It was the text of the Koran and the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed that led the Muslim world to preserve the writings of the Greeks and Romans which would have otherwise been lost, to father the study of sciences like Chemistry and Algebra (the only true evil that you may attribute to Islam). They were studying the spread of diseases, health and sanitation while all their European counterparts could do was saw people's limbs off if they felt ill. Scholars from around the world, both Muslim and non-Muslim, would go to study in Damascus and Baghdad, to the largest library of the time, and this was all going on during the worst of Europe's dark ages. Without the scientific advances made by Islam our current technology would be a couple centuries behind where it is now (say goodbye to your new cell phone).

Islam and the Koran gave women more rights than any other civilization of the time. For the first time women were allowed to own property and conduct business. They did not belong to their husbands but instead a relationship filled with equal rights was created, where a woman could even divorce her husband if she felt abused. Where else have woman's rights of this degree been seen before the last century?

The West complains about the hijab and how it oppresses women.There are two things to say to that: 1) Even before the time of the Prophet, instead of oppressing women the coverings were considered a sign of status and nobility (nuns wear them, don't they? and it's definitely better than girls thinking they have to starve themselves to look pretty). and 2) the Koran says "there is no complusion in religion," and anyone who tries to force people to comply with his interpretation of religion is dead wrong and should be stopped. Any compliance with acts such as following hijab must be voluntary or they have no meaning.

Remember, in Islam there is no clash between Science and Religion. There is no submission of women under man. And there is NO PUNISHING OTHERS FOR NOT SHARING YOUR FAITH. That was never Islam and never will be, and any "Muslim" claiming otherwise is either ignorant or has a personal agenda to fulfill...there goes the clash of civilizations idea