.
Islam is not about domination in the world (comments section)
A paradigm shift in making of religious organizations " We have to repair the world".
Mike Ghouse, World Muslim Congress
.
Islam or any religion does not teach one to hate, dominate or subjugate; individuals do. They do because they did not get their own religion into their blood stream.
Hate towards others is not about religion. Some of those who are vociferous and are committed to promoting hate do so, unabashedly claiming to be Christians Muslims, Jews, Hindus or others. What an irony!
Good Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and others will talk about getting along, about forgiveness, Co-existence and about treating each other as they would want to be treated. Their actions and their words reflect the beauty of their religion and we need to encourage that.
To be a Muslim (or religious) is to be a peace maker, one who constantly seeks to mitigate conflicts and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-existence of humanity. God wants us to live in peace and harmony with his creation; Life and Matter. We need to monitor our pulpits to ensure what is spoken there is love and unity (embedded in every religion) and not the hate and division. A majority of the people are good people, they just need to ensure that goodness is passed on regularly and evilness chucked.
As Muslims, we are driven by the Qur'an, Al-Hujurat, Surah 49:13: "O mankind! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. The noblest of you, in sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Allah Knows and is Aware."
Our Mission
Our Mission is to work for a world of co-existence through inclusiveness and participation. As a member of diverse family of faiths, our efforts will be directed towards justice and equity to attain peace for the humankind with a firm grounding in commonly held values. We cannot have advantages at the cost of others. Such benefits are temporary and deleterious to lasting peace. We believe what is good for Muslims has got to be good for the world, and vice versa, to sustain it.
Indeed we aspire to promote goodwill amongst people of different affiliations, regardless of their faith, gender, race, nationality, culture or any other uniqueness blessed by the creator.
Goals
Our short term goal is to understand different faiths and let the values of Islam be understood as well. So we may know one another.
Our Long term goal is simply to bring the realization that the purpose of all religions is to bring peace and tranquility to an individual and further create a balanced relationships between the individual, society and the environment. Learning about other faiths need not imply infidelity, but rather the search will enrich one's own faith, it reaffirms the idea that the intent of every faith is to "fix" the individual as an active working and participating spoke in the wheel of life. Some get it and some don't.
Islam defined
The most precise definition of Islam: Justice for every human being.
The Qur'aan starts with the word God of Universe (not necessarily Muslims) and ends with Humankind (and again not Muslims).
We have a monumental task to repair the World, and we will do our part in working towards a World of co-existence, one person at a time. We are committed, and now help us God. Amen.
Good Deeds
Islam is a deed based non-judgmental religion, and consistently encourages individuals to do good. It emphasizes about individual responsibility towards the peace and security of society at large.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) described a good deed as an act which benefits others, such as planting a tree that serves generations of wayfarers with fruit and the shade. The world is a better place today because of a good legacy bequeathed to humanity by people of all faiths that came before us. We owe it to coming generations to leave the world a little better than we found it, to usher an era of justice and peace.
With Prejudice towards none
Almost all Muslims are cognizant and repeat the verse “God is the master of the Day of Judgment, and he alone we worship”. A fully observant Muslim recites this verse at least 50 times a day and refrains from judging others, as he or she believes God only can make that call.
Individual responsibility
Qur'an, Al-An'am, Surah 6:163-164: I ask whether I should seek any god besides God--when he is the Lord of all things. All people will reap the harvest of their own deeds; no one will bear another’s burden. Ultimately, all of you will return to your Lord, and he will resolve your disputes.
Citizenship
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) set an example of good citizenship early on in his life. The people of Makkah, non-Muslims at that time, called him Al-Amin; the truthful, the trustworthy and the peace maker because of his unwavering commitment to honesty in word and deed. The goal of the World Muslim Congress is to instill the humane values of Islam and to aspire to be Al-Amin to all.
A Just society
Islam emerged to bring peace, tranquility and equilibrium to the multitudes of tribes at conflict with each other in the 6th century AD. In a period of 23 years, thru suffering, persecution and sacrifice a just society evolved. Diversity was it’s basis, respecting each tradition and bringing them together and appreciating the creator was the foundation stone of Islam. Justice, liberty and freedom are the core values enshrined in Islam.
Pluralism
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. All people harvest their own deeds.
Qur'an, At-Taghabun, Surah 64:2-4: It was God who created you; yet some of you refuse to believe, while others have faith. He is aware of all your actions. He created the heavens and the earth to manifest the truth.
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.
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. The Word Ummah was used in the document to mean all residents of the City.
Freedom
God could have made us all sinless angels; instead he chose to make us humans, giving guidance on one hand, temptations on the other – then giving room to make mistakes, and room for correction. Islam has not claimed monopoly to heaven; it is assured to those who do good deeds. Good deeds are defined by Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) as how your treat others. He told his daughter that it would be her deeds that would earn her a place in the Kingdom of God and not her relation with the Prophet. ''There is no free lunch.
Qur'an, Al-Inshiqaq, Surah 84:7-15: Each person will be given a book. Those who are given their books in their right hands (understanding the book correctly) will be judged leniently; and they will return to their people joyfully. But those who are given their books in their left hands (misunderstanding) will call their own destruction on themselves, and burn in the fire of hell. There are the people who have never cared for their neighbors; they thought they would never return to God. Their Lord watches all that people do.
For Millions of years, the physical dimension of the Universe has existed in a perfect balance as it did not have the ego to compete with each other nor had the freedom to mess with it. They do, what God intended them to do. It is the human dimension that needed religion, and every religion is meant to bring peace to individuals and balance to the world around them through free choice.
God willing, the Muslim community will be drawing the blue prints and developing a 14 year plan to find their space in the world of communities, as contributors and active participants in the peaceful co-existence for the people of the World. The Book “Muslim Vision 2020” is on the horizon.
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.
Praise the Lord. We are pleased to announce the formation of The World Muslim Congress, A non-profit organization dedicated to promoting co-existence and contributing towards a just world. (Formed: 5/25/2006)
Our silence has done more damage to us, our faith and our World. Silent no more, God willing, we will resolutely take back our faith for our good and the good of mankind.
A Major Paradigm Shift
The world has indeed become a global community. Everyone is a neighbor to everyone else; we aspire to nurture the concept of good neighborliness in the world. Our advisory board will be represented by individuals from every faith. It is time for us to be equal citizens of one world, our home. This is a major paradigm shift in how the religious organizations would be conducting their business in the coming years.
Our upcoming website: www.WorldMuslimCongress.com will present a range of values in Islam. It is a shame that some of the translations of Qur’an contain phrases that are not in Qur’an. A dozen translations will be presented verse by verse, with the source. So you may know the truth!
Hate towards others is not about religion. Some of those who are vociferous and are committed to promoting hate do so, unabashedly claiming to be Christians Muslims, Jews, Hindus or others. What an irony!
Good Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and others will talk about getting along, about forgiveness, Co-existence and about treating each other as they would want to be treated. Their actions and their words reflect the beauty of their religion and we need to encourage that.
To be a Muslim (or religious) is to be a peace maker, one who constantly seeks to mitigate conflicts and nurtures goodwill for peaceful co-existence of humanity. God wants us to live in peace and harmony with his creation; Life and Matter. We need to monitor our pulpits to ensure what is spoken there is love and unity (embedded in every religion) and not the hate and division. A majority of the people are good people, they just need to ensure that goodness is passed on regularly and evilness chucked.
As Muslims, we are driven by the Qur'an, Al-Hujurat, Surah 49:13: "O mankind! We have created you male and female, and have made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. The noblest of you, in sight of Allah, is the best in conduct. Allah Knows and is Aware."
Our Mission
Our Mission is to work for a world of co-existence through inclusiveness and participation. As a member of diverse family of faiths, our efforts will be directed towards justice and equity to attain peace for the humankind with a firm grounding in commonly held values. We cannot have advantages at the cost of others. Such benefits are temporary and deleterious to lasting peace. We believe what is good for Muslims has got to be good for the world, and vice versa, to sustain it.
Indeed we aspire to promote goodwill amongst people of different affiliations, regardless of their faith, gender, race, nationality, culture or any other uniqueness blessed by the creator.
Goals
Our short term goal is to understand different faiths and let the values of Islam be understood as well. So we may know one another.
Our Long term goal is simply to bring the realization that the purpose of all religions is to bring peace and tranquility to an individual and further create a balanced relationships between the individual, society and the environment. Learning about other faiths need not imply infidelity, but rather the search will enrich one's own faith, it reaffirms the idea that the intent of every faith is to "fix" the individual as an active working and participating spoke in the wheel of life. Some get it and some don't.
Islam defined
The most precise definition of Islam: Justice for every human being.
The Qur'aan starts with the word God of Universe (not necessarily Muslims) and ends with Humankind (and again not Muslims).
We have a monumental task to repair the World, and we will do our part in working towards a World of co-existence, one person at a time. We are committed, and now help us God. Amen.
Good Deeds
Islam is a deed based non-judgmental religion, and consistently encourages individuals to do good. It emphasizes about individual responsibility towards the peace and security of society at large.
Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) described a good deed as an act which benefits others, such as planting a tree that serves generations of wayfarers with fruit and the shade. The world is a better place today because of a good legacy bequeathed to humanity by people of all faiths that came before us. We owe it to coming generations to leave the world a little better than we found it, to usher an era of justice and peace.
With Prejudice towards none
Almost all Muslims are cognizant and repeat the verse “God is the master of the Day of Judgment, and he alone we worship”. A fully observant Muslim recites this verse at least 50 times a day and refrains from judging others, as he or she believes God only can make that call.
Individual responsibility
Qur'an, Al-An'am, Surah 6:163-164: I ask whether I should seek any god besides God--when he is the Lord of all things. All people will reap the harvest of their own deeds; no one will bear another’s burden. Ultimately, all of you will return to your Lord, and he will resolve your disputes.
Citizenship
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) set an example of good citizenship early on in his life. The people of Makkah, non-Muslims at that time, called him Al-Amin; the truthful, the trustworthy and the peace maker because of his unwavering commitment to honesty in word and deed. The goal of the World Muslim Congress is to instill the humane values of Islam and to aspire to be Al-Amin to all.
A Just society
Islam emerged to bring peace, tranquility and equilibrium to the multitudes of tribes at conflict with each other in the 6th century AD. In a period of 23 years, thru suffering, persecution and sacrifice a just society evolved. Diversity was it’s basis, respecting each tradition and bringing them together and appreciating the creator was the foundation stone of Islam. Justice, liberty and freedom are the core values enshrined in Islam.
Pluralism
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. All people harvest their own deeds.
Qur'an, At-Taghabun, Surah 64:2-4: It was God who created you; yet some of you refuse to believe, while others have faith. He is aware of all your actions. He created the heavens and the earth to manifest the truth.
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.
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. The Word Ummah was used in the document to mean all residents of the City.
Freedom
God could have made us all sinless angels; instead he chose to make us humans, giving guidance on one hand, temptations on the other – then giving room to make mistakes, and room for correction. Islam has not claimed monopoly to heaven; it is assured to those who do good deeds. Good deeds are defined by Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) as how your treat others. He told his daughter that it would be her deeds that would earn her a place in the Kingdom of God and not her relation with the Prophet. ''There is no free lunch.
Qur'an, Al-Inshiqaq, Surah 84:7-15: Each person will be given a book. Those who are given their books in their right hands (understanding the book correctly) will be judged leniently; and they will return to their people joyfully. But those who are given their books in their left hands (misunderstanding) will call their own destruction on themselves, and burn in the fire of hell. There are the people who have never cared for their neighbors; they thought they would never return to God. Their Lord watches all that people do.
For Millions of years, the physical dimension of the Universe has existed in a perfect balance as it did not have the ego to compete with each other nor had the freedom to mess with it. They do, what God intended them to do. It is the human dimension that needed religion, and every religion is meant to bring peace to individuals and balance to the world around them through free choice.
God willing, the Muslim community will be drawing the blue prints and developing a 14 year plan to find their space in the world of communities, as contributors and active participants in the peaceful co-existence for the people of the World. The Book “Muslim Vision 2020” is on the horizon.
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.
Praise the Lord. We are pleased to announce the formation of The World Muslim Congress, A non-profit organization dedicated to promoting co-existence and contributing towards a just world. (Formed: 5/25/2006)
Our silence has done more damage to us, our faith and our World. Silent no more, God willing, we will resolutely take back our faith for our good and the good of mankind.
A Major Paradigm Shift
The world has indeed become a global community. Everyone is a neighbor to everyone else; we aspire to nurture the concept of good neighborliness in the world. Our advisory board will be represented by individuals from every faith. It is time for us to be equal citizens of one world, our home. This is a major paradigm shift in how the religious organizations would be conducting their business in the coming years.
Our upcoming website: www.WorldMuslimCongress.com will present a range of values in Islam. It is a shame that some of the translations of Qur’an contain phrases that are not in Qur’an. A dozen translations will be presented verse by verse, with the source. So you may know the truth!
ISLAM IS NOT ABOUT DOMINATION, IT IS ABOUT JUSTNESS - Comments below
Mike Ghouse is a Speaker, Thinker and a Writer. He is president of the Foundation for Pluralism and is a frequent guest on talk radio and local television network discussing interfaith, political and civic issues. He is the founding president of World Muslim Congress with a simple theme: Good for Muslims and good for the world. His comments, news analysis and columns can be found on the Websites and Blogs listed at his personal website http://www.mikeghouse.net/. Mike is a Dallasite for nearly three decades and Carrollton is his home town. He can be reached at MikeGhouse@gmail.com
Mike Ghouse is a Speaker, Thinker and a Writer. He is president of the Foundation for Pluralism and is a frequent guest on talk radio and local television network discussing interfaith, political and civic issues. He is the founding president of World Muslim Congress with a simple theme: Good for Muslims and good for the world. His comments, news analysis and columns can be found on the Websites and Blogs listed at his personal website http://www.mikeghouse.net/. Mike is a Dallasite for nearly three decades and Carrollton is his home town. He can be reached at MikeGhouse@gmail.com
Mohtram Ghouse Bhai, ASA
ReplyDeleteThis is just a personal note for you and not for publicity. A paradigm shift in making of religious organizations, Mike “ Islam or any religion does not teach one to hate, dominate or subjugate, individuals do. They do because they did not get their own religion into their blood stream.”
Your very opening statement is not correct. It contradicts the Qur'an and the mission of Rasulullah (S). Kindly read the Verses: # 9 of Surah Al-Saf; # 33 of Al-Tawbah & # 28 of Al-Fathey and see that the every object of Allah'e messenger was to get the Deen of Allah dominant over the rest of Adyan. How? That you can get from the life-pattern of Rasulullah (WS).
Unfortunately, you are trodding in troubled waters.
Shamim Siddiqi
ISLAM IS NOT ABOUT DOMINATION
ReplyDeleteAA, Shamim Bhai, thanks for bringing this up, it is a Muslim thing to debate and discuss, it is a Muslim thing to be open minded about Issues and it is a Muslim thing to learn, learn and learn. Qur’aan is a book of guidance and each one of us has the responsibility to understand it. The essence of Islam is justice and balance with moderation. “There is no compulsion in the matters of faith” When there is no compulsion the word dominations does not have a place.
Qur’aan is the only source I rely on to talk about Islam, thanks for sharing those verses, here they are:
“33:9 O YOU who have attained to faith! Call to mind the blessings which God bestowed on you (at the time) when [enemy] hosts came down upon you, whereupon we let loose against them a storm wind and [heavenly] hosts that you could not see: yet God saw all that you did.”
“…..based on mutual distrust, gradually undermined the much-vaunted alliance between the Jewish and the pagan Arab tribes; in the month of Dhu l-Qadah their frustration became complete when a bitterly-cold storm wind raged for several days, making life unbearable even for hardened warriors. And so, finally, the siege was raised and the Confederates dispersed, thus ending the last attempt of the pagans to destroy the Prophet and his community.”
Offensive war is not permitted Islam, you can only defend. In the above case the Muslims were on the defensive and God saved them from their destruction through bitter cold winds, just as God flooded the parted Nile when Pharaoh’s army chased Moses.
There is no call for domination in this verse, let’s go to the next;
Al-Fath (The Victory)
“48:28 He it is who has sent forth His Apostle with the [task of spreading] guidance and the religion of truth, to the end that He make it prevail over every [false] religion; and none can bear witness [to the truth] as God does.”
"Through the revelations which He grants to His prophets,". See also 3:19 - "the only [true] religion in the sight of God is [man’s] self-surrender unto Him": from which it follows that any religion (in the widest sense of this term) which is not based on the above principle is, eo ipso, false.”
There is another verse that talks about not to worry if you have taken care of your neighbors, being good to others. Qur'an, Al-An'am, Surah 6:163-164: I ask whether I should seek any god besides God--when he is the Lord of all things. All people will reap the harvest of their own deeds; no one will bear another’s burden. Ultimately, all of you will return to your Lord, and he will resolve your disputes.
Please help me understand where in the Qur’aan it says for Islam to dominate. This is perhaps the biggest challenge we are going to take in Islam and I believe it will be difficult to find, as Islam is about justice, free will, peace and NOT domination. If you find the verses, please share, we all need to learn and debate.
The only emphasis I see is for one to surrender to the will of God, and God’s will is simple – take care of yourselves, your neighbors and what is around you and follow the basics – tell the truth, be the trustworthy, be just and honest. It is this openness of Qur’aan that attracts people towards it, it is not a rigid guideline, it is based on common sense. Arrogance is one thing God does not like at all, that is why he wants people to constantly ask him, and acknowledge that he is great… it is not his greatness that he care, it is the humility that brings to humans, that eliminates arrogance; which mitigates conflicts and nurtures good will.
ISLAM IS NOT ABOUT DOMINATION
ReplyDeleteDear Mike.
Your article on Paradigm Shift was note worthy. May I add my comments on the following quote from it please.
“They do because they did not get their own religion into their blood stream”.
“Their own religion” is the issue here. The division of humanity, --how ever apologetically one may try to defend ones religion – is the byproduct of all religions, for it instills in its followers that the truth rests with them and only their Church’s dogma. It can not be denied therefore that all religions are exclusive of others and insular. One has to go through the ritual of conversion to enter into another religion to be declared a member of the new religion.
To operate a religion there has to be a specific institution of that Church and its Operatives with capital O, to administer the “passage of rites”. This was the established modus- operandi of all societies prior to Prophet Muhammad.
He brought the PARADIGM SHIFT in this process by using the then existing metaphors but turning them on their heads for the universal Unity of human brother hood that you are referring to. Let me give one example of this.
Many Muslims, let alone non-Muslims think that the word ALLAH is a specific word invented or coined by Muhammad( himself an Arab). This we know is not true, for the word was of common usage in the Arabic language during his time. There was the Chief laha of the myriads of deities they used to worship, placed in and around the Kabaa- their temple.
One does not have to be a linguist to know that the Arabic article ‘AL’ when applied to a noun, then it becomes a ‘specific’ object much more than the English article ‘THE’, eg al-Hamra etc. Hence the Chief deity became al-lah. The paradigm shift was in clearing-the-table first of all the clatter with la- ilaha, creating a vacuum of deities and then placing a “concept” of Universal Creator on the intellectual mind set. Thus bringing in the focus the message of oneness of Creation, which was nothing new as all the other Prophets had done before him (2-136 etc). That is they all brought the same Deen- the natural/universal Code. In Arabic Quran it is called ad-Deen.
The SHIFT therefore was in the elimination of Religion, Dogma, Church and its operative thus leveling the playing field for humanity; that is eliminating ELITISM and establishing brotherhood of mankind!
Rashid
ISLAM IS NOT ABOUT DOMINATION
ReplyDeleteDear Mike.
Your article on Paradigm Shift was note worthy. May I add my comments on the following quote from it please.
“They do because they did not get their own religion into their blood stream”.
“Their own religion” is the issue here. The division of humanity, --how ever apologetically one may try to defend ones religion – is the byproduct of all religions, for it instills in its followers that the truth rests with them and only their Church’s dogma. It can not be denied therefore that all religions are exclusive of others and insular. One has to go through the ritual of conversion to enter into another religion to be declared a member of the new religion.
To operate a religion there has to be a specific institution of that Church and its Operatives with capital O, to administer the “passage of rites”. This was the established modus- operandi of all societies prior to Prophet Muhammad.
He brought the PARADIGM SHIFT in this process by using the then existing metaphors but turning them on their heads for the universal Unity of human brother hood that you are referring to. Let me give one example of this.
Many Muslims, let alone non-Muslims think that the word ALLAH is a specific word invented or coined by Muhammad( himself an Arab). This we know is not true, for the word was of common usage in the Arabic language during his time. There was the Chief laha of the myriads of deities they used to worship, placed in and around the Kabaa- their temple.
One does not have to be a linguist to know that the Arabic article ‘AL’ when applied to a noun, then it becomes a ‘specific’ object much more than the English article ‘THE’, eg al-Hamra etc. Hence the Chief deity became al-lah. The paradigm shift was in clearing-the-table first of all the clatter with la- ilaha, creating a vacuum of deities and then placing a “concept” of Universal Creator on the intellectual mind set. Thus bringing in the focus the message of oneness of Creation, which was nothing new as all the other Prophets had done before him (2-136 etc). That is they all brought the same Deen- the natural/universal Code. In Arabic Quran it is called ad-Deen.
The SHIFT therefore was in the elimination of Religion, Dogma, Church and its operative thus leveling the playing field for humanity; that is eliminating ELITISM and establishing brotherhood of mankind!
Rashid
ISLAM IS NOT ABOUT DOMINATION
ReplyDeleteDear Rashid, thanks for adding and enhancing the dialogue on the issue. Your point “for it instills in its followers that the truth rests with them and only their Church’s dogma” has to be debated. Religion teaches one to believe that his faith is good and truthful, but it does not deny other people’s faith. I have quoted a few verses from Qur’aan in the earlier comment. The Clergy in every faith do that including Islam wants you to believe that the other system is inferior and that is what stems Proselytization and conflict. It is their business and they have to protect their interests, their congregation and their livelihood. Remember, prophet Muhammad (pbuh) declared in his last sermon that Islam does not have clergy, perhaps that was the reason. Yes, every group needs sales people to sell their way of life but resorting to denigrating other products amounts to being un-religious and un-spiritual.
I like your notes on Universal concept of God. Thank you.
hey i would just like to inquire if you have any idea what's going on with the muslims in the philippines?
ReplyDelete