The Most Extraordinary Incident Ever!

 

I was reading a book in the dining room when
the printer started to print. Strangely, my computer was in ANOTHER room and I
was the only person in the house. I picked up the message which read:

 

"The oceans, the insects, the planets and
their orbits, the light and the darkness, the air and the water, the perfect
flow of the universe, the life, how did it all begin? By accident?"

I quickly went to check who was using my computer. To my surprise, I found my
cat playing on the keyboard and just by hitting different keys of the keyboard
it produced this message! Unbelievable! I came back to read the message again.
It was in plain human language and there was no chance that a cat could have
produced it. I have tried to solve this riddle but to no avail, but I remembered
later that I was taught at school that this whole universe itself is the result
of an accident, the Big Bang! The Big Bang was an explosion that formed the
earth, the sun and the planets, and consequently the water, air and the life.
Yes it was an accident as said by the scientists. Scientists also agree that
every single element in the nature has a purpose and essential role in the
smooth flow of the universe. For example if one star leaves its orbit or if the
composition of the atmosphere changes slightly it will not support the life as
we know it.

But, if an accident produced this perfect
universe, why can't I reward my cat as it became the first ever cat that could
WRITE (accidently though)? If my cat can’t write one paragraph in an accident,
how can this faultless universe come out of an accident when there was not even
a cat on the keyboard? How can I believe the scientists while I cannot believe
my own eyes?

Chance Or Intelligence?

 

This Universe, indeed displays a remarkable
vista of order and consistency. We can observe, for example, the great
regularity with which the celestial bodies follow precise orbits, and marvel
at the way in which water from the seas is brought to the land by wind-driven
clouds, which are in turn formed by the evaporation of water: without this
replenishment, life would be impossible. We are also amazed by the migration
patterns of many species, including newborn eels, that trek through thousands
of miles of ocean, to nestle in their own local streams, and of bees, who use
sunlight for navigation in their quest for nectar. We may ponder as to why all
living things exist in pairs, and contemplate on the optimality of the
processes which comprise the whole universe. Even incredibly minute changes
would disrupt the balances in nature: after all, had the earth's orbit been
slightly offset in either direction, water and the resulting forms of life
would not have emerged. In fact, we observe great unity in the laws of the
cosmos; through the spectrum of life and non-life ranging from the microcosmic
subatomic particles to the macrocosmic expanse of the universe itself,
integration is manifested on every level.

 

Reflection may lead us to
pertinent questions: Could such encompassing order have arisen purely by
unintentioned accident? Or could there be an intelligent originator to this
spectacular array of living and non-living forms —a designer that may have
developed them through processes which have yet to be fully determined? What
conclusions are evidential?

Is it probable that all the
letters on this page unscrambled themselves by chance to form these meaningful
and structured sentences? How then, could a human being - with ears, eyes and a
mind - have been formed by chance? Is it credible that such a vast universe with
an inestimable billions of galaxies could have evolved by accident? Does not the
integration and complexity of a single cell far exceed that of a mere piece of
paper with some intelligible writing on it, let alone this universe and all that
it contains? (Especially since the universe also contains this piece of paper .
. .!)

We know that we are not the cause
of ourselves, for embryonic development is organized and directed in stages
under natural laws. But directed by what and by whose laws? Chance? Or
Intelligence? What about a multiplicity of infinite beings? Could such have been
responsible for this cosmological fabrication? Would not the resulting state of
this universe have then been disordered and chaotic due to the conflicting
commands of these infinitely powerful entities, who would have been trying to
accede to the throne of authority in rivalry? Indeed, in such a regime, we would
expect to see inconsistency in the universe as opposed to consistency. Instead
of rain, we might conceivably have received a heavy downpour of elephants from
the skies. (An umbrella would certainly not be terribly useful in such a
universe!) Such a scenario would also give rise to the question: which of the
infinite beings came first? And why? On the other hand, if such a multiplicity
of infinite beings were in perfect agreement for all time, then there would not
be any need for more than one - nor is there any evidence.

 If our response to the
chance (unintentioned creation) and multiplicity (creation by two or more
beings) hypotheses is negative, then our answer has to lie between zero and two.
In other words, there can only be one unique governing intelligence - unique by
the virtue of having no demigods, intermediaries, mystical incarnate beings, or
any other human or nonhuman associates. This vast singular intelligence, then,
must have created and developed all living and non-living things, as well as
space-time itself, and must therefore be independent of it.

 If this is our conclusion,
then it means that the myriad forms of matter and energy as well as the
physiological structure of the human being must be subject to the natural laws
of this singular and independent governing intelligence.

 In addition to this
involuntary physiological dependence of human beings to the prescribed natural
laws, we are also endowed with a mind which has the capacity to voluntarily
question and reason. A reasoning person would be naturally drawn to the logical
conclusion of the existence of a unique originator, and therefore of a
meaningful purpose to this existence. Such a person would live with this
awareness, in peace with himself or herself and the rest of nature.

Indeed reasoning people live, and
have been living throughout the ages in all parts of the world. They can be
found dwelling in the midst of exuberant jungles or in our large, populous and
crowded cities. What would distinguish such individuals would be the employment
of reason as a foundation for life. If such a people are to be given a name
which linguistically denotes 'voluntary peaceful submission' to this unique
Intelligence, and which includes all of these attributes, a suitable term in one
language would be the word Muslim.

 

 

 

Wisdom Behind Dietary Restrictions in Islam

 

Bob: Tell me why is it that a Muslim is very
particular about the words Halaal and Haraam; what do they mean?

Yunus: That which is permissible is termed Halaal
and that which is not permissible is termed Haraam and it is the Qur'an which
draws the distinction between the two

Bob: Can you give me an example?

 

Yunus: Yes, Islam has prohibited consuming blood of any type.
You will agree that a chemical analysis of blood shows that it contains an
abundance of uric acid, a chemical substance which can be injurious to human
health

Bob: You're right about the toxic nature of uric
acid, in the human being it is excreted as a waste product and in fact we are told
that 98% of

the body's uric acid is extracted from the blood by the kidneys
and removed through urination

Yunus: Now I think that you'll appreciate the
special prescribed method of animal slaughter in Islam.

Bob: What do you mean?

 

Yunus: You see, the wielder of the knife, whilst
taking the name of the Almighty', makes an incision through the jugular veins,
leaving all other veins and organs intact.

Bob: I see, this causes the death of the animal by a
total loss of blood from the body, rather than an injury to any vital organ.

Yunus: Yes, were the organs, example the heart, the
liver, or the brain crippled or damaged, the animal could die immediately and
its blood would congeal in its veins and would eventually permeate the
flesh. This implies that the animal flesh would be permeated and contaminated
with uric acid and therefore very poisonous; only today did our dieticians
realize such a thing

Bob: Again, while on the topic of food; why do
Muslims condemn the eating of pork or ham or any foods related to pigs or swine.

Yunus: Actually, apart from the Qur'an prohibiting
the consumption of pork, bacon (pig flesh); in fact the Bible too in Leviticus
chapter 11, verse 8, regarding swine it says, "Of their flesh (of the swine
another name for pig) shall you not eat, and of their carcass you shall not
touch; they are unclean to you." Further, did you know that a pig cannot be slaughtered at the neck for it does
not have a neck; that is according to its natural anatomy? A Muslim reasons that
if the pig was to be slaughtered and fit for human consumption the Creator
would have provided it with a neck. Nonetheless, all that
aside, I am sure you are well informed about the harmful effects of the consumption
of pork, in any form, be it pork chops, ham, bacon.

Bob: The medical science finds that there is a risk
for various diseases as the pig is found to be a host for many parasites and
potential diseases.

Yunus: Yes, even apart from that, as we talked about
uric acid content in the blood, it is important to note that the pig's
biochemistry excretes only 2% of its total uric acid content, the remaining 98%
remains as an integral part of the body.

Twelve Proofs that Muhammad is a True Prophet

 

My brothers and sisters
everywhere! With this essay, I am not singling out the adherents of Islam - to
which I ascribe - but rather I am writing this essay to every man and woman
throughout the whole world.

I ask Allah that He
facilitates that this essay reaches every ear, falls under the sight of every
eye, and is understood by every heart...

Muhammad the son of
`Abdullah is Allah's Prophet and the Final Messenger Sent by Allah to the
Inhabitants of Earth.

My brothers and sisters
everywhere! You should know that the Messenger, Muhammad the son of `Abdullah
(may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) is Allah's Messenger in reality
and truth. The evidences that show his veracity are abundant. None but an
infidel, who out of arrogance alone, could deny these signs.

 

Among these proofs:

1. Muhammad (may Allah's
blessings and peace be upon him) was raised illiterate, unable to read or
write, and remained like that till his death. Among all his people, he was
known as being truthful and trustworthy. Before receiving revelation, he had
no prior knowledge of Religion or any previously sent Message. He remained
like that for his first forty years. Revelation then came to Muhammad with the
Koran that we now have between our hands. This Koran mentioned most of the
accounts found in the previous scriptures, telling us about these events in
the greatest detail as if he witnessed them. These accounts came precisely as
they were found in the Torah sent down to Moses and in the Gospel sent down to
Jesus. Neither the Jews or Christians were able to belie him regarding
anything that he said.

2. Muhammad (may Allah's
blessings and peace be upon him) also foretold of everything that would occur
to him and his community after him, pertaining to victory, the removal of the
tyrannical kingdoms of Chosroes [the royal title for the Zoroastrian kings of
Persia] and Caesar, and the establishment of the religion of Islam throughout
the earth. These events occurred exactly as Muhammad foretold, as if he was
reading the future from an open book.

3. Muhammad (may Allah's
blessings and peace be upon him) also brought an Arabic Koran that is the peak
of eloquence and clarity. The Koran challenged those eloquent and fluent Arabs
of his time, who initially belied him, to bring forth a single chapter like
the Koran. The eloquent Arabs of his day were unable to contest this Koran.

Indeed, till our day, none
has ever dared to claim that he has been able to compose words that equal-or
even approach-the order, grace, beauty, and splendor of this Glorious Koran.

4. The life history of this
Noble Prophet was a perfect example of being upright, merciful, compassionate,
truthful, brave, generous, distant from all evil character, and ascetic in all
worldly matters, while striving solely for the reward of the Hereafter.
Moreover, in all his actions and dealings, he was ever mindful and fearful of
Allah.

5. Allah instilled great
love for Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) in the hearts
of all who believed in and met him. This love reached such a degree that any
of his companions would willingly sacrifice his (or her) self, mother or
father for him.

Till today, those who
believe in Muhammad honor and love him. Anyone of those who believe in him
would ransom his own family and wealth to see him, even if but once.

6. All of history has not
preserved the biography of any person in the manner it has preserved the life
of Muhammad, who is the most influential human in history.

Nor has the entire earth
known of anyone whom every morning and evening, and many times thereafter
throughout the day, is thought of by those who believe in him. Upon
remembering Muhammad, the believers in him will greet him and ask Allah to
bless him. They do such with full hearts and true love for him.

7. Nor has there every been
a man on earth whom is still followed in all his doings by those who believe
in him.

Those who believe in
Muhammad, sleep in the manner he slept; purify themselves (through ablution
and ritual washing) in the manner he purified himself; and adhere to his
practice in the way they eat, drink, and clothe themselves.

Indeed in all aspects of
their lives, the believers in Muhammad adhere to the teachings he spread among
them and the path that he traveled upon during his life.

During every generation,
from his day till our time, the believers in this Noble Prophet have fully
adhered to his teachings. With some, this has reached the degree that they
desire to follow and adhere to the Prophet's way in his personal matters
regarding which Allah has not sought of them to adhere to in worship. For
example, some will only eat those specific foods or only wear those specific
garments that the Messenger liked.

Let alone all that, all
those who believe in Muhammad repeat those praises of Allah, special prayers,
and invocations that he would say during each of his actions during day and
night, like: what he would say when he greeted people, upon entering and
leaving the house, entering and leaving the mosque, entering and leaving the
bathroom, going to sleep and awaking from sleep, observing the new crescent,
observing the new fruit on trees, eating, drinking, dressing, riding,
traveling and returning from travel, etc.

Let alone all that, all
those who believe in Muhammad fully perform-even to the minute detail-every
act of worship-like prayer, fasting, charity, and pilgrimage-as this Noble
Messenger (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him) taught and as he
himself performed.

All of this allows those
who believe in him, to live their lives in all aspects with this Noble
Messenger as their example, as if he was standing before them, for them to
follow in all their doings.

8. There has never been nor
will there ever be a man anywhere upon this earth who has received such love,
respect, honor, and obedience in all matters-small and large alike-as has this
Noble Prophet.

9. Since his day, in every
region of the earth and during every period, this Noble Prophet has been
followed by individuals from all races, colors and peoples. Many of those who
followed him were previously Christians, Jews, pagans, idolaters, or without
any religion. Among those who chose to follow him, were those who were known
for their sound judgment, wisdom, reflection, and foresight. They chose to
follow this Noble Prophet after they witnessed the signs of his truthfulness
and the evidences of his miracles. They did not choose to follow Muhammad out
of compulsion or coercion or because they had adopted the ways of their
fathers and mothers.

Indeed many of the
followers of this Prophet (may Allah's blessings peace be upon him), chose to
follow him during the time when Islam was weak, when there were few Muslims,
and when there was severe persecution of his followers on earth. Most people
who have followed this Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him)
have done so not to acquire some material benefits. Indeed many of his
followers have suffered the greatest forms of harm and persecution as a result
of following this Prophet. Despite all this harm and persecution, this did not
turn them back from his religion.

My brethren! All of this
clearly indicates to anyone possessing any sense, that this Prophet was truly
and really Allah's messenger and that he was not just a man who claimed
prophethood or spoke about Allah without knowledge.

10. With all this, Muhammad
came with a great religion in its credal and legal make-up.

Muhammad described Allah
with qualities of complete perfection, and at the same time in a manner that
is free of ascribing to Him any imperfection. Neither the philosophers or the
wise could ever describe Allah like such. Indeed it is impossible to imagine
that any human mind could conceive of an existing being that possesses such
complete ability, knowledge, and greatness; Who has subdued the creation; Who
has encompassed everything in the universe, small or large; and Who possesses
such perfect mercy.

Nor is it in the ability of
any human being to place a perfect law based upon justice, equality, mercy and
objectivity for all human activity on earth like the laws that Muhammad
brought for all spheres of human activity - like buying and selling, marriage
and divorce, renting, testimony, custody, and all other contracts that are
necessary to uphold life and civilization on earth.

11. It is impossible that
any person conceive wisdom,, morals, good manners, nobleness of characters as
what this honorable Prophet (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him)
brought.

In a full and complete
manner, Muhammad spread a teaching regarding character and manners toward one'
parents, relatives, fiends, family, humanity, animals, plants and inanimate
objects. It is impossible for the human mind alone to grasp all of that
teaching or come with a similar teaching.

All of that unequivocally
indicates that this Messenger did not bring an) of this religion from his own
accord, but that it was rather a teaching and inspiration that he received
from the One Who created the earth and the high heavens above and created this
universe in its miraculous architecture and perfection.

12. The legal and credal
make-up of the religion that the Messenger, Muhammad, (may Allah's blessings
and peace be upon him) brought resembles the engineering of the heavens and
the earth. All of that indicates that He who created the heavens and the earth
is the One Who sent down this great law and upright religion.

The degree of inimitability
of the Divine law that was sent down upon Muhammad is to the same degree of
inimitability of the Divine creation of the heavens and earth. For just as
humanity cannot create this universe, in the same manner humanity cannot bring
forth a law like Allah's law that He sent down upon His servant and messenger
Muhammad (may Allah's blessings and peace be upon him).

The Scientific World Is Turning to God

 

"As people have certainly been influenced by me, I want to try and correct the enormous damage I may have done." (Anthony Flew)

The newspapers these days are echoing with these regret-filled words by Anthony Flew, in his time a well-known atheist philosopher.

 

The decisive factor in this radical change of
view is the clear and definitive evidence revealed by science on the subject
of creation. Flew realised, in the face of the information-based complexity of
life, that the true origin of life is intelligent design and that the atheism
he had espoused for 66 years was a discredited philosophy.

Flew announced the scientific reasons
underlying this change in belief in these terms:

"Biologists' investigation of DNA has
shown, by the almost unbelievable complexity of the arrangements which are
needed to produce [life], that intelligence must have been involved." (1)

"It has become inordinately difficult
even to begin to think about constructing a naturalistic theory of the
evolution of that first reproducing organism." (2)

"I have been persuaded that it is
simply out of the question that the first living matter evolved out of dead
matter and then developed into an extraordinarily complicated
creature." (3)

The DNA research which Flew cites as a
fundamental reason for his change of opinion has indeed revealed striking
facts about creation. The helix shape of the DNA molecule, its possession of
the genetic code, the nucleotide strings that refute blind chance, the storage
of encyclopaedic quantities of information and many other striking findings
have revealed that the structure and functions of this molecule were arranged
for life with a special design. Comments by scientists concerned with DNA
research bear witness to this fact.

Francis Crick, for instance, one of the
scientists who revealed the helix shape of DNA admitted in the face of the
findings regarding DNA that the origin of life indicated a miracle:

An honest man, armed with all the knowledge
available to us now, could only state that in some sense, the origin of life
appears at the moment to be almost a miracle, so many are the conditions
which would have had to have been satisfied to get it going. (4)

Based on his calculations, Led Adleman of the
University of Southern California in Los Angeles has stated that one
gram of DNA can store as much information as a
trillion compact discs. (5)
Gene Myers, a scientist employed on the Human Genome Project, has said the
following in the face of the miraculous arrangements he witnessed:

"What really astounds me is the architecture of life… The system is
extremely complex. It's like it was designed… There's a huge intelligence
there." (6)

The most striking fact about DNA is that the
existence of the coded genetic information can definitely not be explained in
terms of matter and energy or natural laws. Dr. Werner Gitt, a professor at
the German Federal Institute of Physics and Technology, has said this on the
subject:

A code system is always the result of a
mental process… It should be emphasized that matter as such is unable to
generate any code. All experiences indicate that a thinking being
voluntarily exercising his own free will, cognition, and creativity, is
required… There is no known natural law through which matter can give rise
to information, neither is any physical process or material phenomenon known
that can do this. (7)

Creationist scientists and philosophers
played a major role in Flew's acceptance of intelligent design, backed up by
all these findings. In recent times Flew participated in debates with
scientists and philosophers who were proponents of creation, and exchanged
ideas with them. The final turning point in that process was a discussion
organised by the Institute for Metascientific Research in Texas in May, 2003.
Flew participated together with author Roy Abraham Varghese, Israeli physicist
and molecular biologist Gerald Schroeder, and Roman Catholic philosopher John
Haldane. Flew was impressed by the weight of the scientific evidence in favour
of creation and by the convincing nature of his opponents' arguments, and
abandoned atheism as an idea in the period following that discussion. In a
letter he wrote for the August-September, 2003, edition of the British
magazine Philosophy Now, he recommended Schroeder's book "The
Hidden Face of God: Science Reveals the Ultimate Truth" and Varghese's
book "The Wonderful World."(8)
During an interview with the professor of philosophy and theology Gary R.
Habermas, who also played a major role in his change of mind (9),
and also on the video "Has Science Discovered God?," he openly
stated that he believed in intelligent design.

The "Intelligence
Pervading the Universe" and the Collapse of Atheism

In the face of all the scientific
developments outlined above, the acceptance of intelligent design by Antony
Flew, famous for defending atheism for many years, reflects a final scene in
the process of collapse being undergone by atheism. Modern science has
revealed the existence of an "intelligence pervading the universe,"
thus leaving atheism out of the equation.

In his book "The Hidden Face of
God," Gerald Schroeder, one of the creationist scientists who influenced
Flew, writes:

"A single consciousness, a universal
wisdom, pervades the universe. The discoveries of science, those that search
the quantum nature of subatomic matter, have moved us to the brink of a
startling realization: all existence is the expression of this wisdom. In
the laboratories we experience it as information that first physically
articulated as energy and then condensed into the form of matter. Every
particle, every being, from atom to human, appears to represent a level of
information, of wisdom." (10)

Scientific research into both the functioning
of the cell and the subatomic particles of matter has revealed this fact in an
indisputable manner: Life and the universe were brought into being from
nothing by the will of an entity possessed of a superior mind and wisdom.
There is no doubt that the possessor of that knowledge and mind that pervade
the universe at all levels is Almighty Allah. Allah reveals this truth in the
Qur'an:

Both East and West belong to
Allah, so wherever you turn, the Face of Allah is there. Allah is
All-Encompassing, All-Knowing." (Qur'an, 2:115)

___________________________________________

i Richard
N. Ostling, "Lifelong atheist changes mind about divine creator,"
The Washington Times 10 December 2004; http://washingtontimes.com/national/20041209-113212-2782r.htm

2- Antony Flew, "Letter from Antony Flew on Darwinism and Theology,"
Philosophy Now; http://www.philosophynow.org/issue47/47flew.htm

3- Stuart Wavell and Will Iredale, "Sorry, says atheist-in-chief, I do
believe in God after all," The Sunday Times, 12 December 2004; http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1400368,00.html

4- Francis Crick, Life Itself: Its Origin and Nature, New York: Simon &
Schuster, 1981, p. 88

5- John Whitfield, "Physicists plunder life's tool chest", 24 April
2003; http://www.nature.com/nsu/030421/030421-6.html

6- San Francisco Chronicle, 19 February, 2001

7- Werner Gitt, In the Beginning Was Information, CLV, Bielenfeld, Germany,
pp. 64-7, 79

8- Antony Flew, "Letter from Antony Flew on Darwinism and Theology,"
Philosophy Now; http://www.philosophynow.org/issue47/47flew.htm

9- "Atheist Becomes Theist: Exclusive Interview with Former Atheist
Antony Flew;" http://www.biola.edu/antonyflew/index.cfm

10- Gerald Schroeder, The Hidden Face of God, Touchstone, New York, 2001, p.
xi

Islam: The Middle Way

 

Some
people think that to live an Islamic life is "restrictive". Islam
however, was revealed as a balanced way of living. Allah (The Most High)
created all the humans with what is called 'A Fitrah' (a natural state/desire).Islam
recognises that within this Fitrah there are motivations that influence a man's
role on earth e.g. a desire for good food and drink, to have a home, a desire
for love and sex, to protect and be protected and to be successful and strong.
Without some form of control and limit, all of these legitimate motives could
prove very dangerous.

 

So
what constitutes the perfect control for the Fitrah? It must be a method that
provides an organised yet practical demonstration of how to balance all these
natural human desires. It cannot be something that goes against the Fitrah, by
placing on it extra burdens. Likewise, it cannot be something that allows the
human desires to run wild without any form of control.

Islam
is the perfect control for the Fitrah. It provides a divine method that elevates
man above animals and the rest of creation.

Humans
lack perfect knowledge as well as perfect wisdom. No matter how hard we try, we
will never attain the perfect way of life by our own thinking and
interpretation. This is the reason why Allaah being the Most Wise, sent us the
Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)[2] to show us this practical and
organised way of life.

Allaah,
being Perfect, in His Wisdom and Knowledge, perfected a complete way of life for
us. He has set His limitations and rules, all of which are beneficial to
mankind, and therefore, do not need changing:

"These
are the limits (set) by Allaah, so do not approach them"

(Surah al-Baqarah 2:1871)

"These
are the limits set by Allaah, so do not transgress them"

(Surah al-Baqarah 2:229)

This
is why Islam does not allow celibacy, because it is against the Fitrah, i.e.,
the desire for sex. Celibacy goes beyond the limits required by humans, and is
something that cannot be fulfilled because humans are designed to procreate. As
humans we are not expected to fast every single day for the rest of our lives
(for most 30 days of the year provides an up-hill struggle). It is also from
ignorance to say that 'I shall not sleep during the night, but rather I shall
pray!' [3] Humans have not been created by Allah to live life in such a
manner. There is a balance which must be observed.

The
following incident describes the Islamic stance towards such behaviour, Anas
reported that some of the Companions of Allaah's Messenger (SAW) used to say:
"I will not marry women"; someone else said: "I will not eat
meat"; and someone else said: "I will not lie down in bed". (On
hearing this): The Prophet (SAW) praised Allaah, and glorified Him and said:
"what has happened to these people that they say so and so, whereas I
observe prayer and I sleep too. I observe fast and I break my fast; I marry
women also. And he who turns away from my Sunnah (i.e., my example or
lifestyle), he has no relation with me" [Narrated in Saheeh Muslim
vol. 2. p703. no. 32361].

 

Islam
on the other hand, does not allow the person to surrender themselves to lust and
desire, as in contemporary 'civilisation'. Islam recognises the love a man has
for women, children, gold, silver, and other possessions. But it provides a
limit for the amount of this worldly pleasure which we require, and reminds us
of the life in the hereafter.

"Beautified
for men is the love of things they desire: Women, Children, much of gold and
silver (wealth), branded beautiful horses, cattle and well-tilled land. This is
the pleasure of the present world's life, but Allaah has the excellent return (
Paradise
)"

(Surah Aali-Imraan 3:141)

The
inclinations and desires of the Fitrah are not to become the objective in life.
Rather they are to be taken in a stabilised manner. The way to deal with them is
real and Allaah (The Most High) has given us the detailed descriptions of a
levelled approach. This levelled approach gives mankind the perfectly balanced
pleasure in this worldly life. The method of maintaining a well-balanced life is
not an endurance test to see who lasts the longest. Allah has revealed Islam, to
show us how to attain this balance in a real manner. Life is not a torturous
spiritual test, where you are ordered to Iive in mountains and trees. Fasting
all year round is not obligatory. Marriage is permissible and you do not have to
beat yourself senseless to purify your soul! Rather as Muslims, we must try to
follow the Prophet and his balanced teachings of life and living. As Allah says
in the Qur'an:

 

What does Islam say about terrorism?

 

Unfortunately more and more often, Islam has been associated with
terrorism and violence due to the actions of a few extreme individuals who’ve
taken it upon themselves to do the most heinous crimes in the name of Islam.

 

Tragic events such as the attack on the twin towers in New York, the bombings of Bali, Madrid and London are assumed to be justified by Islam in the minds of some people. This idea has been fueled further by many media channels which defame Islam by portraying these bombers as ‘Islamists’ or ‘Jihadists’, as though they were sanctioned by Islam, or had any legitimate spokemenship on behalf of Muslims. The actions of a few fanatical individuals who happen to have Muslim names or ascribe themselves to the Muslim faith should not be a yardstick by which Islam is judged. For the same reason, that one would not do justice to Christianity if it where perceived as sanctioning the genocide of the Native Americans, the atrocities of world war II or the bombings of the IRA.

To understand Islam’s stance on
terrorism, one must refer to its original sources, the Quran and the teachings
of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him,which
are explicit in their prohibition of any form of injustice including that of
wanton violence which seeks to instill fear, injury or death to civilians. 

The
Quran turns our attention to the high value of human life, whether it is Muslim
or Non-Muslim and makes it absolutely forbidden to take an innocent life
unjustly.  The gravity of such a
crime is equated, in the Quran, with the killing of all humanity.

“On that account: We
ordained for the Children of Israel that if any one slew a person - unless it be
for murder or for spreading mischief in the land - it would be as if he slew the
whole people: and if any one saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life
of the whole people. Then although there came to them Our apostles with clear
signs, yet, even after that, many of them continued to commit excesses in the
land.” (
5:32
)

Not
only is human life sacred in Islam but the property, wealth, family and dignity
of all individuals in society are to be respected and protected. 
Those who transgress these rights and sow fasad (corruption) as
the Quran describes it, incur the wrath of Allah.

 

"…and seek not
corruption in the earth; lo! Allah loveth not corrupters " (28:77)

Likewise
in another verse

“The blame is only
against those who oppress men and wrong-doing and insolently transgress beyond
bounds through the land, defying right and justice: for such there will be a
penalty grievous” (42:42)

Islam goes further than just
prohibiting oppression and safeguarding rights, it commands its faithful to deal
kindly and compassionately to all those who seek to live in peace and harmony

"Allah forbids you
not, with regard to those who fight you not for your faith, nor drive you out of
your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: For Allah loves those who
are just" (60:8)

In times of war and conflict,
where enmity can obstruct an individual’s judgement to act morally, Islam
commands that justice be upheld even towards one’s enemies.

"O ye who believe!
stand out firmly for Allah, as witnesses to fair dealing, and let not the hatred
of others to you make you swerve to wrong and depart from justice. Be just: that
is next to piety: and fear Allah. For Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye
do" (5:8)

Centuries before the Geneva
Convention was drawn up, Muslims were bound by a code of conduct which the
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, set.  He
forbade the killing of women, children and elderly in war. In an authentic narration the
Prophet (pbuh) warned that he who kills anyone who has a covenant
of peace with the Muslims will not smell the scent of
Paradise. In fact, he taught
that justice is not only to humans but must be shown to animals and all living
things.  In a narration the Prophet (pbuh)
informed us about how a lady was sent to hell because of a cat she had locked up
until it starved and died.  If such
is the sanctity which Islam places on the soul of an animal, how much more grave
is the killing of hundreds of innocent humans?! 

Abu Bakr the first Calipha of
the Muslims reflected these prophetic teachings when he advised his general
Yazid, who was confronting Roman armies,

"I advise you ten things, Do not kill
women or children or an aged, infirm person. Do not cut down fruit-bearing
trees. Do not destroy an inhabited place. Do not slaughter sheep or camels
except for food. Do not burn bees and do not scatter them. Do not steal from the
booty, and do not be cowardly."

The message of the Quran is clear as we have
seen, that the sanctity of any human life is to be respected and any violation
in that regard is paramount to the worst crime.  Mercy is at the heart of
the Islamic call, “We sent thee (O Muhammad) not save as a mercy for the
peoples” (21:107); a totally different message to what the terrorists are
sadly imparting to humanity.