Can sins be shared? Two Theological Perspectives

The concept of sharing sins is a very deviating theological matter which often come ito discussion when arguing to present one's view point or the basis of one's belief or faith. When it comes to Divine religions, this debate gets heated up between two extremes often leading to no viable midway solution.

In Islam, sins cannot be transferred or shared in the sense that one person becomes guilty in place of another. The Qur'an repeatedly states, "No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another" (53:38; 6:164; 17:15; 35:18; 39:7). However, a person can incur additional sin by causing or encouraging others to sin. The one who misleads bears the burden of their own wrongdoing and the responsibility for leading others astray, while those who follow still bear responsibility for their own choices. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever calls to misguidance will have a burden of sin like those who follow him, without that decreasing their sins in the slightest." (Sahih Muslim). Thus, Islam teaches individual accountability without transferable guilt: everyone answers for their own deeds, yet those who spread evil or set a harmful example carry an additional burden for the consequences they helped bring about.

We recently published a post based on the 39th verse of Surah 53. An Najm (The Star) which clearly lays down a timeless rule of justice! No bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. Today we will share two theological perspectives for academic purpose only for the purpose of this post is not to negate perspective and faiths of others. For sharing burdens and sins is one of the clearest theological differences between the Qur'an and mainstream Christian doctrine. However, it is important to describe the Christian belief accurately and then explain the Qur'anic perspective respectfully.

The Qur'anic Principle

Allah says: "No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another." (53:38). This principle is repeated several times in the Qur'an:

6:164 – "No bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another."

17:15 – "No bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another."

35:18 – "No bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another."

39:7 – "No bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another."

The repetition shows that individual accountability is a foundational principle in Islam.

The mainstream Christian belief

Most Christians (particularly Catholic, Orthodox, and the majority of Protestant traditions) believe that:

Humanity is affected by sin.

Jesus willingly died on the cross.

His death was an atoning sacrifice.

Through faith in Christ, God forgives believers because of Christ's sacrifice.

Many Christians describe this as Jesus "bearing our sins," drawing on passages such as Isaiah 53 and parts of the New Testament. However, Christian traditions differ in how they understand exactly how Christ's death brings forgiveness.

Why does the Qur'an differ?

From the Qur'anic perspective, forgiveness cannot come by transferring guilt from one person to another. The Qur'an consistently teaches:

• Every individual commits their own deeds.
• Every individual answers to Allah.
• Allah forgives directly when a person sincerely repents.

This is why verses like 53:38 are so significant. The Qur'an presents forgiveness as flowing from Allah's mercy rather than from another human bearing the sinner's punishment. For example:

"Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins.'" (39:53)

Notice that the invitation is to turn directly to Allah.

Why is this important in Islam?

Islam emphasizes two attributes of Allah together:

1. Perfect Justice

A person is accountable only for what they chose. "Every soul earns only against itself." (6:164). That is no innocent person is punished for another's wrongdoing.

2. Perfect Mercy

Allah can forgive without injustice because He is the One against whom the sin is committed. If someone sincerely repents, Allah forgives by His own will.

"Indeed, Allah loves those who constantly repent." (2:222)

Thus, Islam does not see a need for guilt to be transferred to another person.

A respectful point for dialogue

When speaking with Christians, it is usually more constructive to ask reflective questions than to make accusations. For example:

If God is perfectly merciful, why would forgiveness require the punishment of an innocent person?

If God is perfectly just, how is it just for one person to bear another's guilt?

If the prophets before Jesus taught repentance directly to God, why would that principle fundamentally change?

These questions invite thoughtful discussion without misrepresenting Christian beliefs.

The Subtle Theological Differences

The central theological difference is this: Islam teaches absolute, indivisible monotheism (Tawḥīd), whereas mainstream Christianity teaches one God in three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—the Trinity. And this lays the foundational difference between Islam and Christianity on burden and sharing of sins. Let us give a summarized difference between the two religions:

1. Nature of God

• Islam: Allah is absolutely One, unique, indivisible, and has no partners, children, or equals.
• Christianity: God is one Being existing eternally as three distinct persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

2. Jesus Christ

• Islam: Jesus—ʿĪsā ibn Maryam—is a great prophet, Messiah, and miraculous servant of God, but not divine.
• Christianity: Jesus is the eternal Son of God, fully divine and fully human.

3. Sin and human nature

• Islam: People are born innocent, not guilty of Adam’s sin. Each person is accountable for his or her own deeds.
• Christianity: Many Christian traditions teach original sin or an inherited fallen condition resulting from Adam’s disobedience.

4. Salvation

• Islam: Salvation comes through faith in Allah, repentance, righteous deeds, and ultimately Allah’s mercy. No one bears another person’s guilt.
• Christianity: Salvation comes through faith in Christ and his atoning death and resurrection; the precise role of works differs among denominations.

5. Forgiveness

• Islam: A sinner can turn directly to Allah in sincere repentance. No sacrifice of another person is required.
• Christianity: Forgiveness is understood through Christ’s sacrifice, which reconciles humanity with God.

6. Mediation

• Islam: There is no divine mediator between Allah and the worshipper.
• Christianity: Christ is described as the mediator between God and humanity.

7. Final judgment

• Islam: Every person will be judged individually according to faith, deeds, repentance, and Allah’s justice and mercy.
• Christianity: Judgment is connected to one’s relationship with Christ, though Christian traditions differ on faith, works, sacraments, and grace.

Note: Since our dialogue is restricted to burden sharing, comparison on the finality of prophethood, Incarnation, Crucifixion and religious laws are omitted for comparison in one of our future posts.

.

How Muslims understand Jesus (ʿĪsā)

The Qur'an honours Jesus as one of the greatest prophets and the Messiah, but not as one who bore humanity's sins. Instead, his mission was to:

• call people to worship Allah alone,
• confirm the Torah,
• teach righteousness,
• perform miracles by Allah's permission,
• call people to repentance.

The Qur'an quotes him as saying: "Indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. This is the straight path." (3:51)

A deeper reflection

Surah An-Najm 53:38 and the verses that follow (53:39–42) present a complete philosophy of salvation in Islam:

• No one bears another's sin (53:38).
• Each person earns through their own striving (53:39).
• Every deed will be shown (53:40).
• Each person will receive full recompense (53:41).
• To Allah alone is the final return (53:42).

This framework places every human being—regardless of ancestry, status, or association—in a direct relationship with Allah. Forgiveness is available to all through sincere faith, repentance, and Allah's mercy, without requiring another person to assume their guilt. This is one of the central distinctions between the Qur'anic understanding of salvation and the mainstream Christian doctrine of atonement.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may refer to more Selected Verses from Sürah (53) An-Najm النجم‎ (The Star) already published. You may also refer to our exclusive reference pages: Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: This comparative post is based on available data on the social media / ChatGPT for education purpose only. This is just a step towards understanding the theological difference in perspective of Islam and Christianity on sin / burden sharing. Readers may seek more information as a lot has been written on the subject.

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Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries: Honduras

Honduras is the only Latin American country which has the largest population of Arab immigrants outside the Western Hemisphere. although, the majority of these Arab immigrants are of Orthodox and Catholic Christian descent totaling something between 150,000 to 200,000, the Muslims form part a fraction of it, that is between 5,000 to 6,000 including the local converts.

Sarah Souli in her post "A visit to the Biggest Little Mosque in Honduras" says:

The introduction of Islam to Honduras is linked to the waves of Arab immigration, explains Rodolfo Pastor Fasquelle, a historian at San Pedro Sula’s Museo de Antropologia e Historia.

“In 1870 the national railroad pact was signed with the British,” Fasquelle said, while giving a tour around the museum’s exhibit of 19th-century artifacts. “It was a great fiasco—it never got past the mountains—but it did connect San Pedro Sula to the coastline. And as the city became an internal port, it became crucial to trade with the outside world.” Goods came, and so did immigrants from Europe, North America, and increasingly, the Middle East. Arab migration came in three waves: from 1895-1915 as the Ottoman Empire suffered a string of crises; from 1925 to 1940 in the wake of the First World War; and again from 1950-1970, after visas became easier to obtain.

In 1984, an Islamic charitable organization was founded, with the main object of taking care of the interests of the Arabs and Muslims in the country, and they have since built a mosque, where they meet and discuss their social and religious affairs, including the education of their children, the most important of which is teaching them the Qur’an and the Arabic language.

For many years there was no mosque / masjid in Honduras. But now there are two masjids: the one in San Pedro Sula, and a smaller one in the capital city of Tegucigalpa. Pakistani factory owners, converted Honduran military generals and Cuban flaneurs are just a few of the people who attend jumu’ah (Friday prayers) in the masjid in San Pedro Sula. Imam Mohammed, a Pakistani who leads the service, says that only around 30 people attend prayers at the mosque on a weekly basis.

Iman Mohammed, who was born in Pakistan, poses for a portrait after Friday prayers. 

The revert experiences are unique for the Hondurans, Sarah Souli explains:  [2]

“I started studying Islam alone, and the path of Allah came for me,” Colonel Orlando Ajalla Gaños told us. Raised Catholic, the colonel has spent the last nine years commuting weekly to the mosque from his home in Tegucigalpa. “I was always happy but since becoming Muslim I am even more happy—you can call me Saif,” he added, referring to his Islamic name as he adjusted his taqiyah (cap).

Arnaldo Hernandez, a Garifuna fisherman, drives three hours from his home in the coastal town of La Ceiba to attend Friday prayers. He converted to Islam from Christianity 26 years ago, though, as he is quick to point out with a huge grin, “we are all Muslims.”

Iman Mohammed leads the Friday prayer - the prayers are spoken in a mix of Arabic and Spanish to serve the San Pedro Sula mosque’s diverse population of worshipers.

Honduras’s constitution protects freedom and practice of religion—though the government only officially recognizes the Roman Catholic church; all other religious groups are categorized as religious associations and have fewer rights and privileges. [3]

“We haven’t had any problems with racism,” stated Imam Mohammed who gives the Friday prayer sermon at the mosque in Spanish and Arabic languages.

Hernandez, the Garifuna fisherman expressed that “there’s no distinguishing between race and color. We’re all brothers, that’s the base of Islam. It’s a benediction to have this community.”

The Muslim community has its unity and cohesiveness. There are weekly dinners organized by Mr. Yusuf, a Pakistani Muslim who owns a string of factories and is one of the country’s richest men. Everyone contributes to the mosque’s upkeep—a donation box is passed around after the prayers. In this sky-blue Caribbean mosque, the best parts of Islam—equality, fraternity, love—seem to shine.

Disclaimer: The data for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

To know more about life of Muslims in other non Muslim countries, please visit our page: Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

All Photos Credit: EMILY KINSKEY / Atlas Obscura | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, 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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Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries: Puerto Rico

Muslims in Puerto Rico, located in Caribbean island and unincorporated U.S. territory, constitute a very tiny presence: a mere 5,000 heads (2007 estimate). Islam found its way to this part of the world as early as 1493 and was carried across the Mediterranean and the Atlantic by Spaniards, who were forced to take on the Christian faith yet remained Muslim in their own right, and by Africans, who were forced to come to the Americas yet maintained their faith and sense of identity.  Many “Moriscos,” or Iberian Muslims, came to the Caribbean bypassing several Spanish laws that prohibited them from coming to the Americas and served as merchants and explorers. Some were taken as slaves. However, despite this early presence, the growth of Muslims in Puerto Rico has been very negligible, though their presence brought the second monotheist religion to the island.

As per Wikipedia, the present Muslim community largely consists of immigrants from Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt and Syria, with some descendants who arrived between 1958 and 1962. At the time, the vast majority of Puerto Rico's Muslims lives in Caguas – a city in the island's central region located south of San Juan – where they operate restaurants, jewelry stores and clothing outlets.

Islam is not very well known in the Caribbean. Although Puerto Rico currently holds a Palestinian, Pakistani, and Egyptian community, a new Latin Caribbean community is growing and is in the spot light. This provides Dawah, invitation to Islam, to their own people from all over the island. Thanks to social media, Islam has already been accepted by so many Latinos. Social media has gradually informed the natives about Islam, creating more education and attacking the idea of Islamophobia caused by the media and a lack of education. 

Despite the small Muslim population, there are nine mosques (masjids) in Puerto Rico. Initially,  a storefront mosque on Calle Padre Colón in the Río Piedras district of San Juan served the entire religious community on the island during earlier years, however, today there are mosques and Islamic centers in Aguadilla, Arecibo, Hatillo, Ponce, Vega Alta, and San Juan.

Puerto Rico Islamic Center at Ponce in Barrio Cuarto, Ponce [Photo]

In recent years some Puerto Ricons have been reverting to the religion of their ancestors: Islam. In each of Puerto Rico’s nine mosques, researchers have found an increasing number of recent local converts. There is no accurate measure, but anecdotal evidence suggests rising numbers. 

For Juan, a reverted Muslim, Catholicism, the religion adopted by his ancestors when they converted, was too confusing. The doctrine of “tawhid” in Islam – the oneness of God – was, as he saw it, simpler than what he believed to be the complex theology of the Trinity. Furthermore, he felt that Islam called for a higher morality and sense of self-discipline. And so, he “reverted” – that is, returned to the faith of his birth and the heritage of his Iberian forebears in al-Andalus, in what is modern-day Spain.

Most Muslims keep two elements of identity: One that of Puerto Ricon national and other as a Muslim. As  per a report, Muslims in Puerto Rico have a deep history and a rich narrative that expands the understanding of what it means to be Muslim on the one hand, and, on the other, Puerto Ricon. 

An iconic representative of Islam in the island has been Khaled Alkhatib, born in Caguas and raised by Muslim parents, he has dedicated his life to spread his word.

Although the Muslim community is merely 0.1% of he total population of the Island, in December 2015, Destiny Vélez, the newly crowned Miss Puerto Rico was suspended by the Miss Puerto Rico organization after an anti-Muslim rant on Twitter, as a result of strong Muslim protest.

I could not find much material about Muslims in Puerto Rico, but herein under is a video showing various mosques across the island:

Disclaimer: The data for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

To know more about life of Muslims in other non Muslim countries, please visit our page: Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, 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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Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries: South Africa

South Africa, the southern most African country of the Africa is house to a minority Islam viz a viz its total population. in fact a mere 1.5 to 2% of South Africa is Muslims. Although Muslims have been trickling down in bits and pieces from countries as far away as Indonesia (when the Dutch controlled and East Indies and the Cape an Muslims were were brought Dutch East Indies - present day Indonesia) later from British India in the 19th and 20th centuries, the overall Muslim population has not grown significantly. 

the majority of Muslims are Sunni with a smaller number of Shia sect of Muslims. The small number of Muslims is considered mainly due to the apartheid regime and its strict policies of conversions to any other religion than Islam, there has been a growing number of Muslim migrants from South Asia and North Africa; however, their numbers are fairly low after the end of the apartheid and country becoming a democracy in 1994. According to Michael Mumisa, a researcher and writer on African Islam, there has been an increase in the number of black South Africans converting to Islam particularly among the women and the youth.

Mosque in Cape Town [Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Author: Dolores Coullie]

Jamiat ul-Ulama of the Transvaal (est. 1923), The Muslim Judicial Council (est. 1945) and Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa are some of the leading Muslim organizations looking after the interest of their respective communities. Most of the Indian community follow the Hanafi jurisprudence, while the Malay, Kokni Indian & East African Communities usually follow the Sha'afi jurisprudence, which predominates in the Western Cape.

Although Islam is one of the smallest minorities in South Africa, is an integral and visible part of the society. This is especially true in the urban areas in the Western Cape, Natal and Transvaal. Among many prominent Muslim missionaries, Ahmed Hoosen Deedat (July 1, 1918 – August 8, 2005). Mr Deedat who held numerous inter-religious public debates with evangelical Christians, as well as video lectures on Islam, Christianity, and the Bible. Deedat established the IPCI, an international Islamic missionary organisation, and wrote several widely distributed booklets on Islam and Christianity. He was awarded the King Faisal International Prize in 1986 for his fifty years of missionary work.

Ahmed Hoosen Deedat [Photo]

Bo Kaap is home to the oldest mosque in South Africa and once housed slaves, political exiles and convicts sent from countries including Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Indonesia as far back as the 17th century. During apartheid, Bo Kaap was declared a Muslim-only area with a number of now-residents uprooted and forced to move there from other parts of the city. Many recall tales of forced evictions and houses being seized with little compensation.

Halal food can be found for Muslims in the Cape Town. In fact The entire kitchen at Hilton Cape Town City Centre is all halal. They don't serve wine.

Muslims observe their religious festivals with traditional Muslim zeal and fervour. The Friday (Jumu'ah) congregations and observance of Ramadan, followed by the Eid ul Fitr are usual Muslim holy months and feats that bind the small Muslim community together. Watch below the South African Muslims celebrating the month of Ramadan:

Disclaimer: The data for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

To know more about life of Muslims in other non Muslim countries, please visit our page: Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, 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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Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries: Bolivia

Bolivia,  a landlocked country located in western-central South America has a population of 11,428,245 (2019 estimates) of which a very small fraction is Muslims - around two thousand, representing 0.017 % out of the total population to be exact. And perhaps for this very reason, not much information is available about the life of Muslims in the country.

As per Wikipedia, Imam Mahmud Amer Abusharar, who arrived from Palestine in 1974 founded The Bolivian Islamic Center (Spanish: Centro Islámico Boliviano, CIB) in August 1986. In 1992 a commission for the construction of the first mosque in Bolivia was approved, and it was completed in September 1994 in the city of Santa Cruz. 

In 2004 the first official Sunni mosque, the Yebel An Nur Mosque, was founded in 2004 in La Paz. Prior to that Islam was rather unheard of. The Yebel An Nur Mosque remains self-funded with close ties to the Sunni Bolivian Islamic Center of Santa Cruz while the As-Salam Mosque receives both Sunni and Shia followers, connections, and funding.

The majority of the people attending the Friday ceremony are young men and women. This is because most of the adult men have work responsibilities. According to the National Statistical Institute of Bolivia, the majority of Bolivian citizens self-identify as Catholic. ‘Bosses don’t really keep in mind Muslim duties as they do in the Middle East,’ says imam Ayman Altaramsi, the religious leader of the mosque in La Paz. ‘Bolivian society is not structured around Islam.’

Finding Halal food is one of the biggest problem for the Muslims. Naturally for such a small community, arrangements for Halal meat cannot be made. However, the community solved the problem on its own. ‘Five years ago we started producing our own halal meat,’ Altaramsi says proudly. During the month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, ‘about one hundred people come to our Mosque to eat this meat and share their spiritual experiences,’ he says.

There are many converts in Bolivia. Morah Bacinello converted eight years ago after growing up Catholic because Christianity didn’t bring her satisfaction. ‘I came to this mosque to try something else,’ she explains. ‘They told me about eternal life, and this especially caught my interest because I lost a son,’ she says. Bacinello adopted her Arabic name and, two years later, her children also converted to Islam. Now Allah is guiding their lives.

Like many Muslim women, Bacinello wears a hijab, but only two years ago she started to use it in public. ‘I never had any experiences with people approaching me in a negative way,’ she says. ‘In general, people in Latin America are more spiritual than usual, and perhaps more tolerant in terms of religion.’

Despite peaceful presence of Bolivian Muslims, I was amazed to find a post by Fox News saying that "Bolivia Becoming a Hotbed of Islamic Extremism." Interesting isn't it? How can a mere 2000 Muslims threaten a country of 11 million and sow seeds of extremism merely because some belong to Palestine and Iran.

Disclaimer: The data for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

To know more about life of Muslims in other non Muslim countries, please visit our page: Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, 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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Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries: Mexico

Muslims are a tiny fraction of the 129 million Catholic dominated Mexico, the fifth largest country of the Americas. Although as per the 2010 census, the Muslims are only 2,500 of the total population,  the local Muslim community boasts of a 12,000 strong community.

The number of Muslims in Mexico has been growing exponentially over the last decade as more Mexicans embrace the religion and its message of peace and coexistence. At least 5,500 native Mexicans have converted to Islam since 1989 in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. It is cause for tremendous excitement at a time when Islamophobia is on the rise and Muslims are exposed to falsely associated with terror groups. Muslim immigrants from Lebanon, Syria and even Spanish Sufi Muslims has contributed to spreading the message of Islam throughout Mexico, according to The Muslim Vibe.

The Centro Cultural Islámico de México (CCIM), a Sunni organization headed by Omar Weston, a British born Mexican convert to Islam, has been active in several big cities in northern and central Mexico. In the state of Morelos, the CCIM built a prayer hall and centre for recreation, learning and conferences, called Dar as Salaam, which also operates Hotel Oasis, a hotel that offers halal holidays for Muslim travelers and accommodation for non-Muslims sympathetic to Islam.

Muslims fell the brunt of terrorist attacks around the world portraying Muslims behind. But they brave out such taunts  and continue their peaceful reproach and are thus well mixed within the overall Mexican culture. However, students and others dependent on remittances from home are subjected to many questions as to what "purpose" money is being received.

One of the most unique Muslim urban centers was established in a village of southern Chiapas, the heartland of the indigenous Mayan people who identify as Roman Catholic. A growing number of indigenous Mexicans have converted to Islam in this village located around San Cristobal de las Casas, which identify as indigenous Tzotzil community. Muslims there have been blending their indigenous ways of life with the customs required by Islam, including the traditional Mayan scarf for women and prayer caps or kufis for men. ‘’I want to speak my language, I want to put on the indigenous dress, but I also want to believe in Allah’’ a Muslim member told the The Muslim Vibe. [4]

Muslims do celebrate their religious festivals specially the fasting during month of Ramadan and the Eids, but Eid ul Fitr and Eid al Adha.

Watch a video of the Mexican Muslims celebrating Eid:

To know more about life of Muslims in other non Muslim countries, please visit our page: Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Islam in Mexico (Video)

Disclaimer: The data for this post has been collected from the references as given above or YouTube. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, 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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Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries: Ireland

Islam in the Republic of Ireland is a rather new religion for the first presence of Muslims occurred in the 1950s when students from different countries came to Ireland for higher studies, especially to study medicine at the famous Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin. And it was they who founded the Dublin Islamic Society (later called the Islamic Foundation of Ireland) in 1959. Since then from a few to over 64,000 practicing Muslims, today Islam is the third largest religion after the Catholics and Followers of the Church.

The Census 2011, showed 49,200 people who declared themselves Muslim. But just five years later in 2016, this number jumped to 63,400 - a rise of 29% in the number of people registering themselves as a Muslim from that in 2011.

Sunnis are in the majority in Ireland and the largest membership is from Pakistan, Algeria and Libya. The Sunni community have a number of mosques and centres around Ireland (details at end of section).There are over 2,000 Shi'a followers and the majority come from Pakistan, Lebanon, Iran and Iraq. The majority of the Shi'a community live in Dublin where there is a centre, while others live in major urban centres such as Cork and Galway.

There are over 50 mosques that are spread over the country. The largest mosque is in Dublin, the Clonskeagh mosque or the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland, which about 5,000 people attend. Aside from the five qualified imams here, there are a number of “congregational leaders” who know parts of the Qur’an by heart who can lead prayer.

Life of Muslims is as normal or otherwise as any other European country. The Hijab remains an issue for the Muslim women as the mainly Christian population around is not very comfortable about it. Muslim teenagers complain of isolated incidents of Hijab being pulled off in public. Likewise there are racist occurring with slurs being passed on to Muslims, specially women, but Muslims are becoming used to it. However, in an interview with Muslim girls, one of the girls remarked: "We definitely feel a lot more comfortable than in Britain or France." When asked about recent events in the UK, France and elsewhere that might give a negative impression of Islam, one of the Muslim student said that there are people who try to “skew” the religion into something that fits their own agendas.

The Islamic Cultural Centre, Dublin, Ireland [Photo Credit:  Wikimedia Commons / Source / Author ]

As to halal food, one find food outlets offering halal meat and meat products in most larger towns and by the dozen in Dublin. Look for signs in Arabic, especially mentioning "halal" or describing the food as "ethnic". A huge number of Pakistani shops stock a good selection of food from mainly the UK and Turkey that will have a halal seal. A smaller number will also have a butcher's counter selling fresh halal meat.

The acceptance of the Muslim as an individual has much to do with the fact that half of the Irish health system would collapse if it were not for Muslim doctors. Enter any Irish hospital and chances are good that you will be treated by a Muslim doctor, often from Pakistan. However, ethnicity and religion are somehow intermingled here. Expect to hear things like "Oh, he is a Muslim ... but a good doctor nonetheless!" on occasion. 

Muslims enjoy celebrating their festivals in colours and happiness. Watch herein under a video of Muslims celebrating the festival of Eid and how they feel about being in the country:

Disclaimer: The data for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

To know more about life of Muslims in other non Muslim countries, please visit our page: Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

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Scholars' Viewpoint: Relationship of Muslims with Qur'an

Quran, the last Divine book, plays an important role in shaping the lives of Muslims and even its influence on Non Muslims which attracts them to it and embrace Islam. But many beleivers are not very sure what their relationship should be with Quran or how to establish a relationship with Quran.

Allah had given Divine books and scriptures to earlier people too but most of them parted ways with the guidance and truth that was contained in those books and scriptures and even added many additions and innovations to suit their needs rather than seeking guidance from the actual words of Allah.

It is also in many cases with Muslims. Although they recite it everyday, they do not know what they are reading and why. A large number of Muslims leave the explanation of the Quran to the scholars and listen to them what are they being told - not what they like to know. Unless we establish a strong relationship with Quran and know why we need to do it, we shall never be able to reach to the real truth contained in the Quran and seek guidance from it.

Please listen to eminent Muslim scholar and preacher Nouman Ali Khan on the Miracle of Quran and why and how Muslims should establish a relationship with this last Divine Book from Allah:

Nouman Ali Khan, born to a Pakistani family, is an American Muslim speaker and Arabic instructor who founded the Bayyinah Institute for Arabic and Qur’anic Studies, after serving as an instructor of Arabic at Nassau Community College. He has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are that of the concerned scholar . We have shared these view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, 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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Muslims in Non Muslim Countries: Nicaragua

Republic of Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American isthmus with a population of 6,545,502 (2019). Of this a very marginal number of 1,200 to 1,500 are Muslims (according to 2007 statistics released by the U.S. Department of State). This small number of Muslims is mostly Sunnis who are resident aliens or naturalized citizens from Palestine, Libya, and Iran or natural-born Nicaraguan citizens.

Muslims immigration started in the 19th century, majority of whom were the Palestinian Arabs. Another influx of Palestinians entered Nicaragua with the decline of the Ottoman Empire after Word War I. Thereafter in 1960s and 1990s. Many of these were immigrants returning to Nicaragua who had since become more aware of their Muslim heritage from exposure in North America or Palestine. These immigrants also possessed a stronger Islamic identity than previous groups, enabling an Islamic reawakening by the community.

Masjid in Managua, Nicaragua [Photo]

In 1999, the first masjid (mosque) was constructed in the country on a parcel of land measuring three thousand meters in the San Juan district (Ciudad Jardin) with a capacity for nearly one thousand people.

The Islamic Cultural Center in Managua serves as the primary center for Muslims in the capital city. For Friday prayers, Muslims from Granada, Masaya, Leon, and Chinandega also travel to the Managua center. Muslims living in Granada, Masaya, and Leon have established smaller prayer centers in the homes of prominent local Muslims.

In addition to the Sunni Muslims, a small number of Shi'ite Muslim is also present in the country who mostly came after the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

Praying inside the Managua Mosque  [Photo]

How is life of Muslims in Nicaragua? Well I tried to find answer from the available information on the net but did not find any useful data. However, in one account, I came across a mention of a death of a Palestinian Muslim married to a Catholic wife. The account states that the man lived in house adorned with statues as if one is standing in church. They also found out that his wife and three children never embraced Islam. However a miracle happened there at the funeral. 

A group of Muslims had gone their for his last rituals. The group comforted the grown up children with mention of the greatness of Allah and the principles of Islam, some points about the Prophet Issa (Jesus, peace be upon him), and tried to give them a little of what they had missed of an Islamic upbringing. As they were listening, the oldest brother removed the cross from his neck and at once accepted Islam and said the Shahada (declaration of faith), followed by his brother, and together they invited their sister to do the same, which she did. The Mother, listening to this conversation, became upset by what was happening and left the house. Later they all offered the noon prayers with the newly reverted children of the deceased.

After the burial, the brothers from San Francisco stayed awhile and provided further Islamic information for the family. The family cleared their house of idols and crosses and made their big house into the 'Mosque of Chinandega'. It was then that the mother, who was deeply touched by her husband's funeral also accepted Islam before the brothers departed!  

Please read on the details at reference [3] for yet another account of reversion

Those reading it and if Muslims from Nicaragua, are requested to add more about life of Muslims in Nicaragua in our comment box.

Author's Note: The data for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

To know more about life of Muslims in other non Muslim countries, please visit our page: Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, 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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