Islam is a jewel that has, over the centuries, gotten covered with layers of ignorance and prejudice. It teaches human beings to be peaceful, caring, humble, and God conscious.
Prophet Muhammad said that a person is not a Muslim unless he wishes for another human being what he wishes for himself. He also said that a person is not a Muslim if his neighbor goes to bed hungry, while he himself has eaten a meal.
A Muslim is not allowed to start a war, but is obligated to defend himself and others when attacked. Even when defending himself, he must not harm or attack non-combatants, elderly, women, and children. He is not allowed to cut even a single tree, damage the water supply, or do any other harm to the environment.
Chapter 5, Verse 32 of The Qur’an, translated reads; “…That if anyone slew a person – unless it be (after due process) for murder or for spreading mischief in the land – it would be as if he slew the whole people. And if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.”
Chapter 2, Verse 256 of The Qur’an, translated reads; “Let there be no compulsion in religion.” Chapter 109, Verse 6 of The Qur’an translated reads; “ To you be your way, and to me mine.”
As Muslims, Christians, Jews, and followers of many other faiths, we believe that we all had a common father and a mother, i.e. Prophet Adam and Eve. We all have love and affection for our immediate biological brothers and sisters. Why not remind us that every human being is our biological brother or sister, though somewhat removed. We all carry the same genes that we inherited from our parents, Prophet Adam and Eve. We should never allow ourselves to get so angry that we forget our blood relationship, and cause pain to each other.
We need to be God conscious. Islam teaches us that there are only two states of beings; the Creator, and the Creation. In other words, we as human beings need to be conscious of our kinship with everything around us. Our Creator had a reason and a purpose for creating each and every one of us, and every thing around us, animate as well as inanimate. We as humans, are allowed to use and consume some of these things to take care of our needs, but we are not allowed to waste or destroy. We must constantly remind ourselves that each of us will be held accountable for what we do, and will face the consequences.
It is our hope and prayer that God Almighty will guide us all to the right path, and help us become better human beings. Amen.
“Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the torment of the (Hell) fire.” (The Qur’an, 2:201)
“Our Lord! We have wronged our own souls: If Though forgive us not And bestow not upon us Thy Mercy, we shall certainly be lost.” (The Qur’an, 7:23)
0 comments:
Post a Comment