jeudi 20 septembre 2012
mardi 18 septembre 2012
Real Rights & Limits
"What the Devil Doesn't Want You to Know"
Rights of all kinds have always been an important subject since the beginning of mankind. We talk of "human rights"; "women's rights"; "children's rights"; "parents rights"; "grandparents rights"; "gay rights"; "taxpayer's rights"; "animal rights"; "victim's rights"; "debtor's rights." Everyone wants their rights. Islam provides those rights - and more.
DAYS OF IGNORANCE - BEFORE ISLAM
When Islam came to the ignorant Arabs living in the desert over 14 centuries ago, the poor and weak had no one to appeal to for assistance against the oppression of the wealthy and powerful. Rulers and leaders took charge by force and ruled according to their pagan customs and tribal cultures without regard or concern for the women, children, orphans or poor amongst them.
GOLDEN RULE - OF IGNORANCE
Whoever had the most power and wealth was in control. The only "Golden Rule" in those days was, "Whoever has the gold - rules."
RICH & POOR TREATED SAME
The Quran ordered the redistribution of wealth through "Zakat" and charity, for all believers. All men were to be treated fairly and without regard to their worldly possessions. The prophet, peace be upon him, told his own daughter, if she violated the law then she would be punished the same as anyone else. This was demonstrated in actual cases during the life of the prophet, peace be upon him.
WOMEN TREATED LIKE PROPERTY - BEFORE ISLAM
Females were considered as property and could be bought, sold or traded off or given away without concern. When a girl was orphaned or a woman was widowed, her estate would be immediately confiscated by some man, claiming he was now the rightful owner due to his "marriage" to the poor lady.
WOMEN HAD NO RECOURSE
Women had no recourse against the oppressive and unfair treatment of the men. The Quran gave women equal status as to ownership of property and freedom of their person. No longer could they be inherited against their will or married off in arranged marriages.
MUSLIM WOMEN DON'T PAY
Women of Islam are not tasked to pay for any of their upkeep, nor are they required to give anything to support the children. All of their wealth is theirs to keep, yet their male relatives are responsible for them from the time they are born until the time they die.
Muslim women do however, pay the "Zakat" or charity tax on wealth the same as men.
BALANCE COMES FOR WOMEN
The balance comes in the Quran in the very same verse that orders men to provide for them. Allah Almighty tells us:
- O you who believe! You are forbidden to inherit women
against their will, and you should not treat them with harshness, that
you may take away part of the dowry you have given them, unless they
commit open illegal sexual intercourse. And live with them honorably. If
you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings
through it a great deal of good.
[Noble Quran 4:19] - O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you
from a single person (Adam), and from him (Adam) He created his wife
[Hawa (Eve)], and from them both He created many men and women and fear
Allah through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the
relations of) the wombs (kinship). Surely, Allah is Ever an All Watcher
over you.
[Noble Quran 4:1] - And give to the women (whom you marry) their Mahr
(obligatory bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of
marriage) with a good heart, but if they, of their own good pleasure,
remit any part of it to you, take it, and enjoy it without fear of any
harm (as Allah has made it lawful).
[Noble Quran 4:4]
Women's rights do not end after marriage in Islam, they are only just beginning. A huge emphasis for the responsibility of women is placed on men to provide for the needs and security of all the females, including the daughters, sisters, mothers and wives. Men are ordered to care for the women and protect them at their own expense:
- "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women,
because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they
spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous women
are devoutly obedient (to Allah and to their husbands), and guard in the
husband's absence what Allah orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity,
their husband's property, etc.)."
[Noble Quran 4:34]
When marital problems get out of hand, Islam is providing solutions to differences amongst couples by arbitration. Allah Almighty says:
- "If you fear a breach between them twain (the man and
his wife), appoint (two) arbitrators, one from his family and the other
from hers; if they both wish for peace, Allah will cause their
reconciliation. Indeed Allah is Ever All Knower, Well Acquainted with
all things."
[Noble Quran 4:35]
- "Allah wishes to lighten (the burden) for you; and man was created weak (cannot be patient to be with a woman)."
[Noble Quran 4:28]
The children were in not in any better condition as they had no one to look out for their interests when they were orphaned or killed without any justification according to tribal or cultural whims. New born girls were viewed as a bad omen and dealt with in the most despicable way, by being buried alive in the burning sands at the hands of their own fathers. This was one of the very first things to be forbidden by the Quran.
Allah speaks to us clearly on the subject of children, orphans and handling their estates until they are old enough to take financial matters into their own hands:
- "And give unto orphans their property and do not
exchange (your) bad things for (their) good ones; and devour not their
substance (by adding it) to your substance. Surely, this is a great
sin."
[Noble Quran 4:2] - "And try orphans (as regards their intelligence)
until they reach the age of marriage; if then you find sound judgment in
them, release their property to them, but consume it not wastefully,
and hastily fearing that they should grow up, and whoever amongst
guardians is rich, he should take no wages, but if he is poor, let him
have for himself what is just and reasonable (according to his work).
And when you release their property to them, take witness in their
presence; and Allah is All Sufficient in taking account."
[Noble Quran 4:6] - "Verily, those who unjustly eat up the property of
orphans, they eat up only a fire into their bellies, and they will be
burnt in the blazing Fire!"
[Noble Quran 4:10]
Children and family rights are a vital part of Islam. No one can call themselves a believer and at the same time they are not providing for the welfare and safety of their family and children.
Allah talks about the "father's advise to his son":
- "O my son! Establish Salat (daily devotions), order
the people to believe in One God and do righteousness and forbid them
form disbelief, polytheism and all evil, and be patient with whatever
comes your way in life. Surely, these are some of the most important
commandments ordered by Almighty Allah with no exemption."
[Noble Quran 31:17]
Today there is a big demand for lawyers and legal council to help sort through financial matters whenever someone dies. What about the "rights" of those who inherit? Can a person be assured today, that his or her wealth is being distributed according to their Last Will and Testament?
Almighty Allah provided for this along with the proper amount to be given to each member of the family, according to His Will:
- "Allah commands you as regards your children's
(inheritance); to the male, a portion equal to that of two females; if
(there are) only daughters, two or more, their share is two thirds of
the inheritance; if only one, her share is half. For parents, a sixth
share of inheritance to each if the deceased left children; if no
children, and the parents are the (only) heirs, the mother has a third;
if the deceased left brothers or (sisters), the mother has a sixth. (The
distribution in all cases is) after the payment of legacies he may have
bequeathed or debts. You know not which of them, whether your parents
or your children, are nearest to you in benefit, (these fixed shares)
are ordained by Allah. And Allah is Ever All Knower, All Wise."
[Noble Quran 4:11] - "In that which your wives leave, your share is a half
if they have no child; but if they leave a child, you get a fourth of
that which they leave after payment of legacies that they may have
bequeathed or debts. In that which you leave, their (your wives) share
is a fourth if you leave no child; but if you leave a child, they get an
eighth of that which you leave after payment of legacies that you may
have bequeathed or debts. If the man or woman whose inheritance is in
question has left neither ascendants nor descendants, but has left a
brother or a sister, each one of the two gets a sixth; but if more than
two, they share in a third; after payment of legacies he (or she) may
have bequeathed or debts, so that no loss is caused (to anyone). This is
a Commandment from Allah; and Allah is Ever All-Knowing, Most
Forbearing."
[Noble Quran 4:12] - "These are the limits (set by) Allah (or ordainments
as regards laws of inheritance), and whosoever obeys Allah and His
Messenger (Muhammad SAW) will be admitted to Gardens under which rivers
flow (in Paradise), to abide therein, and that will be the great
success."
[Noble Quran 4:13] - "And whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger
(Muhammad SAW), and transgresses His limits, He will cast him into the
Fire, to abide therein; and he shall have a disgraceful torment."
[Noble Quran 4:14] - "And to everyone, We have appointed heirs of that
(property) left by parents and relatives. To those also with whom you
have made a pledge (brotherhood), give them their due portion (by
Wasiyyah wills, etc.). Truly, Allah is Ever a Witness over all things."
[Noble Quran 4:33]
Regarding the poor and needy, Almighty Allah has ordered the wealthy to care for them out of their own provisions. He warns them what will happen if they are stingy or miserly:
- "Those who are miserly and enjoin miserliness on other
men and hide what Allah has bestowed upon them of His Bounties. And We
have prepared for the disbelievers a disgraceful torment."
[Noble Quran 4:37]
- "And turn not your face away from men with pride, nor
walk in insolence through the earth. Verily, Allah likes not each
arrogant boaster."
[Noble Quran 31:18] - "And be moderate (or show no insolence) in your
walking, and lower your voice. Verily, the harshest of all voices is the
voice (braying) of the donkey."
[Noble Quran 31:19]
- "And wish not for the things in which Allah has made
some of you to excel others. For men there is reward for what they have
earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have
earned, and ask Allah of His Bounty. Surely, Allah is Ever All Knower of
everything."
[Noble Quran 4:32]
We all know the effects an interest based economy has on a society. The interest on a home load can cause the total payments to exceed the value of the property 3 times over.
Allah forbids dealing with interest in the Quran, just as He did in the Bible (Bible says, "Neither a borrower nor a lender be.")
Allah Almighty says in His Quran:
- "O you who believe! Eat not up your property among yourselves unjustly except it be a trade amongst you, by mutual consent."
[Noble Quran 4:29] - "And whoever commits that through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into the Fire, and that is easy for Allah."
[Noble Quran 4:30]
- "If you avoid the great sins which you are forbidden
to do, We shall remit from you your (small) sins, and admit you to a
Noble Entrance (i.e. Paradise)."
[Noble Quran 4:31]
Animals had none to stand up for them when they were being beaten, over burdened or tortured and killed for sport. The prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, taught his followers that even animals have rights, and if anyone was cruel or inhumane to the animals in their charge, they would have to answer for it on the Day of Judgment.
He even gave the example of a woman who left a cat tied up to starve, while she prayed and fasted. Due to her willful neglect of this poor animal, she was deprived of any benefit from her worship and as a result had to go to Hell.
Another example he gave was that of another woman who was a prostitute who showed mercy to a poor dog on the road. She went down into a well to get a drink of water for the dog and saved his life. For this act of mercy and kindness, Allah forgave her and as a result, she was admitted to the Paradise. Hunting for sport without taking benefit from the meat or hides, just to kill for trophies is not permitted in Islam.
PLANTS AND TREES PROTECTED
Flowers, trees and other plants had never in the history of humans, had such rights as came with Islam one thousand four hundred years ago. Muslims are encouraged by prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, to plant trees even if they feel sure the end of the world is tomorrow. He also did not allow destruction of crops or plant life even while in battle with their enemies.
ENEMIES GIVEN RIGHTS - 1400 YEARS BEFORE THE GENEVA CONVENTION
Speaking of enemies, Muslims were charged to take care of their enemies when captured, just as they would care for themselves. Food, drink and shelter was provided for their opponents while being held prisoners, even though it was clear the same treatment would not have been provided for Muslims should they fall in the hands of their enemies. Respect and dignity for everyone was demanded by Islam, even disbelievers who had tried to kill them, provided they had stopped and were not engaged in battle or combat at the time.
NON-MUSLIMS GIVEN RESPECT
Dignity and honor was given even to those who unintentionally violated the sanctity of the mosque. One man entered the mosque and began to urinate there, when the companions of Muhammad wanted to strike him for that. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, ordered them to let him finish, clean it up and then tell him not to do that anymore, because this is a place where we put our heads down on the ground.
ALLAH MAKES CLEAR - FOR ALL
Just as Islam provides for the rights of everyone and everything, there is also true equalization of rights by putting undeniable limits for every right. He has revealed a complete Way of life for humans to follow, showing us what is permissible and what is forbidden to us in this life.
Almighty Allah says:
- "Allah wishes to make clear (what is lawful and what
is unlawful) to you, and to show you the ways of those before you, and
accept your repentance, and Allah is All Knower, All Wise."
[Noble Quran 4:26] - "Allah wishes to accept your repentance, but those
who follow their lusts, wish that you (believers) should deviate
tremendously away from the Right Path."
[Noble Quran 4:27]
The list of rights coming with Islam is far too large and detailed for this short paper. But there is another side to Islam that few, if any take into consideration when it comes to the subject of "rights."
As we list some of the more obvious rights in Islam, we will show the balance through limitations that Islam brings about. Consider the following:
The first and foremost right in Islam, is the Right of Allah, to be worshipped alone without any partners. His servants are to love Him with their whole being, heart and soul and not to have other 'gods' beside Him. All worship is limited to Allah, without any partners or associates.
Almighty Allah says in His Quran:
- "Why should Allah punish you if you have thanked (Him)
and have believed in Him. And Allah is Ever All Appreciative (of any
good), All Knowing."
[Noble Quran 4:147]
The second right in Islam is that of the prophet, peace be upon him, to be followed and obeyed, as he is the messenger and representative of the Lord of the Worlds and as such he is the guide to true salvation. The limit here is that no other person, even the previous prophets should be taken into consideration when he gives any directive, as he is not speaking on his own authority, but rather on the authority of the One Almighty Allah who sent revelation to him.
Allah Almighty says:
- "Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of
warning in order that mankind should have no plea against Allah after
the Messengers. And Allah is Ever All Powerful, All Wise."
[Noble Quran 4:165] - "And those who believe in Allah and His Messengers
and make no distinction between any of them (Messengers), We shall give
them their rewards, and Allah is Ever Oft� Forgiving, Most Merciful."
[Noble Quran 4:152]
The third right in Islam is for the parents, with a special focus on the rights of the mother. Someone came to the prophet, peace be upon him, and asked him if carrying his mother on his back around the Ka�bah in Mecca was sufficient to pay back all the rights his mother had on him. The answer was, "Not even for one birth pain." Another man asked him, "Who has the most rights on me, after Allah and His messenger?" The answer was, "Your mother." And he repeated it three times.
Allah tells us in the Quran about the many rights parents have on us, yet He balances it by saying not to obey them in worshipping false gods or taking partners with Allah in worship.
EVEN THE SOUL HAS RIGHTS
Each individual has rights over himself. As the prophet, peace be upon him, told us, "Even your body has rights over you. So, give your body its rights."
Allah Almighty forbids anyone to take their own life, thereby giving the body its own right. As Almighty Allah says:
Islam and Muslims (Muslimin)
Muslims and Arabs
The followers of Islam are called Muslims. We should not confuse Muslims with Arabs. Muslims may be Arabs, or they may be Turks, Persians, Indians, Pakistanis, Indonesians, Europeans, Africans, Americans, Chinese, or any other nationality. Islam is not limited to any nationality or race.
Arabs, also, are not limited to only one religion. An Arab may be a Muslim, a Jew, a Christian, an atheist, or part of any other belief system. Any person who adopts the Arab language as his or her mother tongue is called an Arab.
While there are over one billion Muslims in the world, there are about 200 million Arabs, among whom about ten percent are not Muslim. Thus, Arab Muslims constitute only about twenty percent of the Muslim population of the world.
The language of the Quran, the Holy Book of Islam, is Arabic. Muslims all over the world try to learn Arabic so that they may be able to read the Quran and understand its meaning. They pray in the language of the Quran, but supplications to God may be in any language.
Allah, the One and the Only God
Allah is the name of the One and Only God. Allah has ninety-nine beautiful names, such as: The Gracious, The Merciful, The Beneficent, The Creator, The All-Knowing, The All-Wise, The Lord of the Universe, The First, The Last, and many others.
He is the Creator of all human beings. He is the God for the Christians, the Jews, the Muslims, the Buddhists, the Hindus and all others, including those who do not even believe in Him. Muslims worship God, and put their trust in Him as they seek His help and guidance.
Muhammad (Peace and blessings be upon him)
Muhammad was chosen by God to deliver His Message of Peace, namely Islam. He was born in 570 C.E. (Common Era) in Makkah, Arabia. He was entrusted with the Message of Islam when he was at the age of forty years. The revelation that he received is called the Quran, while the message is called Islam.
Muhammad is the very last Prophet of God to mankind. He is the final Messenger of God. His message was and still is to all of mankind, including the Christians and Jews. He was sent to those religious people to inform them about the true mission of Jesus, Moses, David, Jacob, Isaac and Abraham.
Muhammad is considered to be the summation and culmination of all the prophets and messengers that came before him. He purified the previous messages from adulteration and completed the Message of God for all humanity. He was entrusted with the power of explaining, interpreting and living the teachings of the Quran.
Sources of Islam
The legal sources of Islam are the Quran and the Hadith. The Quran is the exact words of God; its authenticity, originality and totality are intact. The Hadith are the reports of the sayings, deeds and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet's sayings and deeds are called Sunnah. The Sirah is the writings of followers of Muhammad about the life of the Prophet. Hence, it is the life history of the Prophet Muhammad which provides examples of daily living for Muslims.
Some Islamic Principles
A. Oneness of God
He is One and the Only One. He is not two in one or three in one. This means that Islam rejects the idea of trinity or such a unity of God which implies more than one God in one.
B. Oneness of mankind
People are created equal in front of the Law of God. There is not superiority of one race over another. God made us of different colors, nationalities, languages and beliefs so as to test who is going to be better than others. No one can claim that he is better than others. It is only God Who knows who is better. It depends on piety and righteousness.
C. Oneness of Messengers and the Message
Muslims believe that God sent different messengers throughout the history of mankind. All came with the same message and the same teachings. It was the people who misunderstood and misinterpreted them. Muslims believe in Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob, Moses, David, Jesus and Muhammad. The Prophets of Christianity and Judaism are indeed the Prophets of Islam.
D. Angels and the Day of Judgment
Muslims believe that there are unseen creatures such as angels created by God in the universe for special missions. Muslims believe that there is a Day of Judgment when all people of the world throughout the history of mankind till the last Day of life on earth, are to be brought for accounting, reward and punishment.
E. Innocence of Man at Birth
Muslims believe that people are born free of sin. It is only after they reach the age of puberty and it is only after they commit sins that they are to be charged for their mistakes. No one is responsible for or can take responsibility for the sins of others. However, the door of forgiveness through true repentance is always open.
F. State and Religion
Muslims believe that Islam is a total and a complete way of life. It encompasses all aspects of life. As such, the teachings of Islam do not separate religion from politics. As a matter of fact, state and religion are under the obedience of Allah through the teachings of Islam. Hence, economic and social transactions, as well as educational and political systems, are a part of the teachings of Islam.
Practices of Islam
God instructed the Muslims to practice what they believe in. In Islam there are five pillars:
A. Creed (Shahadah)
The verbal commitment and pledge that there is only One God and Muhammad is the Messenger of God, is considered to be the Creed of Islam.
B. Prayers (Salat)
The performance of the five daily prayers is required of Muslims.
C. Fasting (Sawm)
Fasting is total abstinence from food, liquids and intimate relations from dawn to sunset during the entire month of Ramadan.
D. Purifying Tax (Zakat)
This is an annual payment of a certain percentage of a Muslim's property, which is distributed among the poor or other rightful beneficiaries.
E. Pilgrimage (Hajj)
The performance of pilgrimage to Makkah is required once in a lifetime if the means are available. Hajj is, in part, a memorial to the trials and tribulations of Prophet Abraham, his wife Hagar and his eldest son, Prophet Ishmael.
Contributions in North America
Muslims are now established in North America. The Sears Tower and John Hancock buildings in Chicago were designed by a Muslim chief architect, Fazlur Rahman, originally from Bangladesh. Muslims have established academic institutions, community centers and organizations, schools and places of worship. They live in peace and harmony among themselves and among other groups of people in the society. The rate of crime among Muslims is very minimal. Muslims in North America are highly educated and have added to the success of American scientific and technological fields.
The Muslims of the early period of the Islamic era were pioneers in medicine, geography, navigation, arts, poetry, mathematics, algebra, logarithms, calculus, etc. They contributed to the Renaissance of Europe and world civilization.
Non-Muslims
Muslims are required to respect all those who are faithful and God conscious people, namely, those who received messages. Christians and Jews are called People of the Book. Muslims are asked to call upon the People of the Book for common terms, namely, to worship One God, and to work together for the solutions of the many problems in the society.
Christians and Jews lived peacefully with Muslims throughout centuries in the Middle East and other Asian and African countries. The second Caliph, Umar, did not pray in the church in Jerusalem so as not to give the Muslims an excuse to take it over. Christians trusted the Muslims, and as such, the key of the Church in Jerusalem is still in the hands of Muslims.
Jews fled from Spain during the Inquisition, and they were welcomed by the Muslims. They settled in the heart of the Islamic Caliphate. They enjoyed positions of power and authority.
Throughout the Muslim World, churches, synagogues and missionary schools were built within the Muslim neighborhoods. These places were protected by Muslims even during the contemporary crises in the Middle East.
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