The Universality of Islam

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/ydmxcld



.

Quantcast