The following piece is a good summary of Islam. However, I would like the
writer to do more research on two items that are highlighted in Red. Some of us may tend to believe that
all the holy books are devoid of arrogance, we as individuals may interpret it
or sleight it to suit our wants, as it is human to believe that we
have the best and we chase only that, that is the best.
With a few exceptions, representatives of faiths believe that their's is
the best. I am sure every one is guilty of it. Both the paragraphs have
this line "... Islam is the only
religion... " Even though the author's intention was to
write to the Muslim audience, I would think that it takes away the spirituality
of being in tune with God. Religion is Humility and claiming to be the only
religion brings arrogance in to the equation. I would like to think that
Qur'aan has many verses (some one can help with this) that allows one to respect
what others choose, and is reinforced by the fact that there is no compulsion in
matters of faith.
If one is selling the religion, I can see the value of "the only
religion..". As my daughter had argued "Dad why would the clergy
want to say that all religions are beautiful, if they do that, why would the
public want to go to them, and how would they make their living? How would they
build their congregation? You can always believe that you have a faith that
gives you peace, tranquility and spirituality as other faiths give the others
what they are looking for. Can we temper our religiosity to this temperature?
That may be the ultimate surrender to the will of God when all distinctions
between you and I fade.
True spirit of Islam
By Haider Zaman
ISLAM had never been so much a target of criticism and accusations as it is
today. Some people call it a religion that breeds intolerance and bigotry, while
there are others who blame it for preaching animosity and discrimination. And
some brand it as a religion that sanctions violence, terrorism, oppression and
conflicts specially against the opponents in faith.
The responsibility
for these accusations lies squarely on us — the Muslims of today. We have not
been able to project the true spirit of Islam in general and the sublimity,
objectivity and universality of its message the way we should have done it. We
have been so much absorbed in the ritualistic aspect of the religion that we
have forgotten its true spirit and its potentiality of being capable of
weathering every storm and guiding and enlightening the human beings till the
day of resurrection.
The very name of the religion of Islam is enough to
dispel and set at naught most of the above blames and accusations. It is a
religion that implies submission to the will of Allah, the Creator and Nourisher
of all and of everything and living being in the universe and Who neither has
nor will ever have any equal or partner. This is what the Muslim faith in
essence implies.
The Quran being the mainspring of Islam, enjoins us to
believe in all the Prophets and their scriptures alike and without any
discrimination (2:177) (4:150). It does not sanction the use of force and
coercive methods for taking its message across (2:256) (50:45). Rather it
emphasises the extensive use of knowledge and reasoning when it says “O,
Prophet invite to the Way of your Lord with wisdom and excellent preachings and
argue with the people in the best manner†(16:125).
The practical
aspect of this admonition is manifest in the way Hazrat Ibrahim used to invite
people to the Way of Allah (6:83). In regard to the people of other scriptures,
the Quran advises us to take a start from the common elements of faith, while
arguing with them, telling them that we have believed in what has been sent down
to us as well as in that which has been sent down to you (29:46). Thus, even in
the matter of preaching and conveying its message, the Quran takes every
possible care to avoid the use of force and conflicts.
The Quran
considers all human beings irrespective of caste, colour, descent or creed as
equal and on that account entitled to all such rights that could be basic to
human dignity and needs at the relevant time but always subject to the limits
set by Allah (49:13). It also emphasizes the need for abiding by the principle
of equal opportunities, namely, that everyone shall be entitled to have equal
opportunity to learn, develop, contribute and be accordingly rewarded
(4:32).
Jealousy also occurs when people are afraid of simply being
equalled in certain respects. But when Islam already treats the people as equal
in the most important aspects of life, there can be very little scope for
breeding intolerance, bigotry and inclination towards discrimination among the
true believers.
Propensity towards violence, terrorism and oppression is
created when people have bona fide conviction that they are not being treated
justly or they are being discriminated against. But
Islam is the only religion that enjoins the
believers to do justice even if it may be harmful to themselves, or their
relatives or friends and irrespective of the fact the party concerned is rich or
poor (4:135). The believers are
specifically advised to ensure that their enmity with some people does not turn
them away from justice (5:8).
The practical aspect of this admonition was
manifest in the directive of Hazrat Umar to the governor of Kufa when he said
“treat the people equally in your presence, in your company and in your
decisions so that the weak despair not of justice and the strong have no hope of
any favourâ€. To the same effect was what Hazrat Abu Bakr emphasized in his
address at the time of assuming the office of Caliph when he said “By Allah:
he that is weaker among you, shall be strongest in my sight until I have
redressed his wrong and he who is strong, shall be weakest in my sight until he
conforms to law and I have taken from him that which he has
usurpedâ€.
Violence and terrorism are the manifestations of excesses and
transgressions. The Quran specifically enjoins the believers to avoid the
commission of excesses and transgressions (5:87). Rather it enjoins the
maintenance of balance (55:8) and adherence to moderation in every walk of life
(31:19). It specifically condemns oppression (42:42) and creation of disorder on
earth.
Harmony in human relations could be one way to avoid most of the
acts and behaviours for which Islam is blamed. The Quran provides excellent
guidance for the promotion of harmony in human relations when it says: cooperate
in all good things (5:2), repel evil with goodness (28:54), do your work through
consultation (42:38), do not cooperate in doing wrong things (5:20), exercise
patience (16:126), control rage (3:134), hold to forgiveness (7:199), tell the
truth (33:35), shun pride (2:134), hold to forgiveness (7:199), avoid evil
plotting (35:43), avoid greed (4:128), do not commit fraud (83:1), do not covet
what belongs to others (4:32), keep up pledges (17:34), do not commit excesses
(5:87) control desires (4:135), do not withhold from people things that are due
to them (11:85) and treat others the way you would like yourself to be treated
(2:267) (4:86) and don’t tell lies (39:3).
From the above Quranic
injunctions, admonitions and historical facts it follows that Islam is the only religion that has the
inherent and unlimited capability of guiding and enlightening the human beings
on the right way, on the one hand, and combating and warding off all wrongs and
evils, including those for which it is gratuitously blamed, on the other. It
preaches love and affection and not animosity, it preaches moderation and
maintenance of balance and condemns commission of excesses.
Islam
preaches peace and brotherhood and not violence and hatred; it preaches doing of
justice and condemns oppression; it preaches harmony and not conflicts; it
enjoins kindness even to enemies; it emphasises the need for the acquisition of
knowledge and shedding of ignorance; it encourages continuous progress and not
retrogression and above all it stresses the need for equality in treatment in
respect of certain basic rights and needs and the provision of equal
opportunities and condemns discrimination.
