Analysis/Comments-8
It is a punishable offense to criticize Islam. You can see why this one is a good supporting idea for the collection. It helps suppress any ideas that would reduce the authority of Islamic ideas. This idea is in the Qur’an, and Mohammad set a fierce example of punishing people who criticized him or Islam.
Comments:
This is nothing but fabricated false accusation, no one be it Christian, Jews, Buddhist or Hindu would like criticism of his faith so the Muslims. However calling it ‘punishable’ indicate trial and punishment in court. Where as the verses mentioned indicate divine punishment here and hereafter. Verses from Qur’an;33:57,58:5, 22:3,7, 11,15, 19 & 25 quoted are general in nature, a warning to disbelievers for swear punishment in hell in hereafter for their disbelief and bad deeds, they are cursed in this world and hereafter. While in verse 65:10, 22:14, 23 the believers have given the good news of reward in hereafter for their faith and good works. Warning and Good News is normal in almost all the religions including Christianity and Judaism, the eschatology include the concept of hell and paradise so in Islam.
Bible: “For a fire is kindled in my anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with its increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains”[Deuteronomy 32:22]. “You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the judgment of hell?”[Matthew 23:33], “And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”[Matthew 13:42], “But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear him, who after he has killed has power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him”[Luke 12:5].“And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto you, Today shall you be with me in paradise”[Luke 23:43]. “You have been in Eden the garden of God;”[Ezekiel 28:13]
Qur’an: “If your Lord had so willed, He would have certainly made mankind one single nation but that is not what He wants, so they will continue to differ. Except those on whom He has bestowed His mercy; and that very freedom of choice and action is the whole purpose of their creation. That is how the Word of your Lord, that He will fill Hell with jinns and human beings all together, will be fulfilled.”[Qur’an;11:118-119]
“Ask them: “Which is better, this hell or the eternal paradise which the righteous are being promised, which will be the reward of their good deeds and also their final destination; wherein they will live forever and get everything that they wish for: and this is the promise worth praying for, which your Rabb is going to fulfill.”[Qur’an;25:15-16]
The example of Divine punishment to the nations of Noah, Aad, Samood and Lot (peace be upon them) in the form of destruction through natural calamities like floods, earthquakes, tornados etc are well recorded in Qur’an and Bible [Genesis; 7:1-24, 8:1-22, Ge 18:16-33; 19:1-29; De 23:17, 29:23; 32:32; Isa 1:9-10; 3:9; 13:19; Jer 23:14; Eze 16:46-56; Zep 2:9; Mt 10:15; Ro 9:29; 2Pe 2:6, Exodus;15:4. Qur’an 25:37, 26:171-174, 51:37, 54:41-42, 23:48, 41:16,7:78, 11:67, 11:82, 29:37-40]. Same is repeated: “How many cities have turned away from the command of their Lord and His messengers! Therefore, We judged them severely and punished them with a harsh punishment. They tasted the evil consequences of their own behavior, and the consequences of their behavior were ruinous”[Qur’an;65:8].
Sins are punished by God in this world, hereafter or in both. In Muslim countries the non believers are not punished for their disbelief, as long as they do not commit an act of blasphemy openly. The crimes or offense like Blasphemy are punishable through court of law according to the nature of offence. Muslims love their Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him] even more than their children, parents even own life. Any blasphemy against him like making fun through caricatures etc is not freedom of expression or criticism. In most of the European countries even Holocaust denial is a punishable crime. Muslims love and respect Prophet Jesus Christ, the son of Mary [pbuh], they will even accept any blasphemy against him. [Allah knows the best]
Analysis/Comments-9
You can’t leave Islam once you’re in.
Apostasy:
The Bible prescribes death by stoning for apostasy: “You shall stone him to death with stones, because he sought to draw you away from the LORD your God..”(Deutronomy;13:10). Apostasy has always been considered as a capital offence in all the religions and political systems of the world, because it is considered as a high treason against the established norms of society. The pagan Romans brutally killed the early Christians on same ground. Subsequently this practice was repeated by the Christian Church against opposing Christians, who were killed and burnt alive. Certain church theologians of the 4th and 5th centuries considered apostasy to be as serious as adultery and murder. In the 20th century, the Roman Catholic Code of Canon Law still imposed the sanction of excommunication for those whose rejection of the faith fitted the technical definition of apostasy. Death penalty for apostasy remained in force in England for long time. It was abolished due to social and cultural developments.
In early Islam, the pagans of Makkah, and Jews of Medina used to indulge in this practice to gain intelligence and to demoralize the fragile expanding Muslim community of Median. Hence apostasy is considered as a major sin in Islam. Whether it is punishable by Islamic law is a debatable matter among Muslim scholars. Some believe that the apostate should be punished after trial because they consider this crime as a betrayal, high treason against the community, while others opine that if someone changes his faith and does not challenge the Islamic society, it is a matter between him and Allah, Who will punish him in hereafter. However, both opinions agree that it is a major worst form of sin punishable by Allah. As per Qur’an; “Those who turn back as apostates after Guidance was clearly shown to them the Evil One has instigated them and buoyed them up with false hopes.”(Qur’an;47:25). Allah’s Apostle (peace be upon him) is reported to have said, “The blood of a Muslim who confesses that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that I am His Apostle, cannot be shed except in three cases: In Qisas for murder, a married person who commits adultery and the one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith:9.17). Non-Muslims are allowed to teach their faith to their followers, but they are not allowed to go against the mainstream of the Muslim society.
Blasphemy: In many societies blasphemy in some form or another has been an offense punishable by law. The Mosaic Law decreed death by stoning as the penalty for the blasphemer :“Bring forth him that has cursed outside the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. And you shall speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curses his God shall bear his sin. And he that blasphemes the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemes the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.” [Leviticus 24:14-16]. In Christianity, blasphemy has been regarded as a sin by moral theologians; St. Thomas Aquinas described it as a sin against faith. Under the Byzantine emperor Justinian I (reigned 527-565) the death penalty was decreed for blasphemy. In the United States many states have legislation aimed at the offense. In Scotland until the 18th century it was punishable by death, and in England it is both a statutory and a common-law offense. It was recognized as the latter in the 17th century; the underlying idea apparently was that an attack on religion is necessarily an attack on the state. This idea probably has been the reason why penalties have been laid down for blasphemy in some secular legal codes.
Muslim consider it is blasphemy to speak contemptuously not only of God [and His Word, Qur’an] but also of Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him]. The non Muslims should respect this and should not do any action which may hurt the feelings of 1.5 billion people. Muslims believe and respect all the Biblical prophets and revelations of God till Jesus Christ [pbuh] and don’t differentiate among them.[Qur’an2:136], they respect their places of worship [Qur’an22:40] and not to revile the deities of non Muslims[Qur’an; 6:108].
In the present era all the signatories of UN charter have to see that the covenant is not against the spirit of Islam: “You shall fulfill your covenants; surely you shall be held accountable for your pledges.”[Qur’an;17:34]; “O believers! Be true to your covenants!”[Qur’an;5:1]. The term ‘aqd (“covenant”) denotes a solemn undertaking or engagement involving more than one party. According to Raghib, the covenants referred to in this verse “are of three kinds: the covenants between God and man [i.e., man’s obligations towards God], between man and his own soul, and between the individual and his fellow-men” – thus embracing the entire area of man’s moral and social responsibilities. [Allah knows the best]
Analysis/Comments-10
Islam must be your first allegiance. You are a Muslim first, before any allegiance you give to your family, your tribe, or your country. This does two things: It causes a unity of people across borders which allows the group to grow bigger than any other entity. In other words, the “Nation of Islam” can grow bigger than any country, no matter how large (which gives the group a massive numerical advantage).
Comments:
The Islam has the unique concept of one Ummah, this Arabic word has very large meanings; it is timeless includes all believers and worshippers of only One God, past, present and future. Ummah is best translated as Brotherhood, “Community”, “race”, and “nation,” and “people” are words which import other ideas and do not quite correspond to “Ummah“. “Religion” and “Way of Life” are derived meanings, which could be used in other passages according to context. The people of very different temperaments and virtues, widely different in time, race, color, language, surroundings, history, and work to be performed, but forming the closest brotherhood as being men and women united in the highest service of Allah. They prefigure the final and perfected Brotherhood of Islam. The brotherhood of all followers of Islamic monotheism is one brotherhood:
“Verily, This brotherhood [Ummah] of yours is a single brotherhood, and I am your Lord and Cherisher: Therefore serve me (and no other).”[Qur’an;21:92, 23:52]
Allah’s Message was and ever is one; and His all Messengers [Adam, Noah, Abraham Jacob, Moses to Jesus Christ and Muhammad (peace be upon them all)] treated it as one. It is people of narrower views who come later and trade on the earlier names that break up the Message and the Brotherhood into jarring camps and sects.
“But (later generations) cut off their affair (of unity), one from another: (yet) will They all return to us. Whoever works any act of righteousness and has Faith,- His endeavour will not be rejected: we shall record it In His favour. ).”[Qur’an;21:93-94, 23:52]
“But they (mankind) have broken their religion among them into sects, each sect rejoicing in its tenets. So leave them in their error till a time.” [Qur’an;23:53-54]
Hence those calling themselves as Jews and Christians are to be reconciled to be part of this biggest brotherhood:
“The believers are but a single Brotherhood: so make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers; and fear Allah, that ye may receive mercy.” [Qur’an;49:10]
The revival of the Muslim Brotherhood in some form is the greatest social ideal of Islam. On it was based the Prophet’s Sermon at his last pilgrimage, all peaceful endeavors be made to realized this ideal in suitable form. One way to that Muslims should continue to: “Invite (all) to the way of Thy Lord with wisdom and preaching; and argue with them In ways that are best and Most gracious: for Thy knows best, who have strayed from His path, and who receive guidance.” [Qur’an;16:125]
Some people think that Muslim Ummah should be one political unit at global level under the Caliph and they try to resort to all means including violence to achieve it. The UN, EU, Common Wealth and many other organization of cooperation exist, OIC is a loose forum to debate issues faced by Muslims. What ever form of forum or institution is desired to be developed it should not create anarchy, bloodshed or fasad fil ardh but peace. It must be ensured that any such movement should not be based in interpretation of one or two verses but be based upon the overal concepts of Qur’an to ensure that it does not contradict with any verse of Qur’an [no abrogation].
“Unto every one of you have We appointed a [different] law [Shari’a] and way of life [minhaj]. And if God had so willed, He could surely have made you all one single community: but [He willed it otherwise] in order to test you by means of what He has vouchsafed unto, you. Vie, then, with one another in doing good works! Unto God you all must return; and then He will make you truly understand all that on which you were wont to differ.” [Qur’an;5:48]
By origin mankind were a single people or nation [Qur’an;4:1, 2:213]. That being so Allah could have kept all alike, with one language, one kind of disposition, and one set of physical conditions (including climate) to live in. But in His wisdom, He gives diversity to human in these things, not only at any given time, but in different periods and ages. This tests human capacity for Unity (Wahdaniyat) still more, and accentuates the need of Unity and Islam. The term Shari’a is used in the Qur’an to denote a system of law necessary for a community’s social and spiritual welfare. The term minhaj, on the other hand, denotes an “open road”, usually in an abstract sense: that is, “a way of life”. The terms Shari’a and minhaj are more restricted in their meaning than the term din, which comprises not merely the laws relating to a particular religion but also the basic, unchanging spiritual truths which, according to the Qur’an, have been preached by every one of God’s apostles, while the particular body of laws (Shari’a) promulgated through them, and the way of life (minhaj) recommended by them, varied in accordance with the exigencies of the time and of each community’s cultural development. This “unity in diversity” is frequently stressed in the Qur’an (in the first sentence of 2:148, in 21:92-93, or in 23:52). Because of the universal applicability and textual incorruptibility of its teachings – as well as of the fact that the Prophet Muhammad is “the seal of all prophets”, i.e., the last of them (Qur’an;33:40) – the Qur’an represents the culminating point of all revelation and offers the final, perfect way to spiritual fulfillment. Thus now believing and following Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] is obligatory [Qur’an;47:2]. This uniqueness of the Qur’anic message does not, however, preclude adherents of earlier faiths, who by chance could not receive the message of Qur’an, from attaining to God’s grace: for – as the Qur’an so often points out – those among them who believe uncompromisingly in the One God and the Day of Judgment (i.e., in individual moral responsibility) and live righteously “need have no fear, and neither shall they grieve”. [Allah knows the best]
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