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Showing posts with label Issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Issues. Show all posts

Sunday 20 January 2019

Concept of Tawheed in Islam- The Oneness of Allah


Faith in oneness of Allah is the foremost pillar of Islam. Although all Divine religions since the Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) have revolved round the concept of oneness of Allah, there seems to have been some deviation in the concept of belief regarding God in Christianity. The concept of Trinity negates the very concept of oneness of Allah and divide the concept of God into three. Islam and followers of Old Testament (Torah) however strongly believe in oneness of one trued God, called in Arabic: Allah.

Thus the basic “doctrine of Oneness” (of Allah) is Islam’s most fundamental concept of Islam, called Tawheed. Surah Al Ikhlas, the 112th chapter of the Holy Qur'an clearly spells out the Declaration of Oneness of Allah, clearly dispelling any notion of Him being begotten or born:
Say (O'Muhammad), “He is Allah, (the) One (Ahad - In Arabic Ahad means One).   Allah, the Absolute.   He begets not, nor was He begotten;And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.”

The above surah lays down the foundation of the concept of absolute monotheism and dispels any notion of there being any equal or comparable to Allah and amply clarifies there is only Allah, like the God of Jews. But not like the God of Christians which also shares the title with two other. This, however, does not mean that the three leading religions of Jews, Christians and Muslims worship a different God , because all religions believe in One True God, though with passage of time the term has assumed different meanings due to distortions and man made beliefs and interpretations. We Muslims thus believe that there is no plurality of gods, as the polytheist society of Makkah believed before the advent of Islam.

It also negates the claims of the pagans of Makkah that angels are the off springs of Allah. The surah clearly states that Allah is far above being the progeny of anybody or having any offspring. Thus He has no son or father. He is eternal ,without beginning or end. He is such a unique being that there is nobody like Him or equal to Him in any manner whatsoever. As for the Three in One concept, Allah clearly says in the Holy Quran:
They have certainly disbelieved who say, " Allah is the third of three." And there is no god except one God. And if they do not desist from what they are saying, there will surely afflict the disbelievers among them a painful punishment. [Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:73]
The Holy Quran thus clearly asserts the existence of a single and absolute truth that transcends the world; a unique, independent and indivisible being, who is independent of the entire creation. Allah, is a universal God, rather than a local, tribal, or parochial one for Allah is an absolute, who integrates all affirmative values and brooks no evil.

The concept of Tawheed unequivocally holds that God is One (Al-ʾAḥad) and Single (Al-Wāḥid). The Arabic term Tawheed is used to describe this belief in the absolute Oneness of God. Tawheed comes from an Arabic word meaning "unification" or "oneness"—it is a complex term with many depths of meaning in Islam. The word Tawheed is derived from the Arabic verb wahhada, which means "He made it one; or called it one". The Arabs say "Wāḥid, Ahad and Waheed," all meaning one. Allah is Waahid, meaning that He has no rivals or peers in any way. So Tawheed means knowing Allah is One, with none like unto Him. Whoever does not acknowledge Allah in these terms and does not describe Him as being One with no partner or associate does not believe in Tawheed. Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran [Surah Al Baqarah 2:255]:
“Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever- Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi (literally, a footstool) extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.” 
Tawheed in nutshell is analogous to the monotheistic concept of God in Judaism, as declared in the Shema Yisrael, the Jewish declaration of faith. Tawheed is also analogous to Christian Unitarianism adhered to by a minority of Christian denominations which reject a trinitarian position of God in Christianity, which is in contrast to most Christian faiths that ascribe to the Trinity (God as three persons in one being; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). 

Prophet Muhammad Peace be upon him) has also stressed the concept of Tawheed in Saheeh al-Bukhaari (7372) 
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: When the Prophet sent Mu`adh to Yemen, he said to him, You are going to a nation from the people of the Scripture, so let the first thing to which you will invite them, be the Tawheed of Allah. If they learn that, tell them that Allah has enjoined on them, five prayers to be offered in one day and one night. And if they pray, tell them that Allah has enjoined on them Zakat of their properties and it is to be taken from the rich among them and given to the poor. And if they agree to that, then take from them Zakat but avoid the best property of the people.
Therefore it is mandatory for all Muslims, specially the reverts, to know the concept of Tawheed and FIRMLY believe in Tawheed - To acknowledge Oneness of Allah, who is away from likeness and numeration and he is not divisible even in imagination. Allah must be recognized as The Lord or The Master and that He is so absolutely pure and above nature that nothing can be added to or subtracted from His being.

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Sunday 6 January 2019

Laws of Inheritance in Islam

Before the advent of Islam, the laws governing inheritance were purely for men. The women what to talk of given any share in hesitance, were buried alive as they were considered as humans by the pagans of Makkah or anywhere on the Arabian peninsula. Even int other faiths, women had no share in the properties left by their fathers or husbands.

In the Holy Qur'an, mention is made how the inheritance is to be divided between the heirs of the deceased. And by doing so, there are "clear cut entitlement and specific shares of female relatives." This amply highlights the status Islam gives to the women, which henceforth was not prevalent in the pre-Islamic era. Thus Islam not only elevated the position of women but simultaneously safeguarded their social and economic interests as long ago as 1400 years. 

There are two places in the Holy Qur'an where the basic rules of inheritance have been mentioned:
Allah instructs you concerning your children: for the male, what is equal to the share of two females. But if there are [only] daughters, two or more, for them is two thirds of one's estate. And if there is only one, for her is half. And for one's parents, to each one of them is a sixth of his estate if he left children. But if he had no children and the parents [alone] inherit from him, then for his mother is one third. And if he had brothers [or sisters], for his mother is a sixth, after any bequest he [may have] made or debt. Your parents or your children - you know not which of them are nearest to you in benefit. [These shares are] an obligation [imposed] by Allah . Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Wise. [Quran 4:11]
They request from you a [legal] ruling. Say, " Allah gives you a ruling concerning one having neither descendants nor ascendants [as heirs]." If a man dies, leaving no child but [only] a sister, she will have half of what he left. And he inherits from her if she [dies and] has no child. But if there are two sisters [or more], they will have two-thirds of what he left. If there are both brothers and sisters, the male will have the share of two females. Allah makes clear to you [His law], lest you go astray. And Allah is Knowing of all things. [Quran 4:176]
However, it  has also been cautioned that those who do not do justice in inheritance will draw wrath of Allah:
And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger and transgresses His limits - He will put him into the Fire to abide eternally therein, and he will have a humiliating punishment. [Quran 4:14]
This commandment in fact changes the entire complexion of the rules of inheritance that prevailed before Islam. The pagan system of inheritance was confined to the male agnate (a person descended from the same male ancestor as another specified or implied person, especially through the male line) relatives ("asaba") of the deceased. In this old customary system only the male agnates were entitled to inherit. Among the male agnates there were rules of priority, which determined which of the surviving male agnates were entitled to inherit.




Setting aside portions of inheritance for women was a revolutionary idea at its time. In ancient Arabia, like in many other lands, women were considered part of the property and were themselves to be shared among purely male heirs. In fact, only the eldest son used to inherit everything, depriving all other family members of any share. The Quran abolished these unjust practices and included women as inheritors in their own right. [5]

A question generally arises in the mind of women about the half share as compared to the full share of men. Muslim theologians explain this aspect of inheritance by looking at Islamic law in its entirety, which bestows the responsibility and accountability on men to provide safety, protection and sustenance to women.[Qur'an 4:34]. Anther explanation of why a daughter is entitled to only half that of the son is that Islam decrees that women, upon marriage are entitled to a "dowry" from the husband (in addition to any provision by her parents). It is thereafter the husband's obligation to care for and maintain his wife and the "dowry" is, therefore, essentially an advance of inheritance rights from her husband's estate which returns to his possession after the formalities over.

The the Qur'an also introduced additional heirs that were not entitled inheritance in pre-Islamic times, mentioning nine relatives specifically of which six were female and three were male. The laws of inheritance in the Qur'an also included other male relatives, such as the husband and half-brothers from the mother’s side, who were excluded from inheritance in old customs. The heirs mentioned in the Qur'an are the mother, father, husband, wife, daughter, brother who shares the same mother, full sister, sister who shares the same mother, and consanguine / consanguineous (relating to or denoting people descended from the same ancestor) sister. 

While the details of distribution have been explained in the Qur'an, one is free to write one's will as to one wants to share the wealth and property. To better understand the inheritance laws in Islam, please listen to Professor Javed Ahmad Ghamidi, a Pakistani Muslim theologian, Quran scholar, Islamic modernist, exegete and educationist, on the subject. The video is in Urdu, but has English subtitles for those who cannot understand Urdu:
It may be added here that:
  • The laws mentioned above are only in raw form, those seeking details may open references given below, specially [1] to know details and find answers to many questions that may arise due to one's peculiar situation.
  • The rules of inheritance differ for the Shia branch of Islam. Those belonging to Shia sect may refer to their rules drawn by their scholars.
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Tuesday 1 January 2019

How Wrong are the Idol Worshipers


One of the oldest form of worshiping is idolatry. People since time immemorial gave various shapes to their gods and have been worshiping them since, even till today. Idolatry is thus defined as "Idolatry literally means the worship of an "idol", also known as a worship cult image, in the form of a physical image, such as a statue or icon." idolatry is most prominent in Hinduism and Buddhism. While Buddhists only worship the idols of Buddha, the Hindus have a large number of idols for each season, reason and purpose, similar to the pagans of Makkah before the advent of Islam. It is said that at the time of fall of Makkah, there were over 360 idols of varying sizes in and around Ka'ba.

In Abrahamic religions, namely Christianity, Islam and Judaism, idolatry connotes the worship of something or someone other than God as if it were God and is strictly prohibited. The essence of Abrahamic religions is in fact hinges on the worship of unseen God and making image or idols of God is considered as a great sin.

The children of Israel defied the commandments of Allah when in the absence of Prophet Musa (Moses, peace be upon him), they carved out a 'god' made of gold in the form of a calf and started worshiping it. When the Prophet Musa returned as saw his people have betrayed him and the message he had brought to them and gone astray, he got furious and destroyed the calf and Allah's wrath fell on those who did that heinous sin. 




Despite forbiddance of idolatry, the Catholics worship the idols, something that Muslims and Protestant Christians don't approve of and condemn the Catholic veneration and statues of the Virgin Mary in many churches, as a form of idolatry, despite clear commandment on the subject:
Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God. Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary. [Leviticus 26:1–2, King James Bible]
It is irony that that those who worship and support idolatry have blamed Muslims to be idolaters for they claim that Muslims worship the Moon-god or even their Prophet Muhammad (peace  be upon him). While such claims are absurd as Muslims neither worship any moon-god or even the last of the prophets Muhammad (peace  be upon him), instead Muslims worship none other than One Allah and do not include anyone in Allah's domain as have all Divine religions been doing since Prophet Adam (peace be upon him). It is Christians that came up with the concept of Trinity to make God in three, which is totally incorrect and even against teachings of the Bible. We have written many posts on this issue to refute any charges against Islam for Islam is far above worldly gods and idol worshiping. Please read our posts on the subject at references [2,3,4] given below.

Those who worship idols often object to the teachings of Islam which forbid idolatry and  question that how can a majority of the people of the world be wrong in worshiping idols. You mat like to know the answer to a such like question by Dr A Naik, the eminent Muslim scholar who is an authority on all religions of the world, specially Islam:
Let us pray and worship the unseen Allah, whose power and creation can be felt and realized by looking around us and find answers in the nature He has created for us rather than worshiping god carved of stones unable to move or respond, and abstain from the sin of shirk (equating anyone else with the One and Only Allah).

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Monday 24 December 2018

What would be the Fate of Pious Non Muslims on the Day of Judgment


One of the most sought out question both by Muslims and Non Muslims is what would be the fate of pious non Muslims on the day of Judgment - that is whether they would go to paradise for being pious and helping mankind or would face the hell fire for not accepting Islam when it had reached them?

There have been many freeness to the effect to answer the question in the Holy Qur'an and even in the Hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ). The oft quoted verse from the Holy Qur'an to answer this question is found in Surah al-Bayyinah 98:6]:
“Verily, those who disbelieve (in the religion of Islam, the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad) from among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and Al-Mushrikoon (the non believers) will abide in the fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures”
Likewise, the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) has been quoted in saying in Sahi Muslim 153: 
“By the One in Whose hand is my soul, no one of this nation, Jew or Christian, hears of me then dies without having believed in that with which I was sent, but he will be one of the people of the Fire.” 
There are many interpretations and view point on the subject. But it is generally believed that whether Muslim or non-Muslim, if one does not adhere to the commandments of Allah in whichever form they come in and in whichever religion they are espoused in, one will have to answer for one's beliefs and faith.




This question has often crept into my mind too and I too have been looking for an appropriate answer to this query. I too have been wandering as others, for some believe Mother Tresa had her life devoted for helping the poor should stand out from the rest on the Day of Judgment for her service to mankind and humanity. While some argue that what she had been doing was to serve the cause of her religion, which shares the Jesus Christ (Prophet Eesa, peace be upon him) and the holy spirit with God, something that strictly negates the concept of One true Allah in Islam.

Watch the answer to this important and most oft asked question from Jāvēd Ahmad Ghāmidī, a Pakistani Muslim theologian, Quran scholar, Islamic modernist, exegete and educationist in the video below. Though the conversation is in Urdu, its English translation in subtitles on the screen will help non Urdu peaking to know Professor's view point:
May Allah help us know the truth no matter how bitter it may be' but one must standby the ultimate truth dispelling all prejudices, religious beliefs other than Islam and pragmatic thinking and reasoning.

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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