ISLAM THE MISUNDERSTOOD RELIGION - IMAM MOUSTAPHA MORSY January 14, 2015 at 6:46pm Islam - The Misunderstood Religion.  Before I respond to the essay (what is Islam) Jan/13,2015: First - We (Muslim community in Carbondale) condemn the barbaric attack on the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo on Wednesday Jan/7th which was seemingly done to undermine freedom of speech. Speech, even when it is offensive to our religious traditions and sensibilities, can never be a justification to kill. Our condolences and prayers go out to the victims and their families for this senseless act of violence. Second - Islam is a religion of peace and non-violence that should not be tied to the barbaric acts committed in its name. The Quran says in the interpretation of the meaning: “Because of that, we decreed upon the Children of Israel that whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely.” (Quran 5-32) It is no exaggeration to say that Islam and violence are contradictory to each other. And the truth of the matter is that, all the teachings of Islam are based directly or indirectly on the principle of peace. As God says in The Quran: “God calls to the Home of Peace.” (Quran 10:25) Nothing in Islam tells Muslims that they should establish khilafat or Islamic state by killing innocents or civilians. The West has widely believed that this surge of religion was made possible by the sword. But no modern scholar accepts that idea, and the Quran is explicit in support of the freedom of conscience. Islam is a religion of mercy to all people, both Muslims and non-Muslims. The Prophet was described as being a mercy in the Quran due to the message he brought for humanity. Says God in the Quran: And we have not sent you but as a mercy to all the worlds. (Quran 21:107) Also: There is no compulsion in religion… (Quran 2:256) Not only does Islam demand their freedom to practice religion, but also that they be treated justly as any other fellow human. Warning against any abuse of non-Muslims in an Islamic society, the Prophet stated: Beware! Whoever is cruel and hard on a non-Muslim minority, curtails their rights, burdens them with more than they can bear, or takes anything from them against their free will; I (Prophet Muhammad) will complain against the person on the Day of Judgment. (Abu Dawud) Islam called to the just treatment of all peoples and religions, due to its merciful tenets which gave humanity the right to their humanness. Says God says in Quran: “Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity” (Quran 60:8). Also says God says in Quran: “And let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety” (Quran 5:8). In addition the Prophet Muhammad said: A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hands people are safe. The Quran gives a clear injunction on this subject. Says God says in Quran: “And good and evil deeds are not alike. Repel evil with good. And he who is your enemy will become your dearest friend.” (Quran 41:33-34) All the number of terrorists around the world is not more than two hundred thousand out of 1.5 billion Muslims around the world and the majority of this number (1.5 billion) has condemned the attack, not only that but The League of Arab States released a collective condemnation of the attack. Al-Azhar University also released a statement denouncing the attack, stating that violence was never appropriate regardless of offence committed against sacred Muslim sentiments. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned the attack, saying that it went against Islams principles and values. Who understand Islam better than all the Muslim scholars around the world which they said “Islam has nothing to do with any terrorist attack”. Malek Merabet, the brother of Ahmed Merabet, a Muslim police officer killed in the shooting, condemned the terrorists who killed his brother: My brother was Muslim and he was killed by two terrorists, by two false Muslims. Yes, Islamist extremism is a genuine threat to world peace. But those who lump all Muslims together, and dismiss as meaningless the courageous stand of the moderate majority against extremism, arent helping to win that battle. Rather, they’re strengthening extremism by perpetuating a false narrative of perpetual conflict between Islam and the West. That is something which we must fight with all our might. Al-Azhar, Sunni Islams most prestigious center of learning, warned that new cartoons would only serve to stir up hatred. The drawings do not serve the peaceful coexistence between peoples and hinders the integration of Muslims into European and Western societies. Earlier on Tuesday, Egypts state-sponsored Islamic authority, Dar al-Ifta, said the latest cover of Charlie Hebdo was an unjustified provocation against the feelings of 1.5 billion Muslims. This edition will result in a new wave of hatred in French and Western society. What the magazine is doing does not serve coexistence and the cultural dialogue Muslims aspire to, it said. Prime Minister Manuel Valls said: France is at war against terrorism, jihadism, radicalism. France is not at war against Islam and Muslims. I dont want Jews in this country to be scared, or Muslims to be ashamed of their faith, he added. While those extremists pose a substantial threat to the West, they present an even bigger threat to fellow Muslims. The vast majority of victims of Islamist terrorist organization have been fellow Muslims. Terrorism has no religion and is an affront to Islam, therefore we must confront and expose the evil ideology of these terrorists. We join all the voices in France and around the world to condemn these heinous acts and call to act together to defend the values of our society, because it is its essence that is targeted. Our best weapon is our unity. Nothing should oppose us, divide us, to separate us. One must not confuse extremists with Muslims. Mad people have neither colour nor religion. Muslims are speaking out, clearly and consistently. Leaders around the world, have issued strong and Unambiguous statements virtually every time a violent attack has occurred, condemning such acts as immoral and counter to the fundamental precepts of Islam. Islam is a religion of peace and love. George Bernard Shaw said: I have studied him (prophet Mohammed)- the wonderful man and in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Savior of Humanity. H.G. Wells said: The Islamic teachings have left great traditions for equitable and gentle dealings and behavior, and inspire people with nobility and tolerance. Sarojini Naidu said: It (Islam) was the first religion that preached and practiced democracy; for, in the mosque, when the call for prayer is sounded and worshippers are gathered together, the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and king kneel side by side and proclaim: ‘God Alone is Great’ Mahatma Gandhi said about Prophet Mohammed: I wanted to know the best of the life of one who holds today an undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind… I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the second volume (of the Prophet’s biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of that great life. My advice to any one wants to write about Islam, please read and study the Quran first, you should know Islam from its original source (the Quran and speech of the prophet Mohammed). God says in the Quran: Recite in the name of your Lord who Created man from a clinging substance. Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous Who taught by the pen. Taught man that which he knew not... Imam/M. Morsy sunnahfollowers.net
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 03:07:35 +0000
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