Picking Up the Pieces
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http//www.faithfreedom.org/videos-features/german-egyptian-predicts-the-demise-of-islam/
Another ?article? that I wish to write concerns Islam being its own enemy. In his new book, the German-Egyptian scientist and historian Hamad Abdel-Samad (who already has a fatwa on him) predicts the imminent collapse of Islam due to its perceived inability to adapt to the modern era. He says that the Islamic world is ultimately a world of contradictions wherein Muslims consume modernity without embracing it (i.e. ?modern? values like freedom and equality). This is (he says) due to a resentment of anything which does not (or does not seem to) fit into the social paradigm of Islam (whether it be because it questions the ?Holy? nature of the institution or because of an Islamic inferiority complex). However, I am doubtful that it could collapse anymore than it already has (it is simply the pile of debris left over after the explosion ? itself being separated into smaller rubble called ?sects?). After all, Islam itself can never die until all of the Qur?ans and ahadith manuscripts/paperbacks have been destroyed, and if everyone left the religion, what is to stop the psychological switches (including all of the components and necessities of faith) from flicking back?
In an afterthought to my previous article ?Explaining the Explanation?, I mentioned that the definite and unchanging Qur?anic Message meant that Islam was adaptable to all circumstances through time. Such a notion requires the ?radical? assertion that the Qur?an is not a slave to ahadith, but that the ahadith are slaves to the Qur?an
?To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute.?
Qur?an 458
In Islam, the Qur?an itself is the sole means by which Muslims are enjoined to conduct affairs. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) did this, but it seems that Muslims have taken his instructions as community leader for Divine Revelation, and his paraphrasing of the Qur?an for another Qur?an (whether one agrees or disagrees with this statement, it is ultimately irrelevant to my point). The ahadith (responsible for the splintering of Islam) can be divided into those which serve particular sects, those which comply with the Qur?an and those which are silly, useless or contrary to the spirit of Islam. This is obvious simply by observing the three contradictory endings to the most ?reliable? hadith, the Prophet Muhammad?s (SAW) Final Sermon
a) ?I am leaving for you two things that you must uphold, the Qur?an and my Sunnah.? (According to Muwatta 46/3).
This serves the Sunni agenda. Notice that the majority group is the weakest here.
b) ?I am leaving for you the Qur?an and my relatives (Ahl Al Bayt).? (According to Muslim 44/4, Nu 2408; Ibn Hanbal 4/366; Darimi 23/1, Nu 3319).
This serves the Shia agenda, but does the Qur?an truly provide ground for such ideas?
c) ?I am leaving for you the Qur?an; you shall uphold it.? (According to Muslim 15/19, Nu 1218; Ibn Majah 25/84, Nu 3074; Abu Dawud 11/56, Nu 1905).
What did the prophet leave for us according to the best hadith, i.e., the Qur?an (619,38,114; 548-49; 12111; 3923)? Notice that this is the strongest report.
Bassam Zawadi?s official refutation to the fact that enshrinement of ahadith and the strange ideas circulated through many of them have divided up Islam is simply as follows (only three lines)
?This argument could easily be turned around and be used against the Quranites since they themselves are divided up. You have the Rashad Khalifa sect that believes that he was a Messenger of God and others who don't and they are both ?Quran Only Muslims?.?
He is saying that although the ahadith are not useful for figuring out what Islam is, neither is the Qur?an! He blames people?s interpretation of ahadith for the division and thus acknowledges that ?Qur?an-Alone Muslims? are as equal as the other sects (since he accuses ?Qur?an-Alone Muslims? of misinterpreting the Qur?an). Therefore, if he labels ?Qur?an-Alone Muslims? non-Muslims then he must also call Shia Muslims non-Muslims. This would make him even more of an idol-worshipper unless he could bring a promise from Allah (SWT) that every ahadith he enshrines is valid and mandated. The pithy response is to say that since Sunni Islam depends on a specific interpretation of the Qur?an and ahadith, it depends on the same human process as Shia Islam and Qur?aniyun Islam. They are all equally valid according to Zawadi?s admission/claim that they are equally ineffective because of their humanness. Sunni Islam is therefore man-made, and is not the true religion mandated by Allah (SWT). He claims to believe in the Qur?an, but he does not bother to follow it because he knows that his belief is simply his own making and his own choice (that is the point we all follow our paths according to who we are, but the Qur?an puts a boundary against compelling others). Yet if a Sunni Muslim decided to make a different choice he would expect that Sunni Muslim to be put to death. Here are his comments on death for apostasy
Now I have to admit, this is not a simple thing to understand. Most Muslims might not fully comprehend it. I doubt that most non-Muslims could understand it either, but that does not prove anything. The reason why the non-Muslim cannot understand the law of apostasy in Islam is because they do not believe Islam to be the true religion. Us Muslims know it. We do not merely believe it. We know it. These are God?s laws that we are talking about here, this is not a joke. This is treason against God. People cannot understand that. But again, that is a logical fallacy. The idea of rejecting something just because you do not like it or agree with it means nothing. It proves nothing.
Why does Allah (SWT) require people to punish people for ?treason against Him?? What of
?And say The truth is from your Lord, so let him who please believe, and let him who please disbelieve??
Qur?an 1829
?
This is why I call him an idol-worshipper. His attitude itself is sufficient, but we know that the Qur?an never mandates fighting nor killing anyone who was not fighting nor intending to kill someone first (there are even ahadith where Muhammad (SAW) did not kill apostates). Imagine that someone managed to find death for apostasy in the Qur?an it would still be a human interpretation and thus no more valid than that of the person who could find no such penalty. Thus, every Muslim must look at the actual crux of Islam
?This Book, there is no doubt in it, is a guide to those who guard (against evil). Those who believe in the unseen and keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them. And who believe in that which has been revealed to you and that which was revealed before you and they are sure of the hereafter.?
Qur?an 22-4
?And the servants of the Beneficent Allah are they who walk on the earth in humbleness, and when the ignorant address them, they say Peace. And they who pass the night prostrating themselves before their Lord and standing, and they who say O our Lord! turn away from us the punishment of hell, surely the punishment thereof is a lasting. Surely it is an evil abode and place to stay. And they who when they spend, are neither extravagant nor parsimonious, and between these the just mean. And they who do not call upon another god with Allah and do not slay the soul, which Allah has forbidden except in the requirements of justice, and do not commit fornication and he who does this shall find a requital of sin; the punishment shall be doubled to him on the day of resurrection, and he shall abide therein in abasement. Except him who repents and believes and does a good deed; so these are they of whom Allah changes the evil deeds to good ones; and Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. And whoever repents and does good, he surely turns to Allah a turning. And they who do not bear witness to what is false, and when they pass by what is vain, they pass by nobly. And they who, when reminded of the communications of their Lord, do not fall down thereat deaf and blind. And they who say O our Lord! grant us in our wives and our offspring the joy of our eyes, and make us guides to those who guard .?
Qur?an 2563-74
?Then he is of those who believe and charge one another to show patience, and charge one another to show compassion.?
Qur?an 9017
?I swear by the time, most surely man is in loss, except those who believe and do good, and enjoin on each other truth, and enjoin on each other patience.?
Qur?an 1041-3
So as we can see Islam is not about building an institution to house our enormous egos! It is not for Muslims to judge others or each other, but simply to do one?s best to follow the Qur?an, the whole Qur?an and nothing but the Qur?an (wherever it takes us!)
?Lo! you are they who will love them while they do not love you, and you believe in the Book the whole of it; and when they meet you they say We believe, and when they are alone, they bite the ends of their fingers in rage against you. Say Die in your rage; surely Allah knows what is in the breasts.?
Qur?an 3119
How can we follow all of it if we are splintering and abrogating its authority with ahadith?
?And say Surely I am the plain warner, like as We sent down on the dividers those who made the Qur?an into shreds. So, by your Lord, We would most certainly question them all as to what they did. Therefore declare openly what you are bidden and turn aside from the polytheists.?
Qur?an 1589-94
Since we have eliminated compulsion in religion (of all forms) and determined that no-one has more right to judge or declare one interpretation more valid than another, I have no qualms with any Muslim following ahadith that do not impinge on the rights of others (even if according to my understanding an attitude which enshrines any ahadith as Divine Revelation is not the ?right way?). They are still brothers and sisters in faith such that we can discuss things amicably. This brings us back to the opening point about Islam consuming modern values but not exercising them (e.g. Muslims ?living off the land of others? but not integrating). How can Muslims expect others to be kind to them (this expectation is implied by the Qur?anic decree to fight aggressors) if they cannot return the favour to a tolerant society by permitting pluralism within both Islam and Islamic society?
A current example of a specific problem is the violence of mainstream ?Muslims? against minority Ahmadi Muslims in Indonesia. In other words, bullying the weak is OK for them because they think that they are defending ?Islam?. If there were only one true Muslim in the world, Islam would be complete. Muslims who have ever read the Qur?an will realise that
?Say My Lord would not care for you were it not for your prayer??
Qur?an 2577
?Say Call upon those whom you assert besides Allah; they do not control the weight of an atom in the heavens or in the earth nor have they any partnership in either, nor does He need any among them to help Him.?
Qur?an 3422
Islam is about the individual, and with it come certain responsibilities the failure of which can be compensated according to any specified punishment or by repentance. Whoever does not wish to live by that system will not be held responsible in this lifetime. Allah (SWT) is fair, and so must we be
?Say The provision of this world is short, and the hereafter is better for him who guards ; and you shall not be wronged the husk of a date stone.?
Qur?an 477
?And We will set up a just balance on the day of resurrection, so no soul shall be dealt with unjustly in the least; and though there be the weight of a grain of mustard seed, will We bring it, and sufficient are We to take account.?
Qur?an 2147
Every single Muslim on the face of the planet who actually cares about Islam should realise that since according to their beliefs the Message of the Qur?an is unchanged, it is not only the yolk in times of change but also the firm rope binding believers and anyone who believes in or understands its central tenets together. If Islam is to reach its potential as a vehicle for exercising virtue, then Muslims all over must accept and embrace diversity and change because aversion (and the violence it causes) is akin to apathy in that the muscles of faith (charity, patience and compassion) are never exercised.
?Say Every one acts according to his manner, but your Lord best knows who is best guided in the path.?
Qur?an 1784
?Therefore hold fast to that which has been revealed to you; surely you are on the right path.?
Qur?an 4343
Therefore, be satisfied with your own faith.
?Modesty does not come into anything without adorning it.?
Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
(Tirmidhi #1253)
This article will be expanded to more specific things in future.
Khuda Hafiz