BOOK REVIEW
The Message of Islam
Reviewed by
Linda “iLham” Barto
Maiden, NC
The Message of Islam
By Dr. Maqsood Jafri
Published by Tahrike Tarsile Qur’an (TTQ)
Year of publication: 2005
211 pages
Available from TTQ, 80-08 51st Ave; Elmhurst, NY
11373; or orders@koranusa.org; $10
Pointing to the future of Islam, Dr. Maqsood Jafri
reminds the reader of the original and dynamic values
that Islam has to offer the world as it strives
toward a future that can encompass peace and prosperity.
With a proper balance of faith, revelation, and
reason, humanity can meet its responsibility to
establish truth, justice, humanitarianism, and civility.
As Dr. Jafri pleads for Muslims to focus on the
pure and undiluted message of Islam, he writes,
“The real Islam has been corroded by the imperialistic
interpretation of Islam. The need for introducing
real Islam should be the only priority of the Muslim
thinkers of our era. The real Islam keeps an eye
upon all eventualities and actualities of human
life and presents their realistic and scientific
solution while the unreal Islam has taught us the
so-called mystical and metaphysical fancies and
fallacies. The greatest crisis we are facing today
is the lack of right understanding of the message
and mission of Islam.”
Dr. Jafri laments the inner conflicts ripping at
the seams of Islam as an established religion. “Sectarianism
is the greatest ailment, which is weakening the
healthy body of Islam. We will have to hold the
cord of Allah collectively and tightly. As the teachings
of Islam are in complete compatibility and consonance
with the laws of nature, people all over the world
are being gravitated to its simple and logical principles.”
The misuse of religion, however, has created disturbances
that discourage many people away from religion,
Dr. Jafri explains.
The importance of ijtehad (modern applications)
is often mentioned in the book, and the Holy Prophet
(peace be upon him) is quoted: “Whoever does
ijtehad but arrives at error has nonetheless earned
a measure of moral merit; whoever does ijtehad and
arrives at truth has earned double.”
Although the foundations of religion cannot be changed,
Dr. Jafri explains, religion must be adapted to
changing times. “Ijtehad is an empirical and
dialectical process which is the orbit of our Islamic
state… Human life is supersonically fast and
changing. Any system that does not absorb any change
in it cannot survive.” Further, he writes,
“Islamic culture remains intact and fresh
if the principle of movement exercises. Stagnancy
and ignorance are social evils and must be abandoned
in an Islamic society.”
Dr. Jafri, a professor of comparative religion,
stresses the need for interfaith understanding and
peaceful relationships. He states, “It is
the moral and humane duty of all writers and scholars
of all faiths to give positive suggestions to end
and eliminate the root causes of conflicts.”
Finding beautiful consonants in all religions of
light, Dr. Jafri writes, “Religions have been
revealed to serve humans and show them the path
of nobility, peace, prosperity, happiness, and justice.
Religions were not revealed to kill each other in
the name of God.”
Regardless of race, religion, or nationality, all
people are one community, like a “sacred family,”
says Dr. Jafri. “Money, territory, ideology,
and apprehensions should not be the cause of conflict.
Power should be attained to protect the powerless.
Power should not be attained to crush the powerless.
Logic must rule. Logic must supercede. Missiles,
cartridges, bombs, and guns must be thrown into
the sea. Men should behave like men, not like beasts.
Cold war leads to hot war. All prides and prejudices
must be shunned. Conference rooms should be erected,
and battlefields should be turned into playgrounds
wherein our future generations can skip like fawns,
without the fear of death.”
Over fifty brief chapters explain Islam’s
view on such things as education, jihad (struggle),
martyrdom, and terrorism. Dr. Jafri’s work
exhibits intelligence and rational thinking as he
calls upon people of all faiths to join in a peaceful
pursuit toward establishing the ideal global civilization.
The book is a wonderful contribution to the goal
of a universal Islamic renaissance.
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