Peace, Forgiveness, and Kindness, Rather Than Aggression, Are Universal Lessons in Islam

Live Your Life Spreading Peace and Compassion Rather Than Inciting War And Bloodshed Highlights 1. India is a democratic country in which people of all faiths live side by side. 2. Majority of Indians believe in slogans of peaceful coexistence and pluralism, while others want to destabilise the relationship. 3. Whenever war was permitted during the Prophet's era, peace be upon him, it was only for the sake of humanity's safety. 4. Instead of focusing on wartime passages, we should promote verses that are suitable in a peaceful society. ... By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 31December 2021 India is a democratic country in which people of all faiths live side by side. The majority of Indians believe in slogans of peaceful coexistence and pluralism, while others want to destabilise the relationship. In theory, the Indian Constitution prohibits any action that may jeopardise pluralism and a peaceful environment. Both Muslims and non-Muslims in India swore to live up to the promise of abiding by the constitution when it was drafted. This implies that they must live in harmony with one another. At the same time, the same Constitution guarantees religious freedom, protection for individuals regardless of faith, caste, or culture, and prohibits Indian citizens from making derogatory remarks about religious leaders and personalities. This means you must live your life spreading peace and compassion rather than inciting war and bloodshed. Islamic principles of peace and mercy can also be used to support this simple idea. Islam emphasises that Muslims should treat others with respect regardless of their nationality. Islam forbids discrimination based on race, caste, or ethnicity and it condemns all forms of violence. We are confronted with a slew of initiatives by those with malicious purposes who want to wipe out humanity in the name of vengeance. They harass and afflict the defenceless in the name of religion and by exposing the awful element of what they term 'humanity.' Such people aim to dismantle humanity in the name of humanity. And we're dealing with a serious problem here. Ethnicity, race, caste, and religion are all used to make decisions. In his verdicts, our Prophet (peace be upon him) did not allow any such distinction. He instilled human ideals in his comrades and encouraged them to protect the weak. He opposed supremacy based on race, ethnicity, or culture. Instead, he emphasised that an individual's quality is determined solely by his or her piety. It is reported in a hadith that the Prophet (peace be upon him), "O People! Know that you Lord is One, your father (Hazrat Adam peace be upon him) is one. No Arab is superior to a non-Arab only because of being an Arab. No non-Arab is superior to an Arab simply because of being a non-Arab. No white complexioned person is superior to a black one and no black person is superior to a white complexioned one, except by piety." The Quran has taught humanity to appreciate one another. "We have honoured the Children of Adam," it says (17:70). This is a moral aspect that has influenced people all across the world. In the Islamic civilization and practices of Sufis and Mashaikh, we surely discover the highest intellectual and practical traces of human respect. The Prophet (peace be upon him) would tell a governor in a given area to be nice and gentle and not to intimidate anyone, demonstrating the principle of human respect expressed in this verse. There is an incident narrated in Sahih Muslim that when the Prophet sent Hazrat Muaz bin Jabal as the governor of Yemen, he said, "Make things easy and do not make things difficult. Give glad tidings and do not repel people. Cooperate and do not become divided". (Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari) And when Hazrat Ma'ad ibn Jabal was ready to go and put his foot in the stirrup, the Prophet further said, "Make your character excellent for the people, O Muaz ibn Jabal" (Muwatta, Sahih Muslim) Please take note of this hadith, in which the Prophet warned Hazrat Muaz ibn Jabal not to use his position of authority to wrong or oppress anyone, even if they are unbelievers, as Hazrat Anas ibn Malik reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said, "Beware of the oppressed's supplication, even if he is a disbeliever, for there is no screen between it and Allah" (Musnad Ahmad, Grade – Sahih) Hazrat Umar would ask people about the attitude of governors. Once he asked Jarir about Hazrat Saad b. Abi Waqqas, he replied saying, "I left him (Saad b. Abi Waqqas) in governorship while he was the gentlest man. He was as kind and friendly to the citizens as a mother is to her children. He would manage the livelihood of the citizens as the ants do" (Al-Isaba fi Marifat al-Sahaba, vol. 3, p.3) Islam holds equal status for humanity. Once the Prophet peace be upon him said, "All creatures of Allah form the family of Allah and he is the best-loved of Allah who loves His family best" (Mishkat Sharif) The Prophet is also reported to have said, "…I affirm that all Human beings are brothers to one another" (Abu Dawood) and "…respect the ways of Allah (or the laws inherent in Nature) and be affectionate to the family of Allah" (Baihaqi). It's worth noting that the addresses in all of these Ahadith are to all people, not only believers or Muslims, and they form one family. (This is not to be confused with the figurative use of the word "family" to refer to "Allah's people.") We urgently require the dissemination of the attitude of human respect that leads to spiritual and mental development. When a man loses humanity's respect, he begins roaming through the forest of horrors, where it is practically difficult for him to escape until he purifies his heart and mind. Several indicators of a real believer and his spiritual progress can be seen in the Prophet's holy sayings (peace be upon him). One of the signs is that the believer always succeeds in good actions and will continue to do so as long as he does not spill forbidden blood, for if he murders someone unjustly and causes chaos (Fasad) in the nation, he will become discouraged and fail in his quest for success. (Abu Dawud) Bloodshed is strictly forbidden in the Quran and Sunnah. And whenever war was permitted during the Prophet's era, peace be upon him, it was only for the sake of humanity's safety. The Qur'an declares in clear words that "whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had killed mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely. And our messengers had certainly come to them with clear proofs. Then indeed many of them, [even] after that, throughout the land, were transgressors" (5:32) Some people do not want to hear teachings about peace, harmony, and justice because of their negative motives. Such people commonly try to persuade and discourage righteous people from following the path of peace and justice. The Quran, on the other hand, encourages these good people to continue striving for peace and justice, saying, "O you who have believed, be persistently standing firm for Allah, witnesses in justice, and do not let the hatred of a people prevent you from being just. Be just; that is nearer to righteousness. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is acquainted with what you do". (5:8) During the time of Hazrat Umar Farooq (May Allah be pleased with him), one of his Emirs complained about the desertion of his city and wanted money from Amir al-Muminin Hazrat Umar to re-establish the city. "After reading my letter, protect your city by establishing justice, fairness, and removing oppression from the routes of the city because oppression leads to the desertion of the city," Hazrat 'Umar Farooq replied. This planet is home to individuals of various faiths and religions. They have different creeds and beliefs, and the powerful frequently enslave the weak in order to uphold their ideals. They don't realise that God is One and that all creatures will be judged on the basis of their actions on the Day of Judgment. So they should at the very least live in harmony and do honour to one another's lives. The following Quranic verse expresses this concept clearly: "........Say (this): 'I believe in every Book that Allah has revealed, and I have been commanded to do justice between you. Allah is our Lord as well as your Lord. For us are our deeds and for you are your deeds. There is no debate and dispute between us and you. Allah will gather us all together and to Him is the return (of all)." (42:15) Islam's ideas for fostering peaceful mutual coexistence can undoubtedly assist the globe in overcoming oppression, violence, riots, and confrontations. Islam does not like polytheism (shirk) but at the same time, the Quran has taught its followers ways to deal with the Mushrikin or idol-worshippers. The Quran says, "And, (O Muslims,) do not abuse those whom these (polytheists) worship besides Allah, lest these people should (also, in retaliation,) revile Allah's Glory wrongfully due to ignorance. Thus, have We made the conduct of every sect (and faction) seem attractive to (their own eyes and they regard only that as truth)? Then all have to return to their Lord, and He will inform them of (the results of) their deeds which they used to do." (6:108) This scripture forbids Muslims from disparaging other gods for fear of their followers abusing their God in a fit of fury. This is an area where it is reasonable to believe that the majority of riots between followers of other faiths have occurred as a result of negative campaigning against each other's God and prominent figures. Many communal riots and conflicts have undoubtedly resulted from this. May Allah lead the people in the right direction! Various people object to the word 'Mushrikin' appearing in some war-time verses of the Quran. In reality, the term 'Mushrikin' used in these verses refers to Mushrikin who had violated the Hudaybiya Peace Treaty and were seeking to eradicate Muslims and Islam. However, competent thinkers and intellectuals are aware of this truth. Instead of focusing on wartime passages, we should promote verses that are suitable in a peaceful society. Here are some verses that promote the values of peace, harmony, justice, forgiveness, and peaceful coexistence among people of many faiths. God Almighty says: "On account of this, We prescribed (this commandment in the Torah sent down) to the Children of Israel that whoever killed a person (unjustly), except as a punishment for murder or for (spreading) disorder in the land, it would be as if he killed all the people (of society); and whoever (saved him from unjust murder and) made him survive, it would be as if he saved the lives of all the people (of society, i.e., he rescued the collective system of human life). And indeed, Our Messengers came to them with evident signs. Yet, even after that, the majority from amongst these people are certainly those who commit excesses in the land." (5:32) "And do not kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right. And whoever is killed unjustly - We have given his heir authority (of retribution as per the legal procedure), but he should not exceed the just limits in [the matter of retributive] killing. Indeed, he is to be helped." (17:23) "And these are the people who do not worship any other god apart from Allah, nor do they kill the soul whose killing without any lawful cause Allah has forbidden, nor do they commit adultery. And whoever does this will receive the punishment due for the sin." (25:68) "And among men is one whose conversation may please you in the life of this world, and who calls Allah to witness to that which is in his heart, whereas [in truth] he is the most quarrelsome! (2:204) And when he turns away [from you], he goes about the earth to create turmoil in it [i.e. the earth] and destroy crops and lives; and Allah does not like turmoil and violence". (2:204-205) "And seek the abode of the Hereafter with what (wealth) Allah has given you, and do not forget your portion of the world, and do good (to others) as Allah has done good to you, and do not seek to cause turmoil in the earth; indeed, Allah does not like those who violate the peace." (28:77) "And those who break the promise of Allah after making it firm and sever all (the relations and obligations) that Allah has commanded to be kept unified, and do mischief and strife in the land—upon them is the curse and for them is an evil home;" (13:25). This verse is a guiding principle for not going against the promise of abiding by the Constitution. "Indeed, Allah decrees the commands of justice and kindness, and of giving to relatives, and forbids immorality and bad conduct and rebellion; He advises you so that you may receive admonition." (16:90) "The way (to persecute) is only against those who oppress people, and wrongfully spread rebellion in the land. It is they for whom there is a painful punishment. (42:42) And indeed whoever patiently endures and forgives – this is sure of the acts that demand great courage and determination". (42:42- 43) "The retribution of a harmful deed is the harm equal to it; so, whoever forgives and amends, he shall have his reward from Allah; indeed, He does not love the unjust" (42:40) "Tell the believers to forgive those who do not fear the days fixed by Allah, so that He may give a nation the reward of what they used to earn." (45:14) "And if you want to punish, then punish only (as severely) as you were afflicted, but if you remain patient, then certainly that is better for those who keep patience. And, (O Glorious Beloved,) be patient and your patience is by Allah alone. And you should not grieve over their (defiance), nor distress (your gracious and benevolent heart) on account of their deceptive plots. Surely, Allah blesses them who live with God wariness and who (also) live with spiritual excellence with His (special) companionship." (16:126-128) "There is no compulsion in Din (Religion). Surely, the guidance has been distinguished from error. So he who rejects false gods and believes in Allah has grasped such a firm handhold that will never (possibly) give way. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing." (2:256) "And had Allah so willed, certainly, all inhabitants on the earth would have believed. (When your Lord has not made them believe by force,) will you coerce the people until they become believers?" (10:99) "We know best what they say, and you are not the one to coerce them. So advise through the Qur'an anyone who fears My threat of punishment." (50:45). This verse rejects the narrative of forced conversion as one is not allowed to force any other to accept one's religion. ... Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/peace-forgiveness-kindness-aggression/d/126070 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Sectarianism Among The Muslims: What Should Be The Right Approach?

By S. Arshad, New Age Islam 31 December 2021 Sectarianism Has Been The Problem In All The Religions Main Points: 1. Jews were divided in many sects and became cursed on earth. 2. The Christians were also divided in sects and lost their dominance to the united Muslims. 3. Muslims were also divided into sects and lost political power. 4. Buddhists that were a dominant force in Asia fell because of sectarianism. 5. Muslims should limit sectarian differences to the personal religious conduct. ---- (Representational Image) ----- The Quran says that the Muslim Ummah (community) is a united whole and the entire Muslim community is like a body. If an organ of the body suffers pain, the other parts also feel it. But after the demise of the holy prophet pbuh the Muslim Ummah became divided in about 72 sects. The most prominent among them are Sunni and Shia. Over time, these two sects also became divided in dozens of sub-sects and ideological groups. This was contrary to the stance of the Quran which says that those create division and sects among the Muslims are not among the Muslims. “Indeed those who have divided their religion and became sects, you are not in anything with them.” ( Al Ana’m: 159) This is not the case about the Muslims alone. Before them, the Jews were divided in sects and sub-sects. The division and sects was so intense that they killed each other in the name of purity of religion. They considered even declared the other sects as heretics and issued fatwas against the others. They were divided because they deviated from the original teachings of Torah. It was in fact a form of God’s wrath on them: “And We divided them into sects on earth, some of them are on the right path and some of them are otherwise.” (Al A’raf: 168) After the Jews, the Christians also were divided in sects and ideological groups and history bears testimony to the fact that they also killed each other in the name of maintaining purity of religion as late as the eighteenth century. Earlier those Christians who did not believe in the doctrine of Trinity were also killed by the Emperor. “But the denominations among the differed (and separated)”(Az Zukhruf:65) We also have the example of Buddhism which also was divided among dozens of sects only within hundred years of the demise of Gautama Buddha. The cause of division was interpretations of the teachings of Gautama Buddha. The Buddhism scholar Vishwanath Banerjee writes: “Slight differences of opinion on the rules, doctrines or even in the preparation and wearing of robes caused the existence of the different sects and even led to the emergence of a number of Yanas within the fold of Buddhism. The original words of the Teacher (Buddha) started being interpreted in difference ways conveying different and sometimes contradictory meanings.” (Mahayana Buddhism: A study in its development; Mahayan Buddhism edited by Sadhan Chandra Sarkar, Asiatic Society) Therefore, within one hundred years after the parinirban of Buddha, the following prominent sects came into being: Mahayan, Hinyan, Mantrayan, Vajrayan, Sautrantikas, Sarvastivadins., Madhyamika etc. One wonders how true this is about the Muslims as well. Sects among them came into existence merely on the basis of robes and caps and also on the basis of contradictory interpretations of the verses of the Quran. It becomes clear from the divisions among all the divine religions that sectarianism has been a feature of all the religious communities because they interpreted the teachings of the religious scriptures in their own way and thought that only their interpretations were correct and only they have presented the teachings of the prophet in the correct way. The divisions and sectarianism among the Buddhists did not result in fatwas against the other sects and there was no bloodshed among them on the basis of sectarian interpretation of Buddha’s teachings. However, the Mahayanists (the latter day offshoot) called Theravadins the orthodox sect Hinayana which means Inferior sector way of realizing Truth. But this did not result in violence or bloodshed among the Buddhists. The Hinayanist fought the argument of Mahayanists to prove that their sect was not inferior but the original way of the Buddha. The Quran speaks of the sectarian differences among the followers of Prophet Moses a.s. and Prophet Jesus a.s. and the resultant insult and humiliation on earth to warn Muslims (the followers of the holy prophet pbuh) of the results of sectarianism. The Quran says that the Jews who once were prospering and ruling community in the world were cursed by God because they divided sects and fought with each other on sectarian lines. The Quran also cites the example of the followers of Jesus Christ who in later period became divided into sects and commit bloodshed against their own folk to maintain the purity of religion. The Christians who were once the powerful community of the world and ruled almost half of the world fell to the Muslims because they were divided in sects and became politically and spiritually weak. Buddhism also emerged as a dominant force because of its simple teachings and its inclusive social approach. It removed the difference between untouchables and the higher castes. It became so popular that it became a dominant religious community from Assam to Khorasan. It also spread as far as Indonesia, Java, Japan and China. However, when they were divided among sects and sub-sects and presented contradictory interpretations of the Teacher, introducing many doctrines that were not in accordance to the actual teachings of Buddha. Therefore, sectarianism became the cause of downfall of Buddhism in Asia. Once kings like Asoka had become its patron. In later year, it was the kings who became its enemy and killed Buddhist monks and destroyed their Viharas (monasteries). It mentions the fate of these religious communities to warn Muslims against similar fate because of sectarianism. But as we say the Muslims have not learnt any lesson from the fate of the earlier communities. Sectarianism has done the Muslims the most damage in the last few centuries. Many sects have come into existence because of sectarian interpretations of the Quran. The sectarian interpretations have caused massacres among the Muslim communities and some recent examples testify to this. When sectarianism is a constant feature of religious communities, Muslims should also realize this and form their attitude towards the other sects of Muslims in the same light. They should again learn from the resurgence of the Jews and the Christians who after limiting sectarian differences to the personal lives of the followers have reclaimed their political power in the world. Today, there is no violence and bloodshed among the Jews or among the Christians because they have realized the fact that men do not agree on any issue because no two people think in the same way. Therefore, they have concentrated on the scientific and economic issues and have become super powers. The Muslims who believe that some day they will dominate the world are in fact a suppressed lot because of their sectarian weakness. It should be the right approach for the Muslims to limit the sectarian differences to their personal conduct and should work for the collective welfare of the community. The differences in the wearing of robes or the shape of the skullcap or other non-fundamental practices and beliefs and should not come in the way of collective good. The doctrine of Takfeer has been the biggest cause of bloodshed and massacres among the Muslims. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-sectarianism/sectarianism-muslims-jews-christians-buddhists/d/126073 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Debunking ISIS Concept That Their Fatwas and Commands Are Issued By a Recognised Legal Body – Part 3

By Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 31 December 2021 The Legal Body of ISIS Whose Honesty and Trustworthiness Are Unreliable Main Points 1. Knowledge cannot be gained merely by means of obtaining certificates and claiming expertise. 2. For achieving a sound understanding of Islamic teachings, It is essential to employ the proper methods and principles. 3. Only those whose abilities are perfect, whose honesty, knowledge, wisdom are known, and who have attained marifah are to be learned from. 4. ISIS only Know How To Engage In Activities That Are Strictly Forbidden In Islam. ----- Representational Photo/ISIS) ------ The third key fault in the concepts of current jihadist organisations, particularly ISIS, is what they refer to in response to mainstream Islamic academics and scholars as: “Since it is typical for you to get knowledge exclusively from the people of knowledge, our fatwas, pronouncements, judgments, and commands are all issued by a recognised legal body. This body is made up of a group of religious science professionals and students who learned from eminent scholars at prestigious religious institutions, colleges and universities. You should be aware that some of them have outstanding qualifications and certificates in Islamic law. For these reasons, our fatwas and sayings cannot be disregarded just because they contradict your circumstances. (Summarized and translated from Arabic, Shubhatu Tanzeem ‘Al-Dawlah al-Islamiyyah Wa Ansaarihi Wa al-Rad Alaihaa, authored by Dr Imaduddin Khiti, second edition, Series of publications 27, Islamic Movement in Syria, p.27) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Also Read: Declare The ISIS As The Kharijites (Those Who Seceded From Islam) As This Article Demonstrates And Declares: Global SOS To The Ulama, Muftis, Intellectuals And Scholars Of Islam ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Response to ISIS Only attending to the Mashaikh and experts in Islamic sciences, or only sitting in their discourses and receiving some knowledge from them, or the studies in the universities and institutions, all these things don’t turn a man to be the man of knowledge and Fatwa. Knowledge cannot be gained merely by means of sitting before teachers, attending a number of classes, reading a number of books, spending some years in schools or college hostels, or obtaining certificates, but by employing the proper methods and rationally-accepted principles essential for achieving sound understanding, retention of intellectual insights and enlightened qualifications. A person in this connection does not deserve to be ranked among the people of knowledge and expertise unless his intellectual capability receives approval from the respected Ulama, gaining popularity for respect, honesty, soundness and knowledge, and unless he reaches the point where it becomes impossible for him to deviate from the path of righteousness. Similarly, just because an Islamic scholar has trained a student in some areas does not mean the student has been purified in all areas or for all time. It also doesn't imply that anything the student is saying is correct. Otherwise, this would have been a matter of infallibility ['Ismah] for him, whereas angels and prophets [peace be upon them] are the only ones who can be infallible. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Also Read: Investigating and Refuting the Black Flag and Khorasan Narrative Propagated by IS and Al-Qaeda Jihadists ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Having been trained and purified by the Islamic scholars and Mashaikh, the student of Islam is qualified to join the ranks of the accepted scholars of Islam. Then his words and actions are examined, and if they are in complete agreement with the truth [Haq], they will be accepted from him; otherwise, his assertion, whatever it may be, will be rejected, especially if he departs from the correct interpretation of Islamic commands. Being an Aalim or an Islamic scholar does not entail that his anti-Islamic statements must be adopted. Anyone who violates the purpose of Islamic Sharia will be dismissed. Anyone familiar with the extremist groups’ legal process, fatwas, and verdicts realises that any Mujtahid or Islamic scholar who follows the Ahlus Sunnah methodology cannot justify the conduct of ISIS. ISIS's claim is also refutable because its legal body and members who have studied under the patronage of Islamic scholars and Mashaikh or at educational institutions have essentially opposed both the Mashaikh [experts in Islamic sciences] from whom they learnt and the educational institutions from which they have graduated. They couldn't agree on Mashaikh's methodology or fatwas. They slandered them and switched their method to one that was not approved by the Mashaikh. As a result, they have no justification in this matter. Imam Shatibi, a well-known classical Islamic scholar writes in his masterful work ‘Al-Muwafaqat’: “The scholar [Aalim] who is well versed (Mutahaqqiq) in knowledge has certain traits and signs that conform to what has preceded even though he may contradict them in his investigation. These are three: “First: Acting upon the knowledge he has acquired so that his words and deeds become compatible. If these are not compatible, he is not qualified for being a teacher from whom knowledge can be acquired, nor can he be followed with respect to his knowledge. “Second: He should be a scholar who has been trained (taught) by shaykhs in the relevant discipline. He should have acquired knowledge from them and should have enjoyed their companionship. Such a person is more qualified to be attributed to the merits that the teachers possess. This was also the case with the worthy ancestors. The first case of such companionship was that of the Companions (God bless them all) of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and their learning from his sayings and acts with their full reliance on what came from him whatever the consequences and in whatever form it was communicated. “They grasped the essence of what he intended or did not intend, so much so that they came to know, and were convinced, that it was the undeniable truth, wisdom whose laws could not be broken, and no deficiency could surround the perfection of its boundary. All this came out of an abundance of companionship and the intensity of their persistence. Ponder over the case of Umar ibn al-Khattab during the truce at al-Hudaybiyya when he said, “O Messenger of Allah, are we not on the right, and these people on falsehood?” He (peace be upon him) replied, “Of course.” He said, “Is it not true that our slain goes to heaven, while their slain goes to hell?” He replied, “Of course.” He said, “Then why should we bear this disgrace for our deen (religion) and return when Allah has not issued a decree between them and us?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “O Ibn al-Khattab, I am a Messenger of Allah, and Allah will not neglect me ever.” Umar went away, yet he was not patient, and in a state of anger, he came up to Abu Bakr and said something similar to him. Abu Bakr (R) replied, “He is the Messenger of Allah, and Allah will never neglect him, ever.” The narrator says that it was then that revelation descended upon the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) conveying a message of victory. He sent for Umar and recited it to him. Umar said, “O Messenger of Allah, was it then victory?” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Of course.” Umar was pleased and he retracted from his earlier stance. “This is the benefit of companionship, submission to scholars, and exhibiting patience with them on occasions of ambiguity till such time that the proof comes to light. In such a case, Sahl ibn Hunayf said during the Battle of Siffin, “O people, take your views with suspicion. By Allah, I had an opinion on the Day of Abu Jandal and if I had been able, I would have defied the order of the Messenger of Allah (PBUH).” He said this as they were facing some confusion, but then Surah Fatiha was revealed after they became depressed due to the intensity of the confusion, and ambiguity of the order. Yet, they submitted and gave up their views till such time that the Quran was revealed. Their confusion and perplexity were removed. “Such incidents became a fundamental principle for those who came after them. The Followers of the Companions adopted the same attitude towards the Companions as they had adopted towards the Prophet (PBUH), and by virtue of that, they became learned (Faqihs) attaining the peak of perfection in the disciplines of the Sharia. It is sufficient for the validity of this principle that you will not find a scholar whose teachings have become known among people without his having a model teacher who had become known in his own time. Whenever a deviant sect is found and whenever someone opposes the Sunnah, he will be found lacking this attribute. It is for this reason that Ibn Hazm al-Zahiri was looked down upon because he did not consider obedience to teachers and following their instructions as necessary. Exactly opposite to this was the approach of the scholars grounded in knowledge, like the four jurist imams and those similar to them. “Third: Emulation of those from whom he has acquired knowledge and adoption of their method. This is just like the Companions following the Prophet (PBUH) and the Followers of the Companions following the Companions. It was the same in each generation. Malik stands out among those similar to him, I mean in exhibiting this attribute with great intensity, for otherwise, this attribute was present in all others, but Malik became famous for acquiring this attribute to the extent of exaggeration. When this attribute is dropped, it gives rise to many types of innovation. The reason is that the giving up of emulation is evidence of something new that the person guilty of it has come up with, and the basis for this is the pursuit of whims.” (Imam Shatibi, Al-Muwafaqaat, vol.1, p.46-47, Garnet Publishing) End of Quote ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Also Read: Refutation of ISIS That Justifies Terrorism in 21st Century: Did the ‘Sword Verse’ 9:5 Really Abrogate Verses of Peace and Forbearance? Part -5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Therefore, the only thing in which an Islamic scholar can be trusted is that he has obtained the correct knowledge, practised discipline and piety [taqwa], and followed the learned way. It makes no difference what position he occupies, how many followers he has, how many books he has written, or how many degrees he holds. Another claim made by ISIS is that its scholars, leaders, and judges have received education and training from the competent Mashaikh. This is most certainly inaccurate. On the contrary, it has been proved that the bulk of them did not receive their education from any of the well-known Islamic sheikhs. It is established that not everyone who claims expertise of Islamic knowledge would be accepted, but only those whose assertions are backed up by experts and authorities of Islamic sciences and are capable of issuing fatwas. Imam Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Only those whose abilities are perfect, whose honesty is evident, whose knowledge and wisdom are known, and who have attained Marifah [God Almighty's gnosis] are to be learned from. “This is the knowledge of Deen [religion], thus you should know fully about the individuals from whom you are obtaining your Deen,” the Salaf said, as quoted by Imam Muhammad ibn Sirin and Malik ibn Anas, among others. Abu Azzinad says, “I came across various Islamic scholars in Madina. They were all Ma'amoon, which meant they were not known for lying. Despite this, no Hadith was taken from them, and it was declared that they were not the ones who could be trusted with Hadith” because they did not have the chain of narration [Isnad]. [Reported by Muslim in Muqaddima of his Sahih, the Chapter “Isnad is a part of Islamic Religion”, 1/15] This statement demonstrates how much caution was exercised when reporting the hadith, as it was not taken even from Islamic scholars whose honesty and trustworthiness was well-known. If this is the case, how can anyone believe anything spoken by the members or the so-called legal body of ISIS whose dishonesty is widely known? When the fitna began, Ibn Sirin reports that the chain of narration of any hadith was thoroughly investigated and that the hadith was only accepted when it was established that it was given by reliable adherents from among Ahlus Sunnah, rather than when it was known that it was narrated by unreliable people. Imam Malik b. Anas used to declare that knowledge should be gained from those who have inherited it from their predecessors and that nothing should be taken at face value. [Khatib Baghdadi, Al-Kifaya Fi Ulum al-Riwayah, p.159) So far the discussion has shown that the so-called legal experts of ISIS have been drawn from a group of people whose expertise, honesty, and reliability are unknown and unreliable. None of the authorities and experts of Islamic knowledge has yet presented any testimony in support of their claims. As a result, these ISIS members lack the capacity and authority to give fatwa or pass judgement on any Islamic issue. They only know how to shed blood, seize property, commit takfir against Muslims, and falsely rationalise their slaughter. To put it another way, they only know how to engage in activities that are strictly forbidden in Islam. First Part of the Article: Refuting ISIS Concept of Caliph and Caliphate [Khalifa and Khilafah] – Part 1 Second Part of the Article: Debunking Jihad of ISIS and Its False Theory That ‘Non-Jihadists Can’t Issue Fatwas on Jihad and Mujahid’ - Part 2 URL: https://www.newageislam.com/radical-islamism-jihad/debunking-isis-concept-fat-legal-body/d/126072 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Why A ‘National’ OBC Conclave Excludes Muslim Backwards

By Arshad Alam, New Age Islam 30 December 2021 The Right Nomenclature For This National OBC Conclave Should Have Been Hindu OBC Conclave Main Points: 1. A national OBC conclave did not have a single representative from Muslims OBCs. 2. The conclave was primarily conceptualized and organized by the Congress Party’s Samruddha Bharat Foundation. 3. There is a lot of consternation amongst Muslim OBC groups as to why they were excluded from this conclave. 4. The intellectuals present there must explain this deliberate exclusion of Muslims. ---- What does a national OBC conclave has to do with the Muslim question in India? Perhaps a lot, if we try to decode the reasons why said conclave went on without a single Muslim OBC representative. The said conclave was held on the 21st December at Delhi’s Talkatora Indoor Stadium. By all measures, the conclave was organized by Samruddha Bharat Foundation, a platform of civil society actors and academics floated by the Congress party few years ago. The invitation is in the name of two people: Pushparaj Deshpande and Gurdeep Sappal. While the former is an office bearer of Samruddha Bharat Foundation, Sappal is a national spokesperson of the Congress party. Among the invitees were not just prominent Bahujan politicians like Lalu and Sharad Yadav but also intellectuals like Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd and Dilip Mandal. Muslim OBCs constitute the largest segment within the Muslim population. There are a number of Muslim OBC organizations who have been working for many years to form horizontal caste solidarities with Hindu OBCs. These groups have often been accused by elite and Ashraf Muslims of dividing the community by playing politics around caste. For decades, Muslim leaders, both religious and political, have vehemently denied the presence of caste in their community. Muslim OBC groups, on the other hand, have argued that despite conversion, caste has remained the defining reason of their structural and positional marginalization. Through documents such as the Sachar Committee Report, they have highlighted the fact that they are the most disadvantaged social group within the Muslim community. So, it is intriguing why there was no representation from Muslim OBC organizations in the above- mentioned conclave. It is possible that the organizers may not like the politics of some of these Muslim OBC groups or individuals, but certainly not possible that they could not find a single Muslim even for token representation. This is certainly a deliberate omission which has not gone down well with Muslims. Of late there has been a growing feeling within Muslim OBC groups that their voices have no meaning and place within the so called secular democratic parties and even in mainstream Hindu liberal circles. The national OBC conclave was just another rude reminder. The Muslim representation in the Congress has largely comprised of the Ashraf or upper caste Muslims and it has historically never been interested in the Muslim caste question. The issue was raised by none other than Abdul Qaiyyum Ansari but he was frequently rebuffed by Jawaharlal Nehru. Ansari led the All-India-Momin Conference and firmly opposed the two-nation theory propounded by Mohammad Ali Jinnah and others. But then, he was of no use to Nehru who understood Muslims as a homogenous bloc. The Congress position on the issue has not changed; the latest example of which is the absence of Muslims from the national OBC conclave. The parties of ‘social justice’ like the RJD and SP benefited from the Mandal wave and were able to form governments in two of the most populous states of India. But the way they thought of the Muslim question was hardly any different from the Congress. Lalu and Mulayam both did not address the caste question among Muslims. Both parties were proponents and practitioners of redistributive justice within the Hindu society but they maintained a stoic silence when it came to redistribution of resources within the Muslim community. It was this frustration that drove sections of OBC Muslims led by Ali Anwar to align with Nitish Kumar. It is perhaps the same frustration which is driving some Muslims to the camp of Asaduddin Owaisi. It is very easy to blame Owaisi for the defeat of RJD alliance in Bihar but mightily difficult to talk about the underlying reasons. For if one does so, one realizes that Muslims, and in particular Muslim OBCs, who form the majority of Muslims, have been taken for a ride by these so called secular democratic parties; that they have so far been only treated as captive voters and nothing else. The Muslim OBC exists only to vote and support the Hindu OBC in their quest for power and privilege. In return the Muslim OBC must remain eternally thankful to these parties for sparing their lives. One might argue that political parties have their considerations and calculations but what about some of the fabled Bahujan intellectuals like Kancha Ilaiah and Dilip Mandal present at the conclave? Why did they not feel it necessary to point out this glaring omission? Both of them have written on the need for horizontal caste solidarities beyond the confines of religion. Are we to believe that even these intellectuals do not want to be seen in the presence of Muslims? Are we to believe that for them too the Muslim question primarily remains one of identity rather than for dignity and redistributive justice? It might have gone unnoticed that the ideologically motivated right-wing mobs who are evicting Muslims from their prayer sites mostly belong to Hindu OBC groups. What has not gone unnoticed though is the reticence of OBC intellectuals to condemn this crass lumpenisation and anti-Muslim hatred of their social base. It is easy to blame the Hindu right wing for all the ills of the country; what is difficult is to understand why after decades of Mandalisation, Hindu OBC castes have become mightily attracted to this ideology. By not naming the agents of anti-Muslim violence, these intellectuals have done a great disservice to the cause of forging broader understanding across faiths. And now, by excluding Muslims from a conclave, they have further dimmed the possibility of any such alliance. Such muddled thinking can only come about when intellectual work becomes subservient to the dictates of political programs. Already, we are seeing sections of Muslim OBC gravitating towards the Hindu right wing agenda. In their search for space which has been hitherto denied to them by the so called secular and liberal forces, they do not shy away from articulating their angst even on some Savarkarite social media platforms. While earlier Muslim OBC stalwarts like Abdul Qayuum Ansari remained equidistant from both Hindu and Muslim communalism, that kind of politics is now being increasingly questioned from within. The current leadership of Shudra Muslims might be responsible for this state of affairs but what is equally important to understand is that this alienation is also the product of the stark refusal of ‘secular’ platforms like the national OBC conclave to incorporate diverse Muslim voices. Related Articles: Backward Muslims Have the Right to Reservation मुस्लिम समाज में पिछड़ा वर्ग आरक्षण का असली वारिस और हकदार Backward Muslims Have the Right to Reservation مسلم سماج میں پسماندہ طبقہ ریزرویشن کا اصل وارث و حقدار ----- Arshad Alam is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-sectarianism/obc-conclave-muslim-backwards/d/126059 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

How Many Veils Must Be lifted; till I am embraced by You, The Veiled One!

By Aadil Farook, New Age Islam 25 December 2021 How many veils must be lifted till your glimpse is gifted How much pride must be sacrificed till your grandeur is recognized How much tribulation must be undergone till a purified self is born How many desires must be forsaken till I let my soul awaken How much heartbreak must be felt till I allow my ego to melt How many wishes must be blown away till my only wish is your say How many tears must be shed till my spirit is truly fed How much knowledge must be unlearned till your gnosis is to be earned How many books must be burned till your message is fully learned How many reasons must bear negation till your love is granted affirmation How many temptations must be fought till the distance between us is naught How many wines must be untasted till your vision turns me intoxicated How many petals of 'I' must wither till I am able to pluck your flower How many colors of me must fade till your rainbow is displayed How many songs must be unheard till by your melody, I am stirred How many peers must abandon me till I am granted your proximity How much jealousy must harm me till I rely on only your sincerity How many fears must be conquered till your path is wholly travelled How much self must be lost till this journey is crossed How many wars with myself I must win till your disclosure will finally begin How many words must be written till silence becomes my expression How many people must be forgiven till I make my days enliven How many memories must I erase till my nights are for your praise How many whys must be understood till I experience what is selfhood How many hows must be explored till your divine wisdom is poured How many theories must be rejected till your concept is perfected How much of philosophy must I replace till your discourse rules my time-space How much Science must be unendorsed till the power of faith is the greatest force How many illusions must be denied till the devil's tricks are defied How many steps must I walk till your exaltation is my talk How many delusions must be addressed till with your revelation, I am blessed How much should I strive for bliss till prostration is like a bride's kiss How much repentance must accompany sin till I witness a revolution within How much from vanity I must flee till you acknowledge my humility How much caprice must be suppressed till you say, "I am highly impressed" How much inner purity should I seek till feminine beauty can't make me weak How much worldly glitter must I shun till your rays are emitted from the sun How much should I serve your creation till I fulfill the definition of a human How much should I revere your glorious name till the key to your treasures, I can claim How much remembrance do I owe your beloved till I'm mentioned in the prayers of the prophet How much self-worship must be undone till I'm embraced by you, the Veiled One! (Photo courtesy: Jesus@ 2AM, for Representative purpose only) ----- Aadil Farook, Winner/Nominee of 2 International Awards (US & UK), is a Lahore-based blogger. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/veil-embrace-veiled-self-worship/d/126030 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

How Real Is The Science-Religion Dichotomy?

By Prof. M. A. Sofi, New Age Islam 27 December 2021 The Role of Morality and Ethics - As the Raison D’etre of True Religious Precept - Shall Not Remain Peripheral Main Points: 1. Religion and religious fervour shorn of their real essence and spirituality are no more than tools of exploitation and oppression. 2. It’s pointless and even dangerous to see science and religion as irreconcilable dichotomous entities. 3. It’s both wise and rewarding to let the two proceed along their respective trajectories. ------ Science and religion (Photo courtesy: Science and Technology) ---- Over a long period of my professional life involving interactions with a variety of people, both from within the scientific community and without, I have reckoned that the highest levels of critical thought and analytical skill- which are so intrinsic to scientific enterprise - invariably happen to be accompanied by an attitude that is largely seen to be dismissive of a design in the cosmos being shaped by a designer behind the creation of the universe and all that resides in it. It is not accidental that a huge section of them are least likely to be drawn towards things which have to do stuff like religiosity or the other-worldliness, an attitude that sometimes even borders on atheism and often times on agnosticism. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Also Read: Islam Does Not Inhibit Science: Islamic Culture Has Produced Many First-Rate Scientists Who Were Also Devout In Their Religious Observances ------------------------------------------------------------------ On the contrary, it has also been observed that those involved in scientific research while being endowed with the necessary faculties to undertake such work but having a certain amount of ecumenical/religious fervour find themselves a trifle short on critical thought and rational approach which inevitably leads to a situation where they are hemmed in in an effort to achieve excellence in their professional career. So here we see a dichotomy, an ‘uncertainty principle’ of sorts at work. It’s not my case to advocate the necessity for the scientific temper to coexist with a modicum of religiosity for a balanced approach to life. All I am trying to emphasise is that such choices are so unwittingly forced upon us that it is only in the middle stages of our life that we wake up to a worldview where we find ourselves espousing- and even post-facto justifying- something that has been shaped by such fortuitous choices. It’s also true that such choices are determined to a great extent by a host of factors that include, among other things, the environment and the culture in which one has grown up and which determine the priorities and preferences of an individual for the rest of his/her life. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Also Read: A Quranic Vision of Scientific Knowledge ------------------------------------------------------------------ But there is a flip side to this story too. Here, it may help to recall a lively and spirited meeting I had had some years ago with a well-known hoary Israeli mathematician on matters including certain non-mathematical issues involving his views on recent political developments in the Middle East. But what indeed was so refreshing was his observation on my question regarding the phenomenon involving the supremacy and predominance of the Jewish scientists and mathematicians in their respective disciplines over the past several hundred years. His response was both revealing and thought provoking "We Jews have been having a long tradition of engaging with our religious scriptures at a level that demands the application of mind on the subtext of its revelations rather than look at the text merely as a set of inane rules and rituals to be followed blindly". In other words, “it is the intellectual engagement with the Old Testament that has set them apart from other religious communities in the world and that is why the protestant Christians are a lot more different from their Catholic counterparts". Further that "if the Muslims were to engage with the Quran at the same intellectual level as we do – the Jews, that’s - the consequences would be as rewarding". According to him, the current sorry state of Muslims, especially in education and sciences, has chiefly to be explained in terms of how their holy scripture Quran has been misused and (mis)interpreted by their scholars and reduced to an inane exercise bereft of any intellectual content that is actually lurking behind the seemingly esoteric content underlying the Quran. Said he "The need is for a scholarly engagement with the Book as opposed to how it is approached at the moment". ------------------------------------------------------------------ Also Read: Science Should Be Separated From Religion: No Point in Proving Changing Scientific Theories from Quran ------------------------------------------------------------------ As I see it, I couldn’t agree more with that line of thinking, considering that deep religiosity shorn of conscious engagement with the spirit of religion could be as drab, insipid and uninspiring a chore as irreligiosity divorced from reason and rationale. The crux of the matter is that nothing short of a conscious and deep intellectual engagement with either side of the dichotomy as enunciated above and informed by a scholarly understanding of the issues involved would deliver humanity from the state of darkness and ignorance that it’s presently seeped in. On this count, the situation as it prevails especially in the subcontinent provides a microcosm of the gigantic mess that the Muslim world at large finds itself beset with. If anything, the abject surrender to a medieval, primitive and regressive mindset involving the role of religion in the life of an individual and of the society has to be pinned down to absolute contempt for reason having any role to play in matters ecumenical. Which is why hordes of religious groups in India and owing loyalty to forces of disruption and divisiveness have been on a rampage against those espousing a different faith or following other forms of worship. A similar pattern of ignorance is in witness in the neighbouring country which is held to ransom exactly on similar grounds even as those perpetrating such acts in the name of religion never tire of claiming of being the inheritors of a religious faith which is supposed to reign supreme over other faiths on the strength of it belonging to a superior genre of faith, never mind how that particular faith is required to shape individual thoughts, action and behaviour. ---------------------------------------- Also Read: Science and Religion ---------------------------------------- The underlying reason for what clearly are acts of insanity and hooliganism derive from a supremacist mindset fed to them by their ill-informed cabal of leaders/preachers that they have the license to get away with such acts of aggression and transgression simply because they are doing so in the name of gods who they owe their fealty to and who they seek to propitiate, albeit in such utterly insane and inhuman ways. Religion and religious fervour shorn of their real essence and spirituality are no more than tools of exploitation and oppression rather than an agency for lifting the human existence from the level of farce and accord it the grace of spirituality and transcendence as the apotheosis of true religious injunction. In the case of Quran as a divine scripture which is seen by Muslims as a guide to provide a road map for a morally robust and spiritually fulfilling individual character, in practice the Muslim community looks at it as a drab aggregate in chapter and verse which is merely to be recited and memorised without the need to see it as a dynamic, interconnected text. It’s a tragedy of startling proportions that the Muslim masses led by their religious leaders tend to look at Quran as a static text which is frozen in time, rather than as a beacon of light that encourages change, evolution, progress and that exhorts its followers constantly to adjust to change. An important aspect of Quran that is lost on a great majority of our Islamic scholars involves an unwillingness on their part to connect one segment of the text to the next, or to many other segments throughout the sacred text. The underlying message becomes clearer when these connections are probed, discovered and put in context, thus leading to a new dynamic of the meaning which evolves, develops and changes as more and more connections are sought and discovered. Incidentally, that is redolent of the mathematical enterprise where the underlying unity of the huge edifice of mathematics helps to get a view of the ‘big picture’ involving a certain mathematical idea or a phenomenon, thus lending itself to make better sense of what’s actually going on over there. ---------------------------------------- Also Read: Agnostic Einstein Closer To Quranic God ------------------------------------------------------------------ The fact that at a point of time when the Islamic world had held sway over large swathes of land in the Arabian Peninsula extending to Europe and elsewhere, that had happened in the midst of a culture where Muslim scholars and scientists had shaped the coming about of the golden era of Muslims in science, mathematics and philosophy. And this was essentially because the message and the teachings of Islam were being followed in their quintessential spirit rather than merely as a set of inane, jejune rules to be followed merely as a passport for entering the Jannat. It’s in the absence of that spirit that the institution of religion as it exists today shall continue to wreak havoc by its otherwise ‘intrinsic’ nature to cause conflict and friction and inflict untold misery upon the people, as is being witnessed now across countries and continents. Sadly, that is as true of Islam today as it is of many other religious faiths and scriptures. Here I quote Dipankar Gupta who notes in his column that has appeared in the Times of India today (Dec.25th, 2021) “What is sacrilege for one may appear a frivolous misdemeanour for the other; or what is outrage for one is a hissy outfit for the other”. The point is that whereas there surely are structural and fundamental aspects of science and religion being peculiar to their respective paradigms and set one completely apart from the other, it’s pointless and even dangerous to see the two as irreconcilable dichotomous entities within the huge gamut of a whole lot of important human endeavours. Rather than seek to reconcile the two which would be akin to a pie in the sky, it’s both wise and rewarding to let the two proceed along their respective trajectories while making an effort to bring reason- a bequest of the scientific temper – to bear upon issues arising in the reading of and following the sacred text. In the obverse direction, it won’t add up to much to pursue science merely as a drab academic exercise but as an important human endeavour where the role of morality and ethics - as the raison d’etre of true religious precept - shall not remain peripheral. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Also Read: God-Realization and Modern Science ------------------------------------------------------------------ I conclude with the following pithy quote of the famous French philosopher Simeone Weil: "To die for God is not a proof of faith in God. To die for an unknown and repulsive convict who is a victim of injustice, that IS a proof of faith in God". ----- Prof. M. A. Sofi is currently NBHM Visiting Professor at JK Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Srinagar He previously taught at AMU, Aligarh, Central University of Kashmir, Srinagar and University of Kashmir, Srinagar Did Master’s from AMU, Aligarh (1978) and Ph. D Mathematics at IIT Kanpur(1982) Presently living in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-science/science-religion-dichotomy/d/126034 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

How Real Is The Science-Religion Dichotomy?

By Prof. M. A. Sofi, New Age Islam 27 December 2021 The Role of Morality and Ethics - As the Raison D’etre of True Religious Precept - Shall Not Remain Peripheral Main Points: 1. Religion and religious fervour shorn of their real essence and spirituality are no more than tools of exploitation and oppression. 2. It’s pointless and even dangerous to see science and religion as irreconcilable dichotomous entities. 3. It’s both wise and rewarding to let the two proceed along their respective trajectories. ------ Science and religion (Photo courtesy: Science and Technology) ---- Over a long period of my professional life involving interactions with a variety of people, both from within the scientific community and without, I have reckoned that the highest levels of critical thought and analytical skill- which are so intrinsic to scientific enterprise - invariably happen to be accompanied by an attitude that is largely seen to be dismissive of a design in the cosmos being shaped by a designer behind the creation of the universe and all that resides in it. It is not accidental that a huge section of them are least likely to be drawn towards things which have to do stuff like religiosity or the other-worldliness, an attitude that sometimes even borders on atheism and often times on agnosticism. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Also Read: Islam Does Not Inhibit Science: Islamic Culture Has Produced Many First-Rate Scientists Who Were Also Devout In Their Religious Observances ------------------------------------------------------------------ On the contrary, it has also been observed that those involved in scientific research while being endowed with the necessary faculties to undertake such work but having a certain amount of ecumenical/religious fervour find themselves a trifle short on critical thought and rational approach which inevitably leads to a situation where they are hemmed in in an effort to achieve excellence in their professional career. So here we see a dichotomy, an ‘uncertainty principle’ of sorts at work. It’s not my case to advocate the necessity for the scientific temper to coexist with a modicum of religiosity for a balanced approach to life. All I am trying to emphasise is that such choices are so unwittingly forced upon us that it is only in the middle stages of our life that we wake up to a worldview where we find ourselves espousing- and even post-facto justifying- something that has been shaped by such fortuitous choices. It’s also true that such choices are determined to a great extent by a host of factors that include, among other things, the environment and the culture in which one has grown up and which determine the priorities and preferences of an individual for the rest of his/her life. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Also Read: A Quranic Vision of Scientific Knowledge ------------------------------------------------------------------ But there is a flip side to this story too. Here, it may help to recall a lively and spirited meeting I had had some years ago with a well-known hoary Israeli mathematician on matters including certain non-mathematical issues involving his views on recent political developments in the Middle East. But what indeed was so refreshing was his observation on my question regarding the phenomenon involving the supremacy and predominance of the Jewish scientists and mathematicians in their respective disciplines over the past several hundred years. His response was both revealing and thought provoking "We Jews have been having a long tradition of engaging with our religious scriptures at a level that demands the application of mind on the subtext of its revelations rather than look at the text merely as a set of inane rules and rituals to be followed blindly". In other words, “it is the intellectual engagement with the Old Testament that has set them apart from other religious communities in the world and that is why the protestant Christians are a lot more different from their Catholic counterparts". Further that "if the Muslims were to engage with the Quran at the same intellectual level as we do – the Jews, that’s - the consequences would be as rewarding". According to him, the current sorry state of Muslims, especially in education and sciences, has chiefly to be explained in terms of how their holy scripture Quran has been misused and (mis)interpreted by their scholars and reduced to an inane exercise bereft of any intellectual content that is actually lurking behind the seemingly esoteric content underlying the Quran. Said he "The need is for a scholarly engagement with the Book as opposed to how it is approached at the moment". ------------------------------------------------------------------ Also Read: Science Should Be Separated From Religion: No Point in Proving Changing Scientific Theories from Quran ------------------------------------------------------------------ As I see it, I couldn’t agree more with that line of thinking, considering that deep religiosity shorn of conscious engagement with the spirit of religion could be as drab, insipid and uninspiring a chore as irreligiosity divorced from reason and rationale. The crux of the matter is that nothing short of a conscious and deep intellectual engagement with either side of the dichotomy as enunciated above and informed by a scholarly understanding of the issues involved would deliver humanity from the state of darkness and ignorance that it’s presently seeped in. On this count, the situation as it prevails especially in the subcontinent provides a microcosm of the gigantic mess that the Muslim world at large finds itself beset with. If anything, the abject surrender to a medieval, primitive and regressive mindset involving the role of religion in the life of an individual and of the society has to be pinned down to absolute contempt for reason having any role to play in matters ecumenical. Which is why hordes of religious groups in India and owing loyalty to forces of disruption and divisiveness have been on a rampage against those espousing a different faith or following other forms of worship. A similar pattern of ignorance is in witness in the neighbouring country which is held to ransom exactly on similar grounds even as those perpetrating such acts in the name of religion never tire of claiming of being the inheritors of a religious faith which is supposed to reign supreme over other faiths on the strength of it belonging to a superior genre of faith, never mind how that particular faith is required to shape individual thoughts, action and behaviour. ---------------------------------------- Also Read: Science and Religion ---------------------------------------- The underlying reason for what clearly are acts of insanity and hooliganism derive from a supremacist mindset fed to them by their ill-informed cabal of leaders/preachers that they have the license to get away with such acts of aggression and transgression simply because they are doing so in the name of gods who they owe their fealty to and who they seek to propitiate, albeit in such utterly insane and inhuman ways. Religion and religious fervour shorn of their real essence and spirituality are no more than tools of exploitation and oppression rather than an agency for lifting the human existence from the level of farce and accord it the grace of spirituality and transcendence as the apotheosis of true religious injunction. In the case of Quran as a divine scripture which is seen by Muslims as a guide to provide a road map for a morally robust and spiritually fulfilling individual character, in practice the Muslim community looks at it as a drab aggregate in chapter and verse which is merely to be recited and memorised without the need to see it as a dynamic, interconnected text. It’s a tragedy of startling proportions that the Muslim masses led by their religious leaders tend to look at Quran as a static text which is frozen in time, rather than as a beacon of light that encourages change, evolution, progress and that exhorts its followers constantly to adjust to change. An important aspect of Quran that is lost on a great majority of our Islamic scholars involves an unwillingness on their part to connect one segment of the text to the next, or to many other segments throughout the sacred text. The underlying message becomes clearer when these connections are probed, discovered and put in context, thus leading to a new dynamic of the meaning which evolves, develops and changes as more and more connections are sought and discovered. Incidentally, that is redolent of the mathematical enterprise where the underlying unity of the huge edifice of mathematics helps to get a view of the ‘big picture’ involving a certain mathematical idea or a phenomenon, thus lending itself to make better sense of what’s actually going on over there. ---------------------------------------- Also Read: Agnostic Einstein Closer To Quranic God ------------------------------------------------------------------ The fact that at a point of time when the Islamic world had held sway over large swathes of land in the Arabian Peninsula extending to Europe and elsewhere, that had happened in the midst of a culture where Muslim scholars and scientists had shaped the coming about of the golden era of Muslims in science, mathematics and philosophy. And this was essentially because the message and the teachings of Islam were being followed in their quintessential spirit rather than merely as a set of inane, jejune rules to be followed merely as a passport for entering the Jannat. It’s in the absence of that spirit that the institution of religion as it exists today shall continue to wreak havoc by its otherwise ‘intrinsic’ nature to cause conflict and friction and inflict untold misery upon the people, as is being witnessed now across countries and continents. Sadly, that is as true of Islam today as it is of many other religious faiths and scriptures. Here I quote Dipankar Gupta who notes in his column that has appeared in the Times of India today (Dec.25th, 2021) “What is sacrilege for one may appear a frivolous misdemeanour for the other; or what is outrage for one is a hissy outfit for the other”. The point is that whereas there surely are structural and fundamental aspects of science and religion being peculiar to their respective paradigms and set one completely apart from the other, it’s pointless and even dangerous to see the two as irreconcilable dichotomous entities within the huge gamut of a whole lot of important human endeavours. Rather than seek to reconcile the two which would be akin to a pie in the sky, it’s both wise and rewarding to let the two proceed along their respective trajectories while making an effort to bring reason- a bequest of the scientific temper – to bear upon issues arising in the reading of and following the sacred text. In the obverse direction, it won’t add up to much to pursue science merely as a drab academic exercise but as an important human endeavour where the role of morality and ethics - as the raison d’etre of true religious precept - shall not remain peripheral. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Also Read: God-Realization and Modern Science ------------------------------------------------------------------ I conclude with the following pithy quote of the famous French philosopher Simeone Weil: "To die for God is not a proof of faith in God. To die for an unknown and repulsive convict who is a victim of injustice, that IS a proof of faith in God". ----- Prof. M. A. Sofi is currently NBHM Visiting Professor at JK Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Srinagar He previously taught at AMU, Aligarh, Central University of Kashmir, Srinagar and University of Kashmir, Srinagar Did Master’s from AMU, Aligarh (1978) and Ph. D Mathematics at IIT Kanpur(1982) Presently living in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-science/science-religion-dichotomy/d/126034 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Moral Teachings Are an Integral Part of Islam

A Believer Is Like a Building for another Believer, With Each Brick Strengthening the Other Brick Main Points 1. Morality relates to the link between rights and responsibilities of the slaves of God, which every human being must fulfil. 2. Before uttering a word, one should think about the consequences. It is preferable to avoid doing anything harmful 3. Jealousy, animosity, hatred, malice, gossip, and other ills are all avoided easily by the person who makes less contact with others. 4. Muslims should strive to bring peace and comfort to one another. ..... By Dr. Mufti Muhammad Karim Khan 28 December 2021 Translated by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam When a person enters the world, he is connected to a variety of things in the universe. It is a moral obligation to conduct this relationship properly. Morality relates to the link between rights and responsibilities of the slaves of God, which every human being must fulfil. Islam is built on moral principles. “I have been sent to perfect good morals,” the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated. (Mu'ta Imam Malik, Mu'ta Imam Malik, Mu'ta Imam Malik) Some hadiths from Sahih Bukhari will be narrated in this article, in which the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) explains the precepts of ethics in a very nice manner. Unity of the Ummah: Abu Musa al-Ash'ari reports that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “A believer is like a building for another believer, with each brick strengthening the other brick.” Allah says, “And hold fast to the rope of Allah altogether.” (Surah Ale-Imran: 103) The following points can be deduced from the hadith. During sermons and exhortations, it is permissible to give examples. It is not acceptable for a Muslim to divide and destroy his or her fellow Muslims. In this world and the next, a Muslim is a helper to another Muslim. Control of Tongue: According to Hazrat Abu Hurayrah, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, “A person sometimes speaks something and does not realise its harms, and as a result, he falls down to hell as far as the distance between east and west.” This blessed hadith infers the following points: "One should ponder before speaking." Before uttering a word, one should think about the consequences. It is preferable to avoid doing anything harmful. The tongue should be kept under control. A man should not speak a word whose beauty and ugliness he is unaware of. Good deeds: According to Hazrat Uday bin Hatim, the Holy Prophet (saws) said, “Beware of hell, even if it is with a piece of palm. So, if he is incapable of doing so, he should only be saved by Kalima Tayyeb.” The following considerations can be derived from this blessed hadith: It's not a good idea to scoff at any good deed. Saying something nice is also a form of charity. It is not acceptable to offer a worthy beggar a harsh response. Kindness and excellent treatment should be extended to the poor and needy (Surat al-Dhuha: 10). Good conversations help to keep the heart pure. The servant should be eager to earn divine recompense by noble words and deeds. The Hereafter is the True Destination: “Live like the impoverished or the traveller in the world, and count yourself among the people of graves,” the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) remarked, according to Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar. From this blessed hadith, the following issues can be deduced: It is not a Muslim's tradition to be eager for money. At all times, death must be remembered. The less wealth there is, the easier the reckoning on the Day of Resurrection will be. Jealousy, animosity, hatred, malice, gossip, and other ills are all avoided easily by the person who makes less contact with others. In order to obtain God's pleasure in this life, one must continue to strive. The believer is always advantageous: “Tell me of a tree that resembles a Muslim, and the soul yields fruit at all times by the command of its Lord, and its leaves do not fall off,” the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, according to Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar. He then added, “It's a palm tree.” The believer is always beneficial: It is narrated on the authority of Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Tell me of a tree which resembles a Muslim, and the soul bears fruit at all times by the command of its Lord and its leaves do not fall off. Then he said: It is a palm tree.” From this blessed hadith, the following points can be deduced: Every effort should be made to draw students' and beneficiaries' attention. The goal of interrogation should not be to perplex or deceive the people. When you’re in front of your teachers, sheikhs, or elders, it’s preferable to keep your mouth shut. The best way to preach knowledge is to explain difficulties using examples. A Muslim, like a palm tree, can be a source of good for others both during his life and after he dies. Faith is as deep in the heart of a believer as the roots of a palm tree are deep in the ground. Asking inquiries does not imply that you are illiterate. A believer is trustworthy and helpful to others. Islamic Brotherhood: According to Nu'man ibn Bashir, the Holy Prophet said, “When a person's body is in pain, his entire body does not sleep, and every part of him becomes involved in the development of a fever.” From this blessed hadith, the following points can be deduced. The believer should show love and compassion to his believing brother. Believers should share their sorrows with one another. All Muslims should look out for one another’s rights. Empathy between Muslims should be founded on faith rather than anything else. Muslims should strive to bring peace and comfort to one another. Urdu Article: Moral Teachings Are an Integral Part of Islam اخلاقی تعلیمات اسلام کا جزولاینفک ہیں URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/moral-teachings-integral-part/d/126049 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

US Bans Chinese Forced Labour Products Made By Uyghur Muslims But Muslim Nations Remain Silent

Islamic Countries Have Not Spoken On The Issue Main Points: 1. Church of Sweden had raised its voice against Uyghur forced labour. 2. Pakistan supported China on the issue of forced Uyghur labour. 3. US companies need to verify if the cotton products from China are free from Uyghur forced labour. 4. In the UN Muslim countries sided with China in 2019 on Uyghur issue. ---- Chinese and US flags flutter outside the building of an American company in Beijing on January 21, 2021. © Tingshu Wang, Reuters ---- By New Age Islam Staff Writer 28 December 2021 The US President Joe Biden signed on the bill banning Chinese forced labour products made by the Uyghur Muslims of Xinjiang province of China. After the passing of the bill, the US companies importing cotton and cotton products from China will have to verify that those are not forced labour products made by Uyghur Muslims who have been detained in detention centres in the Xinjiang province for the last six years. It should be recalled that the Chinese government has detained about one million Uyghur Muslims in detention camps which it calls re-education centres. The Muslims are tortured to abandon their religion and learn Mandarin and communist ideology. Women are tortured and rendered infertile. They are even raped and forced to go for abortion. The US had termed Uyghur persecution by China as genocide in January this year and had called for boycott of Winter Olympics in February 2022. Earlier, the US imported tomatoes and cotton products from China. The Uyghur Muslims are forced to work in cotton plantations and in factories without wages. According to reports, about half million Uyghur Muslims are forced to work in cotton plantations. The cotton products made by them are exported to many countries earning the Chinese government huge profits at the cost of the human rights of Uyghur Muslims. The US has taken this step before the Winter Olympics to be held in January 2022 as a diplomatic effort to pressurize China to prevent Chinese government form human rights violations of the Uyghurs. Unfortunately, Islamic countries have been silent on this issue. It is also to be noted that no Islamic country has commended the US for banning Chinese goods. On the contrary, some Islamic countries have defended the Chinese oppression of Muslims saying that they do not believe in the incarceration theory of the US. For example, the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said that he does not believe that cotton products of China are products of forced labour of Uyghur Muslims. He said that it was a propaganda of the US and European countries against China. He also stressed that the cotton trade with China will continue unabated. The Pakistani trade bodies have also stressed that their trade with China will go on despite the ‘US propaganda’. It is to be noted that Pakistan has earlier denied any oppression of Uyghur Muslims in China. Imran Khan had said to a Turkish TV channel two years ago that he had no idea of the Uyghur issue. Saudi Arabi had gone even to the extent of saying that China had every right to take any step against Uyghur for preventing terrorism. It is a slap on the face of Islamic countries and Islamic organizations which cry hoarse on the issue of blasphemy and issue trade boycott against non-Islamic governments. For example, Islamic organizations had called for French products after the French President Macron had said that Islam was in crisis. Violent protests were held in Pakistan and Bangladesh in which police personnel had been killed by protesters and public property had been destroyed. But the issue of persecution and forced labour of the Uyghur Muslims by China does not stir their conscience. The Church of Sweden was disturbed by the persecution of Uyghurs and warned importers to abstain from doing trade with China if forced labour was involved. However, the Muslims countries and Islamic organizations have not issued any fatwa against Uyghur forced labour though forced labour is not permitted in the Quran. The Quran asks Muslims to give fair treatment to prisoners and slaves and does not permit anyone to hold any individual prisoner without any cause. Still the Islamic organizations and fatwa bodies of Islamic organizations of countries like the Egypt and Saudi Arabia have not issued any fatwas calling for economic boycott of China. Even the Turkish President Erdogan has not spoken anything praising the US step and expressing his country’s stand on the issue. Earlier Erdogan showed concern for the Uyghurs and even protested against China leading to bitter diplomatic relations between the two countries. Uyghurs look up to Turkey for help as they are of the Turkic ethnicity. In 2009, Erdogan even visited Xinjiang and termed the persecution of Uyghurs ‘genocide’. But much has changed since now. Erdogan has, it seems, left Uyghurs to their fate for economic and political reasons. Earlier, Uyghurs were granted asylum and resident permits in Turkey but now the Uyghur homer are regularly raided and Uyghurs are deported back to China. This is because of Erdogan’s dream of becoming the powerful leader of the Islamic world and fort that he needs to strengthen his hold in Turkey. The floundering economy has made him look for Russian and Chinese support. This is why Uyghurs do not get the kind of support from Turkey they once did. The grand mufti of Egypt or Saudi Arabia has not issued any fatwa condemning persecution of Uyghurs and Uyghur forced labour. Islamic countries have not imposed ban on Chinese cotton products to save Uyghurs from forced labour not to speak of making efforts to free them or give them asylum. The Islamic countries have no plan for the solution of the Uyghur problems. Instead, they have turned a blind eye to their persecution. Worse, they defend China on the issue. The insensitivity of Muslim countries on the Uyghur persecution issue can be gauged from the fact that in 2019, Germany sent a letter to the UN Human Rights Council condemning Chinese persecution of ethnic minorities and calling China to respect the human rights of ethnic minorities. The letter was supported and signed by 39 countries out of which most countries were non-Islamic countries. The list of the countries that signed in favour of the letter is as follows: Albania, Australia, Austria, Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Marshall Islands, Monaco, Nauru, the Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Palau, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. You can see that Islamic countries are promiscuous by their absence. On the other hand Cuba had sent a letter in support of Chinese policies in Xinjiang which was supported and signed by 45 countries. The list of the supporters of China is as follows: Angola, Bahrain, Belarus, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Congo, Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Iran, Iraq, Kiribati, Laos, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Palestine, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, the UAE, Venezuela, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.(The names of Muslim countries are in bold). In the list of countries that supported Chinese policies in Xinjiang, some prominent powerful Islamic countries are included. Instead of condemning and protesting against the Chinese persecution of Uyghurs, they defended China for their economic and political interests while Christian and non-Muslim countries condemned Chinese persecution of Uyghurs and its overall policy against the ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. This points to a very disturbing attitude of Islamic countries on the issue of Uyghurs. It is only the non-Muslim and Christian countries and societies that have spoken in favour of the Uyghur Muslims while the Islamic countries and Islamic organisations have chosen to remain silent for political reasons. URL: New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Ideological Differences In Madrasas In The Indian Subcontinent: Ending The Divisiveness

By Mohammad Ali, New Age Islam 29 December 2021 Liberty Of Choosing What To Teach Would Allow Richness And Diversity In Texts And Subjects In Madrasas Main points: 1. In this essay, I have discussed that madrasas are built on the basis of divisive ideologies of Deobandi, Barelvi, and Ahl-e-Hadith; 2. That, they are not only the habitat of these ideologies, but they also propagate them into the society; 3. And that the debate of making madrasas neutral to ideologies must be included in the debate of madrasa reforms. ------ The word madrasa comes from Arabic and literally means a place of study. The history of the word is very old, and it continues to be a part of our modern vocabulary. However, the connotation of the word has changed in our modern usage. In Muslim history before the colonial period, this word referred to a place where teaching—secular or religious—took place. In this sense, it did not refer to a building, an infrastructure, a mandatory curriculum, etc., rather it referred to a place where a Shaikh or teacher sat and delivered lectures on subjects in which he had expertise. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Also Read: Madrasa Education is a Clear Violation of the Human Rights of Children: Sultan Shahin asks UNHRC to make Muslim Countries Stick to their Pious Declarations ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The liberty of choosing what to teach would allow richness and diversity in texts and subjects. With the permission of the Shaikh, anyone could join his lectures. And when the text or book was completed, he could move on to join other Shaikh to participate in his Dars/lecture if he wished to study more. Such a system of imparting and seeking knowledge was very diverse and liberating. Even though there were ideological differences among Ulama, the system that was functioning beneath the institution did not allow it to convert into a mouthpiece for a particular group or its ideology. However, the old system of madrasa was disrupted by the British invasion of Mughal India. After 1857, some of the Indian Ulama established India’s first modern madrasa, the Darul Ulum of Deoband in 1867, which was modelled after Delhi College, which was established by the East India Company in 1924-25, and where these Ulama had studied. This madrasa acquired infrastructure, appointed teachers, and had a prescribed curriculum. It is not bad for madrasas to adapt to the modern world and have infrastructure and other necessary apparatus. But the new concept of madrasa envisioned by the founders of Deoband reduced the old meaning of madrasa limiting it to a place for religious education only. And when madrasas proliferated across the subcontinent on the pattern of the madrasa in Deoband, they adopted a very narrow understanding of religious education, which was not as diverse as it was in the past. Besides, one more thing happened that changed entirely the character of the institution: it became the mouthpiece for the reformist ideology of its founders and caretakers. Reform movements in India began in the early nineteenth century. It can be assumed that Shah Waliullah could be considered as the first reformer who remained active in the middle of the eighteenth century. However, his campaign for reform was not as subversive and aggressive as was of his grandson, Shah Ismail, and his master (pīr), Sayyid Ahmad. Shah Ismail attacked the practice of Taqlid and the practices of visiting shrines and seeking intercessions of dead saints, etc., and regarded them as shirk, the gravest sin in Islam whose perpetrators are considered to be outside of the pale of Islam. The practices Shah Ismail condemned were deemed as authentic and Islamic by Ulama, Sufis, and the masses. It affected the Indian Muslims deeply. After Shah Ismail, the mantle of reform was assumed by the founders of the Darul Ulum of Deoband, like Qasim Nanotavi, and Rashid Ahmad Gangohi. However, they were not as aggressive as Shah Ismail. The practice Shah Ismail declared as shirk, the founders of the Deoband madrasa considered them as Bidaah, meaning that their perpetrators would be committing punishable sins, but these sins would not result in their excommunication. But what were the causes, one can ask, that triggered these reform movements? There were multiple causes, and all were linked to the constant deterioration of Muslim political power in the subcontinent, which was translated as a sign of God’s wrath and anger. And this wrath could only be averted if Muslims would follow the true teachings of Islam. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Also Read: Evolution of Hadith Sciences and Need for Major Paradigm Shift in Role of Hadith Corpus and Scope of Madrasa Education ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Muslim reformers adopted different approaches, but one thing was common among them: the supremacy of the idea of the Oneness of God (Tawhid). They believed that seeking help and intercession from dead saints, and Prophet and asking their help or observing rituals, such as conducting celebrations on the occasion of mawlid or the death anniversary of a dead saint for seeking Barkah, had corrupted the meaning of Tawhid. They imagined God as an absolute monarch whose powers (here, God’s attributes/sifāt) could not be shared with anyone, not even the Prophet Muhammad. Until or unless, Muslims do not submit completely to God’s command, they could not be regarded as believers in His Tawhid. The idea behind rejecting Taqlid was the same. The opponents of Taqlid argued that a Muqallid (a person who observes Taqlid), instead of following God’s commands, follows the commands of Muslim jurists. Gradually, the wholesale rejection of popular practices of Muslims became the main characteristic of the Muslim reformists’ ideology and activism. And when these ideologues and activists founded madrasas during the second half of the nineteenth century and afterwards, these madrasas became the mouthpieces for their ideology. These madrasas were so much embedded with their founder ideologue or the ideology they represented that it manifested in their curriculum and everyday life. The students that studied there were demanded ideological loyalty to their madrasas. After graduation, these students become vessels that carry the ideology of their madrasas to the society they work in and extend its network beyond the confines of madrasa to the non-madrasa people. These people in return fund the madrasas of whose ideology they profess. Thus, it creates an organic cycle that assists to sustain madrasa and its ideology and expands its network constantly. Madrasas associated with every ideology or school of thought are supported by this cycle. Till now, we have discussed how madrasa became a habitat of divisive ideology and sustain this character for so long. Here, I would also like to discuss, how these madrasas inculcate their ideologies to their students. Apparently, madrasas claim to be the institutions of Islamic learning and teach Islamic sciences, like the Quran, hadith, etc. However, the teaching of these texts in madrasas is not neutral. It is layered with their distinct ideological interpretations. In the classrooms while teaching, for example, hadith, teacher asserts the soundness of, say, Deobandi ideology and condemns Barelvi or Ahl-e-Hadith ideologies. This gives students the impression that the Deobandi ideology if students are studying in a Deobandi madrasa and so on, is the true interpretations of Islam, and interpretations other than that are false and required to be condemned. Outside the classroom, in religious gatherings, informal meetings with fellow students or teachers, the same thing is repeated until it is thoroughly ingrained in the minds of students. Furthermore, students are supposed to behave properly with regard to their teachers, and their akābir, meaning the people who have come before them and are part of the ideological chain. In the parlance of the madrasa, this is called Adab. The word Adab has various connotations, but in madrasa circle, this word means proper behaviour, which includes that students should not criticize their teachers and their akābir. The bigger the personality the more it requires Adab. And at some point, they acquire sanctity and veneration. The layers of sacredness and veneration become so thick that no student can dare to breach them. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Also Read: RESTRUCTURING MADRASA EDUCATION: Muslim Opponents of India’s 'Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act' are Enemies of Indian Muslims ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ There are cases related to Jamia Ashrafia and Jamia Aleemia. Both seminaries are associated with the Barelvi school. They have gone as far as to revoke the degrees of their graduates who criticized the ideology of the madrasas or their teachers. In short, we can conclude after this short analysis that madrasas have evolved into a complex system that has preventive measures to sustain and promote the divisive ideologies that they are based on. When there is a discussion on madrasa reforms, the divisive nature of the Deobandi, Barelvi, and Ahl-e-Hadith ideologies must be included in the discussion and there is a need to devise a solution that can help eradicate this divisiveness. ----- Mohammad Ali has been a madrasa student. He has also participated in a three years program of the "Madrasa Discourses,” a program for madrasa graduates initiated by the University of Notre Dame, USA. Currently, he is a PhD Scholar at the Department of Islamic Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. His areas of interest include Muslim intellectual history, Muslim philosophy, Ilm-al-Kalam, Muslim sectarian conflicts, madrasa discourses. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islamic-society/ideological-differences-madrasas-divisiveness/d/126052 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Removing Obstacles to Peace and Order in the Light of Sirat-e-Rasool - Part 2

Escalating Instability and Disorder, As Well As Its Solution In Light Of the Prophet's Biography Highlights 1. Unjustly interfering in the honour of others is the third major source of conflict and mischief in the world. 2. The Qur'an affirms all persons to be honourable and revered as human beings, regardless of their faith or nationality. 3. Interfering in one's religious affairs is the fourth key cause of international peace and order problems. 4. In a time of narrow-mindedness and prejudice, the Holy Prophet was the first individual in human history to raise the banner of religious and intellectual freedom. ... By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 24 December 2021 Respect for Human Dignity The third important thing that causes strife and mischief in the world is to unjustly interfere in the honour of others. According to the teachings of the Holy Prophet, everyone is worthy of respect, whether he is ruler or subject, male or female, Muslim or non-Muslim, teacher or student, rich or poor, officer or subordinate, educated or illiterate, everyone deserves due respect. The Qur'an declares all people, regardless of faith or nationality, to be honourable and revered as human beings. Allah says in the Quran: “And We have certainly honoured the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference.” (Surah Bani Isra'il/ 17:70) At one point, the Qur'an described the human body as the best stature. Allah says: “We have certainly created man in the best of stature” (Surat at-Tin/ 95:4) After considering these verses, it is clear that Fitna and mischief amongst people based on religion are not appropriate. Because of race, it is not appropriate to cause discord. It is not proper to consider someone honourable and dignified because of wealth, nor is it proper to consider someone degraded because of poverty; rather, who is devout and whose deeds are virtuous is the measure of good and evil, honour and dignity. Allah declares: “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” (Surah Hajarat/ 49:13) This passage is addressed to all human beings, not just Muslims, and sends a clear message that there is no distinction between them and that they are all formed in the same way. They are split into tribes and families, but this does not mean that they degrade and fight with one another because of their tribal and family distinctions; rather, it means that they recognise one another and acquire a good understanding of one another. As a result, it is clear that every human being is appreciated by Islam, regardless of colour, ethnicity, sex, nationality, language, or religion. This is why, via his noble teachings, the Holy Prophet forbade any conduct that harms a person's self-esteem. The holy Quran says, “O People who Believe! Men must not ridicule other men for it could be that the ridiculed are better than the mockers, nor must the women ridicule other women for the ridiculed women may be better than the mockers: And do not insult one another, nor assign evil nicknames; how base it is to be called a sinner after being a Muslim! And whoever does not repent – then it is they who are unjust.” (49:11) This is another passage that gives believers rights over one another, declaring that it is banned and not permissible to ridicule others in words or actions that suggest looking down on one's human brother, as this is demonstrative of self-admiration on the mocker's part. It's possible that the one who is mocked is better than the one who mocks him, as is often the case because mockery is merely a mirror of a bad attitude and bad manners, as well as all other negative attributes. Allah says, “O People who Believe! Avoid excessive assumptions; indeed assumption sometimes becomes a sin, and do not seek faults, and do not slander one another; would anyone among you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? So you will hate that! And fear Allah; indeed Allah is Most Acceptor of Repentance, Most Merciful.” (49:12) Allah forbids suspicion and thinking ill of the believers in most cases because suspicion is a sin on some occasions. Suspicion based on facts and proof, as well as thinking ill of someone, can lead to them saying and doing a variety of criminal behaviours. That's because harbouring negative thoughts usually doesn't end there; rather, it continues until something incorrect is said or done. In the Farewell Sermon, the Holy Prophet said, “No Arab has any supremacy over a non-Arab, and no non-Arab has any superiority over Arab, and no white has any superiority over black, and no black has any advantage over white. Piety is the foundation of virtue and greatness.” Superstitious practises such as caste have no place in the teachings of the Holy Prophet. On the occasion of the conquest of Makkah, The Holy Prophet instructed Hazrat Bilal, a Black African, to stand on the House of God and call Azan. The people were taught that caste, creed, colour, and race don't matter. It is one's faith, belief, values, and clean character that count the most. Respect for Religion or Religious Freedom The fourth major reason for the problem of peace and order in the world is to interfere in one's religious affairs. The Holy Prophet was the first person in human history to raise the banner of religious and intellectual freedom in a time of narrow-mindedness and bigotry. The Quran says, “There is no compulsion in the Religion” (2:256) and “For you is your religion and for me is my religion” (109:6) In this regard, the Holy Prophet not only forbade coercion but also forbade any behaviour that could lead to tensions between the followers of different religions. This can be gauged from the fact that it is unlawful for a person to speak ill of any religious leader or religious figure, as it may lead to fights, quarrels, strife and riots between the followers of two different religions. Islam expressly forbids blasphemy against non-Muslim religions or deities. Allah is fully aware of the dangers that the misuse of other faiths poses to society's harmony, and He has advised Muslims to leave the final judgement to Him alone. “And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge. Thus We have made pleasing to every community their deeds. Then to their Lord is their return and He will inform them about what they used to do.” (6:108). The goal of Islam is to promote goodness to all of humanity and to establish a peaceful and secure environment for all of humanity. We see that the battle has been authorised to end oppression on occasion, but keep in mind that this was only intended to end oppression. It was discovered that Islam's goal is to create a society that is truly peaceful and secure, and that in order to do so, it is vital to act with justice and fairness toward all members of society. As a result, it is imperative that we take the pure biography of Allah's Messenger as an example and follow it. Only in this way can the world be free of violence and turmoil, and a climate of peace and security be established. ----- Kaniz Fatima is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. Related Article: Removing Obstacles to Peace and Order in the Light of Sirat-e-Rasool - Part 1 URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/obstacles-peace-order-sirat-rasool/d/126025 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism