Sunday, June 23, 2013

Hate in Islam Inculcated/Distortions Countless

Muhammad The Richest Prophet in Arabia Prophet Muhammad, though living in extreme poverty, was richest in love. His love so boundless and unconditional that even his enemies couldn’t doubt it against the shimmering ocean of light in his eyes straight from the purity of his heart, offered to all for sharing and nurturing. That kind of love is the nectar of Islam for all time, but Muslims in this age and time refuse to taste the nectar from that ocean sweet and everlasting. Earning the notoriety of being hateful, violent and vengeful. Branded with countless epithets and tag-lined with slogans so very true and heartrending. One of those: ‘Not all Muslims are terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims.’ Unveiling of Islam _‘Muslim is the one who is a man of peace and from whose tongue and hand people are safe.’ Ibn Haban quoting Prophet Muhammad in Hadith _‘Prophet is the greatest benefactor of humanity and of his Ummah in particular. Every Muslim is required to have greater love for him than for any other human being. Highest love for the Holy Prophet is made a test of faith, because the stronger the ties which bind a man to him the greater the strength with which he will be able to walk in his footsteps and the larger his capacity to do good to humanity. Practically, the Muslim world today has proved an entire failure under this test. The Holy Prophet and his teachings are misrepresented by (so-called) Muslims throughout the world and he is abused as no other religious leader has been abused, but Muslims do not stir a little finger to remove the misrepresentations and carry the true teachings of Islam to a world which is groping in the dark.’ Maulana Muhammad Ali _‘Ibn Umar reported: He heard the Messenger of Allah forbidding women in a state of ihram wearing gloves and veil and garments dyed with wars and saying that they might wear besides this what they liked of garments colored with safflower or made of silk or wool, or ornaments or trousers or shirt.’ Hadith Al-Bukhari (AD 11:29) Hijab and veiling is not Islamic, though many believe it to be so, including Muslim men and Muslim women who question not the veracity of such customs imposed by so-called men of learning since centuries. Such customs have become solid beliefs, repeated so often by so many with such passion and persistency that they have assumed the aura of truth. Yet it is possible to shatter this false aura of truth by chiseling away layers upon layers of lies where the purity of expression still breathes love and radiance within the pages of Quran and Hadith. There is not a single verse in the Quran with any injunction of veil or hijab. Below are two verses from the Quran prone to misinterpretation by the arbiters of Islam. _And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display their adornments only that which is apparent, and to draw their scarves over their bosoms. Quran 24:31 _O ye who believe! Enter not the dwellings of the Prophet for a meal without waiting for the proper time, unless permission is granted you. But if you are invited, enter, and when your meal is ended, then disperse. Lingering not for conversation. Lo, that would cause annoyance to the Prophet and he would be shy of asking you to go, but Allah is not shy of the truth. And when ye ask of the wives of the Prophet anything, ask it from them from behind a curtain. Quran 33:53 Pagan women as well as women from Judeo-Christian background wore veil and hijab as a mark of wealth, status and distinction. To instill the virtue of equality amongst Muslims Prophet Muhammad forbade Muslim women to wear veils. The pearls of Hadith below attest to this fact. _Abu Dawud 11:29 The veil was worn in Arabia as a mark of rank: and it was therefore disallowed, as pilgrimage required obliteration of all differences of rank. Forbidding a veil in a pilgrimage is a further conclusive proof that Holy Quran did not enjoin the wearing of veil, as in that case the prohibition here stated would be a contradiction of the Holy Quran. Gloves are not allowed because like the veil they are a mark of rank. Ornaments are allowed because they are not a mark of rank, and are worn by even ordinary people and laboring classes. As for fighting--only in self-defense... Hadith 16 _Non-combatants were not killed in the battle, there being a prohibition against the killing of women and children. Fighting was to cease if the enemy offered peace, even though his intention might be to deceive. In essence our body is a musical instrument—a gift from God to be tuned with love. If we tune it with hatred, violence, bigotry, it makes discordant sounds to disrupt the sanctity of this holy earth, God’s creation. If we tune it with love, harmony, compassion, it evokes symphony of synchronicity from the very heavens even angels long to cherish and carry to the throne of God as a gift of joy and gratitude from mankind. _‘Life is a choice, a struggle and a constant becoming.’ Prophet Muhammad

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Killing is Forbidden in Islam

Could the pious warriors of Islam kindly take some time off from the spree of slitting the throats of their brethren and contemplate this paradox of Muslims killing Muslims? __Also could the devotees of Prophet Muhammad awaken from their Allah-intoxicated bliss of reciting the Quran and denounce these apostles of zeal turned heathens, all murderers and cutthroats. _There were no Shias or Sunnis during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad and he could never tire of telling Muslims that Islam does not allow killing any Muslim or non-Muslim, only in self-defense. Currently, this sectarian violence has nothing to do with self-defense, but with the deep-rooted vice of malice, hatred, bigotry and intolerance. _Waves upon waves of violence have spread like wildfire of global enmity and ignorance from Syria to Turkey to Pakistan, just to name a few of the Shia-Sunni factions on this arena of a battleground. _‘Whosoever slayeth a believer of set purpose, his reward is hell forever. Allah is wroth against him and He hath cursed him and prepared for him an awful doom.’ Quran 4:93 _‘And when We made you a covenant, saying, shed not blood of your people, nor turn a party of your people out of your dwellings. Then you ratified Our covenant and ye were witnesses thereto.’ Quran 2:84 _‘Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you, but begin not hostilities. Lo, Allah loveth not aggressors.’ Quran 2:193 _‘Call upon your Lord humbly and in secret. Lo, He loveth not aggressors.’ Quran 7:55 _‘And if they incline to peace, incline thou also to it.’ Quran 8:61 _Prophet Muhammad forever was a gentle guide to his followers since the inception of Islam. Shortly after the Hijra to Medina, Prophet Muhammad had secured peace between the tribes of Aus and Khazraj. One day as these tribes were making merry, one man by the name of Shas ibn Qays reminded them about the battle of Baath, taunting, that how they could make merry together after what happened at Baath when so many men were slaughtered from both sides. Soon, the men from both tribes began challenging each other to fair fights. Fortunately, Prophet Muhammad was informed swiftly before the fight could break out, and he reached the scene, appealing. _‘O Muslims, why you are behaving like you used to in the days of ignorance, even though I am with you and Allah has guided you to Islam? He has honored you with the light of wisdom and He has helped you abandon that spirit of enmity and vengeance, so that you can be united together as friends and brothers. Sheathe your swords and weep for your folly for even thinking that you could shed the blood of any man who is bound to you by the holy oath of brotherhood.’ The men had stood there shamed, humbled and repentant. _The political upheaval only twenty-four years after the death of Prophet Muhammad which split the silken fabric of Islam into the rags of Sunni and Shia, still carried the breath of Prophet through the virtue of at least of one Chieftain from the clan of Beni Saad. Even before the armies of Ali and Aisha confronted each other near Basra, the Chieftain of Beni Saad in the true spirit of Islam lead six thousand of his warriors back into the neutrality of the desert, declaring: ‘I would neither fight against the Mother of the Faithful, nor against the cousin of the Prophet.’ _After the army of Aisha was defeated, Ali forgave Aisha unconditionally, giving orders that she be escorted safely by her young half-brother to a house in Basra. Ali’s heralds proclaiming: ‘No one turning his back shall be pursued. No one wounded shall be killed. Whoever throws away his arms is safe.’ _‘O ye who believe! Be steadfast witness for Allah in equity and let not hatred of any people seduce you that you deal not justly. Deal justly, that is nearer to your duty. Observe your duty of Allah. Lo Allah is informed of what you do.’ Quran 5:8 _‘For that cause we decreed for the children of Israel that whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption on earth, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he has saved the life of mankind. Our messengers came to them of old with clear proofs of Allah’s sovereignty, but afterwards, lo, many of them became prodigals in the earth.’ Quran 5:32 __‘Yet whoso doeth evil, or wrongeth his own soul, then seeketh pardon of Allah, will find Allah forgiving, merciful.’ Quran 4:110 ‘Keep to forgiveness, O Muhammad, and enjoin kindness, and turn away from the ignorant.’ Quran 7:199