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INTRODUCTION
 

Da’wah is a duty
 

The Arabic word ‘Da’wah’ means a ‘call’ or an ‘invitation’. In Islamic context, it means inviting the Non-Muslims to Islam or propagation of Islam. 

Islam is a universal religion, meant for all mankind. Allah (swt) is the Lord of the entire Universe, and Muslims have been entrusted with the duty of

conveying His message to all mankind.
 

The Glorious Qur’an says:

“Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord, with wisdom and beautiful preaching, and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious…”

[Al-Qur’an 16:125]

 

Strategies of Da’wah
 

There are various methodologies of giving Da’wah to Non-Muslims. Even if a Muslim speaks a thousand good points about Islam, yet most non-Muslims will not get convinced about the truth of Islam because there are a few questions about Islam at the back of their minds that remain unanswered.
 

They may agree with the positive nature of Islam. But, in the same breath,

they will say - “Ah! But you are the same Muslims who are fundamentalists, who are terrorists. You are the same Muslims who marry more than one woman. You are the same people who subjugate women by keeping them behind the veil, etc.”

I personally prefer asking the non-Muslim upfront, what he feels is wrong in Islam. With their limited knowledge, whether right or wrong, from whichever source it may be, I prefer asking directly, what they feel is wrong in Islam. I encourage them to be very frank and open and convince them that I can take criticism about Islam.

Twenty Most Common Questions
 

In the past few years of my Da’wah experience, I have realized that there are hardly Twenty Most Common Questions that a common non-Muslim has regarding Islam. Whenever you ask a non-Muslim, “what do you feel is

wrong in Islam?,” he poses five or six questions, and these questions

invariably fall among the Twenty Most Common Questions.
 

Logical replies can convince the majority
 

The Twenty Most Common Questions about Islam can be answered with

reason and logic. A majority of non-Muslims can be convinced with these

answers. If a Muslim memorizes or simply remembers these answers, In sha Allah he will be successful, if not in convincing non-Muslims about the

complete truth of Islam, then at least in removing misconceptions about

Islam and neutralizing the negative thinking about Islam and Muslims that

the non-Muslims have. A very few non-Muslims may have counter arguments to these replies, for which further information may be required.

Misconceptions changed in different periods

 The most common questions against Islam change in different periods and

eras. These Twenty Most Common Questions compiled are based on present times. Decades earlier, the questions were different and decades later also these questions may change depending upon how Islam is projected by the media.
 

Same misconceptions throughout the world

I have travelled to several countries and have interacted with people in

different parts of the world. These Twenty Most Common Questions about

Islam asked by common non-Muslims throughout the world are the same.

 Additional questions may arise depending upon the locality
 

There may be a couple of additional questions depending upon the locality,

for example in USA, the additional question was; why does Islam prohibit

taking and giving of interest?
 

Certain common questions amongst Indian non-Muslims are

Included
 

I have included amongst these Twenty Most Common Questions certain

questions more common amongst the Indian non-Muslims like, why do

Muslims have non-veg? The reason being that the people of Indian origin

constitute about 20% i.e. 1/5th of the world population and people of Indian origin have spread throughout the world, thus making even these questions common amongst the non-Muslims throughout the world.

Misconceptions due to media
 

The common misconceptions about Islam arise in the minds of a majority of non-Muslims, because they are constantly being bombarded with

misinformation about Islam by the media. International media is mainly

controlled by the western world, whether it is international satellite channels, radio stations, newspapers, magazines or books. Recently the Internet has become a powerful medium of information. Though it is not controlled by anybody, one finds a large amount of virulent propaganda about Islam on the Internet. Of course, Muslims too are utilizing this tool to portray the right image of Islam and Muslims, but they are far behind as compared to the propaganda against Islam. I hope the efforts by the Muslims will increase and continue to be pursued.

1. JIHAAD
 

Question:

Why does Islam allow the Muslims to kill others in the name of ‘Jihaad’?

Answer:
 

1. Most misunderstood word – ‘Jihaad’
 

The first, number one misconception regarding Islam, the top of the charts is

regarding Jihaad. Today Jihaad is the most misunderstood word regarding

Islam. It is not only misunderstood by the Non-Muslims, it is even

misunderstood by many of us Muslims. Non-Muslims and many Muslims think

that Jihaad means any war fought by any Muslim for any reason, whether it

be for power, whether it be for wealth, whether it be for land, whether it be

for language, etc. Any war fought by any Muslim for any reason, is called as

Jihaad. Jihaad does not mean any war fought by any Muslim for any reason,

whether it be for money, whether it be for power, whether it be for land,

whether it be for language, etc.
 

2. Meaning of Jihaad

 ‘Jihaad’ is an Arabic word which comes from the word ‘Jahada’ which means to

strive, which means to struggle. So Jihaad basically means to strive and

struggle. In the Islamic context,Jihaad means to strive and struggle against one’s own evil inclinations. 

Jihaad also means to strive and struggle to make the society better.

Jihaad also means to fight against oppression.

Jihaad also means to fight in self defense in the battlefield.

So Jihaad basically means to strive and struggle. For example if a student is

striving and struggling to pass in the examination, in Arabic we say the

student is doing Jihaad. He’s striving and struggling.

 

3. Jihaad can also be done by Non-Muslims
 

Many people have a misconception and they think that Jihaad can only be

done by a Muslim. There are no less than two verses in the Qur’an, which say

that even Non-Muslims do Jihaad.

 

 

4. Qur’anic Quotations

Qur’an says in,
 

4(a) Surah Luqmaan, Chapter No. 31, Verse No. 14,
 

“We have enjoined on the human beings to be kind to their parents, in

travail upon travail the mother bore them and in pain did she give them

birth”  Immediately after praising the parents, specially the mother, the verse

continues…

 

4(b) Surah Luqmaan, Chapter No. 31, Verse No. 15, says that

 

“But if your parents (do Jihaad), strive and struggle to make you worship

somebody else besides Allah (swt) of whom you have no knowledge then

don’t obey them but yet live with them with love and compassion”

Here the Qur’an is talking about Non-Muslim parents, doing Jihaad, striving

and struggling to make their children do Shirk, worship somebody else besides

Allah (swt).

 

4(c) A similar message is given in Surah Al Ankaboot, Chapter No.

29, Verse No. 8, that

 

“We have enjoined on human beings to be kind to the parents but if the

parents (do Jihaad), strive and struggle to make them worship somebody else

besides Allah (swt) don’t obey them. You all have to return to Me, and I will

tell you (the truth) of all that you did.”

So here the Qur’an is talking about Non-Muslim parents doing Jihaad.

5. Jihaad Fi Sabilish Shaitaan and Jihaad Fi Sabilillah

 

Such examples of Qur’an mentioning Non-Muslims doing Jihaad is ‘Jihaad Fi

Sabilish Shaitaan,’ Jihaad in the way of Satan. What we Muslims should do is

‘Jihaad Fi Sabilillah,’ Jihaad in the way of Allah. And whenever the word

‘Jihaad’ is mentioned individually, in the Islamic context, it is understood to be

‘Jihaad Fi Sabilillah’.

 

6. Jihaad is not Holy War

Most of the Non-Muslims including many so called ‘Muslim Scholars’, they

translate Jihaad as ‘Holy War’. If you translate ‘Holy War’ into Arabic it means

‘Harbum Muqaddasah’. If you read the Qur’an or the Hadith, there is neither a

single Qur’anic verse nor a Hadith, which uses the word ‘Harbum

Muqaddasah’. The word ‘Holy War’ neither exists in the Qur’an nor in the

Hadith.

 

7. Qitaal
 

Jihaad as I mentioned basically means to strive and struggle. One type of

Jihaad is also fighting in the way of Allah (swt), that is Qitaal in the way of

Allah (swt). But Jihaad doesn’t basically mean a War. There are various types

of Jihaad like Jihaad bin Nafs – striving and struggling against our own evil

inclinations, also one type of Jihaad is fighting in self defense in the way of

Allah (swt).

 

8. The word ‘Jihaad’ revealed multiple times in Makkah, but no war

in Makkah
 

If we see the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the first thirteen years of his

Prophethood that he lived in Makkah, there were many Qur’anic verses that

were revealed in Makkah and many a time in these verses the word ‘Jihaad’

was used and never did the Muslims ever physically fight. Only when they

migrated to Madinah did the War take place. But yet you find the word ‘Jihaad’

in several verses of the Qur’an, which were revealed in Makkah.
 

9. Qur’anic Quotations
 

For example the Qur’an says,

 

9(a) Surah Al Ankaboot, Chapter No. 29, verse No. 69, that

 

“..those who strive In Our (cause), - We will certainly guide them to Our

paths, for Verily Allah is with those who do right.”

When this verse was revealed there was no war at that time.

 

9(b) Qur’an says in Surah Al Furqaan, Chapter No. 25, verse No. 52,

That

 

“Therefore listen not to the Unbelievers, but strive against them with the

utmost strenuousness with the (Qur’an).”

That means you do Jihaad with the Qur’an. Jihaad with the Qur’an means to

strive to convey the message of Allah (swt). Do you think you are going to

fight with the Qur’an?

 10. Killing any innocent human being is prohibited in Islam

 

One verse of the Qur’an is sufficient to prove that killing any innocent human

being is strictly prohibited in Islam. It’s mentioned in the Glorious Qur’an,

Surah Al Maa’idah, Chapter 5 Verse 32, Allah says,

“…If any one killed a person - unless it be for murder or for spreading mischief

in the land - it would be as if he killed the whole of humanity: and if any one

saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole of humanity…”

If you read the scriptures of the other religions, you will not find any verse

similar or close to the above verse of the Qur’an, which says, “If you kill one

innocent human being it is as if you have killed the whole of humanity and if

you save one human being it is as if you have saved the whole of humanity.”

 

11. For more details refer to the book or lecture of Dr Zakir Naik on

the topic, ‘Terrorism and Jihaad: An Islamic Perspective’.
 

12. Media maligns, brainwashes and dictates minds of people

 

The misconception regarding this word ‘Jihaad’ is created by the Media. This

word ‘Jihaad’ wasn’t a problem a couple of decades earlier. After 9/11 it came

on top of the charts, Number one. Previously it wasn’t there. So depending

upon how the Media portrays Islam, these misconceptions arise in the minds

of the Non-Muslims.

 

2. MUSLIMS ARE FUNDAMENTALISTS
 

Question:

Why are most of the Muslims Fundamentalists?

Answer:

This question is often hurled at Muslims, either directly or indirectly, during

any discussion on religion or world affairs. Muslim stereotypes are perpetuated

in every form of the media accompanied by gross misinformation about Islam

and Muslims. Infact, such misinformation and false propaganda often leads to

discrimination and acts of violence against Muslims. A case in point is the anti-

Muslim campaign in the American media following the Oklahoma bomb blast,

where the press was quick to declare a ‘Middle Eastern conspiracy’ behind the

attack. The culprit was later identified as a soldier from the American Armed

Forces.

Let us analyze this allegation of ‘fundamentalism’:

1. Definition of the word ‘fundamentalist’
 

A fundamentalist is a person who follows and adheres to the fundamentals of

the doctrine or theory he is following. For a person to be a good doctor, he

should know, follow, and practise the fundamentals of medicine. In other

words, he should be a fundamentalist in the field of medicine. For a person to

be a good mathematician, he should know, follow and practise the

fundamentals of mathematics. He should be a fundamentalist in the field of

mathematics. For a person to be a good scientist, he should know, follow and

practise the fundamentals of science. He should be a fundamentalist in the

field of science.
 

2. Not all ‘fundamentalists’ are the same
 

One cannot paint all fundamentalists with the same brush. One cannot

categorize all fundamentalists as either good or bad. Such a categorization of

any fundamentalist will depend upon the field or activity in which he is a

fundamentalist. A fundamentalist robber or thief is a bad person since he

causes harm to the society. A fundamentalist doctor, on the other hand, is a

good person as he benefits the society.

 

3. I am proud to be a Muslim fundamentalist
 

I am a fundamentalist Muslim who, by the grace of Allah, knows, follows and

strives to practise the fundamentals of Islam. A true Muslim does not shy

away from being a fundamentalist. I am proud to be a fundamentalist Muslim

because, I know that the fundamentals of Islam are beneficial to humanity

and the whole world. There is not a single fundamental of Islam that causes

harm or is against the interests of the human race as a whole. Many people

have misconceptions about Islam and consider several teachings of Islam to

be unfair or improper. This is due to misinformation and incorrect knowledge

of Islam. Moreover, many observe the teachings of Islam only superficially or

out of context. If one critically analyzes the teachings of Islam with an

unbiased and open mind, one has to agree that Islam is the best way of life.
 

4. Dictionary meaning of the word ‘fundamentalism’

 

According to Webster’s dictionary ‘fundamentalism’ was a movement in

American Protestanism that arose in the earlier part of the 20th century. It

was a reaction to modernism, and stressed the infallibility of the Bible, not

only in matters of faith and morals but also as a literal historical record. It

stressed on belief in the Bible as the literal word of God. Thus fundamentalism

was a word initially used for a group of Christians who believed that the Bible

was the verbatim word of God without any errors and mistakes.

 

5. Definition of ‘fundamentalist’ according to Oxford Dictionary

 

When we read the Oxford dictionary, the Oxford dictionary says that,

“‘fundamentalist’ is a person who strictly adheres to the ancient or

fundamental doctrine of any religion.” But when we read the revised edition of

the Oxford Dictionary, there’s a slight change, it says, “‘fundamentalist’ is a

person who strictly adheres to the ancient scriptures or fundamentals of any

religion, especially Islam” “Especially Islam” has been added in the revised

edition of Oxford Dictionary. The moment you hear the word fundamentalist,

immediately you start thinking of a Muslim.

 

6. Every Muslim should be an Extremist

 

Media says, “Muslims are Fundamentalists, Muslims are Extremists.” And we

Muslims are becoming apologetic. No..no..no.. I’m not a fundamentalist.

No..no..no.. I’m not an extremist. I say, I’m an extremist. I’m extremely

honest, I’m extremely just, I’m extremely kind, I’m extremely merciful, I’m

extremely loving. Can anyone tell me why being extremely just, extremely

honest, extremely loving, extremely merciful, extremely kind is bad? What’s

wrong in being an extremist?

 

7. The Qur’an says ‘Be an Extremist’

 

The Qur’an says you have to be extremely honest. You can’t be partly honest.

When it benefits you, you’re honest, when it doesn’t benefit you, you’re

dishonest. The Qur’an says you have to be extremely honest, extremely just.

If you are a practicing Muslim you have to be extremely kind, extremely

honest, extremely just. We have to be extremist in the correct direction. We

should not be extremist in the wrong direction. But a Muslim should be

extremist in following the Qur’an. Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Al Baqarah,

Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 208,

“O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the

footsteps of the evil one; for he is to you an avowed enemy.”

[Al-Qur’an 2:208]

So why are the Muslims becoming apologetic? The Media is attacking Islam

and unfortunately we Muslims are afraid. We have the best Deen, but why are

we afraid? Why are we apologetic? It’s time that we turn the tables over.

 

3. MUSLIMS ARE TERRORISTS

Question:

Why are most of the Muslims Terrorists?

Answer:

The third most common misconception is ‘Muslims are Terrorists.’ And after

9/11, you had the 7th July or 7/7, that’s the London Bombing and there was a

common statement, which said, “All Muslims are not Terrorists but All

Terrorists are Muslims”.

 

1. Meaning of the word ‘Terrorist’

What is the meaning of the word ‘Terrorist’? ‘Terrorist’ by definition means a

person who causes terror. For example if a criminal sees a policeman, he is

terrified. So for the criminal, the policeman is a terrorist. I’m aware that

‘Terrorist’ more commonly means a person who terrorizes innocent human

beings.

 

2. Two different labels given to the same individual for the same action

We know from the Media that many a time two different labels are given to

the same individual for his same activity. For example, more than 60 years

back there were many Indians who were fighting for the freedom of the

country. These people by the British Government were called as ‘Terrorists’.

But we common Indians, we call these people as ‘Freedom Fighters’, as

‘Patriots’; same people, same activity, but two different labels. If you agree

with the view of the British Government that they had a right to rule over

India, then you have to call these people as ‘Terrorists’. But if you agree with

the view of the common Indians that the Britishers came to India to do

business, they had no right to rule over us then you have to call these people

as Patriots or Freedom Fighters. Same people, same activity, but two different

labels.

 

3. Check before you pass the information

The Qur’an says in Surah Al Hujuraat, Chapter No. 49, Verse No. 6
 

“O ye who believe! If a wicked person comes to you with any news,

ascertain the truth, lest ye harm people unwittingly, and afterwards

become full of repentance for what ye have done.”

[Al-Qur’an 49:6]

 

4. George Washington

 

When the Britishers were ruling America, during the American Revolution in

1775, George Washington was called as the ‘Terrorist No. 1’ by the British

Government. Later on when America gets its freedom, George Washington is

made the President of USA. Imagine ‘Terrorist No. 1’ becomes the President of

USA.

 

5. Nelson Mandela

 

We have the example of Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela several decades

earlier when the White Apartheid Government ruled South Africa, was arrested

and imprisoned in Robin Islands for more than 25 years. The White Apartheid

Government called Nelson Mandela as ‘Terrorist No. 1’. Later on when South

Africa gets its freedom and the White Apartheid Government is removed,

Nelson Mandela is given freedom and he gets the ‘Noble Prize for Peace’.

Imagine ‘Terrorist No. 1’ of the world gets the ‘Noble Prize for Peace’! Not that

he was bad and then he became good, but for the same activity for which he

was called a Terrorist, 30 years later he gets the ‘Noble Prize for Peace’!

 

6. Powerful Media dictates Idea

 

We realize whoever is in power, whatever the label that person gives, it gets

stuck on to that person. This is Media. Media is very powerful. According to

me it is the most important weapon today. It can convert black into white, day

into night, hero into a villain, villain into a hero, this is Media. Unfortunately

we Muslims are very backward as far as Media is concerned. Whatever

technology is Halaal, what is permitted in Qur’an and Sunnah we have to use

it. Televison per se is not Haraam. We have to convert it to Halaal.

In future do not believe blindly whatever the Media says. Please check it,

confirm it and only after verification believe in it. Hence, it is very important

that before one gives any label to any person, one should critically analyse the

situation, the reason for the activity and the intention of the person.

 

7. For more details watch Dr. Zakir Naik’s lectures on “Terrorism and

Jihaad – An Islamic Perspective” and “Is Terrorism A Muslim

Monopoly?”

 

 

 

4. WAS ISLAM SPREAD BY THE SWORD?

 

Question:

How can Islam be called the religion of peace when it was spread by the

sword?

Answer:

It is a common complaint among some non-Muslims that Islam would not

have millions of adherents all over the world, if it had not been spread by the

use of force. The following points will make it clear, that far from being spread

by the sword, it was the inherent force of truth, reason and logic that was

responsible for the rapid spread of Islam.

 

1. Islam means peace

 

Islam comes from the root word ‘salm’ or ‘salaam’, which means peace. It also

derived from the root word ‘silm’, which means submitting one’s will to Allah

(swt). Thus Islam is a religion of peace, which is acquired by submitting one’s

will to the will of the Supreme Creator, Allah (swt).
 

2. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace
 

Each and every human being in this world is not in favour of maintaining

peace and harmony. There are many, who would disrupt it for their own

vested interests. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace. It is

precisely for this reason that we have the police who use force against

criminals and anti-social elements to maintain peace in the country. Islam

promotes peace. At the same time, Islam exhorts its followers to fight where

there is oppression. The fight against oppression may, at times, require the

use of force. In Islam, force can only be used to promote peace and justice.
 

3. Opinion of historian De Lacy O’Leary

 

The best reply to the misconception that Islam was spread by the sword is

given by the noted historian De Lacy O’Leary in the book “Islam at the

Crossroads” (Page 8):

 “History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping

through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered

races is one of the most fantastically absurd myths that historians have ever

repeated.”

 

 

4. Muslims ruled Spain for 800 years

 

Muslims ruled Spain for about 800 years. The Muslims in Spain never used the

sword to force the people to convert. Later the Christian Crusaders came to

Spain and wiped out the Muslims. There was not a single Muslim in Spain who

could openly give the adhaan that is the call for prayers.

5. 9 million Arabs are Coptic Christians
 

Muslims were the lords of Arabia for 1400 years. For a few years the British

ruled, and for a few years the French ruled. Overall, the Muslims ruled Arabia

for 1400 years. Yet today, there are 9 million Arabs who are Coptic Christians

i.e. Christians since generations. If the Muslims had used the sword there

would not have been a single Arab who would have remained a Christian.
 

6. More than 80% non-Muslims in India

 

The Muslims ruled India for about a thousand years. If they wanted, they had

the power of converting each and every non-Muslim of India to Islam. Today

more than 80% of the population of India are non-Muslims. All these non-

Muslim Indians are bearing witness today that Islam was not spread by the

sword.

 

7. Indonesia and Malaysia

 

Indonesia is a country that has the maximum number of Muslims in the world.

The majority of people in Malaysia are Muslims. May one ask, “Which Muslim

army went to Indonesia and Malaysia?”

 

8. East Coast of Africa

 

Similarly, Islam has spread rapidly on the East Coast of Africa. One may again

ask, if Islam was spread by the sword, “Which Muslim army went to the East

Coast of Africa?”

 

9. Thomas Carlyle

 

The famous historian, Thomas Carlyle, in his book “Heroes and Hero worship”,

refers to this misconception about Islam being spread by the sword: “The

sword indeed, but where will you get your sword? Every new opinion, at its

starting is precisely in a minority of one. In one man’s head alone. There it

dwells as yet. One man alone of the whole world believes it, there is one man

against all men. That he takes a sword and tries to propagate with that, will

do little for him. You must get your sword! On the whole, a thing will

propagate itself as it can.”

 

10. No compulsion in religion
 

With which sword was Islam spread? Even if Muslims had it they could not

use it to spread Islam because the Qur’an says in the following verse:

“Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error:

whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy

hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.”

[Al-Qur’an 2:256]

 

11. Sword of the Intellect
 

It is the sword of intellect. The sword that conquers the hearts and minds of

people. The Qur’an says in Surah Al Nahl, Chapter 16 Verse 125:

 “Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and

argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious...”

[Al-Qur’an 16:125]

 

12. Increase in the world religions from 1934 to 1984

 

An article in Reader’s Digest ‘Almanac’, yearbook 1984, gave the statistics of

the increase of percentage of the major religions of the world in half a century

from 1934 to 1984. This article also appeared in ‘The Plain Truth’ magazine. At

the top was Islam, which increased by 235%, and Christianity had increased

only by 47%. May one ask, which war took place in the 20th century which

converted millions of people to Islam?

 

13. Islam is the fastest growing religion in America and Europe.
 

Today the fastest growing religion in America is Islam. The fastest growing

religion in Europe is Islam. Which sword is forcing people in the West to

accept Islam in such large numbers? Today the Media is attacking Islam

saying that it subjugates the women. Do you know, out of those accepting

Islam in America and Europe, 2/3rd of them are women. If Islam subjugates

the women, why are the American women, why are the European women

accepting Islam? Who is forcing them?

 

14. Dr Joseph Adam Pearson.
 

Dr Joseph Adam Pearson rightly says, “People who worry that nuclear

weaponry will one day fall in the hands of the Arabs, fail to realize that the

Islamic bomb (the bomb of Peace) has been dropped already, it fell the day

MUHAMMAD (pbuh) was born.”

 

5. POLYGAMY
 

Question:

Why is a man allowed to have more than one wife in Islam? i.e. why is

polygamy allowed in Islam?

Answer:

 

1. Definition of Polygamy

 

Polygamy means a system of marriage whereby a person has more than one

spouse. Polygamy can be of two types. One is polygyny where a man marries

more than one woman, and the other is polyandry, where a woman marries

more than one man. In Islam, limited polygyny is permitted; whereas

polyandry is completely prohibited.

Now coming to the original question, why is a man allowed to have more than

one wife?

 

2. The Qur’an is the only religious scripture in the world that says,

‘Marry Only One.’

 

The Qur’an is the only religious book, on the face of this earth, that contains

the phrase ‘Marry Only One’. There is no other religious book that instructs

men to have only one wife. In none of the other religious scriptures, whether

it be the Vedas, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Geeta, the Talmud or

the Bible does one find a restriction on the number of wives. According to

these scriptures one can marry as many as one wishes. It was only later, that

the Hindu priests and the Christian Church restricted the number of wives to

one.

Many Hindu religious personalities, according to their scriptures, had multiple

wives. King Dashrat, the father of Rama, had more than one wife. Krishna had

16,108 wives. Some Hindus may argue that Krishna did not marry these

women for sex but to give them protection. After the battle thousands of

women became widows and Krishna, in order to give them protection married

them. Then, how come Krishna had 160,000 children from them.

In earlier times, Christian men were permitted as many wives as they wished,

since the Bible puts no restriction on the number of wives. It was only a few

centuries ago that the Church restricted the number of wives to one.

Polygyny is permitted in Judaism. According to the Talmudic law, Abraham

had three wives, and Solomon had seven hundred wives. The practice of

polygyny continued till Rabbi Gershom ben Yehudah (960 CE to 1030 CE)

issued an edict against it. The Jewish Sephardic communities living in Muslim

countries continued the practice till as late as 1950, until an Act of the Chief

Rabbinate of Israel extended the ban on marrying more than one wife.

 

3. Hindus are more polygynous than Muslims

 

The report of the ‘Committee of The Status of Women in Islam’, published in

1975 mentions on page numbers 66 and 67 that the percentage of

polygamous marriages between the years 1951 and 1961 was 5.06% among

the Hindus and only 4.31% among the Muslims. According to Indian law only

Muslim men are permitted to have more than one wife. It is illegal for any

non-Muslim in India to have more than one wife. Despite it being illegal,

Hindus have more multiple wives as compared to Muslims. Earlier, there was

no restriction even on Hindu men with respect to the number of wives

allowed. It was only in 1954, when the Hindu Marriage Act was passed that it

became illegal for a Hindu to have more than one wife. At present it is the

Indian Law that restricts a Hindu man from having more than one wife and

not the Hindu scriptures.

Let us now analyse why Islam allows a man to have more than one wife.

 

4. Qur’an permits limited polygyny

 

As I mentioned earlier, Qur’an is the only religious book on the face of the

earth that says ‘Marry Only One’. The context of this phrase is the following

verse from Surah Al Nisaa’ of the Glorious Qur’an:

 “Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye fear that ye

shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one…”

[Al-Qur’an 4:3]

Before the Qur’an was revealed, there was no upper limit for polygyny and

many men had scores of wives, some even hundreds. Islam put an upper

limit of four wives. Islam gives a man permission to marry two, three or four

women, only on the condition that he deals justly with them.

In the same chapter i.e. Surah Al Nisaa’ verse 129 says:

“Ye are never able to be fair and just as between women, even if it is your

ardent desire: But turn not away (from a woman) altogether, so as to leave

her (as it were) hanging (in the air). If ye come to a friendly understanding,

and practise self-restraint, Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful.”

[Al-Qur’an 4:129]

Therefore polygyny is not a rule but an exception. Many people are under the

misconception that it is compulsory for a Muslim man to have more than one

wife.

Broadly, Islam has five categories of Do’s and Don’ts:

(i) ‘Fard’ i.e. compulsory or obligatory

(ii) ‘Mustahab’ i.e. recommended or encouraged

(iii) ‘Mubah’ i.e. permissible or allowed

(iv) ‘Makruh’ i.e. not recommended or discouraged

(v) ‘Haraam’ i.e. prohibited or forbidden

Polygyny falls in the middle category of things that are permissible. It cannot

be said that a Muslim who has two, three or four wives is a better Muslim as

compared to a Muslim who has only one wife.

 

5. Average life span of females is more than that of males
 

By nature males and females are born in approximately the same ratio. A

female child has more immunity than a male child. A female child can fight the

germs and diseases better than the male child. For this reason, during the

paediatric age itself there are more deaths among males as compared to the

females.

During wars, there are more men killed as compared to women. More men die

due to accidents and diseases than women. The average life span of females

is more than that of males, and at any given time one finds more widows in

the world than widowers.
 

6. India has more male population than female due to female foeticide

and infanticide
 

India is one of the few countries, along with the other neighbouring countries,

in which the female population is less than the male population. The reason

lies in the high rate of female foeticide and female infanticide in India. “Daily

around 7000 girls are killed in the womb or immediately after birth in India” –

UN Report, Quoted in Al Jazeera, 6th July 2015. If you multiply this figure by

365, the number of days in a year you will get more than 2.5 million females

being aborted or killed immediately after birth every year in India.

If this evil practice is stopped, then India too will have more females as

compared to males.

7. World female population is more than male population

 

According to CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) The World Factbook, in July

2015, in the USA, women outnumbered men by 4.8 million. New York alone

has 0.5 million more females as compared to the number of males. Germany

has more than 1.2 million more females as compared to males. Bangladesh

has more than 4.2 million females as compared to males. Russia has more

than 10 million females as compared to males. The European Union, which

constitutes 28 Countries of Europe, has more than 10.2 million females as

compared to males.

 

8. Restricting each and every man to have only one wife is not practical

 

Even if every man got married to one woman, there would still be more than

4.8 million females in USA who would not be able to get husbands. There

would be more than 1.2 million females in Germany, more than 4.2 million

females in Bangladesh, more than 10 million females in Russia, more than

10.2 million females in the European Union alone, who would not be able to

find a husband.

Suppose my sister happens to be one of the unmarried women living in USA,

or suppose your sister happens to be one of the unmarried women in USA.

The only two options remaining for her are that she either marries a man who

already has a wife or becomes a public property. There is no other option. All

those who are modest will opt for the first.

In Western society, it is common for a man to have mistresses and/or multiple

extra-marital affairs, in which case, the woman leads a disgraceful,

unprotected life. The same society, however, cannot accept a man having

more than one wife, in which women retain their honourable, dignified

position in society and lead a protected life.

Thus the only two options before a woman who cannot find a husband is to

marry a married man or to become public property. Islam prefers giving

women the honourable position by permitting the first option and disallowing

the second.

 

9. Other Reasons for Polygyny being permitted

 

Excess of women is not the only reason why a man is allowed to marry more

than one woman. There are several other reasons besides this.

 

1. WIFE IS STERILE: COUPLE HAS NO CHILDREN
 

Suppose the wife is sterile or barren and the couple is unable to have children

for several years. Islam does not permit legal adoption (for which there are

several reasons). But may be the husband and wife both desire children and

the wife does not mind sharing her husband. So what’s the harm in a man

having two wives as long as he deals with them justly. Even if the wife may

not desire to have a child and the husband wishes to continue his progeny,

then the only option remaining for him is to either divorce his first wife and

take another wife or keep the first wife and marry a second and treat both the

wives with justice and equality.

 

2. WIFE MAY MEET WITH AN ACCIDENT AND BECOME HANDICAP

 

Suppose a young girl within a few months of her marriage meets with an

accident and gets handicapped, after which she is unable to perform her duty

as a wife. The only option for the young husband is that he either divorces his

first wife and takes another wife or keeps the first wife and marries another

woman and treats both the wives with justice and equality.

 

3. WIFE SUFFERING FROM SEVERE ILLNESS OR DISEASE

 

Suppose a wife suffers from a severe illness or disease, and is unable to look

after her young children and satisfy her husband. The first option you can find

here is that the husband keeps the first wife and takes the second wife. This

wife will act as a help and support to the first wife and her children. Many may

argue that you can always keep a full-time nurse or a maid-servant for this

purpose. I do agree that this full-time nurse or maid-servant will surely

support the wife and the children, but very soon will also start “supporting”

the young husband. Therefore the only modest option is to keep the first wife

and take the second wife and treat them equally with justice.

There are several other reasons, why Islam has permitted limited polygyny,

but it is mainly to protect the modesty of women.

 

6. POLYANDRY

 

Question:

If a man is allowed to have more than one wife, then why does Islam prohibit

a woman from having more than one husband?

Answer:

A lot of people, including some Muslims, question the logic of allowing Muslim

men to have more than one spouse while denying the same ‘right’ to women.

Let me first state emphatically, that the foundation of an Islamic society is

justice and equity. Allah has created men and women as equal, but with

different capabilities and different responsibilities. Men and women are

different, physiologically and psychologically. Their roles and responsibilities

are different. Men and women are equal in Islam, but not identical.

Surah Al Nisaa’ Chapter 4 verses 22 to 24 gives the list of women with whom

you can not marry and it is further mentioned in Surah Al Nisaa’ Chapter 4

verse 24,

“Also (prohibited are) women already married”

[Al-Qur’an 4:24]

The following points enumerate the reasons why polyandry is prohibited in

Islam:

1. If a man has more than one wife, the parents of the children born of such

marriages can easily be identified. The father as well as the mother can

easily be identified. In case of a woman marrying more than one husband,

only the mother of the children born of such marriages will be identified

and not the father. Islam gives tremendous importance to the

identification of both parents, mother and father. Psychologists tell us that

children who do not know their parents, especially their father undergo

severe mental trauma and disturbances. Often they have an unhappy

childhood. It is for this reason that the children of prostitutes do not have

a healthy childhood. If a child born of such wedlock is admitted in school,

and when the mother is asked the name of the father, she would have to

give two or more names! I am aware that recent advances in science have

made it possible for both the mother and father to be identified with the

help of genetic testing. Even if we agree that the test is 100% accurate,

this test was discovered recently and this is not the only reason for not

allowing Polyandry.

 

2. Man is more polygamous by nature as compared to a woman.

 

3. Biologically, it is easier for a man to perform his duties as a husband

despite having several wives. A woman, in a similar position, having

several husbands, will not find it possible to perform her duties as a wife.

A woman undergoes several psychological and behavioural changes due to

different phases of the menstrual cycle and also due to the release of sex

hormones, oestrogen. The mental state of a woman is not as stable as

compared to normal times. According to a report, most crimes committed

by women in USA, are done during their menstrual periods.

A woman has more chances of having a quarrel or disagreement with the

husband during these periods. Therefore, Islam prohibits a man to give

divorce to his wife while she undergoes her menstrual cycle. Thus, in

polyandrous marriages, for a woman to have good relations with more

than one husband at the same time will be too much of a mental trauma.

 

4. A woman who has more than one husband will have several sexual

partners at the same time and has a high chance of acquiring venereal or

sexually transmitted diseases, which can also be transmitted back to her

husband even if all of them have no extra-marital sex. This is not the case

in a man having more than one wife, and none of them having extramarital

sex.

The above reasons are those that one can easily identify. There are probably

many more reasons why Allah, in His Infinite Wisdom, has prohibited

polyandry.

 

 

7. HIJAAB FOR WOMEN

Question:

Why does Islam degrade women by keeping them behind the veil?

Answer:

The status of women in Islam is often the target of attacks in the secular

media. The ‘hijaab’ or the Islamic dress is cited by many as an example of the

‘subjugation’ of women under Islamic law. Before we analyze the reasoning

behind the religiously mandated ‘hijaab’, let us first study the status of women

in societies before the advent of Islam.

 

1. In the past women were degraded and used as objects of lust

 

The following examples from history amply illustrate the fact that the

status of women in earlier civilizations was very low to the extent that

they were denied basic human dignity:
 

a) Babylonian Civilization:

The women were degraded and were denied all rights under the

Babylonian law. If a man murdered a woman, instead of him being

punished, his wife was put to death.
 

b) Greek Civilization:

Greek Civilization is considered the most glorious of all ancient

civilizations. Under this very ‘glorious’ system, women were deprived of

all rights and were looked down upon. In Greek mythology, an ‘imaginary

woman’ called ‘Pandora’ is the root cause of misfortune of human beings.

The Greeks considered women to be subhuman and inferior to men.

Though chastity of women was precious, and women were held in high

esteem, the Greeks were later overwhelmed by ego and sexual

perversions. Prostitution became a regular practice amongst all classes of

Greek society.
 

c) Roman Civilization:

When Roman Civilization was at the zenith of its ‘glory’, a man even had

the right to take the life of his wife. Prostitution and nudity were common

amongst the Romans.

 

d) Egyptian Civilization:

The Egyptians considered women evil and as a sign of a devil.

 

e) Pre-Islamic Arabia:

Before Islam spread in Arabia, the Arabs looked down upon women and

very often when a female child was born, she was buried alive.

 

2. Islam uplifted women and gave them equality and expects them

to maintain their status

 

Islam uplifted the status of women and granted them their just rights

1400 years ago. Islam expects women to maintain their status.

 

Hijaab for men

People usually only discuss ‘hijaab’ in the context of women. However, in

the Glorious Qur’an, Allah (swt) first mentions ‘hijaab’ for the men before

‘hijaab’ for the women. The Qur’an mentions in Surah Al Noor:

“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard

their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is

well acquainted with all that they do.”

[Al-Qur’an 24:30]

The moment a man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed

thought comes to his mind, he should lower his gaze.

 

 

Hijaab for women

The next verse of Surah Al Noor, says:

“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and

guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and

ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they

should draw veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except

to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons...”

[Al-Qur’an 24:31]

 

3. Six criteria for Hijaab

According to Qur’an and Sahih Hadith there are basically six criteria for

observing hijaab:

i. Extent:

The first criterion is the extent of the body that should be covered. This is

different for men and women. The extent of Hijaab for the male is to

cover the body at least from the navel to the knees. For women, the

complete body should be covered except the face and the hands upto the

wrists. If they wish to, they can cover even these parts of the body.

Some scholars of Islam insist that the face and the hands are also part of

the obligatory extent of ‘hijaab’.

All the remaining five criteria are the same for men and women.

ii. The clothes worn should be loose and should not reveal the figure.

iii. The clothes worn should not be transparent or translucent such that one

can see through them.

iv. The clothes worn should not be so glamorous as to attract the opposite

sex.

v. The clothes worn should not resemble that of the opposite sex.

vi. The clothes worn should not resemble that of the unbelievers i.e. they

should not wear clothes that are specifically identities or symbols of the

unbelievers’ religions.

 

4. Hijaab includes conduct and behaviour among other things

Complete ‘hijaab’, besides the six criteria of clothing, also includes the

moral conduct, behaviour, attitude and intention of the individual. A

person only fulfilling the criteria of ‘hijaab’ of the clothes is observing

‘hijaab’ in a limited sense. ‘Hijaab’ of the clothes should be accompanied

by ‘hijaab’ of the eyes, ‘hijaab’ of the heart, ‘hijaab’ of thought and

‘hijaab’ of intention. It also includes the way a person walks, the way a

person talks, the way a person behaves, etc.

 

 

5. Hijaab prevents molestation

The reason why Hijaab is prescribed for women is mentioned in the

Qur’an in the following Verse of Surah Al-Ahzaab:

“O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women that

they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad);

that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not

molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

[Al-Qur’an 33:59]

The Qur’an says that Hijaab has been prescribed for the women so that

they are recognized as modest women and this will also prevent them

from being molested.

 

6. Example of twin sisters

Suppose two sisters who are twins, and who are equally beautiful, walk

down the street. One of them is wearing the Islamic Hijaab i.e. the

complete body is covered, except for the face and the hands up to the

wrists. The other sister is wearing western clothes, a mini-skirt or shorts

with a low neckline. Just around the corner there is a hooligan or ruffian

who is waiting for a catch, to tease a girl. Whom will he tease? The girl

wearing the Islamic Hijaab or the girl wearing the skirt or the mini with a

low neckline? Naturally he will tease the girl wearing the skirt or the mini

with a low neckline. Such dresses which expose more than what they

cover are an indirect invitation to the opposite sex for teasing and

molestation. The Qur’an rightly says that Hijaab prevents women from

being molested.

 

7. Capital punishment for the rapists

Under the Islamic Shari’ah, a man convicted of having raped a woman, is

given capital punishment. Many are astonished at this ‘harsh’ sentence.

Some non-Muslims may say that ‘Capital punishment in this age of

science and technology! Islam is a ruthless, barbaric religion!’ I have

asked a simple question to hundreds of non-Muslim men. Suppose, God

forbid, someone rapes your wife, your mother or your sister. You are

made the judge and the rapist is brought in front of you. What

punishment would you give him? All of them said they would put him to

death. Some went to the extent of saying they would torture him to

death. To them I ask, if someone rapes your wife or your mother you

want to put him to death. But if the same crime is committed on

somebody else’s wife or daughter, you say capital punishment is barbaric.

Why should there be double standards?

8. Western society falsely claims to have uplifted women

Western talk of women’s liberalization is nothing but a disguised form of

exploitation of her body, degradation of her soul, and deprivation of her

honour. Western society claims to have ‘uplifted’ women. On the contrary

it has actually degraded them to the status of concubines, mistresses and

society butterflies who are mere tools in the hands of pleasure seekers

and sex marketeers, hidden behind the colourful screen of ‘art’ and

‘culture’.

 

9. USA has one of the highest rates of rape

United States of America is supposed to be one of the most advanced

countries of the world. It also has one of the highest rates of rape in any

country in the world. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, in the

year 2005, every day on an average 1997 cases of rape were committed

in USA alone. A decade later according to the U.S. Department of Justice,

in the year 2014 on an average everyday 2318 cases of rape were

committed in USA. May be the Americans got ‘bolder’ in a decade. Every

37 seconds one rape is being committed in USA.

Consider a scenario where the Islamic Shari’ah is implemented in

America. Whenever a man looks at a woman and any brazen or

 

unashamed thought comes to his mind, he lowers his gaze. Every woman

wears the Islamic Hijaab that is the complete body is covered except the

face and the hands upto the wrists. After this if any man commits rape he

is given capital punishment. I ask you, in such a scenario, will the rate of

rape in America increase, will it remain the same, or will it decrease?

 

10. Implementation of Islamic Shar’iah will reduce the rate of rapes

Naturally as soon as Islamic Shar’iah is implemented positive results will

be inevitable. If Islamic Shar’iah is implemented in any part of the world,

whether it is America, Europe or India, society will breathe easier. Hijaab

does not degrade a woman but uplifts a woman and protects her

modesty and chastity.

 

8. MUSLIMS WORSHIP THE KA’BAH

Question:

When Islam is against idol worship, why do the Muslims worship, and bow

down to the Ka’bah in their prayer?

Answer:

Ka’bah is the Qiblah i.e. the direction Muslims face during their prayers. It is

important to note that though Muslims face the Ka’bah during prayers, they do

not worship the Ka’bah. Muslims worship and bow to none but Allah.

It is mentioned in Surah Al Baqarah Chapter 2 Verse 144:

“We see the turning of thy face (for guidance) to the heavens: now shall We

turn thee to a Qiblah that shall please thee. Turn then thy face in the direction

of the Sacred Mosque: wherever ye are, turn your faces in that direction...”

[Al-Qur’an 2:144]

 

1. Islam believes in unity

For instance, if Muslims want to offer Salaah (Prayer), it is possible that some

may wish to face north, while some may wish to face south. In order to unite

Muslims in their worship of the One True God, Muslims, wherever they may

be, are asked to face in only one direction i.e. towards the Ka’bah. If some

Muslims live towards the west of the Ka’bah they face the east and if they live

towards the east of the Ka’bah they face the west. Similarly if some Muslims

live towards the north of the Ka’bah they face the south and if they live

towards the south of the Ka’bah they face the north.

 

2. Ka’bah is at the Centre of the World Map

The Muslims were the first people to draw the map of the world. They drew

the map with the south facing upwards and north downwards. The Ka’bah was

at the centre. Later, western cartographers drew the map upside down with

the north facing upwards and south downwards. Yet, Alhamdullilah the Ka’bah

is at the centre of the world map.

 

3. Tawaaf around the Ka’bah is for indicating one God

When the Muslims go to Masjid Al Haram in Makkah, they perform the tawaaf

or circumambulation round the Ka’bah. This act symbolizes the belief and

worship of One God, since, just as every circle has one centre, so also there is

only one Allah (swt) worthy of worship.

 

4. Hadith of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)

Regarding the black stone, hajr al aswad, there is a hadith, attributed to the

illustrious companion of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Umar (may Allah be

pleased with him).

According to Sahih Al Bukhari, Volume 2, Book of Hajj, Chapter 50, Hadith No.

1597:

Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “No doubt I know that you are a

stone and can neither benefit nor harm. Had I not seen the Prophet (pbuh)

touching (and kissing) you, I would never have touched (and kissed) you.”

 

5. People stood on the Ka’bah and gave the adhaan

At the time of the Prophet, people even stood on the Ka’bah and gave the

‘adhaan’ or the call to prayer. One may ask those who allege that Muslims

worship the Ka’bah, which idol worshipper stands on the idol he worships?

 

9. NON-MUSLIMS NOT ALLOWED IN MAKKAH

 

Question:

Why are non-Muslims not allowed in the Holy cities of Makkah and Madinah?

Answer:

It is true that non-Muslims are not allowed in the holy cities of Makkah and

Madinah, by law. The following points will serve to elucidate the possible

reasoning behind such a restriction.

 

1. All citizens are not permitted in the cantonment area

I am a citizen of India. Yet, I am not permitted to enter certain restricted

areas like the cantonment. In every country there are certain areas where a

common citizen of that country cannot enter. Only a citizen who is enrolled in

the military or those who are connected with the defence of the country are

allowed in the cantonment area. Similarly Islam is a Universal Religion for the

entire world and for all human beings. The cantonment areas of Islam are the

two holy cites of Makkah and Madinah. Here, only those who believe in Islam

and are involved in the defence of Islam i.e. the Muslims are allowed.

It would be illogical for a common citizen who is not involved in defending the

country, to object against the restriction on entering a cantonment area.

Similarly it is not appropriate for non-Muslims to object against the restriction

on non-Muslims entering Makkah and Madinah which are the cantonment

areas of Islam.

 

2. Visa to enter Makkah and Madinah

a. Whenever a person travels to a foreign country he has to first apply for a

visa i.e. the permission to enter that country. Every country has its own

rules, regulations and requirements for issuing a visa. Unless their critera

are satisfied they will not issue a visa.

b. One of the countries which is very strict in issuing a visa is the United

States of America, especially when issuing visas to citizens of the third

world countries. They have several conditions and requirements to be

fulfilled before they issue a visa.

c. When I visited Singapore, it was mentioned on their immigration form -

death to drug traffickers. If I want to visit Singapore I have to abide by

the rules. I cannot say that death penalty is a barbaric punishment. Only

if I agree with their requirements and conditions will I be permitted to

enter the country.

d. The Visa – The primary condition required for any human being to enter

Makkah or Madinah is to say with his or her lips, Laa ilaaha ill-Allah

Muhammadur Rasoolullah meaning that ‘there is no God but Allah and

Muhammad (pbuh) is His Messenger.’

 

10. EATING NON-VEGETARIAN FOOD

 

Question:

Killing an animal is a ruthless act. Why then do Muslims consume nonvegetarian

food?

Answer:

 

1. A Muslim can be a pure vegetarian

A Muslim can be a very good Muslim despite being a pure vegetarian. It is not

compulsory for a Muslim to have non-vegetarian food.

 

2. Qur’an permits Muslims to have non-vegetarian food

The Qur’an, however permits a Muslim to have non-vegetarian food. The

following Qur’anic verses are proof of this fact:

“O ye who believe! Fulfill (all) obligations. Lawful unto you (for food) are all

four-footed animals with the exceptions named…”

[Al-Qur’an 5:1]

“And cattle He has created for you (men): from them ye derive warmth, and

numerous benefits, and of their (meat) ye eat.”

[Al-Qur’an 16:5]

 

“And in cattle (too) ye have an instructive example: From within their bodies

We produce (milk) for you to drink; there are, in them, (besides), numerous

(other) benefits for you; and of their (meat) ye eat.”

[Al-Qur’an 23:21]

 

3. Meat is nutritious and rich in complete protein

 

Non-vegetarian food is a good source of excellent protein. It contains

biologically complete protein i.e. all the 8 essential amino acids that are not

synthesized by the body and should be supplied in the diet. Meat also contains

iron, vitamin B1 and niacin.

 

4. Humans have Omnivorous set of teeth

 

If you observe the teeth of herbivorous animals like the cow, goat and sheep,

you will find something strikingly similar in all of them. All these animals have

a set of flat teeth i.e. suited for herbivorous diet. If you observe the set of

teeth of the carnivorous animals like the lion, tiger, or leopard, they all have a

set of pointed teeth i.e. suited for a carnivorous diet. If you analyze the set of

teeth of humans, you find that they have flat teeth as well as pointed teeth.

Thus they have teeth suited for both herbivorous as well as carnivorous food

i.e. they are omnivorous. One may ask, if Almighty God wanted humans to

have only vegetables, why did He provide us also with pointed teeth? It is

logical that He expected us to need and to have both vegetarian as well as

non-vegetarian food.

 

5. Human beings can digest both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food

The digestive system of herbivorous animals can digest only vegetables. The

digestive system of carnivorous animals can digest only non-vegetarian food.

But the digestive system of humans can digest both vegetarian and nonvegetarian

food. If Almighty God wanted us to have only vegetables then why

did He give us a digestive system that can digest both vegetarian as well as

non-vegetarian food?

 

6. Hindu scriptures give permission to have non-vegetarian food

a. There are many Hindus who are strictly vegetarian. They think it is

against their religion to consume non-vegetarian food. As a matter of fact

the Hindu scriptures permit a person to have non-vegetarian food. The

scriptures mention Hindu sages and saints consuming non-vegetarian

food.

 

b. It is mentioned in Manusmriti, the Law Book of Hindus, in Chapter 5

Verse 30

“The eater who eats the flesh of those to be eaten does nothing bad,

even if he does it day after day, for God himself created some to be

eaten and some to be eater.”

 

c. Again next verse of Manusmriti, that is, Chapter 5 Verse 31 says

“Eating meat is right for the sacrifice, this is traditionally known as a rule

of the gods.”

 

d. Further in Manusmriti Chapter 5 Verse 39 and 40 says

“God himself created sacrificial animals for sacrifice, ..., therefore killing

in a sacrifice is not killing.”

 

e. Mahabharata Anushashan Parva Chapter 88 narrates the discussion

between Dharmaraj Yudhishthira and Bhishma Pitamah about what food

one should offer to Pitris (ancestors) during the Shraddha (ceremony of

dead) to keep them satisfied. Paragraph reads as follows:

“Yudhishthira said, “O thou of great puissance, tell me what that object is

which, if dedicated to the Pitris (dead ancestors), become inexhaustible!

What Havi, again, (if offered) lasts for all time? What, indeed, is that

which (if presented) becomes eternal?”

“Bhishma said, “Listen to me, O Yudhishthira, what those Havis are which

persons conversant with the rituals of the Shraddha (the ceremony of

dead) regard as suitable in view of Shraddha and what the fruits are that

attach to each. With sesame seeds and rice and barley and Masha and

water and roots and fruits, if given at Shraddhas, the pitris, O king,

remain gratified for the period of a month. With fishes offered at

Shraddhas, the pitris remain gratified for a period of two months. With

the mutton they remain gratified for three months and with the hare for

four months, with the flesh of the goat for five months, with the bacon

(meat of pig) for six months, and with the flesh of birds for seven. With

venison obtained from those deer that are called Prishata, they remain

gratified for eight months, and with that obtained from the Ruru for nine

months, and with the meat of Gavaya for ten months, With the meat of

the bufffalo their gratification lasts for eleven months. With beef

presented at the Shraddha, their gratification, it is said, lasts for a full

year. Payasa mixed with ghee is as much acceptable to the pitris as beef.

With the meat of Vadhrinasa (a large bull) the gratification of pitris lasts

for twelve years. The flesh of rhinoceros, offered to the pitris on

anniversaries of the lunar days on which they died, becomes

inexhaustible. The potherb called Kalaska, the petals of kanchana flower,

and meat of (red) goat also, thus offered, prove inexhaustible.”

So but natural if you want to keep your ancestors satisfied forever, you

should serve them the meat of red goat.

f. It’s mentioned in Ayodhya Khanda, Book 2, Chapter 20, Verse 29 when

Rama was sent to exile to a forest for 14 years, Kaushalya, his mother

asked him to take food. So he said to his mother:

“I shall live in a solitary forest like a sage for fourteen years leaving off

meat and living with roots, fruits and honey”.

It means that Rama had meat. If Rama can have meat then why can’t

the Hindus have meat?

 

7. Hinduism was influenced by other religions

 

Though Hindu Scriptures permit its followers to have non-vegetarian food,

many Hindus adopted the vegetarian system because they were influenced by

other religions like Jainism etc.

 

8. Even plants have life

 

Certain religions have adopted pure vegetarianism as a dietary law because

they are totally against the killing of living creatures. If a person can survive

without killing any living creature, I would be the first person to adopt such a

way of life. In the past people thought plants were lifeless. Today it is a

universal fact that even plants have life. Thus their logic of not killing living

creatures is not fulfilled even by being a pure vegetarian.

 

9. Even plants can feel pain

 

They further argue that plants cannot feel pain, therefore killing a plant is a

lesser crime as compared to killing an animal. Today science tells us that even

plants can feel pain. But the cry of the plant cannot be heard by the human

being. This is due to the inability of the human ear to only hear sounds that

are not in the audible range i.e. 20 Hertz to 20,000 Hertz. Anything below and

above this range cannot be heard by a human being. A dog can hear up to

40,000 Hertz. Thus there are silent dog whistles that have a frequency of

more than 20,000 Hertz and less than 40,000 Hertz. These whistles are only

heard by dogs and not by human beings. The dog recognizes the master’s

whistle and comes to the master. There was a research done by a farmer in

USA who invented an instrument which converted the cry of the plant so that

it could be heard by human beings. He was able to realize immediately when

the plant itself cried for water. Latest researches show that the plants can

even feel happy and sad. It can also cry!

 

10. Killing a living creature with two senses less is not a lesser crime

 

Once a vegetarian argued his case by saying that plants only have two or

three senses while the animals have five senses. Therefore killing a plant is a

lesser crime than killing an animal. Suppose your brother is born deaf and

mute and has two senses less as compared to other human beings. He

becomes mature and someone murders him. Would you ask the judge to give

the murderer a lesser punishment because your brother had two senses less?

Infact you would say that he has killed a masoom, an innocent person, and

the judge should give the murderer a greater punishment.

The Qur’an says in Surah Al Baqarah Chapter 2 Verse 168:

 

“O ye people! Eat of what is on earth, lawful and good…”

[Al-Qur’an 2:168]

 

11. Over population of cattle

 

If every human being was a vegetarian, it would lead to overpopulation of

cattle in the world, since their reproduction and multiplication is very swift.

Allah (swt) in His Divine Wisdom knows how to maintain the balance of His

creation appropriately. No wonder He has permitted us to have the meat of

the cattle.

 

12. Cost of meat is reasonable since all aren’t non-vegetarians

 

I do not mind if some people are pure vegetarians. However they should not

condemn non-vegetarians as ruthless. Infact if all Indians become nonvegetarians

then the present non-vegetarians would be losers since the prices

of meat would rise.

 

11. ISLAMIC METHOD OF SLAUGHTERING ANIMALS

APPEARS RUTHLESS

 

Question:

Why do Muslims slaughter the animal in a ruthless manner by torturing it and

slowly and painfully killing it?

Answer:

The Islamic method of slaughtering animals, known as Zabiha has been the

object of much criticism from a large number of people.

Before I reply to the question, let me relate an incidence about a discussion

between a Sikh and a Muslim regarding animal slaughter.

Once a Sikh asked a Muslim, “Why do you slaughter the animal painfully by

cutting the throat instead of the way we do with one stroke i.e. jhatka?” The

Muslim replied “We are brave and courageous and attack from the front. We

are mard ka baccha (macho men), you are cowards and attack from behind.”

Jokes apart, one may consider the following points, which prove that the

Zabiha method is not only humane but also scientifically the best:

1. Islamic method of slaughtering animal

 

Zakkaytum is a verb derived from the root word Zakaah (to purify). Its

infinitive is Tazkiyah, which means purification. The Islamic mode of

slaughtering an animal requires the following conditions to be met:
 

a. Animal should be slaughtered with sharp object (knife):

The animal has to be slaughtered with a sharp object (knife) and in a fast way

so that the pain of slaughter is minimised.
 

b. Cut windpipe, throat and vessels of neck:
 

Zabiha is an Arabic word which means ‘slaughtered.’ The ‘slaughtering’ is to be

done by cutting the throat, windpipe and the blood vessels in the neck causing

the animal’s death without cutting the spinal cord.

 

c. Blood should be drained:

 

The blood has to be drained completely before the head is removed. The

purpose is to drain out most of the blood which would serve as a good culture

medium for micro-organisms. The spinal cord must not be cut because the

nerve fibres to the heart could be damaged during the process causing cardiac

arrest, stagnating the blood in the blood vessels.

 

2. Blood is a good medium for germs and bacteria

 

Blood is a good media of germs, bacteria, toxins, etc. Therefore the Muslim

way of slaughtering is more hygienic as most of the blood containing germs,

bacteria, toxins, etc. that are the cause of several diseases are eliminated.

 

3. Meat remains fresh for a longer time

 

Meat slaughtered by the Islamic way remains fresh for a longer time due to

deficiency of blood in the meat as compared to other methods of slaughtering.

 

4. Animal does not feel pain

 

The swift cutting of vessels of the neck disconnects the flow of blood to the

nerve of the brain responsible for pain. Thus the animal does not feel pain.

While dying, the animal struggles, writhes, shakes and kicks, not due to pain,

but due to the contraction and relaxation of the muscles deficient in blood and

due to the flow of blood out of the body.

 

 

12. NON-VEGETARIAN FOOD MAKES MUSLIMS VIOLENT

 

Question:

Science tells us that whatever one eats, it has an effect on one’s behaviour.

Why then, does Islam allow Muslims to eat non-vegetarian food, since eating

of animals could make a person violent and ferocious?

Answer:

 

1. Only eating of herbivorous animals is allowed

 

Some non-Muslims may argue that if a person eats non-vegetarian food, he

becomes ferocious and violent like the animals. I agree that, what a person

eats has an effect on his behaviour. This is one of the reasons why Islam

prohibits the eating of carnivorous animals like lion, tiger, leopard, etc. who

are violent and ferocious. The consumption of the meat of such animals would

probably make a person violent and ferocious. Islam only allows the eating of

herbivorous animals like cow, goat, sheep, etc. that are peaceful and docile.

We Muslims eat peaceful and docile animals because we are peace loving and

non-violent people.

 

2. The Qur’an says that the Prophet prohibits what is bad

 

The Qur’an says:

“The Prophet commands them what is just and prohibits what is evil.” “He

allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them what is bad

(and impure)…”

[Al-Qur’an 7:157]

 “…So take what the Messenger assigns to you and deny yourselves that which

he withholds from you…”

[Al-Qur’an 59:7]

For a Muslim, the Prophet’s statement is sufficient to convince him that Allah

does not wish humans to eat some kinds of meat while allowing some other

kinds.
 

3. Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) prohibiting the eating of

carnivorous animals

 

According to various authentic Ahadith narrated in Sahih Al Bukhari and Sahih

Muslim including hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas (r.a.) in Sahih Muslim, Vol. 5,

The Book of Hunting and Slaughter, Chapter No. 3, Hadith No. 4994 and

Sunan Ibn-e-Majah, Vol. 3, The Book of Hunting, Chapter No. 19, Hadith No.

3248 to 3250, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) prohibited the eating of:

(i) Wild animals with canine teeth, i.e. meat eating carnivorous animals.

These are animals belonging to the cat families such as lion, tiger,

cats, dogs, wolves, etc.

(ii) Certain rodents like mice, rats, rabbits with claws, etc.

(iii) Certain reptiles like snakes, alligators, etc.

(iv) Birds of prey with talons or claws, like vultures, eagles, crows, owls,

etc.

 

 

13. PORK FORBIDDEN

 

Question:

Why is the eating of pork forbidden in Islam?

Answer:

The fact that consumption of pork is prohibited in Islam is well known. The

following points explain various aspects of this prohibition:

 

 

The Qur’an prohibits the consumption of pork in no less than 4 different

places. It is prohibited in Surah Al Baqarah 2:173, Surah Al Maa’idah 5:3,

Surah Al An’aam 6:145 and Surah Al Nahl 16:115:

“Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and

that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah…”

[Al-Qur’an 5:3]

The above verses of the Glorious Qur’an are sufficient to satisfy a Muslim as to

why pork is forbidden.

 

2. Pork prohibited in the Bible

 

The Christian is likely to be convinced by his religious scriptures. The Bible

prohibits the consumption of pork, in the Book of Leviticus:

“And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he

cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.”

“Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch, they are

unclean to you.”

[Leviticus 11:7-8]

Pork is also prohibited in the Bible in the Book of Deuteronomy:

 “And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is

unclean unto you. Ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass.”

[Deuteronomy 14:8]

A similar prohibition is repeated in the Bible in the Book of Isaiah Chapter 65

Verses 2-5.
 

3. Consumption of pork causes several diseases

The other non-Muslims and atheists will agree only if convinced through

reason, logic and science. Eating of pork can cause no less than seventy

different types of diseases. A person can have various helminths like

roundworm, pinworm, hookworm, etc. One of the most dangerous is Taenia

Solium, which is in layman’s terminology called tapeworm. It harbours in the

intestine and is very long. It’s ova i.e. eggs, enter the blood stream and can

reach almost all the organs of the body. If it enters the brain it can cause

memory loss. If it enters the heart it can cause heart attack, if it enters the

eye it can cause blindness, if it enters the liver it can cause liver damage. It

can damage almost all the organs of the body.

Another dangerous helminths is Trichura Tichurasis. A common misconception

about pork is that if it is cooked well, these ova die. In a research project

undertaken in America, it was found that out of twenty-four people suffering

from Trichura Tichurasis, twenty-two had cooked the pork very well. This

indicates that the ovas present in the pork do not die under normal cooking

temperature.
 

4. Pork has fat building material
 

Pork has very little muscle building material and contains excess of fat. This

fat gets deposited in the vessels and can cause hypertension and heart attack.

It is not surprising that over 50% of Americans suffer from hypertension.

5. Pig is one of the filthiest animals on earth

The pig is one of the filthiest animals on earth. It lives and thrives on muck,

faeces and dirt. It is the best scavenger that I know that God has produced.

In the villages they don’t have modern toilets and the villagers excrete in the

 

open air. Very often excreta is cleared by the pigs.

Some may argue that in advanced countries like Australia, pigs are bred in

very clean and hygienic conditions. Even in these hygienic conditions the pigs

are kept together in sties. No matter how hard you try to keep them clean

they are filthy by nature. They eat and enjoy their own as well as their

neighbour’s excreta.

Some may argue that even the chickens eat the excreta. The chicken does

many a time peck the excreta and dirt but does not survive on it. The chicken

has a second stomach i.e. the gizzard. Whenever the chicken consumes faeces

and other dirt, it enters the gizzard and is directly excreted. On the other

hand, the pig has only one stomach and everything passes through the normal

digestive system. Therefore, the pork also contains this dirt, which is indirectly

consumed while eating pork.

 

6. Pig is the most shameless animal

 

The pig is the most shameless animal on the face of the earth. It is the only

animal that invites its friends to have sex with its mate. In America, most

people consume pork. Many times after dance parties, they have swapping of

wives i.e. many say “you sleep with my wife and I will sleep with your wife”. If

you eat pigs then you behave like pigs. We Indians look upon America to be

very advanced and sophisticated. Whatever they do, we follow after a few

years. According to an article in Island magazine, this practice of swapping

wives has become common in the affluent circles of Mumbai.

 

 

14. PROHIBITION OF ALCOHOL

 

Question:

Why is the consumption of alcohol prohibited in Islam?

Answer:

 

1. Prohibition of alcohol in the Qur’an

 

The Glorious Qur’an prohibits the consumption of alcohol in the following

verse:

“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.”

[Al-Qur’an 5:90]
 

2. Prohibition of alcohol in the Bible
 

The Bible prohibits the consumption of alcohol in the following verses:

a. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived

thereby is not wise.”

[Book of Proverbs 20:1]

b. “And be not drunk with wine…”

[Book of Ephesians 5:18]

 

3. Alcohol inhibits the inhibitory centre

 

The human beings possess an inhibitory centre in their brains. This inhibitory

centre prevents the person from doing things that he considers wrong. For

instance, a person does not normally use abusive language while addressing

his parents or elders. If he has to answer the call of nature, his inhibitory

centre will prevent him from doing so in public. Therefore he uses the toilet.

When a person consumes alcohol, the inhibitory centre itself is inhibited. That

is precisely the reason that an intoxicated person is found to use abusive and

foul language and does not realize his mistake even if he is addressing his

parents. Neither do they talk nor walk properly. They misbehave and many

even urinate in their clothes.

 

4. Cases of adultery, rape, incest and AIDS are found more among

Alcoholics

 

According to National Crime Victimization Survey Bureau of Justice (U.S.

Department of Justice) in the year 2014 alone everyday on an average 2,318

rapes took place. The statistics tell us that the majority of the rapists, were

intoxicated while committing the crime. The same is true in cases of

molestation.

According to statistics, 8% of Americans commit incest i.e. one in every twelve

to thirteen persons in America is involved in incest. Almost all the cases of

incest are due to intoxication of one or both the persons involved.

The Prophet (pbuh) said:

“Alcohol is the mother of all evils, the greatest of Major Sins. Whoever drinks it

may end up committing incest with his mother, his maternal aunt and his

paternal aunt.”

[Al Silisilah al-Saheehah, Hadith No. 1853]

One of the major factors associated with the spread of AIDS, the most

dreaded disease, is alcoholism.

 

 

5. Every alcoholic was initially a social drinker

 

Many may argue in favour of alcohol by calling themselves ‘social drinkers’.

They claim that they only have one or two pegs and they have self-control and

never get intoxicated. Investigations reveal that every alcoholic starts as a

social drinker. Not a single alcoholic or drunkard initially starts drinking with

the intention of becoming an alcoholic or a drunkard. No social drinker can say

that I have been having alcohol for several years and that I have so much

self-control that I have never been intoxicated even a single time.

 

6. If a person is intoxicated just once and commits something

shameful, it will remain with him for a lifetime

Suppose a ‘social drinker’ loses his self-control just once and in a state of

intoxication he commits rape or incest, then any good and modest human

being will never forgive himself throughout his life. The damage caused, both

to the rapist and the victim is irreparable and irreversible.

 

7. Alcohol is prohibited in the Hadith

 

The Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

a. In Sunan Ibn Maajah, Volume 4, Book of Intoxicants, Chapter 1 Hadith

No. 3371.

“Do not drink wine, for it is the key to all evils.”

b. In Sunan Ibn Maajah, Volume 4, Book of Intoxicants, Chapter 10 Hadith

No. 3392

“…Anything which intoxicates in a large quantity is prohibited even in a

small quantity.”

Thus there is no excuse for a nip or a tot.

 

 

c. Not only those who drink alcohol are cursed but also those who deal with

it directly or indirectly are cursed by Allah.

According to Sunan Ibn Maajah, Volume 4, Book of Intoxicants, Chapter

6 Hadith No. 3381.

 

It was reported by Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), that Prophet

Muhammad (pbuh) said:

“God’s curse falls on ten groups of people who deal with alcohol. The one

who distills it, the one for whom it has been distilled, the one who drinks

it, the one who transports it, the one to who it has been brought, the one

whom serves it, the one who sells it, the one who utilizes money from it,

the one who buys it and the one who buys it for someone else.”

 

8. Diseases associated with alcoholism

 

There are several scientific reasons for the prohibition of consumption of

intoxicants i.e. alcohol. The maximum number of deaths in the world related

to any one particular cause is due to the consumption of alcohol. Millions of

people die every year only because of intake of alcohol. I need not go into the

details of all the ill effects of alcohol since most of them are commonly known.

Below is a simple list of few of the alcohol related illnesses:

1. Cirrhosis of Liver is the most well known alcohol associated disease.
 

2. Others are Cancer of Oesophagus, Cancer of Head and Neck, Cancer of

Liver (Hepatoma), Cancer of Bowel, etc.
 

3. Oesophagitis, Gastritis, Pancreatitis and Hepatitis are linked with alcohol

consumption.
 

4. Cardiomyopathy, Hypertension, Coronary Atherosclerosis, Angina and

Heart Attacks are linked with heavy alcohol intakes.
 

5. Strokes, Apoplexy, Fits and different types of Paralysis are linked with

alcohol intake.
 

6. Peripheral Neuropathy, Cortical Atrophy, Cerebellar Atrophy are wellknown

syndromes caused by alcohol consumption.
 

7. Wernicke – Korsakoff syndrome with amnesia of recent events,

confabulations and retainment of memory to old events with different

types of paralysis are mainly due to thiamine deficiency due to excessive

alcohol intake.
 

8. Beriberi and other deficiencies are not uncommon among alcoholics. Even

Pellagra occurs in alcoholics.
 

9. Delerium Tremens is a serious complication that may occur during

recurrent infection of alcoholics or post operatively. It also occurs during

abstention as a sign of withdrawal effect. It is quite serious and may

cause death even if treated in well-equipped centres.
 

10. Numerous Endocrine Disorders have been associated with alcoholism

ranging from Myxoedema to Hyperthyroidism and Florid Cushing’s

Syndrome.
 

11. Haematological ill effects are long and variable. Folic acid deficiency,

however, is the most common manifestation of alcoholic abuse resulting

in Macrocytic Anaemia. Zeive’s syndrome is a triad of Haemolytic

Anaemia, Jaundice and Hyperlipidemia that follows alcoholic binges.
 

12. Thrombocytopenia and other platelet abnormalities are not rare in

alcoholics.
 

13. The commonly used tablet metronidazole (flagyl) interacts badly with

alcohol.
 

14. Recurrent infection is very common among chronic alcoholics. The

resistance to disease and the immunological defense system are

compromised by alcohol intake.
 

15. Chest infections are notorious in alcoholics. Pneumonia, Lung Abcess,

Emphysema and Pulmonary Tuberculosis are all common in alcoholics.

16. During acute alcoholic intoxication, the drunken person usually vomits,

the cough reflexes which are protective are paralysed. The vomitus thus

easily passes to the lung causing Pneumonia or Lung Abscess.

Occasionally it may even cause suffocation and death.

 

17. The ill effects of alcohol consumption on women deserve special mention.

Females are more vulnerable to alcohol-related Cirrhosis than men.

During pregnancy alcohol consumption has a severe detrimental effect on

the foetus. Foetal Alcohol Syndrome is being recognised more and more

in the medical profession.

 

18. Skin diseases are also related to alcohol indulgence.

 

19. Eczema, Alopecia, Nail Dystrophy, Paronychia (infection around the nails)

and Angular Stomatitis (inflammation of the angle of the mouth) are

common diseases among alcoholics.

 

9. Alcoholism is a ‘disease’

Medical doctors have now turned sympathetic towards alcoholics and call

alcoholism a disease rather than an addiction.

The Islamic Research Foundation has published a pamphlet that says:

If alcohol is a disease, it is the only disease that:

- Is sold in bottles

- Is advertised in newspapers, magazines, on the Internet, radio and television

- Has licensed outlets to spread it

- Produces revenue for the government

- Brings violent deaths on the highways

- Destroys family life and increases crime

- Has no germs or viral cause

 

15. EQUALITY OF WITNESSES

 

Question:

Why are two witnesses who are women, equivalent to only one witness who is

a man?

Answer:

 

1. Two female witnesses are equal to one male witness only in financial

transaction.

 

It is not true that two female witnesses are always considered as equal to only

one male witness. It is true only in certain cases. There are no less than eight

verses in the Qur’an that mention witnesses, without specifying male or

female. There is only one verse in the Qur’an that says two female witnesses

are equal to one male witness. This verse is in Surah Al Baqarah, Chapter 2

Verse 282. This is the longest verse in the Qur’an and deals with financial

transactions. It says:

 

“O’ ye who believe! When ye deal with each other, in transactions involving

future obligation in a fixed period of time, reduce them to writing… and get

two witnesses out of your own men and if there are not two men, then a man

and two women, such as ye choose, for witnesses, so that if one of them errs,

the other can remind her…”

[Al-Qur’an 2:282]

This verse of the Qur’an deals only with financial transactions. In such cases,

it is advised to make an agreement in writing between the parties and take

two witnesses, preferably both of which should be men only. In case you

cannot find two men, then one man and two women would suffice.

For instance, suppose a person wants to undergo an operation for a particular

ailment. To confirm the treatment, he would prefer taking references from two

qualified surgeons. In case he is unable to find two surgeons, his second

option would be one surgeon and two general practitioners who are plain

MBBS doctors.

Similarly in financial transactions, two men are preferred. Since financial

responsibility is shouldered by men, they are expected to be well versed in

financial transactions as compared to women. As a second option, the witness

can be one man and two women, so that if one of the women errs the other

can remind her. The Arabic word used in the Qur’an is ‘Tazil’ which means

‘confused’ or ‘to err’. Many have wrongly translated this word as ‘to forget’.

Thus financial transaction is the only case in the Qur’an in which two female

witnesses are equal to one male witness.

2. Two female witnesses equal to one male witness even in the case of

murder

However, some scholars are of the opinion that the feminine attitude can also

have an effect on the witness in a murder case. In such circumstances a

woman is more terrified as compared to a man. Due to her emotional

condition she can get confused. Therefore, according to some jurists, even in

cases of murder, two female witnesses are equivalent to one male witness. In

all other cases, one female witness is equivalent to one male witness.

 

 

3. Two female witnesses not always considered equal to one male

Witness

 

There are no less than eight verses in the Qur’an, which speak about

witnesses without specifying man or woman.

a) While making a will of inheritance, two just persons are required as witnesses.

In Surah Al Maa’idah Chapter 5 Verse 106, the Glorious Qur’an says:

“O’ you who believe! When death approaches any of you, (take) witnesses

among yourself when making bequests, two just persons of your own

(brotherhood) or other from outside if you are journeying through the earth

and the chance of death befalls you...”

[Al-Qur’an 5:106]

 

b) Two persons endued with justice in case of Talaaq (Divorce).

“And take for witness two persons from among you, endued with justice, and

establish the evidence (As) before Allah”

[Al-Qur’an 65:2]

 

c) Four witnesses are required in case of charge against chaste women

“And those who launch a charge against chaste women, and produce not four

witnesses (To support their allegations), flog them with eighty stripes; and

reject their evidence ever after: for such men are wicked transgressors.”

[Al-Qur’an 24:4]

 

 

d) It is also mentioned in Surah Al Nisaa’ Chapter No. 4, Verse No. 6, Surah Al

Nisaa’ Chapter No. 4, Verse No. 15, Surah Al Noor, Chapter No. 24, Verse No.

8, as well as Surah Al Noor, Chapter No. 24, Verse No. 13, which all speak

about witnesses without specifying man or woman.

 

4. Qur’an clearly specifies that one female witness is equal to one male

Witness

 

There are some scholars who are of the opinion that the rule of two female

witnesses equal to one male witness should be applied to all the cases. This

cannot be agreed upon because one particular verse of the Qur’an from Surah

Al Noor Chapter 24, Verse 6 clearly equates one female witness and one male

witness:

“And those who launch a charge against their spouses, and have (in support)

no evidence but their own - their solitary evidence can be received.”

[Al-Qur’an 24:6]

 

5. Solitary witness of Ayesha (May Allah be pleased with her) is

sufficient for hadith to be accepted

 

Ayesha (May Allah be pleased with her) the wife of the beloved Prophet

(pbuh) has narrated no less than 2220 Ahadith, which are considered

authentic only on her solitary evidence. This is a sufficient proof that one

witness of a woman can also be accepted.

Many jurists agree that even one witness of a woman is sufficient for the

sighting of the crescent of the moon. Imagine one woman witness is sufficient

for one of the pillars of Islam, i.e. fasting and the whole Muslim community

agree and accept her witness! Some jurists say that one witness is required at

the beginning of Ramadhaan and two witnesses at the end of Ramadhaan. It

makes no difference whether the witnesses are men or women.

 

6. Female witnesses are preferred in some cases

 

Some incidents require only female witness and that of a male cannot be

accepted. For instance, in dealing with the problems of women, while giving

the burial bath to a woman, the witness has to be a woman.

 

16. INHERITANCE

 

Question:

Under Islamic law, why does a woman inherit only half the wealth as

compared to the man?

Answer:

 

1. Inheritance in the Qur’an

 

The Qur’anic verses that contain guidance regarding inheritance are:

* Surah Al Baqarah, Chapter 2 Verse 180

* Surah Al Baqarah, Chapter 2 Verse 240

* Surah Al Nisaa’, Chapter 4 Verses 7-9

* Surah Al Nisaa’, Chapter 4 Verse 19

* Surah Al Nisaa’, Chapter 4 Verse 33 and

* Surah Al Maa’idah, Chapter 5 Verses 106-108

 

2. Specific shares of inheritance for the relatives
 

There are three verses in the Qur’an that broadly describe the share of close

relatives i.e. Surah Al Nisaa’, Chapter 4, Verses 11, 12 and 176. The verses

are as follows:

 

 “Allah (thus) directs you as regards your children’s (inheritance): to the male,

a portion equal to that of two females, if only daughters, two or more, their

share is two-thirds of the inheritance; if only one, her share is a half.

For parents, a sixth share of the inheritance to each, if the deceased left

children; if no children, and the parents are the (only) heirs, the mother has a

third; if the deceased left brothers (or sisters) the mother has a sixth. (The

distribution in all cases is) after the payment of legacies and debts. Ye know

not whether your parents or your children are nearest to you in benefit. These

are settled portions ordained by Allah; and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”

“In what your wives leave, your share is half if they leave no child; but if they

leave a child, ye get a fourth; after payment of legacies and debts. In what ye

leave, their share is a fourth if ye leave no child; but if ye leave a child, they

get an eighth; after payment of legacies and debts. If the man or woman

whose inheritance is in question, has left neither ascendants nor descendants,

but has left a brother or a sister, each one of the two gets a sixth; but if more

than two, they share in a third; after payment of legacies and debts; so that

no loss is caused (to anyone). Thus it is ordained by Allah; and Allah is All-

Knowing Most Forbearing.”

[Al-Qur’an 4:11-12]

 

“They ask thee for a legal decision. Say: Allah directs (them) about those who

leave no descendants or ascendants as heirs. If it is a man that dies, leaving a

sister but no child, she shall have half the inheritance. If (such a deceased

was) a woman who left no child, her brother takes her inheritance. If there

are two sisters, they shall have two thirds of the inheritance (between them).

If there are brothers and sisters, (they share), the male having twice the share

of the female. Thus doth Allah makes clear to you (His law), lest ye err. And

Allah hath knowledge of all things.”

[Al-Qur’an 4:176]

 

3. Female sometimes inherits same or more than the male counterpart

 

In most of the cases, a woman inherits half of what her male counterpart

inherits. However, this is not always the case. In case the deceased has left

no ascendant or descendent but has left the uterine brother and sister, each

of the two inherits one sixth. If the deceased has left children, both the

parents that is the mother and the father get an equal share and inherit one

sixth each. In certain cases, a woman can also inherit a share that is double

that of the male. If the deceased is a woman who has left no children,

brothers or sisters and is survived only by her husband, mother and father,

the husband inherits half the property while the mother inherits one third and

the father the remaining one sixth. In this particular case, the mother inherits

a share that is double that of the father.

 

4. Female usually inherits half the share of that of the male counterpart

 

It is true that as a general rule, in most cases, the female inherits a share that

is half that of the male. For instance in the following cases:

1. Daughter inherits half of what the son inherits.

2. Wife inherits 1/4th and husband 1/2 if the deceased has no children.

3. Wife inherits 1/8th and husband 1/4th if the deceased has children.

4. If the deceased has no ascendant or descendent, the sister inherits a

share that is half that of the brother.

5. Male inherits double than the female because he financially supports

the family

 

In Islam, a woman has no financial obligation and the economical

responsibility lies on the shoulders of the man. Before a woman is married it is

the duty of the father or brother to look after the lodging, boarding, clothing

and other financial requirements of the woman. After she is married it is the

duty of the husband or the son. Since the financial burden to look after the

family is put on the men, in order to do justice to this responsibility they get

double the share of inheritance.

For example, if a man dies leaving about One Hundred and Fifty Thousand

Dollars for the children (i.e one son and one daughter), the son inherits One

Hundred Thousand Dollars and the daughter only Fifty Thousand Dollars. Out

of the One Hundred Thousand Dollars which the son inherits, as his duty

towards his family, he may have to spend on them almost the entire amount

or say about Eighty Thousand Dollars and thus he has a small percentage of

inheritance, say about Twenty Thousand Dollars, left for himself. On the other

hand, the daughter, who inherits Fifty Thousand Dollars, is not bound to

spend a single penny on anybody. She can keep the entire amount for herself.

Would you prefer inheriting One Hundred Thousand Dollars and spending

Eighty Thousand Dollars from it, or inheriting Fifty Thousand Dollars and

having the entire amount for yourself?

 

17. HEREAFTER - LIFE AFTER DEATH

 

Question:

How can you prove the existence of the Hereafter i.e. life after death?

Answer:

 

1. Is believing in the Hereafter a blind belief?

 

Many people wonder as to how a person who believes in science and logic

believes in the existence of life after death. People assume that anyone

believing in the Hereafter is doing so on the basis of blind belief.

My belief in the Hereafter is also based on a logical argument.

 

2. Believing in Hereafter is a logical belief

 

There are more than a thousand verses in the Glorious Qur’an, containing

scientific facts (refer to my book, “The Qur’an and Modern Science -

Compatible or Incompatible?”). Many facts mentioned in the Qur’an have been

discovered in the last few centuries. But science has not advanced to a level

where it can confirm every statement of the Qur’an.

Suppose 80% of all that is mentioned in the Qur’an has been proved to be

100% correct. About the remaining 20%, science makes no categorical

statement, since it has not advanced to a level, where it can either prove or

disprove these statements. With the limited knowledge that we have, we

cannot say for sure whether even a single percentage or a single verse of the

Qur’an from this 20% ambiguous portion is wrong. Thus when 80% of the

Qur’an is 100% correct and the remaining 20% is not disproved, my logic says

that even the 20% ambiguous portion is correct. The existence of the

Hereafter, which is mentioned in the Qur’an, falls in the 20% ambiguous

portion, which my logic says is correct.

 

3. Concept of peace and human values is useless without the concept

of Hereafter

 

Is robbing good or bad? Any normal human being would say it is bad. How

would a person who does not believe in the Hereafter convince a powerful and

influential criminal that robbing is bad?

Suppose I am the most powerful and influential criminal in the world. At the

same time I am an intelligent and a logical person. I say that robbing is good

because it helps me to lead a luxurious life. Thus robbing is good for me.

If any person can give me a single logical reason or argument as to why it is

bad for me, I will stop immediately. People usually put forward the following

arguments:

 

a. The person who is robbed will face difficulties

 

Some may say that the person who is robbed will face difficulties. I do

agree that it is bad for the person who is robbed. But it is good for me.

If I rob a thousand dollars, I can enjoy a good meal at a 5-star

restaurant.

 

b. Someone may rob you

Some people argue that someday I may be robbed. No one can rob me

because I am a very powerful criminal and I have hundreds of

bodyguards. I can rob anyone but no one can rob me. Robbing may be

bad for a common man but not for an influential person like me.

 

c. The police may arrest you

Some may say, if you rob, you can be arrested by the police. The police

cannot arrest me because I have the police in my pocket. I have the

ministers on my payroll. I agree that if a common man robs, he will be

arrested and it will be bad for him, but I am an extraordinarily influential

and powerful criminal.

Give me one logical reason why it is bad for me and I will stop robbing.

 

d. It’s easy money

Some may say it’s easy money and not hard-earned money. I totally

agree that it is easy money, and that is one of the main reasons why I

rob. If a person has the option of earning money the easy way or the

hard way, any logical person would choose the easy way.

 

e. It is against humanity

Some may say it is against humanity and that a person should care for

other human beings. I counter argue by asking as to who wrote this law

called ‘humanity’ and why should I follow it?

This law may be good for the emotional and sentimental people but I am

a logical person and I see no benefit in caring for other human beings.

 

f. It is a selfish act

Some may say that robbing is being selfish. I agree that robbing is a

selfish act; but then why should I not be selfish? It helps me enjoy life.

 

4. No logical reason as to why robbing is bad

 

Hence all arguments put forth to prove that robbing is bad are illogical. It may

satisfy a common man but not a powerful and influential criminal like me.

Similarly raping, cheating etc. can be justified as good for a person like me

and there is no logical argument that can convince me that these things are

bad.

 

5. A Muslim can convince a powerful and influential criminal

 

Now let us switch sides. Suppose you are the most powerful and influential

criminal in the world, who has the police and the ministers in his pocket. You

have hundreds of bodyguards to protect you. I am a Muslim who will convince

you that robbing, raping, cheating, etc. are bad.

Even if I put forth the same arguments to prove that robbing is bad, the

criminal will respond the same way as he did earlier.

 

I agree that the criminal is being logical and all his arguments are only true

when he is the most powerful and influential criminal.

 

6. Every human being wants justice

 

Each and every human being wants justice. Even if he does not want justice

for others, he wants justice for at least himself. Some people who are

powerful and influential would not mind doing injustice to others. However,

the same people would surely object if some injustice were done to them. The

reason such people do not mind doing injustice to others is because they think

their power and influence besides helping them in doing injustice to others,

will also prevent others from doing injustice to them.

 

7. God is Most Powerful and Just

 

As a Muslim I would convince the criminal about the existence of Almighty

God (refer to my answer on proving the existence of God). This God is more

powerful than you and at the same time is also just. The Glorious Qur’an says:

“Allah is never unjust in the least degree”

[Al-Qur’an 4:40]

 

8. Why does God not punish me?

 

The criminal, being a logical and scientific person, agrees that God exists,

after being presented with scientific facts from the Qur’an but he may argue

as to why God, if He is Powerful and Just, does not punish him.

 

9. The people who do injustice should be punished

 

Every person who has suffered injustice, irrespective whether he is rich or

poor, influential or not, would surely want the perpetrator of injustice to be

punished. Every normal person would like the robber or the rapist to be

punished. Though a large number of criminals are punished, many even go

scot-free. They lead a pleasant, luxurious life, and even live peacefully. If

injustice were done to a powerful and influential person, by someone more

powerful and more influential than he, even such a person would want that

person to be punished.

 

10. This life is a test for the Hereafter

 

This life is a test for the Hereafter. The Glorious Qur’an says:

“He who created Death and Life that He may try which of you is best in deed;

and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving.”

[Al-Qur’an 67:2]

 

11. Final justice is on the Day of Judgement

 

The Glorious Qur’an says:

“Every soul shall have a taste of death: and only on the Day of Judgement

shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire

and admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of life): For the life

of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.”

[Al-Qur’an 3:185]

 

Final justice will be done on the Day of Judgement. After a person dies, he will

be resurrected on the Day of Judgement. It is possible that a person receives

part of his punishment in this world. The final reward and punishment will only

be in the Hereafter. God Almighty may not punish a robber or a rapist in this

world but he will surely be held accountable on the Day of Judgement and will

be punished in the Hereafter i.e. life after death.

 

12. What punishment can the human law give to Hitler?

 

Hitler incinerated six million Jews. Even if the police had arrested him, what

punishment can the human law give Hitler for justice to prevail? The most

they can do is to incinerate Hitler. But that will only compensate for the killing

of one Jew. What about the remaining five million, nine hundred and ninetynine

thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine Jews?

 

13. Allah can burn Hitler more than six million times in the Hellfire

 

Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an:

“Those who reject Our signs, We shall soon cast into the Fire; as often as their

skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins, that they

may taste the penalty: for Allah Is Exalted in Power, Wise.”

[Al-Qur’an 4:56]

If Allah wishes He can incinerate Hitler six million times in the Hereafter in the

Hellfire.

 

14. No concept of human values or good and bad without the concept of

Hereafter

 

It is clear that without convincing a person about the Hereafter, i.e. life after

death, it is impossible to prove the concept of human values or the good and

bad to any person who is doing injustice especially when he is influential and

powerful.

 

 

18. WHY ARE MUSLIMS DIVIDED INTO SECTS / DIFFERENT

SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT?

 

Question:

When all the Muslims follow one and the same Qur’an, then why are there so

many sects and different schools of thought among Muslims?

Answer:

 

1. Muslims should be United

 

The Glorious Qur’an says:

“And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you),

and be not divided among yourselves;”

[Al-Qur’an 3:103]

Which is the rope of Allah that is being referred to in this verse? It is the

Glorious Qur’an and the Sahih Hadith. The Glorious Qur’an and the authentic

Hadith are the rope of Allah, which all Muslims should hold fast together.

There is double emphasis in this verse. Besides saying ‘hold fast all together’ it

also says, ‘be not divided’.

The Glorious Qur’an further says,

“Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger…”

[Al-Qur’an 4:59]

All the Muslims should follow the Qur’an and authentic Ahadith and be not

divided among themselves.

 

 

2. It is Prohibited to make sects and divisions in Islam

 

The Glorious Qur’an says:

“As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, thou hast no

part in them in the least: their affair is with Allah: He will in the end tell them

the truth of all that they did.”

[Al-Qur’an 6:159]

But when one asks a Muslim, “who are you?”, the common answer is either ‘I

am a Sunni, or ‘I am Shia’. Some call themselves Hanafi, or Shafa’ee or Maaliki

or Hambali. Some say ‘I am a Deobandi’, while some others say ‘I am a

Barelvi.’

 

3. Our Prophet (pbuh) was a Muslim

 

One may ask such Muslims, “What was our beloved Prophet (pbuh)? Was he a

Hanafi or a Shafa’ee, or a Hambali or a Maaliki?” No! He was a Muslim, like all

the other prophets and messengers of Allah before him.

It is mentioned in Surah Aali Imraan Chapter 3 Verse 52 of the Glorious Qur’an

that Jesus (pbuh) was a Muslim.

Further, in Surah Aali Imraan Chapter 3 Verse 67, the Glorious Qur’an says

that Ibraheem (pbuh) was not a Jew or a Christian but was a Muslim.

 

4. The Qur’an says to call yourselves a Muslim

 

a. If anyone poses a Muslim the question who are you, he should say, “I am

a MUSLIM”, not a Hanafi or a Shafa’ee. Nowhere does the Qur’an say

that you should call yourself a Hanafi or a Shafe’ee. Surah Fussilat

Chapter 41 Verse 33 says:

 

“Who is better in speech than one who calls (men) to Allah, works

righteousness, and says, ‘I am of those who bow in Islam (Muslim)?”

[Al-Qur’an 41:33]

The Qur’an says, “Say: I am of those who bow in Islam.” In other words,

say, “I am a Muslim”.

b. The Prophet (pbuh) dictated letters to non-Muslim kings and rulers

inviting them to accept Islam. In these letters he mentioned the verse of

the Qur’an from Surah Aali Imraan Chapter 3 Verse 64:

Say ye: “Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah’s

Will).”

[Al-Qur’an 3:64]

 

5. Respect all the Great Scholars of Islam

 

We must respect all the great scholars of Islam, including the four

Imaams, Imaam Abu Haneefah, Imaam Shafa’ee, Imaam Hambal and

Imaam Maalik (may Allah have mercy on all of them). They were great

scholars and may Allah reward them for their research and hard work.

One can have no objection if someone agrees with the views and

research of Imaam Abu Haneefah or Imam Shafa’ee, etc. But when

posed a question, ‘who are you?’, the reply should only be ‘I am a

Muslim’.

Some may argue by quoting the hadith of our beloved Prophet (pbuh)

from Sunan Abu Dawood Vol. 5, The Book of Sunnah, Chapter No. 1,

Hadith No. 4596. In this hadith the Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have

said, “My Ummah (community) will be split up into seventy-three sects.”

 

 

This hadith reports that the Prophet (pbuh) predicted the emergence of

seventy-three sects. He did not say that Muslims should be active in

dividing themselves into sects. The Glorious Qur’an commands us not to

make sects. Those who follow the teachings of the Qur’an and Sahih

Hadith and do not make sects are the people who are on the true path.

According to Sunan Al Tirmidhi, Vol. 5, Hadith No. 2641, the Prophet

(pbuh) is reported to have said, “…My Ummah will split into seventythree

sects. All of them will be in Hellfire except one sect.” The

companions asked Allah’s messenger, which group that would be? Where

upon he (pbuh) replied, “It is the one to which I and my companions

belong.”

The Glorious Qur’an mentions in several verses, “Obey Allah and obey His

Messenger.” A true Muslim should only follow the Glorious Qur’an and the

Sahih Hadith. He can agree with the views of any scholar as long as they

conform to the teachings of the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith. If such views

go against the Word of Allah, or the Sunnah of His Prophet, then they

carry no weight, regardless of how learned the scholar might be.

If only all Muslims read the Qur’an with understanding and adhere to

Sahih Hadith, In sha Allah most of these differences would be solved and

we could be one united Muslim Ummah.

 

19. ALL RELIGIONS TEACH ITS FOLLOWERS TO DO GOOD

DEEDS, THEN WHY FOLLOW ONLY ISLAM?

 

Question

All religions basically teach followers to do good deeds. Why should a person

only follow Islam? Can he not follow any of the religions?

Answer

 

1. Major difference between Islam and other religions

 

All religions basically teach its followers to do good deeds, but the difference

between Islam and other religions is that Islam shows us the way how to

achieve that state of goodness.

 

2. Example - Islam does not only prohibit robbery but also prescribes

methods of eliminating robbery

 

a. Islam prescribes a method of eliminating robbery

All major religions teach that robbing is an evil act. Islam teaches the

same. So what is the difference between Islam and the other religions?

The difference lies in the fact that Islam, besides teaching that robbing is

evil, shows a practical way on how to achieve that state in which people

will not rob.

 

b. Islam prescribes Zakaah

Islam prescribes a system of Zakaah (obligatory annual charity). Islamic

law prescribes that every rich person who has a saving of more than the

nisaab level i.e. more than 85 grams of gold, should give 2.5% of that

saving every lunar year in charity. If every rich person in the world gives

Zakaah sincerely, poverty will be eradicated from this world. Not a single

human being would die of hunger.

 

c. Chopping off the hands as punishment for robbery

Islam prescribes chopping off the hands for the robber. The Glorious

Qur’an says in Surah Al Maa’idah:

“As to the thief, male or female, cut off his or her hands: a punishment

by way of example, from Allah, for their crime: and Allah is Exalted in

power, full of wisdom.”

[Al-Qur’an 5:38]

The non-Muslim may say, “Chopping off the hands in this 21st century.

Islam is a barbaric and ruthless religion!”

 

d. Results achieved when Islamic Shar’iah is Implemented

America is supposed to be one of the most advanced countries in the

world. Unfortunately it also has one of the highest rates of crime, theft,

and robbery.

According to National Crime Victimization Survey Bureau of Justice

Statistics (US Dept. of Justice), in the year 2014 alone 664,210 cases of

robbery took place in America. Everyday 1,820 cases of Robbery. Every

Second 1.26 cases of robbery took place in America in the year 2014.

According to National Crime Victimization Survey Bureau of Justice

Statistics (US Dept. of Justice), in 2013 alone 6,126,420 Violent Crimes

took place in America. Everyday 16,785 cases of Violent Crime. Every

second about 12 Violent Crimes were committed in America in the year

2013.

Suppose the Islamic Shar’iah is implemented in America i.e. every rich

person gives Zakaat (i.e. 2.5% of his savings in charity above 85 grams

of gold every lunar year), and every convicted robber has his or her

hands chopped off as a punishment. Will the rate of theft and robbery in

America increase, remain same or decrease? Naturally it will decrease.

It’s a practical law. The moment the Shar’iah is implemented, it gets results.

 

I agree that the amount of theft that takes place in the world today is so

tremendous that if you chop off the hands of all the thieves, there will be

tens of thousands of people whose hands will be chopped off. The point

here is that the moment you implement this law, the rate of theft will

decline immediately. The robber will think 10 times before robbing. The

mere thought of the punishment itself will discourage majority of the

robbers. There will barely be a few who would rob. Hence only a few

person’s hands would be chopped off but millions would live peacefully

without fear of being robbed.

Islamic Shar’iah is therefore practical, and achieves results.

 

3. Example - Islam prohibits the molestation and rape of women. It

enjoins Hijaab and prescribes capital punishment for a rapist

 

a. Islam prescribes methods of eliminating molestation and rape

 

All the major religions teach its followers not to molest or rape women.

Islam teaches the same. What then is the difference between Islam

and the other religions? The difference lies in the fact that Islam does

not merely prohibit but also shows a way about how to achieve a state

in which people will not molest or rape women.

 

b. Hijaab for men

 

Islam has a system of Hijaab. The Glorious Qur’an first mentions Hijaab

for the men and then for the women. Hijaab for the men is mentioned

in the following verse:

“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard

their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is

well acquainted with all that they do.”

[Al-Qur’an 24:30]

The moment a man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed

thought comes to his mind, he should lower his gaze.

c. Hijaab for women

 

Hijaab for women is mentioned in the following verse:

“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and

guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and

ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they

should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty

except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their

sons...”

[Al-Qur’an 24:31]

The extent of Hijaab for a woman is that her complete body should be

covered. The only part that can be seen, are the face and the hands

up to the wrists. If they wish to cover, they can even cover these parts

of the body. However some Islamic scholars insist that even the face

should be covered.

 

d. Hijaab prevents molestation

 

The reason why Allah has prescribed Hijaab for the women is given in

the Qur’an in the following verse of Surah Al-Ahzaab:

“O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women,

that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when

abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such)

and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

[Al-Qur’an 33:59]

The Qur’an says that Hijaab has been prescribed for the women so that

they are recognized as modest women, and this would prevent them

from being molested.

 

e. Example of twin sisters

 

Suppose two sisters who are twins and who are equally beautiful, walk

down a street. One of them is wearing the Islamic Hijaab i.e. the

complete body is covered except for the face and the hands up to the

wrists, and the other twin is wearing a mini skirt or shorts with a deep

neck. Around the corner there is a hooligan who is waiting for an

opportunity to tease a girl. Who will he tease? The girl wearing the

Islamic Hijaab or the girl wearing the mini skirt or shorts with a deep

neck? Dresses that expose more than they conceal, are an indirect

invitation to the opposite sex for teasing, molestation and rape. The

Qur’an rightly says that the Hijaab prevents women from being

molested.

 

f. Capital punishment for rapist

The Islamic Shar’iah prescribes capital punishment for a rapist. The

non-Muslim may say, “Capital punishment in the age of science and

technology! Islam is a ruthless and barbaric religion.” Many accuse

Islam of being ruthless and barbaric. I have asked a common question

to hundreds of non-Muslim men. Suppose God-forbid, some one rapes

your wife, your mother or your sister and you are made the judge. The

rapist is brought in front of you. What punishment would you give

him? All of them said, “we would put him to death”. Some went to the

extent of saying, “we would torture him to death”. If your wife or your

mother is raped you want the rapist to be put to death. But if someone

else’s wife or mother is raped, capital punishment is a barbaric law.

Why the double standards?

 

g. USA has one of the highest rates of Rape

The United States of America is supposed to be one of the most

advanced countries of the world. An FBI report in the year 1990 says

that 1,02,555 cases of rape were reported. It further says that only

16% of the cases of rapes were reported. Thus, in order to know the

actual number of rapes that took place in 1990, the reported figure

should be multiplied by 6.25. We get a total of 6,40,968 rape cases

that took place in the year 1990. If the total is divided by 365, the

number of days in a year, we get an average of 1,756 rape incidents

everyday.

The FBI report of 1990 continues and says that out of the rape cases

that were reported only 10% of the rapists were arrested, that is only

1.6% of the actual rapes committed. Out of those arrested, 50% were

let free before the trial. This would mean that only 0.8% of the rapists

faced a trial. In other words if a person commits 125 rapes the

chances that he will get a punishment for rape is only once. Many

would consider this a good gamble. And the report says that of those

people who faced trial, 50% received sentences of less than a year’s

imprisonment though the American law says rape carries a seven-year

sentence of imprisonment. For a rapist, the judge is lenient to first time

offenders. Imagine a person commits 125 rapes and the chances of

being convicted is only once, and 50% of the time the judge will be

lenient and give a sentence of less than a year!

 

 

According to National Crime Victimization Survey Bureau of Justice

Statistics (US Dept. of Justice), in 2014 alone 2,84,350 cases of rape

were reported and only 33.6% of the actual cases of rape were

reported. Thus, 2,84,350 X 2.976 = 8,46,280 rapes took place in 2014.

That is, an average of 2,318 cases of rape took place everyday in

America in 2014. Every 37 seconds one rape is taking place in America.

Maybe American rapists got bolder.

 

h. Results achieved when Islamic Shar’iah is implemented

Suppose the Islamic Shar’iah is implemented in America. Whenever a

man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed thought comes

to his mind, he lowers his gaze. Every woman wears the Islamic Hijaab

that is the complete body is covered except the face and the hands

upto the wrists. After this if any man commits rape, he gets capital

punishment. The question is, will the rate of rape in America increase,

will it remain the same or will it decrease? Naturally it will decrease.

Islamic Shar’iah gets results.

 

4. Islam has Practical Solutions for the Problems of Mankind

Islam is the best way of life because it provides practical solutions for the

problems of mankind. Islam is a universal religion. It can be followed by any

group of people in any part of the world, yet it will get results.

 

20. VAST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ISLAM AND THE ACTUAL

PRACTICE OF MUSLIMS

 

Question:

If Islam is the best religion, why are many of the Muslims dishonest,

unreliable, and involved in activities such as cheating, bribing, dealing in

drugs, etc.?

Answer:

 

1. Media maligns Islam

 

a. Islam is without doubt the best religion but the media is in the hands of

the westerners who are afraid of Islam. The media is continuously

broadcasting and printing information against Islam. They either provide

misinformation about Islam, misquote Islam or project a point out of

proportion, if any.

 

b. When any bomb blasts take place anywhere, the first people to be

accused without proof are invariably the Muslims. This appears as

headlines in the news. Later, when they find that non-Muslims were

responsible, it appears as an insignificant news item.

 

c. If a 50-year old Muslim marries a 15-year old girl after taking her

permission, it appears on the front page but when a 50-year old non-

Muslim rapes a 6-year old girl, it may appear in the news in the inside

pages as ‘Newsbriefs’. Everyday in America on an average 2,318 cases of

rape take place but it doesn’t appear in the news, since it has become a

way of life for the Americans.

 

2. Black sheep in every community

 

I am aware that there are some Muslims who are dishonest, unreliable, who

cheat, etc. but the media projects this as though only Muslims are involved in

such activities. There are black sheep in every community. I know Muslims

who are alcoholics and who can drink most of the non-Muslims under the

table.

 

3. Muslims best as a whole

 

Inspite of all the black sheep in the Muslim community, Muslims taken on the

whole, yet form the best community in the world. We are the biggest

community of tee totallers as a whole, i.e. those who don’t imbibe alcohol.

Collectively, we are a community, which gives the maximum charity in the

world. There is not a single person in the world who can even show a candle

to the Muslims where modesty is concerned; where sobriety is concerned;

where human values and ethics are concerned.

 

4. Don’t judge a car by its driver

 

Suppose if you want to judge how good is the latest model of the “Mercedes”

car and a person who does not know how to drive sits at the steering wheel

and bangs up the car, who will you blame? The car or the driver? But

naturally, the driver. To analyze how good the car is, a person should not look

at the driver but see the ability and features of the car. How fast is it, what is

its average fuel consumption, what are the safety measures, etc. Even if I

agree for the sake of argument that the Muslims are bad, we can’t judge

Islam by its followers? If you want to judge how good Islam is, then judge it

according to its authentic sources, i.e. the Glorious Qur’an and the Sahih

Hadith.

 

5. Judge Islam by its best follower i.e. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)

 

If you practically want to check how good a car is, put an expert driver behind

the steering wheel. Similarly the best and the most exemplary follower of

Islam by whom you can check how good Islam is, is the last and final

messenger of God, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Besides Muslims, there are

several honest and unbiased non-Muslim historians who have acclaimed that

prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the best human being. According to Michael

H. Hart who wrote the book, ‘The 100 Most Influential Men in History’, the

topmost position, i.e. the number one position goes to the beloved prophet of

Islam, Muhammad (pbuh). There are several such examples of non-Muslims

paying great tributes to the Prophet (pbuh), like Thomas Carlyle, La-Martine,

etc.

 

21. EXISTENCE OF GOD

 

Question:

How can you prove the existence of God?

 

22. QUR’AN THE WORD OF GOD?

 

Question:

How can you prove that the Qur’an is the Word of God?

 

23. NON-MUSLIMS REFERRED AS KAAFIRS

 

Question:

Why do Muslims abuse non-Muslims by calling them Kaafirs?

Answer:

 

1. Kaafir means one who rejects

 

‘Kaafir’ is derived from the word ‘kufr’, which means ‘to conceal’ or ‘to reject’.

In Islamic terminology, ‘Kaafir’ means one who conceals or rejects the truth of

Islam and a person who rejects Islam is in English called a ‘non-Muslim’.

 

2. If non-Muslims are hurt - they should accept Islam

 

If any non-Muslim considers the word ‘Kaafir’ i.e. ‘non-Muslim’ as an abuse, he

may choose to accept Islam and then we will stop referring to him as or call

him a Kaafir i.e. a non-Muslim.