Questions Muslims resist

Define believers. Do you consider Jews and Christians as believers?
The answer is in a larger context; believer is an individual who seeks peace for himself and what surrounds him or her through the principles of justness, fairness, truthfulness and respect for the God given life to every member of the creation. The principles of oneness of creation and God imply one world and one God. God has sent a messenger and a peacemaker to every nation and tribe.

Whether it is the Jews, Christians, Hindus, Wiccans, Mayas or any one who subscribes to the idea of oneness of mankind is a believer as the end result is peace, which comes from submission to the idea of oneness of creation; meaning we are all in it together and we have to make it better for every one of us. We cannot be safe when others around us are not.

How do you define Islam? Did it start from Adam and Eve or did it start from our Prophet?

The need for peace was born with the very first humanoids, when competition for available resources was pitching them against each other causing them to live in fear of the other, thus co-existence was a natural outcome. The idea of accountability and responsibility for one’s action became necessary for peaceful co-existence followed by surrenderance of “my ego” and “your ego” to a higher ego that both can subscribe to and abide by.  Islam broadly means peaceful co-existence and submission to a judge and it did start from Adam and Eve.

Your way of life is dear to you as mine is to me was a new paradigm in the milestones of history expressly written in Sura Kafirun heralding a new era in accepting the otherness of others without denigrating the other.

It is human to make Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism or other religions one’s personal property, it is human to own the prophets and chain the holy books to their private club. By claiming ownership rights to a religion, we are stripping the universality of that religion and creating boundaries around it and excluding others. The very boundaries religions formed to remove.

What are the criteria for going to Heaven? Can you quote authentic sources?

Private club membership sets narrower rules to have access to the property. Heaven is not a private club; it is God’s place, the universal God and not my God or privately owned God by you. Quraan could not be clearer than saying, “those who are Jews, Christians and others need not worry about my grace” those who do good need not worry, he knows what is best. Prophet defines what is best (good deed) as an act that benefits God’s creation like planting a sapling that would give shade or fruit to some one else upon its maturity. The prayers are for the individual to benefit where as serving the humanity is serving the creator.

Define the word KAFIR. Do you consider people of other faiths who believe in God as Kafirs?

Kafir is some one who has his own private agenda; his motivation is himself or his clan. He does not subscribe to oneness of creation or peaceful co-existence, he or she denies  the universality of God or oneness of God, oneness of accountability in messing up the social balance. Hinduism has a beautiful phrase for it Vasudeva Kutumbakam, we are all part of one family, one creator or one causer of what we witness, imagine and see.

This may be a stretch to some, but ultimately, even the Atheist who does not subscribe to religious version of God –(containable in scope, definable, collapsible to a word or imaginable) cannot be called a Kafir – as he is not denying the need to have one world, a world of equilibrium and respect for the genetic individuality of humans.  

Does Quran supersede all other previous scriptures? What are the reasons?

Quraan as we Muslims believe is the capstone, the final touch to co-existence; it is a book of guidance with a belief in one abstract God as opposed to privately owned multiple Gods in conflicts with each other. It is an inclusive and a comprehensive document for all to be had.

Is there Pluralism in Quran?

Islam is indeed a pluralistic faith and imbues a sense of humility and ideals of equality of humankind. These values are embedded in its rituals practices.

Indeed Quraan is a document for creating peaceful societies, it addresses the whole humanity and not a specific group, and it continuously regards the existence of other nations, other tribes and other communities and teaches to share your ideals, and if they do not subscribe to it, respectfully accept the otherness of other (Sura Kafirun – http://quraan-today.blogspot.com/2008/07/sura-kafirun-un-believers.html  )

Qur’aan starts with the word “God of Universe” (not necessarily Muslims) and ends with “Humankind” (and again not Muslims). As such it is understood that God, the cause behind creation of life and matter belongs to all of us. No one owns him (her or it) nor does does one group have an exclusive favors over the other. The creator will offer equal opportunities to all and will not sign a deal behind one’s back with the other.

Al-Fatiha (The Opening) 1:2 All praise is due to God alone, the Sustainer of all the worlds, [2]
الْعَالَمِي الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبّ

An-Nas (The Mankind) 114:1 SAY: “I seek refuge with the Sustainer of men,
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ (114:1

Islam teaches one to be non-judgmental, and consistently encourages individuals to do good. It emphasizes about individual responsibility towards the peace and security of society at large.

He fashioned each one of you–and each one of you is beautiful. To God you will all return. He knows all that the heavens and the earth contain. He knows all that you hide and all that you reveal. He knows your deepest thoughts. http://www.foundationforpluralism.com/WorldMuslimCongress/Articles/Mission-Statement.asp  

The human desire to monopolize World resources is the root cause of all evil. The pockets of anarchy and problems of the world are born out of fear and insecurities of evil men. Religion is not the source of wars or conflict. In fact, Religion is the best Gift humans have received from God, without which the World would be chaotic.

“No wonder that democracy does not find any foothold in nations that discriminates between believers and non-believers, men and women, masters and slaves and even slaves white, brown and black.” Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had said nearly the same words in his last sermon “No man is superior to the other; all are equal beings in the eyes of God. All religions including Islam came into being to make us better beings and create better societies. Most of the people get it, and some don’t.

The Madinah pact, prescribes the rights of its Citizens and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the signatory to it as the head of the City State. It was an all inclusive agreement between the Jews, Christians, Sabeans, Quraish, Muslims and other tribes for a peaceful co-existence. An example was set for a pluralistic society in documenting the rights of individuals. Perhaps it was the first historical document that included diverse people with freedom to practice what they believe. The Word Ummah was used in the document to mean all residents of the City.

There is an example where Prophet removed a part of his signature which read, “Muhammad the prophet of God” and substituted with “Muhammad, son of Abdullah” as the conflicting party did not believe that he was the Prophet. Think about it, if that document is secular or religious?

Research is warranted – where I believe prophet was a secular governor, rather a pluralistic governor than an Islamic governor. The two examples above lend to that idea. Jews and Christians had their own laws under his “Civic” governance. You and I know, most Muslims shy away from this topic – due to harassment from the few. May be the word Kafir applies to them for not wanting to seek the possible truth.

Dr. Abdul Aziz Sachedina has written a monumental book of roots of democracy in Islam, it is worth reading and sharing.

Mike Presides the Foundation for Pluralism championing the idea of co-existence through respecting and accepting the otherness of other, he has dedicated his life to nurturing the pluralistic ideals embedded in Islam through the World Muslim Congress. He is a regular commentator on the TV, Radio and Print media. Mike’s work is reflected at three websites & twenty two Blogs listed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/