By Shazia Banoo
The dismal condition of Muslims around the world today is alarming, primarily due to the reason that Muslims all over the globe seek refuge in everything other than Islam. Today Muslims want paradise on earth.
In past, Muslims remained a great power and no force was able to compete with it. Whether it was with regard to knowledge, wisdom, political acumen and affluence, they reigned over the whole world during their ‘golden’ period
Today Islam is facing many challenges from domains, within and outside . The most critical problem is the internal tensions within followers of Islam. Behind this disparaging situation of Muslims are many reasons. The three major among it can be highlighted :
First of all, the Muslims were entrusted with the Book of God. It is the yardstick that was revealed to decide between truth and falsehood. Muslims should present all their religious differences before it and whatever verdict it gives, they should accept it without any hesitation. Every research, every opinion & every viewpoint must be kept subservient. On the contrary the Divine law should be regarded as the ultimate authority over everything. Unfortunately, since the last few centuries, Muslims have not been able to confer this status with Quran in their beliefs and deeds.
Hence as pointed out by Allama Iqbal:
” Khawaar azz mehjuri Qur’an shaddi”.
(You are in a state of humiliation because of leaving aside the Quran).
Secondly, this world is a place where harnessing potentials produce results. Though Muslims did show interest in developing their skills, yet their intelligentsia did little or nothing to help their cause. Our age old religious seminaries are still teaching various aspects of philosophy and Sufism that can be termed as the best examples of ‘useless’ knowledge. Thus we can see how far the world has advanced in science and technology while Muslims gaze in wonder at these advancements.
Thirdly, the Muslims have shown an utter indifference to their moral instruction. It is a result of this disregard that lying, dishonesty, embezzlement, theft, fraud, adulteration, devouring interest, deceit in weighing, false accusations, breaking promises, involvement in occult practices, worshipping graves and other similar acts have became so common in our societies that one is struck with wonder.
These are the major causes of the downfall of Muslims today. If we really wish to come out of this scenario of decadence and downfall, then this can neither be achieved through warfare nor resistance movements. To come out of this, we need to take remedial measures to circumvent the causes that have become the reason for downfall of Muslims. Otherwise humiliation, disgrace and subservience will always remain our fate.
We have to learn to live with less and not in excess. The Muslims today are being humiliated all around the world and they are suffering because of their own sins. We don’t win by numbers, we don’t win with technology or economy or money. We win by Allah, and that should be our ultimate goal.
Can any learned Muslim please clarify to me:
1.Why Islam claims that it alone is true religion and rest all faith are wrong? Why Islam claims that followers of othr faith are “Non-Believers” or “Kafir” and that only Muslims are worthy of jannat and all non muslims will go to hell?
2. Why Islam creates division in humanity and divides the humanity in mainly two parts: Muslims and Non Muslims. Due to such approach, we even see maximum intersect divisions within Muslims which is not there in any other faith. Today we see maximum intersect hatred, violence and killings among various sects of Muslims. The root behind such hatred is intolerance and the assertion that only one path is true path and rest all are wrong.
3. Hinduism believes that the ultimate goal of every human is same, to reach highest moral conduct and good values, but there can be various path to reach this common goal. The various path are various religion so every religion which leads a human to his goal is welcome and to be resepcted. But we find lack of such pluralistic approach in Islam.
4. For Muslims, secularism and multi cultural/multi faith society with uniform civil code and democracy is not the right way but they aim for a society where muslims are in majority and ruling over non muslims under religion based (Islamic) laws. Is it the right solution in todays world which a globalised interconnected village of various cultures/faith?
There are many more questions , but I seek clarification on the above so we can understand real theme of Islam.
Points raised here are worth a discussion, no doubt. There is a pre-requisite to do so. Monotheistic religions, of which Islam is one of the three, viz., Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are very different than “polytheism” (where anything can be called or forced as worthy of our first and foremost concern). Unless and until one accepts the fact that for Muslims the belief in the Unity of God the Almighty is above everything else, including one’s life, property, nation, parents, even the Prophet (s). A principle based on value, ethics, humanism, humanity, politics, and whatever we have to deal with here in this world is subservient. The problem is not with the “faith” per se. But it arises with its followers. The questions raised here can be counter asked for other faiths. Might is right. Or, the majority has to prevail will not take us too far. Let us try to understand the root. I wish more enlightening, mutually respectful discussion to continue, God willing. Amen!