Questions:
1. Does Islam tells us to belief blindly in the matters of Aqeeda (matters of fundamental belief) or tells us to use our intellect/reasoning to belief?
2. Does Islam tells us to obey laws of Islam blindly or to use logic to justify and then follow?
3. Do we have freedom of choice regarding our actions?
4. What is the difference between the commands in the Quran and the commands in the Hadith?
5. What is the meaning of Islam?
6. Who is a Muslim?
7. What is the meaning of Ibadah?
8. What is the meaning of the word Ilah (as in La Ilaha Illa Allah) ?
9. What is Shirk?
10. Does Islam changes according to the need of time and place?
11. What is the objective of life?
12. How do you define Success in life?
==================================================================
Answers
1. Does Islam tells us to belief blindly in the matters of Aqeeda (fundamental beliefs) or tells us to use our intellect/reasoning to belief ?
Answer:
"Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alteration of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding." [Aali-Imran: 190]
"Will they not look at the camels, how they are created! And the heaven, how it is raised! And the mountains, how they are set up! And the earth, how it is spread!" [Al-Ghashiya: 17-20]
There are hundreds of Ayah like these in the quran where Allah (swt) ask us to think and ponder over His creation to understand the existance of Allah. So belief in Allah (and matters of fundamental belief)must be based on reason and intellect. Similarly we don't belief in the Quran just because it is accepted in the muslim society as book of Allah rather we must use reason/intellect to confirm that it is definitely from Allah.
" Say: "Bring then a Sûrah (chapter) like unto it, and call upon whomsoever you can, besides Allâh, if you are truthful!" Yunus 38
2. Does Islam tells us to obey laws of Islam blindly or to use logic to justify and then follow?
Answer:
Reading from the previous answer one might think that we must use logic to obey the laws of Islam also. But it is completely wrong. How come we ask questions about the commands of Allah after we have established through intellectual reasoning that Allah exists and Quran is the book of Allah? Is it not illogical, using logic/reasoning to obey Allah's command once we are sure that those commands are from Allah? More over nobody knows what is good and bad for us except Allah.
“Perhaps you may dislike something which is really good for you or like something bad for you, but Allah knows (what is best for you) and you do not know” Al-Baqarah 2:216
“And whoever contradicts and opposes the Messenger after the Right Path has been shown clearly to him, and follows other than the believers’ way, we shall keep in the path he has chosen, and burn him in Hell - what an evil destination.” [An- Nisa’a’ 115 ]
3. Do we have freedom of choice regarding our actions?
Answer:
No, we don't have freedom at all. You may say we have limited freedom in the context where Islam has given us choice to perform or refrain from something.
“Those who do not judge by what Allah has revealed are disbelievers.” Al-Maaidah 44
“But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad SAW) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.” An-nisaa 65
“It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decreed a matter that they should have any option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, he has indeed strayed in a plain error.” (Al- Ahzab 36)
4. What is the difference between the commands in the Quran and commands in the Hadith?
Answer:
Commands in the Quran and in the hadith are all from Allah. The only difference is the words in Quran are from Allah and the words in Hadith are from Rasulullah (SAW).
“Whoever obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah,” An-nisaa :80
“...and whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, then verily, for him is the Fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein forever.” [Al-Jinn 72: 23]
So it is not correct to say that we only need to follow Quran and neglect the commands in the hadith.
5. What is the meaning of Islam?
Answer:
ISLAM is derived from the Arabic root "SALEMA" which means peace, purity, submission and obedience. In the religious sense, Islam means submission to the will of Allah and obedience to His law only. So don't think Islam means just "PEACE" as George Bush and Tony Blair trying to teach meaning of Islam to muslims!
6. Who is a Muslim?
Answer:
A person who has submitted himself to the will of Allah. Though this answer is very obvious but if you think deeply you will find it's a very tough definition. Just ask yourself "Have I surrendered completely to the will of Allah?"
7. What is the meaning of Ebadah (Worship)?
Literal meaning of Arabic word Ebadah is "Slavery" and has connotations of obedience,submission and humility. In Islam 'Ebadah' means implementing Allah’s commands and abstaining from His prohibitions, and applying everything that He has legislated.
Allah (swt) stated in Quran :
“I did not create the Jinn and Mankind except for my Ebadah (complete obedience)” Adh-Dhaariyaat 56.
But many Muslims restrict the meaning of Ebadah (worship) to some rituals, such as Salat, fasting, Zakat, Hajj, Du’a, and other acts to come closer to Allah. In their view, the economic system, politics, ruling, education, business etc are not related to ‘Ibadah. Such a grave misconception lead Muslims to look for soutions of problems into sources other than Islam.
8. What is the meaning of the word Ilah (as in La Ilaha Illa Allah) ?
Answer:
The word Ilah means : Deity,God, One to be worshipped, One who has power to satisfy your needs and answer your prayer, One who is in control of your affairs , One who can comfort you; provide protection and support for you.
So when we say "La Ilaha Illal Allah" it means There is none worthy of submission (worship) except Allah. If we make Salah and then do business following the rules other than Islam then we have taken Allah as Ilah in our Salah but we have taken our desire as our Ilah in business, which is contradictory to our saying "La Ilaha Illa Allah" ( There is no Ilah except Allah)
“Have you not seen the one who takes his desires as his God?” Al-Furqan 43
9. What is Shirk?
Answer:
Shirk is associating partner with Allah or giving a share (of those which belongs to Allah alone) to others . Allah says in the Qur’an that Shirk is the greatest sin (Luqman verse 13). He also says that He will forgive all other sins if he wishes, except Shirk (An-Nisaa verse 48).
We only think of Shirk as taking anyone as God besides Allah. But there are many other ways we can do shirk. Like for Muslims Allah is the only Legislator. So if a muslim accept any law other than Islam knowingly and without compulsion then he has taken another source as Legislator besides Allah. That is also Shirk. Let us take an explanation from the sayings of Rasulullah (SAW).
[When ‘Uday Ibnu Haatim heard of the call of the Messenger of Allah (saw) he ran away to Al-Shaam – as he was a Christian before Islam. On the way, his sister, as well as a number of other members of his tribe, was taken captive. The Messenger of Allah then had mercy on her and let her go. When she returned to her brother, she persuaded him to consider Islam and meet the Messenger of Allah (saw). ‘Uday then proceeded to Madina and the people there began talking about his coming. When he entered upon the Messenger of Allah (saw) he (Uday) was wearing a silver cross around his neck; the Messenger of Allah (saw) was reciting the verse “They took their Rabbis and Priests as lords besides Allah”. When he heard this ‘Uday said: “They did not worship them”. He (the Prophet) replied: “Yes they did. They (the Rabbis and Priests) made what was Halal into Haram for them, and what was Haram into Halal for them, and they (the people) followed them; that was their worshipping them”.] (Ahmad,Tirmizi)
10. Does Islam changes according to time and place?
Answer:
Islam has specified system for all affairs of life but it did not specify the style and tools to implement those systems. For example it provides us with rules governing economic system but it doesn't specify the technology which can be adopted according to time and place to implement that economic system. Similarly it has provided the rules related to covering the body of Men and Women but it didn't specify any particular style of clothing. It's the styles and tools of human need that changes but not their organic need or instincts. Since Islam provides rules to satisfy those organic needs and instincts it doesn't need to change. If fundamental elements of a thing changes then Islam provides a different rule for that. Like grape juice is Halal but when it is used to make wine then it becomes Haram. It can't be said that rules has changed rather fundamental elements has changed, so another rules is applied for that. Islam can provide answers/rulings to new issues that weren't in the past. It's one of the miracle of Islam that it can address any issue irrespective of time and place. Saying Islam need changes is like saying Allah (swt) couldn't foresee the need of human beings (we seek refuge with Allah). Allah (swt) says in the Quran:
“This day I have perfected your Deen (complete way of life) for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your Deen.” [Al Maida 5:3]
11. What is the objective of life?
Answer:
The objective is to obey Allah and His messenger in every step of our life.
“I did not create the Jinn and Mankind except for my Ebadah (complete obedience)” Adh-Dhaariyaat 56.
Is it really our objective of life or something else? Though we know there is life after death but we live like there is no tomorrow. Running after career,money, fame etc, which in fact becomes our objectives of life.
12. How do you define Success in life?
Answer:
“ And whosoever obeys Allah and His messenger (SAW) , fears Allah and keeps his duty (to Him), such are the successful.” An-Nur 52
Only in the day of judgement we will know who all are successful. So don't waste time counting things you have or havn't achieved in life rather be fearful of the day when our deeds will be placed in front of Allah.
Conclusion
I would like to conclude with the following verses from Quran:
"Do they not then think deeply in the Qur'ân, or are their hearts locked up (from understanding it)?" [Muhammad 24]
“O you who believe! Obey Allah and his Messenger, and turn not away from him (Muhammad (PBUH)) while you are hearing and be not like those who say: ‘We have heard, ‘ but they hear not. Verily! The worst of living creatures with Allah are the deaf and the dumb, who understand not. “ Al-Anfal 20-23
No comments:
Post a Comment