Sunday 19 December 2010
PILLARS OF ISLAM
In Islam there are five basic duties which Muslims must perform. They are known as the five pillars of Islam (Arkanul Islam). These are: Shahadah, the establishment of prayer (Salah), the payment of Zakah (paying the poor due), the Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah and Sawm Ramadan (fasting the month of Ramadan).
1- SHAHADA (The First Pillar of Islam)
لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله
“La llaha illal-lah Muhammad -ur-rasulullah“
“There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah“
2- SALAH (The Second Pillar of Islam)
The second pillar of Islam is performing Salah (prayer). The Muslim is enjoined to perform five obligatory prayers every day to keep himself in relation with his Lord, to invoke and implore Him, and to refrain himself from committing lewdness or indecency. These prayers not only ensure psychological rest to the Muslim in this present life, but they also pave the way to him to gain eternal happiness in the hereafter.
3- ZAKAAT (The Third Pillar of Islam)
ALLAH ordained every Muslim who possesses a certain amount a certain amount of property to pay annually of these possessions the Zakah to the poor, or to the other categories mentioned in the Quran.
4- SAWM RAMADHAN (The Fourth Pillar of Islam)
The fourth pillar of Islam is to fast during the month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Hijri calendar.
Before the dawn of the first day of Ramadan, the Muslim in-tends to fast this month, and abstains every day from drinking, eating, or practicing sex till after the sun sets, He performs the fasting till the end of the month of Ramadan, fulfilling by that the commandment of Allah, and seeking His pleasure.
5- Hajj (The Fifth Pillar of Islam)
Pilgrimage (Hajj) is the fifth pillar of Islam. It is a duty for a Muslim to perform pilgrimage to the House of Allah once in lifetime, however it is permissible to him to do pilgrimage voluntarily more than once.
Pilgrimage has innumerable benefits:
1. In fulfilling this service, man expresses his devotion to Allah, not only by performing rites which need physical effort, but he expresses also his deep spiritual devotion to Allah and spends of his money for His sake.
2. Pilgrimage is an annual Muslim-congress, attended by Muslims from all over the world.
Saturday 4 December 2010
The Muslim nation has a universal message for mankind
If as a researcher, I were to compare the men of yesterday and today whose prejudices have scarred the very core of religion, then I am overwhelmingly inclined to convict the latter. This is because their attitudes and prejudices do not merely affect them personally, but threaten to undermine and devastate the future of humankind.
Racism and discrimination can be driving forces which lead people to hatred and closed-mindedness -- two sentiments that contradict all Allaah-given values.
The force of destruction -- if it can be thus described -- of distorting or misinterpreting the role of religion, may result in religious indifference, or in the reduction of the social and moral relevance of religion.
Correcting the understanding of civilization is man's first step towards acknowledging the multiplicity of civilizations and the variety of cultures, which are prerequisites to achieving peaceful coexistence with people of other nations.
Man must understand that civilization is the product of perseverance. It is the fruit of creativity, that survives the challenges and demands of time and place. Man must learn to use the scales of justice granted to him and to recognize that his civilization and cultural heritage carry at their core a sublime message, which he must follow -- positively or negatively -- as he pleases.
Allaah Almighty Says in the glorious Quran (what means): "We sent aforetime our Messengers with clear signs and sent down with them The Book and the Balance (of Right and Wrong), that men may stand forth in justice" [Quran 60: 25]
Concerning this issue of religion and civilization, Professor Maalik bin Nabi states:
"Civilization is prompted with the incentive of religious belief. Thus in every civilization we must search for the religious origins."
Ironically, is not the Christianity of today's liberal West that self-same Christianity which was attacked and hounded by 'enlightened' Western thinkers centuries ago? This is the very question we address to the representatives of the Christian faith who await any opportunity to attack Islam and the Muslim world.
If we were to examine the symbols of contemporary Christian thought used in any of its assaults on other cultures, we would find it a cross between secularism on one hand, and a collection of isolated philosophical, social, and religious values on the other.
Not surprisingly, the two are in no way related. The causal observer need exert very little effort to reach the conclusion that Western civilization, despite its haughtiness and tyranny, and its economic and material dominance in the world, is actually in a state of deadlock.
Western man is in need of direction and a definition of his very essence. It is in this arena that the Muslim nation can play a very important role. Globalization and Civilization Interaction The Muslim Ummah (nation) carries a universal and final message to all of humankind, and therefore, it must be present in any age to take part positively in civilization. Many questions are asked concerning the standpoint Muslims are taking towards globalization. Do we, as a nation, accept or reject the concept? Do we feel positive or negative about it? In fact, these questions are illogical for two reasons:
Firstly, the Muslim Ummah is responsible for bearing the message of Islam to humanity and for bearing witness to Allaah's word. This can only be achieved by laying down a paragon of excellence using the Divine code conveyed in the Holy Quran.
It is a code that touches family life, society and civilized conduct. Failure to set a good example in life and society is to fall short in doing one's duty and faithfully spreading the truth. If this is the case with a small minority of Muslims worldwide, it is inconceivable that the entire Ummah who read Allaah's divinely protected book and know His truth would behave so irresponsibly.
Hence, however powerful the West may be within the framework of globalization, and however influential its modern culture is, it is still impossible for it to append the Muslim world as part of its own civilization.
Secondly, in our day and age, choosing to be negative and passive, or blindly refusing to make any choice whatsoever, are both impossible attitudes to maintain. Distances have shrunk and barriers have been stripped away, making the world a much smaller place.
There is now no way for us to seclude ourselves closing our eyes and ears to the outside world. In any case, such an attitude goes against the true spirit of Islamic teachings and civilization, and the universality of its message.
Thus, the true believing Muslim who upholds the ageless banner of his civilization must interact with his peers and surroundings. There must be between him and members of other cultures the type of exchange that allows for better understanding and appreciation.
He should reach out to others through Da'wah, the call to Islam, setting a good example, establishing justice, and discussing all issues with wisdom and forbearance.
It is my opinion that while the vast Muslim masses should focus on setting good examples, the role of discourse and major discussions should be the call of Muslim scholars, thinkers and intellectuals who are capable of fulfilling this role and bearing the responsibility of such an obligation.
The history of our Islamic civilization has passed down a glorious heritage and a wealth of unique achievements by which we should feel honored. We must seek inspiration from our great past and borrow some of its dazzling accomplishments according to the spirit of the present age, in order to cooperate and better interact with other cultures in goodness and righteousness.
Professor Muhammad Abu Zahrah states: “Coming closer and developing a better understanding of other cultures requires co-operation in order to uphold truth and virtue, put down falsehood and administer co-operation so that people from every part of the earth may unite to protect and support the weak everywhere, and to prevent tyranny and oppression from corrupting humanit
Racism and discrimination can be driving forces which lead people to hatred and closed-mindedness -- two sentiments that contradict all Allaah-given values.
The force of destruction -- if it can be thus described -- of distorting or misinterpreting the role of religion, may result in religious indifference, or in the reduction of the social and moral relevance of religion.
Correcting the understanding of civilization is man's first step towards acknowledging the multiplicity of civilizations and the variety of cultures, which are prerequisites to achieving peaceful coexistence with people of other nations.
Man must understand that civilization is the product of perseverance. It is the fruit of creativity, that survives the challenges and demands of time and place. Man must learn to use the scales of justice granted to him and to recognize that his civilization and cultural heritage carry at their core a sublime message, which he must follow -- positively or negatively -- as he pleases.
Allaah Almighty Says in the glorious Quran (what means): "We sent aforetime our Messengers with clear signs and sent down with them The Book and the Balance (of Right and Wrong), that men may stand forth in justice" [Quran 60: 25]
Concerning this issue of religion and civilization, Professor Maalik bin Nabi states:
"Civilization is prompted with the incentive of religious belief. Thus in every civilization we must search for the religious origins."
Ironically, is not the Christianity of today's liberal West that self-same Christianity which was attacked and hounded by 'enlightened' Western thinkers centuries ago? This is the very question we address to the representatives of the Christian faith who await any opportunity to attack Islam and the Muslim world.
If we were to examine the symbols of contemporary Christian thought used in any of its assaults on other cultures, we would find it a cross between secularism on one hand, and a collection of isolated philosophical, social, and religious values on the other.
Not surprisingly, the two are in no way related. The causal observer need exert very little effort to reach the conclusion that Western civilization, despite its haughtiness and tyranny, and its economic and material dominance in the world, is actually in a state of deadlock.
Western man is in need of direction and a definition of his very essence. It is in this arena that the Muslim nation can play a very important role. Globalization and Civilization Interaction The Muslim Ummah (nation) carries a universal and final message to all of humankind, and therefore, it must be present in any age to take part positively in civilization. Many questions are asked concerning the standpoint Muslims are taking towards globalization. Do we, as a nation, accept or reject the concept? Do we feel positive or negative about it? In fact, these questions are illogical for two reasons:
Firstly, the Muslim Ummah is responsible for bearing the message of Islam to humanity and for bearing witness to Allaah's word. This can only be achieved by laying down a paragon of excellence using the Divine code conveyed in the Holy Quran.
It is a code that touches family life, society and civilized conduct. Failure to set a good example in life and society is to fall short in doing one's duty and faithfully spreading the truth. If this is the case with a small minority of Muslims worldwide, it is inconceivable that the entire Ummah who read Allaah's divinely protected book and know His truth would behave so irresponsibly.
Hence, however powerful the West may be within the framework of globalization, and however influential its modern culture is, it is still impossible for it to append the Muslim world as part of its own civilization.
Secondly, in our day and age, choosing to be negative and passive, or blindly refusing to make any choice whatsoever, are both impossible attitudes to maintain. Distances have shrunk and barriers have been stripped away, making the world a much smaller place.
There is now no way for us to seclude ourselves closing our eyes and ears to the outside world. In any case, such an attitude goes against the true spirit of Islamic teachings and civilization, and the universality of its message.
Thus, the true believing Muslim who upholds the ageless banner of his civilization must interact with his peers and surroundings. There must be between him and members of other cultures the type of exchange that allows for better understanding and appreciation.
He should reach out to others through Da'wah, the call to Islam, setting a good example, establishing justice, and discussing all issues with wisdom and forbearance.
It is my opinion that while the vast Muslim masses should focus on setting good examples, the role of discourse and major discussions should be the call of Muslim scholars, thinkers and intellectuals who are capable of fulfilling this role and bearing the responsibility of such an obligation.
The history of our Islamic civilization has passed down a glorious heritage and a wealth of unique achievements by which we should feel honored. We must seek inspiration from our great past and borrow some of its dazzling accomplishments according to the spirit of the present age, in order to cooperate and better interact with other cultures in goodness and righteousness.
Professor Muhammad Abu Zahrah states: “Coming closer and developing a better understanding of other cultures requires co-operation in order to uphold truth and virtue, put down falsehood and administer co-operation so that people from every part of the earth may unite to protect and support the weak everywhere, and to prevent tyranny and oppression from corrupting humanit
Saturday 6 November 2010
Islam is very great religion: Pooja Lama- Interview: Abdus Saboor Nadvi
five months ago Nepal's famous actress, model 28-year-old Pooja Lama perception of Islam and to the community was surprised. She brought up in Buddhist family, She announced her Converting after a short visit to Dubai and return from Qatar to Kathmandu , was present to discuss these important Statements:Q: What feature of Islam in persuading you to accept Islam?
A: I was from the Buddhist family, One year ago that thought in my mind to study other religions, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam started a comparative study, during study travel to Dubai and Qatar was the journey there from the Islamic civilization was very impressed, the biggest feature of Islam, he is Oneness, faith and trust in Allah to see who got strong belief here, and in Other religion I could not.
Q: World media has opened front against Islam, Islam is being presented in the style of terrorism, you were not affected by it?
A: Propaganda against Islam is the reason also embracing to Islam, because his study say other thing was I found, and now I can say with the claim that Islam is the world's only religion of humanity and peace issues Justice solution offers.
Q: Pooja Ji! From the film industry is concerned you, and you regarding the many scandals in the media come to common view, which you was afflicted, and once attempted suicide of you, will tell us something?
A: I did not want to accuse the media regarding my personal life to cut, to publish comments, to defame me, I think you need this talking, still have been my three marriages, after a brief break from all There was gone to alone, I have a son from first husband who lives with my mother, about the same things the media to jump some improper things, which hurt me very much, people accuse me that I have for fame What's all this, the truth is that I was miserable wanted to commit suicide, I took my friends, led by the study of religious books, then embraced Islam, I want to forget my past, because I now 'm quiet and decent life.
Q: Pooja Ji! After acceptance of Islam came a major change in your lifestyle, your head is tied up Scarf , the alcohol and smoking have also repent?
A: Please don’t call me Pooja, Pooja my past and now I am Amna Farooqi, tension-filled moments before Islam, alcohol and cigarettes were my support, ever drink so much that the firm was unconscious. Prey to depression had, and the darkness around me was just darkness, but the joy of Islam have breath, alcohol, cigarettes have turn, the only Halal eat meat.
Q: In Islam Body exhibition of women, song and dance equipment is prevented, to what extent you agree?
A: After my converting to Islam , all producers have broken me , since the sangeet is filled my pulse was intravenous, so sometimes songs in a restaurant will go away, burqa ( Full Hijab) also use’s wearing, will try to exhaust even a series of songs.
Q: What were the motives of Islam?
A: Since the some of my Buddhist partner had converted to Islam, when they see trouble me urge you to Islam, says his teachings, I started to read, one day I put a Muslim friend to lecture, one of his Fixed all my heart that any wrongdoing was not afraid of humans but should fear Allah, so embrace Islam at that time decided to shelter.
Q: After acceptance of Islam was the reaction of your family?
A: After embracing Islam I informed my family, who lives in Darjiling , my mother cooperated fully, if they saw me flowers when smayyn, might say:''Oh dear! You chose the right path, to see you happy I found quiet. Hobbits have changed me, So other people also appreciated the family.
Q: The media have expressed doubt that any Muslim anywhere you are in love and married her to felled you is Islam?
A: baseless news, Some my friends are Muslims, but this does not mean that I love someone felled and brought Islam to marry her lust, yes now I am a Muslim, so I married a Muslim will have, and shall decide when everyone will know then.
Thursday 2 September 2010
Why Muhammad (P.B.U.H) married Aisha, the lady at the age of 9 years?
First: Mrs. Aisha when he wanted to marry the prophet Mohammed peace be upon him was engaged to Mutim Ben Adi is full of femininity, where he did not report on something new
Second: The girls in the hot early complement Anottnea
Third: that this was usually the Arab tribes marriage at puberty, and many examples including the caliph Omar marriage the daughter of Prophet Ali, may Allah be pleased
Fourth: that one did not know that his mother had the marriage Jews and the polytheists were present and even his grandfather Abdulmuttalib when the husband married the sister of his father, mother, peace be upon him at the age of a senior at a young age
This always raised suspicions of Christians who are actually people who have gone astray as Allah says
How can they say such talk, and Mary was betrothed to Joseph, was enacted 9 years and was the life of Joseph the Carpenter is 89 years, which much larger
And the birth of Christ came between the ages of 12 to 16 at most and that means lying and fabricating images that show the Virgin Mary, a woman full womanhood with between twenties and five and thirty and is their Lord, and she was a young woman and called in the Bible, the Virgin no virgin and origin of the word Batula any small Age
Finally, the age of marriage in Islam did not say no one knows what the real age of marriage is always preferred to marry girls at puberty
And what is this saying is the Americans as the girls practiced Alersilh before they reach the age of 16 and spread in 12 years of age if the girl was at the age of 16 and still virgin, they believe to have been infected with mental illness, cancer, on the contrary want our daughters to be delayed age of marriage and practicing Alersilh so we'll be like them
Either asks this question and the same person working LES mind and Bifam
Possibl understood :
Why worship Christ?
Where Jesus said I am God?
Where Jesus said I'm the living God?
Where Jesus said was the right?
Where Christ said of original sin?
Christ said void because they refused to worship me, keep my commandments and teach the commandments of people
There is no certain rituals in the churches found in the Gospel of Christ or was in motion
Book Nkhah shows marriage Mary with copies of their books the view response almost another to say Christians that marriage is not a marriage and there are pictures of the books they write to marry instead of marriage which they Maatarvien but are trying to mislead people and some of them do not understand and does not understand how one and one and one equals one.
Second: The girls in the hot early complement Anottnea
Third: that this was usually the Arab tribes marriage at puberty, and many examples including the caliph Omar marriage the daughter of Prophet Ali, may Allah be pleased
Fourth: that one did not know that his mother had the marriage Jews and the polytheists were present and even his grandfather Abdulmuttalib when the husband married the sister of his father, mother, peace be upon him at the age of a senior at a young age
This always raised suspicions of Christians who are actually people who have gone astray as Allah says
How can they say such talk, and Mary was betrothed to Joseph, was enacted 9 years and was the life of Joseph the Carpenter is 89 years, which much larger
And the birth of Christ came between the ages of 12 to 16 at most and that means lying and fabricating images that show the Virgin Mary, a woman full womanhood with between twenties and five and thirty and is their Lord, and she was a young woman and called in the Bible, the Virgin no virgin and origin of the word Batula any small Age
Finally, the age of marriage in Islam did not say no one knows what the real age of marriage is always preferred to marry girls at puberty
And what is this saying is the Americans as the girls practiced Alersilh before they reach the age of 16 and spread in 12 years of age if the girl was at the age of 16 and still virgin, they believe to have been infected with mental illness, cancer, on the contrary want our daughters to be delayed age of marriage and practicing Alersilh so we'll be like them
Either asks this question and the same person working LES mind and Bifam
Possibl understood :
Why worship Christ?
Where Jesus said I am God?
Where Jesus said I'm the living God?
Where Jesus said was the right?
Where Christ said of original sin?
Christ said void because they refused to worship me, keep my commandments and teach the commandments of people
There is no certain rituals in the churches found in the Gospel of Christ or was in motion
Book Nkhah shows marriage Mary with copies of their books the view response almost another to say Christians that marriage is not a marriage and there are pictures of the books they write to marry instead of marriage which they Maatarvien but are trying to mislead people and some of them do not understand and does not understand how one and one and one equals one.
Mother at the age of nine years, in Spain
http://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/2003/04/04/nacional/nacio23.html
Tuesday 24 August 2010
Famous Nepalese actress and singer Pooja Lama Accepted Islam
Saturday 14 August 2010
HUMAN RIGHTS, THE WEST AND ISLAM
Before I discuss the human rights in Islam I would like to explain
a few points about two major approaches to the question of
human rights: the Western and Islamic. This will enable us to
study the issue in its proper perspective and avoid some of the confu-
sion which normally befogs such a discussion.
thing to themselves and try to prove that it is because of them that the
world got this blessing, otherwise the world was steeped in ignorance
and completely unaware of all these benefits. Now let us look at the
question of human rights. It is very loudly and vociferously claimed
that the world got the concept of basic human rights from the Magna
Carta of Britain; though the Magna Carta itself came into existence six
hundred years after the advent of Islam. But the truth of the matter is
that until the seventeenth century no one even knew that the Magna
Carta contained the principles of Trial by Jury; Habeas Corpus, and
the Control of Parliament on the Right of Taxation. If the people who
had drafted the Magna Carta were living today they would have been
greatly surprised if they were told that their document also contained
all these ideals and principles. They had no such intention, nor were
they conscious of all these concepts which are now being attributed to
them.
As far as my knowledge goes the Westerners had no concept of
human rights and civic rights before the seventeenth century. Even
after the seventeenth century the philosophers and the thinkers on
jurisprudence though presented these ideas, the practical proof and
demonstration of these concepts can only be found at the end of the
eighteenth century in the proclamations and constitutions of America
and France. After this there appeared a reference to the basic human
rights in the constitutions of different countries. But more often the
rights which were given on paper were not actually given to the people
in real life.
In the middle of the present century, the United Nations,
which can now be more aptly and truly described as the Divided
Nations, made a Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and passed a
resolution against genocide and framed regulations to check it. But as
you all know there is not a single resolution or regulation of the
United Nations which can be enforced. They are just an expression of
a pious hope. They have no sanctions behind them, no force, physical
or moral to enforce them. Despite all the high-sounding ambitious
resolutions of the United Nations, human rights have been violated
and trampled upon at different places, and the United Nations has
been a helpless spectator. She is not in a position to exercise an
effective check on the violation of human rights. Even the heinous
crime of genocide is being perpetrated despite all proclamations of the
United Nations. Right in the neighbouring country of Pakistan,
genocide of the Muslims has been taking place for the last twenty-
eight years, but the United Nations does not have the power and
strength to take any steps against India. No action has even been taken
against any country guilty of this most serious and revolting crime.
The first thing that we find in Islam in this connection is that it
lays down some rights for man as a human being. In other words it
means that every man whether he belongs to this country or that,
whether he is a believer or unbeliever, whether he lives in some forest
or is found in some desert, whatever be the case, he has some basic
human rights simply because he is a human being, which should be
recognized by every Muslim. In fact it will be his duty to fulfil these
obligations.
respect human life. The Holy Quran lays down:
Whosoever kills a human being without (any reason like) man
slaughter, or corruption on earth, it is as though he had killed
all mankind ... (5:32)
As far as the question of taking life in retaliation for murder or the
question of punishment for spreading corruption on this earth is con-
cerned, it can be decided only by a proper and competent court of
law. If there is any war with any nation or country, it can be decided
only by a properly established government. In any case, no human
being has any right by himself to take human life in retaliation or for
causing mischief on this earth. Therefore it is incumbent on every
human being that under no circumstances should he be guilty of
taking a human life. If anyone has murdered a human being, it is as if
he has slain the entire human race. These instructions have been
repeated in the Holy Quran in another place saying:
Do not kill a soul which Allah has made sacred except through the due
process of law ... (6:151)
Here also homicide has been distinguished from destruction of
life carried out in pursuit of justice. Only a proper and competent
court will be able to decide whether or not an individual has forfeited
his right to life by disregarding the right to life and peace of other
human beings. The Prophet, may God's blessings be on him, has
declared homicide as the greatest sin only next to polytheism. The
Tradition of the Prophet reads: "The greatest sins are to associate
something with God and to kill human beings." In all these verses of
the Quran and the Traditions of the Prophet the word 'soul' (nafs) has
been used in general terms without any distinction or particularization
which might have lent itself to the elucidation that the persons belong-
ing to one's nation, the citizens of one's country, the people of a
particular race or religion should not be killed. The injunction applies
to all human beings and the destruction of human life in itself has
been prohibited.
'The Right to Life' has been given to man only by Islam. You
will observe that the people who talk about human rights if they have
ever mentioned them in their Constitutions or Declarations, then it is
clearly implied in them that these rights are applicable only to their
citizens or they have been framed for the white race alone. This can
clearly be gleaned by the fact that human beings were hunted down
like animals in Australia and the land was cleared of the aborigines for
the white man. Similarly the aboriginal population of America was
systematically destroyed and the Red Indians who somehow survived
this genocide were confined to specified areas called Reservations.
They also penetrated into Africa and hunted down human beings like
wild animals. All these instances go to prove that they have no respect
for human life as such and if they have, it is only on the basis of their
nationality, colour or race. Contrary to this, Islam recognizes this right
for all human beings. If a man belongs to a primitive or savage tribe,
even then Islam regards him as a human being.
mentioned in connection with the right to life, God has said: "And
whoever saves a life it is as though he had saved the lives of all
mankind" (5:32). There can be several forms of saving man from
death. A man may be ill or wounded, irrespective of his nationality,
race or colour. If you know that he is in need of your help, then it
is your duty that you should arrange for his treatment for disease or
wound. If he is dying of starvation, then it is your duty to feed him so
that he can ward off death. If he is drowning or his life is at stake,
then it is your duty to save him. You will be surprised to hear that the
Talmud, the religious book of the Jews, contains a verse of similar
nature, but records it in altogether different form. It says: "Whoever
destroyed a life of the Israelite, in the eyes of the Scripture, it is as
if
he destroyed the whole world. And whoever protected and saved one
life of the Israelite, in the light of the Scripture, it is as if he saved
the
whole world." Talmud also contains the view that if a non-Israelite is
drowning and you tried to save him then you are a sinner. Can it be
given a name other than racialism? We regard it as our duty to save
every human life, because it is thus that we have been enjoined in the
Holy Quran. On the other hand, if they regard it necessary to save
the life of a human being at all, it should be the life of an Israelite. As
far as other people are concerned, according to this view, they do not
seem to be human enough to deserve protection of their persons. In
their literature the concept of 'Goyim' for which the English word
'Gentile' and the Arabic word ummi (illiterate) is used, is that they
enjoy no human rights; human rights are reserved only for the children
of Israel. The Quran has mentioned this belief of the Israelites and
quotes the Jews saying: "There is no blame on us (for anything we
may do) with regard to the unlettered folk (i.e. the ummi)" (3:75).
Rights granted by Islam is that a woman's chastity has to be respected
and protected under all circumstances, whether she belongs to our
own nation or to the nation of an enemy, whether we find her in the
wild forest or in a conquered city; whether she is our co-religionist or
belongs to some other religion or has no religion at all. A Muslim
cannot outrage her under any circumstances. All promiscuous relation-
ship has been forbidden to him, irrespective of the status or position
of the woman, whether the woman is a willing or an unwilling partner
to the act. The words of the Holy Quran in this respect are: "Do not
approach (the bounds of) adultery" (17:32). Heavy punishment has
been prescribed for this crime, and the order has not been qualified by
any conditions. Since the violation of chastity of a woman is
forbidden in Islam, a Muslim who perpetrates this crime cannot escape
punishment whether he receives it in this world or in the Hereafter.
This concept of sanctity of chastity and protection of women can be
found nowhere else except in Islam. The armies of the Western powers
need the daughters of their nation to satisfy their carnal appetites even
in their own countries, and if they happen to occupy another country,
the fate of its women folk can better be imagined than described. But
the history of the Muslims, apart from a few lapses of the individuals
here or there, has been free from this crime against womanhood. It has
never happened that after the conquest of a foreign country the
Muslim army has gone about raping the women of the conquered
people, or in their own country, the government has arranged to
provide prostitutes1for them. This is also a great blessing which the
human race has received through Islam.2
its followers:
And in their wealth there is acknowledged right for the needy and
destitute. (51:19)
The words of this injunction show that it is a categorical and un-
qualified order. Furthermore this injunction was given in Makkah
where there was no Muslim society in existence and where generally
the Muslims had to come in contact with the population of the
disbelievers. Therefore the clear meaning of this verse is that anyone
who asks for help and anyone who is suffering from deprivation has a
right in the property and wealth of the Muslims; irrespective of the
fact whether he belongs to this nation or to that nation, to this
country or to that country, to this race or to that race. If you are in
a position to help and a needy person asks you for help or if you come
to know that he is in need, then it is your duty to help him. God has
established his right over you, which you have to honour as a Muslim.
practice of capturing a free man, to make him a slave or to sell him
into slavery. On this point the clear and unequivocal words of the
Prophet (S) are as follows: "There are three categories of people
against whom I shall myself be a plaintiff on the Day of Judgement.
Of these three, one is he who enslaves a free man, then sells him and
eats this money" (al-Bukhari and Ibn Majjah). The words of this
Tradition of the Prophet are also general, they have not been qualified
or made applicable to a particular nation, race, country or followers
of a particular religion. The Europeans take great pride in claiming
that they abolished slavery from the world, though they had the
decency to do so only in the middle of the last century. Before this,
these Western powers had been raiding Africa on a very large scale,
capturing their free men, putting them in bondage and transporting
them to their new colonies. The treatment which they have meted
out to these unfortunate people has been worse than the treatment
given to animals. The books written by the Western people themselves
bear testimony to this fact.
hundred and fifty years, traffic in slave trade continued. The African
coasts where the black-skinned captured Africans were brought from
the interior of Africa and put on the ships sailing out from those
ports, came to be known as the Slave Coast. During only one century
(from 1680 to 1786) the total number of free people who were
captured and enslaved only for British Colonies amounts, according to
the estimate of British authors, to 20 million human beings. Over the
period of only one year (1790) we are told that 75,000 human beings
were captured and sent for slave labour in the Colonies. The ships
which were used for transporting the slaves were small and dirty.
These unfortunate Africans were thrust into the holds of these ships
like cattle right up to the top and many of them were chained to the
wooden shelves on which they could hardly move because these were
only eighteen inches apart, kept one on top of the other. They were
not provided with suitable food, and if they fell ill or were injured, no
attempt was made to provide them with medical treatment. The
Western writers themselves state that at least 20% of the total number
of people who were captured for slavery and forced labour perished
during their transportation from the African coast to America. It has
also been estimated that the total number of people who were
captured for slavery by the various European nations during the
heyday of the slave trade comes to at least one hundred million. This
is the record of the people who denounce Muslims day and night for
recognizing the institution of slavery. It is as if a criminal is holding
his finger of blame towards an innocent man.
of slavery in Islam. Islam tried to solve the problem of the slaves that
were in Arabia by encouraging the people in different ways to set
their slaves free. The Muslims were ordered that in expiation of some
of their sins they should set their slaves free. Freeing a slave by one's
own free will was declared to be an act of great merit, so much so that
it was said that every limb of the man who manumits a slave will be
protected from hell-fire in lieu of the limb of the slave freed by him.
The result of this policy was that by the time the period of the
Rightly-Guided Caliphs was reached, all the old slaves of Arabia were
liberated. The Prophet alone liberated as many as 63 slaves. The
number of slaves freed by 'Aishah was 67, 'Abbas liberated 70, 'Abd
Allah ibn 'Umar liberated one thousand, and 'Abd al-Rahman
purchased thirty thousand and set them free. Similarly other
Companions of the Prophet liberated a large number of slaves, the
details of which are given in the Traditions and books of history of
that period.
Thus the problem of the slaves of Arabia was solved in a short
period of thirty or forty years. After this the only form of slavery
which was left in Islamic society was the prisoners of war, who were
captured on the battlefield. These prisoners of war were retained by
the Muslim Government until their government agreed to receive
them back in exchange for Muslim soldiers captured by them, or
arranged the payment of ransom on their behalf. If the soldiers they
captured were not exchanged with Muslim prisoners of war, or their
people did not pay their ransom money to purchase their liberty, then
the Muslim Government used to distribute them among the soldiers of
the army which had captured them. This was a more humane and
proper way of disposing of them than retaining them like cattle in
concentration camps and taking forced labour from them and, if their
women folk were also captured, setting them aside for prostitution.
In place of such a cruel and outrageous way of disposing of the
prisoners of war, Islam preferred to spread them in the population and
thus brought them in contact with individual human beings. Over and
above, their guardians were ordered to treat them well. The result of
this humane policy was that most of the men who were captured on
foreign battlefields and brought to the Muslim countries as slaves
embraced Islam and their descendants produced great scholars, imams,
jurists, commentators, statesmen and generals of the army. So much
so that later on they became the rulers of the Muslim world. The
solution of this problem which has been proposed in the present age is
that after the cessation of hostilities the prisoners of war of the
combatant countries should be exchanged. Whereas Muslims have been
practising it from the very beginning and whenever the adversary
accepted the exchange of prisoners of war from both sides, it was
implemented without the least hesitation or delay. In modern warfare
we also find that if one government is completely routed leaving her in
no position of bargaining for the prisoners of war and the winning
party gets its prisoners easily, then experience has shown that the
prisoners of war of the vanquished army are kept in conditions which
are much worse than the conditions of slaves. Can anyone tell us what
has been the fate of the thousands of prisoners of war captured by
Russia from the defeated armies of Germany and Japan in the Second
World War? No one has given their account so far. No one knows how
many thousands of them are still alive and how many thousands of
them have perished due to the hardship of the Russian concentration
and labour camps. The forced labour which has been taken from them
is much worse than the service one can exact from slaves. Even perhaps
in the times of ancient Pharaohs of Egypt such harsh labour might not
have been exacted from the slaves in building the pyramids of Egypt, as
has been exacted from the prisoners of war in Russia in developing
Siberia and other backward areas of Russia, or working in coal and
other mines in below zero temperatures, ill-clad, ill-fed and brutally
treated by their supervisors.
to man as a human being. The Holy Quran has laid down: "Do not let
your hatred of a people incite you to aggression" (5:2). "And do not
let ill-will towards any folk incite you so that you swerve from dealing
justly. Be just; that is nearest to heedfulness" (5:8). Stressing this
point
the Quran again says: "You who believe stand steadfast before God as
witness for (truth and) fairplay" (4:135). This makes the point clear
that Muslims have to be just not only with ordinary human beings but
even with their enemies. In other words, the justice to which Islam
invites her followers is not limited only to the citizens of their own
country, or the people of their own tribe, nation or race, or the
Muslim community as a whole, but it is meant for all the human beings
of the world. Muslims therefore, cannot be unjust to anyone. Their
permanent habit and character should be such that no man should ever
fear injustice at their hands, and they should treat every human being
everywhere with justice and fairness.
irrespective of any distinction of colour, race or nationality, but makes
it an important and significant principle, a reality. The Almighty God
has laid down in the Holy Quran: "O mankind, we have created you
from a male and female." In other words all human beings are brothers
to one another. They all are the descendants from one father and one
mother. "And we set you up as nations and tribes so that you may be
able to recognize each other" (49:13). This means that the division of
human beings into nations, races, groups and tribes is for the sake of
distinction, so that people of one race or tribe may meet and be
acquainted with the people belonging to another race or tribe and
cooperate with one another. This division of the human race is neither
meant for one nation to take pride in its superiority over others nor is it
meant for one nation to treat another with contempt or disgrace, or
regard them as a mean and degraded race and usurp their rights.
"Indeed, the noblest among you before God are the most heedful of
you" (49:13). In other words the superiority of one man over another
is only on the basis of God-consciousness, purity of character and high
morals, and not on the basis of colour, race, language or nationality,
and even this superiority based on piety and pure conduct does not
justify that such people should play lord or assume airs of superiority
over other human beings. Assuming airs of superiority is in itself a
reprehensible vice which no God-fearing and pious man can ever dream
of perpetrating. Nor does the righteous have more privileged rights over
others, because this runs counter to human equality, which has been
laid down in the beginning of this verse as a general principle. From the
moral point of view, goodness and virtue is in all cases better than vice
and evil.
This has been exemplified by the Prophet in one of his sayings thus:
"No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab
have any superiority over an Arab. Nor does a white man have any
superiority over a black man, or the black man any superiority over the
white man. You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was created
from clay" (al-Bayhaqi and al-Bazzaz). In this manner Islam established
equality for the entire human race and struck at the very root of all
distinctions based on colour, race, language or nationality. According to
Islam,God has given man this right of equality as a birthright. Therefore
no man should be discriminated against on the ground of the colour of
his skin, his place of birth, the race or the nation in which he was born.
Malcolm X, the famous leader of African Negroes in America, who had
launched a bitter struggle against the white people of America in order
to win civil rights for his black compatriots, when he went to perform
the pilgrimage, and saw how the Muslims of Asia, Africa, Europe,
America and those of different races, languages and colours of skin,
were wearing one dress and were hurrying towards God's House-the
Ka'bah and offering prayers standing in one row and there was no
distinction of any kind between them, then he realized that this was the
solution to the problem of colour and race, and not what he had been
trying to seek or achieve in America so far. Today, a number of non-
Muslim thinkers, who are free from blind prejudice, openly admit that
no other religion or way of life has solved this problem with the same
degree of success with which Islam has done so.
and universal application saying: "Co-operate with one another for
virtue and heedfulness and do not co-operate with one another for the
purpose of vice and aggression" (5:2). This means that the man who
undertakes a noble and righteous work, irrespective of the fact whether
he is living at the North Pole or the South Pole, has the right to expect
support and active co-operation from the Muslims. On the contrary he
who perpetrates deeds of vice and aggression, even if he is our closest
relation or neighbour, does not have the right to win our support and
help in the name of race, country, language or nationality, nor should
he have the expectation that Muslims will co-operate with him or
support him. Nor is it permissible for Muslims to co-operate with him.
The wicked and vicious person may be our own brother, but he is not
of us, and he can have no help or support from us as long as he does not
repent and reform his ways. On the other hand the man who is doing
deeds of virtue and righteousness may have no kinship with Muslims,
but Muslims will be his companions and supporters or at least his well-
wishers.
Reference:
HUMAN RIGHTS IN ISLAM (CHAPTER TWO)
a few points about two major approaches to the question of
human rights: the Western and Islamic. This will enable us to
study the issue in its proper perspective and avoid some of the confu-
sion which normally befogs such a discussion.
The Western Approach:
The people in the West have the habit of attributing every good
thing to themselves and try to prove that it is because of them that the
world got this blessing, otherwise the world was steeped in ignorance
and completely unaware of all these benefits. Now let us look at the
question of human rights. It is very loudly and vociferously claimed
that the world got the concept of basic human rights from the Magna
Carta of Britain; though the Magna Carta itself came into existence six
hundred years after the advent of Islam. But the truth of the matter is
that until the seventeenth century no one even knew that the Magna
Carta contained the principles of Trial by Jury; Habeas Corpus, and
the Control of Parliament on the Right of Taxation. If the people who
had drafted the Magna Carta were living today they would have been
greatly surprised if they were told that their document also contained
all these ideals and principles. They had no such intention, nor were
they conscious of all these concepts which are now being attributed to
them.
As far as my knowledge goes the Westerners had no concept of
human rights and civic rights before the seventeenth century. Even
after the seventeenth century the philosophers and the thinkers on
jurisprudence though presented these ideas, the practical proof and
demonstration of these concepts can only be found at the end of the
eighteenth century in the proclamations and constitutions of America
and France. After this there appeared a reference to the basic human
rights in the constitutions of different countries. But more often the
rights which were given on paper were not actually given to the people
in real life.
In the middle of the present century, the United Nations,
which can now be more aptly and truly described as the Divided
Nations, made a Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and passed a
resolution against genocide and framed regulations to check it. But as
you all know there is not a single resolution or regulation of the
United Nations which can be enforced. They are just an expression of
a pious hope. They have no sanctions behind them, no force, physical
or moral to enforce them. Despite all the high-sounding ambitious
resolutions of the United Nations, human rights have been violated
and trampled upon at different places, and the United Nations has
been a helpless spectator. She is not in a position to exercise an
effective check on the violation of human rights. Even the heinous
crime of genocide is being perpetrated despite all proclamations of the
United Nations. Right in the neighbouring country of Pakistan,
genocide of the Muslims has been taking place for the last twenty-
eight years, but the United Nations does not have the power and
strength to take any steps against India. No action has even been taken
against any country guilty of this most serious and revolting crime.
The first thing that we find in Islam in this connection is that it
lays down some rights for man as a human being. In other words it
means that every man whether he belongs to this country or that,
whether he is a believer or unbeliever, whether he lives in some forest
or is found in some desert, whatever be the case, he has some basic
human rights simply because he is a human being, which should be
recognized by every Muslim. In fact it will be his duty to fulfil these
obligations.
1. The Right to Life
The first and the foremost basic right is the right to live andrespect human life. The Holy Quran lays down:
Whosoever kills a human being without (any reason like) man
slaughter, or corruption on earth, it is as though he had killed
all mankind ... (5:32)
As far as the question of taking life in retaliation for murder or the
question of punishment for spreading corruption on this earth is con-
cerned, it can be decided only by a proper and competent court of
law. If there is any war with any nation or country, it can be decided
only by a properly established government. In any case, no human
being has any right by himself to take human life in retaliation or for
causing mischief on this earth. Therefore it is incumbent on every
human being that under no circumstances should he be guilty of
taking a human life. If anyone has murdered a human being, it is as if
he has slain the entire human race. These instructions have been
repeated in the Holy Quran in another place saying:
Do not kill a soul which Allah has made sacred except through the due
process of law ... (6:151)
Here also homicide has been distinguished from destruction of
life carried out in pursuit of justice. Only a proper and competent
court will be able to decide whether or not an individual has forfeited
his right to life by disregarding the right to life and peace of other
human beings. The Prophet, may God's blessings be on him, has
declared homicide as the greatest sin only next to polytheism. The
Tradition of the Prophet reads: "The greatest sins are to associate
something with God and to kill human beings." In all these verses of
the Quran and the Traditions of the Prophet the word 'soul' (nafs) has
been used in general terms without any distinction or particularization
which might have lent itself to the elucidation that the persons belong-
ing to one's nation, the citizens of one's country, the people of a
particular race or religion should not be killed. The injunction applies
to all human beings and the destruction of human life in itself has
been prohibited.
'The Right to Life' has been given to man only by Islam. You
will observe that the people who talk about human rights if they have
ever mentioned them in their Constitutions or Declarations, then it is
clearly implied in them that these rights are applicable only to their
citizens or they have been framed for the white race alone. This can
clearly be gleaned by the fact that human beings were hunted down
like animals in Australia and the land was cleared of the aborigines for
the white man. Similarly the aboriginal population of America was
systematically destroyed and the Red Indians who somehow survived
this genocide were confined to specified areas called Reservations.
They also penetrated into Africa and hunted down human beings like
wild animals. All these instances go to prove that they have no respect
for human life as such and if they have, it is only on the basis of their
nationality, colour or race. Contrary to this, Islam recognizes this right
for all human beings. If a man belongs to a primitive or savage tribe,
even then Islam regards him as a human being.
2. The Right to the Safety of Life
Immediately after the verse of the Holy Quran which has beenmentioned in connection with the right to life, God has said: "And
whoever saves a life it is as though he had saved the lives of all
mankind" (5:32). There can be several forms of saving man from
death. A man may be ill or wounded, irrespective of his nationality,
race or colour. If you know that he is in need of your help, then it
is your duty that you should arrange for his treatment for disease or
wound. If he is dying of starvation, then it is your duty to feed him so
that he can ward off death. If he is drowning or his life is at stake,
then it is your duty to save him. You will be surprised to hear that the
Talmud, the religious book of the Jews, contains a verse of similar
nature, but records it in altogether different form. It says: "Whoever
destroyed a life of the Israelite, in the eyes of the Scripture, it is as
if
he destroyed the whole world. And whoever protected and saved one
life of the Israelite, in the light of the Scripture, it is as if he saved
the
whole world." Talmud also contains the view that if a non-Israelite is
drowning and you tried to save him then you are a sinner. Can it be
given a name other than racialism? We regard it as our duty to save
every human life, because it is thus that we have been enjoined in the
Holy Quran. On the other hand, if they regard it necessary to save
the life of a human being at all, it should be the life of an Israelite. As
far as other people are concerned, according to this view, they do not
seem to be human enough to deserve protection of their persons. In
their literature the concept of 'Goyim' for which the English word
'Gentile' and the Arabic word ummi (illiterate) is used, is that they
enjoy no human rights; human rights are reserved only for the children
of Israel. The Quran has mentioned this belief of the Israelites and
quotes the Jews saying: "There is no blame on us (for anything we
may do) with regard to the unlettered folk (i.e. the ummi)" (3:75).
3. Respect for the Chastity of Women
The third important thing that we find in the Charter of HumanRights granted by Islam is that a woman's chastity has to be respected
and protected under all circumstances, whether she belongs to our
own nation or to the nation of an enemy, whether we find her in the
wild forest or in a conquered city; whether she is our co-religionist or
belongs to some other religion or has no religion at all. A Muslim
cannot outrage her under any circumstances. All promiscuous relation-
ship has been forbidden to him, irrespective of the status or position
of the woman, whether the woman is a willing or an unwilling partner
to the act. The words of the Holy Quran in this respect are: "Do not
approach (the bounds of) adultery" (17:32). Heavy punishment has
been prescribed for this crime, and the order has not been qualified by
any conditions. Since the violation of chastity of a woman is
forbidden in Islam, a Muslim who perpetrates this crime cannot escape
punishment whether he receives it in this world or in the Hereafter.
This concept of sanctity of chastity and protection of women can be
found nowhere else except in Islam. The armies of the Western powers
need the daughters of their nation to satisfy their carnal appetites even
in their own countries, and if they happen to occupy another country,
the fate of its women folk can better be imagined than described. But
the history of the Muslims, apart from a few lapses of the individuals
here or there, has been free from this crime against womanhood. It has
never happened that after the conquest of a foreign country the
Muslim army has gone about raping the women of the conquered
people, or in their own country, the government has arranged to
provide prostitutes1for them. This is also a great blessing which the
human race has received through Islam.2
4. The Right to a Basic Standard of Life
Speaking about the economic rights the Holy Quran enjoins uponits followers:
And in their wealth there is acknowledged right for the needy and
destitute. (51:19)
The words of this injunction show that it is a categorical and un-
qualified order. Furthermore this injunction was given in Makkah
where there was no Muslim society in existence and where generally
the Muslims had to come in contact with the population of the
disbelievers. Therefore the clear meaning of this verse is that anyone
who asks for help and anyone who is suffering from deprivation has a
right in the property and wealth of the Muslims; irrespective of the
fact whether he belongs to this nation or to that nation, to this
country or to that country, to this race or to that race. If you are in
a position to help and a needy person asks you for help or if you come
to know that he is in need, then it is your duty to help him. God has
established his right over you, which you have to honour as a Muslim.
5. Individual's Right to Freedom
Islam has clearly and categorically forbidden the primitivepractice of capturing a free man, to make him a slave or to sell him
into slavery. On this point the clear and unequivocal words of the
Prophet (S) are as follows: "There are three categories of people
against whom I shall myself be a plaintiff on the Day of Judgement.
Of these three, one is he who enslaves a free man, then sells him and
eats this money" (al-Bukhari and Ibn Majjah). The words of this
Tradition of the Prophet are also general, they have not been qualified
or made applicable to a particular nation, race, country or followers
of a particular religion. The Europeans take great pride in claiming
that they abolished slavery from the world, though they had the
decency to do so only in the middle of the last century. Before this,
these Western powers had been raiding Africa on a very large scale,
capturing their free men, putting them in bondage and transporting
them to their new colonies. The treatment which they have meted
out to these unfortunate people has been worse than the treatment
given to animals. The books written by the Western people themselves
bear testimony to this fact.
The Slave Trade of Western Nations:
After the occupation of America and the West Indies, for threehundred and fifty years, traffic in slave trade continued. The African
coasts where the black-skinned captured Africans were brought from
the interior of Africa and put on the ships sailing out from those
ports, came to be known as the Slave Coast. During only one century
(from 1680 to 1786) the total number of free people who were
captured and enslaved only for British Colonies amounts, according to
the estimate of British authors, to 20 million human beings. Over the
period of only one year (1790) we are told that 75,000 human beings
were captured and sent for slave labour in the Colonies. The ships
which were used for transporting the slaves were small and dirty.
These unfortunate Africans were thrust into the holds of these ships
like cattle right up to the top and many of them were chained to the
wooden shelves on which they could hardly move because these were
only eighteen inches apart, kept one on top of the other. They were
not provided with suitable food, and if they fell ill or were injured, no
attempt was made to provide them with medical treatment. The
Western writers themselves state that at least 20% of the total number
of people who were captured for slavery and forced labour perished
during their transportation from the African coast to America. It has
also been estimated that the total number of people who were
captured for slavery by the various European nations during the
heyday of the slave trade comes to at least one hundred million. This
is the record of the people who denounce Muslims day and night for
recognizing the institution of slavery. It is as if a criminal is holding
his finger of blame towards an innocent man.
The Position of Slavery in Islam:
Briefly I would like to tell you about the position and natureof slavery in Islam. Islam tried to solve the problem of the slaves that
were in Arabia by encouraging the people in different ways to set
their slaves free. The Muslims were ordered that in expiation of some
of their sins they should set their slaves free. Freeing a slave by one's
own free will was declared to be an act of great merit, so much so that
it was said that every limb of the man who manumits a slave will be
protected from hell-fire in lieu of the limb of the slave freed by him.
The result of this policy was that by the time the period of the
Rightly-Guided Caliphs was reached, all the old slaves of Arabia were
liberated. The Prophet alone liberated as many as 63 slaves. The
number of slaves freed by 'Aishah was 67, 'Abbas liberated 70, 'Abd
Allah ibn 'Umar liberated one thousand, and 'Abd al-Rahman
purchased thirty thousand and set them free. Similarly other
Companions of the Prophet liberated a large number of slaves, the
details of which are given in the Traditions and books of history of
that period.
Thus the problem of the slaves of Arabia was solved in a short
period of thirty or forty years. After this the only form of slavery
which was left in Islamic society was the prisoners of war, who were
captured on the battlefield. These prisoners of war were retained by
the Muslim Government until their government agreed to receive
them back in exchange for Muslim soldiers captured by them, or
arranged the payment of ransom on their behalf. If the soldiers they
captured were not exchanged with Muslim prisoners of war, or their
people did not pay their ransom money to purchase their liberty, then
the Muslim Government used to distribute them among the soldiers of
the army which had captured them. This was a more humane and
proper way of disposing of them than retaining them like cattle in
concentration camps and taking forced labour from them and, if their
women folk were also captured, setting them aside for prostitution.
In place of such a cruel and outrageous way of disposing of the
prisoners of war, Islam preferred to spread them in the population and
thus brought them in contact with individual human beings. Over and
above, their guardians were ordered to treat them well. The result of
this humane policy was that most of the men who were captured on
foreign battlefields and brought to the Muslim countries as slaves
embraced Islam and their descendants produced great scholars, imams,
jurists, commentators, statesmen and generals of the army. So much
so that later on they became the rulers of the Muslim world. The
solution of this problem which has been proposed in the present age is
that after the cessation of hostilities the prisoners of war of the
combatant countries should be exchanged. Whereas Muslims have been
practising it from the very beginning and whenever the adversary
accepted the exchange of prisoners of war from both sides, it was
implemented without the least hesitation or delay. In modern warfare
we also find that if one government is completely routed leaving her in
no position of bargaining for the prisoners of war and the winning
party gets its prisoners easily, then experience has shown that the
prisoners of war of the vanquished army are kept in conditions which
are much worse than the conditions of slaves. Can anyone tell us what
has been the fate of the thousands of prisoners of war captured by
Russia from the defeated armies of Germany and Japan in the Second
World War? No one has given their account so far. No one knows how
many thousands of them are still alive and how many thousands of
them have perished due to the hardship of the Russian concentration
and labour camps. The forced labour which has been taken from them
is much worse than the service one can exact from slaves. Even perhaps
in the times of ancient Pharaohs of Egypt such harsh labour might not
have been exacted from the slaves in building the pyramids of Egypt, as
has been exacted from the prisoners of war in Russia in developing
Siberia and other backward areas of Russia, or working in coal and
other mines in below zero temperatures, ill-clad, ill-fed and brutally
treated by their supervisors.
6. The Right to Justice
This is a very important and valuable right which Islam has givento man as a human being. The Holy Quran has laid down: "Do not let
your hatred of a people incite you to aggression" (5:2). "And do not
let ill-will towards any folk incite you so that you swerve from dealing
justly. Be just; that is nearest to heedfulness" (5:8). Stressing this
point
the Quran again says: "You who believe stand steadfast before God as
witness for (truth and) fairplay" (4:135). This makes the point clear
that Muslims have to be just not only with ordinary human beings but
even with their enemies. In other words, the justice to which Islam
invites her followers is not limited only to the citizens of their own
country, or the people of their own tribe, nation or race, or the
Muslim community as a whole, but it is meant for all the human beings
of the world. Muslims therefore, cannot be unjust to anyone. Their
permanent habit and character should be such that no man should ever
fear injustice at their hands, and they should treat every human being
everywhere with justice and fairness.
7. Equality of Human Beings
Islam not only recognizes absolute equality between menirrespective of any distinction of colour, race or nationality, but makes
it an important and significant principle, a reality. The Almighty God
has laid down in the Holy Quran: "O mankind, we have created you
from a male and female." In other words all human beings are brothers
to one another. They all are the descendants from one father and one
mother. "And we set you up as nations and tribes so that you may be
able to recognize each other" (49:13). This means that the division of
human beings into nations, races, groups and tribes is for the sake of
distinction, so that people of one race or tribe may meet and be
acquainted with the people belonging to another race or tribe and
cooperate with one another. This division of the human race is neither
meant for one nation to take pride in its superiority over others nor is it
meant for one nation to treat another with contempt or disgrace, or
regard them as a mean and degraded race and usurp their rights.
"Indeed, the noblest among you before God are the most heedful of
you" (49:13). In other words the superiority of one man over another
is only on the basis of God-consciousness, purity of character and high
morals, and not on the basis of colour, race, language or nationality,
and even this superiority based on piety and pure conduct does not
justify that such people should play lord or assume airs of superiority
over other human beings. Assuming airs of superiority is in itself a
reprehensible vice which no God-fearing and pious man can ever dream
of perpetrating. Nor does the righteous have more privileged rights over
others, because this runs counter to human equality, which has been
laid down in the beginning of this verse as a general principle. From the
moral point of view, goodness and virtue is in all cases better than vice
and evil.
This has been exemplified by the Prophet in one of his sayings thus:
"No Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab
have any superiority over an Arab. Nor does a white man have any
superiority over a black man, or the black man any superiority over the
white man. You are all the children of Adam, and Adam was created
from clay" (al-Bayhaqi and al-Bazzaz). In this manner Islam established
equality for the entire human race and struck at the very root of all
distinctions based on colour, race, language or nationality. According to
Islam,God has given man this right of equality as a birthright. Therefore
no man should be discriminated against on the ground of the colour of
his skin, his place of birth, the race or the nation in which he was born.
Malcolm X, the famous leader of African Negroes in America, who had
launched a bitter struggle against the white people of America in order
to win civil rights for his black compatriots, when he went to perform
the pilgrimage, and saw how the Muslims of Asia, Africa, Europe,
America and those of different races, languages and colours of skin,
were wearing one dress and were hurrying towards God's House-the
Ka'bah and offering prayers standing in one row and there was no
distinction of any kind between them, then he realized that this was the
solution to the problem of colour and race, and not what he had been
trying to seek or achieve in America so far. Today, a number of non-
Muslim thinkers, who are free from blind prejudice, openly admit that
no other religion or way of life has solved this problem with the same
degree of success with which Islam has done so.
8. The Right to Co-operate and Not to Co-operate
Islam has prescribed a general principle of paramount importanceand universal application saying: "Co-operate with one another for
virtue and heedfulness and do not co-operate with one another for the
purpose of vice and aggression" (5:2). This means that the man who
undertakes a noble and righteous work, irrespective of the fact whether
he is living at the North Pole or the South Pole, has the right to expect
support and active co-operation from the Muslims. On the contrary he
who perpetrates deeds of vice and aggression, even if he is our closest
relation or neighbour, does not have the right to win our support and
help in the name of race, country, language or nationality, nor should
he have the expectation that Muslims will co-operate with him or
support him. Nor is it permissible for Muslims to co-operate with him.
The wicked and vicious person may be our own brother, but he is not
of us, and he can have no help or support from us as long as he does not
repent and reform his ways. On the other hand the man who is doing
deeds of virtue and righteousness may have no kinship with Muslims,
but Muslims will be his companions and supporters or at least his well-
wishers.
Reference:
HUMAN RIGHTS IN ISLAM (CHAPTER TWO)
BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS : by 'Allamah Abu al-'A'la Mawdudi
Wednesday 9 June 2010
Why They Are Converting To Islam?
completely believe that I’m totally right. After 9/11, there is approx 20 thousands people converting to Islam each and every year in United States and this figure is continuously increasing day in and day out. This is not my wording, CNN as well as NBC quoted in their news telecast and also many famous Newspapers also highlighted this fact. and if we talk about whole world, we can guess there are more than 1 million people converting to Islam each year and this ratio is increasing every year. Subhan Allah
But Why They Are Converting To Islam!
It is an open truth that people converting to Islam in high speed but the thing is why in such present situation where being an Islam’s believer is some sort of abuse in those modern civilized countries.
Actually as far as I understand it is something that people who have some creative, research oriented mind, they want to know what actually Islam teaches or what is real Islam. They start reading the holy Quran and listening to various famous scholars and you know already that Islam have something absorbing into it, that anyone whether non-believer from any faith or Muslim as well, they attract towards Islam, as truth always shows its power in various shapes. So those people likely to digg into it more and more until they found a right path. Islam has such that absorbing power that no other religion has. So I think this is the reason people converting to Islam more and more each and every year as they understand what real Islam is.
Islam teaches us peace, politeness, principles, respect, discussion, governess, ruling, science, infect it is not only a religion it is a whole system. It tells us each and everything what to do and what not to do. I think these are the things that people see while converting to Islam and came on actual track.
As I mentioned earlier here is a video proof of NBC telecast which shows us that it’s absolutely true that 20 thousands people are converting to Islam each year in only United States and this amount is still rising each year. Surprisingly 75% from those are women, So you can tell, if Islam is against women so why they are converting. If you have even 1% thinking power, you can understand that
Thursday 3 June 2010
Tuesday 18 May 2010
A misconception about Islam
| Many people have a misconception that Islam is a new religion that was formulated 1400 years ago, and that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the founder of Islam. However, let me clarify that Islam is not the name of some unique religion presented for the first time by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who should, on that account be called the founder of Islam. The Qur’an states that Islam – the complete submission of man before his one and only Unique Creator – is the one and only faith and way of life consistently revealed by God to humankind from the very beginning. Noah, Solomon, David, Abraham, Moses, Isaac and Jesus (peace be upon them all) – prophets who appeared at different times and places – all propagated the same faith and conveyed the same message of Tawheed (Oneness of God), Risaalat (Prophethood) and Aakhirah (the Hereafter). These prophets of God were not founders of different religions to be named after them. They were each reiterating the message and faith of their predecessors. However, Muhammad (pbuh) was the last Prophet of God. God revived through him the same genuine faith which had been conveyed by all His Prophets. This original message was earlier corrupted and split into various religions by people of different ages, who indulged in interpolations and admixture. These alien elements were eliminated by God, and Islam – in its pure and original form – was transmitted to humankind through Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Since there was to be no messenger after Muhammad (pbuh), the Book revealed to him (i.e. the Glorious Qur’an) was preserved word for word so that it should be a source of guidance for all times. Thus the religion of all the prophets was ‘total submission to God’s will’ and one word for that in the Arabic language is ‘Islam’. Abraham and Jesus (peace be upon them) too were Muslims, as Allah testifies in Al-Qur'an 3:67 and 3:52 respectively. |
Intoduction of Islam & Hinduism
Definition of Islam Islam is an Arabic word, which comes from the word ‘Salm’ which means peace and from 'Silm', which means submitting your will to Allah – the Almighty God. In short Islam means peace acquired by submitting your will to Allah (swt). The word Islam is mentioned in several places in the Qur’an and the Hadith including Surah Ali Imran, chapter 3, verse 19 and verse 85. Definition of a Muslim A Muslim is a person who submits his will to Allah – the Almighty God. The word Muslim is mentioned several times in the Qur’an and Hadith including Surah Ali Imran Chapter 3 Verse 64 and Surah Fussilat Chapter 41 Verse 33. Definition of a Hindu
Definition of Hinduism
And all praises are for the One and Only God and Creator Allah, who alone is worthy of devotion, complete submission and worship. |
The Islamic and Christian views of Jesus: a comparison
The person of Jesus or Isa in Arabic (peace be upon him) is of great significance in both Islam and Christianity. However, there are differences in terms of beliefs about the nature and life occurrences of this noble Messenger.
Source of information about Jesus in Islam
Most of the Islamic information about Jesus is actually found in the Quran.
The Quran was revealed by God to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and memorized and written down in his lifetime. Today, anyone who calls him or herself a Muslim believes in the complete authenticity of the Quran as the original revealed guidance from God.
Source of information about Jesus in Christianity
Christians take their information about Jesus from the Bible, which includes the Old and New Testaments.
These contain four biblical narratives covering the life and death of Jesus. They have been written, according to tradition, respectively by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They are placed at the beginning of the New Testament and comprise close to half of it.
Encyclopedia Britannica notes that none of the sources of his life and work can be traced to Jesus himself; he did not leave a single known written word. Also, there are no contemporary accounts written of his life and death. What can be established about the historical Jesus depends almost without exception on Christian traditions, especially on the material used in the composition of the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke, which reflect the outlook of the later church and its faith in Jesus.
Below are the views of Islam and Christianity based on primary source texts and core beliefs.
ISLAM
1. Do Muslims believe he was a Messenger of One God? YES
Belief in all of the Prophets and Messengers of God is a fundamental article of faith in Islam. Thus, believing in Prophets Adam, Jesus, Moses, and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them) is a requirement for anyone who calls him or herself a Muslim. A person claiming to be a Muslim who, for instance, denies the Messengership of Jesus, is not considered a Muslim.
The Quran says in reference to the status of Jesus as a Messenger:
"The Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary, was no more than a Messenger before whom many Messengers have passed away; and his mother adhered wholly to truthfulness, and they both ate food (as other mortals do). See how We make Our signs clear to them; and see where they are turning away!" (Quran 5:75).
2. Do Muslims believe he was born of a Virgin Mother? YES
Like Christians, Muslims believe Mary, Maria in Spanish, or Maryam as she is called in Arabic, was a chaste, virgin woman, who miraculously gave birth to Jesus.
"Relate in the Book the story of Mary, when she withdrew from her family, to a place in the East. She screened herself from them; then We sent to her Our spirit (angel Gabriel) and he appeared before her as a man in all respects. She said: I seek refuge from you in God Most Gracious (come not near) if you do fear God. He said: Nay, I am only a Messenger from your Lord, to announce to you the gift of a pure son. She said: How shall I have a son, when no man has ever touched me, and I am not unchaste? He said: So it will be, your Lord says: ‘That is easy for Me; and We wish to appoint him as a sign unto men and a Mercy from Us': It was a matter so decreed" (Quran 19:16-21).
3. Do Muslims believe Jesus had a miraculous birth? YES
The Quran says:
"She (Mary) said: ‘O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me.' He (God) said: ‘So (it will be) for God creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only: ‘Be!'- and it is" (3:47).
It should also be noted about his birth that:
"Verily, the likeness of Jesus in God's Sight is the likeness of Adam. He (God) created him from dust, then (He) said to him: ‘Be!'-and he was" (Quran 3:59).
4. Do Muslims believe Jesus spoke in the cradle? YES
"Then she (Mary) pointed to him. They said: ‘How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?' He (Jesus) said: ‘Verily! I am a slave of God, He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet; " (19:29-30).
5. Do Muslims believe he performed miracles? YES
Muslims, like Christians believe Jesus performed miracles. But these were performed by the will and permission of God, Who has power and control over all things.
"Then will God say: ‘O Jesus the son of Mary! recount My favor to you and to your mother. Behold! I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit (the angel Gabriel) so that you did speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught you the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel. And behold: you make out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and you breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by My leave, and you heal those born blind, and the lepers by My leave. And behold! you bring forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the children of Israel from (violence to you) when you did show them the Clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: ‘This is nothing but evident magic' (5:110).
6. Do Muslims believe in the Trinity? NO
Muslims believe in the Absolute Oneness of God, Who is a Supreme Being free of human limitations, needs and wants. He has no partners in His Divinity. He is the Creator of everything and is completely separate from His creation.
God says in the Quran regarding the Trinity:
"People of the Book (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, and attribute to God nothing except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only a Messenger of God, and His command that He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in God and in His Messengers, and do not say: ‘God is a Trinity.' Give up this assertion; it would be better for you. God is indeed just One God. Far be it from His glory that He should have a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth. God is sufficient for a guardian" (Quran 4:171).
7. Do Muslims believe that Jesus was the son of God? NO
"Say: "God is Unique! God, the Source [of everything]. He has not fathered anyone nor was He fathered, and there is nothing comparable to Him!" (Quran 112:1-4).
The Quran also states:
"Such was Jesus, the son of Mary; it is a statement of truth, about which they vainly dispute. It is not befitting to the majesty of God, that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be' and it is" (Quran 19:34-35).
8. Do Muslims believe Jesus was killed on the cross then resurrected? NO
"“They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but they thought they did.” (Quran 4:156) “God lifted him up to His presence. God is Almighty, All-Wise” (Quran 4:157) .
CHRISTIANITY
1. Do Christians believe Jesus was a human being and Messenger of God? YES & NO
With the exception of Unitarian Christians, who like all the early followers of Jesus, still do not believe in the Trinity, most Christians now believe in the Divinity of Jesus, which is connected to the belief in Trinity. They say he is the second member of the Triune God, the Son of the first part of the Triune God, and at the same time "fully" God in every respect.
2. Do Christians believe he was born of a Virgin Mother? YES
A chaste and pious human woman who gave birth to Jesus Christ, the second member of the Trinity, the Son of God, and at the same time "fully" God Almighty in every respect.
Christians believe however, that while she was a virgin, she was married to a man named Joseph (Bible: Matthew:1:18). According to Matthew 1:25, Joseph "kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus".
3. Do Christians believe he had a miraculous birth? YES
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit" (Bible: Matthew 1:18)
4. Do Christians believe he performed miracles? YES
"And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness, while thou stretches out thy hand to heal, and sign and wonders are performed through the name of thy holy servant Jesus (Bible: Acts 4:30).
Christians believe that Jesus performed these miracles because he was the Son of God as well as the incarnation of God.
5. Do Christians believe in the Trinity? YES
With the exception of the Unitarian Christians, who do not believe in the Divinity of Christ, the Trinity, according to the Catholic encyclopedia, is the term used for the central doctrine of the Christian religion. The belief is that in the unity of the Godhead there are Three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three Persons or beings are distinct from each another, while being similar in character: uncreated and omnipotent.
The First Vatican Council has explained the meaning to be attributed to the term mystery in theology. It lays down that a mystery is a truth which we are not merely incapable of discovering apart from Divine Revelation, but which, even when revealed, remains "hidden by the veil of faith and enveloped, so to speak, by a kind of darkness" (Const., "De fide. cath.", iv). The First Vatican Council further defined that the Christian Faith contains mysteries strictly so called (can. 4). All theologians admit that the doctrine of the Trinity is of the number of these. The Catholic Encyclopedia notes that of all revealed truths, this is the most impenetrable to reason.
6. Do Christians believe that Jesus was the son of God? YES
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him (Bible: John 3:16).
However, it is interesting to note that the term "son of God" is used in other parts of the Bible to refer to Adam (Bible: Luke 3:38), Israel (Bible: Exodus 4:22) and David (Bible: Psalms 2:7) as well. The creatures of God are usually referred to in the Bible as children of God.
The role of Paul of Tarsus in shaping this belief and the belief in Trinity
The notion of Jesus as son of God is something that was established under the influence of Paul of Tarsus (originally named Saul), who had been an enemy of Jesus, but later changed course and joined the disciples after the departure of Jesus.
Later, however, he initiated a number of changes into early Christian teachings, in contradiction, for instance, to disciples like Barnabas, who believed in the Oneness of God and who had actually lived and met with Jesus.
Paul is considered by a number of Christian scholars to be the father of Christianity due to his additions of the following ideas:
o
that Jesus is the son of God,
o
the concept of Atonement,
o
the renunciation of the Law of the Torah.
Paul did these things in hopes of winning over the Gentiles (non-Jewish people). His letters are another of the primary sources of information on Jesus according to the Christian tradition.
The original followers of Prophet Jesus opposed these blatant misrepresentations of the message of Jesus. They struggled to reject the notion of the Divinity of Jesus for close to 200 years.
One person who was an original follower of Jesus was Barnabas. He was a Jew born in Cyrus and a successful preacher of the teachings of Jesus. Because of his closeness to Jesus, he was an important member of the small group of disciples in Jerusalem who had had gathered together following the disappearance of Jesus.
The question of Jesus's nature, origin and relationship with God was not raised amongst Barnabas and the small group of disciples. Jesus was considered a man miraculously endowed by God. Nothing in the words of Jesus or the events in his life led them to modify this view.
The Gospel of Barnabas was accepted as a Canonical Gospel in the Churches of Alexandria till 325 CE Iranaeus (130-200) wrote in support of pure monotheism and opposed Paul for injecting into Christianity doctrines of the pagan Roman religion and Platonic philosophy. He quoted extensively from the Gospel of Barnabas in support of his views. This indicates that the Gospel of Barnabas was in circulation in the first and second centuries of Christianity.
In 325 (CE), a council of Christian leaders met at Nicaea and made Paul's beliefs officially part of Christian doctrine. It also ordered that all original Gospels in Hebrew script which contradicted Paul's beliefs should be destroyed. An edict was issued that anyone in possession of these Gospels would be put to death.
The Gospel of Barnabas has miraculously survived though.
7. Do Christians believe he was killed on the cross? YES
This is a core Christian belief and it relates to the concept of atonement. According to this belief, Jesus died to save mankind from sin. However, this is not stated explicitly in the four gospels which form the primary source texts of Christianity. It is found, however, in Romans 6:8,9.
Christians believe Jesus was spat on, cut, humiliated, kicked, striped and finally hung up on the cross to endure a slow and painful death.
According, to Christian belief, the original sin of Adam and Eve of eating from the forbidden tree was so great that God could not forgive it by simply willing it, rather it was necessary to erase it with the blood of a sinless, innocent Jesus.
Resurrection
The four Gospels and the Epistles of St. Paul are the main sources of Christianity which discuss the Resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion. According to St. Matthew, Jesus appeared to the holy women, and again on a mountain in Galilee. Mark's Gospel tells a different story: Jesus was seen by Mary Magdalene, by the two disciples at Emmaus, and the Eleven before his Ascension into heaven.
Luke's Gospel says Jesus walked with the disciples to Emmaus, appeared to Peter and to the assembled disciples in Jerusalem. In John's Gospel, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, to the ten Apostles on Easter Sunday, to the Eleven a week later, and to seven disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.
Another account of the resurrection by St. Paul is found in Bible: Corinthians 15: 3-8.
According to Christian belief, Resurrection is a manifestation of God's justice, Who exalted Christ to a life of glory, as Christ had humbled himself unto death (Phil., 2: 8-9). This event also completes the mystery of Christian salvation and redemption. The death of Jesus frees believers from sin, and with his resurrection, he restores to them the most important privileges lost by sin (Bible: Romans 4:25).
More importantly, the belief in the resurrection of Jesus indicates Christian acknowledgment of Christ as the immortal God, the cause of believers' own resurrection (Bible: I Corinthians 4: 21; Phil., 3:20-21), as well as the model and the support of a new life of grace (Bible: Romans 4: 4-6; 9-11).
Source of information about Jesus in Islam
Most of the Islamic information about Jesus is actually found in the Quran.
The Quran was revealed by God to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), and memorized and written down in his lifetime. Today, anyone who calls him or herself a Muslim believes in the complete authenticity of the Quran as the original revealed guidance from God.
Source of information about Jesus in Christianity
Christians take their information about Jesus from the Bible, which includes the Old and New Testaments.
These contain four biblical narratives covering the life and death of Jesus. They have been written, according to tradition, respectively by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They are placed at the beginning of the New Testament and comprise close to half of it.
Encyclopedia Britannica notes that none of the sources of his life and work can be traced to Jesus himself; he did not leave a single known written word. Also, there are no contemporary accounts written of his life and death. What can be established about the historical Jesus depends almost without exception on Christian traditions, especially on the material used in the composition of the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke, which reflect the outlook of the later church and its faith in Jesus.
Below are the views of Islam and Christianity based on primary source texts and core beliefs.
ISLAM
1. Do Muslims believe he was a Messenger of One God? YES
Belief in all of the Prophets and Messengers of God is a fundamental article of faith in Islam. Thus, believing in Prophets Adam, Jesus, Moses, and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon them) is a requirement for anyone who calls him or herself a Muslim. A person claiming to be a Muslim who, for instance, denies the Messengership of Jesus, is not considered a Muslim.
The Quran says in reference to the status of Jesus as a Messenger:
"The Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary, was no more than a Messenger before whom many Messengers have passed away; and his mother adhered wholly to truthfulness, and they both ate food (as other mortals do). See how We make Our signs clear to them; and see where they are turning away!" (Quran 5:75).
2. Do Muslims believe he was born of a Virgin Mother? YES
Like Christians, Muslims believe Mary, Maria in Spanish, or Maryam as she is called in Arabic, was a chaste, virgin woman, who miraculously gave birth to Jesus.
"Relate in the Book the story of Mary, when she withdrew from her family, to a place in the East. She screened herself from them; then We sent to her Our spirit (angel Gabriel) and he appeared before her as a man in all respects. She said: I seek refuge from you in God Most Gracious (come not near) if you do fear God. He said: Nay, I am only a Messenger from your Lord, to announce to you the gift of a pure son. She said: How shall I have a son, when no man has ever touched me, and I am not unchaste? He said: So it will be, your Lord says: ‘That is easy for Me; and We wish to appoint him as a sign unto men and a Mercy from Us': It was a matter so decreed" (Quran 19:16-21).
3. Do Muslims believe Jesus had a miraculous birth? YES
The Quran says:
"She (Mary) said: ‘O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me.' He (God) said: ‘So (it will be) for God creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only: ‘Be!'- and it is" (3:47).
It should also be noted about his birth that:
"Verily, the likeness of Jesus in God's Sight is the likeness of Adam. He (God) created him from dust, then (He) said to him: ‘Be!'-and he was" (Quran 3:59).
4. Do Muslims believe Jesus spoke in the cradle? YES
"Then she (Mary) pointed to him. They said: ‘How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?' He (Jesus) said: ‘Verily! I am a slave of God, He has given me the Scripture and made me a Prophet; " (19:29-30).
5. Do Muslims believe he performed miracles? YES
Muslims, like Christians believe Jesus performed miracles. But these were performed by the will and permission of God, Who has power and control over all things.
"Then will God say: ‘O Jesus the son of Mary! recount My favor to you and to your mother. Behold! I strengthened you with the Holy Spirit (the angel Gabriel) so that you did speak to the people in childhood and in maturity. Behold! I taught you the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel. And behold: you make out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My leave, and you breathe into it, and it becomes a bird by My leave, and you heal those born blind, and the lepers by My leave. And behold! you bring forth the dead by My leave. And behold! I did restrain the children of Israel from (violence to you) when you did show them the Clear Signs, and the unbelievers among them said: ‘This is nothing but evident magic' (5:110).
6. Do Muslims believe in the Trinity? NO
Muslims believe in the Absolute Oneness of God, Who is a Supreme Being free of human limitations, needs and wants. He has no partners in His Divinity. He is the Creator of everything and is completely separate from His creation.
God says in the Quran regarding the Trinity:
"People of the Book (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, and attribute to God nothing except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, was only a Messenger of God, and His command that He conveyed unto Mary, and a spirit from Him. So believe in God and in His Messengers, and do not say: ‘God is a Trinity.' Give up this assertion; it would be better for you. God is indeed just One God. Far be it from His glory that He should have a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and in the earth. God is sufficient for a guardian" (Quran 4:171).
7. Do Muslims believe that Jesus was the son of God? NO
"Say: "God is Unique! God, the Source [of everything]. He has not fathered anyone nor was He fathered, and there is nothing comparable to Him!" (Quran 112:1-4).
The Quran also states:
"Such was Jesus, the son of Mary; it is a statement of truth, about which they vainly dispute. It is not befitting to the majesty of God, that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it, ‘Be' and it is" (Quran 19:34-35).
8. Do Muslims believe Jesus was killed on the cross then resurrected? NO
"“They did not kill him, nor did they crucify him, but they thought they did.” (Quran 4:156) “God lifted him up to His presence. God is Almighty, All-Wise” (Quran 4:157) .
CHRISTIANITY
1. Do Christians believe Jesus was a human being and Messenger of God? YES & NO
With the exception of Unitarian Christians, who like all the early followers of Jesus, still do not believe in the Trinity, most Christians now believe in the Divinity of Jesus, which is connected to the belief in Trinity. They say he is the second member of the Triune God, the Son of the first part of the Triune God, and at the same time "fully" God in every respect.
2. Do Christians believe he was born of a Virgin Mother? YES
A chaste and pious human woman who gave birth to Jesus Christ, the second member of the Trinity, the Son of God, and at the same time "fully" God Almighty in every respect.
Christians believe however, that while she was a virgin, she was married to a man named Joseph (Bible: Matthew:1:18). According to Matthew 1:25, Joseph "kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus".
3. Do Christians believe he had a miraculous birth? YES
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit" (Bible: Matthew 1:18)
4. Do Christians believe he performed miracles? YES
"And now, Lord, look upon their threats, and grant to thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness, while thou stretches out thy hand to heal, and sign and wonders are performed through the name of thy holy servant Jesus (Bible: Acts 4:30).
Christians believe that Jesus performed these miracles because he was the Son of God as well as the incarnation of God.
5. Do Christians believe in the Trinity? YES
With the exception of the Unitarian Christians, who do not believe in the Divinity of Christ, the Trinity, according to the Catholic encyclopedia, is the term used for the central doctrine of the Christian religion. The belief is that in the unity of the Godhead there are Three Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three Persons or beings are distinct from each another, while being similar in character: uncreated and omnipotent.
The First Vatican Council has explained the meaning to be attributed to the term mystery in theology. It lays down that a mystery is a truth which we are not merely incapable of discovering apart from Divine Revelation, but which, even when revealed, remains "hidden by the veil of faith and enveloped, so to speak, by a kind of darkness" (Const., "De fide. cath.", iv). The First Vatican Council further defined that the Christian Faith contains mysteries strictly so called (can. 4). All theologians admit that the doctrine of the Trinity is of the number of these. The Catholic Encyclopedia notes that of all revealed truths, this is the most impenetrable to reason.
6. Do Christians believe that Jesus was the son of God? YES
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him (Bible: John 3:16).
However, it is interesting to note that the term "son of God" is used in other parts of the Bible to refer to Adam (Bible: Luke 3:38), Israel (Bible: Exodus 4:22) and David (Bible: Psalms 2:7) as well. The creatures of God are usually referred to in the Bible as children of God.
The role of Paul of Tarsus in shaping this belief and the belief in Trinity
The notion of Jesus as son of God is something that was established under the influence of Paul of Tarsus (originally named Saul), who had been an enemy of Jesus, but later changed course and joined the disciples after the departure of Jesus.
Later, however, he initiated a number of changes into early Christian teachings, in contradiction, for instance, to disciples like Barnabas, who believed in the Oneness of God and who had actually lived and met with Jesus.
Paul is considered by a number of Christian scholars to be the father of Christianity due to his additions of the following ideas:
o
that Jesus is the son of God,
o
the concept of Atonement,
o
the renunciation of the Law of the Torah.
Paul did these things in hopes of winning over the Gentiles (non-Jewish people). His letters are another of the primary sources of information on Jesus according to the Christian tradition.
The original followers of Prophet Jesus opposed these blatant misrepresentations of the message of Jesus. They struggled to reject the notion of the Divinity of Jesus for close to 200 years.
One person who was an original follower of Jesus was Barnabas. He was a Jew born in Cyrus and a successful preacher of the teachings of Jesus. Because of his closeness to Jesus, he was an important member of the small group of disciples in Jerusalem who had had gathered together following the disappearance of Jesus.
The question of Jesus's nature, origin and relationship with God was not raised amongst Barnabas and the small group of disciples. Jesus was considered a man miraculously endowed by God. Nothing in the words of Jesus or the events in his life led them to modify this view.
The Gospel of Barnabas was accepted as a Canonical Gospel in the Churches of Alexandria till 325 CE Iranaeus (130-200) wrote in support of pure monotheism and opposed Paul for injecting into Christianity doctrines of the pagan Roman religion and Platonic philosophy. He quoted extensively from the Gospel of Barnabas in support of his views. This indicates that the Gospel of Barnabas was in circulation in the first and second centuries of Christianity.
In 325 (CE), a council of Christian leaders met at Nicaea and made Paul's beliefs officially part of Christian doctrine. It also ordered that all original Gospels in Hebrew script which contradicted Paul's beliefs should be destroyed. An edict was issued that anyone in possession of these Gospels would be put to death.
The Gospel of Barnabas has miraculously survived though.
7. Do Christians believe he was killed on the cross? YES
This is a core Christian belief and it relates to the concept of atonement. According to this belief, Jesus died to save mankind from sin. However, this is not stated explicitly in the four gospels which form the primary source texts of Christianity. It is found, however, in Romans 6:8,9.
Christians believe Jesus was spat on, cut, humiliated, kicked, striped and finally hung up on the cross to endure a slow and painful death.
According, to Christian belief, the original sin of Adam and Eve of eating from the forbidden tree was so great that God could not forgive it by simply willing it, rather it was necessary to erase it with the blood of a sinless, innocent Jesus.
Resurrection
The four Gospels and the Epistles of St. Paul are the main sources of Christianity which discuss the Resurrection of Jesus after his crucifixion. According to St. Matthew, Jesus appeared to the holy women, and again on a mountain in Galilee. Mark's Gospel tells a different story: Jesus was seen by Mary Magdalene, by the two disciples at Emmaus, and the Eleven before his Ascension into heaven.
Luke's Gospel says Jesus walked with the disciples to Emmaus, appeared to Peter and to the assembled disciples in Jerusalem. In John's Gospel, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, to the ten Apostles on Easter Sunday, to the Eleven a week later, and to seven disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.
Another account of the resurrection by St. Paul is found in Bible: Corinthians 15: 3-8.
According to Christian belief, Resurrection is a manifestation of God's justice, Who exalted Christ to a life of glory, as Christ had humbled himself unto death (Phil., 2: 8-9). This event also completes the mystery of Christian salvation and redemption. The death of Jesus frees believers from sin, and with his resurrection, he restores to them the most important privileges lost by sin (Bible: Romans 4:25).
More importantly, the belief in the resurrection of Jesus indicates Christian acknowledgment of Christ as the immortal God, the cause of believers' own resurrection (Bible: I Corinthians 4: 21; Phil., 3:20-21), as well as the model and the support of a new life of grace (Bible: Romans 4: 4-6; 9-11).
Monday 17 May 2010
Knowledge
Sufyaan Ath-Thawree, raHimahullaah, said: "The excellence of knowledge is due only to the fact that it causes a person to fear and obey Allaah, otherwise it is just like anything else." [Related by ibn Rajab]
Al-Hasan al-Basree, raHimahullaah, said: "Whoever learns something in the name of Allaah, seeking that which is with Him, he will win. And whoever learns something for other than Allaah, he will not reach the goal, nor will his acquired knowledge bring him closer to Allaah." [Related by Ibn ul Jawzee]
Ibn Mas`ood, raDiallaahu `anhu, said: "True knowledge is not measured in relationship to how much you memorize and then narrate, but rather, true knowledge is an expression of piety [protecting oneself from what Allaah prohibited and acting upon what He mandated]."Also, "Study and act upon what you learn." [Related by Abu Na`eem]
Al-Hasan al-Basree, raHimahullaah, said: "Whoever learns something in the name of Allaah, seeking that which is with Him, he will win. And whoever learns something for other than Allaah, he will not reach the goal, nor will his acquired knowledge bring him closer to Allaah." [Related by Ibn ul Jawzee]
Ibn Mas`ood, raDiallaahu `anhu, said: "True knowledge is not measured in relationship to how much you memorize and then narrate, but rather, true knowledge is an expression of piety [protecting oneself from what Allaah prohibited and acting upon what He mandated]."Also, "Study and act upon what you learn." [Related by Abu Na`eem]
This is Islam
Islam means “submission to God”. Islam is the belief that there is only One God, whose proper name is Allah, which means “ the God”. Islam is the same message given to all the prophets, from Adam, Noah, Moses, Abraham, Jesus, and finally to the Prophet Muhammad, the last messenger (peace and blessings be upon them). They all brought the same message: worship only God, and stop worshipping human beings and their ideas.
Become a Muslim Now
If you believe there is only One God who should be worshipped, and no one/nothing else has that right but Him, and you believe Muahmmad, peace be upon him, was a messenger who brought the same message as all the prophets before him, then you are basically a Muslim.
Do Not Hesitate
If someone receives the message of Islam and dies rejecting it, they are forever destined to Hellfire. Anyone who truly believes in the message of Islam, their previous sins are forgiven and they will spend eternity in Paradise . If you have belief, act on it. Do not worry about what anyone else thinks. Your eternal life is at stake.
To become a Muslim, simply declare the following:
Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illallaah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh.
I testify there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, and I testify Muhammad is His slave and messenger.
Become a Muslim Now
If you believe there is only One God who should be worshipped, and no one/nothing else has that right but Him, and you believe Muahmmad, peace be upon him, was a messenger who brought the same message as all the prophets before him, then you are basically a Muslim.
Do Not Hesitate
If someone receives the message of Islam and dies rejecting it, they are forever destined to Hellfire. Anyone who truly believes in the message of Islam, their previous sins are forgiven and they will spend eternity in Paradise . If you have belief, act on it. Do not worry about what anyone else thinks. Your eternal life is at stake.
To become a Muslim, simply declare the following:
Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illallaah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh.
I testify there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, and I testify Muhammad is His slave and messenger.
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