africa. It is addressed to simple, unpretentious, narrow-minded people. In this respect, it can tell them a lot. All they have to do is Mohammedan prayer and practically nothing else. However, in this religion, worldwide support is organized. Today, no current religion has the power to resist it because they are not as strong Islam. It is against this background that modern Islam manifests itself.
What determined the widespread spread of Islamism in Afro-Eurasia was the fact that none of the socio-political models that were tried to build in the Islamic countries did work. Hence, there is a growing interest in the idea of building an Islamic state. For example, in Pakistan, a large percent of the population is in favor of building a state on a Sharia basis (Mehfooz 7). In several Islamic countries, there are legal parties that advocate a gradual evolution towards the Islamic state. In addition to the parties, there are radical groups that seek to intensify this process. The prevalence of such sentiments should be taken into account when studying Islamic issues.
Islam also has been rapidly spreading among people in African countries. For example, Kane (2018) notes that Roman Loimeier is a leading scholar of Islam in the country who conducted field and library research in regions throughout the continent. In the beginning, the spread of Islam in Africa was carried out by military means, but this process was already exclusively peaceful owing to trade and interfaith marriages in its last stage. The means of spreading Muslim civilization were also the education and promotion of the Arabs in the Western part of the country.
Freedom of choice of religion plays an essential role in the spread of Islam in Afro-Eurasian countries. Mehfooz (2021) mentions that “Islam demands that people accept faith with a firm conviction via empirical examination and observation.” In this way, he gives people the opportunity to decide whether they should adhere to this belief. Moreover, Islam believes that if people do not have the possibility of free choice, they cannot be responsible for their other actions due to the lack of free will.
Islam for its adherents is much more than just a religion. It is a way of life, the basis of family and legal relations, and a set of traditions and customs. Islam is the youngest, second, and perhaps already the first religion in terms of adherents after Christianity. This religion is based on the affection and support of each other. It gained such a rapid spread because it promotes freedom of religious beliefs for all people.
Works Cited
Kane, Ousmane. “Islam and Reform in Contemporary: Islamic Reform in Twentieth-Century Africa.” Journal of African History, vol. 59, no. 2, 2018, pp. 307-309.
Mehfooz, Musferah. “Religious Freedom in Pakistan: A Case Study of Religious Minorities.” Religions, vol. 12, no. 1, 2021.