Pluralism and Quran, verse 5:8

Posted at: http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/06/pluralism-and-quran-verse-58.html and at: WorldMuslimCongress@yahoogroups.com

Alhamdu Lillah., most Muslims are blessed with an inquisitive mind, and I am so glad we are doing the right thing by clarifying and questioning what is said and written. Indeed, Islam started with the premise that we read, write and learn. That’s how Quraan began; Iqra, the first word.     

Pluralism and Quran, verse 5:8

5:8 (Asad),  " O you who have attained to faith! Be ever steadfast in your devotion to God, bearing witness to the truth in all equity; and never let hatred of any-one ^[19] lead you into the sin of deviating from justice. Be just: this is closest to being God-conscious. And remain conscious of God: verily, God is aware of all that you do."

Pluralism in the broadest sense is respecting the otherness of others, and accepting God’s will in creating each one of us as a unique being.  It implies fair treatment and justice to fellow beings.

Justice is the foremost value of Islam as it is with all religions and traditions. When law and order is the way of life in a given society, people live in peace, and prosperity is the natural outcome.

When there is justice, fears dissipate knowing that no one can take advantage of you, and if they do, society will fix them, and if the society fails, God will.  Nothing in the world goes unaccounted; everything has to achieve its own balance at the end, and every re-action is a product of an action.

Historically prophets have made their presence felt when things were chaotic. Whether it was Moses or Krishna, Jesus or Muhammad, they fixed the problems and restored trust in the society.

The message in Verse 5:8 is to be just, no matter what happens, but be just.   Prophet Muhammad further urges mankind to tell the truth even if it incriminates you. He said it liberates you from endless anxiety and paves the way for a regret-free life.

Justice is respecting and accepting others rights and pluralism is respect the otherness of others and accepting the God given uniqueness of each one of his creation.

God’s will as I understand is taking responsibility to maintain “BALANCE AND HARMONY BETWEEN ALL ELEMENTS OF HIS CREATION.” Because he created everything with balance, and has sent a peacemaker to every tribe, community and the nation, the message is same. A majority of people in each group get the message, some don’t.

وَالسَّمَاء رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ الْمِيزَانَ (55:7) 

Waalssamaa rafaAAaha wawadaAAa almeezana

55:7 (Asad) And the skies has He raised high, and has devised [for all things] a

measure [The noun meezan, usually denoting a "balance", has here the more general connotation of "measure" or "measuring" by any means whatsoever (Zamakhshari ), in both the concrete and abstract senses of the word. (Cf. also the parabolic use of the term meezan in 42:17 and 57:25.)]

وَأَقِيمُوا الْوَزْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا تُخْسِرُوا الْمِيزَانَ (55:9) 

Waaqeemoo alwazna bialqisti wala tukhsiroo almeezana

55:9 (Asad) weigh, therefore, [your deeds] with equity, and cut not the measure short! 

Quraan does not address Muslims exclusively; it is a book of guidance for humanity. As Muslims we tend to see the general meaning of “righteous path” as Islamic path (3:85), the path we have pounded with our culture and rituals, rather than the spirit of Islam.

Each society has strayed away from the meaning of justice. For example, until now, Muslims were misled by the men scholars of the past that the husband can beat the wife (4:34), how wrong the entire Ummah has been on the topic. You may not agree with it, but that is your choice.

It is a haunting question for women of conscience, and of course men of conscience. It is a shame that we took advantage of women, belittling them when they questioned the meaning of it, leaving an imbalance, thus injustice. It has bothered most Muslims, including me, that how can God say such a thing? But most did not dare asking the imams who misinterpreted it.

 Thank God for the hidaya Allah gave to Dr. Lelah Bakhtiar, who has finally corrected the gross error.  Now that she has fixed the problem, it gives more meaning to the phrase; Islam is the Deen of Fitra, of human nature.  

I am thankful to Allah for blessing America with freedom, this freedom will pave the way for understanding the egalitarian and pluralistic nature of Islam that Prophet Muhammad practiced, but we dusted it up.

This was just one example, Insha Allah, in my next article, “What Sunnah?”  we will explore Hadiths, that Prophet (pbuh) could not have said it all.  He was a mercy to mankind, and we simply cannot ascribe  those Hadiths to him, that are contrary to his personality.

The second most critical value of Islam is to be non-judgmental and non-prejudiced; a derivative of the first value.  A Muslim, who observes the ritual part of Islam, utters the verse, “Maliki yawmi alddeeni” from 17 to 51 times a day. Stephen Covey says, if you utter something 7 times, it becomes a part of you. God is generous, he gives us the opportunity to utter more number of times, so it becomes a part of our psyche, that we do not judge others in the matters of faith, only Allah knows and only Allah will judge.
 

مَـالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ (1:4) 

Maliki yawmi alddeeni
 1:4 (Asad) Lord of the Day of Judgment! 

Most Muslims get it, some don’t. It is easy to become a Mushrik by declaring others to be not a Muslim , or even declare that they will go to hell. Have you ever thought about that as a Shirk? That is the goddamned greatest form of Shirk, a major sin in Islam to judge others Imaan, the belief.

So my friends, verse 5:8 fulfills the values of God’s critical values to create pluralistic societies, and Islam is guidance to all humanity, even though we attempt to monopolize it as our property.  Islam is about acknowledging the otherness of other, and Islam is about keeping the Meezan within his creation. We are the Ashraful-Makhlooqat, the superior (independent and intelligent) species, endowed with the responsibility to maintain the balance. 

As we seek the truth, we will find that Islam is about Pluralism, about building cohesive societies where no human has to live in fear of the other. Look at all the examples of the Prophet; he created Models for us to follow. Insha Allah, we will catch up with it, at least within a generation or two.

Mike Ghouse is committed to nurturing the pluralistic values embedded in Islam and invites discussions with an open mind. Together, we can learn to be a productive citizen to our family, community, nation and the world - thus serving God’s purpose of peace; Islam the verb.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .Dear Mike Sahab

Please explain how you link Qur'an 5:8 with your pluralism. Below is the what this Ayaat says

8. O You who believe! stand out firmly for Allâh and be just witnesses and let not the enmity and Hatred of others make You avoid justice. be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Well-acquainted with what You do.

Mujtuba
. . . . . . . . . . . . .

This was in reference to article:
TEXAS FAITH: How can the media better cover religion?

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/06/texas-faith-how-can-media-better-cover.html

Blasphemy Laws go against Islam

Appended below are verses from Quraan. 

http://worldmuslimcongress.blogspot.com/2012/04/blasphemy-laws-go-against-islam.html

Secure men believe in God and the Day of Judgment and have full faith that God alone decides what is in one’s heart. Insecure men's way to find solutions is to eliminate the other with power, screams, deaths and threats. 

Unless a few of us start speaking against Blasphemy, the evil vigilantist anti-Islamic practice of insecure men will continue.

Except the first four caliphs, who were chosen to govern rather than forcefully taking over,  we have a bad history of oppression.  Have we ever been ruled by sane men? It is not just us, until 100 years ago with the exception of the United States; the whole world was run by dictators and kings. Most nations are moving towards civil societies run by the consensus of the people and sadly our freedom is not proportional.

Look at our history, we have been prevented from independent inquiry, we were imposed by the damned dictators and kings. Thank God we have Turkey, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Indonesia, and Pakistan (occasionally), where the civil society rules. Islam will do well in democracies and freedom.

Unfortunately Muslims do not have the breathing room to be themselves, they are continuously bonded by one tyrant or the other… We certainly can pray asking God to help Muslims to be free to govern themselves and not throw them in the mouths of Mullahs from the dictators. One bad Mubarak goes and the brotherhood is out there to force their laws on the unwilling people…  

We the Muslims have been reduced to Pavlovian Muslims - we are too damned conditioned with the laws of men like Zia, Wahhab, Maududi, Banna and others,   rather than guidance of God. We need to be free, and do our Iqra.

Prophet Muhammad said, I am leaving this book to you - he did not say, well, I have assigned the interpretation of the book to the Imams, Kings and the dictators... you don't need to read the Quran any more, just follow the rules made by the dominant partners of God, you will get a free pass on the Day of Judgement. They will take care of you.

Time to start from Zero and listen to the Prophet and not the Great Imams of the past, following them has made us cowards and insecure with Blasphemy and Apostasy laws that go against God's will.  

Here are the verses from Quraan, compiled by Irtaza.

 [5:57] O you who believe, do not befriend those among the recipients of previous scripture who mock and ridicule your religion, nor shall you befriend the disbelievers. You shall reverence GOD, if you are really believers.

[6:68] If you see those who mock our revelations, you shall avoid them until they delve into another subject. If the devil causes you to forget, then, as soon as you remember, do not sit with such evil people.

[18:106] Their just requital is Hell, in return for their disbelief, and for mocking My revelations and My messengers.

[39:48] The sinful works they had earned will be shown to them, and the very things they used to mock will come back to haunt them.

[45:33] The evils of their works will become evident to them, and the very things they mocked will come back and haunt them.

Why the Muslim masses ignore the Messenger Muhammad?  Who they want to please?

The punishment is delivered by God, not by you or me.

The killing is justified only if  people wage  war against you. You may kill them, in that case:

[5:33] The just retribution for those who fight GOD and His messenger, and commit horrendous crimes, is to be killed, or crucified, or to have their hands and feet cut off on alternate sides, or to be banished from the land. This is to humiliate them in this life, then they suffer a far worse retribution in the Hereafter.

The killing is not justified if people evict you. You may only evict them:

[2:191] You may kill those who wage war against you, and you may evict them whence they evicted you. Oppression is worse than murder. Do not fight them at the Sacred Masjid, unless they attack you therein. If they attack you, you may kill them. This is the just retribution for those disbelievers.

The killing is not justified if people insult the Prophet. God will take care of it.

[18:106] Their just requital is Hell, in return for their disbelief, and for mocking My revelations and My messengers

And, these are some of the Quranic wisdoms:

[42:37] They avoid gross sins and vice, and when angered they forgive

[42:40] Although the just requital for an injustice is an equivalent retribution, those who pardon and maintain righteousness are rewarded by GOD. He does not love the unjust.

The Muslim masses need to learn a lot from the Quran.  They are shackled by their Ulams and Allamas!

# # #

Mike Ghouse

 Irfan sahib,

It is illogical that in a Muslim state Prophet will be insulted and the offender will not be punished. Dr  Hashim Kamali has concluded in chapter on Blasphemy in his book  the Freedom Of Expression in Islam that blasphemy is punishable under Taziir and the punishment will depend on the level of offence. I feel he is right.

Shah Abdul Hannan

_____ 

 Dear Mr. Hannan,

Please do not insult the Qur'anic teachings.  The Qur'an does not require us to punish blasphemy in THIS world.  It's solely Allah's territory and He will deal with the blasphemers as He sees fit.  Why do you want to kill the blasphemer when Allah has declared ALL murders unlawful (except when the  are legally justified-and blasphemy is NOT one of them)?  Do you blood on your hands?

 Even the prophets were badly insulted during their lifetimes and Allah threatened the blasphemers to punish them Himself---Here and in the Hereafter.  Only He has this prerogative, no one else.  This is because the blasphemer must be allowed to have their natural life to repent  at any time, and this opportunity must not be taken away from them.  I hope you understand the difference between insulting and spreading widespread corruption on the Earth. 

Irfan

Double standards of Islamic and western societies

This article is an experimental writing, the first five paragraphs are copied and pasted as the next five, the difference is the first set highlights hypocrisy in Muslim majority nations while the same words express the hypocrisy in western democracies.

Law is one thing and practice is the other. As an American and as a Muslim, I have to be critical of both groupings and work toward creating cohesive societies where no citizen has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of the other. Here is a summary of 2011 and what we can aspire for 2012.

Published at Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/citizenship-islam-and-ame_b_1174834.html

Published at the Ghouse diary

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/01/citizenship-islam-and-america.html

Published: Indian Muslim Observer and Two Circles

Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. A writer, thinker and a speaker. (214) 325-1916 - www.MikeGhouse.net

Double standards of Islamic and western societies

This article is an experimental writing, the first five paragraphs are copied and pasted as the next five, the difference is the first set highlights hypocrisy in Muslim majority nations while the same words express the hypocrisy in western democracies.

Law is one thing and practice is the other. As an American and as a Muslim, I have to be critical of both groupings and work toward creating cohesive societies where no citizen has to live in apprehension, discomfort or fear of the other. Here is a summary of 2011 and what we can aspire for 2012.

Published at Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/citizenship-islam-and-ame_b_1174834.html

Published at the Ghouse diary

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/01/citizenship-islam-and-america.html

Published: Indian Muslim Observer and Two Circles

Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. A writer, thinker and a speaker. (214) 325-1916 - www.MikeGhouse.net

Conversation about Ahmadiyya Muslims

Thank God we live in America under God where there is no compulsion on any one to believe or not believe. 

 Aren’t you glad, being a non-Hijabi woman you don’t live in Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia? Aren’t you thrilled that you don’t live as a Sufi in Iran or Saudi Arabia? Aren’t you happy that you don’t live as a Sunni in Syria, Iran or Iraq? Aren’t you glad you don’t live in Pakistan, Bahrain and Indonesia as an Ahmadi or Shia? فَبِأَيِّ آلَاء رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ (55:16) 

 
Is there a self-proclaimed Muslim nation where any kind of Muslim can freely practice his or her religion without hassles?

America is one of the few places on the earth that you can practice your religion freely per the Quraan and not per bigots. لاَ إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ 

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) brought one religion, the religion that will bring about social justice and peace to mankind.  His universal religion brings harmony within an individual and what surrounds him or her. He understood human nature and paved the way for Muslims in the future to figure out how to co-exist with their differences.  He said his Ummah will eventually have 72 (73) different versions and each one must rush to do good things ( he did not say, annihilate the other) and one among them will receive bountiful goodness for being exceptionally good. All will receive their recompense from the creator.

Each group is bent on converting and convincing the other. Sunnis are arrogant that God has a special pact with them, while the Shias believe the same and so do the Ahmadiyya Muslims.  God does not make deals with any one behind each others back, Muslim or not. You do the good things, bring peace to his creation and earn his grace.

None of us was assigned to guard the religion or Quraan; he said he will protect it himself. We have to trust God without any doubts.  

 

As long as each one of the 72 tribes is doing good things for humanity, we need to appreciate them. After all no one is responsible for your and my actions but ourselves.

I have known the Ahmadiyya community for a long time now; they share what they know, but have never asked me to subscribe to their belief in Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmed as Prophet or the Messiah. If they do, I would respectfully say that I am content with my belief as they are with their belief and let’s together do good to humanity with our differences. Let’s have a strong faith in whatever we believe and not fear discussing or talking will drain off my faith. Who needs a faith like that? If someone becomes Sunni, Shia or Ahmadiyya, let them? You are not responsible to any one, not one soul on the Day of Judgment.  So why belligerence and ill-will?  It is not good for us, this is the Jihad Prophet (pbuh) called on us. 

Islam is not defined by denying others their belief, forcing others to your way… The Sunnis can survive without manufacturing an enemy that is what the Neocons do; make enemies out of Muslims who are not. Are we like them?
 

Jazak Allah Khair

Mike Ghouse

# # #

Dear all,

It is very imoprtant not to misunderstand any corruption done in our religion by certian groups and giving the impression that there is no differnace between Ahamdis and othe Muslims places of worship and iftar. These are the tectics to get Muslims involved and then convert to Ahmadis. if they are the same as other muslims are then why do we have to convert to Ahamdiat? Once you go deep inside then you will know that Ahmadis are very different and corrupting our religion by changing the meaning of Quran and not Accepting Prophet ( PBUH) as the last prophet and instead beleiving that Mirza is the continuation of Prophet hood. This is a very long discussion, i have attached the presentation by which everyone can understand that how they have tried their best to change the meaning of Quran to their religion. No one has interprated Quran in 1400 years execept this group and list of other things is long. i am ready to debate any Ahamdi regarding the finality of Prophet ( PBUH) this is the basis of our relgion and Aqeeda. Without beleving in finaltiy of Prophet Mohammad ( PBUH) we are not following Quran and Allah. Allah says very clear in Quran about the Finality of Prophet Mohammad ( PBUH) any group try to chnage is not Muslim or the follower of Islam.

Nasrullah khan

# # #

Dear Intisar

Thanks for pointing the error.  First of all it was my mistake that I did not point out the information that was contrary to Brother Qureshi’s information on Ahmadiyya and Bahai.

AHAMDIYYA CLARIFICATIONS

Brother Qureshi wrote, “But again they have added many new elements such as the name of their prophet into Kalima (declaration of belief in God and Prophet Muhammad) and also in Azan (beckoning Muslims to come for prayers). The Ahmadis are officially declared as the infidels, apostates or heretic in Pakistan.”

I have not heard a different Azaan or different Kalima than

"La Ilaha Illal lah Muhammadur Rasool Allah.” I have been to two different Ahamdiyya Mosques, one is Dallas Area and the other in Houston, I have prayed in their mosques, had Iftaar with them, have spoken many times and have also spoken at the their Annual convention – I have a copy of their Quraan and some great books they have written. 

In their two day convention that I attended,  so many times they recited Takbir, Shahadah and Darood and of course Mirza Ghulam Ahmed's name, just as they do in Shia Mosques - Nara-e-Hydari - Ya Ali. I have taken pictures of their mosques where you see inscribed on their walls, "La Ilaha Illal lahu Muhammadur Rasool Allah."

In the early 70’s on the walls of one Ahmadiyya Mosque in Africa, the first Meem of Mohammad in the Kalima was discolored and made it appear like it was Ahamdur Rasoola Allah. All I have seen is on the walls of the Ahmadiyya Mosques I have been to.

Brother Qureshi has to explain his experience on Kalima and Adan

As a side note, nothing to with the topic above but related to it. I have written over 15 articles on Ahmadiyya (of  750+ Articles on Islam) in the last few years and as a “Sunni” Muslim it amazes me that how many of us go by hearsay and make blind statements. The politically brainwashed hatred towards Ahmadiyya has blinded so many Muslims to jump to conclusions without verifying.  I am not defending Ahmadiyya here, I am defending what Allah and his Prophet has told us to do – to verify before we judge other people, besides that, no one has a right to judge the faith of other person other than Allah. Don’t let your bias towards others to make you unjust.

I was in Austin several weeks ago, one of my Ismaili friends was telling me that he went to the Mosque for Friday prayers, and the Imam was belligerent towards him for dropping the hands during the Iqama position, which most Shia Muslims do. Insha Allah, I will go talk to the imam and ask him what Allah meant, “the best among you are the ones who learn about each other”   If he is not aware of how Muslims prays in different Mosques. I pray that he treats the guests at the mosque in a dignified way, if he were to be an Imam. In one line (saf) people hold their hands on naval level, above stomach or even on the chest while other practices exist. Unless we speak up, things will not change.  Do we want our Imams to be respectful of other?  

BAHAI FAITH CLARIFICATIONS

Bahaulla and his predecessor the Bab did not claim to be the Messiah, they just claimed to be a prophet in a series of prophets that have brought in the message of goodness. Furthermore, Bahai faith is not an off-shoot of Islam; it is a religion on its own. We cannot say Islam is an offshoot of Judaism for the similarities it has in it. I have literally taught Bahai faith for over two years on the Radio Show and in my workshops, along with 13 other religions. I have been to Mormon Church/Congregation several times in Saudi Arabia as well as here in Dallas

 Mike Ghouse

--- In WorldMuslimCongress@yahoogroups.com, "Intisar" wrote:

> Dear Mike Sahib:

> I note with great interest the following from Mr. Saeed Qureshi writings: “In a way the founder of Ahmadiat religion made two claims: one that he was Prophet Mohammad reincarnate (shadow) and secondly that he was the resurrected Jesus Christ or the promised Messiah. > Ahmadis mostly retain the Islamic elements of faith in that they pray five times a day, go for pilgrimage, fast for full month etc. But again they have added many new elements such as the name of their prophet into Kalima (declaration of belief in God and Prophet Muhammad) and also in Azan (beckoning Muslims to come for prayers).”

> Mike: You had an opportunity to break bread during Ramadaan with this group (the Ahmadiyya) and have worshipped with them in their mosque. I am curious if you noticed or observed first hand any “new elements” added into Kalima by this group and also added in Azan? Has anyone on this forum firsthand made such observations?

> Intisar

# # #

> Dear Mike Sahib,

> Thank you for your valuable input.With your permission I shall use this in my next article on multiplicity of faiths, a diversity that looks repugnant but essentially is good.

> Saeed Qureshi