Islam is the second largest religion in the world (after Christianity), the fastest growing religion in the world, and statistics indicate it will soon be the largest religion in America. Islam is extremely tolerant of other religions. The Qur'an clearly and strongly states that "there is to be no compulsion in religion" (2:256), and that God has created not one but many nations and peoples. Many passages underscore the diversity of humankind. The Qur'an teaches that God deliberately created a world of diversity :





"O humankind, We have created you male and female and made you nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another."

(49:13)





Since the consequences of false religion are extremely grave, the true religion of God must be universally understandable and attainable: it should not be confined to any people, place or time. There can not be conditions like baptism, belief in a man, as a savior etc for a believer to enter paradise. Within the central principle of Islam and in its definition, that is to surrender one's will to the will of God, lies the roots of Islam's universality. Whenever man comes to the realization that Allah is one and distinct from His creation, and submits himself to Allah, he becomes a Muslim in body and spirit and is eligible for paradise. Thus, anyone at anytime in the most remote region of the world can become a Muslim, a follower of God's religion, Islam, by merely rejecting the worship of creation and by turning to Allah (God) alone. It should be noted however, that the recognition of and submission to Allah requires that one chooses between right and wrong and such a choice implies accountability and responsibility. Man will be held responsible for his choices, and, as such, he should try his utmost to do good and avoid evil. The ultimate good is the worship of Allah alone and the ultimate evil is the worship of His creation along with or instead of Allah.