Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Second Lesson on the Respect of Ramadan – Part 2

By Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam (Translated into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam) 25 March 2023 Ramadan is a highly blessed and holy month. Those who pay respect to this month and get its blessings are extremely fortunate. In reference to the reverence of the month of Ramadan, the beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) said: It is blessed that Ramadan has already begun. It is a must for you to fast [during this month] as has been commanded by Allah Almighty. The gates of hell are closed and the gates of heaven are opened during this month. The disobedient devils are locked up. One night of Allah known as "Shab-e-Qadr" occurs in this month and is more revered than a thousand months. The person who is deprived of its goodness is the one who actually lacks it. (Sunan Nasa'i, vol. 4, p. 921) The fact that the doors of mercy are opened and the devils are chained upon the start of Ramadan is unquestionably a symbol of respect for the holy month. (Sahih Muslim and Sahih Bukhari) The drops of kindness and mercy begin to fall like rain as soon as Ramadan begins. The spring wind of mercy, blessings, and goodness starts to fill the hearts and minds of the sincere slaves of Allah. Fire Worshipers In The Fold Of Mercy The reverence of Ramadan enriches believers, but at the same time, if a non-Muslim also respects this holy month, he will still receive its blessing, as demonstrated by the following incident: A Majusi (magi/fire worshipper) lived in Bukhara. He once went shopping with his son in the Muslim bazaar during the holy month of Ramadan. His son started to eat in public. When the Magi noticed this, he smacked his son and reprimanded him, saying: Are you not ashamed to eat in the Muslim market during the month of Ramadan? Your action has hurt the hearts of Muslims and violated the majesty of Ramadan. So never repeat such an action in the future. Hearing all this, the obedient son seriously questioned his father. "Father! In the month of Ramadan, you eat and drink as well." In response, his father said, "Yes, I do eat, but I do so in private inside my home. I do not desecrate this holy month by eating and drinking in public." A while later, the man passed away. Someone who saw him in his dream wondering about him while he was strolling through heaven pondered how in heaven a Magi could be. He said, "I was really a Zoroastrian [fire-worshipper], but when the hour of my death neared, Allah blessed me." As I had honoured Ramadan, Allah blessed me by elevating me with the riches of faith, taking me to Paradise at the same time, and showering me with His innumerable blessings. (Nuzhatul Majaalis, vol. 1. p. 712) From this instance, it is understood that if a Zoroastrian could receive a blessing by honouring the month of Ramadan, then why can't a Muslim do the same if he respects and honours this month with all of his heart and soul? Why Sin When Satan Is In Prison? Now the question arises: Why do individuals commit sins during Ramadan if Satan is imprisoned according to the Hadith described above? The Islamic scholars [Ulama] respond to this by stating that Iblis and his progeny are actually imprisoned. Now, whoever commits sins in this month does so out of his own corrupt soul (Nafs-e-Ammara), not as a result of the devil's trickery. The Holy Hadith is thus perfectly appropriate. A man should fear the burden of his sins so that he is safeguarded at all times. (Miraa'tul Manajeeh, Vol.3, p. 331) Respecting Ramadan involves abstaining from sin during it. In honour of Ramadan, one should refrain from lying, backbiting, and using foul language. Simply stopping eating and drinking cannot be called perfect respect for Ramadan. Respecting Ramadan is the real key to fulfilling Ramadan's purpose. We pray for the ability to respect and observe the Ramadan fasts from Allah, the Almighty. ------- Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi is the author of multiple books. He has also lectured and held positions such as Mufti, Shaykhul Hadith, president, founder, and director at a number of institutions, including Dar Uloom Ghousia in Hubli, Karnataka, and Darul Uoom Solemaniya Rahmaniya in Bikaner Darul Uloom Reza-e-Mustafa, Bihar, Madrasa Shah Khalid, Vanwa Libo Muslim League, Fiji (near Australia), Madina Educational Society, Rajasthan. He currently holds the positions of Mufti in the Sunni Darul Ifta in the Madina Masjid, General Secretary of the Raza Foundation, Director of the Darain Academy, Founder of the Afkar-e- Raza Institution, and Chief Editor of the Do-Maahi Raza-e-Madina (Urdu, Hindi) in Azadnagar, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. ------ Part 1: Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Welcome to Ramadan and First Lesson on the Virtues of Ramadan URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/lessons-ramadan-respect-part-2---/d/129395 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Our Global Water Crisis

By John Scales Avery, New Age Islam 25 March 2023 A Few Facts In its home-page on World Water Day, 2021, the United Nations pointed out the following facts: Today, 1 in 3 people live without safe drinking water. By 2050, up to 5.7 billion people could be living in areas where water is scarce for at least one month a year. Climate-resilient water supply and sanitation could save the lives of more than 360,000 infants every year. If we limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, we could cut climate-induced water stress by up to 50%. Extreme weather has caused more than 90% of major disasters over the last decade. By 2040, global energy demand is projected to increase by over 25% and water demand is expected to increase by more than 50%. Clearly, water is a crucial resource, and the future well-being of human society depends on how well we manage our global supply of fresh water. This will require a high level of international cooperation and social justice. Maude Barlow: Water As A Human Right In many countries, large corporations have taken control of water supplies, and are now selling water at prices that poor citizens cannot afford. Maude Barlow, born in 1947 in Canada, is leading the struggle against the commodification of water. As the result of her campaign, the United Nations has declared water to be a human right. This is particularly important at a time when fresh water is becoming increasingly scarce. Here are a few things that Maud Barlow has said: “Do not listen to those who say there is nothing you can do to the very real and large social and environmental issues of our time.” “Everything is now for sale. Even those areas of life that we once considered sacred like health and education, food and water and air and seeds and genes and a heritage. It is all now for sale.” “There is simply no way to overstate the water crisis of the planet today.” “We are committed with our lives to building a different model and a different future for humanity, the Earth, and other species. We have envisaged a moral alternative to economic globalization and we will not rest until we see it realized.” “No piecemeal solution is going to prevent the collapse of whole societies and ecosystems ... a radical re-thinking of our values, priorities and political systems is urgent.” Falling Water Tables In China May Cause Famine In Africa After a lecture at the University of Copenhagen, Lester R. Brown of the Earth Policy Institute was asked which resource would be the first to become critically scarce. Everyone in the audience expected him to say “oil”, but instead he said “fresh water'”. He went on to explain that falling water tables in China would soon make China unable to feed its population. This would not cause famine in China itself because of the strength of the Chinese economy, which would allow the Chinese to purchase grain on the world market. However, shortages of fresh water in China would indeed cause famine, for example in Africa, because Chinese demand for grain would raise prices on the world market beyond the ability of poor countries to pay. The Threat Of A Large-Scale Global Famine Unless efforts are made to stabilize and ultimately reduce global population, there is a serious threat that climate change, population growth, and the end of the fossil fuel era could combine to produce a large-scale famine by Uthe middle of the 21st century. As glaciers melt in the Himalayas and the Andes, depriving India, China and South America of summer water supplies; as sea levels rise, drowning fertile rice-growing regions of Southeast Asia; as droughts reduce the food production of North America and Southern Europe; as groundwater levels fall in China, India, the Middle East and the United States; and as high-yield modern agriculture becomes less possible because fossil fuel inputs are lacking, there is a danger that a famine involving billions of people, rather than millions, may occur. ------ https://www.commondreams.org/news/un-report-drinking-water https://countercurrents.org/2023/03/accelerating-change-on-united-nations-world-water-day-2023/?swcfpc=1 My Own Book On Water Interested readers may download and circulate my book on water free of charge from the following link: http://eacpe.org/app/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Water-by-John-Scales-Avery.pdf Other books on global problems Other books on global problems, and on cultural history may be downloaded free of charge from the following links: https://www.johnavery.info/ http://eacpe.org/about-john-scales-avery/ URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/global-water-crisis/d/129396 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Zakir Naik And His Ilk - Swami Nityanand, Dr Praveen Togadia, Sanatani YouTubers And Fanatic Hindu Babas

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 24 March 2023 Isn't it sheer stupidity on the part of Indian government to ask Oman to arrest and extradite the controversial Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik, who's currently hiding in Malaysia? This will alert the fugitive and he'll simply refuse to visit Oman! What did India do when he fled the country a few years ago? And on a different note, what was Indian government doing when a fraud and rapist called Swami Nityanand not only managed to flee but also 'build' a fictitious nation called Kailasa near Ecuador? Zakir Naik ----- Agreed, Zakir is a rogue and a zealot but what about Dr Praveen Togadia? Has the Indian Medical Association cancelled the registration of these two medicos? All these controversial characters were allowed, nay encouraged, to preach and spew venom and when they became Frankenstein, the government either let them flee or reside in the country without taking any action. Zakir was allowed to preach for nearly two decades despite people protesting that he openly insulted all other faiths and shamelessly glorified Islam. He openly presided over Dawat-e-Islam congregations and converted the gullible masses. He called India, a Mulk-e-Butparastaan ( a country of idolaters) but police and government chose to turn a Nelson's eye to his scurrilous and extremely provocative speeches. The problem with a soi disant secular country like India is that religious freedom is often stretched a trifle too long. In the name of freedom, the religious figures, preachers and agents often become threats to the country. Who was Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale? He was a devout Sikh, a sort of a Granthi, who eventually became an albatross and reason for Mrs Indira Gandhi's assassination. Ahmad Deedat, the master and mentor of Zakir Naik, once jokingly as well as arrogantly said that had he been an Indian citizen, he'd have converted the entire population of India to Islam. He didn't exaggerate. Surat-born South African rabid Muslim preacher Ahmad Deedat deceptively converted many people to Islam. Quite a few converts now call themselves either ex-Muslims or atheists. Zakir also converted en masse just like Mother Teresa Christianized many poor people under the pretext of service to the poorest of poor. It seems highly unlikely that Zakir will be deported. But a lesson can be learnt from this episode and experience that whether a Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Buddhist, no one should be allowed to preach religion in public and convert anyone. Put a battalion of Hindu preachers, Sanatani YouTubers and fanatic Hindu Babas behind the bars. But will the current Hindu political dispensation ever do that? ------ A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/zakir-swami-nityanand-togadia-sanatani-hindu-babas/d/129389 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Thirty Lessons of Ramadan: Welcome to Ramadan and First Lesson on the Virtues of Ramadan

By Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi, New Age Islam Translated into English by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam Welcome to Ramadan Ramadan, the holy month, has begun. Mercy and light are coming to rain down. The hearts of the believers have started to overflow with every ounce of gladness. The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to look forward to this month with great fervour, and in contrast to other months, he used to show diligence for more worship and austerity in it, as well as to prepare his family for it. Umm al-Mumineen Hazrat Ayesha Siddiqa (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) "used to tighten his waist belt with the beginning of the month of Ramadan, and did not go to bed until it passed" (Imam Al-Bayhaqi, Shu'ab al-Iman, 3/310) (The phrase "tighten his waist belt" is a metaphor for keeping away from women, i.e. abstaining from sexual relations and occupying oneself with worship). Hazrat Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated: “As Ramadan began, the colour of the [face of the] Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would change. He would also perform several nawafil, pray passionately, and became extremely frightened of Allah.” (Imam Al-Bayhaqi, Shu'ab al-Iman, 3/110) Despite this arrangement, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would have been in a more dedicated and impassioned mood, as narrated by Hazrat Ayesha [may Allah be pleased with her] for the last ten days of Ramadan: "With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. remain away from his wives) and used to pray all through the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 2024] Another narration from Hazrat Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her) states that “the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) used to strive harder in worship during Ramadan than he did at any other time of the year and that he would devote himself more (in the worship of Allah) in the last ten nights of Ramadan than he did in the earlier part of the month.” [Sahih Muslim 1175/Riyad as-Salihin 1194] It is narrated by Hazrat Salman Farsi that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) delivered a sermon on the last day of Sha’ban. The Prophet said, "O you people! A great and blessed month has arrived for you. A month that includes a night is preferable to a million months. Fasting during this month is an obligation, and the extra prayers during its nights are voluntary. Anyone who comes closer to Allah through a good deed during this month is as if he performed an obligatory duty during times other than Ramadan, and anyone who does an obligation during this month is as someone who performs seventy obligations during another month. It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Paradise. It is the month of visiting the poor, the sick and the needy so as to share their sorrows. The believing Muslim is blessed throughout this month as their money, sustenance, and nutrition all grow. Anyone who invites others to break their fast with them at Iftar will gain forgiveness for his crimes, be spared from hellfire, and receive a reward equal to that of the person who is fasting without any diminution of his own reward. Some of the Companions of the Prophet said: Not all of us may find food to share with someone else so that he could break his fast. The Prophet said: Allah would reward you even if you give a fasting Muslim a date, a sip of water, or a glass of milk to assist him to break his fast. It is a month that starts with Mercy (Rahmah), moves into Forgiveness (Maghfirah), and ends with deliverance from the flames of hell. Allah will pardon and release everyone who aids in the release of a slave from the torment of Hell. Develop four qualities in yourself: two that will make you please your Lord and two that you cannot live without. The first two qualities one must do to please Allah are to testify that only He is deserving of worship and to beg for His forgiveness. The other two things are, however, asking Allah for Paradise and requesting His protection from the Fire. Anyone who provides water to a Muslim during Iftar will receive water from the fountain of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on the Day of Judgment, which will prevent him from being thirsty until he enters Paradise. (Ibn Khuzaymah recorded it in his Hadith collection ‘Sahih’, Vol.2, p.119, Chapter on the Merits of Ramadan) Hazrat Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah as saying: “When the first night of Ramadan comes the devils and the rebellious jinn are chained, the gates of hell are locked and not one of them is opened; the gates of paradise are opened and not one of them is locked, and a caller calls: 'O seeker of the good; come near!' and 'O seeker of evil; stop! Some are freed from hell by Allah, and that happens every night.” [Mishkat al-Masabih 1960, 1961/ Sunan Ibn Majah 1642/Jami` at-Tirmidhi 682] Hazrat Abdullah Ibn Masud (may Allah be pleased with him) relates a hadith about the first night of Ramadan from the Prophet (peace be upon him) “An announcement is raised in the heavens until dawn on every Ramadan night, 'O seeker of goodness! Fulfil your worship of Allah and be joyful, O you who work evil! Quit up being evil and learn a lesson. Is there anyone who asks for forgiveness? His desire will be fulfilled. Is there anyone repenting? Their repentance will be accepted. Is there anyone who can make a Dua? His Dua will be accepted? Is anyone out there looking for anything? He will receive whatever he asks for. In the course of Ramadan, at the stroke of dusk, Allah Almighty releases from Hell 60,000 sinners, and on the day of Eid, He pardons as many individuals as there were throughout the entire month. (If the month has 30 days, 18 lakhs of people are pardoned; if it has 29 days, 1740,000 people are pardoned.)” [Imam Al-Bayhaqi, Shu'ab al-Iman, Vol. 5, Page 221, Hadith 3334] They are heavenly words. The Prophet (peace be upon him), our beloved master on earth, used to make wishes for the beginning of Ramadan in the month of Rajab. As Rajab arrived, according to Hazrat Anas, the Prophet of Allah prayed to Allah, "O Allah, bless us in Rajab and Sha'ban and bring us to Ramadan." [Mishkat al-Masabih 1369/Sahih Muslim] The Beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) used to welcome this blessed guest ‘Ramadan’ the two months before. He would gather his companions on the last night of Sha'ban and expound with great zeal on the significance, benefits, and virtues of Ramadan. Ramadan was first welcomed two months ago. From these blessed hadiths, it is known that welcoming Ramadan before its arrival is a blessed Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). May Allah grant us the wisdom to respect and honour Ramadan! Aameen First lesson on the Virtues of Ramadan Ramadan is a significant and priceless reward that Allah Almighty has bestowed upon his worshippers as one of his treasured gifts. Something to say about Ramadan, the blessed month: Every hour of it has been filled with blessings and favours from Allah Almighty, and the angels who carry the throne recite Aameen to the prayers of those who are fasting. Also, the following hadith: “The river fish keep pleading Allah for forgiveness on behalf of the fasting people during Ramadan up to Iftar.” (At-Targhib wat-Tarhib, Vol.2, p.55) Islam recognises two distinct forms of worship. Both Salah (Namaz) and the Hajj are examples of external worship, whereas fasting, sincere intentions and pure imagination are examples of inner worship. Inner worship is more important in both of them since internal matters are kept hidden between Allah and the servants until the servant reveals them. As a result, it is stated in a holy hadith that “Fasting is the door to worship.” (Al-Jami' as-Saghir, p. 641, Hadith 2410) The Divine Favour During this beautiful month, Allah Almighty gives the Ummat-e-Muhammadiyah (peace and blessings be upon him) five special gifts. Blessed is the statement of the Beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) that “My Ummah has been granted five things in the month of Ramadan that no Prophet before me has received: (1) On the first night of Ramadan, Allah Almighty looks at those who observe fasts with mercy, and He never punishes those whom He looks at kindly. (2) In the sight of Allah, the smell of their evening breath (induced by hunger) is preferable to the scent of musk. (3) Every day and night, the angels ask for their pardon. (4) Allah Almighty directs the heavens “Prepare yourself for my virtuous servants. In my home and grace, they will soon find solace from the burdens of the world.” (5) On the last night of Ramadan, Allah Almighty forgives everyone. Some companions then asked, “O Prophet of Allah, is that the night of Laylatul Qadr?” The beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, “NO, but it is only right that a servant should be given his reward on having completed his duty” (At-Targhib wat-Tarhib, vol.2, p.65, Hadith 7) Names of the blessed Ramadan Hazrat Allama Mufti Ahmad Yaar Khan Naeemi writes in his ‘Tafsir Naeemi’: There are four names for this blessed month (1) Month of Ramadan (2) Month of Patience (3) Month of Mowasaat. (4) The month of expansion of provision. He continues, "Fasting is patience, which the Lord Almighty rewards and it is observed in this month, which is why it is named "the month of patience." The definition of Mowasat is "to do good," which is why this month is referred to as "the month of Mowasat" because doing good deeds for all Muslims, especially family members, will lead to more rewards. This month offers a wide variety of gastronomic possibilities. This month is known as "the month of expansion of provision" because the underprivileged also consume these blessings in large quantities that they are unable to do in other months. (Tafsir-e-Naeemi, vol.2, p.802) Spending abundantly on family: During this blessed month of mercy and blessings, one should generously spend on his family members. It is recorded in a Hadith, "Spend generously on your family in the month of Ramadan." (Al-Jami' as-Saghir, p.261. Hadith: 6172) Ameerul Momineen Hazrat Umar Farooq (may Allah be pleased with him) says: “Welcome to this month that purifies us. Ramadan is wonderful overall. Spending throughout this month, whether it be by fasting during the day or staying up late at night, is regarded as spending in Jihad.” (Tanbih al-Ghaflin, p. 671) Reward Equivalent To One Hundred Thousand Months Of Ramadan It was narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever is in Makkah during the month of Ramadan and observes it by fasting and making as many night-time prayers as possible, Allah will record for him (a reward equivalent to that for) one hundred thousand months of Ramadan observed elsewhere. Allah will record for him a reward comparable to liberating a slave every day, a reward equivalent to providing a horse for Allah's cause every day, and merits for each day and each night.” (Ibn Majah, vol.3, p.325, Hadith 7113) This has also been expressed with reference to the glory of Ramadan: “When the month of Ramadan begins, the gates of heaven are opened, the gates of Hellfire are closed, and the devils are chained.” (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1899, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi) According to another narration from Sahih al-Bukhari: “When the month of Ramadan begins, the gates of the Paradise are opened” (Bukhari, Chapter on Fasting) There is no doubt that Allah has blessed this lovely month with many blessings and that He has listened to the prayers of the faithful during this holy month. The advantages and virtues of Ramadan are numerous, and the hint is plenty for the intelligent. Simply make an effort to benefit as much as you can from the holy hours of Ramadan and increase the significance of your good deeds. (Continued) ... Mufti Abdul Malik Misbahi is the author of multiple books. He has also lectured and held positions such as Mufti, Shaykhul Hadith, president, founder, and director at a number of institutions, including Dar Uloom Ghousia in Hubli, Karnataka, and Darul Uoom Solemaniya Rahmaniya in Bikaner Darul Uloom Reza-e-Mustafa, Bihar, Madrasa Shah Khalid, Vanwa Libo Muslim League, Fiji (near Australia), Madina Educational Society, Rajasthan. He currently holds the positions of Mufti in the Sunni Darul Ifta in the Madina Masjid, General Secretary of the Raza Foundation, Director of the Darain Academy, Founder of the Afkar-e- Raza Institution, and Chief Editor of the Do-Maahi Raza-e-Madina (Urdu, Hindi) in Azadnagar, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/lessons-ramadan-virtues-/d/129388 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Fabled Voyage of Perumals to Arabia and Early History Islam in Kerala

By Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam 23 March 2023 Perumal's Conversion Story Has Mainly Two Versions. One Is About Propitiation And The Other Is Related To Dream Interpretation. Conversion Is A Decision Based On A Person's Rationality, Ambition And Desires. All The Interpretations About Perumal's Conversion Say The Same Thing. ------ Cheraman Perumal Masjid: The oldest Masjid in India and the first outside Arabian Peninsula ------ There are many versions of the story of Cheraman Perumal's conversion to Islam. There are also some who believe that the tale of Perumal's change of religion, going to Mecca and the division of the kingdom, are all a myth. In Keralolpathi (Birth of Kerala), the story of Cheraman Perumal, who converted to Islam after believing his wife's accusation and sentencing the Padamalanais (minister) to death, is narrated. The queen invited the minister to a secret meeting. When he was not persuaded, the army commander told the king that he was too old to rape. Padamalanair miraculously escaped. Legend has it that a piece of cloud picked up Padamalanair. Looking at the repentant king, Padamalanair advised him as follows: "There is a monk named Veda Apiyar in the north of Ashuvinkal Mutirapuram. If you go there and find the fourth Veda opened, Olamamari, put the ship on Otazhakam and come to Thiruvanchi Mukhathana. From there, in the month of Kumbha, when the sixteen moons shine brightly together, half of them will descend to the earth and rise with it as a pillar. It will end. There, Padamalanair said, "If you open the Fourth Veda and go to Ashu once, you will get half moksha." William Logan, author of the Malabar Manual, cites Cheraman Perumal as having dreamt that a full moon had risen on a black moonlit night in Mecca, Arabia. Many have recorded since William Logan that Perumal met a group of Muslims returning from Ceylon and their leader Sheikh Shihabuddin interpreted the dream and converted him to Islam. Thus, Perumal's conversion story has mainly two versions. One is about propitiation and the other is related to dream interpretation. Conversion is a decision based on a person's rationality, ambition and desires. All the interpretations about Perumal's conversion say the same thing. Perumal's change of religion Tuhfatul Mujahideen says it was in 822. But according to MGS Narayanan, it could be in the 12th century and not in the 7th or 9th century. Another side says that if the Perumal kingdom was divided, it was not before 1102. (Ilamkulam Kunjanpilla - Chera Empire, 9th and 10th Centuries) Another opinion is that Kodungallur was ruled by a dynasty that ended with the fall of Perumal, who converted to Muhammadanism, and it is probably in the 9th century (Tarachand: Influence of Islam on Indian Culture). Whatever it is, by showing the list of names of the Perumal rulers from 216 to 825, it is certainly not possible to argue that Perumal may not have gone during the time of Prophet Muhammad' (Ancient Kerala - Shuranad Kunjanpilla). It is assumed that the Arabs who came for trade were already present in the coastal areas and so the foreign missionaries gained such widespread popular support. The clan history of the Perumals is still unknown. Prof. Sundar Raj who examined more than 200 stone inscriptions. and historian Kielhorn also wrote in Epigraphia Indica (v. 4) that Cheraman Perumal's chronology has not been found. "After Perumal's journey to Mecca, a group of 44 people under the leadership of Malik ibn Dinar disembarked at Dharmadam. At least 20 of them had memorized the Qur'an. The ruler of Dharmadam welcomed the guests. All the facilities for worship and religious propagation were established.”, says the description found in Tuhfatul Mujahidin. It is seen in Rihlatul Muluk that Perumal's son-in-law Prince Kohinoor was also present with Malik Dinar. It is said that Perumal was accompanied by Prince Kohinoor, son of Travancore Rani, and not Mahabali, son of Sridevi of Dharmadam. It is believed that Mahabali became the founder of Arakkal dynasty after Muhammad Ali. Malik Dinar's group included the Chaliyats Haji Mustamudqad, Haji Nili Nashad, Ahmad Khwaja, Haji Sadibad and Hasan Khwaja. From Dharmadam they went to Kodungallur. It's ruler gave all the help to the Muslims for religious propagation. Islam is believed to have spread in the region from Mangalore to Kavilpatnam as a result of the activities of Malik Dinar and his followers. It is assumed that the Arabs who came for trade purposes were already in the coastal areas so the foreign religious missionaries got such wide popular support. Dr. Sundarraj said that Arab and Persian traders were marrying local women on the western shores. Tarachand has argued in Influence of Islam on Indian Culture: "The presence of the Arabs was necessary for the natives, the villagers and the Madambis (feudal rulers) alike." Ruler Zamorin suggested that one or two members of each Mukuwa family (fishing community) should become Muslim to set up a naval force under the tutelage of the Arabs. Research books such as Cultural Symbiosis mention: "At that time, Zamorin was an active link in the chain of Muslim powers from Cordova in the west to Malacca in East Asia." This friendship paved the way for religious conversion even from the royal family. According to the Islamic encyclopaedia: The message of brotherhood raised by Islam echoes in the lyrics of the folk song 'Kottakalomana Kunhalik Thiyyurum Nairum Ohu Pole'." Economic, cultural, social, and political are the factors that influence upper-class ways of writing mainstream history. The history written under their influence was written leaving some gaps. Those gaps were what gave space to mainstream historical discourses to add and interpret stories to fit their needs and pretend to be history. Attempts to interpret Cheraman Perumal's conversion as a forced conversion can also be seen as a continuation of earlier communal elite interventions. The story highlights the peaceful origin of Islam in South India. Islam doesn't force conversion but sees it as intellectual and spiritual transformation. The story of Perumal's conversion is rooted in the importance of syncretism and peaceful coexistence among all religious people. Forced conversion is forbidden in Islam. There are judgments that give importance and consideration to human rights and freedom in Islamic Sharia. They are not confined to documents, but all those judgments are implemented in history. Qur'an's verse 256 of chapter 2 is explained by the Qur'anic exegetes as follows: "This ideal, moral and practical system which is Islam cannot be imposed on anyone by force. It is not something that can be forced on one's head" (Tafhimul Qur’an, Commentary on Al-Baqarah,p. 285). ----- A regular columnist for NewAgeIslam.com, Mubashir V.P is a PhD scholar in Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia and freelance journalist. URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/fabled-voyage-perumals-arabia-history-kerala/d/129381 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

“The Creeds of Abraham”: An Objective Perspective of God, Religion and Secularism

By AK Sayed for New Age Islam 23 March 2023 The Bible And The Qur’an Revealed That Such A Human Perspective Of God, Religion And Secularism Existed In The “Creeds Of Abraham” (Arguments Of Abraham), Which Were Found In The Bible And The Qur’an. ------ After reading the Bible and the Qur’an, I came to the conclusion that the division of the secular and religion did not exist in our Universe before God created Man, and that it was a man-made Diversity, which I had to eliminate using the Guidance of God, in order to establish “the all Truth” and Reality of all the issues in my life, both secular and religious. I was greatly inspired to do so when the Bible and the Qur’an told me that the Laws of Nature and the wider Universe and all things associated with it was the only #Truth and #Reality there was. This definition of #Truth and #Reality included God as Creator, free of all dogmas and doctrines of #Religion, and His Guidance in the context of the Laws of #Nature and the wider Universe. Unfortunately, in this endeavour, my subjective knowledge of #God and #Religion was not good enough. It could not challenge the rise of #Atheism #Secularism and Liberalism which was eroding my #Faith in #God and #Religion. Hence, I required an objective knowledge of God, Religion and Secularism which would reveal “the all Truth” and Reality about them. The Bible and the Qur’an revealed that such a human perspective of God, Religion and Secularism existed in the “Creeds of Abraham” (arguments of Abraham), which were found in the Bible and the Qur’an. The following verse of the Qur’an explains that the secular and scientific nature of the creation, which was created by the Laws of Physics and Mathematics by the Creator, reflected the “Deen of Allah” (The Creator’s Way of Life)”: 3:83 - What! Do they seek other than the Deen of Allah, when to Him submit all beings in the heavens and earth, either by free will or by their innate nature and programming, and to Him they will be returned - and to Him they go back as their Originating Source. [All things in the Universe surrender to God, either by free will as the believers do, or through their innate nature such as animals, trees, stars, seasons etc. Even the deniers of the truth live by Divine laws in their physical lives] All translations and commentaries of the Qur’an in this Post are by the late Dr Shabbir Ahmed of our Beacon Forum. In spite of this, in the Qur’an, God persuaded me to “follow the Creeds of Abraham”, which inspired a rational human perspective of God, Religion and Secularism. Some of the verses to this effect are as follows: • 2:135 -They say, “Be Jews or Christians, then you will be guided.” Say, “Nay! Ours is the Creed of Abraham the upright (haneef). He turned away from all that is false, and he was not an idolater in any sense.” 3:95 -Say, “God has declared the truth. Follow, then, the Creed of Abraham, the upright who shunned all falsehood. He was not of those who chose authorities besides God.” • 4:125 Who has a better Deen (System of Life) than the one who submits completely to God, and thus becomes a benefactor of humanity? Such a person is, in fact, following the way of Abraham the Upright (Haneef) whom God chose for friend. • 6:161 -Say, “As for me, my Lord has guided me to a straight Deen, the Creeds of Abraham, the upright (Haneef), who was no idolater in any sense.” • 16:123 -We have revealed to you this message (O Prophet), “Follow the Creeds of Abraham who turned away from all that is false.” (2:125). He was, by no means, of the idolaters. Abraham’s perspective of God, Religion and Secularism began when Abraham began to question his father about the idols his father “worshipped”. For example, he wondered why his father “worshipped” idols, which could not hear or benefit him in any way. Therefore, when he asked his father why he worshipped idols which did not have Godlike attributes of God, his father said he saw his ancestors do so. From this knowledge of his father, Abraham gathered that it was wrong to follow Religion and Tradition, which did not make sense. Therefore, those Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, etc, who do not question the Religions and Traditions of their forefathers do not belong to the Deen of Islam or that of Abraham. And when Abraham contemplated “worshipping” the celestial bodies as an alternative, he found that in the “alteration of the day and night”, they too did not have Godlike attributes of God because they functioned according to the Laws of the One Who had created them. Hence, he began to believe in God as the Creator, Sustainer, Protector, etc, of the Universe, free of all the dogmas and doctrines of Religion, and he began to follow the secular and scientific path of the creation, not any Religion. The Qur’an explains that Abraham was able to make this assessment of God, Religion and Secularism because he was Haneef (a person of pure natural beliefs). In other words, he did not establish any knowledge according to the “blind faith” methodology of Religion or according to the “science-based, evidence-based” methodology of Modern Science. He established all knowledge, both secular and religious, according to the methodology of Ilm-Ul-Yaqin (certainty of knowledge by inference and reasoning), Ayn-Ul-Yaqin (certainty of knowledge by seeing and observing) and Haqq-Ul-Yaqin (absolute knowledge, like this is a computer, etc), like plants and animals do. This is exactly how life existed in our Universe before the creation of Humans. Henceforth, in order to eliminate the division of the secular and religion, which did not exist before God created humans, all I am told by the Qur’an is that all knowledge of science, religion, culture, politics, etc, which did not intersect the knowledge of the secular and religious, which was found in the Bible and the Qur’an, was False. For example, in 2022, a scientist in Harvard University explained why the planet Earth was a “water world” with no dry land, mountains, vegetation, etc, about 4-5 billion years ago. The Genesis (1:2-9) of the Bible mentioned this thousands of years ago, also stating that sunlight and seasons did not exist then. The Qur’an (41:10) states that God created the dry land, mountains, sunlight, drinking water, vegetation, seasons, etc. To be more precise, according to the Bible and the Qur’an, I am inspired to believe that God created the dry land by creating the sun, which evaporated a lot of water to reveal the dry land and then created the mountains, etc! In the Abrahamic Faiths, all knowledge of the Divine System is based on the Laws of Nature and the wider Universe, which does not change with space and time. For example, in Nature and the wider Universe, the sun, moon, stars, mountains, trees, etc, do not “worship” God. They serve him for the purpose He created them. Similarly, humans whom God created as “vicegerents” of God on Earth are not expected to “worship” God. They are to “serve” Him for the purpose He created them. Hence, all Muslims and their religious leaders who translate “Ebadat” to mean “worship” and “Salat” to mean “Prayer” have absolutely no knowledge of the Qur’an. For example, the Qur’an (Word of God) in the context of the Laws of Nature and the wider Universe does not advocate “male and female circumcision”. Muslims and their religious leaders who state that it is the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (s) to “circumcise” are liars. They have absolutely no idea that all Prophets of God who were given exactly the “same” knowledge of the Divine System (Qur’an 42:13) according to the Laws of Nature and wider Universe with strict instructions not to say or do anything which was not revealed to them (Qur’an 6:50, 10:15, 53:3, 69:43-46) so that they might “not divide therein”. Likewise, I feel very strongly that the mid-day (Zuhr) and mid-afternoon (Asar) Salat are not mentioned in the Qur’an. Hence, those Quranists who state that the Qur’an mentions only three (3) Salat, namely Fajr, Maghrib and Esha, are Truthful. And to state that the Prophet Muhammad (s) performed the Zuhr and Asar Salats “silently” is another lie because the Qur’an (17:110) gave strict instruction to Prophet Muhammad (s) to perform the Salat in a certain tone or vocal sound. If Prince Muhammad bin Salman Al Saud had banned all Hadith, he would have done great service to Islam. In conclusion, I need to reiterate once more that it is very clear in the Abrahamic Faiths, that the Laws of Nature and the wider Universe and all things associated with it are the only #Truth and #Reality there is. This includes God as Creator, free of all dogmas and doctrines of Religion, and His Guidance in the context of the Laws of Nature and the wider Universe. This also includes the Laws of Physics and Mathematics, which the Creator did use to create our Universe, but not Religion. Like Godless science, it has to be reduced to #Truth and #Reality. Hence, those who believe in #God have a rational means to define #Truth and #Reality in a neutral and universal way by using the Laws of Nature and the wider Universe. They can defend their belief in God and His Guidance in any Court of Law, both secular and religious, but Atheists, Secularists and Liberalists will fail to do so even in their own secular Courts. Their “science-based, evidence-based” methodology and their Theory of Evolution is being completely overhauled and overwhelmed by the True knowledge of the Qur’an. Unfortunately, our weakest point in the Abrahamic Faiths is our Christian Brothers and Sisters. They have deviated from the True knowledge of the Divine System to such an extent that they have virtually succumbed to Atheism, Secularism and Liberalism. They could have given the Muslims tremendous support to establish a Government of God on Earth if they gave up their belief in “The Myth of God Incarnate” (Trinity). URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-ideology/creeds-abraham-god-religion-secularism/d/129379 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Where Did An Atheist Young Man's Morality Come From?

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 23 March 2023 Ill-Evolved And Terrified Humans Have Falsely Projected All Religions As Providers And Sustainer Of Morality. This Is Mankind's Biggest Blunder. ----- Way back in 1971, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas paid a handsome tribute to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on the 40th martyrdom of the trio who were hanged at Lahore Central Jail on March 23, 1931. He asked a very relevant question in his popular column ' Last Page, ' " Where did a 23-yr-old atheist revolutionary Bhagat Singh's sense of morality come from? " Bhagat Singh was an avowed atheist who wrote a long essay, ' Why I'm an atheist.' Bhagat Singh's essay cursorily discussed religion and morality. But it was Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, himself an agnostic, who enumerated upon the role of religion and belief in god on an individual's sense of morality. Using Bhagat Singh as a metaphor for religion and godless morality, Abbas concluded that a sense of right or wrong comes from an individual's idea of propriety which he learns and imbibes from his experiences, circumstances and interactions with people. God and religion have no role to play in the development of an individual as a morally sound human. Only a morally sound and exceptionally sensitive person like Bhagat Singh could say before justice Sir Len Carter that he was sad to kill a police officer, John P Saunders, but he had no other option. Even in prison, young and atheist Bhagat Singh was fighting for the basic rights of his fellow prisoners and went on a hunger strike. Ill-evolved and terrified humans have falsely projected all religions as providers and sustainer of morality. This is mankind's biggest blunder. Finland, the happiest country in the world according to 2018 report on the World Happiness Quotient, has no official religion and people of that country hardly care for a fictitious god sitting in an obscure nook of the universe and checking who skipped his Namaz and Roza. Yet, the country has minimum crime rate in the world. There's no suicide bombing or killing in the name of god and religion. Japan is yet another country where people are least bothered about god and religion. But Japanese are morally sound people. They're arguably the most honest people in the world despite the least interference of a religion and an imaginary god. Nietzsche, Schopenhauer, Sartre, Kant, Camus, among others believed in universal morality and drew no inspiration from any religious book or out of fear of a non-existent god. Believers often say that Nietzsche languished in a bedlam. They don't know that it was not because of his rejection of god and religion. Lunacy ran in his family. His devout uncle was a lunatic, who died in a lunatic asylum. Nietzche's mother became deranged towards the fag-end of her life. She was a great believer. According to 1993 Mental Health Report and Survey of India's two biggest mental asylums, Ranchi ( Jharkhand) and Yerwada ( Poona, Maharashtra), twenty four percent lunatics were pathologically religious people. Their madness stemmed from over-religiosity. Most of them claimed to talk to god just like Muhammad, Jesus, Moses, among others used to 'converse' with the Semitic god. Mind you, the Eastern god doesn't speak with his messengers and send down 'revelations' ! Only humans can think so foolishly. To cut the matter short, humans developed morality as they evolved. It's time for humans to focus on much greater issues than remain entangled in religious morality, god and scriptures. ------ A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/atheist-morality-/d/129380 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Social Reformation From The Perspective Of The Biography Of The Prophet Muhammad Pbuh: Part 2

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 23 March 2023 Examining Areas Of Social Reformation In Light Of Sirat Al-Nabi Main Points: 1. Hadith: All creatures are [like] a family of God 2. Hadith: Whoever does not show mercy to people, Allah will not show mercy to him. 3. All Muslims were declared to be brothers of one another and given the mandate to live in peace and love. ----- Due to the fact that all of Creation has been referred to as the family of Allah Almighty and that they have been commanded to do justice and good to all humanity, the Prophet (peace be upon him) expanded the definition of social justice to include all members of the human race, including children, the elderly, men, women, Muslims, orphans, slaves, and non-Muslims. The holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "All creatures are [like] a family of God: and He loves best those who are kindest to His family. (Narrated by Anas in Mishkat al-Masabih, 3:1392; from Bukhari.) Then, based on this humanity, all Muslims were declared to be brothers of one another and given the mandate to live in peace and love. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) reportedly said: "Do not be jealous of one another, do not raise prices by overbidding one another, do not despise one another, do not turn away from one another, and do not undercut one another in trade. But be O servants of Allah, as brothers. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim; he does not mistreat him, he does not fail him (when needed), he does not tell him lies, or treat him with contempt. Piety lies here - (he said) three times pointing to his chest. For a Muslim to despise his Muslim brother is enough evil. A Muslim's blood, possessions, and honour are all sacred to another Muslim." (Sahih Muslim) In this Hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) gives us instructions on how to treat fellow Muslims. We should treat one another with the utmost respect and refinement, abstaining from vices like envy, oppression, deceit, and other behaviours that could lead to injury or conflict. To inspire good morals, keep us away from bad morals, eradicate animosity for other Muslims from our hearts, and prevent us from bad morals, we should love one another, be friends with one another, and treat one another with kindness. Another hadith highlights the values of humanity: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) reportedly said: "Whoever does not show mercy to people, Allah will not show mercy to him," according to Jarr ibn 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him). (Reliable Hadith reported by Muslim and Bukhari) Social justice in modern human society is currently in peril. Poverty and desperation are pervasive. Unfairness and tyranny are at their maximum point. In order to practically bring about peace and prosperity for humanity, raise the voice of justice by eradicating the feeling of deprivation among the public, and inject social justice throughout human society, a balanced social structure is desired. Over the years, people from all around the world have presented a variety of social justice ideals and tactics. Nevertheless, practically speaking, we do not always uphold the rule of law. Promoting social justice in practice from all sides is a crucial necessity right now. Social Justice Social justice is the fair distribution of assets, opportunities, and privileges within a society. In both Western and Asian civilizations, the concept of social justice has been extensively employed to describe the process of ensuring that people fulfil their societal obligations and receive their rightful rewards from society. In the current campaigns for social justice, removing barriers to social mobility, creating safety nets, and encouraging economic fairness have been given priority. Establishing rights and responsibilities within societal institutions enables everyone to share in the benefits and expenses of cooperation. The relevant institutions usually include taxation, social insurance, public health, public education, public services, labour legislation, and market regulation in order to achieve equitable income distribution and opportunity. In many legal systems around the world today, the concepts of justice and equality are not only mentioned but also serve as guiding principles. Politico-legal institutions assert their justice in an effort to gain legitimacy. Islam is one of the religions that place a strong emphasis on justice and equity. So much so that Allah will not pardon anyone who perpetrates evil and injustice, according to several warnings in the Holy Quran. “Indeed, those who disbelieve and commit wrong or injustice – never will Allah forgive them, nor will He guide them to a path.” (4:168) Speaking a word of justice to an unjust ruler is considered the highest kind of jihad in the eyes of Allah, according to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Narrated Abu Sa’id al-Khudri: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: The best fighting (jihad) in the path of Allah is (to speak) a word of justice to an oppressive ruler. (Sunan Abi Dawud 4344) There are numerous facets to justice. The theological meaning of justice is, broadly speaking, the vertical dimension of justice between people and God, while all forms of fairness between individuals is social justice. This would cover a wide range of topics, from macro political and macroeconomic factors to micro-level interpersonal relationships between relatives, friends, neighbours, and other people. The idea from the Qur'an that best represents social justice is the Arabic term qist (fairness), which denotes a feeling of equality and justice in distribution as well as a shared societal purpose to ensure that every member of society receives their fair share. Political justice, according to mutual consultation, includes just population management (Qur'an 42:38). There are numerous verses from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that extol the virtues of the just ruler and promise paradise to the just ruler. The Prophet also said that speaking the truth in front of an oppressive ruler is the most honourable struggle. The latter idea serves as a strong inspiration for political activists who advocate for human rights. How would God sanctify a nation that does not shield its weak from its strong? The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said so, after learning about a situation in which an elderly woman was pushed in Abyssinia. So, a nation's wealth and well-being are at stake when its citizens fail to protect the vulnerable from those in positions of control. Fairness in the allotment and distribution of resources to all individuals and social groupings is necessary for social justice. This is why Islam places such a strong focus on helping the underprivileged. The two primary obligations of believers, which the Qur'an constantly mentions (e.g., Qur'an 27:3), are a prayer to God and alms-tax, also known as Zakah, or alms-giving. Zakh is the Islamic responsibility that every Muslim who has sufficient income must fulfil by giving 2.5% of their assets to the underprivileged and in need. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave the people various directives when he first arrived in Madinah, which included "supporting the weak, assisting the oppressed, and spreading peace." (Sahih Bukhari 6235) The fundamental tenet of Islamic action is to constantly defend the oppressed. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned, "Beware of the supplication of the oppressed, for there is no barrier between it and God. If Allah listens to the oppressed, then so should we. (Jami al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2014) (Continued) ---- Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. Part One: Social Reformation from the Perspective of the Biography of the Prophet Muhammad Pbuh Part 1 URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/reformation-biography-prophet-muhammad-part-2/d/129378 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Sufism Is All about Loving Humanity and Discovering One’s Own Self to Understand God Almighty

By Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam 22 March 2023 The Concept of Loving God And Loving Creatures Among the Sufis of the Mazhab-e-Ishq Main Points: 1. Sufis advocated for loving God, His prophets and Humanity 2. Baba Farid preferred to receive a needle instead of a knife since his purpose in life was to unite people rather than divide them. 3. The Sufis of the Mazhab-e-Ishq developed the traditional divisions between "real love," which is directed towards Allah, and "metaphorical love," which is directed towards creatures. 4. The Sufis looked for the Divine inside humanity. 5. The Sufis of the Path of Love always prioritised spiritual experience over theoretical understanding, seeking the Divine inside their own being. 6. The Sufis hold that the core of hatred is to despise the sin, not the sinner. ------- Mevlana Museum Mevlevi Order Sufism Islamic art Dervish, ----- Sufis advocated for loving God, His prophets, and all people in general. The Sufis believed that while doing prayers and observing fasts were significant components of faith, people needed to go further and serve and love all living things. For example, we could relate a story about Baba Farid Ganj-e-Shakar. Once a man visited Baba Farid, and attempted to give him a knife. The Sufi saint told him that he preferred to receive a needle instead of the knife since his purpose in life was to unite people rather than divide them (Sui Ki Tarah Journey Ke Liye Dunya Mein Hoon, Chhuri Ki Tarah Kaatne Ke Liye Nahi). The books on Sufism give descriptions of a number of Sufis who have chosen to be identified as adherents of the Religion of Passionate Love [Mazhab-E-Ishq]. In Islamic thinking, the word "Mazhab" was used in a variety of contexts. The meaning of "path" was what the Sufis of the Mazhab-e-Ishq had in mind when they employed this phrase. This phrase, the Mazhab-e-Ishq, is also translated as the "Creed of Love" and the "Religion of love." The Sufis prioritise passionate love as the primary method of contacting Allah Almighty when they follow the Path of Love. These Sufis developed the traditional divisions between "real love," which is directed towards Allah, and "metaphorical love," which is directed towards creatures, made by earlier Sufis, and at times they dissociated themselves from it. Their understanding of love was more nebulous and even mysterious, and they aimed to investigate the numerous nuances of its manifestations. They discussed the Divine in their studies of love by using well-known images that had originally been established in the context of human love. These Sufis spoke about the Divine (and humanity) with a special interest, if not obsession, with beauty (Jamaal), the most important manifestation of the Beloved. This frequently led them to believe that certain people were Divine manifestations (Tajalli), though not in the sense of incarnations, which they rejected as Hulul. They would also observe numerous signs of the Divine in the natural world. A rose may serve as a reminder of the Divine Splendour, and a loved one's beauty mark may serve as a reminder of the Divine Unity. The Sufis looked for the Divine inside humanity. They identified the Path of God, from God to God and as being distinct from the typical travel from this world to the Hereafter (Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Raji'un) (Qur'an 2:156). Its ultimate goal cannot be discovered in either this world or paradise. The path of the seeker lies within himself or herself; it cannot be found merely by intellect and what the seeker knows and observes. According to the Qur'an, "Do they not consider in their own selves (Fi Anfusikum Afala Tubsirun)," one must look within oneself. [Qur'an 51:21] The Sufis of the Mazhab-e-Ishq have focused much of their attention on this inner path of love. The Sufis of the Path of Love always prioritised spiritual experience over theoretical understanding, seeking the Divine inside their own being. It is crucial to remember that they did not intend to eradicate theoretical knowledge; in fact, they have left behind some of the most comprehensive theoretical works in Islamic history. Instead, they sought to emphasise that, in the end, it is one's own personal experience—not merely academic knowledge—that will lead one along the path. According to 'Ayn al-Quzat (d. 1131) the taste of honey in the mouth, not the word honey is what makes it sweet. A striking element of the Mazhab-e-Ishq may be the willingness of the Sufis to admit that many people's adherence to Islam has evolved into something more ritual than personal realisation. As a result, they have devised strategies to exhort people to rise above their "metaphorical Islam" and achieve a greater level of God-realization. These Sufis do not encourage individuals to abandon their religion or advocate a "spirituality" that is distinct from particular religious doctrines and practises. Instead, they would invert symbols that many Muslims represented "lesser" beliefs. The Sufis of the Mazhab-e-Ishq assert that Islam, or "Submission," is the true path that connects people to God Almighty. According to them, God Almighty considers a path that does not result in insight (aagahi) to be just as bad as infidelity. The Sufis won the hearts of the people by adhering to the Holy Prophet's teachings, which served as an example for them in performing humanitarian services. They attracted admirers from various racial and religious backgrounds because of their love of creation. According to Hazrat Sheikh Khawaja Usman Haruni, when someone offers a thirsty person water, all of his sins are pardoned and it is as if he has just left his mother's womb. He will thereafter be designated as a martyr. He further said, "Whoever offers food to the hungry, Allah will fulfil thousand of his wishes, save him from the fires of Hell, and create a dwelling for him in Paradise. (Majlis 10, Annesul Arwaah, Mashmoola Hasht Behesht) In his Maktoobat-e-Sadi, Hazrat Sheikh Sharafuddin Yahya Muniri states: “Serving and helping others has many benefits and is a manifestation of submission to the All-Powerful God. The benefits of humanitarian service cannot be attained through other forms of obedience. One benefit is the passing away of the rebellious self (Nafs), which formerly enjoyed living under the control of the mind. Humility and modesty come into play. Morality, decorum, and civility begin to emerge. It encompasses both Tareeqah and the Sunnah. Man's internal and external representations both become more refined and enlightened. These benefits are exclusively available to those who participate in the humanitarian service programme.” The book also discusses several approaches to approaching God. Someone questioned a revered saint. The saint replies that every particle in the universe is a pathway to God. We have achieved our goal by upholding it and transferring it to our offspring since it is the only one that comes close to or is more successful in providing comfort to God's creatures. The saint states that serving others is the highest and most important kind of obedience, even if the Sufi society engages in unfathomable words, acts, and worship. (Maktoobat-e-Sadi, Discourse 71) According to the Sufis of the Mazhab-e-Ishq, the Path of Love leads to the Path of God Almighty. In actuality, the Mazhab-e-Khuda, which might be translated as "the way of God," is the way of love. Humanity can only reach the Divine via love. They asked Husayn Mansur [Hallaj]: “Which path are you on?” He said: “I am on God’s path.” (Ana ‘Ala Madhhab Rabbi ). [Ayn al-Quzat Hamadani, Tamhidat , 22] The following Quranic verse could be interpreted as the ocean into which all Sufis of the "Path of Love" have dove for ages in search of pearls: God Almighty has said: “He loves them, and they love him.” [Qur’an 5:54] One can even contend that the entire mystical love in Islam is a mirror of the verse mentioned above. It is not a coincidence that the first thing mentioned in this verse is God's love for people. The only appropriate human response to God's love is love itself. The Sufis had a deep intellectual disagreement over the relationship between the love of God and the love of Creation. Many early Sufis, including Dataa Hujweri, felt that the word "Ishq" should not be used to describe humanity's love for the Divine. It is preferable to use words like "Mohabbat" instead. Some Sufis, like Ruzbihan Baaqli, who wanted to stop the term "Ishq" from being used to describe both divine and human love, claimed that human love served as a kind of "ladder" that led to the [higher] Divine Love. The love for creation (which would obviously include love for and among humans) has been relegated to the status of "metaphorical" [Majaazi] love by later Sufis and many modern academics of Sufism (Majaazi). The Sufis of the Mazhab-e-Ishq dissociated themselves from the aforementioned categorizations and declared that the love of God is an Ishq that would embrace all of His creations. The Sufis hold that the core of hatred is to despise the sin, not the sinner. This suggests that while you should despise the fault of the sinner, you shouldn't despise the sinner themselves because they are human beings who deserve respect. ----- A regular columnist with NewAgeIslam.com, Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi Dehlvi is a classical Islamic scholar with a Sufi background and an English-Arabic-Urdu Translator. URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-ideology/sufism-humanity-self-god-almighty/d/129371 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Instead Of Scriptural Mumbo-Jumbo, Muslims Must Read Musaddas-e-Haali

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 22 March 2023 "When Muslims Are In The Midst Of An Existential Crisis, Should We Be Entertaining Ourselves With Futile Attempts To Find Modern Science In The Quran Or Making Senseless Points Such As The Superiority Of The Quran Over Science? Do We Need New Insights Into Whether Souls Exist Or Not Or How Exactly Resurrection Will Be Effectuated When These Are Just Myths Indulged In By Idle Fabulists? Should We Give Any Credence To Outlandish Assertions That Man Is Not Capable Of Developing Moral Principles? " "Ek Woh Hain Ke Jinhein Chaand-Sitaron Ka Tajassus/ Ek Hum Hain Ke Un Ki Zulfon Mein Kham Dhoondh Rahe Hain " (There're people who're exploring new heights/ And here, we're still stuck in the tresses of our beloved)." Musaddas e Haali ------ Muslims may take umbrage but this is the truth. Instead of addressing a plethora of urgent issues that have plagued the community and mankind at large, there're people, particularly interpreters, who're still unnecessarily trying to explain eschatological and esoteric beliefs that are absolutely useless to Muslims and humanity in general. They must learn a lesson from history. How learned Hindus of ancient India did the same stupidity and was enslaved for nearly 1200 years. When Adi Shankar and Mandan Mishra were engaged in futile religious discourse regarding the (perceived) nature of Brahma in Saharsa (Bihar), early Muslim invaders were spreading their tentacles in the sub-continent. Mandan Mishra's erudite student Vachaspati Mishra wrote recondite treatise after treatise on the essence of divinity and Brahman. Did those scholarly works help India or humanity? Did they provide even a morsel to one hungry soul? The great Panini, world's first linguist and the author of Ashtadhyayi, couldn't stop the forced and violent conversions of his descendants who're now called Panini Muslims. Instead of reading and wasting time on whether or not soul exists, what happens on the Day of Judgement and all that utter Quranic nonsense, Muslims must read Altaf Hussain Hali Panipati's ' Musaddas-e-Hali ' that examines the state of social and moral degradation prevalent in the contemporary Muslim society. It's said that this book was read every day in every Muslim`s house of the country. For, it contained the mistakes and the reasons that caused the downfall of Muslim empire in India. This book was used for boosting the dwindling morale of Muslims. Art for Hali was a handmaid to life. Hali harnessed his poetic abilities to the higher aims of social and moral edification. Muslim exegetes of today must follow Altaf Hussain Hali's example. They (Muslims) should also read Dr Iqbal's Madras lectures (between December 1928 to January 1929) compiled as " The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam." Remember, religious and scriptural mumbo-jumbo will not take Muslims anywhere. Sorry, if I sound too pontificating in my article. ------ A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/scriptural-muslims-musaddas-haali/d/129370 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Deobandism Negates Influence of Local Culture on Islam While Barelvism Promotes Indian Islam

By New Age Islam Staff Writer 21 March 2023 Culture Is the Bone Of Contention between the Two Indian Sects Darul Uloom Deoband in Uttar Pradesh | Commons ------ The Deobandi and the Barelvi sects represent two opposite views of Islam. They differ on the interpretation of Tauheed and on the issue of assimilation of local culture in Islamic practices, dress and fine arts. The difference in the approach of the two schools of thought is rooted in history. Islam was introduced to the people of the Indian sub- continent first by the Arab traders, then by Muslim rulers and lastly by sufis. Indians knew about Islam through the accounts of Arab traders who built the first mosque called Cheraman mosque during the life time of the prophet of Islam pbuh. Then came Muhammad bin Qasim in the 8th century who conquered Sindh and established an Islamic state in Sindh. From then onwards, Sufis travelled to the different parts of Indian sub- continent and spread the concepts of brotherhood, unity of God, equality and piety among the people. Till that period, Islamic literature was not available in compiled form and so sufis or religious teachers used to teach the basics of Islam. The converts used to follow their cultural practices apart from following the basic tenets of Islam. Sufis were liberal in their approach to religion and so they did not oppose cultural practices of the Indian Muslims so long as they followed the basic practices of Islam. Since Islamic literature (Quran, Hadith and Islamic jurisprudence) was not available in Indian language, the neo Muslims largely followed their cultural practices along with the practices of their newly adopted religion. Literacy was minimum in those days and so people knew about Islam through word of mouth. This is how what we can call Indian Islam developed. This version of Islam was not in confrontation of the dominant culture of India and Hindus and Muslims found many common grounds to co -exist peacefully. The converted Muslims venerated sufis under whose influence they converted to Islam as they venerated rishis and munis before accepting Islam. This is the historical background of venerating shrines of sufis by the Indian Muslims. Shah Waliullah is the first religious scholar who compiled Islamic literature in India. He translated the Quran in Persian, the lingua franca of Mughal India and popularised Hadith among the Muslims. The students graduating from his madrasa, came out with the knowledge of Quran and hadiths and Islamic jurisprudence. Gradually, Muslims of India became aware of the teachings of Quran and hadiths in detail and became more aware of their religious identity. Then in 1866, Deoband madrasa was established which followed and taught Quran, Hadith and Hanafi jurisprudence which was already compiled at the behest of Emperor Aurangzeb. Deoband madrasa stressed on the puritanical nature of Islam and encouraged all dissociation from Indian cultural influences as un-Islamic. This approach was supported by some hadiths that discouraged any resemblance with the practices of the Jews. Thus visiting and venerating shrines of Sufis, dancing and singing and dressing like non- Muslims was declared un- Islamic. All this was, however, done on the basis of a conservative interpretation of the Quran and hadith. Singing and music was not strictly prohibited by Islam. There are instances from the life of the prophet pbuh when he allowed song and music on special occasions. During the 30s, the rise of the Tablighi Jamaat promoted this strict interpretation of Islam among the Indian Muslims. It may have been the need of the hour for the reform of illiterate Muslims who were not aware of the basic teachings of Islam and practiced what is called Biddat in Islam. This group became an influential carrier of Deobandism in India. It aimed at purification of Indian Muslim society from all local cultural influences. Ahmd Raza Khan’s sect called Barelvi Maslak opposed Deobandism and recognised local cultural influences. It recognised veneration of Sufis and saints and recognised the stance of some sufis who allowed Raqs (dance) and Mausiqi (music) as part of Samaa (Qawwali). Barelvism aims at promoting an Indian version of Islam which respects and assimilates Indian cultural norms into Islamic society of India. However, at some point, both resort to exaggeration which Quran disapproves. Deobandis stresses on simplicity and strict adherence to piety that this version of Islam becomes very difficult to follow in the modern scientific world while the Barelvis sometimes become so liberal in the name of veneration of the holy prophet pbuh and sufi shrines that elevate the prophet and the Sufis to the status of God. The difference of opinion goes so far as declaring one another Kafir (disbeliever). This is an unhealthy approach which both the sects should shun. ----- Deobandis Arabising Indian Muslims in Name of Islam—A Culture War Barelvis Fought For 150 Yrs By Amana Begam 18 March, 2023 Majority of Indian Muslims follow the Barelvi school of thought, many others follow Deobandism and other sects. Growing up, I didn’t have much of an idea about schisms within the Muslim community. The Tablighi Jamaat, a non-political Deobandi missionary organisation, had been reaching out to Muslims since the 1920s to teach the ‘right kind of Islam’, preaching ideas like venerating shrines is shirk or sin of idolatry and should be avoided at all costs. It was only in the 1990s that I witnessed conflict at home when some of the family members went the Deobandi way — there were heated debates about whether or not certain rituals were prescribed by Islam. That’s how I learnt that my family was a follower of the Barelvi version of Sunni Islam. In fact, there are people who follow neither denomination and many other diverse Islamic traditions exist in South Asia, I discovered. The Fundamental Difference Barelvi and Deobandi schools of thought originated in South Asia during the 19th century. Their religious-political rivalry is considered one of the most significant schisms within Sunni Islam and in the Muslim world. The most recent manifestation of this over-a-century-old rivalry has been the debate on the radicalism of the Deobandis — the alleged use of violence and terror, especially in Pakistan. The antagonism started from an ideological battle that saw influencing converts, propagating conflicted visions of the future with a desire to dominate the new ‘Islamic’ polity. The Barelvi subsect emphasises the importance of the veneration of Prophet Muhammad and Sufi saints. Barelvis believe in celebrating the Prophet’s birthday and are known for using music and dance in their religious practices. They also believe in intercession through the last messenger of Islam and his family. More than two-thirds of India’s 17.2 crore Muslims prescribe to the Barelvi School and follow Islam enriched by its contact with fertile local cultures and marvel at Sufi traditions. Whereas Deobandi is a revivalist movement that emphasises the return to the original practices of Islam — a back-to-basics approach to the faith. Deobandis focus on the study of Islamic texts and the promotion of Islamic education, particularly through madrasas. They reject the veneration of Sufi saints and emphasise strict adherence to Islamic law and practice. Deobandism rejects all scientific theories that are not integral to the study of the Quran and the Hadith. It also rejects any form of culture, tradition, or even etiquette that does not have its roots in Islam. A Culture War Too On ground, the most significant differences between the Deobandis and Barelvis are related to local customs and traditions. While the Barelvi School never stressed much on rejecting local customs or labelling them as “Hinduaana” and against the Islamic spirit, the Deobandi movement always focused on a puritanical version of Islam and began the Arabisation of Indian Muslims in the name of Islamisation. Followers of the Barelvi School observe Eid Milad-un-Nabi, (the Prophet’s birthday) every year. However, influenced by the Wahhabism movement, which originated in the Arab world in the 18th century and is a subset of the broader Salafism, Deobandi Muslims began to disapprove Eid Milad-un-Nabi celebration, considering it an illicit religious innovation and calling it Bid’ah. While Barelvi followers venerate shrines and the graves of their ancestors on Shab-e-Barat, Deobandis argue that the practice is shirk because it is not observed in the Wahhabi tradition in Arabia and should be banned in all parts of the world. The two schools also have differing opinions on music. Barelvis observe a ritual called ‘group Zikr’, the synchronised movement of the body while chanting the names of God, and participate in Qawwalis. Deobandis, though, see most forms of music as haraam or forbidden. They have also exerted a cultural influence on Indian Muslims in various ways — earlier, women used to wear saris, dhotis, Mangalsutras and even Sindoor. Women in my family never wore a veil but used a black Chaadar (sheet) to travel. Now we see more and more Muslim women donning the Burqa or Abaya after the Arabian tradition. Khan vs Khan During the 18th and 19th centuries when Muslim political power was declining in India, several new Islamic strains began making waves among the Muslim community in the subcontinent. They can be classified into two principal groups. One, the ‘purifiers’. They attributed the fall of the Muslims in part to the corruption of the Ummah (the Muslim community), particularly in the subcontinent, with the accretion of pagan rituals and philosophy and other ‘false practices’. They were often erroneously lumped together as the ‘Wahhabis’. Two, the ‘modernists’. They reinterpreted Islam in light of a “modern” (Western) perspective, adhering to its science and philosophy. This approach was a direct result of British rule in India, as most educated, upper-class Muslims struggled with certain aspects of their faith when Western education, culture, and influence made inroads into the community. This category is perhaps best represented by Syed Ahmad Khan’s Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College (now Aligarh Muslim University) cadres. This milieu, which had its own wide spectrum of opinions and interpretations, marked the majority of Indian Muslims’ fight against both the supposed Wahhabism of the Deobandis (as well as the real Wahhabis) and the blasphemous modernism of Aligarh. Ahmad Raza Khan, Islamic scholar in Bareilly, emerged as the ‘founder’ of the Barelvi movement. The Deobandis established their first madrasa, the Darul Uloom Deoband, in 1866 in Deoband to impart training in Deobandi Islam. A few decades later, Ahmed Raza Khan founded the first Barelvi School, the Jamia Razvia Manzar-e-Islam, in 1904 in Bareilly. Khan spent a lifetime writing fatwas. While it is believed that Barelvi Islam incorporates local culture, there has been a recent rise of radicalism in some regions. Pakistan’s far-Right extremist Islamic political party the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), is an example. While navigating the Deobandi-Barelvi rivalry, we forget a key important question: What is their aim? The rivalry is more about the desire to dominate the Ummah. And their visions, though differing on the idea of a future Islamic epoch, are based on the glorious past of Islam. Though Indian Muslims may feel more comfortable with the Barelvi sect, since it allows them to stay connected with their culture and traditions, what role does the denomination play in assimilating them into the mainstream? ----- Amana Begam Ansari is a columnist and TV news panelist. She runs a weekly YouTube show called ‘India This Week by Amana and Khalid’. Source: Deobandis Arabising Indian Muslims in Name of Islam—A Culture War Barelvis Fought For 150 Yrs hURL: https://newageislam.com/the-war-within-islam/deobandism-negates-influence-culture-barelvism/d/129367 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Social Reformation from the Perspective of the Biography of the Prophet Muhammad Pbuh Part 1

By Kaniz Fatma, New Age Islam 21 March 2023 Examining Areas of Social Reformation In Light Of Sirat Al-Nabi Main Points: 1. This world is a garden of humanity where different kinds of individuals live. 2. Allah sent countless Prophets to teach people and transform societies. 3. The beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is one of such prophets who illuminated the entire globe. 4. The first society that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) interacted with was the Bedouin society of Arabs, where there was widespread instability, hostility between people, and the use of racist and prejudiced slogans was on the rise. 5. The human society in Makkah started speaking with justice and fairness as a result of the Prophet's (PBUH) initial efforts. ------- This world is a garden of humanity where different kinds of individuals live. Historically speaking, there have always been two types of people. On the one hand, a great number of historical personalities have left behind documentation of their lives as examples for subsequent generations. Because of this, great men are revered as role models and remembered by people all across the world. There have, however, also been those who have a reputation for cruel behaviour and vicious oppression. Allah sent countless Prophets to teach people and transform societies. The prophets' call and preaching—in which they displayed their high morals and characters in front of their nation and people—produced the manner, morality, peace and justice, humanity, and social strength that may be found in any corner of society at this time, as history attests. The beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is one of such prophets. With his great character, noble behaviour, good deeds, and truthful advice, he illuminated the entire globe. The first society that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) interacted with was the Bedouin society of Arabs, where there was widespread instability, hostility between people, and the use of racist and prejudiced slogans was on the rise. A shadow was cast over human civilization by conflict, looting, alcoholic haze, adultery, and deception. The powerful individuals made the life of the weak and defenceless individuals unpleasant. In this situation, a lone Prophet stands up and chants the catchphrase of the social reformation. In spite of these hopeless conditions and the never-ending cycle of tyranny and oppression, he kept fighting for social reformation. The holy Prophet fought against the oppressive winds that attacked humanity. He calmed the stormy waves of evil, paving the path for world peace and safety. He shouted aloud: "I was only sent to perfect moral character" {Reported by Bukhari, Muslim & Ahmad} He had a strong voice and a message, a revolution and a struggle, a caring and a yearning, as well as a feeling of responsibility, courage, and devotion. He invited all of mankind with his morals and character, and his strong morals later made him a lighthouse for all of humanity. If a person is a wealthy merchant, he should learn about the merchant of Hazrat Khadija. If someone is an orphan, he or she should think about Hazrat Aamina's beloved son. He should address the guest of Abu Ayyub Ansari if there is one. The labourer who dug the trench and built the Prophet's mosque is a good example to follow if someone wants to understand what it's like to be a worker. If someone is a king, he should research the Madinian emperor's life. Anyone interested in becoming a general should research the generals of Badr, Uhud, and Hunain. If someone is a teacher, he should learn from Suffa's teachers. If there is a judge, he should see the judgment of judges of the Medina court. If someone is a husband, he should take advice from Hazrat Ayesha's husband. The father of Hazrat Fatima should serve as an example for all fathers. Zayd bin Haritha's master should be consulted by anyone claiming to be a master. Look at Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique's friend to determine whether or not someone is a friend. The holy Prophet's personal qualities include kindness, compassion, worship, discipline, courage and generosity, justice, self-sacrifice, feeling of responsibility, humility, patience and steadfastness, to name a few. His life serves as an example of right, truth, and honesty for all of humanity. Allah, the Almighty, declared: “And you are certainly on the most exalted standard of moral excellence.” (68:4) The Prophet (PBUH) was usually engaged in acts of prayer, charitable work, or wishing God's creation well when he was thirty years old. At this time, Makkah was in bad condition, and kidnapping, theft, adultery and oppression were major business. He was always thinking about and worrying about how to purge these evils. As he met with the chiefs of other tribes, he used to bring this issue up in order to prepare them for peace, justice, and the general welfare of the Makkan society. Following these initial efforts, a party that included the residents of Banu Hashim, Banu Muttalib, Banu Asad, Banu Zahra, and Banu Tamim was eventually created. (See p. 261 of Al-Seera al-Nabawiyyah, vol. 1 by Ibn Kathir) The people joining this party agreed on the following: 1- We will establish peace in the country. 2- We will protect the visitors and travellers. 3- We will help the poor and oppressed people. 4- We will stop the cruel and oppressive people from committing cruelty and oppression. The human society in Makkah started speaking with justice and fairness as a result of the Prophet's (PBUH) initial efforts. Since people's lives and property were being protected, the society started to blossom with the blooms of love and fraternity. The Prophet (peace be upon him) expanded the definition of social justice to include the entire human race, including the young, the old, men, women, Muslims, and non-Muslims because all of Creation has been referred to as the family of Allah Almighty and has been commanded to do righteousness and good. (Continued) ------ Kaniz Fatma is a classic Islamic scholar and a regular columnist for New Age Islam. URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/social-reformation-biography-prophet-muhammad-part-1/d/129366 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Reason versus Religion

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 21 March 2023 “Many developed countries have achieved remarkable success in terms of scientific and rational thinking of their people. Religions in these countries have little clout. These countries are also the most democratic, egalitarian and high rankers in the happiness index. On the other hand, many developing countries are moving into the reverse direction. " Mr Ashok Sharma from “Can Rationalists Fight Religious Bigots?: Transcript Of A Speech By Ambassador Ashok Sharma In Delhi” Mr Sharma's pithy observation is spot-on. Wherever people have moved away from god and religion, the societies are peaceful and enriched. For example, Western Europe, esp. the Scandinavian countries. Look at the state of Pakistan and Bangladesh, two fanatic countries where reason has no place and religion rules the roost. In fact, reason and religion are antitheses of each other. Both have always been at loggerheads. Bigoted minds don't listen to the voice of reason because the mind of a bigot is like the pupil of the eye; the more light you pour upon it, the more it'll contract. Evolutionary biologists and anthropologists believe that the brain of an average religious person (not all) is often impervious to reasoning. That's why, no amount of logic and science can make such a hardened brain see sense. Two examples will make it clear. Hindus believe that their monkey god, Hanuman, was the son of Vaayu Dev (god of air) and Anjana. Hanuman is often referred to as Pavan Putra or Anjaneya by Hindus. Both were extremely good looking (at least, mythologically) but their son was born as a monkey with a tail. No believer has any answer or explanation to it. But ask this. Your existence will vanish into thin 'air' (pun intended). Second example is from Islam. Till 840 AD, written Arabic was extremely fluid. Arabic scholars Noldeke, Gibb and Yahya Minfirab called it ' an orthographically amorphous and ambiguous ' language. It was linguistically standardized only in the second half of the 9th century, whereas the Qur'an was written well before the said period. It stands to reason that if Arabic was script-wise not fully developed when the verses of Qur'an were being received, how can anyone be sure of their explanations and interpretations which can never be definitive? That's why, the Qur'an is so ridiculously and bafflingly interpretative. A rationalist can understand this but will a believer ever accept that much of the Qur'an is written by humans? He (believer) will verbally or physically, depending upon the level of education, challenge the rationalists because he doesn't have much wherewithal to defend his ramshackle religious views. Here lies the danger in the form of a potential threat to one's life. What happened to the rationalists like Dr Narendra Dabholkar, Kalburgi, Pansare and Gauri Lankesh? All were killed by fanatic Hindus. Rational bloggers questioning Islam, Muhammad's outlandish claims and the authenticity of Quranic verses are being killed at regular intervals, esp. in Islamic countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Syria, Sudan, among others. Unless, a safe and secure space is created for a healthy discussion, involving rationalists and hard-core believers, we shall continue to witness a simmering difference between the two groups. It's, therefore, a sine qua non for both rationalists and believers to be level-headed and able to accept all types of views without resorting to violence or vitriol. Let religions also survive along with their concocted gods as humans still need them. But we can all be a bit more rational. The marriage between the reason and religion is not impossible. However, what kind of offspring will this union produce, remains to be seen. ------ A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/reason-religion-rational/d/129365 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Stop Denigrating Homosexuals and Transgenders

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 20 March 2023 Muslims denigrating those Muslims who've a homosexual orientation and are transgenders is sheer ignorance and lack of education. Comparing homosexuality to paedophilia is even greater stupidity. They should know that while the former is just a genetic sexual orientation, the latter is an outright vice and an unmitigated criminal offence. Paedophiles are sexual predators. But homosexuals are not a threat to society. Homosexuality or lesbianism is not a sexual disorder or neurosis. It's an ingrained alternative (sexual) choice some are born with. Homosexuals and transgenders have no control over their psycho-physical sexual orientations. They've been made like that by nature or freak genetic mutations. That said, homophobia is not just limited to the Muslim society. Followers of all faiths have a 'queer' (pun intended) attitude towards homosexuals, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders. While Hindus were pretty cool about homosexuality till the 10th century and the early Zoroastrians accepted it without much fuss, things slowly began to change with the advent of Semitic morality. I don't want to repeat the same things. But it must be mentioned that the general attitude towards these 'special people' is still not very welcoming. They're pariah and social outlaws. C G Jung, he had queer leanings, wrote a long essay, Understanding Homosexuality. He opined that humans were predominantly made heterosexuals for the purpose and perpetuation of progeny. Since heterosexuals always outnumbered homosexuals and the early humans had been seeing only the straights, those with a different sexual choice and proclivity got snowed under the avalanche of heterosexuals, leading our ancestors to believe that only heterosexuality was natural and homosexuality was unnatural. Alfred Russel Wallace's ' Factor of overwhelming majority, ' explains how majoritarian heterosexuals almost decimated homosexuals over a period of time. It's worthwhile to mention that Wallace independently conceived the theory of evolution through natural selection. His name is bracketed with Charles Darwin for the Theory of Evolution. Homosexuals suffered an evolutionary setback even in the prehistoric and pre-religion era and when religions came into existence, they simply tried to wipe out those with same-sex inclinations because of their homophobic god's perceived atavistic hatred for the queers. It's, therefore, time for all of us to treat the homosexuals, queers, gays, bi and transgenders as humans and stop looking at them through the prism of religions and existing social mores and morality. We've had enough of religion-induced fake morality that professes hatred and discrimination among humans. ------ A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/denigrating-homosexuals-transgenders/d/129355 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism

Buddhism Is Not a Simplification of Hinduism

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 18 March 2023 One doesn't agree with Peter Kreeft's condescending observation that Buddhism is a simplification of Hinduism (please refer to Comparing Christianity & Islam). Buddhism is an independent and separate faith and didn't branch out of Hinduism as the general tenor is. The whole argument that Buddhism originated from a preexisting belief system is erroneous. Following are the differences between the two religions or belief systems. This will dispel any doubt one may have about their distinction and relationship: Buddhism does not believe in an eternal Self. Hinduism does. Buddhism does not believe in an eternal God. Hinduism does. Buddhism does not acknowledge that god created worlds and beings. Hinduism does. Buddhism does not believe in eternal life through liberation. Hinduism does. Buddhism holds the Eightfold Path as the only path to liberation. Hinduism does not. Buddhism rejects the validity of the Vedas. Hinduism venerates them. Buddhism rejects the divine basis of the caste system. It is inbuilt in Hindu worldview. Buddhism rejects the justification for animal sacrifices. Hinduism does not. Buddhism does not believe in oneness with the Self. Hinduism does. Buddhism recognizes objective reality only. Hinduism recognizes subjective reality also. Buddhism does not acknowledge transcendental states. Hinduism does. Buddhism does not believe that gods are eternal or immortal. Hinduism does. Buddhism does not obligate sacrificial ceremonies to nourish gods. Hinduism does. Buddhist nirvana is the cessation of beingness. Hindu moksha is liberation into eternal freedom. Buddhism is a Nastik or atheistic belief system, whereas Hinduism is predominantly a theistic belief system. One may argue that Charvaka and Sankhya Darshan are atheistic but both the cults never identified themselves with the pristine Hinduism, Hindu belief system or Hindu consciousness. Lastly, Buddhism is a non-religious evolutionary process (Buddhatva) whereas Hinduism is a primarily religious evolutionary process. That Buddhism also became ritualistic and is not compliant with modern scientific temperament is an altogether different issue. In fact, Jainism is closer to Hinduism than Buddhism is to Hinduism. Jains still identify themselves with Hindus but Buddhists don't. Here one doesn't talk of Ambedkar's Navayana Buddhism or Neo-Buddhism. That's Political Buddhism and has a vestigial allegiance to Hinduism. Kreeft ends with a pontificating statement that 'Christians should hope and pray that their separated Islamic brothers and sisters be reunited with our common Father by finding Christ the Way. We cannot stop "proselytizing," for proselytizing means leading our brothers Home.' This is what we call evangelical spiritual snobbishness of a typical Christian who wants to Christianise the whole world and put his Jesus on the highest pedestal of divinity and also project him as the saviour of mankind just like an average Muslim thinks that mankind must accept Islam and its Allah. This missionary zeal must stop, for, the humans need humanity, not religiosity. We don't require hoary old Books but books that can help humans evolve and be better in all respects and aspects. Kahlil Gibran's ' The Prophet’, Walt Whitman's ' Leaves of grass, ' Rumi's sayings (non-religious ones) and Ralph Waldo Emerson's books can eclipse all the scriptures in profundity, nous, deep insights and the ultimate wisdom. ------ A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/buddhism-simplification-hinduism/d/129347 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism