Islam is the spirit of civilization

The author mentions that his book came in response to Lord Cromer, the British government’s representative in Egypt, in his book "Modern Egypt," in which Cromer criticized Islam, claiming that it is a religion incompatible with civilization and that it is only suitable for the time and environment in which it existed. He argued that Muslims cannot advance in the ladder of civilization and progress unless they abandon their religion and reject the Quran and its commands outwardly, because it commands laziness and fanaticism, and instills in them the spirit of hatred for others, discord, and love of revenge. He also presented ideas that contradict the modern civilization in terms of boldness and delicacy, etc. Furthermore, Cromer compared the two religions, Islam and Christianity, in terms of worship, morals, etc., using this as a pretext to attack Islam, its worship, morals, and manners. He did this after praising Islam as a religion and a moral code, which shows a clear contradiction in his words. As for Islam being a sharia, politics, and dealings, Cromer completely disagrees with that and strongly condemns it, criticizing it extensively from this aspect. The core issue, according to Cromer’s view, is that the greatest obstacle and barrier to the progress of the Islamic nation is religion or the Quran. For all these reasons, Sheikh Mustafa Al-Ghalayini decided to write this book, "Islam, the Spirit of Civilization," to refute his claims and disprove his lies and false statements, demonstrating that Islam is the best religion revealed to mankind, that it is "the spirit of civilization," and that it is compatible with every time and place. He avoids criticizing Islam itself unjustly, believing that all religions command goodness and happiness. In accordance with the verse: "And argue not with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best," and the Prophet’s saying: "Whoever enjoins good, let him do so in a good manner." Therefore, the author, when mentioning other religions besides Islam, does so only to show Lord Cromer that they are not better than Islam in what they have taken from it or that Islam is better in this or that matter. Sheikh Al-Ghalayini’s purpose in this book is not to prove that Islam is free from the accusations Lord Cromer made against it, as this is known to every rational person who rises above the filth of fanaticism. Rather, his aim is to show Europeans, Cromer, and others like him that Islam is far from what they understand or write about it, and that there is a vast gap between it and their claims.