The Modern Muslim Paradox
By Dr. Prof. Mohammad Ahmed Qadri
Islamic Educational and Cultural Research Center
CA
In the first part, I had written about Tolerance of the “other” and how the Islamic tradition teaches us that peace is achieved through a three-tiered approach –- tolerance, forgiveness, and responding to evil with good. And that this three-tiered approach gives the human being opportunities to grow spiritually.
In part two, I had mentioned that there were five possible options for the one who has been wronged and the best of them was to respond to the wrong action with goodness –- the highest level and the behavior that was always exemplified in the life of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and what Muslims are always urged to do. One must think that all the people of the world are our own and are the children of Adam (peace be upon him) and that one must not take revenge against anyone but must deal with all with forgiveness and overlooking. This is the message of Islam and the success of this life and the Hereafter.
The reality, however, of the present Muslim world appears to be very far from the ideal possibilities given the religious teachings of Islam. What in Islam used to be progress and movement, generosity and the drive to self-sacrifice, has among the present-day Muslims declined into narrow mindedness and selfishness. The primary reason for the decay of the Muslims consists in the fact that they have gradually ceased to follow the teachings of Islam in spirit. Our society was built from the very outset on this. Therefore a weakening of the fundament has necessarily weakened the cultural structure.
Unfortunately, some modern members of this faith, primarily on the basis of ignorance, which has led to their exploitation, perform actions completely antithetical to the spirit of the Islamic tradition, maligning the name of Islam. They forget the teachings of the Holy Qur’an, which say that whoever killed one person has killed everyone, as the following verse of the Holy Qur’an expounds, which applies to everyone:
“For this reason; We decreed for the Descendants of Israel that whoever kills a human being except in lieu of killing or causing turmoil in the earth, so it shall be as if he had killed all mankind; and whoever saves the life of one person, is as if he had saved the life of all mankind; and undoubtedly Our Noble Messengers came to them with clear proofs - then after this indeed many of them are oppressors in the earth.” - The Holy Qu’ran 5:32
It is true that Muslims today are the victim of much oppression and suffering. However Islam does not permit the fomenting of rampant violence. Although Islam believes in the struggle for justice to alleviate oppression, it does not permit illegal means to do so, that harm innocent people. Islam’s rules for combat are extremely strict and are initiated under very stringent conditions. No woman, elderly, or child is to be harmed; no plant or animal life to be injured. Nowhere does Islam teach bloodshed, intimidation and repression.
Making peace among mankind is equated to virtuosity and piety in the following verse of the Holy Qur’an:
“And do not make Allah a target of your oaths, by pledging against being virtuous and pious, and against making peace among mankind; and Allah is All Hearing, All Knowing.” -The Holy Quran 2:224
Also, making peace is highly encouraged as in the following verse:
“And if they incline towards peace, you too lean towards it, and trust Allah; indeed He only is the All Hearing, the All Knowing.” -The Holy Quran 8:61
Conclusion
Peace will come to us as the fruit of love bestowed on others, when we have learned to rise above our own little world by opening a window into other people’s worlds. In the ultimate analysis, the logical requirement of this era of Globalization would be a uniform, practicable and equitable global social order. It must afford material and spiritual progress; generate freedom, justice and equality before law. With the world striving to become a global village, Muslims will have to discover higher norms of social values by developing the universal spirit and co-operation towards others, with reference to the underlying values and ideals rather than in terms of classical and traditional implementation. The individual consciousness of the people in a community has to grow into a joint social order.
It can therefore be seen that the teachings of Islam are humane in their origin and its tenets culminate in doing service to humanity at large. Islam teaches to derive strength from dialog not from power. If the true understanding of the Holy Qur’an is effectively spread, a broadminded, liberal, tolerant human society can be charted out.
We pray that human beings can reach within themselves and touch their true essence and use it to connect with the rest of humanity in a way that fosters peace and enrichment for all. Aamin.
(Prof. Dr. Mohammad Ahmed Qadri is the Founding Director of the Islamic Educational and Cultural Research Center (IECRC), a non-profit, non-political, 501(c)(3) organization. Founded in 2002, IECRC provides community services in Northern California (especifically the Bay Area and Sacramento) and British Columbia (specifically Surrey), Canada.
(Dr. Qadri is a renowned scholar from Pakistan who taught at its local colleges as well as the University of Karachi, Pakistan for over 20 years. He has expertise both in modern education as well as traditional Islamic Sciences having completed the Dars-e-Nizami, an 18 year traditional Islamic course from Pakistan. He has also studied with scholars from Al-Azhar University, Cairo. Dr. Qadri holds certification in Intercultural Communication from the Center for Intercultural Studies, University of British Columbia, Canada. He is also an authorized spiritual guide in the Qadiriyyah, Chistiyyah, Naqshbandiyyah, Suharwardiyyah, and Rifaiyyah Sufi orders
