Arif Aajakia was invited by GALA 2021 Harmony in Multicultural Society the Hindu Way, hosted by Hindu Pact. I am amazed at some of the conferences held by different faiths calling it harmony but sowing the seeds of disharmony.
My response follows the following report.
Maneck B writes, “At the webinar of a conference, GALA 2021 Harmony in Multicultural Society the Hindu Way, hosted by HinduPact, at which the panelists included one Zarathushti, Farhad Panthaky from ZAGBA, one Jewish Dr.Nathan Katjz, one Musllim Arif Aajakia, pne Buddhist Aruni Marapane, and one Bahai Sunil Arol. The Muslim panelist, Arif Aajakia, former Mayor of Jamshed Town, Karachi, Pakistan, criticized his own community by saying that Muslims stole many things from other religions, like 5 times prayer from Zoroastrians, 80% of Koran from Jewish Torah, their rituals are mostly from Hindus, they criticize Hindus as idol worshippers but they themselves bow to the Kaaba (House of God building) and go around it several times and face its direction when they pray. When he was going to the Madressa he was taught that only Muslims will go to Heaven. Not only do Muslims fight with non-Muslims but they also kill other Muslims – Sunnis kill Shias, Shias kill Wahabis and so on. So unlike the Hindus and Parsis and Jews, they are not tolerant and mutually respectful of other religious people. All the other panelists praised Hindus for their respect for other religions.”
First of all, Free speech is a critical value of Islam and must be honored, and Arif should not be harassed – for he knows not. Everyone deserves an answer. Here is my response.
Arif claims Muslims stole many things from other religions. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and the Quran are clear that Islam is not a new religion; it is a continuum of what was revealed before.
Didn’t we improve upon the foods we eat from how we used to eat 2000 years ago?
Arif claimed that Muslim prayers were stolen from Zoroastrians etc. – what is good must be followed. It was an acknowledgment of the good in other religions. Every religion is built on the practices prevalent at that time. That’s what makes Islam an inclusive faith.
Everyone goes on a trodden path and improves upon it.
Circumambulating in Kaaba may have been a Hindu practice; it may have been, what is wrong with that? I contend that wisdom was in every corner of the world. A mother knows how to breastfeed the baby; whether she is in the jungles of Amazon Hollywood or New York, it is not an invention; it is a continual practice since the beginning of mammals, including humans. Pyramids were built concurrently in the Americas, Africa, and Asia.
People of all faiths have adopted what is good in others. Everything we do or improved upon is copied from others.
Arif further said that Muslims claim that they are the only ones that go to heaven –if people understand religions, including Muslims and others, they will not say that. Quran acknowledges other religions and says all will go to heaven if they do good to fellow humans; that is God’s creation.
I took my daughter to every place of worship when she was a teenager to prevent her from forming any bias towards fellow humans. Once, I took her to the Baptist Church and told her if the minister says good things, take it, but if he denigrates other religions, don’t listen to him but listen to your father. She said something profound – Dad if he says all religions are good, why would people go to him, and why would they donate?
By the way, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said there is no clergy in Islam – each individual is responsible for their actions. Do you see the difference? It is the politics of making money and not religion. Like all religions, men find a way to make money off God. Muslims do it as well. Which group does not milk money in the name of God?
Here is what the Quran says about going to heaven – Islam is a pluralistic religion and does not claim exclusivity. Take a look.
[2:62] “Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish, the Christians, and the converts; anyone who (1) believes in GOD, and (2) believes in the Last Day, and (3) leads a righteous life, will receive their recompense from their Lord. They have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.”
[5:69] “Surely, those who believe, those who are Jewish, the converts, and the Christians; any of them who (1) believe in GOD and (2) believe in the Last Day, and (3) lead a righteous life, have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.”
[22:17] “Those who believe, those who are Jewish, the converts, the Christians, the Zoroastrians, and the idol worshipers, GOD is the One who will judge among them on the Day of Resurrection. GOD witnesses all things.”
2:112 Yea, indeed: everyone who surrenders his whole being unto God, and is a doer of good withal, shall have his reward with his Sustainer; and all such need have no fear, and neither shall they grieve
More verses at https://worldmuslimcongress.org/islamic-value-pluralism/
2:113 Furthermore, the Jews assert, “The Christians have no valid ground for their beliefs,” while the Christians assert, “The Jews have no valid ground for their beliefs” – and both quote the divine writ! Even thus, like unto what they say, have [always] spoken those who were devoid of knowledge;” but it is God who will judge between them on Resurrection Day with regard to all on which they were wont to differ
[4:123] Paradise is not [obtained] by your wishful thinking nor by that of the People of the Scripture. Whoever does a wrong will be recompensed for it, and he will not find besides Allah a protector or a helper.
Mike Ghouse is the President/founder of the Center for Pluralism, an author of American Muslim agenda – Muslims building cohesive societies. He is also the speaker, thinker, author, pluralist, newsmaker and Interfaith wedding officiant. More about him at www.TheGhouseDiary.com