Throughout their lives, people want to be like those they regard as being of higher quality, and they often accept them as role models. They look at pictures of movie stars and artists and try to imitate their tastes, and even their beliefs most of the time, out of admiration for them. Yet the sole belief worthy of being learned and praised is Islam, and Muslims who represent Islam must therefore live as high quality lives as possible.
One of the most striking features of this current era is rapid communication as a result of technological advances. A person in his home can be in contact with all the world and can easily see the way the people there live. This rapid communication is one of the reasons why Muslims across the world must be high quality. A quality conception of life has a positive effect on everyone and is instrumental in others taking an interest in one’s beliefs. Having a high quality of life is therefore an important way of preaching Islam.
Allah describes in the Quran how Muslims must wear clean clothes, eat good food, live in pleasant environments and, most important of all, possess elevated moral values. All the prophets were people who led the highest quality lives among their peoples, within the conditions of the time and their own means. The beauty and technological superiority of the palace of the Prophet Solomon (PBUH) was instrumental in Queen of Sheba, coming to have faith.
The Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) wore the best quality and most magnificent clothing of the time, a Roman robe, when welcoming visitors. People immediately recognised Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) rose-scented fragrance when he was walking in the streets. The Prophet (PBUH) tinged his eyes with kohl and had his beard well-groomed. Our Prophet’s wives were extremely well-groomed Muslim ladies.
A superior conception of art and science, compassion and high quality arrived everywhere that Islam reached, not just the Arabian Peninsula: For example, Inspired by love of Allah, Andalusian architecture and the Andalusian Muslims’ democratic approach to people of all faiths, cultures and beliefs, are still an example for all of Europe.
The spread of Islamic moral values throughout the world and their acceptance by large numbers of people in the West in particular can only become possible by eliminating the false image that has been established of Islam. If someone who lives in a Western country, who has a certain standard of living, is given the impression that Muslims have to be inward-looking, avoid aesthetic pleasures and live a life purged of all blessings, unhappy, devoid of beauty and music, and generally frozen, that person is not going to develop a positive opinion of Islam. If there is no music in Muslims’ lives, no paintings or sculpture, no quality people, no compliments and no pleasant environment that expands the human spirit, if there is no architecture, no democracy, no freedom of ideas and no happy people having fun, then the world is never going to sign up to Islam.
A quality life does not mean expensive cars, palaces or designer clothing; true quality is a desire in the human heart and the longing to make Paradise on Earth. When a person has that longing, moral virtues and deep faith will manifest themselves in the very best way. A Muslim capable of beautifying his own life and surroundings with his moral values and presence is someone who lives by Islam in the finest manner, and that sincerity can be instrumental in many people turning to Islam.
Adnan Oktar's piece on The Gulf Today:
http://gulftoday.ae/portal/6d821afa-adb0-476a-9b66-650acc04773f.aspx