The most widely held question by the contemporary non-Muslim world is as to what is there so unique about Islam in particular when all the religions teach us to do good deeds and shun evil. Everyone for sure agrees that all the great religions including Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism and Islam provide a fair distinction between right and wrong, good and evil. Lying, stealing, raping, killing all are considered prohibited in these religions. Then why do these Muslims go on and on about Islam? Is there any practical logic behind it?

If only by preaching the dos and don’ts evil could be stopped then there is for sure no need of Islam; we can all follow our own beliefs and faith. But the question is that why the results are not coming if this is the case? We all know what is right and wrong yet the society continues to degenerate and crime and evil is unstoppable. This is where Islam differs from other faiths…
The Fundamental difference between Islam and other religions
All faiths profess righteousness and shun evil, but the unique trait of Islam is that it guides people as how to practically achieve peace and righteousness and how to avert evil on individual as well as social level. Islam is called the “Natural Religion of Man” since its beliefs and philosophies are based upon human nature and are prescribed by God Himself. Who would know the nature of man except for the One who created him? Let us consider some major issues that our world is facing today: poverty, robberies and rape.

Solution for Poverty and Robberies
Like all religions, Islam also condemns thefts and robberies… what is the difference then, huh? The diversity is that along with telling us not to rob, Islam also provides a method to put an end to it. It prescribes the system of Zakaat, which is obligatory annual charity. Every person who has a saving that exceeds the nisaab level i.e. more than 85 grams of gold, should give 2.5% of that saving yearly in charity. The principal cause of robberies and thefts is poverty. If everyone would give 2.5% of his savings, poverty would for sure end in the world. Then, Islam prescribes the law of chopping off the hands of the robber. You would scream out, “WHAT? Chopping off someone’s hand! It is indeed a barbaric and brutal religion!” But let us suppose if we implement this law in any country where the crime rate is skyscraping, will the rate of crime and theft increase or decrease. If every citizen would give 2.5% of his savings, will poverty increase or decrease? Sure nobody would like to see thousands of people without hand! But the truth is that when we implement this law, the rate of thefts will decline automatically as nobody would like to take the risk of this level. The thought of the penalty would scare the hell of the robber and he would in most cases refrain from it. Alongside, when you give out 2.5% your savings to the needy, nobody will need to rob to begin with. Hence, hardly anyone will have to undergo this punishment.

Solution for Rape
According to almost all religions, rape is considered a serious offense. Islam has the same stance. The difference between Islam and other religious in this respect is that along with prohibiting rape it also provides a solution to put an end to this heinous act. It has the system of hijab for both men and women, “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them.” Hijab for women includes covering their complete body except for the hands, feet and face along with lowering their lowering their gaze. The reason this hijab has been prescribed is to protect the women from molestation.

Then Islam prescribes capital punishment for rapist. You would say “What! Such a ruthless punishment! It is surely not practical in this modern age!” But if you would ask anyone that if someone rapes your wife, sister or mother, how would you like to punish him? Most people will say, “We will KILL him!” But when Islam professes the same, we call it barbaric! Double standards, huh?

Islam as the Only Solution for Mankind
Had “man-made” laws been effective and result-oriented, the most developed countries like United States would not have the highest rate of crimes and rape. Ask yourselves, if we would implement Islamic laws in the world, will rapes increase or decrease? Will crime increase or decrease? Islam not only tells us “what to do” but “how to do” as well. Owing to such individual and social solutions, Islam has become the fastest growing faith in the world. (An article in Reader’s Digest ‘Almanac’, year book 1986, gave the statistics of the increase of percentage of the major religions of the world in half a century from 1934 to 1984. This article also appeared in ‘The Plain Truth’ magazine. At the top was Islam, which increased by 235%, and Christianity had increased only by 47%)

This myth that “Islam steals people’s freedom” is bogus. What seems to be lack of freedom is in fact meant for the benefit of individuals and society as a whole. It is just like the example of wearing a seat belt while driving and some would refuse to do so saying, “No! This is stealing my freedom...” Similarly, if humans are set all free, there are more chances of this world becoming a jungle than a civilized place. The restrictions are meant for our safety just as wearing a seat belt while driving minimizes the chance of accident. Islam minimizes the chances of personal and social evils by these restrictions.

If you think there is any other faith or philosophy that can solve the problems of mankind practically, I would love to hear.