In the world of today, there is exploitation, there is injustice, there is poverty, economic depression, maltreatment of women, and tyranny of all kinds and sorts. All of these elements put the whole existence of humanity and all the progress made by humans into question. Muslims who were once the best of the nations and ruled over half of the world with a system that guaranteed justice and peace is now in a plight where they are oblivious of their rights, duties and have fallen prey to violence and aggression. Allah says:

وَقَالَت طَّائِفَةٌ مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ آمِنُوا بِالَّذِي أُنزِلَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَجْهَ النَّهَارِ وَاكْفُرُوا آخِرَهُ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

“A faction of the People of the Book say to each other: Belief in that which was revealed to the believers at the beginning of the day and reject it at its end that perhaps they will abandon their religion.” (Surah Ali Imran 3:72)

Islam completes the long chain of guidance from God to humanity. Islam is the religion that promotes peace, love, and respect among Muslims and also with the people of other religions. Islamic society is the one whose members have “Iman” (faith) in Islam, apply its laws in their life and perform religious duties and abstain from doing what is unlawful according to Islam. Allah says:

وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَىٰ فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَىٰ

“As for him who feared to stand before his Lord and he restrained himself from his desires, then Paradise will be his refuge.” (Surah An-Naziat 79:40)

Islam has some of the distinct features, which make it necessary for modern man to seek his salvation through this ideology. We must be well understood that Islam is not a mere ideological vision. It is a practical system of life that fully appreciates all the genuine needs of humankind and tries to realize them. Allah says:

وَلَا تَسُبُّوا الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ فَيَسُبُّوا اللَّهَ عَدْوًا بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ

“Do not curse those they invoke besides Allah, lest they insult Allah in hostility without knowledge.” (Surat al-An’am 6:108)

All those who join the Islamic community will have the same rights and social status. They will not be subjected to any racial, national or class distinctions. No one will be regarded as high or low. It does not suppress the human instincts in order to make the soul ascend the higher planes, nor does it allow a man, in his efforts to fulfil his bodily desires, to stoop down to the low level of animalism and hedonism.

Some of the major reasons that have caused:

1. Islam is referred to as the symbol of the Islamic religion itself
2. Islam is nothing short of a miracle and a revolution
3. Islam strikes a balance between the two extremes
4. Islam is a beholder of true colours and joys of life
5. Islam does not differentiate between Muslims
6. Islam is strictly against all kinds of crimes 
7. Islam, as a religion, graced humanity
8. Islam is the complete code of life
9. Islam wants followers to be fair
10. Islam condemnation of bribery
11. Muslims has ruling half of the world
12. Muslim’s decline is their lack of unity
13. Muslims forgot the true preaching of Islam
14. Muslims are a single nation all over the world
15. Muslims has to see beyond the general notion
16. Muslims to be just and be fair in their dealings
17. Muslims started differentiating between one another
18. Muslims do not consider part of a single nation today
19. Muslims do not consider the other Muslims as brothers
20. Muslims are in such a place is they lack Islamic knowledge
21. Muslims have ignored the importance of worldly education
22. Muslims can follow Islam and its instructions without any doubt

” God declares in the Quran, “And I did not create … mankind except to worship Me.” (Quran 51:56)

Islam exercises a beneficent constraint on all these mutually opposing forces, prevents them from coming into collision with one another, and harnesses them all to co-operate for the general good of humankind as a whole. Rather, Islam holds that all these diverse elements put together, form what is called human society; and that the best code of life is that which takes note of all these, making full allowance for the body as well as reason and spirit, arranging them all in the framework of a harmonious whole. Allah says:

وَقُلِ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ

“The truth is from your Lord. So whoever will let him believe, and whoever will let him disbelieve.” (Surah Al-Kahf 18:29)

Thus, Islam strikes a balance between different sectors of society and between different aspects of existence, spiritual as well as material. Unlike Communism, it does not believe that economic factors, i.e. the material aspect alone, dominate human existence. Nor does it contribute to what the pure spiritualists or idealists say, claiming that spiritual factors or high ideals alone are sufficient to organize human life.

The following Quranic verses are very clear and straightforward, Allah Almighty says in Quran:

• “And say: ‘My Lord! Increase me in knowledge.” (Quran 20:114)
• “Do no evil nor mischief on the (face of the) earth.” (Quran 2:60)
• “Did you see how Allah created seven heavens, one above the other, and made in them the moon a light and the sun a lamp?” (Quran, 71: 15-16)
• “Give of the good things which ye have (honourably) earned, and of the fruits of the earth which We have produced for you.” (Quran 2:267)
• “When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him.” (Quran15:29)
• “Give full measure when you measure and weigh with an even balance. That is the best (way) and best in the result.” (Quran17:35)
• “Eat of the good things that We have provided for you, and be grateful to God, if it is Him ye worship.” (Quran 2:172)
• “And do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly or send it (in bribery) to the rulers in order that (they might aid) you (to) consume a portion of the wealth of the people in sin, while you know (it is unlawful).” (Quran 2:188)

It must always be kept in mind that Islam has an altogether independent existence of its own as a social philosophy and an economic system. Some of its outward manifestations may on the surface appear to resemble those of Capitalism or Socialism, but in fact, it is far from being the one or the other. It retains all the good characteristics of these systems, yet is free from their shortcomings and perversions. It does not extol individualism to that loathful extent which is the characteristic of the modern West. Allah says:

قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Say, “Indeed, my prayer, and my rites of sacrifice, and my living, and my dying (are) for Allah, Lord (of) the worlds.” (Surah Al-An`am 6:162)

The social system of Islam enjoins the people to establish a strong relationship in which one can depend upon the other for help. A true Islamic society is where people can keep loyalty and faith among themselves. In an Islamic society, one has to respect the rights of others and conduct good duties towards each other. Mutual respect, kindness, and Justice towards each other create a close relationship and good morals in Islamic society. The foremost and fundamental institution of human society is the family unit. Allah says:

وَاللَّهُ أَخْرَجَكُم مِّن بُطُونِ أُمَّهَاتِكُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ شَيْئًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

“And Allah has brought you out from the wombs of your mothers while you know nothing. And He gave you hearing, sight, and hearts that you might give thanks (to Allah).” (Surah An-Nahl 16:78)

Islam is a faith and comprehensive way of life that literally means ‘peace through submission to God.’ It provides a clear understanding of a person’s relationship with God, purpose in life, and ultimate destiny. A Muslim is someone who adopts the Islamic way of life by believing in the Oneness of God and the prophethood of Muhammad, peace be upon him (PBUH). Allah says:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍ

“For those who believe and work deeds of righteousness is a reward that will never (fail).” (Surah Fussilat 41:8)

History knows Muslims as one of the glorious nations of the world that embodied truth, justice, peace, and unity. However, Muslims at present lack all these elements and this is the reason behind their being oppressed and backwards in the present world. Hence, for Muslims to rise again on the map of the world and be known, it is imperative that firstly they get their knowledge of Islam straight, then they should work on getting worldly education as well and then try to bridge the gap between Muslim nations and grow closer to one another. Allah says:

أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنَاهُمَا وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ حَيٍّ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

“Do not see those who disbelieved that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, then We parted them and We made from [the] water every living thing? Then will not they believe?” (Surah Al-Anbiya` 21:30)

The world with the shadows of war still hanging over it cannot but turn towards Islam – the only way to establish and maintain real peace on this earth. The era of Islam has in a way just started, not ended; it is not a spent force, but a living dynamic force, its future is as bright as its great historical past is glorious, when it illumined the face of the earth at a time when Europe was still groping its way in the dark recesses of Medievalism.