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Compiled by: Azeem Ayub |
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Reflections | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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In the Name of Allah, |
Unto Him shall We Return
Whether it was a big bang that brought our world into existence or something else, the bitter truth is that we are living in a place full of misery and suffering. The torment that men inflict on each other is nothing comparable to the torment inflicted by the natural calamities and disasters. Of course, it is easy to explain away the hard facts of hundreds of thousands of people massacred in a bloody war or the innumerable causalities suffered in a terrorist attack. Man is evil incarnate! He is egocentric, envious and devilish! But what about the natural catastrophes?
The perennial problem of evil has pervaded our philosophical literature since ages. Obviously, it is not possible to deny the bare fact that evil permeates the entire world we subsist in. In one form or another, we have to encounter it very many times throughout our life. There is no denying that good is also found around us, and that the bounties of nature mesmerize us once we look for them. However, the prominent form that evil takes is manifest to all people – whether intelligent or dull minded. Therefore, despite the abundance of good, the problem of evil has always posed a big question to mankind.
Various interpretations which man has been led to indeed give no real solace to us. For example, to equate evil with lack of knowledge, and knowledge with knack is the most perplexing problem of its own kind1. Man is of course neither innately ignorant nor does he get conditioned to function mechanically once he obtains knowledge. The universal truths of justice, honesty, and veracity are evident to all people. It is quite possible that difference of opinion should arise on very subtle points while adhering to these universal truths. However, the majority of mankind has always cherished these truths, and upheld them at the expense of their lives. Furthermore, this equation gives us no clue as how to unfold the underlying meaning of the natural catastrophes that befall mankind. Of course, the evil that seems to emanate from the works of God is what the central problem is at hand. And it is awfully absurd to entertain, in the slightest degree, the notion of ignorance on the part of God for otherwise He would be no God in actuality. Therefore, the ignorance-evil notion leaves us in the middle of nowhere.
Undeniably, the problem apparently is resolved by a so-called persuasive explanation that each evil is in fact good in the light of the overall universal natural laws and orders2. To know the coherence of nature is to appreciate the ultimate good in every manifestation of evil. Good and evil are relative to man, and indicate nothing positive considered in themselves. Therefore, what our reason says bad is not bad as regards the orders and laws of universal nature but only as regards the laws of our own nature. This explanation doubtlessly places us in a broader spectrum, and helps us see the ultimate good in the evil that befalls us. It insists that the all-encompassing divine sight envisions good in all the evil around us. We need not despair and feel low. Good may elude us but it does not escape the world altogether.
However, there is nothing in this proposition for the individual beings who suffer. It is hardly possible to get big kicks from the supposed ultimate good that is yielded at the expense of my suffering. If my son is hanged for no offence, if my daughter is raped callously, and if an earthquake leaves my entire family dead, the only comfort for me is to think philosophically: all the pain that I bear for the sufferings of my loved ones firstly, and for not having been given justice subsequently will contribute to the universal good – the most elusive notion ever heard of. What would I do with this so-called universal good? And if I yearn for justice, why is it that the Providence will ignore it after engendering within me this yearning in the most intense and palpable form in the first place?
Now, when we look into the Holy Qur’an, we find it a quintessential fountain that furnishes ceaseless supplies of sheer solace. It is not because it has concocted a fable to hush the cries of the suffering mankind. It has actually lifted the veil from the face of reality. In the Holy Qur’an, man stands face to face with reality yet finds superb consolation in the soothing explanation purported by it. This world is not a work of chance nor is what happens in it a work of blind forces. In fact, the world has been created by an Omnipotent and Omniscient God with a predefined purpose, that is, to test men which of them is good in faith and deeds. This sole objective is the fiber that human life, on this planet, is interwoven with. The wheel of life moves on only to test the vigor of men’s faith in God, and assess the conduct of their lives.
In the span of their life in this world, men have been given free will to plan and act as they please. As an obvious corollary, sometimes, innocent blood will be shed and sometimes, innocent souls will be deflowered. But everyone is being tested: while the criminal is tested in his crimes, the victims are tried for their patience and trust in God. The criminals would not be left to go scot-free nor would the pangs of pain that we endure go in vain. The Holy Qur’an sounds a stern warning to the criminals and announces fabulous rewards for those who persevere. We mustn’t fall prey to the notion that life of the world is an end in itself: once dead, we shall not be resurrected to account for our deeds. As the appointed time comes, the dead will be raised to see the ultimate justice being dispensed in the Kingdom of God.
In fact, the scheme of the Almighty about this world is exceptionally clear as pointed out earlier. The disasters and adversities are also a means to put mankind through test and trial. He has unequivocally declared that He shall test men with loss of wealth and lives, fear and hunger. The catastrophes are but a part and parcel of the trial that man is put through.3 Far from the notion of universal good, whatever we do is accounted for in our own records – true and fair presentation of our entire life – which shall provide a detailed basis on which our fate in the Hereafter will be decided. In the Kingdom of God, the minute details shall be examined so much so that the covert secrets of our hearts shall be probed and brought into open. No matter what we do, human relations and natural forces shall continue to propel trying circumstances for us. For the thankless souls, there shall be heavy penalty and tremendous loss. However, they shall have no fear or despair who when struck by evil calls out إنالله و إناإليه راجعون (we are God’s and unto Him shall we return!)
Author: Jhangeer Hanif
Topic URL: April 2004
www.monthly-renaissance.com 1. Allusion is to the views of Plato. 2. Allusion is to the views of Spinoza. 3. It seems pertinent to mention that the Holy Qur’an maintains that this is the trial that man of his accord accepted to take.
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Reflections | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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* General Discussion Forum: Is Islam a fabricated religion? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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* Understanding Islam
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Successful
Recent
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Topic: Does it Depend on Your Ethnicity?
maskxone
Jhangeer Hanif
Islam does allow
you to marry anyone with their consent without distinction of color or caste.
However, we have to face problems in this world because we find others
deviating from the path they believe correct. It is not the religion to blame
but the bad practice people have assimilated.
Scott_Cox I am new to the forum and have recently reverted to Islam.
Jhangeer Hanif very right.
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student1 Asalam Aalaikum,
I have got this link
:http://www.quranic.org/?gclid=CN6O97GMjYwCFRDaYgodc2ujBQ
Raushan Do they have any new charge or the regular ones? [Sorry, the webpage is perhaps blocked here in UAE.]
student1
There are problems
in Middle East as far as i know, they block several anti-islamic websites since
there is no concept of debate and discussions there and thats why people are
pretty ignorant about religions. Sorry for changing the topic but i need some proper information about it.
oosman
I read their intro
page and skimmed through one section.
student1 Thank you for your info, so it means they only block those websites that are against Islam and Islamic culture.
perv1 Student 1 I have glanced through their introduction. I can find nothing anti Islamic about the site. Perhaps you want to raise specific points from the site which you consider Anti Islamic. Then they could be dealt with.
Here is the introduction from the site:
quote: THE BOOK’S AIM
The aim of
this book is to assert once and for all the fact that the Quran has the
exclusivity of Islam, and that, unless explicitly announced in it, no one, no
sect, no sheikh or authority is allowed to remove anything from it or to make
any additions to it. The purpose of religion is man. To mislead a man by
arousing antagonism between him and life, and generating discord between him and
his self is doomed to end in a disaster. Islam is, in its essence, free from all
contradictions, whereas the pseudo-religion is a den of inconsistencies,
illogicalities and sources of misery. It is inconceivable that the religion that
God has revealed to be in perfect accord with human nature would include
contradictions.
For your information the Middle Eastern Govts have nothing to do with Islam. They are unislamic Governments who censor anything which they consider threat to their corrupt regime.
perv1 having read a little bit more the site is far more representative of Islam then anything on this site.
hkhan (Moderator) Yes sadly in a neighbouring town interfaith event at a synagogue this evening we have been asked question about the closed systems in Saudi Arabia e.g. not allowed to carry bible etc. what we could say was that this state is not a true rep. of Islam--we ought to look for Islam scattered here and there in the present times-nowhere a complete {ic is available
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Using Products of Pig Fat Posted on: Friday, November 19, 2004 - Hits: 934
Answer:
Tariq Mahmood Hashmi
see: http://www.studying-islam.org/querytext.aspx?id=156
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Understanding Islam UK
Understanding Islam UK is an organization based in Manchester UK which has taken up the task of promoting an academic approach in understanding Islam among Muslims and non Muslims in the UK and Europe.
We arrange fortnightly sessions of Quran and Hadith lectures by Javed Ahmad Ghamidi on DVD followed by interactive discussions between the participants initiated by a member of the organisation. These days we are discussing Ghamidi's Meezan.
There is also a teaching programme for children aged between 8 to 18 which includes recitation and translation of Quran. This again is an interactive session in which we encourage children to ask questions and build their faith on academic reasoning.
We would like to invite our brothers and sisters living in the UK and Europe, who agree with our approach, to contact us regarding our activities and future plans. We need like minded people to join us and help us spread the message to every nook and corner of the world.
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