Discover Islam: Islam And Muslims
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Q 23:- Does this mean that Islam was the religion of all the Prophets of God?
A: Yes. All the Prophets of God, as well as their followers were Muslims, because they submitted to the will of the one True God. For example the Holy Qur'aan says:
" Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but a strict Muslim." (Soorah Al-E-Imraan)
Noah (peace be upon him) addressed his people saying "... I have been commanded to be one of those who submit to God's will (in Islam)." (Soorah Al-E-Irma)
The sons of Jacob (peace be upon him) replying to him said: "We shall worship your God and God of your fathers -Abraham and Ishmael, and Isaac - the One God; to him we bow(in Islam)" (Soorah Al-Baqarah 2:133)
Q: 24- Was the type of 'Islam' of the earlier Prophets the same as that of the present day?
A: Basically and essentially, Islam has been the same throughout the history of mankind. The fundamental teachings, i.e., belief in one God, adherence to a life of piety, goodness and peace, belief in life after death and ultimate reward or punishment, were the same. However, since all the Prophets earlier than Muhammad (peace be upon him) were sent locally for their own people and not the whole world, the legal codes varied according to the needs and the stage of development of the society and civilization. But these differences were minor and superficial, while the fundamentals were the same all through. Islam as preached by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is in its final, complete, and comprehensive from; it is for all the people of the world and for all times to come. For this reason, its basic source of teaching - the Qur'aan - is preserved intact in its original language, which is not he case with any other Scripture.
Q: 25- how can you say that the religion of Jesus was also Islam?
A: We can say this on three accounts:
a) As Jesus (peace be upon him) submitted his will to the will of One True God, he was a Muslim. In the Bible itself we find many references indicating that Jesus was teaching " to believe in One True God, and to keep His Commandments.". One word for this Statement is Islam (in Arabic). Some examples of Jesus' (peace be upon him) teaching from the Gospels:
" And this is life eternal, that they may know thee, the Only True God, and Jesus Christ who thou hast sent." (John 17:3)
"I can of my own self do nothing: as I hear I judge: and my judgement is just: because I seek not my own will, but the will of my Father (according to their belief) which hath sent me." (John 5:30)
"And , behold, one came and said unto him, ' Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life ?' And said unto him, ' Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God: but if thou wilt enter into life keep the commandments'." (Matthew 19:16,17)
"The first of all commandments is , ' Hear O Israel! the Lord our God is One Lord, and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength." (Mark 12:29,30)
"For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matthew 5:20)
"Do not think that I have come to do away with the law of Moses and the teachings of the Prophets. I have not come to do away with them, but to make their teachings come true." (Matthew 5:17,18)
b) Jesus never claimed that he founded 'Christianity' or any religion for that matter. In fact, the word 'Christian' was used for the first time by Pagans and Jews derogatorily, many years after Jesus (peace be upon him) was used for the first time by pagans and Jews derogatorily, many years after Jesus (peace be upon him) left this world. The Bible states: "... And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." (Acts 11:26)
As for the word 'Christ', it is an English derivative of the Greek word 'Kristos', meaning 'anointed' (messiah). And Jesus spoke neither English nor Greek. His language was Aramaic, a sister language of Arabic.
c) Also, we find Jesus (peace be upon him) with Islamic observances, like: praying, fasting, etc. Examples:
i) He prostrated and prayed, like Muslims. "And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed,..." (Matthew 26:39)
ii) He used to greet people saying: ' peace be upon you' which means ' Asslamu Alaykum' in Arabic, as Muslims do. "...Came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you." (John 20:19)
Q: 26- Can briefly mention some of the distinguishing features of Islam?
A: Islam, the only true and natural religion for mankind, has many unique features; a few are as follows:
1- The Name: ' Islam' is the original name, given by God and mentioned in the Holy Book. It is a meaningful name, which represents its outlook on life, and reflects its universal nature.
2- Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) - a Historic Figure: The person who brought the final message of Islam - his life, teachings and his achievements are all in the full light of history. There are no myths or mysteries about him. Concerning his life, such a detailed and complete account has been preserved, as has probably no been kept concerning any other individual in human history.
3- The Holy Qur'aan - a Unique Scripture: The Qur'aan is the only Scripture in the world which is existing today in its exact, original form and in the original language, which is still a living language. It is inimitable, complete and is unique in its content, order and style. It is the 'Word of God' (and not the words of the Prophet or other humans) as it is revelation delivered via the Angel Gabriel.
4- Purity and Clarity in Concepts" Islam is the only religion which is not marred by myths, superstitions and irrational philosophical ideologies. The concepts are pure, the teachings are simple, straight-forward and within the reach of every human being. There are no confusions and no complications.
5- Most Complete, Comprehensive and Practical: Islam is a total way of life which excludes nothing - a complete system governing all aspects of man's existence, individual as well as collective. It has a great deal of flexibility and practicability to cope with any arising situation. It is for all times and for all people.
6- A Well-balanced and Moderate Approach: It has a balanced approach to life and avoids extremes - a balance between physical and spiritual aspects, a balance between individual and social aspects, a balance in all directions.
7- Satisfies the Human Intellect: It is a religion of faith with reason. It invites man to think and reflect. There is no conflict between science and religion, between the 'work of God' and the 'word of God'.
8- Universal Brotherhood: Islam goes far beyond all barriers of race, color, status, wealth, etc., and assures all human beings equality and brotherhood. The most honoured person in sight of God is one who is most God-conscious.
9- Free from Erosion: Among world religions, Islam alone has remained well-entrenched, deep-rooted and unaffected in the place of its origin, with no replacement and no erosion through out history.
10- Ever Growing: Despite the fact that there is no organized Islamic missionary work among the non-Muslims, Islam is making headway in all parts of the world. It is the fastest growing religion in the USA. It has never witnessed any large scale desertions from its fold. On the contrary, it attracted the conquerors (the Mongols) to adopt the faith of the conquered ones (Muslims) - a unique example in history (13th Century).
Q: 27- Why is Islam so little known and misunderstood in the world, especially in the West?
A: There are many reasons for this. The main reasons are:
1. The behavior of the people, who call themselves Muslims but do not practice the faith, is largely responsible for a confused and distorted picture of Islam. These people profess this faith but do not live by it, they often do everything which it does not permit and do nothing which it requires.
2- Many people have such an unquestioning conviction of the innate superiority and rightness of their own way of life that they do not consider it necessary or important to be accurately informed about others' view points and way of life. They simply keep following what their parents and society has taught them.
3- Many people think of any religious system in terms of their own concepts and values, or in terms of the concepts of Western civilization. These do not necessarily fit with or apply to Islam.
4- Historically, Muslims and Christians confronted each other during the crusades and afterwards. The propaganda against Islam, its beliefs and way of life, which was common during times of conflict, continued after many Muslim countries were colonized. This biased attitude persisted in the Western world.
Q: 28- Then how can Islam be properly understood in the non-Muslims world?
A: a) On the part of non-Muslims:
i) They should be open-minded, fair and objective while approaching the understanding of Islam. They should clear their minds of any preconceptions they may have about Islam.
ii) They Should look into the basic, authentic and direct sources of knowledge about Islam when they want to know any thing about Islam (the sources are the Qur'aan and the Traditions of the Prophet).
iii) They should not rely on the indirect and inauthentic sources of information, particularly the news and views media, howsoever honest it may look.
iv) They should not base their judgement on the behavior of the Muslims but try to understand that Muslims are also human beings and liable to commit mistakes .
b) On the part of Muslims: It is necessary for them to abide by the teachings of Islam and present themselves as examples of good practicing Muslims. Nothing can be more effective than setting an example.
Q: 29- If it is claimed that Islam is a true religion, then how is it that we find very bad examples among the Muslims?
A: This is unfortunate. But this is the case with all societies in the world wherein we find bad examples. It is something to do with the nature of the people itself rather than the religion. Muslims are also human beings, not supernatural, and are prone to commit mistakes and go the wrong way. Satan - the enemy of man - always active in trying to keep man away from the right path, succeeds at times.
The bad behavior found among Muslims is mainly due to the lack of proper Islamic knowledge, influence of the materialistic society, and weak faith in their hearts. Therefore, it is not correct to judge Islam by Muslims, but it is Muslims who should be judged by Islam.
Q: 30- Islam is a universal religion. So, do we find Muslims all over the world?
A: Yes. There are 1100 million Muslims in the world living in over 120 countries, of which over 50 countries have a majority Muslim population.
Q: 31- Which country has the largest Muslim population?
A: Indonesia, with 160 million Muslims.
Q: 32- Are there Muslims in the former USSR, and Communist China too?
A: Yes. The Muslim population in the former Soviet Union is 20% and in China 11%.
Q: 33- Is there any European country with a majority Muslim population?
A: Yes. Turkey (98%) and Albania (70%).
Q: 34- What about the USA?
A: Muslims in the USA are less than 5% but Islam is the fastest growing religion there.
Q: 35- Is every Arab a Muslim?
A: No. There are Arabs who are Christians and Jews too.
Q: 36- It is generally believed in the West that Islam spread by the sword. How far is it correct?
A: This is a baseless notion. Faith cannot be forced at the point of the sword. If faith does not emerge from deep conviction from within, it is not acceptable to God, nor does it help the person who accepts this faith. In fact, Islam is the only religion which guarantees peaceful freedom of faith and forbids compulsion in religion. To quote the Holy Qur'aan:
"There is no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from error; whoever rejects evil and believes in God has grasped the most trust-worthy handhold, that never breaks; and God hears and knows all things." (Soorah al-Baqarah 2:256)
Not only does Islam forbid the employment of force in the propagation of Islam, but it also commands to use the most peaceful methods. The Qur'aan states:
"Invite to the way of the Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious; for your Lord knows best who have strayed from His path and who received guidance." (Soorah an-Nahl 16:125)
If Islam had spread at the point of the sword, then:
1- How is it that the Far East countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, had embraced Islam without the use of force?
2- Why were there no mass desertions from Islam after the removal of force, if force was the reason for the spread of Islam?
3- How is it that Islam is still growing all over the world, and is the fastest growing religion in the USA? Where is the sword?
4- How is it that there are a good number of non-Muslims still enjoying the freedom of religion in Muslim countries even after ages?
5- How is it that the non-Muslim barbaric Mongols embraced Islam after conquering the Muslim lands? This is a unique and strange event in world history when the conquerors adopted the faith of the conquered ones.
Q: 37- How about the matter of four wives - the question that is commonly associated with Islam?
A: To have more than one wife was not invented or introduced by Islam. It was, and it has been, a universal practice among mankind. Even in countries with the 'one-wife' theory, the practice of having relations with more than one women does exist anyway, though they do not call it polygyny.
The Islamic view point, in brief, is as follows:
1- In Islam, marriage is not a business deal negotiated by two parties. It is something solemn and sacred. It is a contract to which God Himself is the first witness or the first party, it is concluded in His name, in obedience to Him and according to His commands. Its major elements are chastity, social integrity , human stability, spiritual elevation, love, peace and mercy. The Qur'aan states:
"...He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts); verily in that there are signs for those who reflect." (Soorah ar-Rum 30:21)
"...provided you seek (them in marriage) with gifts from your property - desiring chastity, not lust..." (Soorah an-Nisaa 4:24)
2- To marry four women is not an injunction or a requirement; it is a 'permission' which is given with certain 'conditions' to be fulfilled by a man who wants to marry more than one women.
"... Marry women of your choice, two or three or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them) then only one..." (Soorah an-Nisaa 4:3)
3- The permission is given not to marry any number of wives but is restricted to four. In fact, Islam is the only religion that has put such a restriction on plurality.
4- Islam is the religion for all people and for all times. So, it has to be flexible enough to suit all situations in human life, at all places; it has to offer solutions to all human problems. Thus, in case of situations such as when women outnumber men in a society (e.g., after wars), or when a woman is not capable of bearing children, or when a widowed or divorced woman needs protection for herself and for her young children, etc., taking more than one wife would be the best course. Then she can enjoy full social status and respect rather than becoming a victim of unhealthy and immoral consequences or loneliness.
5- Islam is a practical and a balanced religion. It recognizes man's nature and instead of going against it, rather moulds it in such a fashion that it is not harmful to him or to the society. On one hand it allows having more than one wife, and on the other hand it prescribes severe punishment for extra marital relations.
We find in the Bible that the Prophets did have more that one wife, and that no Prophet had prohibited this practice. Jesus (peace be upon him) himself never uttered a single word against polygyny.
Q: 38- Did Muslims ever contribute to the development of human civilization?
A: Yes, a lot. During the medieval times Muslims were the leaders of the intellectual world. Their contributions to the scientific, cultural and spiritual progress of humanity were unparalleled, while Europe was still in her dark ages. Arab civilization in Spain represented the highest culture in Europe from the 10th to the 13th centuries.
Muslims made a two-fold contribution to knowledge: they preserved the knowledge and learning of the ancient world through Arabic translation, and also made their own pioneering contributions. Their achievements in medieval times are now recognized as a bridge between the civilizations of antiquity and those of the present day.
They contributed in various diverse fields: Astronomy, Geography, Mathematics, Medicine and Surgery, Physical Sciences, Philosophy, History, Political Science, Art, Literature, etc. Baghdad (Iraq), Cairo (Egypt), Cordova (Spain) and Samarqand (USSR) were the centers of scientific research and produced many renowned personalities in their fields.
The universities in the Muslim lands were the greatest centers of learning and those in Spain particularly, were attended by scholars from all over Europe.
Muslims were the first to manufacture paper (794 CE the first paper mill in Baghdad), glass from stone (Spain) and soap. The telescope, astrolabe, pendulum, marine compass, photography, etc., were invented by the Muslims.
Q: 39- Can you give any examples of the Muslim contributors?
A: There can many examples in various fields. To name only a few:
Ibn Sina, known to the West as Avicenna, (980-1037 CE). He was a multidimensional personality with varied interest from natural sciences to art, and wrote on diverse fields like philosophy. Medicine, Geometry, Astronomy, Theology, Philology and Art. His famous works include: Kitab al Shifa (Book of Healing) and Qanun ifl Tibb (The Canon of Medicine), a medical encyclopaedia which remained supreme in the West for ever 600 years.
Al-Razi, known to the West as Razes, (865-925 CE), was one of the greatest physicians of all times. His classic work Al Hawi or The Comprehensive Book, is an encyclopaedia of over ten volumes. He was the first physician to write a book on Paediatrics. He also wrote Kitab ul Asrsr, a classic of Chemistry.
Al-Khwarizmi, (780-850 CE), a celebrated mathematician, known as the 'Father of Algebra' combined the Greek and Indian Traditions of Mathematics and introduced the Arabic numerals to Europe. His book Hisab al Jabr wal Muqabla is an outstanding work on Algebra. He was a celebrated geographer as well. His work on Geography: Shape of the Earth was an advancement on Ptolemy's work. He was responsible for the production of the first map of the world (830 CE).
Ibn Haytham, better known to the West as Alhazen, (965-1040 CE), was a mathematician and physicist who revolutionized the science of light, and was the founder of the modern science of optics. He wrote 62 treatises on different subjects.
Jabir b Hayyan, (known to the West as Geber) was the 'Father of Chemistry'. He was credited with the discovery of several chemical compounds and wrote about a hundred books on Chemistry and Pharmacology. His treatises were most influential in Europe and Asia until the 18th century.
Al Baytar, was the greatest botanist and pharmacist of Spain.
Al Jahiz, wrote the most famous book on zoology Kitab al Haywan (the Book of Animals) and was the first scientist to note the changes in birds' lives through migration.
Jabir b Aflah, was the first astronomer to design a portable celestial sphere to measure the movements of celestial objects.
Al Kindi, wrote 265 treatises on subjects like physics, arithmetic, astronomy, medicine, pharmacy, philosophy, comparative religion and politics.
Al Jazari's The Book of Knowledge and Mechanical Contrivances was a standard work on mechanics.
Q: 40- Are there any examples of the influence of Arabic languages on English?
A: In the process of transmission of learning through translations, numerous Arabic words were introduced into the vocabulary of Europe. Examples: alchemy, alcohol, admiral, alembic, algebra, alkaline, arsenal, azimuth, borax, caliber, candy, check, cipher, camphor, coffee, cotton, elixir, magazine, nadir, ream, syrup, tariff, zenith, zero, etc............
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