From the beginning, Islam faces many challenges from its foes, that is, the disbelievers-atheism, Jews and Christians, secularism, liberalism, pluralism, etc.-who want to extinguish Islam and its foundation from this world. Since the fall of the Islamic empire in the fifteenth century, Muslim countries pathetically came under the dominance of Western powers in almost every aspect of life. The United States of America and other powers foreign policies generally have hidden agenda to weaken the Muslim countries so that they can keep on dominating the Muslim world. They give support to the secularist, liberalist, and pluralist groups in the Muslim countries to go against the Islamic traditionalists and fundamentalists. Although there are more than a billion Muslims in the world, they are weak and have become marginalized. Gone is the power of the Muslims of the past. Therefore, the contemporary Muslims have no choice but to wake up to face the challenge if they are genuine Muslims because they are the best ummah ever created by Allah. During the height of Islamic empire, Islam stayed strong and kept on spreading its wing throughout the world because of charismatic and credibility some of its leaders. Islam is a universal religion that brought enlightenment to human race. Nevertheless, Muslim nations in the modern era of globalized world are disobedient lot unlike the Muslims of the past; thus they become weak. Globalization is the creation of the Western imperialists as a tool to control world trade and economy of other nations. Small and underdeveloped nations are often unfairly treated. The polarization and bloody borders between the Christians West and the Muslims are now become more transparent than ever before. The wounds inflicted by the Americans and the West in Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, and others are still bleeding and bloody. The usage of the words such as Islamophobia and the Muslims as terrorist frequently propagated throughout the world against Islam, thereby affecting the feeling of friendly and moderate Muslims in general. The cruelties inflicted on many of the innocent Muslims directly or indirectly give a green light for some hardcore Muslims to retaliate in a more radical way, including suicide bombing. The difference perception of faith, moral character, social, ethic, economy, politics, law, etc., in Islam with other religions are wide apart. Islam is a religion of Oneness of God (Islamic Monotheism) whilst the others are not. Islam taught the Muslims to live side by side in co-existence and in peace with the others provided there is a mutual respect with one another. Islam is a moderate religion. The whole universe and its contents absolutely belong only to Allah. Human race are His servants to take good care of the earth. Muslim ummah in the modern world miserably failed in their responsibilities in this world because most of them are lack of faith in Allah. They have deserted al-Quran and al-Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in their way of life. Nevertheless, ultimately near the end of the world the Muslims will win as promised by Allah although disbelievers do not believe it.
Other than Cak Nur, Dr Alwi Shihab, the ex-Minister of Social Welfare of
Indonesia was another protagonist of religious pluralism. He wrote a book: 'Islam
Inklusif – Menuju Sikap terbuka dalam Agama' (Islam Inclusive – Towards
Openness ...
