Reformation
& Regeneration
Question:-
According to some people:-
(1) Islam as practiced by Muslims is corrupted
and requires reformation.
(2) The Constitution of the USA is compatible with Islam.
(3) The Reformation of Islam could take place
in the USA.
A Muslim Scholar recently wrote:-
"In short Islam, as corrupted, cannot be
'reformed'. It can be 'renewed' and has been at the head of each century, but
this has never overtaken the Muslim world so as to repeal the Abbasid 'reform'
See: http://www.muslimamerica.net/mp/stranger.htm on the Internet for some
related prophecies. It is our belief, in America, that this cannot happen in
the terminally collapsed millennial Muslim World until it has first happened
far beyond the reach of that tyranny, in a place where religious liberty is
fundamental to the thinking of the population and the power of government is subject
to popular restraint. See http://www.muslimamerica.net/mp/siyasa.htm for some
seminal thought suggesting that this 're-formation' occurs in America."
What is your opinion on this subject?
Comment:-
The Quran does warn us that every
"Announcement" has a term 6:67 and:-
"Every nation (or community) has its
appointed term, and when their appointed term is completed they cannot delay it
an hour, nor can they advance it. 7:34.
"There is a ban upon any community
which We have destroyed that they shall not return." 21:95
If a people degenerate then they are
replaced:-
"But if you turn your backs, then I
have conveyed to you that wherewith I was sent to you; and my Lord will replace
you with another people. You cannot harm (frustrate) Him at all; verily, my Lord
is Guardian over all things!" 11:57
Also see:- 70:40-41
According to the Quran, the spiritual
impulse, Religion, because it becomes corrupted and degenerates by mingling
with worldly matters, or gets used up in transforming the world, is regenerated
from time to time. There is spiritual death and resurrection just as day and
night follow each other and one generation follows another. The old generations
do not return.
I would agree that it is not possible to
reform existing communities - they are conditioned by their own culture.
Spiritual regeneration requires the formation of new communities. This requires
the arising of spiritual leaders. Muslims in the main have degenerated, but
there are quite a number of small communities of genuine practicing Muslims.
It is possible that
a more general revival of Islam can happen in the USA and spread from there to the
rest of the world. However, it is to be noted that the USA is at
present the centre of Worldliness, a term that can be understood as including
Materialism, Secularism, Commercialism, Consumerism, Atheism, naive
Rationalism, Cynicism, Sensuality and Self-indulgence. This culture is exported
to the rest of the world which it is dominating. But owing to its
superficiality and sterility, there is also a reaction against this that has
led to another extreme, a religious revival of an irrational form of Christianity.
Both feel threatened by, and threaten Islam. A great amount of money and effort
is being spent in the West by both governments and the churches in ideological
campaigns both to demonise Islam and to win the “hearts and minds”
of Muslims. This, in fact, means to obtain their docility and conformity with
Western interests. Western Governments have even undertaken to set up schools
and colleges that use text books approved by them even to train Muslim Imams
and teachers. The tragedy is that this is made possible by the failure of
Muslims to educate their own people though Islam places emphasis on truth,
knowledge and awareness. The filling of this gap by Western forces is regarded
a good thing, even by many Muslims. It is not understood that there is a
fundamental difference of principles between Islam and both Secularism and
Christianity, even if that is correctly understood and practiced. The god of
the Secular world is the trinity of wealth, power and prestige. For Christianity God is Love
(1 John 4:8, 16), though Jesus never taught this (John 3:35, 5:20, 14:21). For
Islam God is Truth or more correctly Reality (Quran 22:62) and He is
Benevolent, Compassionate and Merciful – these are His attributes. From
the Islamic point of view Christianity as understood today has departed from the
teachings of Jesus and Islam is a rectification, a reformation of this. Christianity
requires regeneration and the regeneration of Islam would also be a regeneration
of Christianity, and indeed, of all other religions also.
It is true that originally the establishment
of the USA was like a new
birth - it did not resemble the kind of political systems that existed in Europe but much more like Islam. Indeed, it can be stated
with confidence that the establishment of the USA
was directly linked with the flow of Islamic influences into Europe
that led to the Renaissance, the Reformation and the Enlightenment. The ideas
that caused transformation include the scientific attitude, religious
universality and tolerance, personal responsibility and political system based
on mutual consultation. In fact the exploration that led to the discovery of America had to do with the spices and silks that
Arab merchants brought from the East to Europe and the closing of the overland
route to the East with the conquest of Constantinople
by Muslims. The compass and the idea that the earth was round also entered Europe through Muslims.
The Constitution of the United States
begins:-
"We the People of the United States, in
Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common defence,
promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves
and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United
States of America."
The US Bill of Rights: Amendment I
states:-
"Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of
grievances."
In The Declaration of Independence it is
stated:-
"We hold these truths to be
self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and
the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are
instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the
governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these
ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute
new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers
in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and
Happiness."
Abraham Lincoln in the famous Gettysburg
Address said:-
"It is rather for us to be here dedicated
to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honoured dead we take
increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of
devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in
vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and
that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish
from the earth."
The USA was to have a Democracy under
God. This is exactly what Islam requires.
In so far as the USA claims to champion freedom it
ought to tolerate all Religions as long as they do not attack each other. This
is also the Islamic attitude. People should be free to live according to their
ideals. Free Speech implies that Criticism of the government is allowed and
that people can affirm and propagate their ideals. It is affirmed that the
people have the right to change the government. In fact, the above four
documents that are, or ought to be, the foundations of the USA can be seen
as compatible with Islam. It is even implied that the Creator is Supreme and
that all rights are derived from Him.
But the ideology incorporated in these US
Foundation Documents is incomplete and lopsided because it leaves out two other
factors - the obligations, duties or responsibilities and the consequences,
rewards and punishment that also derive from God.
We could say that the ideals on which the USA was founded
are Islamic implicitly but only partially so explicitly. The reason for this
might be that the Founding Fathers were Free Masons and the roots of Free
Masonry lie in Islam, as several researchers have discovered.
Question:-
You say that the Founders of the USA were
Freemasons and that Freemasonry has roots in Islam. Can you elaborate on this?
Answer:-
You will have to do the research yourself,
but here is a quotation from some research I did:-
Start:-
The contact with Islam also encouraged the
secret transmission of the original teachings of Moses and Jesus within Christianity,
via the Templars and later, the Freemasons. The Templars were a secret society started by Hugues de Payen in 1119 A.D in
order to excavate under the ruins of Solomon's Temple for scrolls about the secret teachings
of Moses and the real history and teachings of Jesus which were thought to be
interred there. Its purpose was to re-establish a New Jerusalem in Europe i.e.
a Kingdom of God. This movement at first flourished
but its secret beliefs began to leak out. A plot between King Philip of France (who was
looking for a way of increasing his wealth) and Pope Clement V led to the
arrest, torture and death of a great number of Templars
and their property was confiscated. Among the charges brought against them were
the following:- They were secret Muslims having more "Mohammadan
infidelity than Christian faith"; despising the Pope and the authority of
the Church, scorning the sacraments, especially those of penance and
confession; that the Order works to put the Holy Land into the hands of the
Saracens; that "many statues of the Order are unlawful, profane and
contrary to Christianity. Note also that Jesus used the symbolism of
"rebirth", but the Quran replaces it with reconstruction as if of a
building, a mosque or place of worship (see Quran 9:109-110 and Hadith). This
symbolism reappears among the Templars and the
Freemasons.
This persecution brought the movement to an
end but not before the secret scrolls had once again been secreted. This was
probably done by Robert St. Claire (Sinclair) in Scotland in a place called Rosslyn Chapel. Freemasonry was developed as a method of
continuing the transmission of this secret. As the word suggests it appears to
have something to do with building, the craft of masonry, but this is an outer
symbol for both Social and Spiritual construction. The collision with Islam had
led to the inflow into Christianity of Islamic ideas which led to the
Reformation and the establishment of the Protestant Churches. The power of the
Pope was broken and Freemasonry was then able to flourish. This movement became
a powerful force in the development of Western Civilization. Among its members
was King James I of England who brought several reforms, Cromwell who tried to
establish Religious Puritanism and Parliamentary Democracy instead of Autocracy
and Kingly amoral whims in Britain; and Francis Bacon, said to be the Father of
Science, who also studied in the Muslim Universities in Spain and was promoted
by James I. Later, Freemasons established The Royal Society for the advancement
of the Sciences, obtaining official recognition through a charter from King
Charles II in 1662. One of its members, also a freemason, among many other
famous scientists, was Sir Isaac Newton, a follower of Pythagoras.
The establishment of the USA appears to
be another result of the indirect influence of Islam. Several of the first
members, who drew up its constitution, including George Washington, and many
later statesmen, were Freemasons. They wished to establish an ideal
God-cantered nation. Freemasons were also responsible for the establishment of
many industries and political, civil and charitable institutions. Certainly the
American political system as originally conceived is quite unlike the Christian
Church or the Monarchies which flourished in Europe, but much more like Islam
in the following respects:- The recognition of God and an objective ideal
(though somewhat vaguely understood); the notion of a written Constitution; the
supremacy of the law rather than human rulers; An elected Head of State rather
than hereditary kings and aristocracies; mutual consultation and consent
(3:159) instead of regimentation and authoritarianism; religious tolerance
(5:69, 2:256 etc.); equality of peoples, races and the sexes; abolition of
slavery (90:13, 4:92, 5:89, 58:3); the acceptance of differences of culture and
habits (22:67); desire for freedom ("oppression is worse than
slaughter" 2:191), human dignity and individualism in the sense of
personal responsibility ("Ye have charge of your own souls" 5:105),
and the acceptance of no authority but God (5:44, 6:56); unlike Christianity,
the need for retaliation (2:178), striving for justice and against evil in the
world (2:218, 5:35, 3:104); morality and law rather than expediency (4:58,
135), respect for knowledge, natural truths and reason, rather than speculation
(17:37); the idea that knowledge should not only be sought, but it should be
applied for useful purposes. There are a greater number of scientists and
scientific research establishments in the USA and it is the greater
application of science to the various aspects of life which has ensured their
position in the world. Though a number of new religious sects and syncretic
"new age cults" have appeared, there is also a great amount of
research into meditation, prayer and other religious and spiritual practices
gathered from the rest of the world and new powerful techniques of development
are emerging which, being increasingly applied by an increasing percentage of
the population, points to a new phase in human evolution.
All this could not have taken place but that America was a
new country with enormous unexplored natural resources and vast spaces, which
attracted the more intelligent and vigorous from many nations, often with
dreams and ideals, seeking freedom to realize them. This caused a mingling and
mutual stimulation between many cultures and ideas, and owing to the relative
shortage of labour encouraged invention, mechanization, the development and
application of the emerging sciences and technology. All this took place at a
distant from the congestion, traditions and power structures of Europe, in a place where new ideas could be freely
applied. But this did not take place in Central and South
America where the Catholic Church held power. Many of the newly emerging
ideas, principles and tendencies passed from the USA
back to Europe and also to other parts of the
World bringing transformation to them also.
However, like all Ideals, these were
gradually ignored, forgotten or eroded. Powerful men arose and gradually took
control of affairs; an increasing number of laws and institutions created an
ever increasingly rigid tradition, and minds came to be controlled by the
increasing strength of the media of communication. But the people are still
ambitious and motivated by a self-image that strives for success, usually
conceived of in monetary, material and social terms. Religion in general has
declined. And yet the American may be regarded as having taken a further step
on the ladder of evolution. They have developed what has been called nafs-i-ammara (12:53), the commanding or egotistical soul, to a
much more general degree than in the past and in other nations where it was
confined only to relatively small ruling groups. It is likely that this
development must necessarily precede the development of nafs-i-Lawwama (75:2), the self-critical soul, which is the next
stage in the spiritual or psychological evolution of humanity. (This is to be
followed by nafs-i-mulhima (34:2), the Inspired Soul,
and then nafs-i-mutmainna (89:27), the Fulfilled Soul
at Peace which returns to the Garden
of God.)
End
Having started with high ideals, the USA has
now become, through its political and economic policies, its wealth, military
power and secret services, a global terrorist organisation
that maintains military bases throughout the world, bullies nations, conducts
spying, intrigue, subversion, lying propaganda, deception, concealment,
provocation, torture, and atrocities. It has supported and set up dictators and
tyrants, toppled elected governments, invaded and bombed, incited civil wars,
caused destruction, chaos, impoverishment and misery in many countries. It has
been responsible or implicated, directly or indirectly, in most of the wars and
the death and mutilation of many tens of millions of people in the last 50
years. As
previously noted it is a centre of Worldliness, of materialism, commercialism, consumerism
and sensuality that is also exported and dominating the world causing many
social, psychological and environmental problems globally. The USA
has become the greatest threat and obstruction to human welfare and progress.
The USA appears to be surviving today
on its past moral and spiritual legacy and the constant "brain drain"
to it from the rest of the world. But these are likely to run out soon. An increasing awareness of
this is bringing some reforms. But there is a three way struggle between
Secularism, Christianity and Islam.
Question:-
How is revival of Islam to be achieved seeing
that there is no Church or central authority in Islam? or any one person that
can officially (in the sense of a Pope or Archbishop) speak for Islam or
Muslims in general.
A Muslim:-
Actually this is both correct and incorrect.
There is one central authority that can
officially speak for Islam and for Muslims in general. That is the Quran, which
does both, in plain language. Moreover, it is replete with Ayats that begin
"Say:" that tell Muslims exactly what to say to various listeners. In
short, there is in the Quran a complete and perfect script for Muslims to
recite that speaks officially for Islam and for Muslims in general. Thus every
Muslim can officially speak for Islam and for Muslims in general by reading
those exact words of the Quran that begin "Say:"
ALLAH Alone has the power to define what the
Quran says, and He says that He has done so in the plain words of the Quran.
The Quran is not addressed to some so they can tell others what it says. It is
addressed to each individual so that he (or she) can read it and determine for
themselves what it means. The Quran places that responsibility with the reader.
Comment:-
This is perfectly true.
However, this also leads to numerous
conflicting interpretations resulting in sectarianism. This would not be bad if
it were also recognised that people tend to have partial understanding, that
the Quran does have multiple meanings and that people ought to strive to expand
their understanding. The Quran forbids sectarianism and also warns:-
"We have revealed in this Quran all
manner of examples, but man is more than anything contentious." 18:55
"Those unto whom We have given the Scripture,
who read it with a right reading, those believe in it. And whoso disbelieves in
it, those are the losers." 2:121
"This (Quran) is naught else than a
reminder unto creation, unto whomsoever of you wills to walk straight. And ye
will not, unless it be that Allah wills, the Lord of Creation." 81:27-29
and 68:52.
"Nay, but it (the Quran) is a clear
revelation in the hearts of those who are endowed with knowledge, and none deny
Our revelations save the wrongdoers (or unjust)." 29:24
"And We reveal in the Quran that
which is a healing and a mercy for believers, though it increase the evil doers
in nothing but ruin." 17:82
"This is indeed a noble Quran in a
Book kept hidden which none touches save the purified, a revelation from the
Lord of the Worlds." 56:77-80
"O you who believe! Be you steadfast
in justice, witnesses for Allah, though it is against yourselves, or your
parents, or your kindred, be it rich or poor, for Allah is nearer both than
either. Follow not, then, lusts (prejudices, superstitions, passions), so as to
act unjustly (or with bias); but if you swerve or turn aside, Allah is well
Aware of what you do." 4:135
"Allah guides not the people who do
evil." 5:51, 108 See also 3:86, 9:19, 24, 37, 80, 109, 16:107 etc.
"Say: Is there any of your associates
who guides unto the truth?" Say, "Allah guides unto the truth."
Is then He who guides unto the truth more worthy to be followed, or he that
guides not except he is himself guided? What ails you then, how judge you? But
most of them follow naught but conjecture (suspicion, fancy, guesswork,
speculation); verily, conjecture can by no means take the place of (or avail
against) truth. Verily, Allah is Aware of what they do." 10:36-37
"Verily, We have sent to every nation
a Messenger, proclaiming: Serve you Allah, and avoid Taghut
(false gods)." And amongst them are some whom Allah has guided, and
amongst them are some for whom error has become established. So travel through
the earth, and behold what was the end of those who denied them. If you are eager
for their guidance, verily, Allah guides not those who go astray (or mislead),
nor have they any helpers." 16:36-37
"Verily, those who disbelieve, it is
the same to them if you warn them or if you warn them not, they will not
believe. Allah has set a seal upon their heart and on their hearing; and on
their eyes is dimness, and for them is grievous woe. And there are those among
men who say: We believe in Allah and in the last day; but they do not believe.
They would deceive Allah and those who do believe; but they deceive only
themselves and they do not perceive. In their heart is a sickness, and Allah
has made them still more sick, and for them is grievous woe because they
lied." 2:6-10
"Say: O people of the Book! Exceed
not in your religion other than the Truth, and follow not the lusts
(prejudices, fantasies, superstitions) of a people who have erred in the past,
and who lead many astray, and who go astray from the Even Path." 5:77
"Restrain thyself with those who call
upon their Lord morning and evening, desiring His countenance (or nearness and
intimacy), and let not your eyes be turned from them, desiring the adornment
(and pomp) of the life of this world; and obey not him whose heart We have made
heedless of Our remembrance, and who follows his own lusts (prejudices,
fantasies, superstitions), and whose affair has been abandoned." 18:29
"And follow (or pursue) not that of
which you have no knowledge; verily, the hearing, the sight, and the heart, of
all of these it shall be asked (to give an account)." 17:36
The Quran also contains guidance on how it
should be read:-
"And when you recite the Quran, seek
refuge in Allah from Satan the outcast." 16:98
"And when the Quran is recited, give
ear to it and pay attention, that you might obtain mercy." 7:204
"Move not your tongue with haste
concerning the Quran. It is for Us to collect it and to promulgate it. But when
We have promulgated it, follow its recital. Nay more, it is for Us to explain
it. Nay you love the fleeting now. " 75:16-20
"Will they then not meditate on the
Quran, or are there locks on their hearts?" 47:24
"He it is Who has revealed unto thee
(Muhammad) the scripture herein are clear revelations - they are the substance
of the book - and others which are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is
doubt pursue, forsooth, that which is allegorical seeking to cause dissension
by seeking to explain it. None knows its explanation save Allah and those of
sound instruction. Say: We believe therein; the whole is from our Lord; but
only men of understanding really heed." 3:7
"What! Is he who has a clear proof
from his Lord like him to whom the evil of his work is made fair-seeming when
they follow their own lusts?" 47:14
"He it is who sends down clear
revelations upon His servant, that he may bring you forth from darkness into
light; and Lo! For you Allah is most Kind, Merciful." 57:9
"This (Quran) is naught else than a
reminder unto creation, unto whomsoever of you wills to walk straight. And ye
will not, unless it be that Allah wills, the Lord of Creation." 81:27-29
and 68:52
There are numerous other guidelines as to how
it should be read. It is not possible for anyone to understand the Quran if
they do not accept what it says about itself and that it is the Word of Allah.
It was created to be understood that way. It is those who understand the Quran
and follow its instructions that are spiritually regenerated.
"Surely, We have created man in the
best of moulds. Then We reduced him to the lowest of the low; save those who
believe and act right; for theirs is a reward unfailing." 95:4-6
"O you who believe! Respond unto
Allah and His Messenger when He calls you to that which quickens you; and know
that Allah comes in between a man and his own heart; and that He it is unto
Whom you shall be gathered." 8:24
"And be not like those who forgot (or
forsook Allah), so He made them forget (or forsake) their own souls: these it
is that are the transgressors." 59:19
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