An Academic Analysis of the Rapid Growth of Islam: A Theological Perspective

An Academic Analysis of the Rapid Growth of Islam: A Theological Perspective

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute

The rapid expansion of Islam in the modern world has often been interpreted as evidence of divine approval or spiritual authenticity. However, from a theological and ethical standpoint, growth in numbers does not necessarily equate to spiritual truth or holiness. The New Testament consistently emphasizes transformation through repentance, regeneration, and sanctification as the hallmarks of authentic faith (cf. Acts 3:19; Romans 12:2). Christianity calls individuals to moral accountability—to confess, repent, and live in righteousness through Christ’s redemptive power.

In contrast, the Islamic system of salvation appears largely ritualistic, emphasizing external observances rather than inward transformation. The Five Pillars of Islam—profession of faith, daily prayers, fasting during Ramadan, almsgiving, and pilgrimage to Mecca—constitute a framework that, while structured, lacks the soteriological depth found in the Christian doctrine of grace and repentance (Ephesians 2:8–9). The notion that one’s sins can be absolved merely through ritual performance, pilgrimage, or adherence to prescribed acts, presents a moral challenge from a biblical perspective. It suggests an external form of righteousness without the inner renewal of the heart that Scripture demands (Matthew 15:8; Romans 10:10).

Furthermore, certain Islamic allowances—such as polygamy (Qur’an 4:3), concubinage, and historically sanctioned slavery—reflect sociocultural accommodations rather than divine moral perfection. These elements underscore a religion that, in many instances, caters to human appetites rather than restrains them through divine holiness. The Qur’anic depiction of paradise as a place of sensual reward (Qur’an 56:22–24) further supports the argument that Islam’s eschatological vision is anthropocentric rather than theocentric.

From a Christian theological lens, this system aligns with the Pauline warning against deceptive spiritual systems that mimic holiness while denying the power of true godliness: “And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie” (2 Thessalonians 2:11–12, NKJV). This “delusion” may well describe a religious framework that replaces divine transformation with ritual compliance, grace with law, and holiness with human gratification.

The growth of Islam, therefore, should be understood not as an indication of divine truth but as a socioreligious phenomenon shaped by ease of observance, ritualistic assurance, and permissive moral codes. True religion, according to Scripture, is not measured by numbers but by righteousness, repentance, and reconciliation with the living God through Jesus Christ—the only name under heaven by which humanity can be saved (Acts 4:12).

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References

• The Holy Bible, New King James Version.

• The Qur’an, trans. M. A. S. Abdel Haleem. Oxford University Press, 2005.

• Augustine, The City of God, trans. Henry Bettenson. Penguin Classics, 2003.

• John Stott, Basic Christianity. InterVarsity Press, 2008.

• William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics. Crossway, 2008.

• Nabeel Qureshi, No God But One: Allah or Jesus? Zondervan, 2016.

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