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MALIK ASHFAQ · #1 Tuesday, April 07, 2009

I need some material on topic ''Peace the essential message of our religion''.

kinnaa · #2 Tuesday, April 07, 2009

a nation ought to have some identifying charachteristics.how would you estimate them for pakistanis?
need the answer of this question

Astute Accountant · #3 Tuesday, May 12, 2009

@ kinnaa

You may find the essay on the following link:

http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-compu...s-customs.html

@ Ashfaq

Peace the essential message of our religion

The Divine religion of Islam is a religion of mercy, kindness and benevolence. In fact, Islam is against brutality, violence and viciousness. Allah, the Almighty, urged all Muslims to follow the pattern of Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

Allah states in the Glorious Quran addressing Mohammed (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), as in Sura Al-Imran [The Family of Imran] 3:159, which reads as follows:

“It is part of the Mercy of Allah that thou dost deal gently with them. Wert thou severe or harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about thee: so pass over (their faults), and ask for (Allah's) forgiveness for them; and consult them in affairs of moment). Then, when thou hast taken a decision, put thy trust in Allah. For Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him)”

The teachings of Islam exhort upon every Muslim to show mercy and kindness to every gullible and poor person. Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said, which reads as follows:

“The merciful and kind people would get the Mercy of the Merciful Lord, Allah, the Almighty. Be merciful to those [people] on earth, and Allah, the Almighty, Who is in Heaven, would grant you [His] Mercy” (This Hadith is reported by Tirmithee).

Furthermore, Islam requires that mercy and kind treatment should be meted out to all people, including the fighting enemies of Muslims. Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said, which reads as follows:

“Be kind and merciful to the captives” (Al-Mu'jamal-Kabeer [The Grand Dictionary of Hadith] 22:393).

If thus was the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) command to Muslims concerning the enemies who are fighting against them, what would be the treatment towards the peaceful people? Islamic mercy is not limited to human being only. Rather, it covers also to animals as well. In fact, several reports confirm the blessed reward for individuals who are kind to animals in general, and suffering animals in particular. Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commands Muslims to show kindness in every action, even at slaughtering an animal. Allah's messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said, which reads as follows:

“Allah, the Almighty, prescribes perfection in every action. If you kill, be perfect in your killing. If you slaughter an animal for meat, perfect your act of slaughtering. Sharpen your knife and be good, kind, and merciful to the animal you are about to slaughter. Give the slaughtered animal the best comfort you can while being slaughtered” (This Hadith is reported by Muslim).

Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said, on noticing someone shooting, for fun, a little bird, and leaving itto die for no reason,

“ This little bird would argue, before Allah, the Almighty, on the Day of Judgment, O My Lord! This man killed me for no reason of benefit to him” (This Hadith is reported by Ahmad and Nasaiee).

If such was the mercy and kindness to animals and living creatures, what about the human being, who is given full preference, honor and respect over all other creatures? Allah, the Almighty, states in the Glorious Quran, Sura Isra [The Night Journey] 17:70, which reads as follows:

“We have honored the sons of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favors, above a great part of Our Creation”.

Islamic Morals Stand for Peace

The entire code of Islamic ethics ensures happiness of the society at large. This code forbids all types of actions that instigate evil and implant hatred in the hearts and minds of people. Accordingly, if the members of the society apply Islamic code of ethics they would, surely, enjoy peace, security, tranquility and happiness in the society. All values of the Islamic morality produce a better person and an upright human being; generous, patient, perseverant, kind, loving, and courteous individual. The essential criterion of the Islamic morality is to eradicate harmful actions, attitudes and behaviors." All acts that displease Allah, the Almighty, are unlawful. If a Muslim practices any of the forbidden acts, he would expose himself to the dislike or, the Wrath of Allah, the Almighty, both in this world and in the Hereafter. In fact, the Arab poet declares, nations are but their morals. 'If the morals of the nations are by gone, nations would be also by gone!'

Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said, which reads as follows:

“Begin your fight with the Name of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala) against those who declare the state of apostasy in Allah. Fight [against the enemies], but do not breach your contracts or covenants. Do not mutilate the bodies of the fighters killed. Do not kill a newly born baby” (This Hadith is reported by Muslim).

Hazrat Abu Bakr (R.A), the first Muslim Caliph, gave the following advice to the dispatched Muslim army, which was heading to a battle against the enemies of Islam, 'Wait before you leave. I would like to give you the following advices:

1. Do not betray [your enemies].
2. Do not steal from the war booties before its proper and lawful distribution.
3. Do not breach your pledges and covenants with your enemies.
4. Do not mutilate the bodies of the killed fighters.
5. Do not kill a little, minor child, a woman, or an elderly man.
6. Do not cut or burn a palm tree [or any other tree for any reason].
7. Do not cut a fruit bearing tree.
8. Do not slaughter a sheep, a cow or a camel, except for your food.
9. You may come across people who seclude themselves for the worship of God. Leave them alone. Do not bother them or cause any disruption to their lives. (Tabari, Vol.3, p.226).

Similarly, Muslims must declare war prior to the beginning of the fight. This is because Muslims are neither betrayers, nor dishonest fighters. Islam imposes some of the best of war ethics and morals onto the Muslim fighters. Islam requires full adherence to justice and no oppression to the fighting enemies. Omar bin Abdul Aziz (May Allah be pleased with him), one of the Muslim Caliphs, was approached by a delegation of fighters of the city of Samarqand. They complained about the Muslim leader; Qutaibah, who took them by chance. The Caliph sent a letter to the governor of Samarqand commanding him to assign a judge to investigate this matter, and if the judge sentenced that Muslims should get out of the city and leave it, they must comply with. The governor of Samarqand assigned a judge named Jomai' bin Haider al-Baji, who passed his verdict that Muslims should leave the city, which they opened and conquered. The Muslim army commander must first declare war properly against the people of Samarqand, prior to invading it. The Muslim army leader must warn the people of Samarqand prior to launch an attack. This would give them a chance to prepare themselves for the fight. This is the Islamic ethical approach towards fighting. The attacked must not be taken by a sudden attack. The people of Samarqand, however, hated to restart another war and accepted the Islamic rules' ("Fotuhul-Buldan" Countries Conquest], Balathuri, p.428).

As for captives and prisoners of war, Islam prohibits torturing, humiliating, terrorizing, intimidating, mutilation of their bodies or starving them to death. Allah, the Almighty, states in the Glorious Quran, Sura Insan [The Human Being], 76:8-9,

“And they feed, for the love of Allah, the indigent, the orphan, and the captive, (Saying), We feed you for the sake of Allah alone: no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks”.

Islamic Champions Total and Comprehensive Peace

A close examination of the Islamic teachings shows the following:

Respect for the human soul: Islam values the human soul a great deal. For this reason, Islam imposes death penalty [Qisas] against intentional killing of an innocent soul. As for unintentional killing, it has a different penalty, which is called [Deyyah] blood-money, which is a sizable sum of money, given to the heirs of the person killed. It is like substitution money. This blood-money is by no means an equal for the loss of the person killed, but it is rather a financial substitution for the harm they suffer as a result of the loss of their loved one. Kaffarah, atonement, on the other hand, is an emancipation of an owned slave. If the unintentional killer does not have the means to possess a slave and emancipate him for the cause of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala), as an atonement for his sin, such a killer is required to observe a continuous fast for two months period. If the murderer cannot observe this fast for a legitimate reason he is obliged to feed sixty poor people [a sufficient meal]. This atonement, however, is an act of worship by which the sinner seeks pardon and forgiveness from Allah, the Almighty, for his unintentional sin of killing a human soul. All this is done to demonstrate the importance of the human soul in Islam. Surely, it is too grave to resort to acts of killing, threatening, or even attacking a human soul for no legitimate reason. Moreover, Islam prescribes a severe penalty for killing a human soul. If a killer realizes that he/she will be killed in retaliation and penalty for his crime, they would surely think twice before committing a crime of killing an innocent soul. It is believed if the penalty is anything less that being killed in just retribution for the crime; the criminals would never quit committing their crimes. The same applies to all capital punishments Hudood in Islam. Capital punishments in Islam are most decisive, efficient, and effective penalties ever known to man on earth. All types of capital punishments in Islam are imposed and prescribed by Allah, the Almighty, for a very essential and noble reason: the preservation and maintenance of the human life. Allah, the Almighty, states in the Glorious Quran, Sura al-Baqara [The Cow] 2:179,

“In the Law of Equality there is (saving of) Life to you, O ye men of understanding; that ye may restrain yourselves”.

Furthermore, Islam does not rest with physical penalties. In fact, there is, yet, a harder and an everlasting penalty in the Fire of Hell; where a criminal would have a permanent abode with humiliation and endless tortures. Criminals in this world would suffer the Wrath of Allah, the Almighty, in the Hereafter. Allah, the Almighty, states in the Glorious Quran, Sura al-Nisa [The Women] 4:93,

“If a man kills a Believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell, to abide therein (forever): and the wrath and the curse of Allah are upon him, and a dreadful penalty is prepared for him”.

Islam believes in equality of human status. This, of course, applies to both, male and female alike. When Allah, the Almighty, first created our great grandfather, Adam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him); the father for the entire humanity, he created his wife; our grandmother Eve (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), and from both of them the progeny of Adam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was generated and produced. This honorable couple, Adam and Eve (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), represent the essential roots of the entire human race. Therefore, all humans are created equal in Islam. Allah, the Almighty, states in the Glorious Quran,Sura al-Nisa [The Women] 4:1,

“Mankind! Reverence your Guardian-Lord, who created you from a single Person, created, of like nature, his mate, and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women; fear Allah, through Whom ye demand your mutual (Rights), and reverence the wombs (that bore you): for Allah ever watches over you”.

Furthermore, Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said,

“[All] people are the children of Adam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Adam (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is created from soil” (This Hadith is reported by Ahmad).

Hence Islam regards each human being, regardless of race, color, language, creed, faith, religion, or home country on an equal footing with other human beings. All human beings are equal before Allah, the Almighty; the Creator. The different categories appear at the application and execution of the Laws of Allah, the Almighty. Allah, the Almighty, states in the Glorious Quran, Sura al-Hujurat [The Chambers] 49:13,

“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you intonations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise each other). Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And Allah has full Knowledge and is well-acquainted (with all things)”.

All human beings are also equal in terms of freedom. Omar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), initiated this call some fourteen centuries ago. Omar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), declared, 'When did you enslave people to you, though their own mothers gave birth to them free? Therefore, every human being, in the sight of Islam, is entitled to the following:

Freedom of thinking and freedom of opinion: Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded his rightly-guided Companions, and in fact, every Muslim, to declare the truth, express honest opinion and refrain from intimidating others. Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to
have said,

“A person who knows the truth and does not declare it is a mute devil” (Reported by Tirmithee).

Freedom of access to lawful income and ownership: Islam urges, encourages, and permits access to lawful income. Allah, the Almighty, states in the Glorious Quran, Sura al-Nisa [The Women] 4:7,

“From what is left by parents and those nearest related there is a share for men and a share for women, whether the property be small or large, a determinate share”.

Freedom of learning and teaching: Islam supports, encourages and advocates the freedom of learning for every member in the society. Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said,

“Seeking knowledge is an obligatory duty unto every Muslim” (This Hadith is reported by Baihaqi).

In fact, Islam classifies the act of monopolizing essential, useful and Islamic knowledge, concealing it from others, and not sharing it with them, that renders the doer to be the recipient of the Wrath of Allah, the Almighty, and His Penalty. Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said,

“A knowledgeable person who is asked to share his knowledge with others but refuses to do so and hides his information would suffer a harness of fire on the Day of Judgment” (This Hadith is reported by Abu Dawood and Tirmithee).

Islam calls for a fruitful cooperation with the Christians: Such cooperation is based on mutual interest. It is also oriented to serve the best interests of the human society at large. Allah, the Almighty, states in the Glorious Quran, Sura al-Maidah [The Table] 5:2,

“Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancor: fear Allah: for Allah is strict in punishment”.

Furthermore, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said,

“All human beings are [like] children of Allah, the Almighty. The most beloved to Him is that who is most beneficial to His children” (Reported by Bazzar).

Islam calls upon its followers to love good things for all other people, regardless of creed, color, or national origin. It also calls upon all Muslims to tender a meaningful, and sincere free advice to all people.

Enjoin good and forbid evil: Muslims are commanded to pursue every appropriate means that lead to enjoining good and forbidding evil, based on one's ability, knowledge, and authority. This action is, indeed, a safety valve for securing peace, tranquility and stability in any society or community. A community where this practice is vogue would be safe against oppression, corruption and the spread and application of the "Law of the Jungle". By manifestation an unlettered person would be educated, an un-thoughtful person would be guided and become matured, a delinquent person would be corrected, and a straightforward person, who is on the Straight Path, would be aided and supported. This is based on the verse revealed in the Glorious Quran, Suraal-Maedah [The Table] 5:2,

“Help ye one another in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin and rancor: fear Allah: for Allah is strict in punishment”.

Islam urges to seek beneficial knowledge: Furthermore, Allah, the Almighty, states in the Glorious Quran, Sura al-Zmar [The Groups] al-Zumar [TheGroups], 39:9,

“Is one who worships devoutly during the hours of the night prostrating himself or standing (in adoration), who takes heed of the Hereafter, and who places his hope in the Mercy of his Lord, (like one who does not)? Say: Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition.'

Islam ensures environment preservation: Islam warns against environmental hazards. It ensures the protection of the lives and/or properties of others in the community as a result of purposeful pollution. In fact, Islam is serious and adamant on this point.

Islam calls Believers to engage in productive works for public interest: Allah, the Almighty, states in the Glorious Quran, Sura al-Molk [The Kingship] 67:15,

“It is He Who has made the earth manageable for you, so traverse ye through its tracts and enjoy of the Sustenance which He furnishes: but unto Him is the Resurrection”.

Islam wages war against all types of intoxicants for the protection of health and preservation of private wealth: Allah, the Almighty, states in the Glorious Quran, Sura al-Maedah 5:90,

“O ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling, (dedication of) stones, and (divination by) arrows, are an abomination of Satan's handiwork: eschew such (abomination), that ye may prosper”.

Islam is emphatic on upholding human dignity and family honor: Allah, the Almighty, states in the Glorious Quran, Sura al- Isra [Night Journey] 17:32,

“Nor come nigh to adultery: for it is a shameful (deed) and an evil, opening the road (to other evils)”.

Islam stresses financial, social and spiritual support of orphans, and destitute: Allah, the Almighty, states in the Glorious Quran, Sura al-Baqarah [The Cow] 17:35,

“Give full measure when ye measure, and weigh with a balance that is straight; that is the most fitting and the most advantageous in the final determination”.

Islam Urges Believers to Observe the Following
1. Islam ensures full justice by actions and statements.
2. Islam enjoins altruism and urges Muslims to practice it.
3. Islam urges to maintain righteous company.
4. Islam enjoins to assist people in making up better relationships
5. Islam suggests maintaining a good character and morals.
6. Islam enjoins on Muslims to offer their help and assistance to others free of charge and for the Pleasure of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala).
7. Islam enjoins on Muslims to be generous.
8. Islam enjoins Muslims to be kind and benevolent to others.
9. Islam commands Muslims to be kind and accommodating to others and encourages people to do so.
10. Islam enjoins on Muslims to hide omissions of others, and help each other to achieve their decent and honest goals
11. Islam enjoins upon patience.
12. Islam enjoins Muslims to control their temper and forgive others, though one is capable to take revenge.

In conclusion, we would like to point out here that by no means we are able to cover all the aspects of such a vast topic in such brevity. However, the topic is very important and sensitive. We have simply provided an outline summation. We have also presented guidelines to those who differ with Islam. We also alluded to the relationships with such people from an Islamic viewpoint. Islam builds its foundations of relationships on the principles of public and mutual interests of all the parties concerned. Islam is a
"Well Wisher" for all, so long as the Laws of Allah, the Almighty, are respected and the Divine Word is delivered to all individuals of the society. Islam postulates no compulsion or force for its acceptance. Islam wishes well for all regardless of color, creed, geographic location and nationality. Islam believes that the tightest grip of faith is, 'to love for the cause of Allah, the Almighty, and to hate for the same cause, and not for any other special interests, worldly desires and whims.'

The entire code of Islamic ethics ensures happiness of the society at large. This code forbids all types of actions that instigate evil and implant hatred in the hearts and minds of people. Accordingly, if the members of the society apply Islamic code of ethics they would, surely, enjoy peace, security, tranquility and happiness in the society. All values of the Islamic morality produce a better person and an upright human being; generous, patient, perseverant, kind, loving, and courteous individual. The essential criterion of the Islamic morality is to eradicate harmful actions, attitudes and behaviors. All acts that displease Allah, the Almighty, are unlawful. If a Muslim practices any of the forbidden acts, he would expose himself to the dislike or, the Wrath of Allah, the Almighty, both in this world and in the Hereafter. In fact, the Arab poet declares, nations are but their morals. If the morals of the nations are by gone, nations would be also by gone!

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