ALL RELIGIONS TEACH PEOPLE TO BE RIGHTEOUS, THEN WHY FOLLOW ONLY ISLAM?

ALL RELIGIONS TEACH PEOPLE TO BE

RIGHTEOUS, THEN WHY FOLLOW ONLY

ISLAM?

Question

All religions basically teach followers to do good deeds. Why should a person

only follow Islam? Can he not follow any of the religions?

Answer

1. Major difference between Islam and most other religions

All religions basically exhort mankind to be righteous and eschew evil. But Islam

goes beyond that. It guides us towards practical ways of achieving

righteousness and eliminating evil from our individual and collective lives. Islam

takes into account human nature and the complexities of human society. Islam

is guidance from the Creator Himself. Therefore, Islam is also called the Deenul-

Fitrah (the natural religion of Man).

2. Example - Islam commands us to shun robbery and also

prescribes method of eli-minating robbery

a. Islam prescribes method of eliminating robbery

All major religions teach that theft is an evil act. Islam teaches the same. So

what is the difference between Islam and the other religions? The difference

lies in the fact that Islam, besides teaching that robbing is evil, shows a

practical way of creating a social structure in which people will not rob.

b. Islam prescribes Zakat

Islam prescribes a system of Zakat (obligatory annual charity). Islamic law

prescribes that every person who has a saving that exceeds the nisab level

i.e. more than 85 grams of gold, should give 2.5% of that saving every lunar

year in charity. If every rich person in the world gave Zakat sincerely,

poverty will be eradicated from this world. Not a single human being would

die of hunger.

c. Chopping off the hands as punishment for robbery

Islam prescribes chopping off the hands of the convicted robber. The

Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Maidah:

“As to the thief, male or female, cut off his or her hands:a punishment

by way of example, from Allah, for their crime: and Allah is Exalted in

power, full of wisdom.” [ Al-Qur’an 5:38]

The non-Muslim may say, “Chopping off the hands in this 20th century.

Islam is a barbaric and ruthless religion!”

d. Results achieved when Islamic Shariah Implemented

America is supposed to be one of the most advanced countries in the world.

Unfortunately it also has one of the highest rates of crime, theft, and

robbery. Suppose the Islamic shariah is implemented in America i.e. every

rich person gives Zakat ( 2.5% of his savings in charity above 85 grams of

gold every lunar year), and every convicted robber has his or her hands

chopped off as a punishment. Will the rate of theft and robbery in America

increase, remain same or decrease? Naturally it will decrease. Moreover

the existence of such a stringent law would discourage many a potential

robber.

I agree that the amount of theft that takes place in the world today is so

tremendous that if you chop off the hands of all the thieves, there will be

tens of thousands of people whose hands will be chopped off. The point

here is that the moment you implement this law the rate of theft will decline

immediately. The potential robber would give it a serious thought before

jeopardizing his limbs. The mere thought of the punishment itself will

discourage majority of the robbers. There will barely be a few who would

rob. Hence only a few person’s hands would be chopped off but millions

would live peacefully without fear of being robbed.

Islamic Shariah is therefore practical, and achieves results.

3. Example: Islam prohibits the molestation and rape of women. It

enjoins hijab and prescribes capital punishment for a convicted rapist.

a. Islam prescribes method of eliminating molestation and rape

All the major religions declare the molestation and rape of women as grave

sins. Islam teaches the same. What then is the difference between Islam and

the other religions? The difference lies in the fact that Islam does not merely

preach respect for women, or abhor molestation and rape as serious crimes,

but also gives clear guidance as to how society can eliminate such crimes.

b. Hijab for men

Islam has a system of hijab. The Glorious Qur’an first mentions hijab for the men

and then for the women. Hijab for the men is mentioned in the following verse:

“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard

their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is

well acquainted with all that they do.” [Al-Qur’an 24:30]

The moment a man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed

thought comes to his mind, he should lower his gaze.

c. Hijab for women

Hijab for women is mentioned in the following verse:

“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and

guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and

ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should

draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to

their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons....”

[Al-Qur’an 24:31]

The extent of hijab for a woman is that her complete body should be

covered. The only part that can be seen, are the face and the hands up to

the wrists. If they wish to cover, they can even cover these parts of the body.

However some Islamic scholars insist that even the face should be covered.

d. Hijab prevents molestation

The reason why Allah has prescribed Hijab for the women is given in the

Qur’an in the folowing verse of Surah Al-Ahzab:

“O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing

women,that they should cast their outer garments over their persons

(when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as

such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, most Merciful.”

[Al-Qur’an 33:59]

The Qur’an says that Hijab has been prescribed for the women so that they are

recognized as modest women this would prevent them from being molested.

e. Example of twin sisters

Suppose two sisters who are twins and who are equally beautiful, walk

down a street. One of them is wearing the Islamic Hijab i.e. the complete

body is covered except for the face and the hands up to the wrists, and the

other twin is wearing a mini skirt or shorts. Around the corner there is a

hooligan who is waiting for an opportunity to tease a girl. Who will he tease?

The girl wearing the Islamic Hijab or the girl wearing the mini skirt or shorts?

Dresses that expose more than they conceal, are an indirect temptation to

the opposite sex for teasing, molestation and rape. The Qur’an rightly says

that the hijab prevents women from being molested.

f. Capital punishment for rapist

The Islamic shariah prescribes capital punishment for a convicted rapist.

The non-Muslim may be horrified at such a stringent punishment in this age.

Many accuse Islam of being ruthless and barbaric. I have asked a common

question to hundreds of non-Muslim men. Suppose God-forbid, some one

rapes your wife, your mother or your sister and you are made the judge. The

rapist is brought in front of you. What punishment would you give him? All

of them said, “we would put him to death.” Some went to the extent of

saying, “we would torture him to death”, If your wife or your mother is raped

you want the rapist to be put to death. But if someone else’s wife or mother

is raped, capital punishment is a barbaric law. Why the double standards?

g. U.S.A. has one of the highest rate of Rape

The United States of America is supposed to be one of the most advanced

countries of the world. An F.B.I report in the year 1990 says that 1,02,555

cases of rape were reported. It further says that only 16% of the cases of

rapes are reported. Thus, in order to know the actual number of rapes that

took place in 1990, the reported figure should be multiplied by 6.25. We get

a total of 6,40,968 rape cases that took place in the year 1990. If the total is

divided by 365 the number of days in a year, we get an average of 1,756

rape incidents everyday.

Later another report said that an average of 1900 cases of rape are

committed in U.S.A every day. According to National Crime Victimization

Survey Bureau of Justice Statistics (U. S. Dept. of Justice) in 1996 alone

3,07,000 cases of rape were reported. Only 31% of the actual cases of rape

were reported. Thus, 3,07,000 X 3.226 = 9,90,322 rapes took place in 1996.

That is, an average of 2,713 cases of rape took place everyday in America

in 1996. Every 32 seconds one rape is taking place in America. Maybe

American rapists got bolder. The FBI report of 1990 continues and says that

out of the rape cases that were reported only 10% of the rapist were

arrested, that is only 1.6% of the actual rapes committed. Out of those

arrested, 50% were let free before the trial. This would mean that only 0.8%

of the rapists faced a trial. In other words if a person commits 125 rapes the

chances that he will get a punishment for rape is only once. Many would

consider this a good gamble. And the report says that of those people who

faced trial 50% received sentences of less than a year’s imprisonment

though the American law says rape carries a seven year sentence of

imprisonment. For a rapist, the judge is lenient to first time offenders.

Imagine a person commits 125 rapes and the chances of being convicted is

only once, and 50% of the time the judge will grant leniency and give a

sentence of less than a year!

h. Results achieved when Islamic Shariah Implemented

Suppose the Islamic shariah is implemented in America. Whenever a man

looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his

mind, he lowers his gaze. Every woman wears the Islamic Hijab, that is the

complete body is covered except the face and the hands upto the wrists.

After this if any man commits rape, he gets capital punishment. The

question is, will the rate of rape in America increase, will it remain the same

or will it decrease? Naturally it will decrease. Islamic Shariah gets results.

4. Islam has Practical Solutions for the Problems of Mankind

Islam is the best way of life because its teachings are not doctrinaire rhetoric but

practical solutions for the problems of mankind. Islam achieves results both at

the individual and collective levels. Islam is the best way of life because it is a

practical, universal religion not confined to any ethnic group or nationality.

PROHIBITION OF ALCOHOL

PROHIBITION OF ALCOHOL

Question:

Why is the consumption of alcohol prohibited in Islam?

Answer:

Alcohol has been the scourge of human society since time immemorial. It

continues to cost countless human lives, and causes terrible misery to millions

throughout the world. Alcohol is the root cause of several problems facing

society. The statistics of soaring crime rates, increasing instances of mental

illnesses and millions of broken homes throughout the world bear mute

testimony to the destructive power of alcohol.

1. Prohibition of alcohol in the Qur’an

The Glorious Qur’an prohibits the consumption of alcohol in the following verse:

“O ye who believe! Intoxicants and Gambling, (dedication of) stones,

and (divination by) arrows, are an Abomination – of Satan’s handiwork;

eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper.” [Al-Qur’an 5:90]

2. Prohibition of alcohol in the Bible

The Bible prohibits the consumption of alcohol in the following verses:

a. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is

deceived thereby is not wise.” [Proverbs 20:1]

b. “And be not drunk with wine.” [Ephesians 5:18]

3. Alcohol inhibits the inhibitory centre

The human beings possess an inhibitory centre in their brains. This inhibitory

centre prevents the person from doing things that he considers wrong. For

instance a person does not normally use abusive language while addressing his

parents or elders. If he has to answer the call of nature, his inhibitory centre will

prevent him from doing so in public. Therefore he uses the toilet.

When a person consumes alcohol, the inhibitory centre itself is inhibited. That

is precisely the reason that an inebriated person is often found to be indulging

in behaviour that is completely uncharacteristic of him. For instance the

intoxicated person is found to use abusive and foul language and does not

realize his mistake even if he is addressing his parents. Many even urinate in

their clothes. Neither do they talk nor walk properly. They even misbehave.

4. Cases of adultery, rape, incest and AIDS are found more among

alcoholics

According to National Crime Victimization Survey Bureau of Justice (U.S.

Department of Justice) in the year 1996 alone everyday on an average 2,713

rapes took place. The statistics tell us that the majority of the rapists, were

intoxicated while committing the crime. The same is true in cases of

molestation.

According to statistics, 8% of Americans commit incest i.e. one in every twelve

to thirteen persons in America is involved in incest. Almost all the cases of

incest are due to intoxication of one or both the persons involved.

One of the major factors associated with the spread of AIDS, the most dreaded

disease, is alcoholism.

5. Every alcoholic was initially a social drinker

Many may argue in favour of liquor by calling themselves ‘social drinkers’. They

claim that they only have one or two pegs and they have self-control and so

never get intoxicated. Investigations reveal that every alcoholic started as a

social drinker. Not a single alcoholic or drunkard initially starts drinking with the

intention of becoming an alcoholic or a drunkard. No social drinker can say that

I have been having alcohol for several years and that I have so much selfcontrol

that I have never been intoxicated even a single time.

6. If a person is intoxicated just once and commits something

shameful, it will remain with him for a lifetime.

Suppose a ‘social drinker’ loses his self-control just once. In a state of

intoxication he commits rape or incest. Even if the act is later regretted, a

normal human being is likely to carry the guilt throughout his life. Both the

perpetrator and the victim are irreparably and irreversibly damaged.

7. Alcohol is prohibited in the Hadith

The Prophet of Islam Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

a. In Sunan Ibn-I-Majah Volume 3, Book of Intoxicants, Chapter 30 Hadith No.

3371.

“Alcohol is the mother of all evils and it is the most shameful of evils.”

b. In Sunan Ibn-I-Majah Volume 3, Book of Intoxicants, Chapter 30 Hadith No.

3392

“Anything which intoxicates in a large quantity, is prohibited even in a small

quantity.”

Thus there is no excuse for a nip or a tot.

c. Not only those who drink alcohol are cursed but also those who deal with

them directly or indirectly are cursed by Allah.

According to Sunan Ibn-I-Majah Volume 3, Book of Intoxicants, Chapter 30

Hadith No. 3380.

It was reported by Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), that Prophet

Muhammad (pbuh) said:

“God’s curse falls on ten groups of people who deal with alcohol. The one who

distills it, the one for whom it has been distilled, the one who drinks it, the one

who transports it, the one to who it has been brought, the one whom serves it,

the one who sells it, the one who utilizes money from it, the one who buys it and

the one who buys it for someone else.”

8. Diseases associated with alcoholism

There are several scientific reasons for the prohibition of consumption of

intoxicants i.e. alcohol. The maximum number of deaths in the world related to

any one particular cause is due to the consumption of alcohol. Millions of people

die every year only because of intake of alcohol. I need not go into the details

of all the ill-effects of alcohol since most of them are commonly known. Below

is a simple list of few of the alcohol related illnesses:

1. Cirrhosis of Liver is the most well known alcohol associated disease.

2. Others are Cancer of Oesophagus, Cancer of Head and Neck, Cancer of

Liver (Hepatoma), Cancer of Bowel, etc.

3. Oesophagitis, Gastritis, Pancreatitis and Hepatitis are linked with alcohol

consumption.

4. Cardiomyopathy, Hypertension, Coronary Artherosclerosis, Angina and

Heart Attacks are linked with heavy alcohol intakes.

5. Strokes, Apoplexy, Fits and different types of Paralysis are linked with

alcohol intake.

6. Peripheral Neuropathy, Cortical Atrophy, Cerebellar Atrophy are well-known

syndromes caused by alcohol consumption.

7. Wernicke – Korsakoff syndrome with amnesia of recent events,

confabulations and retainment of memory to old events with different types

of paralysis are mainly due to thiamine deficiency due to excessive alcohol

intake.

8. Beriberi and other deficiencies are not uncommon among alcoholics. Even

Pellagra occurs in alcoholics.

9. Delerium Tremens is a serious complication that may occur during recurrent

infection of alcoholics or post operatively. It also occurs during abstention as

a sign of withdrawal effect. It is quite serious and may cause death even if

treated in well equipped centres.

10. Numerous Endocrine Disorders have been associated with alcoholism

ranging from Myxodema to Hyperthyroidism and Florid Cushing Syndrome.

11. Hematological ill effects are long and variable. Folic acid deficiency,

however, is the most common manifestation of alcoholic abuse resulting in

Macrocytic Anemia. Zeive’s syndrome is a triad of Hemolytic Anemia,

Jaundice and Hyperlipaedemia that follows alcoholic binges.

12. Thrombocytopenia and other platelet abnormalities are not rare in

alcoholics.

13. The commonly used tablet metronidazole (flagyl) interacts badly with

alcohol.

14. Recurrent infection is very common among chronic alcoholics. The

resistance to disease and the immunological defense system are

compromised by alcohol intake.

15. Chest infections are notorious in alcoholics. Pneumonia, Lung Abcess,

Emphysema and Pulmonary Tuberculosis are all common in alcoholics.

16. During acute alcoholic intoxication, the drunk person usually vomits, the

cough reflexes which are protective are paralysed. The vomitus thus easily

pass to the lung causing Pneumonia or Lung Abscess. Occasionally it may

even cause suffocation and death.

17. The ill effects of alcohol consumption on women deserves special mention.

Females are more vulnerable to alcohol-related Cirrhosis than men. During

pregnancy alcohol consumption has a severe detrimental effect on the

foetus. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is being recognised more and more in the

medical profession.

18. Skin diseases are also related to alcohol indulgence.

19. Eczema, Alopecia, Nail Dystrophy, Paronychia (infection around the nails)

and Angular Stomatitis (inflammation of the angle of the mouth) are

common diseases among alcoholics.

9. Alcoholism is a ‘disease’

Medical doctors have now turned liberal towards alcoholics and call alcoholism

a disease rather than an addiction.

The Islamic Research Foundation has published a pamphlet that says:

If alcohol is a disease, it is the only disease that:

- Is sold in bottles

- Is advertised in newspapers, magazines, on radio and television

- Has licensed outlets to spread it

- Produces revenue for the government

- Brings violent deaths on the highways

- Destroys family life and increases crime

- Has no germs or viral cause

ALCOHOLISM IS NOT A DISEASE – IT IS SATAN’S HANDIWORK

Allah (swt) in His Infinite Wisdom has warned us against this snare of Satan.

Islam is called the “Deen-ul-Fitrah” or the natural religion of Man. All its

injunctions are aimed at preserving the natural state of man. Alcohol is a

deviation from this natural state, for the individual as well as for society. It

degrades man to a level below that of the beasts he claims to be superior to.

Hence the consumption of alcohol is prohibited in Islam.

HIJAB FOR WOMEN

HIJAB FOR WOMEN

Question:

Why does Islam degrade women by keeping them behind the veil?

Answer:

The status of women in Islam is often the target of attacks in the secular media.

The ‘hijab’ or the Islamic dress is cited by many as an example of the

‘subjugation’ of women under Islamic law. Before we analyze the reasoning

behind the religiously mandated ‘hijab’, let us first study the status of women in

societies before the advent of Islam

1. In the past women were degraded and used as objects of lust

The following examples from history amply illustrate the fact that the status of

women in earlier civilizations was very low to the extent that they were denied

basic human dignity:

a. Babylonian Civilization:

The women were degraded and were denied all rights under the Babylonian

law. If a man murdered a woman, instead of him being punished, his wife

was put to death.

b. Greek Civilization:

Greek Civilization is considered the most glorious of all ancient civilizations.

Under this very ‘glorious’ system, women were deprived of all rights and

were looked down upon. In Greek mythology, an ‘imaginary woman’ called

‘Pandora’ is the root cause of misfortune of human beings. The Greeks

considered women to be subhuman and inferior to men. Though chastity of

women was precious, and women were held in high esteem, the Greeks

were later overwhelmed by ego and sexual perversions. Prostitution

became a regular practice amongst all classes of Greek society.

c. Roman Civilization:

When Roman Civilization was at the zenith of its ‘glory’, a man even had the

right to take the life of his wife. Prostitution and nudity were common

amongst the Romans.

d. Egyptian Civilization:

The Egyptian considered women evil and as a sign of a devil.

e. Pre-Islamic Arabia:

Before Islam spread in Arabia, the Arabs looked down upon women and

very often when a female child was born, she was buried alive.

2. Islam uplifted women and gave them equality and expects them

to maintain their status.

Islam uplifted the status of women and granted them their just rights 1400 years

ago. Islam expects women to maintain their status.

Hijab for men

People usually only discuss ‘hijab’ in the context of women. However, in the

Glorious Qur’an, Allah (swt) first mentions ‘hijab’ for men before ‘hijab’ for the

women. The Qur’an mentions in Surah Noor:

“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard

their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is

well acquainted with all that they do.”

[Al-Qur’an 24:30]

The moment a man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed thought

comes to his mind, he should lower his gaze.

Hijab for women.

The next verse of Surah Noor, says:

“ And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and

guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and

ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they

should draw veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty

except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their

sons...”

[Al-Qur’an 24:31]

3. Six criteria for Hijab.

According to Qur’an and Sunnah there are basically six criteria for observing

hijab:

1. Extent:

The first criterion is the extent of the body that should be covered. This is

different for men and women. The extent of covering obligatory on the male

is to cover the body at least from the navel to the knees. For women, the

extent of covering obligatory is to cover the complete body except the face

and the hands upto the wrist. If they wish to, they can cover even these

parts of the body. Some scholars of Islam insist that the face and the hands

are part of the obligatory extent of ‘hijab’.

All the remaining five criteria are the same for men and women.

2. The clothes worn should be loose and should not reveal the figure.

3. The clothes worn should not be transparent such that one can see through

them.

4. The clothes worn should not be so glamorous as to attract the opposite sex.

5. The clothes worn should not resemble that of the opposite sex.

6. The clothes worn should not resemble that of the unbelievers i.e. they

should not wear clothes that are specifically identities or symbols of the

unbelievers’ religions.

4. Hijab includes conduct and behaviour among other things

Complete ‘hijab’, besides the six criteria of clothing, also includes the moral

conduct, behaviour, attitude and intention of the individual. A person only

fulfilling the criteria of ‘hijab’ of the clothes is observing ‘hijab’ in a limited sense.

‘Hijab’ of the clothes should be accompanied by ‘hijab’ of the eyes, ‘hijab’ of the

heart, ‘hijab’ of thought and ‘hijab’ of intention. It also includes the way a person

walks, the way a person talks, the way he behaves, etc.

5. Hijab prevents molestation

The reason why Hijab is prescribed for women is mentioned in the Qur’an in the

following verses of Surah Al-Ahzab:

“O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women

that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when

abroad); that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such)

and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

[Al-Qur’an 33:59]

The Qur’an says that Hijab has been prescribed for the women so that they are

recognized as modest women and this will also prevent them from being

molested.

6. Example of twin sisters

Suppose two sisters who are twins, and who are equally beautiful, walk down

the street. One of them is attired in the Islamic hijab i.e. the complete body is

covered, except for the face and the hands up to the wrists. The other sister is

wearing western clothes, a mini skirt or shorts. Just around the corner there is

a hooligan or ruffian who is waiting for a catch, to tease a girl. Whom will he

tease? The girl wearing the Islamic Hijab or the girl wearing the skirt or the mini?

Naturally he will tease the girl wearing the skirt or the mini. Such dresses are an

indirect invitation to the opposite sex for teasing and molestation. The Qur’an

rightly says that hijab prevents women from being molested.

7. Capital punishment for the rapists

Under the Islamic shariah, a man convicted of having raped a woman, is given

capital punishment. Many are astonished at this ‘harsh’ sentence. Some even

say that Islam is a ruthless, barbaric religion! I have asked a simple question to

hundreds of non-Muslim men. Suppose, God forbid, someone rapes your wife,

your mother or your sister. You are made the judge and the rapist is brought in

front of you. What punishment would you give him? All of them said they would

put him to death. Some went to the extent of saying they would torture him to

death. To them I ask, if someone rapes your wife or your mother you want to put

him to death. But if the same crime is committed on somebody else’s wife or

daughter you say capital punishment is barbaric. Why should there be double

standards?

8. Western society falsely claims to have uplifted women

Western talk of women’s liberalization is nothing but a disguised form of

exploitation of her body, degradation of her soul, and deprivation of her honour.

Western society claims to have ‘uplifted’ women. On the contrary it has actually

degraded them to the status of concubines, mistresses and society butterflies

who are mere tools in the hands of pleasure seekers and sex marketeers,

hidden behind the colourful screen of ‘art’ and ‘culture’.

9. USA has one of the highest rates of rape

United States of America is supposed to be one of the most advanced countries

of the world. It also has one of the highest rates of rape in any country in the

world. According to a FBI report, in the year 1990, every day on an average

1756 cases of rape were committed in U.S.A alone. Later another report said

that on an average everyday 1900 cases of rapes are committed in USA. The

year was not mentioned. May be it was 1992 or 1993. May be the Americans

got ‘bolder’ in the following years.

Consider a scenario where the Islamic hijab is followed in America. Whenever

a man looks at a woman and any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his

mind, he lowers his gaze. Every woman wears the Islamic hijab, that is the

complete body is covered except the face and the hands upto the wrist. After

this if any man commits rape he is given capital punishment. I ask you, in such

a scenario, will the rate of rape in America increase, will it remain the same, or

will it decrease?

10. Implementation of Islamic Shariah will reduce the rate of rapes

Naturally as soon as Islamic Shariah is implemented positive results will be

inevitable. If Islamic Shariah is implemented in any part of the world, whether it

is America or Europe, society will breathe easier. Hijab does not degrade a

woman but uplifts a woman and protects her modesty and chastity.