Terror & Barbarism in Orlando and Nice

Once again Islam and Muslims have a suffered another severe setback in our quest to correct the misconceptions associated with us and our beliefs.

A warped mind with an agenda of hate and an insane desire to get even with the society which he thought was antagonistic to him and his belief, committed a most heinous and inhuman act of murder and mayhem. His actions indicated that he wanted to gain some notoriety and best way to do this would be to mention his link with Insipid State's Ignorant Society (ISIS). 

We have to be more vigilant than yesterday in demonstrating who we are and what we believe. We have to be more proactive and vocally effective in our efforts to propagate and disseminate the truth about Islam and Muslims. Saying Allah u Akbar, having a beard, dressing like an Arab or Pakistani, in a gown, walking with beads, wearing a Hijab, does not make one a Muslim.

The most important aspect of this quest is to try to correct and change the rhetoric of the press and media. We have to use all the resources, influence, press and social media access available to us to effectively bring about this change, imminently.

We now have to become more sensitive aware of our surroundings and communities. Without being paranoid, we have to be vigilant in becoming aware of the signs, actions, rhetoric and behavior patterns that can lead to or result in actions that cause harm to us, our families and communities.

For those who are here, know that this is America, not Pakistan, Arabia or the Middle East. America as it is, was founded by immigrants who came from other lands, seeking a better life. They were Christians and as such based their principles and laws on Christianity. This served their purpose well in that they were able to eventually set up a society base on the rule of a just law, ethics, morality, freedoms permitting peaceful coexistence and improving lifestyles among its citizens. It permits those who wish to share such values and living standards the opportunity of coming here to be part of the society not to be “apart from society”. You are expected to accept the norms, laws, ethics, behavior, and standards of the society. Your customs, practices and traditions are your personal affairs and should be observed without causing disruption, discord or disharmony to the society at large. If this is not possible, then you ought to return to where you will be comfortable and at ease. Do not try to make America the place from whence you fled. It is madness to try to create the conditions you chose to leave.

We have to make it known that there are primitive, demonic, satanic and barbarous cults whose mission statement is to cause mayhem, destruction of lives and properties, instill fear and discomfort in the hearts and minds of those who do not subscribe to their warped and evil ideology. These evil cults are headed by evil leaders who has the ability and resources to influence the minds of the fickle and ignorant. They use their warped and ill intentioned interpretation of Al Qu'ran, willfully, to misled the ill informed and those looking for a common enemy.

We have to get the message out about such groups and individuals who are committing crimes against humanity. We have to let it be known, loudly and clearly, that these barbarians are not Muslims and their religion is not Islam. We have to get the press and media to stop fighting their barbaric cause, giving them free publicity and instead letting them know  that that their agenda, actions, rhetoric, teachings are completely contradictory to the teachings and principles as enunciated in the Holy Qur’an. Their way of life, their norms and standards are not that of Muslims. 

THEY ARE NOT MUSLIMS, THEIR RELIGION IS NOT ISLAM AND THEIR SCRIPTURE  IS NOT AL QU"RAN.

To my brother and sister Americans, do not be afraid of the word “SHURA”. For most certainly, thank God, our Laws and Constitution are based on “Shura”.

Shura od Shoora - Definition

1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a consultative council or assembly

2. (Islam) a consultative council or assembly

3. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the process of decision-making by consultation and deliberation

4. (Islam) the process of decision-making by consultation and deliberation

[from Arabic shūrā, literally: consultation]

This the most important message we have to disseminate to those  non-Muslims who are ignorant of the truth of Islam and Muslims.

The press, media and social media are the most important and effective tools to correct the misconceptions about Islam and Muslims.

I hope and prayer that, sooner than later, we will be able to start moving in this direction of  establishing truth, IA.

Setting up rivals to Allah SWT.

Al Qu'ran 39:8 And when adversity touches man, he calls to his Lord, Allah, and turns to Him (for relief) but when Allah bestows the favour which he seeks, he forgets about his pleading and sets up rivals to Allah, causing him to be mislead from the Path and Remembrance of Allah SWT.  

Let us not fall into the category of people mentioned in the above verse. Too often this verse describes our condition.  

Conditions that are common that cause us in to fall in this category:  

Health, Financial Distress, Jobs, New Home, Seeking a husband or wife, Desire for children, Wealth, trappings of modern day living and help with personal and family problems.  

These are the major areas for we are quick and persistent in our pleas to Allah SWT for His Help. We are diligent and sincere in our seeking of the Solutions, Bounties and Blessings of Allah SWT.  

Then Lo and Behold out of His love, Compassion and Mercy for His creation, He heed our pleas, requests and desires. We are granted the help and solutions which we were seeking, Al Hamdulillah.  

What happens after our pleas, requests and desires have fulfilled?  

Quite often a most unfortunate and regrettable condition prevails.  

The objects of our pleas, requests and desires: Children, Job, Home,Wealth, Husband, Wife become the focus of our direction, time, attention and devotion. These take away from our remembrance and duty to Whom we should be now remembering more, serving more and being more grateful.  

We begin giving priority to that which we were seeking over Allah SWT, who granted our desires. 

These are the "rivals" that have been set up.  

We have, therefore, to be very careful and mindful that we don't let the things that Allah SWT have Blessed us with take us away or prevent us from remembering Him or doing the things He have requested of us, In Shah Allah. 

May we love, cherish and value the things we seek from Allah SWT, but keep our priorities in perspective, never forgetting Who is First on our list for Praising, Giving thanks to, Remembering, Acknowledging and Loving.  

ISIS - Insipid State's Ignorant Society

ISIS - Insipid State's Ignorant Society is not an Islamic group, society or entity. Their agenda is not Islam, nor do they represent Muslims. The term Islam connotes and signifies 'Peace". The agenda of ISIS or ISIL is undeniably one of barbarism, terror, destruction, murder and everything that is contradictory to the principles of Islam and civilized society. It is about one evil man seeking power and wielding powerful influence over weak minds, ignorant and blind followers and those with personal vendettas. They are void of empathy or moral values. If the symbol on their flag, which falsely represents their belief system or principles, is removed, what is left on the flag will truly represent their action, deeds and belief.

The success of such groups is as a result of those powers that have the forces; technology and wherewithal to eliminate them are governed by the principles and mores of a civilized society. The saying “All is fair in love and war” has its merit.  The battlefield has to be leveled. In a civilized society there are principles that govern wars.

 In Islam and in civilized societies you cannot harm or destroy:

·         Non Combatants (those not involved in fighting )

·         The elderly and infirm

·         Women & children

·         Priests & Clergy (All faiths)

·         The sick and injured

·         Places of worship (All faiths)

·         Hospitals and places of security

·         The environment

·         Crops, trees and vegetation

·         Buildings not containing ammunition or being used in battle

·         Rivers and water supplies

·         Sources of energy or sources on income of people

ISIS - Insipid State's Ignorant Society entire agenda is based on all the “don’ts”  mentioned above.

Non-Muslims opinions of Muhammad (PBUH)

What went wrong?
Why the image and perception of Islam: the standard bearer of Peace, Justice, Human Rights, Women Rights, Freedom of thought and progressive thinking, became tarnished and associated with all that it deplores?

Prophet Mohammad [P.B.U.H.] In their eyes.

Misconceptions & False Claims Refuted.....

Find out the Truth.

Quotes of non-Muslim scholars and those whom converted to Islam. They studied Prophet Muhammad's life (peace be upon him) and refuted misconceptions and false claims surrounding him.

Annie Besant in 'The Life and Teachings of Mohammad,' Madras , 1932.
It is impossible for anyone who studies the life and character of the great Prophet of Arabia, who knew how he taught and how he lived, to feel anything but reverence for that mighty Prophet, one of the great messengers of the Supreme. And although in what I put to you I shall say many things which may be familiar to many, yet I myself feel, whenever I reread them, a new way of admiration, a new sense of reverence for that mighty Arabian teacher. 

Dr. Gustav Weil in 'History of the Islamic Peoples' 
Muhammad was a shining example to his people. His character was pure and stainless. His house, his dress, his food - they were characterized by a rare simplicity.

Lane-Poole in 'Speeches and Table Talk of the Prophet Muhammad' 

He was the most faithful protector of those he protected, the sweetest and most agreeable in conversation. Those who saw him were suddenly filled with reverence; those who came near him loved him; they who described him would say, "I have never seen his like either before or after." He was of great taciturnity, but when he spoke it was with emphasis and deliberation, and no one could forget what he said...


Sir George Bernard Shaw in 'The Genuine Islam,' Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936. 
"If any religion had the chance of ruling over England , nay Europe within the next hundred years, it could be Islam." “I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age. I have studied him - the wonderful man and in my opinion for from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Savior of Humanity."

"I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness: I have prophesied about the faith of Muhammad that it would be acceptable to the Europe of tomorrow as it is beginning to be acceptable to the Europe of today.”Mahatma Gandhi, statement published in 'Young India. I wanted to know the best of the life of one who holds today an undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind.... I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet the scrupulous regard for pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the second volume (of the Prophet's biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of that great life.


Michael Hart in 'The 100, A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons In History,' New York 1978.

My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world’s most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the secular and religious level. ...It is probable that the relative influence of Muhammad on Islam has been larger than the combined influence of Jesus Christ and St. Paul on Christianity. ...It is this unparalleled combination of secular and religious influence which I feel entitles Muhammad to be considered the most influential single figure in human history.


The Encyclopedia Britannica
"Muhammad is the most successful of all Prophets and religious personalities."

W. Montgomery Watt in 'Muhammad at Mecca ,' Oxford , 1953.
...none of the great figures of history is so poorly appreciated in the West as Muhammad....


James Michener in ‘Islam: The Misunderstood Religion,’ Reader’s Digest, May 1955, pp. 68-70.

"No other religion in history spread so rapidly as Islam. The West has widely believed that this surge of religion was made possible by the sword. But no modern scholar accepts this idea, and the Qur’an is explicit in the support of the freedom of conscience."
...he was always particularly solicitous of the poor and needy, the widow and the orphan, the slave and the downtrodden...


Edward Gibbon and Simon Oakley in ‘History of the Saracen Empire,’ London , 1870
"The greatest success of Mohammad’s life was effected by sheer moral force."


A. S. Tritton in 'Islam,' 1951
The picture of the Muslim soldier advancing with a sword in one hand and the Qur'an in the other is quite false.


De Lacy O'Leary in 'Islam at the Crossroads,' London , 1923.
History makes it clear, however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated.


Lawrence E. Browne in ‘The Prospects of Islam,’ 1944
Incidentally these well-established facts dispose of the idea so widely fostered in Christian writings that the Muslims, wherever they went, forced people to accept Islam at the point of the sword.


Edward Montet, 'La Propagande Chretienne et ses Adversaries Musulmans,'Paris 1890. (Also in T.W. Arnold in 'The Preaching of Islam,' London 1913.)

"Islam is a religion that is essentially rationalistic in the widest sense of this term considered etymologically and historically....the teachings of the Prophet, the Qur'an has invariably kept its place as the fundamental starting point, and the dogma of unity of God has always been proclaimed therein with a grandeur a majesty, an invariable purity and with a note of sure conviction, which it is hard to find surpassed outside the pale of Islam....A creed so precise, so stripped of all theological complexities and consequently so accessible to the ordinary understanding might be expected to possess and does indeed possess a marvelous power of winning its way into the consciences of men."

Alphonse de LaMartaine in 'Historie de la Turquie,' Paris , 1854. 

"Never has a man set for himself, voluntarily or involuntarily, a more sublime aim, since this aim was superhuman; to subvert superstitions which had been imposed between man and his Creator, to render God unto man and man unto God; to restore the rational and sacred idea of divinity amidst the chaos of the material and disfigured gods of idolatry, then existing . Never has a man undertaken a work so far beyond human power with so feeble means, for he (Muhammad) had in the conception as well as in the execution of such a great design, no other instrument than himself and no other aid except a handful of men living in a corner of the desert. 

Finally, never has a man accomplished such a huge and lasting revolution in the world, because in less than two centuries after its appearance, Islam, in faith and in arms, reigned over the whole of Arabia, and conquered, in God's name, Persia Khorasan, Transoxania, Western India, Syria, Egypt, Abyssinia, all the known continent of Northern Africa, numerous islands of the Mediterranean Sea, Spain, and part of Gaul.
"If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astonishing results are the three criteria of a human genius, who could dare compare any great man in history with Muhammad?

Jules Masserman in 'Who Were Histories Great Leaders?' in TIME Magazine, July 15, 1974
Perhaps the greatest leader of all times was Mohammad, who combined all the three functions. To a lesser degree Moses did the same.

W. Montgomery Watt, MOHAMMAD AT MECCA, Oxford, 1953, p. 52. "His readiness to undergo persecutions for his beliefs, the high moral character of the men who believed in him and looked up to him as leader, and the greatness of his ultimate achievement - all argue his fundamental integrity. To suppose Muhammad an impostor raises more problems than it solves. Moreover, none of the great figures of history is so poorly appreciated in the West as Muhammad."

Sarogini Naidu, the famous poetess of India says about Islam: 

"It was the first religion that preached and practiced democracy; for in the mosque, when the call for prayer is sounded and worshippers are gathered together, the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and king kneel side by side and proclaim: 'God Alone is Great'… I have been struck over and over again by this indivisible unity of Islam that makes man instinctively a brother."

Thomas Carlyle 
"how one man single-handedly, could weld warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades."

D.C. Sharma, The Prophets of The East, Calcutta, 1935, pp. 12
"Muhammad was the soul of kindness, and his influence was felt and never forgotten by those around him."

George Bernard Shaw

He was by far the most remarkable man that ever set foot on this earth. He preached a religion, founded a state, built a nation, laid down a moral code, initiated numerous social and political reforms, established a powerful and dynamic society to practice and represent his teachings and completely revolutionized the worlds of human thought and behavior for all times to come.

...Muhammad (pbuh) accomplished so much in such diverse fields of human thought and behavior in the fullest blaze of human history. Every detail of his private life and public utterances has been accurately documented and faithfully preserved to our day. The authenticity of the record so preserved are vouched for not only by the faithful followers but even by his prejudiced critics.

..Muhammad (pbuh) was a religious teacher, a social reformer, a moral guide, an administrative colossus, a faithful friend, a wonderful companion, a devoted husband, a loving father - all in one. No other man in history ever excelled or equaled him in any of these different aspects of life - but it was only for the selfless personality of Muhammad (pbuh) to achieve such incredible perfections.

K. S. RAMAKRISHNA RAO, an Indian Professor of Philosophy in his booklet, "Muhammad, The Prophet of Islam," calls him the "PERFECT MODEL FOR HUMAN LIFE."
The least YOU could do as a thinking and concerned human being is to stop for a moment and ask yourself: Could these statements sounding so extraordinary and revolutionary be really true? And supposing they really are true and you did not know this man MUHAMMAD (pbuh) or hear about him, isn't it time you responded to this tremendous challenge and put in some effort to know him?

Acknowledgement and thanks to all publishers, writers, researchers, editors responsible for the above excerpts. May Almighty God Bless them.

Kamruzzaman Hosein
The Islamic Theosophical Society.

True Islam

I pray and hope for the day when the principles of Islam and the true laws of Islam takes precedence of culture, tradition, faux hero worship, and the blind following of pseudo leaders. When this happens we will experience a new respect, appreciation and admiration of Muslims and Islam. For indeed our true principles and laws are in fact the norms of the civilized and intelligent world. Whenever Islam is presented in it's purity, as illustrated in Al Quran, it's teachings always evoke a sense or awe, pleasant surprise and ready acceptance and agreement. This is from my personal experience for the past ten years addressing congregations in Churches of all denominations and synagogues.Of course my talks are always predicated by direct quotations from Al Quran. I don't believe that Islam was meant for scholars but was sent as a perfect guide everyday man to live his everyday life in harmony, peace,love, respect and understanding with his fellow men appreciating, acknowledging and protecting his environment including the plants and animals. These teachings do not necessarily require genius for if we ponder we will realize that these teaching and values were instilled in us by our fore parents, many of whom never had the gift of formal education. We have to heed the very small things in our lives for most times they are the most important. We have to start seeing the trees in the forest, the petals on the rose. We have to respect the individuality of thinking, understanding and nature of people, part of Almighty God's Beautiful Design.

Sectarianism

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Who are you? I am a Muslim. That is the only answer that is relevant to the question regarding your religious philosophy.

What is your religion? Islam. That is the only answer that is relevant to the question regarding your Religion.

Thereafter, everything concerning your interpretation, understanding, acceptance or non acceptance of norms customs, traditions, individuals or groups' viewpoints and beliefs, are matters between you and Allah, Almighty, Compassionate, Merciful, Forgiving.

The above, of course, is only relevant if we truly accept Al Quran as Allah SWT's final and unambiguous edict.

 2:256 There shall be no compulsion in religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever disbelieves in false deities and believes in Allah, He has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it. And Allah is Hearing and Knowing.

109:6 "For you is your religion, and for me is my religion." (dīnukum)

The term "dinukum",( دِينِكُمْ) in its wider meaning signifies: how to live your life, philosophy of life, interpretation of the laws of your choice of religion, your way of life.

Allah SWT in His infinite Wisdom and Mercy have indicated the great benefit of following His guidance but have also given us the privilege of freedom of choice in the path, philosophy and religion we chose to follow

We, as human beings, creations of Allah SWT, have to make the best choice, sincerely and with the desire to abide by His Guidelines, to the best of our ability, knowledge and understanding. The final and only reckoning is with Allah SWT. Regardless of the choice one makes, one who has accepted Islam as his dīnihi (   دِينِهِ ), religion, has to act in accordance with its principal precept of  dīnihi , "Peace". The establishment, propagation and preservation of Peace becomes one of the principal objective for those who believe and accept:

1. There is ONE God.
2. There is One God and Muhammad is His final servant and messenger.
3. Those who are not aggressive to 1 & 2 and do not prevent them from exercising their rights, duties and obligations.

Right and wrong have so many dimensions that only Allah SWT has the Wisdom and Ability to make its true and final determination. Hence His Ruling: "Your actions will be judged according to your intentions", and that knowledge is with Him alone.

If we were to follow the above guidelines we will begin to eliminate a lot of unnecessary divisiveness, disharmony, sectarianism, and clannish hatred.

All of which are in direct contradiction to the basic and fundamental tenet of the faith or dīnihi , which is Peace.

We should all therefore strive to live our lives in accordance with our chosen religious principles,dīnihi, to the best of our ability, sincerely, seeking God's pleasure.

May we be the instruments of peace, love, harmony, understanding, tolerances and appreciation in our family, community, society and wherever our influence extends.

May we:

Turn hate to love

Learn to forgive more

Replace ignorance with knowledge

Be considerate, understanding, tolerant and charitable

Always recognize all that Allah SWT Have Blessed us with 

Always be thankful and appreciative for that with which we were Blessed

With love and respect.

Allah Hafiz

Kamruzzaman Hosein

The Islamic Theosophical Society

Ramadan

 

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

شَهْرُ رَمَضَانَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ الْقُرْآنُ هُدًى لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَيِّنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدَى وَالْفُرْقَانِ فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ وَمَن كَانَ مَرِيض

ا أَوْ عَلَى سَفَرٍ فَعِدَّةٌ مِّنْ أَيَّامٍ أُخَرَ يُرِيدُ اللّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلاَ يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ وَلِتُكْمِلُواْ الْعِدَّةَ وَلِتُكَبِّرُواْ اللّهَ عَلَى مَا هَدَاكُمْ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ (2:185) 

It was the month of Ramadan in which the Qur'an was [first] bestowed from on high as a guidance to man and a self-evident proof of that guidance, and as the standard by which to discern truth from falsehood. Hence, those of you who are alive during this month shall spend it in fasting; but he that is ill, or on a journey, [shall fast instead for the same] number of other days, after. God wills that you shall have ease, and does not will you to suffer hardship; but [He desires] that you complete the number [of days required], and that you extol God for His having guided you aright, and that you render your thanks to Him.

 

Above is quoted the most powerful verse that will ever be read my mankind and within it are the most powerful group of words:  فَمَن شَهِدَ مِنكُمُ الشَّهْرَ فَلْيَصُمْهُ  "those of you who are alive during this month shouldl spend it in fasting"

Why is this so?

This short verse and those few words, mentioned but once, in The Holy Quran, mobilizes over one billion people, every year for an entire month. الْحَمْدُ للّهِ.

 People of every race, ethnicity and country, throughout the entire world, change their entire life during that Blessed month, mentioned only once, Ramadan.

 

One fifth of the world's population suddenly changes mode, lifestyles, habits, routines, behavior, outlook, personalities, all change as if a big "Mode Switch" was enabled. In fact, Allah SWT have enabled the switch, thus demonstrating His Power and Greatness. With just a combination of twelve Arabic letters Allah SWT has caused a change in the course of over a billion lives for an entire month or more. We are are too familiar with the changes that come about in individual lives. Changes that are a lot of us find difficult or impossible to make, suddenly become easy an possible.

 

What is even more astonishing and miraculous is that Allah SWT did not use the command tone but used the recommendation tone.

Allah did not ask you to abstain from the wrong and prohibited things, He ask you to refrain from essential, good and permissible things.

 

As a result of this Blessed month, millions of lives are changed for the better, thus serving as a cleansing, rededicating and powerful and effective life changing event.

 

May we reap the maximum benefit from this Holy and Blessed month, and just let it be a period of abstention food, drink, marital relationships and visiting the masjids. May we learn self restraint and extol God for His having guided us aright, to always give thanks.