Rather, the evidence is that where women are highly educated--indeed, everywhere literacy rates are high--the prevalence of religious beliefs are low. That is why from time immemorial, from the Catholic Church to fundamentalist Protestants to the Taliban, highly religious people realize that educating people (outside the bible or Quran) is bad for religion. Consider, for example:
"Concerning international poverty rates, the United Nations’ Report on the
World Social Situation (2003) found that of the
40 poorest nations on earth, all but
one (Vietnam) are highly religious nations with statistically minimal or
insignificant levels of atheism. Concerning illiteracy rates, the same report found
that of the 35 nations with the highest levels of youth illiteracy rates, all are
highly religious nations with statistically insignificant levels of organic atheism."
Tell me this: even after 1400 years of Islam,
why are the poorest and least literate countries on earth the ones with the highest percentage of muslims? If being a muslim means that Allah will treat you well, why hasn't that happened? Looking on the situation objectively,
it appears that if a significant portion of a country's population adopts Islam, it is fairly certain that they will be mired in poverty and illiteracy forever. Is it the case that the only benefits of being a muslim will be experienced in paradise, after death?[/QUOTE]
1) You asked "why are the poorest and least literate countries on earth the ones with the highest percentage of muslims?" The statistic you posted above says these impoverished nations are full of religious people, but does not say what type of religion they have. Another thing- what countries are the poorest? What type of government do they have? A government can also affect literacy, religion and wealth of its citizens.
2) Another thing you said: "If being a muslim means Allah will treat you well, why hasn't that happened?"
"Allah tests us with wealth, plenty, ease and power just as He tests us with poverty, hardship and oppression. Al-Ibtilaa' is a sunnah of Allah Most High. Throughout history, Allah has tested the bearers of His messages and others among His slaves. The test of Allah can be very hard, but by means of it Allah raises the level of His prophets and erases the sins of the righteous believers. The complete defeat of the Muslims and the overrunning of their homes and property by the disbelievers is NOT one of Allah's tests which he puts on the believers. Rather, it is a sign of their having fallen out of Allah's favor through their crimes and sins.
The Prophet(sas) informed us that the presence of tests indicates the presence of iman and that a believer may continue to be tested until he has no sin remaining. Although Allah's tests can benefit us in the long run, a believer does not wish for the test of Allah - rather he always hopes for the forgiveness and mercy of Allah Most High. Allah said in the Qur'an:
{And we will surely test you with some fear, hunger and shortages of property, people and produce. But give good tidings to the steadfast. Those who, when a calamity befalls them say: "We belong to Allah and to Him we return." Upon these are prayers from their Lord and mercy and these are the rightly-guided ones.}
In another verse, Allah said:
{We will surely test you in your wealth and in yourselves and you will hear many hurtful things from those who were given the book before you and from those who associate others with Allah. If you are steadfast and beware of Allah, that is the strongest position.}
Aal 'Imraan: 186
Allah here warns us of some of the hardships we will definitely face as Muslims in this world. Wealth can be a test both when it is plentiful and when it is scarce. The Prophet (sas) stated in the hadith that he did not fear for his nation poverty, rather he feared for us the ill effects of plenty. Likewise, a shortage of 'selves' (i.e., manpower) can leave us exposed and weak before our enemies while military strength while large numbers of forces could tempt some among us to transgress beyond the bounds of jihad and engage in oppression, exploitation and imperialism or to form alliances with unislamic elements hoping for "victory". "
info taken from
http://members.cox.net/arshad/allahtest.html
3) You said "It appears that if a significant portion of a country's population adopts Islam, it is fairly certain that they will be mired in poverty and illiteracy forever." Considering the information you posted to support this statement, none of which shows how many of the 40 poorest countries/35 most illiterate countries have Muslims as the majority of their population, I am not sure how you can say what you have said. It appears that you are making a sweeping generalization that to adopt Islam as your religion you must be ignorant or illiterate, or to be muslim you must be ignorant or illiterate. How else would a population consisting mostly of muslims be impoverished? A belief in God will not cause poverty. There are plenty of people, muslims INCLUDED, who believe in Allah/God and have enough money or more than enough money to support themselves and their families.
