New Age Islam

Monday, May 31, 2021

Turkey: Despite Erdogan's Efforts to Create A 'Pious Generation’, Young Turks are Sliding to Deism

A Debate On The Rise Of Deism Or Atheism Among The New Generation Of Turkey Is Raging

Main Points:

1. Pollster Konda results sent alarming bells not only to the Erdogan government but also to the clergy.

2. Decline in religiosity among the new generation of Turkey and their slide towards Deism and Atheism.

3. Recep Tayyip Erdogan adopted the policy of reversing the policy of secularism adopted by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

4. Young Turks have imbibed the western culture of free inquiry and independent thought.

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New Age Islam Staff Writer

31 May 2021

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

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For the last two years, a debate on the rise of Deism or Atheism among the new generation of Turkey is raging. The debate started after a pollster Konda released the results of its survey on the influence of religion in the lives of young Turks. The results sent alarming bells not only to the Erdogan government but also to the clergy.

The survey revealed the decline in religiosity among the new generation of Turkey and their slide towards Deism and Atheism. According to the survey, the percentage of atheists tripled in the last ten years from 1% to 3%. The percentage of people in the age group 15-29 years describing themselves as atheists or deists has risen to 4-5%.

This made the Erdogan government and the religious authorities looking for the causes because according to a report issued by Diyanet, the directorate of religious affairs itself declared in 2014 that 99% of the population of Turkey identified itself as Muslim. Then what caused the decline in the number people believing in Islam when Recep Tayyip Erdogan has adopted the policy of reversing the policy of secularism adopted by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk and promoting Islam as the state religion of Turkey.

It should be kept in mind that Recep Tayyip Erdogan came to power as the Prime Minister of Turkey in 2003 and later became the President. In the beginning Erdogan focussed more on economy but later he became an advocate of political Islam. He undertook the project of creating a ‘pious generation ‘that will work for the construction of a new civilisation.

Erdogan government made religious education compulsory and trebled the number of Imam Hatip High Schools (schools for training Imams and Khateebs) and promoted religiosity in every sphere of social and political life. 1.3 million students were studying in these religious schools. Conversion of Hagia Sophia Museum into a mosque was only a small part of his project.

Apart from the Konda survey, some other organisations also conducted similar surveys that corroborated the slide of young Turks to Deism or Atheis. For example, OPTIMAR survey also showed 89% of Turks believed in Islam while 4.5% identified themselves as deists, 2.71 as agnostics and 1.6 as atheists.

More interestingly, in 2018 a Turkish Ministry of Education report titled "The youth is sliding to Deism" was published. Therefore, even Erdogan's own government had to admit that the slide was happening.

Even many students coming out of the imam Hatip schools are abandoning Islam and adopting deism. Teachers say that students are resisting compulsory religious education in schools. College professors say that students in private acknowledge that they are deists.

Analysts have tried to understand the reason of the growing aversion of the new generation of Turkey to religion. Some, particularly the religious section, believe that its a conspiracy of the West but others more liberal analysts believe that Erdogan's push for political Islam has evoked a reaction among the youth who do not want religion to interfere with the affairs of the state. A liberal Islamic theologian Yasar Nur Ozturk says that the theologians of Turkey have presented an archaic interpretation of Islam. This is driving the youth towards deism.

But why deism? Deism is the belief in God sans its supernatural or dogmatic aspects. A growing number of young Turks don't believe in revelation. They understand God from a rational and scientific point of view. Narrow or sectarian interpretation of religion drives them sick. They tend to incline more towards the sufi side of Islam. Robin Turner, an English lecturer in Bilkent University tries to explain this phenomenon:

"Deism is a much more recent phenomenon. While in Europe and America, its generally seen as a peculiarity of the Enlightenment, and largely a stepping stone to atheism, here it's trending amongst a large number of people who believe in God but are disillusioned with religion. Turkish deists seem often to be influenced by Sufism, so their deity is more immanent and mystical. Ironically the term got a boost in popularity because of its not sympathetic use by the Islamic theologian Yasar Nur Ozturk."

It's also correct that the increasing use of theological politics by Erdogan is at the root of growing deism or atheism among the younger generation of the Turks. It has happened only during Erdogan's rule. The ruling party has tried to project itself as the flagbearer of Islam. So opposing AKP is construed as opposing Islam. For example, during a municipal election, a politician associated with Erdogan's political party AKP said to the audience, 'If we lose this election, we shall lose Jerusalem'.

When a political party identifies with Islam and presents itself as the only protector of Islam, the political opponents start opposing its religious policies. That does not mean they oppose Islam. But the ruling party describes their opposition as opposition to Islam.

Young Turks have imbibed the western culture of free inquiry and independent thought and so they see religion from a liberal and scientific point of view. They think that Erdogan is taking them back to the primordial period and not forward.

URL: https://www.newageislam.com/the-war-islam/erdogan-turk-mustafa-ataturk/d/124908

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Saturday, May 29, 2021

Cow Urine, Camel Urine And Modern Science

By S. Arshad, New Age Islam

29 May 2021

Modern Science Confirms The Curative Properties Of Camel Urine

Main Points

1. Curative powers of camel urine was first emphasised by the Prophet of Islam

2.Camel urine can be used to cure cancer

3. Modern research stresses on the extraction of its biochemic formulation and its use as a medicine.

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"Prophetic Medicine" advocate drinking camel urine to prevent coronavirrus in an unkonwn location in Iran. April 2020.

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In India, a section of Hindus believe in the curative powers of cow urine. They believe that cow urine cures a number of diseases including cancer. A number of prominent Hindu personalities have admitted that they regularly consumed cow urine to remain healthy or consumed it to be cured of certain diseases. But the Indian scientists have rejected their claims. According to a news report recently, "More than 500 Indian scientists have asked the Indian government to withdraw a call for research proposals on the "uniqueness" of cows and the curative properties of cow urine, dung and milk including potential cancer treatments. In an open letter, the researchers say that the call is 'unscientific' and a misdirection of public money at a time when research in India is already facing a financial crunch."

But in Arab countries, people have believed in the curative powers and medicinal value of camel faeces and urine. They believed and still believe that camel urine cures certain diseases including cancer. The basis of this belief lies in the prophetic medicine (Tibb-e-Nabwi). There are a couple of hadiths which speak about the curative properties of camel urine and milk.

"Hadhrat Anas r.a. narrated that some people complained to the holy Prophet pbuh that the air of Madina did not suit them. The holy Prophet pbuh ordered them to go and stay with the shepherds and drink the milk and urine of camels. So they went there and drunk the milk and urine of camels and became healthy." ( Sahih Bukhari Vol 7 Hadith 5686)

There is another hadith about the same incident in the Sahih Bukhari with some variation.

This hadith is the basis of the belief of the Muslims in the curative powers of urine. Muslims in Arab countries have been using camel urine as a remedy for skin diseases, problems of gums and teeth, stomach pain, tumour, dropsy, diarrhoea, diabetes, jaundice, liver and nail infections ,hair problems and other ailments. In Yemen, it is used for treating various diseases.

But the use of camel urine does not remain confined to shepherds of Arab and Yemen but unlike cow urine, camel urine attracted the attention of Arab and African scientists. They conducted researches on camel urine and faeces and came out with their findings confirming the belief of Arabs and the Muslims that the camel urine did possess curative powers. These research papers were published in various international science magazines and research journals of the US.

For example, the research paper published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (Vol 17 No. 9) comes to the conclusion:

"Camel urine has potent anti-platelet activity against ADP-induced (clopidogrel like) AA-induced(aspirin like) platelet aggregation, neither human nor bovine urine exhibited such properties. These novel results provide the first scientific evidence of the mechanism of the presumed therapeutic properties of camel urine."

Another science journal American Journal of Pharmaceutical research (Vol 5 issue 1 year 2015) published a research paper on camel urine with the following conclusion:

"The therapeutic effects of camel urine are known since ancient times and its proved to be antimicrobial natural material and satisfactory for using as a medical treatment in the field of medical therapy. It can be used for treatment of several bacterial infections, especially pseudomonas aeruginosa which account multi drugs resistant bacteria. On the basis of these findings, it is suggested that the camel urine should be manufactured and used for treatment for MDRPA."

Another he research paper on the efficacy of camel urine in treatment of various disease including cancer was published by the American Journal of Pure and Applied Biosciences,. The paper says:

"Camel faeces and urine contain a measurable amount of substances which has been utilised medically against different diseases even in extremely large quantities without causing side effects. But it may lead to dehydration in patients who drink it following thirsty due to its high content of salt."

The dehydration due to camel urine drink is also confirmed by the hadith which tells us that one of the persons felt so thirsty that he wildly licked the dust in desperation.

Secondly the study also shows that camel urine can also be used to cure cancer. Camel faeces significantly retarded the growth of CYP1A1, a cancer activating gene by TCDD at the transcriptional and post transcriptional stages through an AhR-dependent mechanism.

However, the WHO alerted people against drinking camel urine as it ventured to limit the outbreak of MERS in the 90s. About this problem the researchers said,

"MERS is a respiratory illness that is caused by a virus called Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus or MERS-CoV and can affect both human and animals. It is believed that MERS originated from animals before it jumped to humans. The evidence available to date suggests that the viruses have been present in bats for sometimes and spread to camels by mid-90s. The virus appears to have spread from animals to humans."

However, the researchers say that "its mechanism of transmission from camels to humans has really not been proven".

Therefore, the study does not encourage directly drinking of urine for medicinal benefits but stresses on the extraction of its bio-chemic formulation and its use as a medicine.

The study says "The health benefits of camel faeces and urine have been shown by latest scientific researches. However, a very few studies have been published regarding the medicinal features of camel faeces and urine. It has anti-carcinogenic anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-platelet properties. The biochemical composition of camel faeces and urine should be scientifically extracted and formulated as a therapy. The preclinical and clinical researches should be required to analyse the efficacy and safety of camel faeces and urine in the cure of diseases. Scientific investigation and research should be applied on the pharmacological effects of camel faeces and urine.

It should be made clear that during the initial period of Islam when medical science was not developed, people used herbs, milk, urine of camel and other similar remedies for ailments. Even today, villagers and herders in Yemen and Arab countries use camel milk, urine and camel faeces as remedy for ailments due to lack of modern medical facilities. Majority of urban and educated Muslims of Arab and other parts of the world avail a number of medical options though they do not deny the curative powers of camel urine recommended by the prophet of Islam.

This article was only an effort to find out if the modern science also corroborated and confirmed the curative powers of camel urine.

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Sohail Arshad is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.

URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/cow-urine-camel-urine-science/d/124902

Islam Transformed Seventh Century from the Age of Jahiliya to the Age of Light

By Arman Neyazi, New Age Islam

29 May 2021

The Prevailing Social Ills Of The Pre-Islamic Era Were The Reason That Prophet Muhammad (SAW) Called It A ‘Daur E Jahiliya’, The ‘Time Of Ignorance’

Main Points

1. Islam called the pre-Islamic era an age of Jahiliya (ignorance) because of the religious, social and political ills widespread in the society.

2. Islam transformed the people of savage Arabia into a people of peace.

3. Scholars of every hue study this century for various reasons of their own.

4. The revelation of the Holy Quran is the most auspicious event in the history of the 7th century.

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Photo courtesy/ The Conversation: The wealthy Quraysh tribe of ancient Arabia dominated the region for centuries. Qantara, CC BY

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The seventh century is the most talked-about century from the beginning till date. Scholars of every hue study this century for various reasons of their own. The religious, social and political information of this century seems to be more important for the world because of the advent of Islam, the religion of peace, harmony, justice and social reforms. People must be interested in knowing how Islam transformed the people of savage Arabia into a people of peace. Islam called this century age of Jahiliya (ignorance) because of the religious, social and political ills widespread in the society.

Evils of injustices, malpractices and inhuman acts were embedded in the social fabric of the seventh-century Arabian peninsula. Socially ingrained injustices in the psyche of seventh-century Arabia gave birth to barbarity towards the downtrodden, weak and the women. The most inhuman ritual and system of the Arab society of the 7th century was to bury the female child as they took birth. Attraction towards the seventh century is obvious in the background of the above mentioned.

Stealing and killing the members of other tribes was a common practice during the age of ignorance. The people did not see anything wrong with it. People used to be constantly engaged in wars between the tribes. This warfare brought the weak, the poor, the old, the women and the children in a mental state of fear and chaos. There was no peace and development even for the namesake. Before the birth of ‘Rahmat ul Lil Alameen’, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) the area used to constantly witness drought and famine. This had brought the life of the people to the knees, asking for alleviation from poverty and a life of peace from the earthly gods they worshipped. In this deplorable era of the seventh century came the good news of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), as a mercy for the world.

The Seventh century is remembered and studied with wide-eyed expression because the social and moral condition prevailing during that period was more than hellish. People cried and begged for help in front of the wealthy and barbaric tribal warlords who never respected human lives. People of seventh-century Arabia, before the advent of Islam, had no law of the land but the words of the rich and the wealthy tribal warlords.

Birth of Rahmat ul Lil Alameen’ And The End The Age Of Jahiliya

Prophet Muhammad (SAW)’ birth around the year 570 AD proved to be a turning point in the life of the Arab peninsula in the beginning and the people of the planet earth in general. It was the age of ignorance for the Arabs and the Apostle of Allah was sent as ‘Rahmat ul Lil Alameen’ to end the age of Jahiliya in the light of the commands of Allah, the Most Gracious.

The prevailing social ills of the pre-Islamic era were the reason that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) called it a ‘Daur e Jahiliya’, the ‘Time of Ignorance’.

The seventh century is curiously remembered and continuously mentioned also because the Last of the Prophets (خاتم النبيين) Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was born during this period for whom Allah, the Most Gracious says:

"Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the Messenger of Allah, and the Seal of the Prophets: and Allah has full knowledge of all things." (Qur'an 33:40) - Yusuf Ali

And indeed, you are of a great moral character. (Surah Al-Qalam - 4) — Saheeh International

And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds. (Surah Al-Anbiyaa: 107) — Saheeh International

‘Mercy to the Worlds’, the ‘Man of a Great Moral Character’ and many such titles are used in the Holy Quran to describe Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and truly so because no one with fewer adjectives ingrained in his humane traits would have been successful during that dire situation of the Seventh century.

Hoards of wealth were confined to few class-conscious members of Muhammad (SAW)’s tribe, the Quraish. The rest of the weaker and marginalised members of the Quraish tribe were living a life of misery. The Quraish tribe unconsciously felt the birth of a noble soul as Allah’ mercies transformed the deserted area into greeneries. Fields were full of crops, trees were laden with fruits and sheep and camel were always ready to be milked.

Unification of Tribes and Islamic Conquests

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) started preaching to the people of Mecca about the ‘Oneness of Allah’ in about 570 AD. He was not much successful in his endeavour in Mecca during that time. Unification of the tribes especially after the signing of Charter of Medina (Arabic: صحيفة المدينة‎) in AD 622 proved to be the beginning of the advent of Islam on the world stage.

The 7th century is also much sought after because of various Islamic conquests such as the downfall of the Sasanian Empire, known as the conquest of Persia, Syria, Palestine, Armenia, Egypt and North Africa.

Courtesy: slideplayer/slide/4894952/

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The Revelation Of The Holy Quran

The seventh-century also has the remarkable achievement of the revelation of the Holy Quran on the Apostle of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The revelation of the Holy Quran at some point in the early 7th century is the most auspicious event in the history of Islam. The Holy Quran exemplifies a boundary line between the Age of Jahiliya and the Age of Light, Mercy and Education.

The commands of Allah, the Most Gracious and Compassionate in the forms of revelation were later compiled in the form of a book, that is the Holy Quran, by Zayd ibn Thabit and other scholars of the time under the guidance of Abu Bakr Siddiq (RA), the first Caliph.

The Lesson Of Equality In Islam Makes Seventh Century Remarkable

Islam gained its ground with its roots well spread and strong during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) itself. His Last Sermon on the occasion of his last Haj is reckoned to be the most authentic lesson of equality in the history of humanity and the ethical and religious ideals of Islam. People listening to him stood in silence and learnt how Islamic ethos has to be maintained even after Rahmat ul Lil Alameen leaves for his heavenly abode. Let us consider and follow the lesson left for mankind in the Last Sermon of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), in letter and spirit.

“All humans are descended from Adam and Eve. There is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, or of a non-Arab over an Arab, and no superiority of a white person over a black person or of a black person over a white person, except on the basis of personal piety and righteousness.”

There are enough reasons for the people to be in hunt of Seventh century. It attracts people around the world for it has the proud legacy of the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the advent and spread of Islam.

And Allah knows the best.

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Arman Neyazi is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com.

URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-ideology/seventh-century-jahiliya-light-pre-islamic/d/124903

New Rules For The Use Of Loudspeakers Introduced By Saudi Government Should Serve As A Lesson For Muslims Of Indian Sub-Continent

Indian Muslims Should Adopt The Saudi Policy On The Use Of Loudspeakers

Main Points:

1. Mosques have been asked to use loudspeakers only for Azan and Iqamat

2. Mosques have been directed to forego use of external amplifiers

3. The volume of loudspeakers will be lowered to one third

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New Age Islam Special Correspondent

29 May 2021

Photo courtesy Op India: Use of loudspeakers restricted in Saudi Arabia mosques

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The use of loudspeakers in mosques has remained an issue of debate and sometimes creates controversy in India. Non-Muslims often complain that the high volume of azan disturbs their sleep and peace of mind while Muslims consider the use of loudspeakers their religious right. Azan is called with the help of external amplifiers so that the sound of azan reaches every household in the area. In some cities, the prayer of Taraweeh or Friday prayers are also conducted with the help of external loudspeakers. This sometimes becomes a cause of communal confrontation.

On the other hand, the liberal section of Muslims advocate limited use of loudspeakers in mosques especially during Ramadan. But the mainstream Muslims and the section of religious scholars denounce such liberal views.

But the new rules introduced by the Saudi Arabia government regarding the use of loudspeakers in the mosques and external amplifiers should open the eyes of the advocates of external amplifiers and unregulated use of loudspeakers in mosques.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs of Saudi Arabia has issued new directives on the use of loudspeakers and external amplifiers in all the mosques of the kingdom.

According to the notification issued by the ministry, now the loudspeakers in the mosques will only be used for two purposes: one for calling the Azan and, two, calling the Iqamat ( second call for prayer indicating that the imam is ready to lead the prayer). The loudspeaker of the mosque cannot be used for any purpose other than this.

Another directive issued by the ministry says that the prayers conducted by the imam should be specific to the devotees within the mosque with no legitimate need to convey it to those at home.

The notification also ruled that external amplifiers will not be used to recite the Quran because it is disrespectful to Quran as no one is listening and pondering over the verses.

The circular has been issued by the Minister of Islamic Affairs Abdul Latif al Sheikh. The circular is based on the hadith which says, "One should not trouble the others and one should not raise the voice in recitation or in prayer over the voice of the other."

The circular is based on the fatwas issued by senior Islamic scholars Sheikh Mohammad bin Saleh al Uthaimin and Sheikh Saleh al Fawzan.

The ministry acted on a report which said that external amplifiers and loudspeakers used for any purpose other than azan harm patients, old people and children in the houses in the vicinity of mosques.

Moreover, the ministry had also asked the mosques to lower the volume of loudspeakers for azan and Iqamat to a third. The ministry has warned that any violation of the rules will invite heavy penalty.

This directive of the Saudi Arabia which is a role model for Muslim community of the world including Indian Muslims should bring about a change in the religious behaviour of the Indian Muslims where loudspeakers are used not only for calling Azan and Iqamat but also external loudspeakers are used for conducting Friday prayers and the prayers of Taraweeh in some towns and cities causing inconvenience not only to non-Muslims but also to Muslims who are sick or children or elderly persons.

The loudspeakers are played at a high volume which also causes violent reaction from non-Muslims as happened in some places in India during the month of Ramadan last year.

In some towns of India, loudspeakers of the mosques are also used to recite Salat-o-Salam after the morning prayers and Friday prayers. External amplifiers are used for it causing inconvenience to the people in the vicinity.

Since India is a Hindu majority country and Hindus also reside in the vicinity of mosques, the directives issued by the Saudi government is relevant to India as well and Indian Muslims should adopt the Saudi policy on the use of loudspeakers to ensure peaceful and harmonious co-existence of different religious communities in India.

URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-society/loudspeaker-saudi-government-indian-muslim/d/124904