islam what is
Published by: 2119918 Ontario Incorporation, 2398 Windjammer Road, Mississauga, L5L 1S7, Canada. Tel: 905-607-1056 Cell: 416-721-5556
Prepared & Presented by: Suhail Kapoor
Disclaimer It is acknowledged that some of the text and photos were sourced on line and from library books. This book has been prepared & presented by Suhail Kapoor under contract with 2119918 Ontario Incorporation, 2398 Windjammer Road, Mississauga, L5L 1S7, Canada. The sole objective of this book is religious propagation and there is no intent to achieve commercial or financial gains of any nature. This book will be distributed absolutely ‘free of cost’. There are no copy rights and its contents can be reproduced or reprinted in part or full providing its done only for a similar cause. If anyone who decides to do so, it is requested to please let us have a copy of it for our reference purpose.
W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
2
CONTENTS TITLES
PAGE
Who is Allah What is Islam Who are Muslims Believes of Muslims The pillars of Islam What Islam stands for ? What does it take to become a Muslim Ka’bah The Qur’anWho is Mohammad() What non-muslims say about Muhammad () Islam and its contribution to the modern world Hadith and Sunnah of the Prophet() What is a mosque Prayers Essence of prayer Fasting in Islam – its origin, its laws and objectives Zakat – Compulsory charity Status of women in Islam Understanding the Islamic Dress Code for Women 4 wives or up to 4 wives and why? Islam and Terrorism Islamic Monotheism Islam and other faiths Jihad Life Hereafter Expiation of Sin Who was Jesus (peace be upon him) Family values and elders in Islam Pre-marital relations What food Muslims eat Why Pork is forbidden in Islam What else Islam forbids Human Rights in Islam Islam in the West W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
3
PREFACE Born and raised a Hindu, and keeping in mind the diametrically opposed tangents of Hindu philosophy versus Islam, it was only the express will of Allah that I was blessed with Islam and for this I will always be short of words and actions to show my gratitude to Him. As Prophet Muhammad () said: “When Allah wishes well for someone He grants him understanding of Deen (Religion).” For me I could never come to terms with the idea of God incarnate or reincarnation, which is the central theme Hinduism revolves around. I always thought that there certainly has to be a better way to connect to God and achieve salvation. The very fact that we have been given this life, hence there is a start and what actually awaits us at the end is surely something that I always contemplated. I remember at an young age of 16 and coming from a strict traditional family, when at a religious event I mustered all the strength I had in me to tell my father, ‘the rituals in our religion do not impress me and I should be allowed the freedom of choice.’ Listening this I clearly remember the astonishment and disbelief on his face. After giving me a piercing look I could sense that he conceded. It re-established my trust in my father whom I always thought to be a reasonable man. That day was the turning point in my life. Torn apart between what I was always made to believe and the search for truth is something that I was consumed in all the time. My restiveness grew by the day and I always thought that there had to be something else which was more acceptable to my soul and intellect. Ultimately my inner commotion came to rest when I embraced Islam in 1990 while working in Saudi Arabia. The sudden electrifying transformation that I felt within me at the very moment I was taking shahada (declaration of faith) can never be fully explained. Best described, it was as if, there was something that was pulled out of me with extreme difficulty bit by bit and simultaneously there was something that was forcefully being thrusted inside me. My entire being felt and witnessed the enormity of the change that I was going through. I could feel so strongly that I knew it was a new beginning from here on. Since then I have come a long way in my personal and spiritual journey. As time passed I arduously read a lot and more I was learning more there was this ever growing sense of urgency within me to present my new found religion in a manner that will appeal to W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
4
those who have never even heard the word ‘Islam’. Some have at least heard of it but know very little or what it represents. Whereas yet some know only the distorted and violent image of Islam. In today’s challenging times, when religious intolerance is on the rise everywhere, communal violence, hatred and antipathy are the norm, the need to reach out to people of other faiths, culminated in putting together a book that you hold in your hand. It is also an effort to bridge the ever increasing gap between religions that are monotheistic by definition and spirit. Since early days of my Islamic life, I have fervently pursued the ambition of sharing with others the light that shined on me. In other words, to talk about Islam is my only passion and as if I have nothing better to do. Being involved intensely in propagation activities and after interacting with people from various intellectual and spiritual backgrounds all the way to the man on the street, I have understood to a great degree, the numerous ‘specifics’ a non-Muslim needs to know about Islam. As a result I have very meticulously researched and compiled, taking the help of various sources of information to present just that. So inexhaustible is the knowledge on Islam that it was virtually impossible for me as to what I must ignore and what to choose for this book. However, I have tried to be both, as brief as well as comprehensive on the subjects that I believe will be of immediate interest to the reader. Anything less may have failed to accomplish the fullness of the message that I intended. I trust this aim was achieved, especially when someone is reading about Islam for the very first time. I also like to extend my deep gratitude to ………………………….who so willingly agreed to give their time in going through the text and giving valuable numerous suggestions of improvements. May Allah reward them amply for the assistance they provided me. Lastly, I only hope that Allah() in His infinite mercy, accept my humble efforts in conveying His word to those who remain unknowledgeable of it and that I succeeded in portraying the true image of Islam.
Suhail Kapoor
W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
5
Who is Allah
Allah (Arabic: ,) is the creator and judge of mankind, omnipotent, omnipresent, compassionate, and merciful. Belonging from an old Semitic root word meaning Divine and used in the Canaanite El, the Mesopotamian ilu, and the biblical Elohim, the term Allah is used by most of the Arabic-speaking Muslims, Christians, Jews, and others alike. Muslims eliminate any anthropomorphism (human qualities) to their understanding and concept of Allah. His attributes are in no way resembling the attributes possessed by human, despite similar labels or appellations. Prior to the advent of Islam, Jews and other tribes in Arabia also referred to the supreme creator as Allah. The belief that mediation is necessary in order for one’s prayers to be accepted, finds no place in Islamic thought. And that Allah is too holy to approach is negated in Islam in the following Qur’anic verse, “And indeed We have created man, and We know what his own self whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge).” (Qur’an 50:16). The word for God used in Aramaic is Alaha which comes from the same Proto-Semitic word (ilâh-) as the Arabic and Hebrew terms. W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
6
In fact the word Allah existed much before Muhammad( ) for thousands of years. It is probably one of the oldest name man has used to address God. As per the Qur’an Adam used the word Allah to call the Lord. On the contrary, the word “GOD” emerged along with the English language, only some ten centuries ago
Fig.1: Name of Allah by wave formations while hitting a shore.
Fig. 2: Allah’s name appears on oceans - picture by Apollo 11 Shuttle. To watch a video, visit: http://www.islamcan.com/ miracles/apollovideo.shtml
Allah is He, than Whom there is no other god; the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace (and Perfection), the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver of Safety, the Exalted in Might, the Irresistible, Supreme: Glory to Allah! (High is He) above the partners they attribute to Him. (Quran) He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of Forms (or Colours). To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: whatever is in the heavens and on earth, doth declare His Praises and Glory; and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.(Quran 59:22-24). Say: “Call upon Allah, or call upon Rahman: by whatever name ye call upon Him, (it is well): for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. (Quran17:110) What is Islam Islam (Arabic: ; al-’islam) is a religion none other but a continuation and confirmation of the same message that was given W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
7
to previous prophets like Abraham, Noah, Moses & Jesus (peace be on them all). Islam is not only a religion but it also provides a comprehensive code needed to guide one’s life. Furthermore, its message is that of peace and tolerance. The word ISLAM has a two-fold meaning: peace, and submission to God. This submission requires a fully unconditional and willing effort to submit one self. One must consciously and conscientiously give oneself to serve Allah. Who are Muslims A Muslim (Arabic: ) is a follower of the religion of Islam. Literally, the word means “one who submits to God)”. -One who has faith in the Almighty and the Absolute God only, -and who perseveres to do good deeds According to this definition anybody of any denomination of faith (Jews, Nazarenes, Muslim, etc.) who fulfills the above two conditions is a Muslim. Islam – today claims over 1.2 billion followers worldwide and growing. This makes approximately every 5th human being a Muslim. From the humble beginning in Arabia some 1400 years ago, its message in just over 100 years after the death of its prophet Mohammad (), spread from the gates of Europe and China all the way to Africa and Australia. It gives no credence to race, colour and culture of a person. For all you know, on the day of judgment one with black skin and ugly face be more dearer to Allah than one with white skin and green eyes, for on that day what will matter most is how pious and God fearing one was in this life. While their concentration is mostly in the Arab world, Indian sub-continent, Africa and Indonesia, Muslims, though in minority, are also found in Europe, North and South America, China and Soviet Union, as well. Believes of Muslims There are in total six articles of faith that are common to all Muslims. The first of these is that there is no God but Allah. The second is to believe in the angels and jinn. Just like us, Jinns too, who are of the spirit kingdom, a creation of God. Then come the angels who are superior to jinns. The third, is to believe in all the previously revealed holy books by God, via; the Old Testament given to Moses, Psalms to David, Gospel to Jesus and that God’s last and final revelation in the shape of Qur’an which was revealed to Mohammed (). The W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
8
fourth, to believe in the supreme and indisputable will of Allah. The fifth, to believe in all of God’s prophets, through whom Allah sent down revelations to different tribes and nations in different times and finally the sixth, to believe in the day of judgment when man shall stand accountable for his deeds in the court of Allah, when no intercession will be permitted. Muslims also believe that Adam, Ahraham, Noah, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Solomon, Lot, David, Aaron, John the Baptist, Moses, Jesus and Mohammad were all the prophets of God (peace be on them all). The Pillars of Islam The first pillar, to declare: “There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad() is his prophet.” Second, is the regular five daily prayers. Third, is the giving of compulsory charity (2.5%), fourth, is fasting during Ramadan (which is actually the ninth month of the lunar calendar) and lastly, the fifth to perform Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca if it is possible, at least once in life. What Islam stands for? The word ‘Islam’ in Arabic literally means ‘submission’ and is derived from the root word ‘salaam’ which means ‘peace.’ Those who choose to do so are called ‘Muslims.’ Religiously speaking, it will mean to submit completely to the will of God. It is quite often understood that Muslims believe and worship in their prophet Mohammad (pbuh) rather than God and that it was he who wrote the Qur’an. This notion is totally false and incorrect. Muslim worship ‘Allah’ which in Arabic literally means, God. It is an all-encompassing way of life that must be practiced continuously to remain in Islam. What does it take to become a Muslim? By simply pronouncing from the depth of your heart, “there is no God but Allah and that Mohammad is the messenger of God.” It implies that the believer also confirms his faith in all the previous messengers who brought revealed guidance. Ka’bah Adam (peace be upon him) had constructed the Holy Ka’bah (Arabic: al-Ka’bah) from the stones of five mountains brought by the Angels. The five mountains were: Tor Sina Mountain, W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
9
Mt. Hira’, Tur Zeeta, Mt. Lebanon and AI-Judi. (14, v. 3. p. 14). Abraham and Ismail (peace be upon them) reconstructed the House over the foundations of Adam as instructed by Allah, the
The Ka’bah – Makkah, Saudi Arabia (the dots that appear represents people).
Almighty. (14, v. 3, p. 47). The general shape of the Holy Ka’bah, was rectangular and nine cubits high and is estimated to be 4000 years old. Today, it is the largest place of worship on earth and can hold over a million people for prayers at one time. The ‘Haram’, or the holy mosque, is a sanctuary where any form of violence is prohibited. The word haram has dual meaning of forbidden and sacred. It is a symbol of purification and is the holiest place of worship for all the Muslims of the world. Some of its reference are even mentioned in the Qur’an : The first sanctuary appointed for man was in Bakka, a blessed place, and as guidance to the peoples. (Qur’an – Chapter Al Imran, v 96). Allah hath appointed the Kabah, the sacred house, a standard for mankind (Qur’an – Chapter Al Mai’da – v 97). ‘Behold, we gave the site to Ibrahim, of the (sacred) house (Qur’an Chapter Al Hajj – v 26). The Qur’an The Qur’an, (Arabic: al-qur’an) literally meaning “the recitation”, is the most religious text of Islam. Muslims believe that the Qur’an is the book of divine guidance and complete direction for mankind, and consider the text (in the original Arabic) to be the final divine revelation of God. The Qur’an was revealed to Muhammad() as to previous prophets by angel Gabriel. W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
10
Muslims regard the Qur’an as the culmination of a series of divine messages that started with those revealed to Adam, who is regarded in Islam as the first prophet, and continued with the Suhuf-i-Ibrahim (Scrolls of Abraham), the Tawrat (Torah), the Zabur (Psalms), and the Injil (Gospel). The aforementioned books are not explicitly included but are recognized in the Qur’an.
The Qur’an is a Message from Allah to humanity. It was transmitted to us in a chain starting from the Almighty Himself to angel Gabriel Prophet Muhammad (). This message was given to the Prophet () in pieces over a period spanning approximately 23 years (610 CE to 622 CE). The Prophet () was 40 years old when the Qur’an began to be revealed to him, and he was 63 when the revelation was completed. The language of the original message was Arabic, but in course of time it has been translated into many other languages. It is a responsibility - and blessing - for those who hear of the Qur’an and Islam to investigate it and examine it for themselves. Being the ‘Last Testament’ to man, Allah has promised that He will protect it from human tampering, and today copies of the exact Qur’an are found all over the world. In all generations, there have always been hundreds of thousands who memorize the Qur’an. Presently there are approximately 25 million Muslims, ranging from the age of 6 to 75, who have the entire Qur’an, word for word, cover to cover, in their hearts and my son, Yusuf Kapoor who completed W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
11
the memorization at the age of 14, happens to be one of them. The Qur’an that is read today is the same as the Qur’an that was revealed to Muhammad () 14 centuries ago. In other words, it is the same message of monotheism that was given to Adam, Abraham, Noah, Moses & Jesus. The claim of Muslims that it is the only text on the face of the earth that has withstood the test of time (14 centuries) and remains uncorrupted, unlike other scriptures which have witnessed human interference, still stands. Testimony of this is even given by scholars of other faiths. Scientific Miracles of the Qur’an To enlist all the miracles in the Qur’an which have been verified and confirmed by modern science, it will need a book in itself, but I will give a few which will allow the reader with an understanding as to who after all could possess knowledge of such diversity, 1400 years ago. Allah says in the Holy Quran: “I do swear by the Day of Resurrection. I do swear by the reproachful soul. Does man reckon We shall not gather his bones? Yes indeed; We are able to shape again the tips of his fingers.” (75: 1-4) Finger prints are considered as distinc-
• • •
The sensation of skin pain tive feature evidence for each person. The sensation of touch: the corpuscles responsible for such sensation are called Meissners and Merkels corpuscles. The sensation of pain: this is transported by the nerve endings in the skin. • The sensation of heat: this is the responsibility of Ruffini cylinders corpuscles. The nerve endings will be exposed if the dermis and epidermis layers are injured.
W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
12
Burns of First Degree
Burns of Second Degree
Burns of Third Degree
The Quran states; “Those who reject our signs, We shall cast into the fire; as often as their skins are roasted through. We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the punishment; for Allah is Exalted in power; Wise.” ( 4:56) Creation Of Human Since Aristotle had summed up the prevailing theories in his age relating to the creation of the embryo, controversy continued among the supporters of the theory of the full dwarf embryo existing in man’s sperm and those of the theory of the full dwarf embryo created out of the woman’s menstrual blood coagulation (thickening). Most of them believed that man was reduced into that sperm drop, and they drew a figure in which they imagined the embryo as a full creature in the sperm drop, which then grew up in the womb as a small tree (bottom left). The dwarf embryo as imagined by Leonardo da Vinci from the 15th century and the sperm as miniature human being by Hartsoeker from the 17th century (below right). Therefore, it is clear that mankind did not realize that the embryo is created of a man’s sperm mingled with a woman’s ovum except in the 18th century, and only to be confirmed at the beginning of the 20th century. On the other hand, the Holy Qur’an and the Prophetic speeches have confirmed in a very accurate scientific manner the creation of man from a mingled fluid-drop (nutfa amshaj), as coined by the Qur’an, which says ; “Verily We created man from a drop of a mingled fluid-drop (nutfa amshaj), in order to W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
13
try him: so We gave him (the gifts), of hearing and sight.” (76:2). “He It is Who created all things in the best way and began the creation of man from clay, and made his progeny from an extract of despised fluid (Sulalah)” (32: 7-8) “So, let man consider of what he was created. He was created of gushing water” (86: 5-6) Who is Mohammad()? He was born in Arabia in the year 570 AD in the noblest of clans of Makkah, the Qur’aish. During one of his meditative retreats to the Cave of Hira in Makkah, he received his first revelation from God through Angel Gabriel. He started his mission of preaching the religion of Truth, Islam, at the age of forty until his death, at the age of sixty three. During this not so long period of 23 years his prophethood changed the complete Arabian Peninsula from paganism and idolatry to worship of One God. From tribal quarrels and wars to national solidarity and cohesion, from drunkenness and debauchery to sobriety and piety, from lawlessness and anarchy to disciplined living, from utter bankruptcy to the highest standards of moral excellence, human history has never known such a complete transformation of a people or a place before or since – and imagine all these unbelievable achievements in just over two decades. What the greatest Historians, Philosophers and Scholars of this century say about Mohammad () the prophet of Islam Alphonse de LaMartaine in ‘Historie de la Turquie,’ Paris, 1854. “If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astonishing results are the three criteria of a human genius, who could dare compare any great man in history with Muhammad?” Philosopher, Orator, Apostle, Legislator, Conqueror of Ideas, Restorer of Rational beliefs.... The founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?” Thomas Carlyle in ‘Heroes and Hero Worship and the Heroic in History,’ 1840 “The lies (Western slander) which well-meaning zeal has heaped round this man (Muhammad) are disgraceful to ourselves only.” W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
14
“A silent great soul, one of that who cannot but be earnest. He was to kindle the world, the world’s Maker had ordered so.” A. S. Tritton in ‘Islam,’ 1951 The picture of the Muslim soldier advancing with a sword in one hand and the Qur’an in the other is quite false. De Lacy O’Leary in ‘Islam at the Crossroads,’ London, 1923. History makes it clear, however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated. Gibbon in ‘The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire’ 1823 The good sense of Muhammad despised the pomp of royalty. The Apostle of God submitted to the menial offices of the family; he kindled the fire; swept the floor; milked the ewes; and mended with his own hands his shoes and garments. Disdaining the penance and merit of a hermit, he observed without effort of vanity the abstemious diet of an Arab. Sir George Bernard Shaw in ‘The Genuine Islam,’ Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936. “If any religion had the chance of ruling over England, nay Europe within the next hundred years, it could be Islam.” Edward Gibbon and Simon Oakley in ‘History of the Saracen Empire,’ London, 1870 “The greatest success of Mohammad’s life was affected by sheer moral force.” Reverend Bosworth Smith in ‘Muhammad and Muhammadanism,’ London, 1874. “Head of the State as well as the Church, he was Caesar and Pope in one; but he was Pope without the Pope’s pretensions, and Caesar without the legions of Caesar, without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a police force, without a fixed revenue. If ever a man ruled by a right divine, it was Muhammad, for he had all the powers without their supports. He cared not for the dressings of power. The simplicity of his private life was in keeping with his public life.”
W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
15
Lawrence E. Browne in ‘The Prospects of Islam,’ 1944 Incidentally these well-established facts dispose of the idea so widely fostered in Christian writings that the Muslims, wherever they went, forced people to accept Islam at the point of the sword. James Michener in ‘Islam: The Misunderstood Religion,’ Reader’s Digest, May 1955, pp. 68-70. “No other religion in history spread so rapidly as Islam. The West has widely believed that this surge of religion was made possible by the sword. But no modern scholar accepts this idea, and the Qur’an is explicit in the support of the freedom of conscience.” Mahatma Gandhi, statement published in ‘Young India,’1924. I wanted to know the best of the life of one who holds today an undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind.... I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the second volume (of the Prophet’s biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of that great life. D. G. Hogarth in ‘Arabia’ Serious or trivial, his daily behavior has instituted a canon which millions observe this day with conscious memory. No one regarded by any section of the human race as Perfect Man has ever been imitated so minutely. The conduct of the founder of Christianity has not governed the ordinary life of his followers. Moreover, no founder of a religion has left on so solitary an eminence as the Muslim apostle. W. Montgomery Watt in ‘Muhammad at Mecca,’ Oxford, 1953. His readiness to undergo persecution for his beliefs, the high moral character of the men who believed in him and looked up to him as a leader, and the greatness of his ultimate achievement - all argue his fundamental integrity. To suppose Muhammad an impostor raises more problems that it solves. Moreover, none of the great figures of history is so poorly appreciated in the West as Muhammad....
W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
16
Philip K. Hitti in ‘History of the Arabs’ Within a brief span of mortal life, Muhammad called forth of unpromising material, a nation, never welded before; in a country that was hitherto but a geographical expression he established a religion which in vast areas suppressed Christianity and Judaism, and laid the basis of an empire that was soon to embrace within its far flung boundaries the fairest provinces of the civilized world. K. S. Ramakrishna Rao in ‘Mohammed: The Prophet of Islam,’ 1989 The personality of Muhammad, it is most difficult to get into the whole truth of it. Only a glimpse of it I can catch. What a dramatic succession of picturesque scenes, Muhammad, the King, the Warrior, the Preacher, the Statesman, the Businessman, the Orator, the Reformer, the Refuge of Orphans, the Protector of Slaves, the Emancipator of Women, the Judge, the Saint, the Father and Husband. The theory of Islam and sword, for instance, is not heard now in any quarter worth the name. The principle of Islam that “there is no compulsion in religion” is well known. Rodwell in the Preface to his translation of the Holy Qur’an Mohammad’s career is a wonderful instance of the force and life that resides in him who possesses an intense faith in God and in the unseen world.
Prophet’s mosque in Madina, Saudi Arabia
Every detail of his private life and public utterances has been accurately documented and faithfully preserved to our day. The authenticity of the record so preserved are vouched for not only by the Muslims but even by his prejudiced critics. Mohammad, W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
17
the seal of all of God’s Messengers and Prophets, was by far the most remarkable man that ever set foot on this earth. He preached a religion, founded a state, built a nation, laid down a moral code, initiated numerous social and political reforms, established a powerful and dynamic society to practice and represent his teachings and completely revolutionized the worlds of human thought and behavior for all times to come. When he appeared Arabia was nothing but a desert. Out of nothing a new world was modeled by the dynamic spirit of Mohammad() -- a new life, a new dimension and a dawn of a new civilization unfurled which spread from Morocco to Indies and influenced the thought and life of three continents -- Asia, Africa and Europe. Micheal H. Hart, the great American scientist, philosopher, mathematician, physicist and historian of this century, in his book, ‘The 100 most influential men in human history, lists Mohammad at no.1 and Jesus at 3. Today after a lapse of fourteen centuries, the life and teachings of Muhammad(), have survived without the slightest loss, human interference or interpolation. They offer the same everlasting hope for treating mankind’s many maladies, which they did when he was alive. This is not a claim of his followers but also the inescapable conclusion forced upon by a critical and unbiased history. Qur’an itself confirms that Mohammad() is God’s last messenger to mankind and the seal of prophethood. The spread of Islam and its contribution to the modern world In these troubled and extremist times, when the religion and culture of Islam are under seemingly perpetual attack, it is salutary to consider how much Islam and the Christian West, have in common, and how much it owes to the spiritual insights of the Qutub Minar built during the 15th Century W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
18
Mosque built during the 800 years of Muslim rule in Cordoba, Spain
great Islamic culture. Religious tolerance, respect for learning, the concepts of chivalry and brotherhood – it was the Islamic Moors who brought these principles when, in medieval Spain, they acted as “Beacons of Light” in the Dark Ages of European religious arrogance, intolerance and persecution. The Moors gave Europe an architectural and artistic heritage that till today is still a source of amazement to the modern world. Greek philosophy became prominent in Christian thought not through the original Greek but it
Taj Mahal in India built by moghul emperior Shehjehan in love of his wife Noor Jehan during the14th century
was the translations from Arabic. Arabic numerals and calculations were immensely valuable to what is today Western mathematics, and the first effective medical school in Europe was founded by W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
19
Jewish doctors who received their training in Moorish Spain and North Africa. Tim Wallace-Murphy shows how over the last century it was European Western powers who laid the foundations for the chaos that reigns in the Middle East. We need to find a just and equitable solution to these problems and we should begin by acknowledging our common spiritual heritage and the profound debt that Western civilization owes to Islamic culture.
Hadith and Sunnah of the Prophet The Sunnah refers to the divine physical and moral laws set out in the universe and in the Qur’an. However, the term is used most commonly in reference to the example and customary practice of the prophet Muhammad (). The Prophet’s Sunnah has more than one usage in Muslim tradition. As a technical term used in the shariah (Islamic law), it refers to the binding rules derived from the Prophet’s sayings, or hadith. The Sunnah then represents the laws that can be extracted from the hadith. As such, it is the second most important source of law after the Qur’an. In a more general meaning, often used by jurists and theologians, the Sunnah refers also to all the customs and habits of the Prophet, including his everyday life practices that are not considered by the shariah as obligatory. Hence the term Sunnah is often used in the sense of recommended or good practice. Examples of this are the supererogatory prayers and fasting the Prophet performed over and above the prescribed rituals. These are referred to as Sunnah prayers or Sunnah fasting. Allah declares in the Qur’an, “There certainly is an excellent example in Allah’s messenger for he who fears Allah and the last day and remembers Allah abundantly” (al-Ahzaab 21) Some of the hadiths : “He who holds firm to my Sunnah(traditions of the prophet) when corruption is rampant in my Ummah(people) will attain the reward of a hundred martyrs.” (al-Bayhaqi fi Zuhd; Hidaayatur ruwaat vol.1 pg.136 Hadith174). “‘...what is the best type of Jihad [struggle]?’ He answered: ‘Speaking truth before a tyrannical ruler.’ “ Riyadh us-Saleheen Volume 1:195 The first to be summoned to Paradise on the Day of Resurrection will be those who praise God in prosperity and adversity.” Al-Tirmidhi, W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
20
Hadith 730 “[The man asked] ‘Who is more entitled to be treated with the best companionship by me?’ The Prophet said, ‘Your mother.’ The man said. ‘Who is next?’ The Prophet said, ‘Your mother.’ The man further said, ‘Who is next?’ The Prophet said, ‘Your mother.’ The man asked for the fourth time, ‘Who is next?’ The Prophet said, ‘Your father.’” Sahih al-Bukhari, 8:2. “He who has been a ruler over ten people will be brought shackled on the Day of Resurrection, until the justice (by which he ruled) loosens his chains or tyranny brings him to destruction.” Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1037 “Avoid cruelty and injustice...and guard yourselves against miserliness, for this has ruined nations who lived before you.” Riyadhus-Salaheen, Hadith 203. What is a mosque?
A mosque’s interior view / Muslims at pray.
W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
21
The word Mosque (Arabic: masjid ) or House of God ((Allah) from which all forms of a mosque derive, appears frequently in the Qur’an and literally means, a place of prostration, a place of assembly where muslims are called 5 times a day during the time of prayers. A mosque contains a symbolic and functional feature. It is recognized as a unique symbol of Islam and serves as an institution in which the focal points of religious and social activities are combined. Prayers Salah (Arabic: ), is the ritual prayer practiced by Muslims in supplication to Allah, God. Five times each day, wherever they may be, practicing Muslims turn toward al-Masjid al-Haram (the sacred mosque) in Mecca in worship. Prayer is a necessary duty demanded of any adult Muslim, male or female, of sound mind and body. The five obligatory prayers are the early morning prayer (salat alfajr), the noon prayer (salat al-zuhr), the mid-afternoon prayer (salat al-’asr), the sunset prayer (salat al-maghrib) and the evening prayer (salat al-’isha’). On Fridays, the noon congregational prayer (salat al-Jum’a) substitutes for the regular noon prayer. Essence of Prayers According to the Qur’an the purpose of mankind is to worship God. “And I have created the Jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me.” The Qur’anic idea of worship, rendered from Arabic “ibadah,” implies man’s cognition of God’s existence and his conscious willingness to surrender himself to His will and plan. Prayer is a cardinal tenet in Islamic religiosity, the second foremost duty after profession of faith, the shahadah. It is a mark of piety, according to the Qur’an. It is the pivot around which all other acts of Islamic worship revolve, hence the status, “the foundation of Islam.” It is the “supreme act of worship in Islam.” Prayer is a distinctive component of a Muslim’s personality and routine; his day begins and ends with a prayer. Prayer is a testament of genuine obedience to God. As the primary point of communication between the worshipper and his creator, prayer serves as an instrument by which a Muslim seeks to get closer to God. It is the spiritual lifeline; through prayer the Muslim disciplines W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
22
and nourishes his struggling soul. Furthermore, prayer is a source of divine mercy for the worshipper in the present world and the world to come. The Qur’an describes prayer as “a restraint from shameful and evil deeds.” As prayer penetrates the entire fiber of the worshipper’s being the whole world becomes like a mosque (masjid) to him — ever conscious of the pervasive presence of God around him. Prayer is also discipline. In fact, there is something military about responding to five daily prayers at prescribed times regardless of weather conditions. It is also physical hygiene as the worshipper is required to cleanse himself before approaching prayer. These are but few of the benefits that a worshipper derives from prayer. Fasting in Islam – its origin, its laws and objectives
Sawm (Arabic: ) is an Arabic word for fasting regulated by Islamic jurisprudence. “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you, as it was prescribed for those before you (i.e. Jews & Christian) so that you may (learn) self-restraint.” Qur’an - 2:183 Fasting is another unique moral and spiritual characteristic of Islam. Literally defined, fasting means to abstain “completely” from foods, drinks, intimate intercourse with your spouse, and smoking, before the break of the dawn till sunset, during the entire month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic year. It also has medical benefits such as; it lowers the blood pressure and insulin level. This causes breakdown of glycogen from liver to provide glucose and breakdown of fat from adipose tissue to provide for energy needs. Fasting not only brings a wholesome physiological rest for the digestive tract and central nervous system and normalizes metabolism, it is an exercise of self discipline. And above all it’s the spiritual attainment for it teaches man the principle of sincere Love: because when he observes Fasting he does it out of deep love for God. It cultivates in man a vigilant and sound conscience and indoctrinates patience and selflessness, as through fasting, he feels the pains of deprivation but he endures them patiently.
W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
23
Zakat Compulsory charity (Arabic: zakat or zakah, meaning ‘grow’, ‘purify’, or ‘foster’). Besides Zakat allows the needy with income opportunities. (Zak’at) Islamic religious tax, is among the five basic requirements (arkan or “pillars”) of Islam. All adult Muslims of sound mind and body with a set level of income and assets are expected to pay zakat. It is due yearly on certain types of property and is distributed to eight categories of individuals specified by the Qur’an. These categories are usually defined to include orphans, the poor, travelers, beggars, debtors, slaves, and the efforts to propagate Islam. Zakat is payable, on crops, harvests, herds, gold, silver, and merchandise. It is one of the basic principles of Muslim economy, based on social welfare and fair distribution of wealth. Money collected can be used for the general benefit of the community at large by exploring and investing in trade. One of its main objectives also is to serve the destitute and maintain equilibrium between the rich and the poor. The prophet () said “putting a morsel of food in your wife’s mouth and meeting your brother with a smile, is also charity.” Status Of Women In Islam As part of submitting one’s self to their creator (i.e. Islam), modesty and a sense of shyness is one of the necessary components of faith and paramount to achieving righteousness. Our body’s adornments or physical features are a gift, which our creator has given us, and this gift is a trust that comes with certain responsibilities. For both Males and females, God has made their physical features extremely attractive to each other for the purpose of culmination in W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
24
physical union, so that the species can propagate. These physical features, by themselves, are objects of pleasure and lust. For the human being, the consequence of exposing physical features can be very serious and far reaching, both in this world and in the hereafter. A look at the society in the west today will reveal some of the consequences. There is rampant adultery, uncountable rapes, millions of illegitimate pregnancies, millions of abortions, and millions of illegitimate children without responsible fathers to care for them. The kind of society that is referred here can be best understood from a news item where by Italy’s highest appeal court has ruled that married Italian women who commit adultery are entitled to lie about it to protect their honour. It said bending the truth was justified to conceal extra-marital relationships (covered by BBC News, Rome Bureau Chief, Christian Frazer, 7 Mar. 08). To differentiate a Western understanding of ‘honour’ versus what Islam is offering, this in itself deserves a debate. To save humanity from destroying themselves it is evident that both men and women need to cover themselves more properly. The main purpose of covering the body is to cover the shame and other physical features so that they remain out of sight of others, to avoid drawing undue attraction, and to prevent the excitement of evil desires in others. It is this path of purity and modesty, which is essential in Islam towards achieving righteousness and God’s pleasure. As the source of guidance on this path, the following verses were revealed: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (refraining from lustful glances), And protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts) that is purer for them. Surely, God All Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (refraining from lustful glances) and protect/guard their private parts and not to show off their adornments except that which is apparent (for example: face and hands); that they should draw their clothes over their bosoms and not display their beauty” THE HOLY QUR’AN (24:30-31) O prophet! Tell your wives & your daughters & the women of the believers to draw their cloaks all over their bodies, that will be better that they should be known so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” THE HOLY QUR’AN (33:59)
W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
25
Hijab and Islamic Dress Code for Muslim women: The term Hijab or Hijab ( ) is the Arabic term for “cover” (noun), based on the root word meaning “to veil, to cover (verb), to screen, to shelter” to hide from view. Unfortunately, society today too often
and publicly exposes women’s bodies shamelessly and portrays nudity to somehow symbolize the expression of a woman’s freedom where the most lustful desires of men are fulfilled unchecked - it is little wonder such an introspection leads many Muslim women to the decision to wear Hijab-(cover for the body & head). On the contrary today’s woman has been enslaved and manipulated to the wishes of man. One of the misconceptions is also the belief that any Muslim woman who wears Hijab is forced to do so. Nothing could be further from the truth. Wearing Hijab is a very personal and independent decision, coming from appreciation of the wisdom underlying God’s command. In part because of the apparent restriction on muslim women to remain away from the public realm, many Westerners see the Muslim hijab as a symbol of female oppression. Whereas as per those women who embraced Islam, the hijab is instead a symbol of liberation. The Islamic tradition of hijab frees women from being perceived primarily as sexual objects but western women are brought up from early childhood with the idea that their worth is proportional to their attractiveness. Societies that view women as sexual objects have a horrendous rate of violence toward women. In the United States, one out of every four women will be sexually assaulted at some time in her life. Women in our society live with the awareness that they must always be cautious of dark alleys and fearful of strangers. This is true oppression, a type that stems directly from the perception of women as sexual objects. Islam and its tradition of hijab can seem an extreme solution to the sexual objectification of women. As W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
26
some believe in the notion that Eve is to be ultimately responsible for original sin and the downfall of man, as such, an essentially inferior status for women somewhat got institutionalized. The Qu’ran puts women and men on equal footing before God and thus as equally, and innately, valuable to society. Human beings are conditioned by the society in which they live. When you see a woman scantily dressed and revealing her physical features, waiting at the road side in the early evening for someone to approach her for physical favors, what is the first impression that will come to your mind? Will it be that this lady is a very religious, pious, and God fearing woman, seeking the blessings of God? Again, when you see a nun, modestly dressed in a long robe and covering her head, not revealing any of her physical features, what impression will come to your mind? Will it be that this lady is a sex symbol, waiting for someone to hire her, or to date her, or to invite her to a dinner and then take her home? Certainly not! Her dress represents her modesty, and through it she commands the respect of society. In pre Islamic societies, woman was treated like an object of use and abuse, one can have as many as he desired. It was Islam that brought dignity to woman and gave her the rights to life, to her own legal identity, to be educated, to inherit from her family, to keep and manage her own wealth (including her wages), to offer, or agree to, or refuse an offer of marriage, write and fulfill legal contracts, vote equal to a man’s, to divorce, to earn her own way into heaven, to be provided for by her family until marriage, thereafter by her husband and lastly to face the same punishment as that of man. In medical science there is a saying that ‘an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure’. God has made women more beautiful than men, and has further blessed them with more physical adornments. Almost every part of the female body is attractive to a male. Keeping this in mind, the nuns, just like Muslim W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
27
women, have taken the preventive measure of wearing a veil over their heads, and covering their whole body except the face and hands. Covering their heads should not be construed for covering their brain or intellect. It will then only be correct to say they are actually following the dictates of Islam. Not only does God ordain this preventive shielding for Muslim women of today’s time, but also obedient submissive women of previous nations were commanded to do the same in former scriptures. On previous page are some pictures of women from the People of the Scriptures who cover themselves out of this same modesty and obedience to God which Islam promotes. Surprisingly it’s the same dress that Mary, the mother of Jesus wore. The values have actually never changed. Why then the same dress code if accepted and applied by a Christian woman goes unnoticed whereas if it is worn by a Muslim woman, it is looked down upon. Four wives or up to four wives and why ? The subject remains of immense curiosity and has aroused ongoing criticism amongst the non-muslims. At times it appears that an answer to this issue is all that matters to know about Islam. It’s a very intense subject and deserves no less but an equally in depth reply. In Islam, limited Polygamy is permitted; whereas polyandry is completely prohibited. Now coming to the original question, why is a man, allowed to have more than one wife? The Qur’an is the only religious scripture in the world that says, “Marry only one”. There is no other religious book that instructs men to have only one wife. In none of the other scriptures, whether it be the Vedas, the Ramayan, the Mahabharat, the Geeta, of the Hindus. Many Hindu religious personalities, according to their scriptures, had multiple wives. King Dashrat, the father of Rama, had more than one wife. Krishna had several wives. It was only later, that the Hindu priests and the Christian Church restricted the number of wives to one. In earlier times, Christian men were permitted as many wives as they wished, since the Bible puts no restriction on the number of wives. It was only a few centuries ago that the Church restricted the number of wives to one. Polygamy is permitted in Judaism. According to Talmudic law, Abraham had three wives, and Solomon had hundreds of wives. The practice of Polygamy continued till Rabbi Gershom ben Yehudah (960 C.E to 1030 C.E) issued an edict against it. The Jewish Sephardic communities living in Muslim countries continued the practice till as late as 1950, until an Act of the Chief Rabbinate of W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
28
Israel extended the ban on marrying more than one wife. Let us now analyze why Islam allows a man to have more than one wife. Qur’an permits limited Polygamy. As mentioned earlier, Qur’an is the only religion that says ‘marry only one’. The context of this phrase “Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one.” [Al-Qur’an 4:3]. Emphasis here is to marry not kidnap, buy, or seduce, molest or abuse. Before the Qur’an was revealed, there was no upper limit for Polygamy and many men had scores of wives, some even hundreds. Islam put an upper limit of four wives. Islam gives a man permission to marry two, three or four women, only on the condition that he deals justly with them, which if not impossible is certainly extremely difficult. Knowing well of our shortcomings, Allah in his infinite wisdom says in the same chapter i.e. Surah Nisa verse 129: “You will not be able to do perfect justice between your wives however much you wish (to do so)” [Al-Qur’an 4:128-130]. This verse of the Quran serves as a deterrent of the fear of Allah and as such less than 2% men in the Muslim world exercise this option. Therefore Polygamy is not a rule but an exception. Many people are under the misconception that it is an open ended verdict for a Muslim man to have more than one wife. This is not true. Medical facts have proven that during the pediatric age itself there are more deaths among males as compared to the females. During wars, there are more men killed as compared to women. More men die due to accidents and diseases than women. The average life span of females is more than that of males, and at any given time one finds more widows in the world than widowers. World female population is more than male population. In the USA, women outnumber men by 7.8 million. New York alone has one million more females as compared to the number of males, and of the male population of New York one-third are gay’s i.e. sodomites. The USA as a whole has more than twenty-five million gays. This means that these people do not wish to marry women. God alone knows how many million more females there are in the whole world as compared to males. Both unmarried women and widows are human beings. Unless their instinctive needs are legitimately satisfied, the temptation is great W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
29
for corruption and immorality. But aside from the moral question these women are also exploited. They are used as a tool for man’s pleasures, yet have no guarantees, no rights or security, financial or emotional. Should they become pregnant, it is their burden alone. But even if such women are ready to pay the price for this personally, society also suffers seriously from such situations. The increasing number of illegitimate children born today under conditions such as these provides a potential base for tomorrow’s maladjusted and even criminals. Furthermore, it is inhuman, humiliating for those children to grow up without knowing who their fathers were without enjoying a clean and normal family life. Restricting each and every man to have only one wife is not practical. Even if every man got married to one woman, there would still be more than thirty million females in USA, 4 million in Britain, 5 million in Germany, nine million in Russia and so on, who would not be able to get husbands (considering that America has twenty five million gays). The only two options remaining for these women are that they either marry a man who already has a wife or becomes public property. There is no other option. Islam prefers giving women the honorable position by permitting the first option and disallowing the second. In Western society, it is common for a man to have mistresses and/ or multiple extra-marital affairs, in which case, the woman leads a disgraceful, unprotected life. The same society, however, cannot accept a man having more than one wife, in which women retain their honorable, dignified position in society and lead a protected life. This I consider extremely hypocritical. So then which option is better : to let a woman marry a married man or leave her to be used as an object of pleasure as long as she is young and abandon her as she gets older ? This I will leave to the reader to decide. To sum up, Islam being against immorality, hypocritical pretense of morality and against divorce unless no better solution is available, does actually provides that better alternative which is consistent with human nature and with the perseverance of pure and legitimate sex relationships. In a situation like this, it is doubtful that any solution would be better than polygamy. But above all this its mainly to protect the modesty of women. Q: If a man is allowed to have more than one wife, then why does Islam prohibit a woman from having more than one husband?
W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
30
A: A lot of people question the logic of allowing Muslim men to have more than one spouse while denying the same ‘right’ to women. Let me first state emphatically, that the foundation of an Islamic society is justice and equality. Allah has created men and women as equal, but with different capabilities and different responsibilities. Men and women are different, physiologically and psychologically. Their roles and responsibilities are different. Men and women are equal in Islam, but not identical. Surah Nisa Chapter 4 verses 22 to 24 gives the list of women with who you cannot marry and it is further mentions in Surah Nisa Chapter 4 verse 24 “Also (prohibited are) women already married”. The following points enumerate the reasons why polyandry is prohibited in Islam: 1. If a man has more than one wife, the parents of the children born of such marriages can easily be identified. The father as well as the mother can easily be identified. In case of a woman marrying more than one husband, only the mother of the children born of such marriages will be identified and not the father. Islam gives tremendous importance to the identification of both parents, mother and father. Psychologists tell us those children who do not know their parents, especially their father undergo severe mental trauma and disturbances. Often they have an unhappy childhood. It is for this reason that the children of prostitutes do not have a healthy childhood. If a child born of such wedlock is admitted in school, and when the mother is asked the name of the father, she would have to give two or more names. Recent advances in science have made it possible for both the mother and father to be identified with the help of genetic testing but being an expensive procedure it will not be possible to readily apply to tens of millions simultaneously. Man is more polygamous by nature as compared to a woman. Biologically, it is easier for a man to perform his duties as a husband despite having several wives. A woman, in a similar position, having several husbands, will not find it possible to perform her duties as a wife. A woman undergoes several psychological and behavioral changes due to different phases of the menstrual cycle. Furthermore, in all cultures, new and old, the headship of the family, is normally W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
31
man’s. One can imagine what would happen if the family has two or more heads. Its like asking 4 women to take a cup of milk from a bucket, then return it and then ask them to take out the exact same milk that they took out in the first time. Food for thought. A woman who has more than one husband will have several sexual partners at the same time and has a high chance of acquiring venereal or sexually transmitted diseases, which can also be transmitted back to her husband even if all of them have no extramarital sex. This is not the case in a man having more than one wife, and none of them having extra-marital sex. Islam and Terrorism Terrorism is a crime against humanity. Islam is a religion that means “peace”. In the Qur’an God commands believers to bring peace and security to the world. The Islamic morality is the cure for terrorism, not the source of it. However, it should be noted that the actions of an individual or a small group do not necessarily represent the beliefs of a particular religion, nor the religion responsible for such actions, whatever faith that may be. The act of inciting terror in the hearts of defenseless civilians, the wholesale destruction of buildings and properties, the bombing and maiming of innocent men, women, and children are all forbidden and detestable acts according to Islam. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the vast majority have nothing to do with the violent events that have come to be associated with Muslims. If an individual Muslim were to commit an act of terrorism, this person would be guilty of violating the laws of Islam. If someone kills another person—unless it is in retaliation for someone else or for causing corruption in the earth—it is as if he had murdered all mankind. And if anyone gives life to another person, it is as if he had given life to all mankind. Our Messengers came to them with Clear Signs, but even after that, many of them committed outrages in the earth. (Qur’an, 5:3). Any Muslim who believes in God with a sincere heart, who scrupulously abides by His verses and fears suffering in the Hereafter, will avoid harming even an ant. He knows that the Lord of Infinite Justice will suitably reward or punish him for all his deeds.
W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
32
Concept Of Monotheism In Islam Islam is a religion without any mythology. Its teachings are simple and acceptable to human intellect. It is free from superstitions and irrationality. The oneness of God, the prophethood of Muhammad ( )and the concept of life after death are the basic articles of its faith. They are based on reason and sound logic. All of the teachings of Islam flow from those basic beliefs and are simple and straightforward. There is no hierarchy of priests, no farfetched abstractions, and no complicated rites or rituals. It enjoins him to see things in the light of reality. The Qur’an advises man to seek knowledge and invoke God to expand his awareness: Say ‘O, my Lord! Advance me in knowledge. (Qur’an 20: 114) God also says: “Are those who know equal with those who know not? But only men of understanding will pay heed.” (Qur’an 39: 9) According to Lord Snell: “We have built a nobly-proportioned outer structure, but we have neglected the essential requirement of an inner order; we have carefully designed, decorated and made clean the outside of the cup; but the inside was full of extortion and excess; we used our increased knowledge and power to administer to the comforts of the body, but we left the spirit impoverished.” While there are theological differences, some of which might be significant, there are nonetheless other important areas of belief that are shared by Muslims, Christians and Jews alike. The next essential concept that needs to be clarified is the term “Allah” What does it mean? It should be emphasized first that the term “Allah” has no connotation at all of a tribal god, an Arabian or even a Muslim god. The term “Allah’ in Arabic simply means the One and Only True, Universal God of all. To think that Allah is different from God, with a capital ‘G’ is no more valid than saying the French Christians worship a different god because they call him “Dieu”. W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
33
The uniqueness of the name ‘Allah’ is that it remains singular and is free from any form of pluralism like ‘Gods’ and gender attribution such as ‘goddess-ess. Whereas to call Allah as Allahess is not only linguistically impossible in the Arabic language but will even sound absurd. It’s a name that He Himself has told us to call Him with. Imagine calling George with the name Jonathan and expecting George to respond, he never will. What are the basic attributes of Allah? The Qur’an mentions the “most beautiful names” (or attributes) of Allah. Instead of enumerating them all, let’s examine a few. Some attributes emphasize the transcendence of Allah. The Qur’an repeatedly makes it clear that Allah is beyond our limited perception. “There is nothing whatever comparable unto Him.” (al-Shura; 42:1 1) “No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision.” (al-An’am; 6:103) A Muslim never thinks of God as having any particular image, whether physical, human, material or otherwise. Such attributes as “The PerfectlyKnowing,” “The Eternal,” “The Omnipotent,” “The Omnipresent,” “The Just,” and “The Sovereign” also emphasize transcendence. But this does not mean in any way that for the Muslim Allah is a mere philosophical concept or a deity far removed. Indeed, alongside this emphasis on the transcendence of Allah, the Qur’an also talks about Allah as “personal” God who is close, easily approachable, Loving, Forgiving and Merciful. The very first passage in the Qur’an, which is repeated dozens of times, is ‘In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful . . . .’ The Qur’an tells us that when Allah created the first human “He breathed into him something of His spirit,” (al- Sajdah; 32:9) and that “Allah is closer to the human than his jugular vein.” In another beautiful and moving passage we are told, “When my servants ask you (O Muhammad) concerning me, then surely I am near to them. I listen to every supplicant who calls on Me. Let them respond to My call and obey My command that they may be led aright.” For the Muslim, monotheism does not mean simply the unity of God, because there can be different persons in unity. Monotheism in Islam is the absolute Oneness and Uniqueness of Allah, which precludes the notion of persons sharing in Godhead. The opposite of monotheism in Islam is called in Arabic “shirk,” association of others with Allah. This includes not only polytheism, but also dualism (believing in one God for good or light and another for evil or darkness). The concept of “shirk’ also includes pantheism, the idea that God is in everything. All forms of God-incarnate philosophies are excluded by Islam’s monotheism, as is blind obedience to dictators, to clergy, W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
34
or to ones own whims and desires. These all are regarded as forms of “associating” others with Allah (shirk), whether by believing that such creatures of Allah possess divinity or by believing that they share the Divine Attributes of Allah. It should be added that, to the Muslim, monotheism is not simply a dogma. Islam’s pure, pristine and strict monotheism is much more than a thought or a belief; it is something that deeply influences the Muslim’s whole outlook on life. Islam And Other Faiths The average Christian and Non-muslim has heard of or has read about Islam mostly through writers who have had colonial or missionary motives, which might have given a certain slant to their interpretation of Islam to the western mind. For the Muslim, constructive dialogue is not only permitted, it is commendable. In the Qur’an we read, “Say, ‘O people of the book’ (a term which particularly refers to Jews and Christians) ‘come to common terms as between us and you: that we worship none but Allah; that we associate no partners with Him (in His powers and divine attributes); that we erect not from among ourselves lords and patrons other than Allah.’ If then they turn back say you ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims (bowing) to the will of God.” (al-Imran;3:64). Why “People of the Book”? Because the Muslim makes a clear distinction between a polytheist or an atheist, and follows the prophets who originally received revelations from Allah. In conclusion and against this background, what is the implication for the Muslims in their attitudes toward non-Muslims? To start with, and we must be frank about it, the Qur’an makes it incumbent on the Muslim to convey Allah’s message in its final form, the Qur’an, to all humanity. We are not talking here about conversion. Indeed, to turn to Islam, the religion of all the prophets in its final form is not to turn one’s back on the preceding Prophets. It is an augmentation, rather than a conversion, because it does not involve changing ones basic spiritual nature. In the Qur’an, pure human nature is a “Muslim nature,” which knows its Lord and wishes to submit to Him. W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
35
The Qur’an states, “Let there be no compulsion in religion.” (alBaqarah; 2:256) Substitute for the term “conversion’ is “reversion,” in the sense of a return to the pure monotheism in which we were all created. Thus the Muslim is taught to be tolerant toward others. Indeed, the Qur’an not only prohibits compulsion in religion, but it prohibits aggression as well. “Strongest among men in enmity to the Believers wilt thou find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the Believers wilt thou find those who say “We are Christians”: because amongst these are men devoted to learning (priests), and men who have renounced the world (monks), and they are not arrogant. And then they listen to the revelation received by the Messenger, thou wilt see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognize the truth. They pray: ‘Our Lord! We believe, write us down among the witnesses.’ (Sura Al-Maida 82-83)” Jihad Jihad as presented in the Qur’an and any of the other scriptures implies the striving of spiritual good. This Jihad particularly involves change in one’s self and mentality. It may concern the sacrifice of material property, social class and even emotional comfort solely for the salvation and worship of God ALONE. As a result, one who practices Jihad will gain tremendously in the Hereafter. By the means of media, Islam (Submission) has been given a sinister image in the eye of the public opinion; this notorious image is mainly due to the ignorance and misunderstanding of the media and public. A word which is often heard and associated with the acts of certain individuals, claiming to act in the name of Islam, is the Arabic word: Jihad. Its significance plays an extremely crucial role in the image of Islam. But what does this so widely known word mean? Qur’an says : “The day will come when every soul will serve as its own advocate, and every soul will be paid fully for whatever it had done, without the least injustice.” (16:111). The day will come when each soul will find all the good works it had done brought forth. As for the evil works, it will wish that they were far, far removed. GOD alerts you that you shall reverence Him alone. GOD is Compassionate towards the people. “ (3:30). W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
36
Say, “O my people, do your best, and so will I. You will surely find out who the ultimate victors are.” Certainly, the wicked will never succeed.”(6:135). “The Hereafter is far better for you than this first (life.)”(93:4) In Brief; the meaning the media gives to this word (Jihad) is false and grossly overstated. This word does not mean a holy war, for there is nothing holy about a war in Islam (submission). There are times when war is tolerated, permitted and even, in some case, to a point accepted, but never considered holy. Islam (Submission) is a religion of peace, no matter what certain media or deranged individuals say or claim. Islam (Submission) revolves around the concept of peace.
“If they resort to peace, so shall you, and put your trust in GOD. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.”(8:61). Life Hereafter The Muslim believes that there is reward and punishment, that there is life hereafter and that reward or punishment does not necessarily wait until the Day of Judgment, but start immediately after burial. The Muslim believes in resurrection, accountability, and the Day of Judgment. The Qur’an teaches that life is a test, that earthly life is temporary (al-Mulk; 67:2). We Muslims believe in the life hereafter and in a divinely inspired moral code organizing and regulating human life during our earthly journey to eternity. Qur’an: (Chapter Zalzala, The Earthquake) When the earth is shaken to her (utmost) convulsion, And the earth throws up her burdens (from within), W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
37
And man cries (distressed): ‘What is the matter with her? On that Day will she declare her tidings: For that thy Lord will have given her inspiration. On that Day will men proceed in companies sorted out, to be shown the deeds that they (had done). Then shall anyone who has done an atom’s weight of good, shall see it! And anyone who has done an atom’s weight of evil, shall see it. Expiation Of Sin For a Muslim, to demand perfection in order to gain salvation is not practical. It is demanding the impossible and is unjust. Islam teaches a person to be humble and to learn that we cannot achieve salvation by our own righteousness. How can sin be washed away? The Qur’an gives the prescription: ‘If anyone does evil or wrongs his own soul, but afterwards seeks Allah’s forgiveness, he will find Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (al-Nisa’; 4:110) Another moving passage reads, “Those things that are good remove evil deeds.” (Hud; 11:114) Islam teaches repentance, stopping evil ways, feeling sorry for what one has done, and determining to follow the path of Allah as much as humanly possible. The Muslim does not believe in the necessity of the shedding of blood, much less innocent blood, to wash away sins. The idea that some one else has died not only for your sins but entire nations, finds little credence in Islam. Allah is not interested in blood or sacrifice, but in sincere repentance. The belief that everyone is born condemned and the only way to redeem yourself is that you believe in another human as your Lord and Savior. In other words even a poor innocent baby that is newly born is a sinner for if he does not redeem itself by affirming his so called faith in the Savior and dies then the poor baby is condemned to hell. This is gross injustice. What about a mentally retarded person that cannot think for him self? He is a sinner by nature and will be doomed to Hell simply because he cannot think for himself. Unlike Christianity, which teaches that all the children of Adam are sinful for Adam’s sin, Islam teaches that all humans are innocent by birth and they become sinful only when they consciously commit a sin. Islam regards the concept of “original sin” and the need for atonement by God Himself - via dying on the Cross - as a pure invention of those who came after Jesus Christ, declaring themselves as Christians.
W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
38
Islam, which is a just religion teaches that everyone is born a Muslim (one who submits completely to the will of God) and is fully aware of this faculty because this is also the innate nature of man. In Islam one man’s sin cannot be transferred to another; nor can the reward due to a person be transferred either. Every individual is responsible only for his or her actions, for God is never unjust. This is made clear in the following in Surah 17, verse 15: {Who receiveth guidance, receiveth it for his own benefit: who goeth astray doth so to his own loss. No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another: nor would We punish until We had sent a messenger [to give warning].} Who Was Jesus (Peace Be Upon Him) Many Christians are unaware that the true spirit of reverence which Muslims display towards Jesus and his mother Mary spring from the fountainhead of their faith as prescribed in the Holy Qur’an. Most do not know that a Muslim does not take the name of Jesus , without saying Eesa alai-hiss-salaam i.e. (Jesus peace be upon him).
Many Christians do not know that in the Holy Qur’an Jesus mentioned by name twenty-five times. For example:
is
.. We gave Jesus the son of Mary Clear (Signs) and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit. .. Qur’an 2:87 Behold! The angels said: “O Mary! Allah gives thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah. Qur’an 3:45 W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
39
. .
Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) an apostle of Allah.. Qur’an 4:171 And in their footsteps We sent Jesus the son of Mary, confirming the Law that had come before him.. Qur’an 5:46 And Zakariya and John, and Jesus and Elias: all in the ranks of the righteous: Qur’an 6:85 He is spoken of as “the word of God”, as “the spirit of God”, as a “Sign of God”, and numerous other epithets of honor spread over fifteen different chapters. The Holy Qur’an honors this great Messenger of God, and over the past fourteen hundred years Muslims continue to hold Jesus as a symbol of truth. And (Jesus) shall be a Sign (for the coming of) the Hour (of Judgment): therefore have no doubt about the (Hour), but follow ye Me: this is a Straight Way. [Qur’an 43:61]) Jesus was a human like any one else but was one of the mightiest messenger of God. As regarding him being a son of God, this is what we are told: Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten And there is none like unto Him. (Qur’an : Chapter 112). Family values and elders in Islam With laws for almost every aspect of life, Islam represents a faithbased order that women may see as crucial to creating healthy W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
40
families and societal bonds is that of the family. And while it can be justifiably argued that the basic family unit is the foundation of any given human society, this holds particularly true for Muslims. As a matter of fact, the great status that Islam affords to the family system is the very thing that so often attracts many new converts to Islam, particularly women. Islam considers the family as the basic unit of human society. The foundation of a family is laid through marriage. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) noted once, “The best among you is who treats the members of his family best.” The following verse of the Qur’an sums it all: The strongest of all “Your Lord has commanded that you worship none but Him, and be kind to parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, do not say ‘uff’ to them or chide them, but speak to them in terms of honor and kindness. Treat them with humility, and say, ‘My Lord! Have mercy on them, for they did care for me when I was little.” (Chapter 17: 23-24) Pre-marital relations In Islam, there is no such thing as a girlfriend-boyfriend relationship. You are either married or you are not. The idea of such a relation ship is alien to Islamic values. Prophet’s saying “Whenever a man is alone with a woman, Satan (Shaytan) is the third among them” (Tirmidhi). When young people are getting to know each other, being alone together is a temptation toward wrongdoing. At all times, Muslims should follow the commands of the Qur’an (24:3031) “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and to protect their private parts. That is purer for them. Verily Allah is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and protect their private parts...” [24:30-31] Islam recognizes that we are human and are given to human weakness, so this rule provides safeguards for our own sake. Social entertainments in Islam are generally either within the family and close friends of the family, or among men and women in separate groups. It unleashes base desires that, once allowed free-reign, will destroy families. Are the results of promiscuity not in front of us ? The illegitimate and abandoned children, broken homes, abortions, and sexual diseases - the list goes on. Relationship out of wedlock is only known as ‘fornication’, punishable by Islamic Law in an Islamic state. It is in the larger interest of our society that high moral standards are enforced.
W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
41
What food Muslims eat The issue of the permissibility for Muslims to eat the food of the people of the Scriptures – the Christians and the Israelites – is connected with the Qur’anic injunctions on the permitted (halaal) and forbidden (haraam) food. Allah imposed a number of bans on food such as the prohibition on eating blood, carrion, pork and the flesh of the animal slaughtered without mentioning the name of the Single God. Allah, He is the Most High, enjoins us: “Eat only of such flesh as has been consecrated in His name, if you truly believe in His revelations... Do not eat of any flesh that has not been consecrated in the name of Allah; for that is sinful [towards God]” (the Holy Qur’an, 6:118, 121). It is known that Prophet Muhammad () did not reject the food made of sheep which was offered to him by an Israelite woman. Why Pork is forbidden in Islam
There is a saying in English that “a man becomes what he eats.” According to physicians and medical experts, pork is a harmful diet. Consumption of swine-flesh creates lowliness in character and destroys moral and spiritual faculties in a man. The prohibition of eating pork in Islam is relevant in this context. The pig is a scavenger. It is an omnivorous animal. It eats everything. There are many diseases carried from swine to man, particularly parasite infestations. Lately extensive research has been focused on senilityold age is characterized by hardening of inner lining of the blood vessels of the heart; brain etc. a process called atherosclerosis. When a clot forms, it results in coronary thrombosis. Lard contains 2800 units of vitamin D per 100 grams and no vitamin A at all. Lately vitamin D has been held responsible for atheroma, by causing increased absorption of calcium in the blood vessels. In human beings, serum cholesterol is not dependent on the intake of cholesterol in the diet, but depends upon the proportion of animal fats in the diet, which elevates the beta-lipo protein level in the blood. Animal fats contain saturated fatty acids and these saturated fatty acids have been found to be as one of the causes of atheroma in man. Medium fat bacon contains 25% proteins and 55% fat. Dr. Glen Shepherd wrote the following on the dangers of eating pork in Washington Post (31 May 1952). “One in six people in USA and W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
42
Canada have germs in their muscles - trichinosis 8, from eating pork infected with trichina worms. Many people who are infected shows no symptoms. Most of those, who do have, recover slowly. Some die; some are reduced to permanent invalids. All were careless pork eaters”. Some people have argued that the “modern pig” reared in farms is given only clean foods, therefore, its flesh should be consumable. The answer is that you may feed the pig on clean, wholesome food, but you can’t change its nature. It is still a pig and will always stay so. A pig is not a plant and you cannot change it by bud-grafting. According to a report, 60 to 70% of girls in Sweden become mothers before marriage. The formula of “skin to skin is no sin” is taking its toll but there is hardly any feeling of shame or remorse over the endresult. Several nations have become addicted to wine and pork, sexual freedom with all its attendant evils has got ingrained in their culture. Consequently, homosexuality has been legalized in many countries. A very quick look of those nations, which consume pork habitually will reveal that they have a low standard of morality and as a result virginity, chastity and bashfulness are becoming a thing of the past in those societies. Most Christians may be unaware that even Bible prohibits its consumption but they chose to ignore it. In the book of Leviticus: “…and the swine, as he divideth the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch, they are unclean to you.” (Leviticus chapter 11 verse 7 and 8) Pork is also prohibited in the book of Deuteronomy: “And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you. Ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass.” (Deuteronomy chapter 14 verse 8) A similar prohibition is repeated in the book of Isaiah chapter 65 verses 2-5. Allah in his infinite wisdom forbade its consumption through the Qur’an centuries ago, whereas some of its causes are only recently being confirmed by modern science.
W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
43
What else Islam forbids One does not need to be a genius to know the ill effects of alcohol. It diminishes the good judgment sense and can be a cause of untold social maladies. Its benefits are less versus the harms. Same is applicable for dice, games of chances and lottery. This too can lead to disastrous results. Thinking of it, its one person who wins the millions but it’s the millions who pay to make him win. Islam also forbids usury (interest earning). It’s an evil that leads to stagnation in the natural economic growth of a society because it’s the lender who reaps the huge rewards whereas the borrower becomes poorer and poorer. In other words, the needy get exploited. Those who avoid the greatest sins and indecencies, except for oversights, (will find that) surely your Lord is ample in forgiveness. (Al-Najm 53:32) Same is for black magic, fortune telling and all forms of idolatry, adultery, murder, pride and arrogance, slandering chase women, illegal gain, committing suicide, weighing incorrectly, oppression, men wearing silk and gold, cursing, betrayal of trust, taking false oath, abandoning relatives, homo sexuality. But above all, associating partners in the worship of God, the Qur’an says : Surely, Allah does not forgive associating anything with Him, and He forgives whatever is other than that to whomever He wills. (al-Nisa 4:48 and 116) Human Rights in Islam 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. It will then be fair to say that the Westerners had no concept of human rights and civic rights before the seventeenth century. 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 W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
44
France. Rights laid down by man cannot be superseded or even compared with the rights sanctioned by God. The right to life, the right to the safety of life, Respect for the chastity of women, the right to the Basic Standards of life, Individual’s right to Freedom, Abolition of Slavery (it was Islam that brought dignity to every man for in the sight of God, every child is born free), the right to Justice, the right to Co-operate or not to Co-operate, the Security of Life and Property, the Protection of Honor, the Sanctity and Security of Private Life, the Security of Personal Freedom, the right to Protest against Tyranny, the right to Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Conscience and Conviction, Protection from Arbitrary Imprisonment, Equality before Law, Rulers not above the Law, The right to avoid Sin. The rights of the Non-Combatants. Under the rights of the Combatants: No Torture with Fire, Protection of the Wounded, The Prisoner of War should not be slain, No one should be tied and killed, No Looting and Destruction in the Enemy’s lands, Sanctity of Property, Sanctity of a Dead Body, Return of Corpses of the Enemy, Prohibition of Breach of Treaties, Rules about Declaration of War. This is a brief sketch of those rights which Islam gave to man. The world has not been able to produce more just and more equitable laws than those given 1400 years ago. On the other hand it hurts one’s feelings that Muslims are in possession of such a splendid and comprehensive system of law and yet they look forward for guidance to those leaders who could not have dreamed of attaining those heights of truth and justice which was achieved a long time ago. Islam In The West It is the fastest growing religion in the world. Because Islam is a complete way of life, it tells man about the purpose of his creation and existence, his ultimate destiny, his place among other creatures and more importantly, it provides him with guidance to lead a balanced and purposeful life which will enable him to avoid the Hell-fire and be rewarded with a place in Paradise in the life after death. Simply Islam is to “Obey Allah” (Allah is the Name of the Only One True God). Islam is a verb in Arabic (a doing word). The one who does Islam is called a Muslim. (Allah calls us “Muslims” in His Speech of Qur’ân). 50,000 embrace Islam each year in US alone. They come from W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
45
all disciplines, Catholic Priest, Bishops, Chaplains, Born-Agains, Scientists, Doctors, Army personnel, Naval officers, Ambassadors, Teachers, Students, Radical Jews, Hindus, Writers, Professionals, Journalists, T.V. Anchor personnel, News Reporters, Feminists, Pop Stars, the list goes on. If one really wishes to have an insight into the varied reasons and causes that led so many to Islam, all one needs to do is to search the web under ‘new converts to Islam’ and it’s a never ending reading. Statistically speaking, those who embrace, 60% of them are women because the dignity and rights that they find in Islam is unsurpassed by any social order of modern time. To name a few of the converts and their views, Khadija Sue Watson, she used to be a Southern Baptist, a radical feminist and a broadcast journalist. Aminah Assilmi is now Initially being a devout with a convert to Islam investigate Islam and Christians are sincere, wrong”.
an ambassador of Islam. Christian, her contact prompted her to seriously to conclude that “many but they are sincerely
Islam asks of us to ponder, and those who do, consider making the most significant decision they will ever make in their lives, infinitely more important than the choice of career, food, or marriage; one that will affect the very core of their being for the remaining part of their lives, and most importantly will have serious consequences in the hereafter. Idris Tawfiq has a degree in English language and Literature from the University of Manchester and a degree in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome, embraced Islam.
Yusuf Estes, from ex- Christian minister to Muslim chaplain.
W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
46
The Tanzania-born Britisher, educated at famous Roman Catholic Monastic School, embraced Islam in 1988 and is now actively involved in Islamic propagation activities. While on one hand the Christians described God to be eternal and infinite they felt no compunctions in ascribing birth of God from the womb of Mary. Study of the Holy Qur’an immediately attracted me says Abdul Raheem Green.
Muslim women’s sense of sisterhood makes “Western feminism pale into insignificance”, says Yvonne Ridley, the tabloid jourrnalist who converted to Islam after her experiences in a Taleban Jail.
Dr. Lang is a mathematics professor and an author Struggling to Surrender, Even Angels Ask, and Losing My Religion: A Call for Help, embraced Islam.
!
W
H
A
T
I
S
I
S
L
A
M
47
