Islam as the Religion of Peace and Tolerance.... *Raj Amin * With the advent of the means of mass communication and transportation, the world has become a large village. In such a village, unfortunately, it has become easier to influence people, bringing to the fore the power and importance of the media. Once again, unfortunately, in many parts of the world, including Turkey, there have been attempts by the media recently to portray Islam as a religion of terror. In response to this lack of awareness about what Islam is—i.e., this ignorance (and unwillingness to learn as well) on behalf of the media and other influential organizations, which to some extent arises from nothing less than the evil intentions of those who disseminate it and in part due to the fact that Muslims have not been able to represent and introduce Islam in the way that it should have been, it is the duty of the Muslims, once again, to communicate the truth. The Main Meaning and Basic Characteristics of Islam The word Islam is derived from the word silm, which means reconciliation, peace, submission, and deliverance. Before Islam, all previous revelations had been sent to particular nations. Each of these religions either had the characteristic of being a national religion or was later transformed into a national religion. For the first time in human history Islam came as the religion for all humanity and the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was the first to be honored with a duty toward all humanity with Almighty God addressing him as: And We have sent you to all the men as nothing but a bearer of good news and as a warner, but most men do not know. (Saba 34:28) Indeed, the Prophet is a prophet of compassion sent not just for humankind, but for all realms of existence. And We have sent you but as a mercy to the worlds. (Anbiya 21:107) Islam is the religion of unity. That is to say, in the field of faith, this is a religion based on believing only in God, the Lord and Sovereign. Unity, in terms of world vision, the view of life and the social system all call for the unity of humanity, brother and sisterhood, equality in basic rights and the abolition of all discrimination on basis of language, color, race, or family or lineage. Islam, which heralded the end of national religions in the history of humanity, invites people to live together in freedom within the framework of common laws. Islam has abolished all that belongs to the Age of Ignorance[1] and all that carries the characteristics of that period of ignorance; for example, all egotism, brutality, oppression and injustice; in fact, to a great extent Islam has eradicated these. According to Islam, the dictum dog eat dog has been replaced by love your neighbor; life is not a struggle, but a process of cooperation; the principle of let others work while I rest has been replaced by support; oppression has left its place to justice; inhumanity has left its place to mercy and compassion; the principle that people have been created free and equal and that people have rights to the degree of their input to society has been instated; the unjust principles of might has the right and that might is right have been uprooted and the norm of power is in righteousness, the righteous are powerful has been put in place; societies have put trust into the rights and justice that belong to the Creator and not to selfish or random laws of a victorious minority or seasoned oppressors. Islam has declared that all people have honor, with no socio-political, material-spiritual, racial-cultural discrimination whatsoever, and has awarded them with a status above all other living things. The Koran declares: And surely We have honored the children of Adam. (Isra 17:70) Indeed, according to Islam, even if someone is an unbeliever, his or her possessions, life, or honor cannot be violated. Mental and bodily health and the freedom to form a family are the inalienable rights of every individual. In the same way, no other basic rights and freedoms can be infringed upon. Even in a state of war, women, children, and the elderly who are not fighting are spared. According to the justice brought by the Holy Koran, the murder of a single innocent person is a murder that is as heinous as the murder of all humanity. According to Islam, individual rights can in no way be violated, even if to do so were to be for the good of the community. The rights of one single individual are as sacred as the rights of all other people.[2] Mere Mola Karam Ho Karam..... Mere Mola Karam Ho Karam....... My hopes and wishes were accomplished when I attained the gate, (or recognition) of the Imaam. The Imaam awakened me from the night, (darkness of ignorance) which is over. Since the time when the Imaam, awakened me, I have been taking His name only (wholeheartedly). Oh Lord, through love, I have attained the colours(good values). Oh Lord, through the (guidance of the) Peer, I have the colours. Oh Imaam, with you, my mind is bound and my heart is steadfast. I have experienced the (Divine) love, I will not leave it. Even if a sword hangs over my head, I will not shake (surrender,expose?) my body. Even if I die, I will not abandon the name of the Imaam. Everyone has to die, o friend, every one knows about it. Yet they do not reflect over this in their minds and are engaged in self praise (boasting). without being cautious and vigilant how can one attain the paradise and the angels................. Mere Mola Karam Ho Karam... Mere Mola Karam Ho Karam............ * Raj Amin * References Belazuri. Futuh al-Buldan, Beirut: 1987 Canan, Ibrahim. Peygamberimizin Teblig Metodlari [The Prophets Methods in Communicating Islam], Istanbul: 1988. An-Nabhani, Yusuf. Al-Futh al-Kabir. Hamidullah, Muhammad. İslam Peygamberi, Ankara: Yeni Şafak, 2003, Vol. 1, p. 622. Translated by Salih Tuğ. Originally published as Muhammad Rasulullah, Paris: Centre Culturel Islamique. Ibn Abdulbarr, al-Istiab. Ibn Athir, Al-Kamil Fittarikh. Özdemir, Mehmet. Endülüs Müslümanlari [The Muslims of Andalusia], Ankara: 1994. Toynbee, Arnold. Tarihci Acisindan Din, Istanbul: Kayıhan, 1978. Originally published as An Historians Approach to Religion, London: Oxford, 1956. Turhan, Osman. Türk Cihan Hakimiyet Tarihi [The History of Turkish World Dominance], Istanbul: 1969. Waqidi, Maghazi, Oxford: 1966.
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 22:47:53 +0000
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