"Repel evil with good."
(Quran Surah Fussilat 41:34)
"There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book. By which Allah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace and brings them out from darknesses into the light"
(Quran Surat Al Maidah 5:15-16)
"But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners."
(Quran Surah Al Anfal 8:30)
"Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said,"When is the help of Allah ?" Certainly, the help of Allah is near."
(Quran Surah Al Baqarah 2:214)
"This is a depressing time for the ummah -
it is in need of a positive message.
And there is no more a positive massage,
than the Book of Allah,
that begins with
Alhamdulillah
...
We have to be grateful and positive people"
(Nouman Ali Khan, "In Need of Wisdom", 2015)
The onerous task of a Qadi
When it comes to the profession of a judge, what first comes into peoples minds is their high status in society, their power, secure employment and of course: the good salary as well as what is called the judicial independence. While this may be true, this one-sided perception fails to grasp the importance and far-reaching implications of judicial decisions - not only for the parties involved in the legal dispute, but even more for the whole of society: Judgments do in fact mould the legal opinion and reshape legal frameworks.
This is the reason why Islam emphazises the huge responsibilty of judges and the duty to take utmost care to avoid unjust rulings. Judicial Independece is no end in itself and cannot be seperated from the often neglected judicial responsibility on the other side. While accountability in the hereafter is true and certain, accountability in this life means to take responsibility for the individual concerned, to bear the consequences of a wrong decision and to cautiously apply statutory law. In most (western) legal orders, a juge can be held liable for deliberately bending or openly disregarding the law. However, the stake is very high and sentences are rare.
Truly pious people tried their best to reject the office of the qadi when it was offered to them by the ruler. They even pretended to be blind or prefered to be imprisoned - so much did they fear even getting close to issuing injuste rulings.
The strongest manifest for absolute justice is in the Qur'an itself, where Allah commands:
"O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do."
(Sura an-Nisa 4 : 135, Translation of Abdullah Yusuf Ali, 1985)
This is the reason why Islam emphazises the huge responsibilty of judges and the duty to take utmost care to avoid unjust rulings. Judicial Independece is no end in itself and cannot be seperated from the often neglected judicial responsibility on the other side. While accountability in the hereafter is true and certain, accountability in this life means to take responsibility for the individual concerned, to bear the consequences of a wrong decision and to cautiously apply statutory law. In most (western) legal orders, a juge can be held liable for deliberately bending or openly disregarding the law. However, the stake is very high and sentences are rare.
Truly pious people tried their best to reject the office of the qadi when it was offered to them by the ruler. They even pretended to be blind or prefered to be imprisoned - so much did they fear even getting close to issuing injuste rulings.
The strongest manifest for absolute justice is in the Qur'an itself, where Allah commands:
"O ye who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest ye swerve, and if ye distort (justice) or decline to do justice, verily Allah is well-acquainted with all that ye do."
(Sura an-Nisa 4 : 135, Translation of Abdullah Yusuf Ali, 1985)
A Muslim Perspective on Christmas
The Romans
have successfully infiltrated the once monotheistic belief of Christians and
made them worship their oppressor’s idols. It is no coincidence that Christmas takes
place during the winter solstice – the exactly same days when ancient Romans
celebrated their pagan festival called “Saturnalia” in worship of their deity “Saturn”.
The practices of drinking or gift-giving were a central part of this Roman
custom and have been preserved under the guise of “Christianity” until today. In
fact, Christmas has nothing to do with the monotheistic belief as it was
preached by Jesus (pbuH). And Allah says in the glorious Qur’an about those who
worship false Gods: “And they have taken
besides Allah [false] deities that they would be for them [a source of] honor.
Do you not see that We have sent the devils upon the disbelievers, inciting
them to [evil] with [constant] incitement?” (Surat Maryam 19: 81-82).
It is also no secret that nowhere in the Scriptures does it say that Prophet Jesus’ (pbuH) miraculous birth actually took place in December. There was no coniferous tree at the place where Jesus (pbuH) was born, instead the Qur’an tells us about his mother Mary that “the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree” (Surat Maryam 19:23). So at least, there should be a palm tree instead of a white, snow-covered coniferous tree. Moreover, he wasn’t born during the winter season at all, because the Qur’an tells us further that on this palm tree, there were ripe, fresh dates (Surat Maryam 19:25).We Muslims love our Prophet Jesus and we love our Christian fellow-citizens. And this love requires us not to take part in these blasphemous celebrations but to remind the world instead of what it really means to love Jesus (pbuH): To follow his teachings and those of the Prophet that followed him by practicing what he did. When he miraculously spoke to the people in the cradle, he said: “Indeed, I am the servant of Allah . He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive and [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive." (Surat Maryam 19: 30-33). And Jesus further said: “And indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path.“ (V. 36).
Christmas is the day when one of the gravest sins is being commemorated: “And they say: The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son. You have done an atrocious thing. The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation that they attribute to the Most Merciful a son. And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son.” (Surat Maryam 19:88-92).
No, Jesus would never have called himself the biological son of God. If you truly followed Jesus, you would believe like he did that “Allah is One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. Nor is there to Him any equivalent.” (Surat Al-Ikhlas 112).
It is also no secret that nowhere in the Scriptures does it say that Prophet Jesus’ (pbuH) miraculous birth actually took place in December. There was no coniferous tree at the place where Jesus (pbuH) was born, instead the Qur’an tells us about his mother Mary that “the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree” (Surat Maryam 19:23). So at least, there should be a palm tree instead of a white, snow-covered coniferous tree. Moreover, he wasn’t born during the winter season at all, because the Qur’an tells us further that on this palm tree, there were ripe, fresh dates (Surat Maryam 19:25).We Muslims love our Prophet Jesus and we love our Christian fellow-citizens. And this love requires us not to take part in these blasphemous celebrations but to remind the world instead of what it really means to love Jesus (pbuH): To follow his teachings and those of the Prophet that followed him by practicing what he did. When he miraculously spoke to the people in the cradle, he said: “Indeed, I am the servant of Allah . He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and zakah as long as I remain alive and [made me] dutiful to my mother, and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. And peace is on me the day I was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive." (Surat Maryam 19: 30-33). And Jesus further said: “And indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path.“ (V. 36).
Christmas is the day when one of the gravest sins is being commemorated: “And they say: The Most Merciful has taken [for Himself] a son. You have done an atrocious thing. The heavens almost rupture therefrom and the earth splits open and the mountains collapse in devastation that they attribute to the Most Merciful a son. And it is not appropriate for the Most Merciful that He should take a son.” (Surat Maryam 19:88-92).
No, Jesus would never have called himself the biological son of God. If you truly followed Jesus, you would believe like he did that “Allah is One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. Nor is there to Him any equivalent.” (Surat Al-Ikhlas 112).
Words of Peace.
Tolerance.
Recent news about Christians being persecuted and killed in Iraq by a self-proclaimed Califate leave the world in shock and fear. These acts are not committed in the name of Islam. People should know that such acts are against the teachings of Islam. Nothing can justify these barbaric and inhumane atrocities against a religious minority. According to Islam, life is precious, property is precious, dignity is inherent to every human being and even nature has rights over man. Islam eliminates any kind of discrimination because of race, colour, religion, sex, social background, ethnicity, wealth or status. The last and final messenger Prophet Muhammad (pbuH) in his final sermon warned his people from discriminating against others, for "All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor does a non-Arab have any superiority over an Arab; a white has no superiority over a black, nor does a black have any superiority over a white; [none have superiority over another] except by piety and good action."
Not only is it prohibited to discriminate because of religion, but also is it unislamic to unjustly kill innocent people for "whoever kills a person ... it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely." (5:32). The Quran commands Muslims to respect the sanctity of other human beings and to make all efforts possible to protect the sanctity of life irrespective of religion.
Moreover, the Quran stresses every human being's freedom to chose Islam freely: "There is no compulsion in religion" (2:256). Faith cannot be pressured on people nor is it permissible to use coercion or threat in order to make people enter Islam. Every person is free to decide whether or not to believe in Islam. Even the Prophet Muhammad (pbuH) was told that he should only deliver the message and warn mankind for only Allah can change the hearts. Muslims are commanded to show tolerance and to respect the practices of other religions: "And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah" (6:108). The Quran makes it absolutely clear that persecuting other people because of their belief is prohibited and states: "For you is your religion, and for me is my religion." (109:6)
The minorities that are now being persecuted by the brutal IS-forces have been living in peace under Islamic rule for centuries. Never did a true muslim ruler expell a religious minority. The very existence of these minorities in predominant muslim countries is the best proof for the tolerant and peaceful teachings of Islam.
And Allah (swt) knows best.
Not only is it prohibited to discriminate because of religion, but also is it unislamic to unjustly kill innocent people for "whoever kills a person ... it is as if he had slain mankind entirely. And whoever saves one - it is as if he had saved mankind entirely." (5:32). The Quran commands Muslims to respect the sanctity of other human beings and to make all efforts possible to protect the sanctity of life irrespective of religion.
Moreover, the Quran stresses every human being's freedom to chose Islam freely: "There is no compulsion in religion" (2:256). Faith cannot be pressured on people nor is it permissible to use coercion or threat in order to make people enter Islam. Every person is free to decide whether or not to believe in Islam. Even the Prophet Muhammad (pbuH) was told that he should only deliver the message and warn mankind for only Allah can change the hearts. Muslims are commanded to show tolerance and to respect the practices of other religions: "And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah" (6:108). The Quran makes it absolutely clear that persecuting other people because of their belief is prohibited and states: "For you is your religion, and for me is my religion." (109:6)
The minorities that are now being persecuted by the brutal IS-forces have been living in peace under Islamic rule for centuries. Never did a true muslim ruler expell a religious minority. The very existence of these minorities in predominant muslim countries is the best proof for the tolerant and peaceful teachings of Islam.
And Allah (swt) knows best.