 By: Salahuddin Qasmi*There has been long debate between Muslims and Christians and even it still continues over Jesus Christ (Peace be upon him, (PBUH), his mission, his birth, his teachings and his so-called crucifixion. If the Bible itself be studied minutely, the fact will be known that the beliefs, teachings, rituals and tenets which Christians spread all over the world, contradict fully what Jesus Christ (PBUH) taught the people in the New Testament .Interestingly, Christians claim about themselves to be the followers of Jesus Christ and blame Muslims for not believing in him while in reality the Christians are far away from the real instructions and dogmas preached by Jesus Christ. In this article, we shall discuss who the real followers of Jesus are, Christians or Muslims. All Muslims have the faith that Jesus was a Prophet and a Messenger of Allah Almighty. In this world, the purpose of his advent was to guide the strayed mankind toward the right path. He kept preaching the people and telling them for worshipping only One God, acting upon His commandments and being kind to one and all. On the other hand, Christians have put this belief aside and considered him as Son of God or God which is totally untrue. It is the faith of Muslims that Jesus Christ was not sent by Allah Almighty to establish a new religion but to renew the religion brought by the prophet Moses (PBUH). He preached the mosaic teachings, acted upon them and ordered the people to do the same. Jesus Christ himself unveils this reality in a clear cut way. "Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tilt will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled”. (Mathew, 5: 17-18) See, how clearly Jesus Christ denies having come with a new religion but with the law introduced before and that is Mosaic Law. This statement of Jesus plainly makes the base of Christians null and void who have established a new religion after Jesus Christ. They, instead of founding the new religion, making up fabricated beliefs, and spreading the unsaid things of Jesus, should have stuck to the true teachings brought by Jesus. When Jesus saw that no one even the Jew clerics seemed to carry out the Mosaic Laws, he apprising his disciples of the Jews' lack of interest and indolence in the Law, exhorted thus: “The Scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but don’t do according to their works’ for they say and don’t do.” (Mathew 23,) In those days, Scribes and Pharisees were two Jewish groups who used to explain the Law and were responsible for religious matters. This statement also reiterated that Jesus did try to carry out the Law, commanded his disciples for this too. In this view point, Christians are wrong to make separate religion from Judaism. Surely, they have derailed from the right track shown by Jesus Christ and that was to observe and follow the Law. Muslims believe that there is only One God and Jesus Christ preached the same belief as well. There is plenty of places wherein Jesus Christ conveyed the message of Unity of God such as: It is in Luke: “Why do you call me good? No one is Good but One, that is God.” (18: 19) It is in Mark: “Hear, O; Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.” (12:29) It is in Mathew: “Why do you call me good? No is good but one that is God” (19:17) It is in John “And this is eternal life that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (17-03) The Gospel is full of incidents which illustrate that Jesus was not a God but a God's slave who was unable to know happening occurring around him. Once, a woman touched Jesus' garments in a crowded place and he could not know who it was. So he said furiously who touched my clothes (Mark 05, 27 to 30). On a day, Jesus was feeling hungry like other human beings, he wanted to have something, he saw a fig tree in a far off place. On the expectation to eat fruits but unfortunately the tree had no fruit, he walke and cursed it. (Mark 11,12,13). Once upon a time, the mother of Zebedees children with her sons with her sons and requested him to grant her sons sit, one on his right hand and the other one on the left, in your kingdom but he voices obviously his helplessness and says: “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give, but it shall be given to those for whom it is prepared by my Father” (Mathew, 20:20 to 23). These quotations from the Gospel evidently nullify the doctrine of Christians that Jesus was a God. They have distorted the Gospel revealed to Jesus from Allah Almighty, altered the cherished message of Jesus Christ and misrepresented the Bible. Pitifully, they, in place of believing in Unity of God sermonized by Jesus and worshipping Him lone, regarded Jesus himself a God, adopted new ideology and groundless dogma befooling the people. Christian history itself tells that it was done with great conspiracy. Muslims believe that Jesus Christ was not the son of God. he was a human being, a noble man, a rightful person, the son of Mary, and a salve of Allah Almighty. This very tenet is widely found in the Bible. The Holy Quran and the Bible state broadly the miracle birth of Jesus born to Mary. There are more than 55 places wherein Jesus has said about himself of being the son of Man rather than being a God. See in the Bible: 1. "For, the son of Man did not come to destroy men‘s lives but to save them." (Luke, 09, 56) 2. "Jesus as the son of Man did not come to be served but to serve" (Mathew, 20,28) 3. "Whoever confesses me before men, him the son of Man also will confess before the angels of God."(Luke, 12,08) 4. He (Jesus) asked his disciples saying, "Who do men say that I am the son of God?" (Mathew, 16,13) On the contrary to this open fact, Christians proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God. It is exceedingly an unwise and irrational speech to declare that Jesus Christ is or was Son of God. It is nothing but a big trick which Christians play with their own Sacred Book i.e. the Bible. Any one studying the Gospel with calmness of mind will certainly come to know that Christians have nothing to do with the teachings of Jesus Christ. They do on their choice whatever they want. Their dogmas absolutely go against the teachings of Jesus. No where in the Gospel any saying of Jesus is found in support of the prevailing canons of Christians as namely some of their cannons or dogmas were annulled in light of the Gospel itself. Justly, it is Muslims who follow Jesus Christ, believe him to be Prophet, a slave of Allah Almighty, the son of Mary, having being risen up to the Sky. He will come down again on the earth before the Day of Judgment and will kill Anis-Christ (Dajjal) as a leader of Muslims. So the true followers of Jesus are Muslims not Christians. Salahuddin Qasmi, a Research Fellow and Translator at Dept of Study of Christianity, now in Internet Dept of Darul Uloom Deoband. He can be accessed at: salahuddinq@yahoo.com / +919759420836
Hifzur Rahman Qasmi Markazul Ma'arif, Delhi {hifzurrahman297@gmail.com}
There is no inherent antagonism between the natural and religious, material and spiritual sides of human nature. All are deeply integrated with each other in a true proportion, because, natural and religious, material and spiritual aspects of human life originate from one Supreme Creative Power.
From the view point of religious perception, the sole purpose of human life is to achieve human perfection in this world that comes through God-consciousness and following this in precept and example, results in the ultimate outcome of eternal peace of paradise in the hereafter.
To attain this supreme goal of life, man is not compelled to renounce the world, and no austerities are required to open the secret door of spiritual purification. No pressure is exerted upon man to completely ignore the human needs and natural demands in order to reach God-consciousness. If it were so, then the creation of matter and putting the elements of natural needs in human being would be meaningless - rather cruelty, because it implies that man is compelled to do what is not within the ken of his God-given power.
This is the reason why Islam provides us a natural way of life imbued with all material and religious, natural and spiritual aspects. Materially, Islam urges its followers to earn money as much as possible, and from the spiritual perspective, it wants them to spend 2.5% of their earnings on the needy poor persons on an annual basis. It provides man with the opportunity to fulfill his natural call and desires. On the other hand, he is supposed to fulfill his desires within the circle prescribed by the last and final prophet Mohammad (saws), lest they should cross the spiritual limits. In short, the co-ordination of nature and spirit is reflected in every aspect of Islamic teachings.
Contrary to the teaching of Islam which give due weight age to man’s material and physical needs, the present day Christianity, though claiming to be of divine origin, seems not to believe in the combination of nature and religion. It does not allow for its religious authorities to marry or fulfill their sexual needs through a lawful and civilized way assuming that it is an obstacle in the way of spiritual gain. Is that a divine idea? “Surely not” must be the answer! Why? Because, if it were prohibited, Prophet Abraham and Moses (pbuh) would not have married, and would not have had children. But they were married and so were so many other prophets except a few such as Jesus whom Christians follow. They take Jesus’s exception to be the common norm for people.
If they are asked “Do you believe in the Bible?” They wholeheartedly agree.
Now let us show them an example from the Bible itself. These lines from the Bible show Jesus himself confirms the validity of the Judaic law:
“Think not I am come to destroy the law and the prophets, I am not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
If the matter of marriage were an exception, Jesus (pbuh) must have clarified it, but the verse is silent in this regard. The matter of fact is that this merely a man-made idea. Moreover they were much more careful, spiritual self-controlling people than their later adherents who are charged with the duty of baptizing others for their salvation as Christians. Yet those prophets who exemplified the very acme of human creation fulfilled their material and spiritual needs to the fullest degree. If they did not do so how could they exhort others to follow their example? They married and had children and a family.
To follow a way that is contrary to their preaching and practice and yet to claim that we are the prophets’ true followers is not acceptable.
However, the Christian community prohibited their priests and nuns from marriage which resulted in a terrible outcome. This practice of celibacy was a later addition to the teachings of Jesus and nowhere had he prescribed that they do so.
Sex is embedded in human nature and constitution. How much can one suppress it? It is a natural element. It must be fulfilled either in a lawful and civilized way, i.e. marriage or in an unlawful and animal way, i.e. adultery and whoredom. Thus the priests are forced on account of his vows of celibacy to resort to unnatural means to fulfill their sexual proclivities.
It might be recalled that the church in America had to pay a compensation of over a billion dollars to youngsters and their parents who were sexually abused as children by the priests. They also had to apologies for their deeds. What does this show? This shows that natural tendencies cannot be dammed up. They will find a way out, naturally or unnaturally. The real solution is to allow priests and nuns to marry so that such aberrations are kept under check..
The details that I am giving are not out of prejudice but to show up a true mirror to those of our community as well as to others so that they see the light and reform themselves. It was hidden from public view the goings on in churches, parishes and confession boxes, but a series of reports have revealed the ugly side of Christianity. One can read many a time in news papers the sex scandals going on in the churches.
The deviant sexual behavaviour with the boys and nuns by the priests of the Roman Catholic Church is on expected lines because human nature finds natural and unnatural ways of expressing itself. If natural means for giving vent to one’s sexuality are not available, anyone, let alone priests, try to find unnatural ways of expressing their sexual urges. But the sad part of the story is that is all avoidable, if only priests were given the option of marrying while ministering to the faithful.
Recently in February 2009 sister Jesme (52) a former nun of Kerala, has exposed the unholy environment within the so-called sacred precincts of the church. Sister Jesme, who holds a doctorate in English from Calicut University, could not help suppressing the call of her conscience and wrote her autobiography “Amen”, which is a detailed account of the sexual perversions of the priests, held in high regard by the laity for their religious knowledge.
The underling thesis of the book is that Christian institutes built on celibacy are teeming with homosexual and heterosexual proclivities. In the book she claims to be harassed sexually by priests. Her description in the state’s nunneries has created a sensation. Some people are decrying her move to expose the wsron-doing in the Church. Others are supporting here wholeheartedly and calling for an urgent cleaning up of the system of appointing and retaining priests.
She thinks by exposing what goes on inside the convents, she has performed her duty towards the society. This is not enough but it is a beginning. In one incident she narrates her own experience with a lesbian nun who forcibly slept with her. She could not do anything to complain because it was same-sex problem. But more surprising incidents were in store for her.
She also describes that a priest, she looked up to with respect, put off his all the clothes, stark naked before her and compelled her to do so, and at last masturbated in front of her in his presbytery in Bangalore.
She is of the opinion that what happens outside can also take place in convents. They are not spiritual enough to refrain themselves from evil. They are affluent. Affluence brings power. And when one wields power, one is exposed to worldly pleasures which include sex.
This is the real face of the churches and convents which are supposed to promote only spiritual feelings and gain pleasure of God Almighty. They have nothing to do with matter and worldly gain. Sister Jesme’s book is not the only event in this regard, but this is the latest in a long series of scandals afflicting the catholic churches in Kerala and elsewhere.
Apart from that, on February 11, 2009, Sister Josephine, a nun in the Daughters of Mary congregation in Thiruvananthapuram, was found dead. People alleged that she committed suicide due to sexual harassment.
On November, 19, 2008, two priests and a nun were arrested by CBI on the charge of killing a 21-year-old nun, sister Abhaya 16 years ago. She was found dead inside a well in the Pius Tenth Convent in Kottayam.
On August 11, 2008 Sister Anoopa Mary, 21, was found dead in her room in convent in Kollam. Her father, an employee at the Kollam Bishop’s House, alleged that she was sexually abused by her superiors.
Interestingly, the church still considers these terrible events trivial. Perhaps the priests have forgotten the sole purpose of the church. Therefore, they do not take these events into consideration. It may be that despite the storm of scandals engulfing the seminaries in India and abroad, the priests and the bishops fail to acknowledge the fact that if they make allowance for nature by giving permission to priests to marry, most of such sexual aberrations would be nipped in the bud. This is the reason that other religions such as Islam and Hinduism do not have so many scandals because they allow their clergy to marry.
In short, God has embedded some natural facts in the essence of human beings. They must not be denied. Natural inclinations and moral corruption may overwhelm the most stoic person if we deny the animal side of human nature. And man, instead of attaining spiritual perfection and God-consciousness becomes a toy in the hands of Satan, and consequently falls from the pinnacle of moral decency and human value systems under the beck and call of wolves howling at the door.
 Masood Azizi Nadvi Translation: Hifzur Rahman Qasmi {hifzurrahman297@gmail.com}
Undoubtedly, there are countless signs of the Creator of the globe spread all over the universe. The Holy Qur'an, which is a living miracle of Allah and a limitless repository of knowledge and wonder, gives such astonishing signs of the Almighty God that the modern scientists are wonder-struck. The facts which are discovered by the modern science in today's developed world have been already well-documented in the Holy Qur'an more than 1400 years ago. Thus the scientists are compelled to think that there must be some heavenly connection that the prophet Mohammad (saws) put forth these facts in detail. There are many hierophants who acquire the mystic knowledge God inspired by the ayeths of the Qur'an. This very knowledge of God picks man out of the twilight of doubts and misgivings and acquaints him with the test of faith and belief. For such people a satisfactory answer to every question lies in the wise and true words of Allah. In the early centuries of Islam, Muslims dived in the depths of the Holy Qur'an and took out precious and golden pearls of knowledge and wisdom; rather most of founders of the science were Muslims who pondered over the Qur'an and laid the foundations of modern science. They put forth such basic scientific rules that led the subsequent generations to unveil the mysteries from the countless facts of the universe. Among those Muslim scientists are Bu Ali Sina, Abu Nasr Farabi, Abbas bin Farnas Idrisi, and Abu Raihan Al-Bairuni (ra). They invented many things and their inventions, discoveries and research received admiration from the whole world. The world accepted them as the founders of science. They accomplished all these things for the betterment of human kind. On the other hand, the elder ulema of the Muslim Ummah pondered over the Qur'an from the religious angle and accomplished the splendid task of fiqh deduction and research. They deduced such rulings and injunctions from the Holy Qur'an that made it quite easy for the ummah to solve knotty problems. The Imams of Hadith, Fiqh and the commentators of the Qur'an acquired expertise in the Qur'an and derived from it many nuggets of wisdom. They offered to the subsequent generations an all-embracing code of life, so much so that it extends to people from all walks of life in every aspect of their existence. In short, whoever has taken a dip in the ocean of the Qur'an from any angle, whatsoever and understood its underlying meaning, he has progressed and a spring of knowledge and wisdom has streamed from him. But of late, not to speak of consideration upon the Qur'an, Muslims have even left the efforts to understand its translation and meaning. Today the Qur'an is of course recited, which is also one of purposes of the advent of the prophet (saws). But efforts to understand the Qur'an are next to nothing. Qur'an itself invites man to consider it carefully. It also urges man to consider and look into the universe and what it contains including his own self. But alas! The Qur'an has been left only for blessing, conveying reward for recitation to the dead and taraweeh in the month of Ramadhan. There is no mosque in the world that does not have the Qur'an. But there is the dearth of reciters. There is the Qur'an in every house wrapped in the cover, but it cries for reciters. There are many memorisers who open the Qur'an only in the month of Ramadhan to lead taraweeh. There are many ulema who are not able to translate even some verses. The number of those who ponder over the Qur'an is unfortunately very less. This is common situation of the Ummah. But the number of such people does not reach to the extent as to bring honor and homage. They got honor in the world due to the Qur'an. And we face humiliation as we are brushing it aside. The Qur'an is such a book which has a great impact on those who understand it, gives them guidance and makes a considerable change in their attitude and thought. It strengthens the faith. Some scientists have commented on the amazing scientific discoveries contained in the Holy Qur'an. Dr. V. N.Prasad, a professor of science in Canada University, said when he was asked about scientific miracles of the Qur'an on which he had earlier researched, “The back- ground of the manifestations of the Qur'anic miracles to me is that the prophet Mohammad (saws) was a layman. He could neither read nor could he write. In fact he was not a learned man. We are talking about 1400 centuries ago. Now if a man makes big claims and explains great facts before you, it cannot be mere accident. Especially, when it is true according to scientific point of view. The words of the Prophet (saws) have been proved. Thus like Dr. Mor I too, do not nurse any suspicion about the Qur'an being the revelation of the God which showed him the way to explain these facts.” Dr. Marshal Johnson, a professor in an American university, writes in his thesis: “The Holy Qur'an not only explains the external shape of human evolution, but also the internal stages of his creation and evolution. eg it explains the stages of embryo and confirms the big changes which take place in it. And it is accepted by the modern science.” He further says: “I do not find any proof to refute the creed that Mohammad (saws) received these information from another source rather than heavenly one which was the guidance from God.” Dr. William is a renowned oceanographist and a professor in an American university. While talking about the recently discovered facts of the ocean which also find mention in the Holy Qur'an, he said, “I liked it very much that the information of this kind are found in an old revealed book. I do not know the source from where these informaton sprang. But it is very interesting that such information are found in the book and research on some verses is still on.” When asked, “what is the fountain head of the teaching of the Qur'an?” he said, “Yes! I think that its source must be the Almighty God.” Professor Tijatat Tijason is the chairman of the faculty of Anatomy in a university of Thailand. In the eighth medical conference in Riyadh, he said, “I have been developing an interest with the Qur'an for the last three years. What I could grasp from my personal study and this conference, makes it quite clear that what has been said in the Holy Qur'an more than 1400 years ago is true and can be proved by modern science. Since the prophet (saws) was an unlettered man, therefore he was surely a messenger of Allah, who passed on these facts to the subsequent generations. This truth was revealed to him as the light of guidance by the Entity Who as the Creator is able to guide. This Entity is the One Almighty Creator. Therefore, I am of the mind that the time has come when every human being must utter “ There is no God but Allah and Mohammad (saws) is the messenger of Allah.” (Khabar Namah Katauli Laknow, January, Fabruary, 2009) There are two sources to unlock the cornucopia of wisdom that is in the Quran. One is to act on Islam with piety and sincerity and then read and read again the verses of the Glorious Quran and call upon Allah to reveal the hidden treasures to you. Simply pondering deeply on the Quran without right action and belief is not enough, When both go together, then hidden facets of the Quran will open up new vistas of knowledge before you. As the prophet Muhammad (saws) said that whoever prays sincerely for forty days, Allah will enables springs of wisdom to flow from his heart. The remarks of the above mentioned non-Muslim scientists make it quite clear as to how a non-Muslim get impressed with the Holy Qur'an, when he comes to know the wonderful discoveries of the Holy Qur'an after pondering over it. If Muslims too, start pondering over it, strengthen their relation with it, spend their mind on its meaning and niceties, recite it as a code of life and an everlasting miracle, then will surely find numerous pearls. He will understand the universality of the Qur'an. And the resonantal verses of the Quran will acquire a local habitation and a name.There will open many doors of guidance. This is the reason why a famous lover of the book of Allah, Philosophy Dr. Allamah Iqbal says: O Muslims, take a dive into the Qur'an May Allah grant you freshness of conduct!
 Hifzur Rahman Qasmi
{hifzurrahman297@gmail.com}
The relationship of an individual with society is as deep as that of wave with a river and of link with a chain. Social life is embedded in human nature; while individual is an integral part of the society. Even the true individual position of a man cannot emerge distinguished, unless he lives in a deeply inter-connected and well-organized society; and without society, he remains unspoken, unheard.
According to general perception, man gets affected by his surroundings and the society he lives in, but the reverse is also equally true; every act of man casts an impact, negative or positive, on the society. Thus, formation of a healthy and pious society and its survival owe to personal acts of individuals. Before undertaking any act, every individual must consider its negative and positive aspects which it may deliver to the society. None is entitled to brush aside the society and his attachment to it and commit any act which may change the whole structure and bring about difficulties for other individuals associated with it. That is because, detached about it, the individual is not supposed any considerable absolute entity and denial of this fact accounts as denying the nature itself.
The man is, no doubt, always surrounded by the complexities of humanly needs. Every time, he is faced with any problem, and therefore, the anxiety to find out the solution. But it is also a fact that God has created enough recourses of every kind to cater to human needs. All this treasure is, however, but a trust with us. We are supposed to utilize it as per the need; we do not possess right to commit extravagance, nor are we supposed to undertake unnecessary frugality. For a pleasant human life, it is necessary to make full utilization of them when need calls for it. If a man does not utilize them or commit frugality even in the case of dire need, this is an ‘extreme’ which is referred to as stinginess. In sharp contrast to it, we have another ‘extreme’ which is called extravagance. Let’s analyze how the extravagance committed by an individual affects the whole society.
The detriments of extravagance are evident to all and its absurdity is admitted by every man with the least degree of intellect. The extravagance does not only cause the wrath of Allah, but also it results in deprivation of recourses one day or the other. Eventually, he fails to save his social status which he had gained due to excessive wealth. The holy Qur’an guides the man strayed in the maze of the extremes: “Eat and drink and do not be extravagant. Surely, He does not like the extravagant. (Al-A’raaf: 32)
Everything of the world is meant to serve man. No sooner does a baby open his eyes in the world, than he finds a vast and strong life support system. Before the creation of human, the Creator Almighty has already put the needed treasury of livelihood in this world for everyone who searches for.
As far as the necessities of man are concerned, they can sufficiently be tackled through the available resources. But as for the desires, they can never be fulfilled in this world. But, when some people who live in the society, ignore this fact and begin to wrongly utilize the resources to fulfill their desire, its consequences does not remain confined to themselves only but surpasses to others and put the entire society in the situation of crisis. As a result, there emerges the shortage of resources in the society leading to countless troubles. This way whole society faces the consequence of the sin committed by individuals. In the daily life, we can find many examples which reveal how the extravagant mode of life of an individual creates crisis in the society.
We can analyze the issue of transportation. In today’s world, the stupendous discoveries of modern science and technology have turned this vast world into a village. The newly invented transport systems have shortened the distances into nearness. In the past, it would take months for man to travel from one place to others or send messages. But today, such distances are travelled in hours, rather in minutes. In spite of all this, the other side of the picture is very alarming. In the metro cities, a distance of some walks can be travelled in hours and no time can be determined for reaching the destination. The jumble of the small and big vehicles parked on the road makes the traffic system collapse. As the result, the normal life gets affected on one hand. On the other, the patients in crucial condition do not find first medical aid and depart from this world of crowd to the abode of peace and calmness. In the big cities, if you go anywhere through cycles, whether it is narrow drains or residential area, and you want to park it for a while, you will have to ponder over finding the right place. You cannot easily find any place to park. When you succeed to find it, it will be even more difficult to take it out after completion of your work, because in this while, there would have surely been parked many cycles, motor and carriages.
What is the real cause of this problem in the advanced age? The rich people, who generally travel by luxurious cars, declare its main cause the poor who support their family by pulling rickshaws. Some people consider the government and administration it’s responsible. Apart from all these causes, there is of course one more thing which creates such problems; and it is the big and luxurious cars of the rich people whose faster pace and swift movement provide a means of satisfaction for desires of their owners. The rich people take it necessary for their lives to have a four wheeler, even though their need can be fulfilled only by a two wheeler, because it showcases their desires and wealth. Some wealthy people own the vehicles in numbers which surpasses even the numbers of the family members. Such people justify their act of extravagance by the false excuse of needs, and sometimes by saying that “The life is too short, let’s have fun, after all, we do not have to take this wealth to the grave.” But they never bother to ponder that on which road these vehicles will run and where will they park them? To fulfill their desires, they just spend off their wealth, but no one knows the sigh and groaning of how many people their laughter suppresses. In this regard, if people pay attention only to their needs and use their private cars only on the time of necessity, the issue of traffic will somehow, get solved.
The second issue is that of electronic energy. In the journey of life, the man is in dire need of light and many things else of course. To tackle the darkness of night, he has been inventing many ways of lightening. In the ancient ages, people began with creating fire with flint and then kept on taking initiatives gradually in this regard. At last, they found the secret of lightening with electronic energy. In today’s world, the electronic power has become parts and parcels f human life.
It is however unfortunate that people are too careless and extravagant in using the electronic energy. In consequence, there are some places where there is lavish lightening with attractive bulbs, while the lamps of the poor are empty from fuel. The extravagant and unnecessary usage of electricity in the governmental and non-government offices is well known to those how occasionally visit these places. The officials do not even think about the electricity bills, because they do not have to pay that. The condition of the well off people is also not different from it. They, however, do not forget to switch off all the bulbs and fans while outing. But even they cannot escape the least degree of extravagance by using many bulbs where only one can suffice. This way, they can satisfy their desires for a while, but it results into shortage of the energy and leaves many parts of the country dark. The people of these areas spend their nights in darkness. No one is there to take care of them. If the extravagant rich people bother to ponder over this point for a while, they would not only save their hard-earned money, but also they can save many people from facing the difficulties of darkness.
One of the biggest problems posed by extravagance can be observed on marriage occasions by hurting the neighbors. In today’s world, people spend lavishly on music, dance and other entertainments. If this money is spent on the poor children of the nation, they can find their field where they can realize their dreams by utilizing the innate capability they have. There are many innocent children who, despite of having natural abilities, fail to achieve the high goal which they actually deserve, only due to lack of resources.
This extravagance also discharges its negative impact by snatching the sleep from the eyes of the laborers who want sleep after working hard the whole day long. There are many students who need loneliness and peaceful environment for their study in night, but they do not find it due to loud voices. There are many patients who need peace, but cannot find due to noise. These well off people do not have anything to do with it. They only think about fulfilling their desires, no matter what the society has to pay for it.
These were some negative impacts which the extravagance of individuals casts on the society. If we think deeply, we find that wherever extravagance is committed, it surely casts some bad impact or the other on the society. In short, the extravagance of individual directly affects the society. This is the reason why the Holy Qur’an says: “Give the relative his rights and the needy and the wayfarer. And do not squander recklessly. Surely, squanderers are brothers of satans and the satan is very ungrateful to his Lord. (Bani Isreal: 27, 28”
 - Today, I am introducing a person;
- Who graduated from Darul Uloom Deoband in 1952,
- Who is the first to computerize the Ahadeeth in Arabic language,
- Who got his PhD from the Cambridge University in Ahadeeth,
- Who got the King Faisal International Award for his services to Ahadeeth,
- Who wrote many books in Arabic and English to reply the objections raised by different Orientalists on the compilation of Qur'an and Hadeeth,
- Who is known as a reliable personality of Ahadeeth in the world at present,
- Who got Saudi nationality in 1981,
- After whose research and classification many famous books of Ahadeeth had been published,
- Who has neither forgotten his country nor his birth place nor his institution in spite of getting so much success in his field,
- Whose several books are the part of syllabus of different universities in Arab and European countries,
- The name of this great personality is Dr. Mohammad Mustafa Azmi Qasmi.
Mohammad Najeeb Qasmi, Riyadh
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 Written by Mohammad Najeeb Qasmi
Translated into English by Nehal Anwar Qasmi
Maulana Muhammad Zakaria (R.A.), known as Sheikul Hadeeth (great scholar of Hadith) was born in a highly educated family, in Kandhla, Muzaffar Nagar, UP (India) on 10th Ramadan 1315A.H (12th February 1898 A.D). His father’s name was Muhammad Yahya, who was one of the prominent teachers of Hadeeth in Mazahirul Uloom, Saharanpur (India) a well known and prominent Islamic seminary. His uncle Sheik Muhammad Ilyas was a graduate of Darul Uloom Deoband, who laid the foundation of Tablighi Jama’ah, a missionary movement that came in to existence with the purpose of religious reforms in Islamic Ummah, extending across the globe within a short span of time due to sincerity, righteousness and complete dedication of its founder.
Maulana’s cousin Sheik Muhammad Yousuf, son of Sheik Muhammad Ilyas, is the author of the book "Hayatus Sahabah" that has been translated into various languages and published in several countries.
In short, the family of Maulana Mohammad Zkaria is deemed to be highly educated family and has the honor of contributing over hundred books in both Arabic and Urdu. But the obvious evidence of their sincerity is that all those books do not have copy right reserved for the family. Thus we see many publishers of the world, in particular publishers from Lebanon, are freely publishing their Arabic books. Now these books are so popular that one can easily purchase most of these books from almost every big book store of Saudi Arabia.
Sheik Zkaria got admitted to Mazahirul Uloom Saharanpur which was established 6 months after the establishment of Darul Uloom Deoband and now secures the important position in the top Islamic Madarsas' list in the Indian subcontinent.When he was 12 years old, he received his early education from his father and uncle and later studied Hadeeth under Maulana Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri.
When Sheik reached 20 years of age, his father died and Mazahirul Uloom management appointed him as a teacher. In 1341A.H, 6 years later, Sheik Khalil Ahmad, who was his Hadeeth mentor persuaded him to become the teacher of Hadeeth and start teaching Bukhari Sharif, which is the most authentic book of Hadeeth. Only men with extensive knowledge of Hadeeth are permitted to teach. In 1345A.H he moved to the city of the Prophet (PBUH) Al-Medina Al-Munawwarah and was appointed as a teacher of Hadeeth in Madarsa Al Uloomush Shariah where he taught Abu Da’ood for 1 year. This Madarsa still exists and is run by the son of Saiyed Habib Madani. During his stay in Medina he started writing the famous book Aujazul Masaalik while he was 29 years old. One year later in 1346 he came back to Mazahirul Uloom and continued teaching Saheeh Al-Bukhari and Sunan Abu Da’ood for 42 years. However, Sheikh Zkaria (R.H) spent over 50 years teaching and writing books of Ahadeeth that helped thousands of students across the world to quench their thirst for the knowledge of Hadeeth.
The Sheik made several visits to Makkah and Medina to perform Hajj. In 1345A.H when he was in Medina accompanied by his teacher Sheik Khalil Ahmad, his teacher died and was buried in Jannatul Baqee' besides the graves of the Prophet’s family (Ahl-e-Bait) where the burial is prohibited now. Maulana Zkaria too aspired to have the privilege of dying in the city of Medina and it was fulfilled. He too died in Medina on 1stShaban 1402A.H (24th May 1982A.D) and was buried in the same graveyard besides his teacher on the recommendation of the then assistant governor of al-Medinaal-Munawwarah Saiyed HabeebMadani’s nephew. A large number of people including all Imams of Masjid-e-Nabawi attended the funeral.
It is reported by Abdullah bin Umar (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said “The one who has the means, must migrate to Medina and die here because I am supposed to intercede those who die here”. (Tirmizi)
Sheik Zkaria was awarded Saudi nationality in the last stage of his life and travelled to South Africa and India with his Saudi passport. His disciple Sheik Abdul Hafeez Abdul Haque Makki has also got the Saudi nationality who migrated to Makkah in 1952 along with his family. Now he owns the Imdadiyah book store which focuses mainly on publishing Arabic books of Indian and Pakistani authors.
Sheik has written over 100 books in Urdu and Arabic. Below is the brief introduction of his few books;
Aujazul Masalik(أوجز المسالك إلى مؤطا مالك): A book in Arabic comprising 18 volumes. It is a commentary of Mu’atta Imam Malik. It took him almost 29 years to complete this voluminous book which he had started during his stay in Medina when he was 29 years old. This book achieved so much popularity that various publishing houses of Lebanon and Saudi Arabia have sold out thousands of copies so far. Scholars of almost all the sects in particular Malikis hold it in high regard and study it to acquire knowledge of complicated and minor issues.
Al Abwab Wattarajim Lil Bukhari (الأبواب والتراجم للبخاري): This book deals with the chapters of Jami' Al-Bukhari. The chapters of Jami' Al Bukhari is one of the complicated riddles that requires extensive knowledge for the scholars of Hadeeth to solve. In this book he gathered all the explanations to the chapters given by Shah Waliullah Dehlawi and Ibn e Hajr Asqalani along with his own scholarly opinions and views.
Lami' Uddarari(لامع الدراري): Basically this book is the modified Arabic collection of Bukhari’s lessons given by Sheik Rashid Ahmad Gangohi which his father Sheik Muhammad Yahya has scribbled down in Urdu. It is the result of 10 years long relentless efforts that the Sheik was able to author this book.
Bazlul Majhood Fi Halle Abu Da’ood (بذل المجهود في حل أبي داود): This book actually was written by Sheik Khalil Ahmad. But for some reasons he could not complete. So Sheik Zkaria undertook the responsibility of completing the rest. It is believed that he spent more time than his teacher to complete this book.
Al Kaukabuddurri Ala Jami'At tirmizi(الكوكب الدري على جامع الترمذي): This book is also a collection of Jami Tirmizi’s lessons given by Sheik Rashid Ahmad Gangohi. Maulana Zkaria translated those lessons into Arabic, adding his own remarks to the book.
Juz’o Hajjatil Wida Wa Umratin Nabi (جزء حجة الوداع وعمرات النبي): This book offers elaborate account of Prophet’s Hajj and Umrah. It also mentions the various issues related to Hajj and Umrah and present names of the places where the Prophet (PBUH) stayed or passed by during Hajj and Umrah.
Khasa’il Nabawi Sharah Shama’il Tirmizi(الخصائل النبوي شرح شمائل الترمذي): In fact this book is the detailed review of the book Ashshama’il Al Muhammadiyah written by Imam Tirmizi which has been translated into English also.
As mentioned above, Sheik Zkaria wrote over hundred books both in Arabic and Urdu. This short article doesn’t have enough space to list them all. That is why I will prefer to name a few of them.
Sheik’s some other Arabic Books:
وجوب إعفاء اللحية، أصول الحديث علی مذهب الحنفية، أوليات القيامة، تبويب أحكام القرآن للجصاص، تبويب تأويل مختلف الأحاديث لابن قتيبة، تبويب مشکل الآثار للطحاوی، تقرير المشکاۃ مع تعليقاته، تقرير النسائی، تلخيص البذل، جامع الروايات والأجزاء، جزء اختلاف الصلاة، جزء الأعمال بالنيات، جزء أفضل الأعمال، جزء أمراء المدينة، جزء أنكحته صلى الله عليه وسلم، جزء تخريج حديث عائشة فی قصة بريرة، جزء الجهاد جزء رفع الیدین، جزء طرق المدینة، جزء المبهمات فی الأسانيد والروایات، جزء ما قال المحدثون فی الإمام الأعظم، جزء مکفرات الذنوب، جزء ملتقط المرقاة، جزء ملتقط الرواة عن المرقات، حواشي على الهداية، شرح سلم العلوم ، الوقائع والدهور.
Sheik’s some Urdu Books:
الاعتدال فی مراتب الرجال، آپ بیتی (۷ جلدیں)، اسباب اختلاف الائمہ، التاریخ الکبیر، سیرت صدیق ؓ ، نظام مظاہر العلوم (دستور)، تاریخ مظاہر العلوم، شرح الالفےۃ (تین جلدیں) ، اکابر کا تقویٰ، اکابر کا رمضان، اکابر علماء دیوبند، شریعت وطریقت کا تلازم (اس کا عربی زبان میں ترجمہ مصر سے شائع ہوچکا ہے) ، موت کی یاد، فضائل زبان عربی، فضائل تجارت، اور فضائل پر مشتمل ۹ کتابوں کامجموعہ فضائل اعمال ۔
Note:
This article is a brief introduction of Sheik Muhammad Zkaria and the contributions made by him in the field of Hadeeth. For further details I recommend the readers to study Maulana Sayed Abul Hasan Nadawi’s book Tazkirah Sheikul Hadeeth Maulana Muhammad Zkaria.
Hifzur Rahman Qasmi
Markazul Ma'arif, Delhi
{hifzurrahman297@gmail.com}
There is no inherent antagonism between the natural and religious, material and spiritual sides of human nature. All are deeply integrated with each other in a true proportion, because, natural and religious, material and spiritual aspects of human life originate from one Supreme Creative Power.
From the view point of religious perception, the sole purpose of human life is to achieve human perfection in this world that comes through God-consciousness and following this in precept and example, results in the ultimate outcome of eternal peace of paradise in the hereafter.
To attain this supreme goal of life, man is not compelled to renounce the world, and no austerities are required to open the secret door of spiritual purification. No pressure is exerted upon man to completely ignore the human needs and natural demands in order to reach God-consciousness. If it were so, then the creation of matter and putting the elements of natural needs in human being would be meaningless - rather cruelty, because it implies that man is compelled to do what is not within the ken of his God-given power.
This is the reason why Islam provides us a natural way of life imbued with all material and religious, natural and spiritual aspects. Materially, Islam urges its followers to earn money as much as possible, and from the spiritual perspective, it wants them to spend 2.5% of their earnings on the needy poor persons on an annual basis. It provides man with the opportunity to fulfill his natural call and desires. On the other hand, he is supposed to fulfill his desires within the circle prescribed by the last and final prophet Mohammad (saws), lest they should cross the spiritual limits. In short, the co-ordination of nature and spirit is reflected in every aspect of Islamic teachings.
Contrary to the teaching of Islam which give due weight age to man’s material and physical needs, the present day Christianity, though claiming to be of divine origin, seems not to believe in the combination of nature and religion. It does not allow for its religious authorities to marry or fulfill their sexual needs through a lawful and civilized way assuming that it is an obstacle in the way of spiritual gain. Is that a divine idea? “Surely not” must be the answer! Why? Because, if it were prohibited, Prophet Abraham and Moses (pbuh) would not have married, and would not have had children. But they were married and so were so many other prophets except a few such as Jesus whom Christians follow. They take Jesus’s exception to be the common norm for people.
If they are asked “Do you believe in the Bible?” They wholeheartedly agree.
Now let us show them an example from the Bible itself. These lines from the Bible show Jesus himself confirms the validity of the Judaic law:
“Think not I am come to destroy the law and the prophets, I am not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
If the matter of marriage were an exception, Jesus (pbuh) must have clarified it, but the verse is silent in this regard. The matter of fact is that this merely a man-made idea. Moreover they were much more careful, spiritual self-controlling people than their later adherents who are charged with the duty of baptizing others for their salvation as Christians. Yet those prophets who exemplified the very acme of human creation fulfilled their material and spiritual needs to the fullest degree. If they did not do so how could they exhort others to follow their example? They married and had children and a family.
To follow a way that is contrary to their preaching and practice and yet to claim that we are the prophets’ true followers is not acceptable.
However, the Christian community prohibited their priests and nuns from marriage which resulted in a terrible outcome. This practice of celibacy was a later addition to the teachings of Jesus and nowhere had he prescribed that they do so.
Sex is embedded in human nature and constitution. How much can one suppress it? It is a natural element. It must be fulfilled either in a lawful and civilized way, i.e. marriage or in an unlawful and animal way, i.e. adultery and whoredom. Thus the priests are forced on account of his vows of celibacy to resort to unnatural means to fulfill their sexual proclivities.
It might be recalled that the church in America had to pay a compensation of over a billion dollars to youngsters and their parents who were sexually abused as children by the priests. They also had to apologies for their deeds. What does this show? This shows that natural tendencies cannot be dammed up. They will find a way out, naturally or unnaturally. The real solution is to allow priests and nuns to marry so that such aberrations are kept under check..
The details that I am giving are not out of prejudice but to show up a true mirror to those of our community as well as to others so that they see the light and reform themselves. It was hidden from public view the goings on in churches, parishes and confession boxes, but a series of reports have revealed the ugly side of Christianity. One can read many a time in news papers the sex scandals going on in the churches.
The deviant sexual behavaviour with the boys and nuns by the priests of the Roman Catholic Church is on expected lines because human nature finds natural and unnatural ways of expressing itself. If natural means for giving vent to one’s sexuality are not available, anyone, let alone priests, try to find unnatural ways of expressing their sexual urges. But the sad part of the story is that is all avoidable, if only priests were given the option of marrying while ministering to the faithful.
Recently in February 2009 sister Jesme (52) a former nun of Kerala, has exposed the unholy environment within the so-called sacred precincts of the church. Sister Jesme, who holds a doctorate in English from Calicut University, could not help suppressing the call of her conscience and wrote her autobiography “Amen”, which is a detailed account of the sexual perversions of the priests, held in high regard by the laity for their religious knowledge.
The underling thesis of the book is that Christian institutes built on celibacy are teeming with homosexual and heterosexual proclivities. In the book she claims to be harassed sexually by priests. Her description in the state’s nunneries has created a sensation. Some people are decrying her move to expose the wsron-doing in the Church. Others are supporting here wholeheartedly and calling for an urgent cleaning up of the system of appointing and retaining priests.
She thinks by exposing what goes on inside the convents, she has performed her duty towards the society. This is not enough but it is a beginning. In one incident she narrates her own experience with a lesbian nun who forcibly slept with her. She could not do anything to complain because it was same-sex problem. But more surprising incidents were in store for her.
She also describes that a priest, she looked up to with respect, put off his all the clothes, stark naked before her and compelled her to do so, and at last masturbated in front of her in his presbytery in Bangalore.
She is of the opinion that what happens outside can also take place in convents. They are not spiritual enough to refrain themselves from evil. They are affluent. Affluence brings power. And when one wields power, one is exposed to worldly pleasures which include sex.
This is the real face of the churches and convents which are supposed to promote only spiritual feelings and gain pleasure of God Almighty. They have nothing to do with matter and worldly gain. Sister Jesme’s book is not the only event in this regard, but this is the latest in a long series of scandals afflicting the catholic churches in Kerala and elsewhere.
Apart from that, on February 11, 2009, Sister Josephine, a nun in the Daughters of Mary congregation in Thiruvananthapuram, was found dead. People alleged that she committed suicide due to sexual harassment.
On November, 19, 2008, two priests and a nun were arrested by CBI on the charge of killing a 21-year-old nun, sister Abhaya 16 years ago. She was found dead inside a well in the Pius Tenth Convent in Kottayam.
On August 11, 2008 Sister Anoopa Mary, 21, was found dead in her room in convent in Kollam. Her father, an employee at the Kollam Bishop’s House, alleged that she was sexually abused by her superiors.
Interestingly, the church still considers these terrible events trivial. Perhaps the priests have forgotten the sole purpose of the church. Therefore, they do not take these events into consideration. It may be that despite the storm of scandals engulfing the seminaries in India and abroad, the priests and the bishops fail to acknowledge the fact that if they make allowance for nature by giving permission to priests to marry, most of such sexual aberrations would be nipped in the bud. This is the reason that other religions such as Islam and Hinduism do not have so many scandals because they allow their clergy to marry.
In short, God has embedded some natural facts in the essence of human beings. They must not be denied. Natural inclinations and moral corruption may overwhelm the most stoic person if we deny the animal side of human nature. And man, instead of attaining spiritual perfection and God-consciousness becomes a toy in the hands of Satan, and consequently falls from the pinnacle of moral decency and human value systems under the beck and call of wolves howling at the door.
There is no inherent antagonism between the natural and religious, material and spiritual sides of human nature. All are deeply integrated with each other in a true proportion, because, natural and religious, material and spiritual aspects of human life originate from one Supreme Creative Power.
From the view point of religious perception, the sole purpose of human life is to achieve human perfection in this world that comes through God-consciousness and following this in precept and example, results in the ultimate outcome of eternal peace of paradise in the hereafter.
To attain this supreme goal of life, man is not compelled to renounce the world, and no austerities are required to open the secret door of spiritual purification. No pressure is exerted upon man to completely ignore the human needs and natural demands in order to reach God-consciousness. If it were so, then the creation of matter and putting the elements of natural needs in human being would be meaningless - rather cruelty, because it implies that man is compelled to do what is not within the ken of his God-given power.
This is the reason why Islam provides us a natural way of life imbued with all material and religious, natural and spiritual aspects. Materially, Islam urges its followers to earn money as much as possible, and from the spiritual perspective, it wants them to spend 2.5% of their earnings on the needy poor persons on an annual basis. It provides man with the opportunity to fulfill his natural call and desires. On the other hand, he is supposed to fulfill his desires within the circle prescribed by the last and final prophet Mohammad (saws), lest they should cross the spiritual limits. In short, the co-ordination of nature and spirit is reflected in every aspect of Islamic teachings.
Contrary to the teaching of Islam which give due weight age to man’s material and physical needs, the present day Christianity, though claiming to be of divine origin, seems not to believe in the combination of nature and religion. It does not allow for its religious authorities to marry or fulfill their sexual needs through a lawful and civilized way assuming that it is an obstacle in the way of spiritual gain. Is that a divine idea? “Surely not” must be the answer! Why? Because, if it were prohibited, Prophet Abraham and Moses (pbuh) would not have married, and would not have had children. But they were married and so were so many other prophets except a few such as Jesus whom Christians follow. They take Jesus’s exception to be the common norm for people.
If they are asked “Do you believe in the Bible?” They wholeheartedly agree.
Now let us show them an example from the Bible itself. These lines from the Bible show Jesus himself confirms the validity of the Judaic law:
“Think not I am come to destroy the law and the prophets, I am not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
If the matter of marriage were an exception, Jesus (pbuh) must have clarified it, but the verse is silent in this regard. The matter of fact is that this merely a man-made idea. Moreover they were much more careful, spiritual self-controlling people than their later adherents who are charged with the duty of baptizing others for their salvation as Christians. Yet those prophets who exemplified the very acme of human creation fulfilled their material and spiritual needs to the fullest degree. If they did not do so how could they exhort others to follow their example? They married and had children and a family.
To follow a way that is contrary to their preaching and practice and yet to claim that we are the prophets’ true followers is not acceptable.
However, the Christian community prohibited their priests and nuns from marriage which resulted in a terrible outcome. This practice of celibacy was a later addition to the teachings of Jesus and nowhere had he prescribed that they do so.
Sex is embedded in human nature and constitution. How much can one suppress it? It is a natural element. It must be fulfilled either in a lawful and civilized way, i.e. marriage or in an unlawful and animal way, i.e. adultery and whoredom. Thus the priests are forced on account of his vows of celibacy to resort to unnatural means to fulfill their sexual proclivities.
It might be recalled that the church in America had to pay a compensation of over a billion dollars to youngsters and their parents who were sexually abused as children by the priests. They also had to apologies for their deeds. What does this show? This shows that natural tendencies cannot be dammed up. They will find a way out, naturally or unnaturally. The real solution is to allow priests and nuns to marry so that such aberrations are kept under check..
The details that I am giving are not out of prejudice but to show up a true mirror to those of our community as well as to others so that they see the light and reform themselves. It was hidden from public view the goings on in churches, parishes and confession boxes, but a series of reports have revealed the ugly side of Christianity. One can read many a time in news papers the sex scandals going on in the churches.
The deviant sexual behavaviour with the boys and nuns by the priests of the Roman Catholic Church is on expected lines because human nature finds natural and unnatural ways of expressing itself. If natural means for giving vent to one’s sexuality are not available, anyone, let alone priests, try to find unnatural ways of expressing their sexual urges. But the sad part of the story is that is all avoidable, if only priests were given the option of marrying while ministering to the faithful.
Recently in February 2009 sister Jesme (52) a former nun of Kerala, has exposed the unholy environment within the so-called sacred precincts of the church. Sister Jesme, who holds a doctorate in English from Calicut University, could not help suppressing the call of her conscience and wrote her autobiography “Amen”, which is a detailed account of the sexual perversions of the priests, held in high regard by the laity for their religious knowledge.
The underling thesis of the book is that Christian institutes built on celibacy are teeming with homosexual and heterosexual proclivities. In the book she claims to be harassed sexually by priests. Her description in the state’s nunneries has created a sensation. Some people are decrying her move to expose the wsron-doing in the Church. Others are supporting here wholeheartedly and calling for an urgent cleaning up of the system of appointing and retaining priests.
She thinks by exposing what goes on inside the convents, she has performed her duty towards the society. This is not enough but it is a beginning. In one incident she narrates her own experience with a lesbian nun who forcibly slept with her. She could not do anything to complain because it was same-sex problem. But more surprising incidents were in store for her.
She also describes that a priest, she looked up to with respect, put off his all the clothes, stark naked before her and compelled her to do so, and at last masturbated in front of her in his presbytery in Bangalore.
She is of the opinion that what happens outside can also take place in convents. They are not spiritual enough to refrain themselves from evil. They are affluent. Affluence brings power. And when one wields power, one is exposed to worldly pleasures which include sex.
This is the real face of the churches and convents which are supposed to promote only spiritual feelings and gain pleasure of God Almighty. They have nothing to do with matter and worldly gain. Sister Jesme’s book is not the only event in this regard, but this is the latest in a long series of scandals afflicting the catholic churches in Kerala and elsewhere.
Apart from that, on February 11, 2009, Sister Josephine, a nun in the Daughters of Mary congregation in Thiruvananthapuram, was found dead. People alleged that she committed suicide due to sexual harassment.
On November, 19, 2008, two priests and a nun were arrested by CBI on the charge of killing a 21-year-old nun, sister Abhaya 16 years ago. She was found dead inside a well in the Pius Tenth Convent in Kottayam.
On August 11, 2008 Sister Anoopa Mary, 21, was found dead in her room in convent in Kollam. Her father, an employee at the Kollam Bishop’s House, alleged that she was sexually abused by her superiors.
Interestingly, the church still considers these terrible events trivial. Perhaps the priests have forgotten the sole purpose of the church. Therefore, they do not take these events into consideration. It may be that despite the storm of scandals engulfing the seminaries in India and abroad, the priests and the bishops fail to acknowledge the fact that if they make allowance for nature by giving permission to priests to marry, most of such sexual aberrations would be nipped in the bud. This is the reason that other religions such as Islam and Hinduism do not have so many scandals because they allow their clergy to marry.
In short, God has embedded some natural facts in the essence of human beings. They must not be denied. Natural inclinations and moral corruption may overwhelm the most stoic person if we deny the animal side of human nature. And man, instead of attaining spiritual perfection and God-consciousness becomes a toy in the hands of Satan, and consequently falls from the pinnacle of moral decency and human value systems under the beck and call of wolves howling at the door.
 By: Masood Azizi Nadvi Translation: Hifzur Rahman Qasmi, Delhi
"Palestine", the Western south part of Syria is located on the shore of the middle white sea in the Western part of Asian continent joining it with the continent of Africa. The earth of Palestinian is one of the oldest civilized areas. According to new discoveries, residents of this very area reached the destination of agricultural strength nine thousand years B. C. which was first ever achievement of the human history. "Ariha" the oldest city of the world was habilitated eight thousand years B. C. on this very soil. Of late, Palestine is the abode of multiple cultures and civilizations. But nowadays, its real citizens are facing much trouble by the hands of the Jews and Israelites. They are really surrounded by difficulties and tests.
Palestine is a holy place. It is the first Qiblah (direction in which Muslims turn for prayers) and third of the holy mosques. The holy Qur'an mentions the sentence "Barakna" (We blessed it) for the holy city of Quds. The event of Isra is also related to this very place. The soil of this earth has been the abode of prophets and religious personalities. The earth of Palestine got more colored by the blood of martyrs than any other Muslim dominant area. On one hand all these facts are accepted, while on the other, it is a tragedy that now this holy place is surrounded by enemies.
The present scenario of Palestine makes it amply clear that the defensive power of Muslims is very less than that of enemies both spiritually and materially. Therefore, Muslims all over the world, in general and those of Palestine in particular, can not overcome the dangers which they face, unless they get united among themselves. Thus it is necessary for them to stand in front of enemies like one being.
United we can be like the shining sun.
Otherwise the scattered stars are good for nothing.
In 636 CE, Muslims came over the city of Quds and since then they had been saving its holiness. But in 1099 CE, the Christians encroached upon the city devastating all its sanctity. However, after a long wilderness and horror, it came again to its real protector by a man of Kurd family, Salahuddin Ayyubi in 1187 CE. It continued as such. The enemies of Islam kept on conspiring. Tudar Herzel put forth the plan of Jew abode for the first time in 1897 CE. At last on 15th May, 1948, Israel was established. Thus after 750 years, the united conspiracy of Jews and Christians and the weakness of Muslims resulted into the loss Palestine from our hands. Then in June, 1967, they encroached upon the Mosque of Aqsa. This is a grim story. It is 42 years since the Masjid-e-Aqsa was trespassed. Despite of all weakness and negligence, Muslims are trying to free it.
Of late, it is necessary to create awareness among Muslims in general and among students of religious education to know about the history of this event and the cause of fall and rise, so that, they can try to find out a solution to the problem of Palestine. For this reason, programmes are held in the world and articles and magazines are published so as to tell Muslims about the 42 years of encroaching and their responsibilities to regain it.
Actually, Palestine is not only a problem of Palestinian Muslims; rather it is the problem of all Muslims living in any corner of the world. And Muslims bear a religious relationship to it. So it is not suitable at all for a Muslim to be unaware and negligent of its problems. It is one of the most sensitive cases of the time. The responsibility to solve it goes to all Muslim countries and all Muslim individuals. Presently Muslims are sunken in the negligence. When they will awake and a Salahuddin Ayyubi will come into being, the victory will kiss their feet. The enemies of Islam who have trespassed this soil with bad intention will suffer defeat.
"Palestine is in fact the abode of Jews", is their argument to establish the Israeli state in Palestine. There lies a story in the background of this argumentation: After the death of the Prophet Moses (pbuh), the sons of Israel went to Palestine and in a state of unsurety they established a state there by the name of "Israel". Then vicissitude of fortune resulted them into a perpetual exile from their own established abode. This argument, however, is totally illogical, because most of the Christians and Arab historians have already accepted the fact that the Arabs had resided there even before the Jews. Apart from that, if the stability of all Muslims, Jews and the Christians in Palestine through out the ages is reviewed, it becomes quite clear that the Muslims and particular Arab Muslims have more right over the reign.
Turning eyes from these facts, let's accept the existence of Jews in Palestine and establishment of a state by the name of Israel before 6th century BC, and it the Promised Land. Thus the Jews have right to cast the Palestinian Muslims and reside themselves. If this logic is accepted, Britain, the creator of Israel must vacate the England for its real residents the Sail. And also Americans will have to vacate America for its old residents, the Red Indians- because they have snatched the nation after killing eight crore Red Indians. This is not enough, but the Japanese too will have to vacate Japan for its real inhabitants. Thus the whole map of the new world will have to change. Span also must be emptied for the Arabs. If this cannot be done, then the only solution to the problems of the Middle East is that Israel should be dissolved and Palestine should be returned to its real residents the Arabs.
History has proved that the base of the tragedy of Palestine was the Arab rebellion against Turks brought out by the greatest creator of Israel. The Balfour Manifesto proposed in 1917 was first step towards Israel and it is the base of the crisis of the Middle East. But now we will analyze that when this manifesto was proposed, what was the position of Ottoman caliphate? What role was played by the Arabs in it? It is said very sorrowfully that the real creator of this crisis was none but the Arab leadership.
The Christian power had been conspiring to finish the Ottoman caliphate since centuries. Long before the 1st world war, the Europe had announced the war against the Turks, which was led by the Britain. A rebellion was created against Turks in the united Balkan, Bulgaria, Serbia and Greece. From 1904 to 1940, most parts of the Europe had got out of the hands of the Turks. In these circumstances, the hue-man's services of Turks, the hegemony of Islam by the virtue of Ottomans, the pride of Turkish Caliphs for dedicating themselves to the Haramain and their determination to confront the European countries with so bravery required that the whole Arabian country must have stood unitedly in favor of the Turks. But woe to communal prejudice and greed for kingdom which compelled the Arabian leader Shareef of Makka not only to avoid the favour of Turks but also to create a rebellion against them. He conspired to finish the Ottoman Caliphate and invited the Britain allies to finish Turks. His all three sons had been working as ambassadors between him and the Britain from 1915 till 1917.
Lawrence of Arabia, a British army employee was a detective of Britain and exposed himself as a friend of the Arabs. Not only he would detect the activities of Arabia but also he would convince the Arabian leadership to take decision according to the will of Britain. Shareef of Makka was convinced that after the fall of the Turks, he would be provided a liberal state of Arabia. Thus the Arabian leadership came against the Turks openly. At last the Britain occupied Palestine some days before the Balfour Manifesto and the Turks were compelled to get out of it on December 8, 1917. Thus if the Balfour Manifesto is the base of Israeli state, then the wrong Arab leadership must be the real cause of Balfour Manifesto. The sorrowful aspect of this Arab-European relationship is that the dream of a liberate state which had been showed to Shareef of Makkah could never come true. This is such a historical fault of the Arabian leadership which the history will never forgive. The Palestine issue will remain unsolvable as long as the leadership of Arabia will be a toy in hands of people like Shareef of Makkah.
The reviews and analysis show that the state of Israel is getting hollow from inside. And it is not improbable. Its cruelty and aggression is crossing the limits. Therefore, Allah Almighty, according to His rule, is bringing it to fall slowly but surely.
It is not hidden from the eyes of intellectuals that only the Holy War, sincere resistance and brave struggle can make our dream to set Palestine free, re-attain the Masjidul Aqsa and the city of Quds and rehabilitate the Palestinians peacefully in the their real abode. Except it, every way goes to the deep valley from where there is no way out. This is such a fact that is explicitly proved not only by historical experiences of Muslims, Jews and Christians, but also by the review of the Palestine issue from the beginning to the end.
Therefore, the solution to the problems of Palestine lies only in the above mentioned agenda and the true Islamic code of life, because Allah Almighty says in the Holy Qur'an "Only you will be exalted, if you have faith." Then what may be the reason of this failure after so long struggle? The reason is quite clear that Muslims are quite empty handed from the Faith which is required for success. As for the Muslim rulers, they too, do not have the required weapon of faith.
Does Muslims and the Muslim governments lack in material things and weapons? Or do they not have intellectual minds? Of course not! What we really lack is strong faith and trust in Allah. We came to believe in America, its material power and our own so called prudence. It is a historical fact that Allah Almighty made the Companions of the Prophet (pbuh) who were far fewer in number overcome the unbelievers who greatly exceeded them in number and material resources. Where has the sense of honour of so many Muslims been lost now?
To solve the problem, political power, continuous struggle, unity and sacrifice, every thing is necessary. But the key factor is the power of faith and conviction. This is the age of test for Muslims in which they are failing. If they pass this exam, then no power of the world can point fingers to them, and not only Palestine but every problem of Muslims will get solved.
 Hifzur Rahman Qasmi
{hifzurrahman297@gmail.com}
Human is referred to as “social animal” in the modern sociology. It clearly reflect the notion that human in fact, is an animal with the only extra characteristic of ‘social nature’ which distinguishes him from other animal species. Irrespective of the reality and meaning of this explanation of human, we come to the thought that the sociology has acknowledged the human an animal. With sharp contrast to this term, Islam has called him ‘the best and noblest of all creatures’. This descriptive difference makes it abundantly clear that Islam holds him in high regards.
Absolutely natural is the idea that the greater the thing, the more significantly it is safeguarded. Thus, Islam has articulated much concern and has, therefore, made brilliant principles to protect the life, wealth and honor of human. To save his life, the Qur’an has presented the maxim of Qisas (Equal Retaliation). (Al-Baqarah: 179) Implementation of this principle makes the safety of life sure. The Qur’anic precept for protection of wealth is “hand cutting” (Al-Maidah: 39) and the countries having it as a part of their penal code are less faced with thievery. The honor and chastity of human being hold paramount import in the eyes of Islam. It, therefore, introduced many effective principles along with developing some valuable strategies for protection. If these principles and strategies are employed, the honor of human is sure to be protected.
After the brutal incident of gang rape in Delhi, the whole nation is demanding capital punishment for the culprits in one breathe. But, had the punishment for this vicious crime proposed by Islam been made a part of the Indian Penal Code, the daughters of the Innocent Marry would not have to wander across the streets of India Gate and the Parliament seeking sure protection for their chastity. The women’s chastity is so a great asset in the eyes of Islam that it does not only issues penalty for the adulterers (stoning to death, if the adulterer is married, and hundred lashes if he/she is single.) but also it considers the allegation of adultery a criminal act and gives punishment for that. (Eighty lashes, if the claimant fails to give sufficient evidence.)
It is well to note here that Islam, against the contemporary blasphemous notion, regard the extra marital coition occurred with mutual unanimity of man and woman too as a heinous sin. Thus, both are liable to be penalized. The reason is that both have broken the moral system which was necessary for survival of the pure social system and prevention of strife. In addition to that, the adultery (committed with mutual consent) makes path for forcible rape.
In short, apart from legalizing these punishments, Islam has also foregrounded some helpful strategies to protect the honor and chastity of the nice gender. But unfortunately, the whole nation is facing unbearable trouble due this menace, but does not even take into consideration the natural strategies to prevent it. Yet, the men of insight are in full agreement with the claim that the society can be purified from this menace, if these strategies are put in practice. Following is the brief sketch of them.
Adultery, a heinous crime: To safeguard the women’s chastity, it is necessary, at first to know the heinousness of adultery. The Holy Qur’an, therefore, described it as an ‘evil act’. And then it commanded man to abstain from it in many verses. While describing the adultery, the Holy Qur’an uses the word ‘Fahisha’ which literally means ‘to cross the limits’. Thus, the adultery means to cross the limits ordained by Allah in the sexual matters. It is known to everybody how great a crime it is to infiltrate the prohibited area crossing the limits. Allah Almighty, therefore, has given the good news of Paradise to those respecting His limits, and also has warned of the Hell to those violating them. (Nisa: 4: 14, 15) Going on the same line, the Prophet (saws) has also described its dangerous consequences. Thus, he declared it a cause of plague (Ibn Majah) at some place; while on the other, he called it a means of drought (Mishkat) and poverty (Baihiqi). Besides that, the Prophet (saws) has given warning of many other bad results of the adultery.
As the first strategy to prevent rape and adultery, the Holy Qur’an tried to instill in the hearts of human the bad impact and evil sides of adultery and also what it results in the life after death. After that, it prohibited man even to come closer to the causes and means which generally leads to the adultery, let alone committing it. (Al-Isra, 33)
Free intimation: To uproot anything completely, one needs to find out their main causes and then to attack strongly on them, so that the cause may finish with the result of ending the main thing. The reason thereof is self evident. If a tree is cut from the surface of the earth and the roots spreading all around are left, they will, again, get some sort of nourishments and then turn into big and strong tree. It is a fact beyond doubt that free intimation of male and female often leads to illicit relationship. Islam, therefore, forbad it to save the chastity of the nice gender. Experiences and observations suggest that no sexual sin occurs until both the genders meet each other freely. Therefore, the Holy Prophet (saws) also prohibited it in many clear ahadith. Hazrat Aqba ibn Aamir (ra) narrates that the Prophet (saws) said, “Avoid entering the non-mahram women.” (Bukhari) This is not enough. Islam has also prohibited from meeting and maintaining frank relationship with brother in-laws. Once, the Prophet (saws) was asked about free intimation with brother in-laws. Upon it he replied, “They are death.” (Mishkaat) The gist of the hadith is that women should fear from them the way they fear from death. That is because, they are more likely to fall into the pitch sin in such case, because it is generally not considered abnormal for these relatives to come and meet their sister in-laws in loneliness. Thus, the society faces such inhuman incidents due to not exercising this injunction that not only violates the value of brotherhood, but it goes to the extent of bloodshed. This is the reason why Islam declared it impermissible.
Lowering gaze: Eyes serve as doors for the heart. When a person beholds anything, its characteristics go straight to his/her heart through the path of eyes. Then, if he/ she finds anything attractive, his/ her heart compels them to attain it. Therefore, Islam prohibited looking at the non-mahrams, so as to protect the women’s chastity. (Al-Nur: 31) if an accident eye falls on them, then they should immediately remove it according to the Islamic law. It is by no means allowed to keep on looking at and fixing one’s eyes. (Jamye Tirmidhi)
Noting on the same line, the women too have been asked not to look at non-mahram males. (Al-Nur: 32) That is because it may create sensation in their own hearts. And also if a man observes a woman looking at him, he naturally finds evil thought emerging in his heart and mind; and ultimately he dares to come nearer to her.
The third point in this regard is that women should wrap themselves with shawls. (Al-Ahzab) if you see tow women at the same place. One is dressed properly in the Islamic style, while the second one is wearing a dress which is either revealing or covering only some parts of the body. Males are more often inclined with illicit intention only to the second one, while he finds a feeling of respect for the women dressed properly.
Proper dressing: Dress has many purposes. Covering the body parts, protection of body from the impact of climate unbalance and decoration are main features. But, covering of the body assumes paramount importance among them. (Al-A’raaf: 27) This purpose can be served only with the clothes which are neither transparent enough to reflect the body parts, nor are the tight enough to reveal the ups and downs. As far as the matter of dress is concerned, this is the highest peak of human development. Islam, therefore, mandated such dresses, because wearing any dress except them would be considered as returning back to orthodoxies. Moreover, the revealing dresses create amorous intentions in the minds of the beholders which put the women chastity at stake. Therefore, Islam has established a special benchmark in matter of clothing for both male and female, so that its purpose can be served the better way.
Seeking permission: Human is entitled to privacy by birth. No one enjoys any right to disturb one’s privacy. Islam, therefore, has issued a legal provision of the social life that permission should be sought before entering other’s house. (Al-Nur: 28) The reason is that every person presumes his/ her house as the safest place for them. No one is, therefore, sure in which condition the householder is within. Thus, if a man enters a house without seeking permission and the women within are not properly covered or dressed, this will created a kind of turmoil condition in the society. Well to note here, this injunction is not meant to be practiced only while entering other’s house, but it also applies in joint family structure. Even the teenagers of the family who have begun to feel and understand the sex inclinations are directed to greet and seek permission before entering the room.
Avoid displaying the beauty: Homes are the safest place for women. They should, therefore, stay at their homes and not go out without any pressing need. But if any crying need calls for outing, they must not decorate themselves and display their beauties. (Al-Ahzab: 33) In the pre-Islamic pagan days, women were given to outing with full make up and display their beauties, because chastity and decency did not have any weigh in their eyes. The Qur’an has termed this situation as “Tabarruj ul jahiliyah”. But this attitude did not suit at all to the noble women. This was the reason why Islam directed them to stay at homes. This does not mean at all that Islam has imprisoned them in the house and closed every door of success and development. They are of course allowed to go out when needed. They are however, directed not to decorate themselves while going out, because it may put their chastity at risk.
This is the Islamic stand in regards with protection of women’s chastity and preventing the sexual crimes. But unfortunately, the advocates of gender equality declared these strategies hurdle in the ways of women’s development; and it resulted into a very drastic consequence. The daughters of Eve are mourning after losing their assets and the politicians and media are using these incidents for their gain. The West declared the adultery punishment prescribed by Islam as cruel, but when the society is filled with strife and the nice gender is always at stake, the whole band of humanity is crying for death punishment in one voice. This strengthens even more the idea that Islam and Islamic maxims are but natural. No matter how far one goes from the nature, one has to return to it one day or the other. It can, therefore, be said with fuller surety today that this world does not have any solid strategy to save women’s chastity and prevent sexual crimes. If it wants, it will have to adopt the Islamic strategy.
 Hifzur Rahman Qasmi
Markazul Maarif, Delhi [hifzurrahman297@gmail.com]
Moved by the results and experiences of World War II, the General Assembly of the UNO passed a resolution for protection of ‘human rights’ at global level on December 10, 1948 which later got to be known as ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ (UDHR). The articles assuring the birthrights of human beings at world level, contained in this declaration were based on three basic concepts:
(1) Humanity as a whole
(2) Respect for individuals
(3) A social system based on democratic values
After this declaration, the term ‘Human Rights’ received such a great popularity around the world, especially in the West, that it became a common slogan for every social and political group. In addition to that, the whole concept of ‘human rights’ began to be seen in the secular and non-religious scenario. The advocates of human rights in the west and east, including some Muslim countries, presume and say that the concept of human rights can live only in the secular and non-religious environment. It cannot survive in the religious framework. This is the reason why the secular minded advocates of human rights in Muslim countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh are heard to be reviewing that there is no use talking on the topics like ‘Human Rights and Islam’, because, as a religion, Islam has promoted the concepts and values that are not compatible with the basic concepts of the UDHR. But those, who believe that the UDHR is the greatest and matchless manifesto for human rights and feel contradiction between the principles of human rights and Islamic teachings, really need to embark, once again, on an unbiased comparative study of the basic concepts of the UDHR and Islamic teachings regarding humanity.
When we talk on the topics like ‘Human Rights and Islam’ or ‘Human Rights and Qur’an’, we actually mean that these rights have been bestowed to human beings by Allah, not by any legislative house or a ruler. The rights granted by a ruler or legislative assembly might possibly be abrogated. For example, sometimes a ruler announces many rights for his people when he is in a pleasant and a happy mood. But when he gets out from the castle of pleasant emotions, he suddenly declares all the rights invalid. But the rights granted to human beings by the Qur’an are actually granted by Allah, so no government, legislative or judiciary has the right to make any amendment or abrogation. The principles of human rights put forth by the Holy Qur’an are parts and parcel of the religion of Islam. These are meant to be applied and carried out by every follower of the religion, whether rulers or the ruled ones. The Holy Qur’an has declared its decision about the Muslims denying, amending or violating these principles in the practical life:
“Those who do not judge according to what Allah has revealed are infidels.”
The Holy Qur’an ahs attached values and sanctity to human life as much as it considers the life of one individual equal to the whole society. Thus, in this short article, I do not intend at all to make a comparison between the underlying concepts of the UDHR and the Islamic injunctions about humanity. I only wish to show what the Holy Qur’an has to say about rights of human beings to which they are entitled by birth. In the following paragraphs, I am going to mention some of the rights allotted by the Qur’an under some basic heads.
Right to Protection Wealth and Life: Addressing on the occasion of farewell pilgrimage, the Prophet (SAWS) said, “Your lives and wealth are haram (impermissible) for each other, until you meet your Lord on the Day of Judgment.” Well to be remembered here, this command is not meant only for Muslims, but the Prophet (SAWS) is reported to have said about non-Muslims living in the Islamic territory, “The one, who kills a Dhimmi (non-Muslim given shelter in the Islamic State), will not find even the fragrance of paradise.”
Rights to Protection of Self Respect: Those who shout the slogan human rights impressed by UDHR of the UNO, focus only on human lives. They do not talk about anything beyond, whereas, apart from human lives, the importance of self respect which has been assured by the Qur’an fourteen hundred years ago can be imagined through the following verses.
Allah says: (1) “O, you who believe, no nation should poke fun at another.” (2) “Do not defame each other.” (3) Do not indult anyone by using bad names.” (4) “Do not talk ill behind anyone’s back.”
Right to Privacy: The holy Qur’an considers one’s privacy as one’s birth right and forms principles for its protection. (1) Don’t spy on each other. (2) Do not enter anyone’s house, until you get permission from owners.
Right to Protest against Cruelty: Islam gives right to human beings to protest against the cruelty and corruption of the rulers. The holy Qur’an says, “Allah does not like passing bad comments about anyone else, unless he is the oppressed.”
According to Islamic view point, all types of power and sovereignty are purely Allah’s right. Being Allah’s Deputy on earth, man is allowed to use those powers on His behalf only to maintain discipline in the society. Thus, the one who holds power is responsible before his people and the people are entitled to question him. Keeping this very point in eyes, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq said in his first address after holding the thrown of caliphate, “Assist me, if my stand is right in any matter and reform me, if it is wrong. Continue to follow me as long as I follow the commandments of Allah and His Messenger and discard me when I deviate from the path.”
Right to Justice: everyone is entitled to justice by the Qur’an. Thus it speaks very often about doing and getting justice with remarkable stress. In the context of justice, the Holy Qur’an usually uses two words: Adl and Ihsaan. Both the words give the idea of justice and indicated to the theory of balance, but there is slight difference in the meaning. The wordIhsaan is common in meaning, whereas the word adl is related to accept and encourage merits of individuals. According to the Holy Qur’an, man cannot be judged on the basis of his lineage, sex, wealth and his worldly achievements, but the only criterion to judge man’s merit is hisTaqwa (piety) which comprises both belief and good deeds.
Right to freedom of expression: the Islamic state provides its every citizen the right to the freedom of thought and expression, provided that this right is used to spread and promote the truth and righteousness, and not to propagate evil and mischief. The concept of the freedom of expression presented by Islam is far better as compared to that of West. In no case, Islam allows to use this right for the propagation of evil and mischief. Since Islam likes the policy of moderation and balance in every matter, it allows no man to use filthy and immoral language in the name of criticism. In the blessed prophetic period, the Companions used to enquire about any matter if something has been revealed from Allah. If the Prophet (SAWS) would reply negation, they would express their opinions with no delay in that particular matter.
Basically, in the Islamic perspective, the right to freedom of expression means the right to speak the truth. In the Qur’anic terminology, the truthfulness is referred to as “Haque” which is a special attribute of Allah. Thus, truthfulness is not only the right of every human, but it is a responsibility on the shoulder of the believer to speak only the truth in every case, even if it is in the presence of a cruel ruler. The Holy Qur’an commands Muslims to stand still for the cause of the truth and prohibits the society from torturing on account of speaking the truth.
Right to Belief and Religion: the Holy Qur’an gives a general principle that ‘There is no compulsion in religion.’ That is because the Holy Qur’an is well acquainted with the fact that belief resides n the heart and the heart can never be commanded. In contrast to that, the Totalitarian Societies snatch all sorts of freedom from the individuals and a new kind of slavery in imposed on human beings. At a time, slavery implied full authority of an individual over another. This kind of slavery has been rejected by the law; the Totalitarian Societies have imposed a new kind of slavery instead.
Right to Protection of Religious Sentiments: Besides belief and conscience, Islam holds the religious sentiments of man in high regards as well. Thus, the Holy Qur’an prohibits Muslims to speak such words which hurt the sentiments of the followers of other religions. Numerous verses of the QUr’an clarifies that the responsibility of the Prophet (SAWS) was only to preach the Truth and not to compel anyone for acceptance. So, the Holy Qur’an also prohibited every action which compels a non-Muslim to accept Islam. It was possible that a Muslim would hurt the sentiment of a non-Muslim living in the Islamic State, so that he might accept Islam. But the Holy Qur’an completely uprooted all such kinds of possibilities by the verse: “Do not abuse those who call some other deity than Allah.”
Right to Freedom of Person: Human being is free by birth and freedom is his birthright. The greatest guarantee towards this right of human being in Islam is that no one can confine it except Allah. This idea is derived from the verse of the Holy Qur’an in which Allah says that “The right to judge the ordinances and prohibitions is with Allah alone.” This is the reason why neither the judiciary, nor the legislative in an Islamic State can compel the citizens on undue obedience. Therefore, the Prophet himself used to seek advice from his companions in public matters.
Right to Education: Education is necessary for the development of humanity. It is, therefore, counted among the basic rights of the citizens in all countries today. But the holy Qur’an has attached much stress with education since its early revelation. Thus, the very first revelation of the Qur’an encourages its addresses to acquire education. According to the Holy Qur’an education is the only weapon which can form a peaceful and a just society. Therefore, the Qur’an addresses man to ‘acquire knowledge, for those who are cognizant cannot be equal to those who are not cognizant.’
These were some points which serve as legitimate examples. In fact the Holy Qur’an gives man all rights which he should get as a human being in open terms. Even then, if man studies it with western mindset, he will surely get weakness in it. But this will not lessen the importance of the Holy Qur’an, because it is not a sin of the sun, if a bat does not behold in day light.
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