Hinduism (part 3 of 4): The status of women in Hinduism

Hinduism Symbol

Description: A comparison of the rights of women in Hinduism & Islam.

Hinduism[1] is the third largest religion in the world, with more than 950 million adherents. Although Hindus live predominantly in India and Nepal, they are scattered throughout the world. As we discussed in the previous two articles, in some ways Hinduism and Islam can be thought of as polar opposites. Two of the most basic beliefs of Hinduism conflict completely with the most basic beliefs of Islam. In Islam worship is for One God, Muslims do not worship idols, statues or representations of God. Hindus, on the other hand worship many gods and deities.

Muslims believe that we each have one life, upon which we will be judged, and rewarded or punished accordingly, whereas Hindus believe in reincarnation, the process of rebirth and the transmigration of souls. These two issues were covered in article two. In this article we will talk about the status of women in Hinduism and compare it with the teachings of Islam.

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Hinduism (part 2 of 4): Idol worship and Reincarnation

Hinduism: Idol worship and Reincarnation

Description: Two big differences between Hinduism and Islam.

Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world. There are approximately 950 million adherents, most of them in India or Nepal. Central to Hindu worship is the image or icon, and central to Hindu belief is the concept of rebirth or reincarnation. These two fundamental convictions in some ways make Hinduism and Islam polar opposites.

Monotheism versus Polytheism

The most fundamental belief in Islam is the concept of One God. He has no sons, daughters, associates or intermediaries. He does not have partners or underlings; therefore, there are no demi gods or minor deities inherent in the concept of God. He is not part of His creation and God is not in everybody and everything. Praying to images, icons, statues, animals or stones is a grave sin. Believing that someone or something other than God alone is able to affect your life or future is a grave sin. Worshipping something or someone along with or instead of God and not sincerely repenting before death is considered to be the only unforgiveable sin in Islam. The belief in more than one god is called polytheism and the pure monotheism of Islam is directly opposed to it.

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Hinduism (part 1 of 4): What is Hinduism?

What is Hinduism?

Description: A brief overview of Hinduism in a series of articles discussing it from a comparative religions perspective.

This is the first article in a series discussing Hinduism from a comparative religions perspective. Although as Muslims we believe wholeheartedly that there is only One God and Mohammad is His messenger, and that Islam is the religion of those who are submitted to God, these articles are not intended to denigrate other religions or their followers. Our intention is, as the title suggests, to compare religions.

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What is Buddhism? (part 2 of 2)

What is Buddhism?

In Buddhism,[1] the ultimate goal is to break the cycle of rebirth and achieve enlightenment or nirvana. Nirvana is a transcendental state in which there is no suffering, desire, or sense of self. The Buddha however, did not give a complete definition of nirvana. It is worth noting that the term Buddha most commonly refers to the founder of Buddhism, Siddartha Gautama, however any person who has achieved full enlightenment, or nirvana, may be referred to as a Buddha.

In most religious groups and traditions the key belief is the acceptance of a Supreme Being, in other words, a Creator God. In all Buddhist traditions however, the key belief is the importance of meditation. It is considered the path to liberation – the end of human suffering. Buddhists do not believe in either a creator or personal God, in fact Buddhism rejects such a notion and considers God a response to human fright and frustration. According to Buddhist ideology humans create the idea of God to console themselves in a fear filled and hostile world.

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What is Buddhism? Part 1 of 2

What is Buddhism

Definition: A widespread Asian religion or philosophy, founded by Siddartha Gautama in NE India in the 5th century BCE, which teaches that enlightenment may be reached by elimination of earthly desires and of the idea of the self.[1]

Buddhism is the religion of more than 500 million people around the globe. The majority of those people live in Asia but there are substantial Buddhist communities in other continents. There are two main Buddhist traditions, Theravada (The School of the Elders) and Mahayana (The Great Vehicle). Buddhism is not strictly a religion and is often described a philosophy of life.
Who was the Buddha?

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Male Circumcision in Islam

Male circumcision is among the rites of Islam and is part of the (in Arabic): fitrah, or the innate disposition and natural character and instinct of the human creation.

As-Shawkani said in his book Nayl al-Awtar (1/184):

"What the Prophet (s.A.w.) means by Fitrah is that if these characteristics are followed by a man, he would be described as a man of Fitrah, which Allah (s.w.t.) has gifted his servants with, and encouraged them to follow, so that they attain a high degree of respectability and dignity."

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Five are the acts quite akin to fitrah:Circumcision, clipping or shaving the pubes, cutting the nails, plucking or shaving the hair under the armpits and clipping (or shaving) the moustache." (Reported in Bukhari & Muslim)

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Islamic Values and Ethics in Prevention and Treatment of Emotional Disorders

By Basheer Ahmed,

God says about Qur'an ..It (Qur'an) is a:-guide and a healing to those who believe" (S.41: V. 44). Religion plays a significant role in satisfying our physical as well as spiritual needs: Islam teaches us a code of behaviour and gives us a meaning for our existence. Unfortunately, in today's western society the religious, moral and ethical values have been declining. The families are falling apart, divorce rate is increasing sharply, substance abuse and excessive sexual indulgence are common in adolescents and young adults. These factors lead to conflicts, resentment, loss of self-respect, loneliness, depression, anxiety and a host of psychological symptoms. Despite progress in the behavioural sciences, there remains the question of whether current technique of treatment and prevention of emotional disturbances are effective in making a significant impact on psychiatric problems.

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Henna (Mehendi) is a Great Healer

By Dr. M. Laiq Ahmed Khan

The Henna plant is not only extensively grown throughout India, but cultivated as well. It is planted as hedges around houses, buildings and sometimes fields. It is two-meter long when fully grown and emission of a typical fragrance is also noted during nights. It is cultivated throughout India. For ages. The Mehndi of Faridabad is very much popular and liked by the users. The different parts of the plant viz. leaves, stems, flowers and fruits are being used for cosmetic as well as medicinal purposes.

Umme Salma (R) narrates: "In the life of Prophet Muhammed (saws), no injury or thorn piercing was treated on which Henna was not applied." (Tirmizi, Sanad-e-Ahmed)

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Show Kindness to Animals

Show Kindness to Animals

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) not only preached to the people to show kindness to each other but also to all living souls. He forbade the practice of cutting tails and manes of horses, of branding animals at any soft spot, and of keeping horses saddled unnecessarily. [Sahih Muslim] If he saw any animal over-loaded or Milad he would pull up the owner and say,

"Fear Allah in your treatment of animals." [Abu Dawood]

A companion came to him with the young ones of a bird in his sheet and said that the mother bird had hovered over them all along. He was directed to replace her offspring in the same bush (Mishkat, Abu Dawood)

During a journey, somebody picked up some birds eggs. The bird's painful note and fluttering attracted the attention of the Prophet (pbuh), who asked the man to replace the eggs. [Sahih Bukhari]

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Making up missed Ramadan Fasts

Making up missed Ramadan Fasts

Sometimes we are unable to fast all days during Ramadan due to various reasons, such as ill health, travel or other extenuating circumstances. God is Most Merciful, and allows us the provision to make up the missed fast outside Ramadan.

[2:185] Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. GOD wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify GOD for guiding you, and to express your appreciation.

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My name is Christina and this is how I accepted Islam

This is Kristin Nicole Ritchie holding a Mic before Converting to Muslim

On Christmas Day, 2010, I embraced Islam and became a Muslim. Why? Simply because I felt ready, as a result of a gradual process of growth and change that had been slowly transforming my life over the past year.

I moved to Abu Dhabi, UAE, in the spring of 2010, to teach English. My first time in the Gulf, I didn’t know what to expect but I wanted to understand the culture around me and the religion, which are a vital aspect of everyday life in this part of the world. Hence began my journey to learn about Middle Eastern culture and the people around me, reading books about Islam and the Quran. I had no intention of changing my own religion. I just wanted to understand Islam.

As I continued reading and delving , I realised that there was alot about Islam that I didn’t know or had misunderstood, and continued to search for answers to the myriad of questions I had about Muslim traditions and practices, stature and rights of women in Islam and so on.

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Laylat Al Qadr (The Night of Power)

Crowning Glory

Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Power) is the crowning glory of the holy month of Ramadan. It is associated with the sending down of the magnificent Qur’an, the last Book of Allah on His last Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), for the guidance of mankind. The Qur’an Majeed describes this Night.

“We have indeed revealed this (message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to you what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the Angels and the Spirit (Jibraeel or Angel Gabriel) by Allah’s permission, on every errand: Peace! This until the rise of Morn!” (Surah 97)

The Night of Power is the night of spiritual bliss. Our Nabi (peace be upon him) is reported to have said concerning Ramadan:

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RAMADAN: Reflections on Fasting

Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. GOD wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify GOD for guiding you, and to express your appreciation. [2:185]

Ramadan is the ninth lunar month in the Islamic calendar. Muslims (Submitters) all over the world fast every day of this month from dawn to the sunset. During fasting, the Muslims abstain from eating, drinking and sexual encounter as decreed by God in verse 2:187 of the Quran.

At the outset, for somebody who does not have experience with it, fasting seems to be hardship on the people. It is very common for Muslims (Submitters) to have a colleague or a friend exclaim, “…You mean you cannot even drink water till sunset, not even a sip!”

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Ramadan: A Gift Of Rememberance

They remember God while standing, sitting, and on their sides, and they reflect upon the creation of the heavens and the earth: 

"Our Lord, You did not create all this in vain. Be You glorified.
Save us from the retribution of Hell." (3:191)

Ramadan is the month during which the Quran was revealed, providing guidance for the people, clear teachings, and the statute book. Those of you who witness this month shall fast therein. Those who are ill or traveling may substitute the same number of other days. God wishes for you convenience, not hardship, that you may fulfill your obligations, and to glorify God for guiding you, and to express your appreciation. (2:185)

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Introduction to Ramadan/Fasting

Ramadan is the ninth lunar month in the Islamic calendar. Submitters (Muslims) all over the world fast during this month from the beginning of dawn to sunset. During fasting, Submitters abstain from eating, drinking and sexual activity as commanded by God in the Quran (2:187).

Like all other practices in Submission, the practice of fasting during the lunar month of Ramadan has been in existence since the time of Abraham. Full details about fasting are given in the Quran in chapter 2 verses 183 to 187.

{subtitle} Fasting Emphasized and Modified*

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