Re: is islam scientific???
Ameer ji,
Guru Fateh.
You write:
Why would the Creator need to be pleased. Isn't He omnipotent? Your statement indicates that He is not. Am I missing something here?
What does everlasting happiness mean and what is Hereafter? Can you please elaborate these terms in a practical pragmatic manner?
You as an American Muslim is aware of the 9-11 that was caused by the people of your faith. There is no denying in that. So,it is not that religion is seen as causing violence and hatred. People of your faith have done that, not only on 9-11 but many times after that, all around the globe. Last year it took place in Mumbai.
So, isn't there a contradiction there?
I totally agree with your above statement but you seem to be contradicting yourself again.
If you desire unity which is a wonderful thing, the first thing to be done to make this division crumble is that the words like *****, nonbeliever should be erased from the Islamic and the Christian vocabulary,then only all can find the true connection in all, with all, for the sake of breeding goodness within so it can be shared with others, irrespective of their hue,creed or faith.
Regards
Tejwant Singh
Tejwant ji
Please excuse long post. I may not have answered all your points to your satisfaction and went into more detail than necessary but you raised some important points that could not be answered as simply that you might have wanted as they are philosophical as well as practical. I am sure that many could do better than what I have tried to do in answering your legitimate questions and comments.
You asked:
Then who are the Kafirs?
The Arabic word means to cover, hide and therefore to deny the truth.
It is not just not accepting what you cannot or do not wish to accept but an attitude of holding on to beliefs for the sake of maintaining a status quo which does not produce anything beneficial for the individual or society. At the same time we are told to invite others to what we regard as beneficial for hem in a good way and not to ridicule their gods or (beliefs) to prevent them from responding in kind and later in the future regretting it after they have come around to voluntarily accepting it.
Muslims themselves may commit an act of "kufr" by believing something or acting in a way that goes against the essential teachings that in effect takes them out of Islam and requiring renunciation and repentance.
The natural opposite of a ***** is a believer which in Arabic is mu'min i.e. having "iman" or faith.
A ***** is also one who acts against the message of Islam in a way that ridicules, insults the beliefs of Islam and demeans the character of the prophet rather than just not accepting when invited. When criticizing the doctrines it should be done in the spirit of mutual respect and attempting to clarify the advantages and disadvantages of alternative ways of believing and acting. Dialogue when done in a positive way clarifies the differences and can be helpful for those who may not fully understand or have had a chance to hear the other side presented without bias.
Today, there is a campaign, particularly by Zionists and fundamentalist Christians especially in the US and Europe to demonize Islam as a violent religion rather than one that promotes peace and mutual respect. The growing number of Muslims in the US is a threat to Israel’s stranglehold of the congress and Christians feel that Islam is expanding and must be countered by any means. In Europe it also seen as a threat as a counter culture by establishing a pluralistic society as in the US as a mosaic rather than a “melting pot” which threatens their nationalist single identity associated with being called French or English. Integration is not enough for these racists as they want complete and total assimilation. No “rag heads” headscarves, burqas welcome here.
The superiority of Western culture and civilization over all others is what is still being promoted simply because of a racist conceit that relegates others to an inferior position.
The isolation that some, especially young immigrants feel in the UK that opens them to radicalization by those who use Islam to justify terrorism can be traced to this mentality.
The difficulty of even getting an interview for a job in Europe because of a foreign name adds to this feeling of separation and discrimination having negative economic consequences.
In India, secular by law, the Hindu identity is seen as the only legitimate one by extremists and efforts to convert Hindus, particular to Christianity, is seen as a threat to national unity.
Religious identity as in Ireland, Lebanon, similar to the Sikh- Muslim divide and conflict in other countries that divide people not on belief but on tribalism has caused violence and death among similar peoples.
The Serbian national church used religion to brand Muslims and Croats as a threat to a greater Serbia and allowed genocide to take place with impunity.
Sadly, there are contradictions, and these should be addressed objectively.
The Qur’an emphasizes the unity of mankind and the need to know one another but differences is belief like other differences can be accepted as diversity that enriches society or exploited for selfish reasons.
A stable society is in the best interests of all but there will always be tensions that can be exacerbated by circumstances.
Since the goal of Islam is to try to show a system of belief and life that will benefit all, it behooves Muslims to act in away that does not negate this purpose.
The Qur2an stresses the self sufficiency of the Creator and not in need of anything but it is the creation which depends on Him in this world and who will enjoy the good pleasure of their Creator. Those who reject His existence and essential nature will suffer form this denial as they will be unable to relate to and bathe in His glory.
Finally, Muslims, like the majority of those who hold beliefs which most have inherited by birth or have been brainwashed by hearing only one side of an issue, there will be people who take extreme positions which they feel are justified by their ideology. Islam and the Muslim world have been under threat not only from the time pf the Prophet but in the last 300 years. Western imperialism colonized mos of the Muslim world except for Turkey, although its effect was seen in the Turkish secular revolution initiated by Kemal Ataturk.
Russiand and Chinese imperialism has made slaves out of Muslim areas and many Muslim nations have adopted anti-Islamic domestic policies and kept the masses under control by undemocratic means supported by the West out of fear of a united Muslim world.
Islam needs to be clearly understood and practiced in the Muslim world before it can but understood by those who have no belief in its values.
The competing nationalism,ethnic identities, religious labels, economic and political solutions that are being offered to the world supported by propaganda has brouht the world into instability and conflict.
The masses despite the increase in education and communication potential are still unable to make their demands heard and acted upon in the world arena.
It will take a great effort and sacrifice to realize our common need for a harmonious world order based on knowledge and wisdom and acting with justice for all.
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