Re: The Universality of Islam
- From: kangarooistan <kangarooistan4@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:21:38 -0700 (PDT)
On Aug 15, 1:25 am, MUSLIMS ARE GOOD FOLKS
<a.muslim.with.miss...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The Universality of Islam
By Prof. Shahul Hameed
There are three essential criteria that we need to apply to judge any
religion that claims to have universal appeal. Let us consider them,
and see whether Islam qualifies for being a universal religion:
One Creator
First and foremost, a universal religion should be based on an
unqualified belief in the One and Only God of the whole universe.
It should be evident to any thinking person that the very concept of
universality, by definition, precludes any chance for "differences or
divisions among the powers" that control the universe.
If there were more gods than one, there could be differences — in
fact, wars — among the gods, and the people who favor one god over
another would be at loggerheads.
In the Quran, which Muslims believe is the word of God, you can read
what means,
[If there were, in the heavens and the earth, other gods besides
Allah, there would have been confusion in both! but glory to Allah,
the Lord of the Throne: (High is He) above what they attribute to
Him!] (Al-Anbiyaa' 21:22)
The perfect harmony existing among the Sun, the Moon, the planets, and
the stars, declares the oneness of the Creator as well as the
uniformity of the laws that govern them.
The relatively young science of ecology has brought out more facts
about the interdependence and coherence existing between the disparate
parts of the universe. Indeed, all evidence in the universal order and
nature unanimously proclaim the oneness of God.
And believers are admonished to observe, study, and ponder over the
phenomena of nature to be convinced of this stupendous fact:
[Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth; in the
alternation of the night and the day; in the sailing of the ships
through the ocean for the profit of mankind; in the rain which Allah
sends down from the skies, and the life which He gives therewith to an
earth that is dead; in the beasts of all kinds that He scatters
through the earth; in the change of the winds, and the clouds which
they trail like their slaves between the sky and the earth;- (Here)
indeed are Signs for a people that are wise.] (Al-Baqarah 2:164)
The foregoing means that false religious concepts such as polytheism
or belief in a trinity undermine the very foundations of universality.
As for Islam, its core is absolute monotheism (in Arabic tawheed). Its
first and foremost creed is an assertion in simple words: "There is no
one worthy to be worshipped, but Allah (God)." This statement is the
solid foundation on which the religion of Islam stands.
God says in the Quran what means,
[Say: He is Allah, the One and Only Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He
begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him.]
(Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4)
These verses as well as others in the Quran categorically and
emphatically affirm the oneness of the Creator. And Islam declares
that God has absolute dominion and control of the whole of creation,
and He is the Sustainer and Law-Giver of the universe and everything
in it.
The Notion of Equality
The second essential quality of a universal religion is that it is
meant for the whole of humanity, irrespective of tribe, race,
nationality, and so on. Certainly such a religion should not give any
tribe, race, or nation precedence over another.
If a religion favors one race, for instance, as "the Chosen People",
there is no question of its being a universal religion. Caste-ism,
where people are divided into castes, with one caste being superior to
another, is another example of this kind of "favoritism".
In sharp contrast to such beliefs, Islam strongly upholds the oneness
of God as well as the oneness of humanity.
God stated in the Quran what means,
[O men! Behold, We have created you all out of a male and a female,
and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to
know one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of God is
the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Behold, God is all-
knowing, all-aware.] (Al-Hujurat 49:13)
Equality of all humans before God is a concept of Islam derived
directly from the oneness of God. One God, one humanity, and one
religion for mankind, is the foundation of Islam.
A Complete Religion
Thirdly, a universal religion should be a complete religion, so that
it does not leave the moral principles that should govern the affairs
of humans to the whims and prejudices of any particular person or
group.
Islam is a complete way of life. When we read the Quran or the
Prophetic traditions, we find instructions and guidelines relevant to
all aspects of life, including the political and economic affairs as
well as the ethical and cultural aspects.
In fact, Islam does not recognize any kind of separation between
religion and life. It has nothing to do with the idea of a separation
between church and state, for everything should be dedicated to God
alone, and a Muslim is required to submit himself completely and
without reservation to the Will of God in all his affairs.
A Muslim is commanded to declare,
[Truly, my prayer, my worship, my living and my dying are for Allah,
the Lord of the worlds. No partner has He: this am I commanded, and I
am the first of those who submit to His Will.] (Al-An`am 6:162)
Islam has established a clear system of worship, civil rights, laws of
marriage and divorce, laws of inheritance, code of dress, behavior and
manners; and how to worship God. It also gives the rules of governance
as well as the rules of war.
Considering these three criteria, it is only logical to conclude that
Islam does indeed have universal relevance.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Professor Shahul Hameed is a consultant to the Reading Islam Website.
He also held the position of the President of the Kerala Islamic
Mission, Calicut, India. He is the author of three books on Islam
published in the Malayalam language. His books are on comparative
religion, the status of women, and science and human values.
http://tinyurl.com/r5kqab
THE HON PETER GARRETT AM MP
MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, HERITAGE AND THE ARTS
TRANSCRIPT
ANNOUNCEMENT OF SOUTH AUSTRALIAN HERITAGE PROJECTS
UNDER THE $650 MILLION JOBS FUND
ADELAIDE MOSQUE, ADELAIDE
SATURDAY 10 OCTOBER, 2009
GARRETT: Thanks for coming down to this really important Adelaide City
Mosque this morning as we announce a further round of support for
heritage projects under the Government’s Jobs Fund.
I am really pleased that we are able to recognise the distinctive
contribution that the Islamic community, through this mosque, has
made. This is an important building not only for the community itself
but also for the cultural heritage and history of South Australia.
The Adelaide Mosque was built in 1888, and is the oldest mosque in
Australia.There was a bush built rough " mud Mosque at Marree then
called Hergott Springs a few years earlier built by and for the
Caelleers from the inland district Its original four minarets were
added in 1903.
Muslims from as far away as Broken Hill and Kalgoorlie gathered at
least once a year at the Adelaide Mosque, usually for the Fast of
Ramadan. In 1890 it was reported that 80 Afghans were present to
observe this important festival.
Islam was introduced to Australia in the 1860s with the arrival of the
first cameleers, brought to Australia to handle recently introduced
camel teams. Thomas Elder brought 124 camels and 31 handlers to South
Australia in 1865, establishing a stud at Beltana. The handlers came
to be known as 'Afghans' or 'Syrians' although they were actually from
various countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Adelaide_Mosque
also of interest
A Road to Mecca: The Journey of Muhammad Asad
Sunday 11 October 2009 22:15 / 10.15pm , ABC TV
A Road to Mecca: The Journey of Muhammad Asad
In the 1920s Austrian Leopold Weiss left his Jewish roots and
converted to Islam and became one of the most important Muslims of the
20th century. He was an advisor to the king’s court in Saudi Arabia
and later translated the Qur’an. He became a co-founder of Pakistan
and finally an ambassador to the United Nations.
http://www.abc.net.au/compass/comingup.htm
A very Busy week in Adelaide
Guess WHY International science centre is opening in Adelaide
Posted Thu Oct 8, 2009 7:34am AEDT
Science centre opened by Duke of Kent
Science centre opened by Duke of Kent (ABC News)
* Video: New national science centre opens Adelaide (ABC News)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/10/08/2707915.htm
* Map: Adelaide 5000
The VERY first international branch has opened of a world-renowned
science research centre, the Royal Institution of Great Britain. and
GUESS why they choose ADELAIDE South Australia , to open a NEW RI ,
after 200 years of only have ONE office its perfectly natural they
chose ADELAIDE for the second office , to all those who examine the
facts with an open mind
The Royal Institution has been a centre for scientific research for
two centuries and will now have a centre in the former Adelaide Stock
Exchange building.
The Duke of Kent performed the official opening.
The centre's inaugural director, Professor Gavin Brown, says it will
TRY to raise awareness of science. sadly most sheeple are to busy
watching football replays to EVER notice anything of REAL importance
"We want to design something which draws upon the more than 200 years'
tradition and success of the Royal Institution in Great Britain but is
adaptive to our time and our place in Australia," he said.
Professor Brown says the centre will feature exhibits and host
scientific debates.
"We've also equipped it with absolute state-of-the-art audio-visual
etcetera so we can beam stuff out from Adelaide to the rest of
Australia or indeed the world.
INDEED it is state of the art conference rooms , beautifully restored
too , centrally located too , now all we need if some funds for the
cutting edge of research in the backrooms where the REAL discoveries
are made , now they the public window to the world has been built , a
few dollars spent funding the workers researching in tin sheds with
dirt floors , who actually bring forth the latest discoveries fo the
media junkies and public can enjoy
the champagne launches
"We're going to arrange to have scientists communicate with the public
direct so we'll stage all of that, we'll make sure that people get a
sense of the excitement of what's going on in science and the risks
and the ethical issues that arise."
Wont be long now till the EXPERTS eventually discover the Turin
Papyrus Gold Mine is actually located in South Australia less than an
hours drive from the new science exchange building
Turin Papyrus Map - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Turin Papyrus is an ancient Egyptian map, generally considered
the oldest surviving map of topographical interest from the ancient
world ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turin_Papyrus_Map
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turin_Papyrus_Map
.
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