The Islamic View on War

By: Professor Maqsood Jafri

Islam preaches peace and condemns war.  There is a general impression that Islam is a militant religion and it was spread by sword.  Islamic concept of Jihad is always misrepresented.  Eminent British philosopher Bertrand Russell was also of the opinion that Islam is a militant creed.  The question arises why such views cropped in the minds of people?  There is not a shred of doubt in it that some of the Muslim rulers in the greed of expansionist designs exceeded the Islamic limits.  They were aggressors, tyrants and despots.  In the name of Islam they raided the peaceful countries and in the monarchic zeal they trampled the human rights under their feet.  Their acts should not be regarded as Islamic acts.  Islam and Muslims are altogether two different things.  Not only the Muslims are to be blamed.  The human history is drenched and weltered with human blood.  The blood baths in the name of territory or religion are the specks on the brow of history.  The way the Mongols ransacked and persecuted the innocent people it is unprecedented in human history.  In the book “Prisoners of War” in the story of the Mongols the writer depicts the horrible picture of their invasions.  The Mongols were known for brutality, brigandage and bloodshed.  Genghis Khan looted, plundered and pillaged mercilessly.  The Mongols killed seventy thousand persons in Khorasan and thirty thousand people in Bukhara, Samarqand and Nishapur.  The men, women and children were brutally massacred.  Stepping into the foot steps of Genghis Khan, Hulogu also mercilessly killed hundreds of thousands Muslims in Baghdad.  The crusades between the Christians and the Muslims also brought untold miseries to humans.  Those were ancient days.  We condemn savagery and curse war.  But what our modern and cultured people have done with human race?  America dropped atom bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima and killed nearly about three hundred thousands people in the space of few hours.  The World War I and the World War II split the blood of million humans.  The British trampled the human rights under jackboots in India, Iraq, Egypt and Sudan.  Imam Muhammad Shirazi in his book entitled “War, Peace and Non-violence- In Islamic Perspective” writes: “In Sudan, the British soldiers would cut off the heads of those killed and send them to London to be made into ashtrays out of hatred for the Muslims”.  In Libya, the Italians killed half the populace, which in those days reached a million.  Like wise French in Algeria killed a million Muslims out of nine million people.  The Russians killed five million Muslims in various ways in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.  The Pakistani Muslim Army massacred hundreds of thousand Muslims of their own part East Pakistan in 1971.  Instead of solving the differences politically, military was used and blood was spilt.  In retaliation East Pakistan emerged in the shape of present Bangladesh.  Today India is mercilessly killing the Kashmiries in Kashmir.  The Palestine seeks just and peaceful settlement as soon as possible.  Whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims bloodshed is not accepted.  It must be condemned and stopped.  Man is the best creation of God.  Man must be loved, respected, protected and promoted.  Let us see what Islam says about the war and horrors of war.  In Sura “The Heifer” the Quran says: “O ye who have faith, enter in to peace all of you, and do not follow the footsteps of Satan” – (2:208).  Islam calls to peace and abhors war.  Jihad is the last resort in Islam, because the Quran time and again invites to dialogue.  To date we realize the importance of Interfaith dialogue but the Quran fourteen hundred years ago had invited the people of the Book to come to peace full terms through dialogue.  About peace Allah Almighty says: “And if they incline to peace then incline to peace and put your trust in Allah.”(8:61). Islam emphasizes on the need of peace and avoids war.  If war is thrust upon Muslims, then they are asked to defend themselves.  Islam does not permit transgression and aggression in any case.  In Sura Mumtahana (The woman to be Examined) the Quran says: “Allah does not forbid you, with regards to those who do not fight you for (your) faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loves those who are just – Allah only forbids you, with regard to those who fight you for (your) Faith, and drive you out of your homes and support (others) in driving you out, from turning to them (for friendship and protection).  It is such as turn to them (in those circumstances), that do wrong.” (60:8-9) These verses clearly show that when the Muslims are mistreated and attacked then they must resist and defend themselves.  Against aggressors the Quran is very sensitive and specific.  Not only about the non-Muslim, even about the Muslim aggressor in Sura Al-Hujurat (The inner Apartment) the Quran says: “If two parties among the Believers fall into a quarrel, you make peace between them: but if one of them transgresses beyond bounds against the other then you (all) fight against the one that transgresses until it complies with the command of Allah: but if it complies, then make peace between them with justice, and be fair: for Allah loves those who are fair (and just).” (49:9) The Quran severely condemns injustice, cruelty and bloodshed.  The Quranic warfare values are mentioned in the Suras the Spoils of war; the Repentance; the Inner Apartments; the Gathering; the Spider and the Holding.

 

A narration in related by Hazrat Ali, Hazrat Jafar Sadiq, Hazrat Jabir bin Yazid, Hazrat Ibn Abbas and Hazrat Abn Said al-Khudri that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) did not permit the people who wanted to join Jihad without the permission of their parents.  The women, the children, the slaves, the handicapped; the diseased and the insane are exempted from participating in Jihad.  Besides the women, the children, the wounded, the monks, the elderly lot and neutral people can neither be imprisoned nor killed during Jihad.  In Sura “The Heifer” it is written that during the sacred months i.e. during the months of Rajab; Dhul-Qaedah: Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram the Muslims are ordained to cease fire.  But if they are attacked in these months then they can defend themselves.  Syed Ali Ibn Tawous in his book “Kash al –Yaqeen” notes the tradition of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) that Islamic war can not be initiated with out a just cause and without a just Muslim ruler.  In the book entitled “Daimal-Islam” it is related that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) on the day of the battle of Badr released some prisoners of the clan of Abdal-Muttalib on the plea that they were forced to fight against their wills.  The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said: “He who kills a man from the people of the Dhimma (non-Muslims under the protection of Islamic state) will be forbidden paradise the perfume of which can be smelled at a distance of twelve traveling.”  If any Jew or Christian is killed in a Muslim state on religious differences it is a great sin and must be forcibly abandoned.  On different occasions the Prophet said; “the emissary is not to be killed.  Trees are not to be felled.  The animals are not to be slaughtered.  The houses are not to be razed and the supply of water is not to be cut off”.  Islamic views on war teach us that Islam promotes peace and discourages war and bloodshed.

 

Some religious extremists preach the younger generation to kill the people of other faiths and issue them the tickets to enter the heaven.  No body is permitted to kill anyone on religious differences.  The Quran in Sura “The Woman” declares: “and as far he who kills a believer deliberately, his reward will be Hell.” (4:93). It is related from Jafar ibn Muhammad, from his father, from Hazrat Ali who said: “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘There is a valley in Hell named ‘Sair’ which if opened the fires will roar from it.  Allah has prepared it for the murderers’”.  How the bloodshed is cursed the following saying of the Prophet of Islam in a sufficient to prove that: “the first thing that Allah will look at on the Day of Resurrection will be blood.”  At a place the Holy Prophet has said: “He who aids and abets in the killing of a believer has taken himself out of Islam.”  It does not mean that the blood of non-Muslims is not sacred in Islam.  About the non-believers the Prophet of Islam time and again said that their blood, life, property and honor is as sacred as of the Muslims.  The motto; message; mission; and mantra of Islam is universal peace.  In Sura “The Heifer” the Quran says: “Enter in to a state of peace one and all.” (2:208). Jesus Christ says; “you have been told to love thy friends, but this is not what is important, for even the tithe collectors love their friends.  I say to you love thine enemies.”  If today the world acts upon this beautiful message of Jesus there will be no war and no blood letting.  Hazrat Ali in Nehj Al Balagha says: “People are of two types: either your brother in religion or your equal in creation”.  The equal in creation means that the non-believers have equal rights as humans in an Islamic State.  Violence is extremely condemned in Islam.  To resolve the issues through peaceful means and dialogues is the spirit of Islam.  Islam is anti-War and Pro-Peace.  Hence it can be said that Islamic view on war is that there should be no war at all.

Important note to learn and online quran recitation

The true knowledge of Islam is in reading quran online  and bring the true succeed in to our daily life we should learn holy quran online as much as we could and not just in Arabic but try to understand the meaning of it so when ever we listen to quran online we can understand the Koran and learn how to read quran online it gives us the guidance to bring the purity in to our life with the true way and also spread the word of Islam and its knowledge to all over the world find  holy quran reciter and more Islamic articles in this learning quran blog and feel free to spread it further as much as you could join live quran teacher and  do quran memorization online 

WHO IS A MUSLIM?

What is the criteria laid down by Islam for a person to be known as, identified as and treated as a Muslim so far as matters of civil law and his social relations with other Muslims are concerned. The evidence on this point is divided into the following parts:

(1) From the Glorious  Quran, extracts showing that belief in God and His messenger makes a person a 'Muslim'.

(2) From the Hadith, incidents showing that during the life-time of the Noble Prophet Muhammad people embraced Islam by reciting the Kalima Shahadah.

(3) Opinion of Muslim authorities, throughout the history of Islam, again showing that to be known as a Muslim and included in the Islamic community, a person has only to profess the Kalima.

(4) Sayings of the Noble Prophet Muhammad, giving certain outward signs of a Muslim, so that a person showing those signs must be treated as a Muslim.

Imam Ghazali (d. 1111 C.E.): Ghazali, one of Islam's greatest philosophers, wrote:

"He who says, 'There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His messenger', with the tongue but does not confirm it in his heart, there is no doubt that in the Hereafter he shall be included among the unbelievers, and shall enter hell. But there is also no doubt that, so far as affairs of this world are concerned, the religious and secular authorities shall include him among the Muslims because it is not known what is in his heart, and we are obliged to accept what is on his tongue.'' (Ihya al-Ulum, p. 97)

Lisan al-Hukam: The author of the classical Lisan al-Hukam wrote:

"It is written that if an atheist, or an idol worshipper, or one who believes in gods besides the One God, were to merely say, There is no god but Allah, he enters Islam. Or if he were to say, I believe Muhammad to be the messenger of God, he enters Islam. This is because the deniers of Islam refrain from saying these two formulae. Hence if he were to declare even one of these two commandments, he would be taken out of the category called non-Muslim, and would be considered as a Muslim.''                           (Lisan al-Hukam, p. 204) 

Imam Shafi`i: Shafi`i, founder of one of the four schools of jurisprudence in Sunni Islam, related the following:

"It was reported to Umar, the second Caliph, regarding a certain man that he was not a believer at heart, but merely a Muslim in the outward sense. Umar asked him: `Is it not true that you are only outwardly a Muslim, and not really a Muslim, and your only reason for embracing Islam is to gain Islamic rights?' He asked Umar: `Sir, does Islam deprive those people of their rights who follow Islam only in the outward sense, and does it leave no way for them?' Umar said: `Islam has left a way for them', and then said nothing further.''                       (Kitab al-Um, vol. vi, p. 154)

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (d. 1958): He was a Muslim theologian, scholar and author of 20^th century in India, who also held high political and ministerial posts in the republic of India. In his well-known Urdu commentary of the Quran, he writes:

"Here we draw attention to just one thing. What Islam has made as the basic expression of its teaching is known to everyone --- Ashhadu an la ilaha ill Allah, wa Ashhadu annaMuhammad-an abdu-hu wa rasulu-hu. That is, I confess that there is none to be worshipped besides God and I confess that Muhammad is the servant of God and His messenger.''                                                                                         (Tarjuman al-Quran, Delhi, 1931, vol. i, p. 119)

Dr Sir Muhammad Iqbal (d. 1938 C.E.): This great poet-philosopher of Muslim India, and a national hero of Pakistan, writes:

``Once, under the influence of some spiritual urge, the Holy Prophet Muhammad told one of his companions: `Go and tell people that whoever in his life even once says with his tongue, there is no god but Allah, he should know that he shall enter paradise.' The Holy Prophet purposely omitted the second constituent of the Kalima, i.e. Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, without professing which a person cannot be a Muslim, and he considered just the confession of the Unity of God to be sufficient.''                 (Khilafat Islamia, Lahore, 1923, pp. 9,--,10)

 

Sayyid Abul Ala Maudoodi (d. 1979 C.E.): Maulana Maudoodi is the best-known religious leader of Pakistan, and founder of the powerful Jama`at-i Islami political party. In a compilation of his sermons, he wrote:

"Brothers-in-Islam! You know that a man enters the pale of Islam by reciting a certain sentence. And even that sentence is not very long but a few words: There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. Expressing these words by tongue, a person changes altogether. He was akafir, and is now a Muslim. He was impure and is now pure.''                        (Khutbut-i Maudoodi, Pathankot, India, 1940, p. 24)

Who is a Muslim? 
In very simple terms a Muslim is a follower of Islam.  The word "Muslim" means one who submits to the will of God. This is done by declaring that "there is no god except one God and Muhammad is the messenger of God." In a broader sense, anyone who willingly submits to the will of God is a Muslim. Thus, all the prophets preceding the prophet Muhammad are considered Muslims. The Quran specifically mentions Abraham who lived long before Moses and Christ that, "he was not a Jew or a Christian but a Muslim," because, he had submitted to the will of God. Thus there are Muslims who are not submitting at all to the will of God and there are Muslims who are doing their best to live an Islamic life. One cannot judge Islam by looking at those individuals who have a Muslim name but in their actions, they are not living or behaving as Muslims. The extent of being a Muslim can be according to the degree to which one is submitting to the will of God, in his beliefs and his actions.

A Muslim is one who freely and willingly accepts the supreme power of God and strives to organize his life in total accord with the teachings of God. He also works for building social institutions, which reflect the guidance of God. There are no formal induction ceremonies into Islam. To formally become a Muslim, one has to bear witness to the statement of faith ("La Ilaha Il-lal-lah, Muhammadun Rasoolullah") by saying it. To become a true Muslim, one has to confirm the belief in that statement by heart, tongue and actions.

A Muslim's Character and Behaviour ¹

Islam is a true religion because it teaches a person everything including how to act and behave, how to sit and talk and how to care and share. A Muslim is sure of himself both in this world and in the Akhirah (the Hereafter). He/she is always striving towards "falaah" (success, prosperity) and freedom from anxiety and is not troubled with doubts and conflicts. A Muslim family eats its meals together with Bismillah-ir Rahman-ir-Rahim and ends its meals together with Al-Hamdulillah. Everyone recites the Qur'an and prays at the appropriate times. Most importantly the children respect their elders and listen to their parents.

Muslims should be good role models and should set a good example to the non-believers so that when they look at a Muslim's character and behaviour and see how great it is, they would want to be Muslims too. Muslims have to project the right image especially when they're a minority in countries such as Canada and U.S.A. They should be honest, truthful, trustworthy, modest, patient, tolerant, punctual, kind, generous, forgiving, brave and hard working. They should be good to people even if those people are not good to them. Allah has said in the Glorious Qur'an "Tolerate patiently what they (the unbeliever) say and part from them in a polite manner" (73:10). Muslims should also practice forgiving people because Allah is always forgiving them. They should use the Noble Prophet Muhammad's (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) example when the people of Taif threw stones at him and he forgave them.

Tawhid or belief in the Oneness of Allah helps the Muslim character a lot. Anyone who believes in Tawhid, surrenders himself/herself completely to the Will of Allah and becomes a true servant of Allah. Tawhid gives a person a lot of respect and confidence because he/she knows that Allah has Power over everything and he/she is in His loving care. It also makes a person humble and modest. The Noble Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) has said "Modesty is part of faith" (Bukhari and Muslim). The person is never arrogant or rude because he/she knows that everything on earth belongs to Allah and he/she knows that everything one has is from Allah, so there's no reason to be proud and boastful.

Allah says in the Glorious  Qur'an that Nabi Musa ('alayhissalam) advised his people: "...Seek help from Allah and be patient, the earth belongs to Allah. Anyone He wishes from among His servants shall inherit it..." (7:128). The most important effect on the Muslim's character from Tawhid is that it makes a person  to obey and observe Allah's Commands. The person knows that Allah is always watching him/her and one can't escape Allah's watchful eye even for a single moment. Tawhid produces strong determination, patience and perseverance.

Believing in Allah makes a person brave and courageous. He/she will not be afraid of death because the person knows that it is no one but Allah who will cause death at the appointed time. So, unless the person disobeyed Allah's Commands he/she has nothing to worry about and can go on doing his or her duty without any fear.

You can think of this as a boat. A boat has a rudder, which guides the boat's movement. When the rudder is under control, the boat moves forward proudly over the waves, but if the rudder does not control the boat, it is tossed by every wave in the sea. It is the same thing with a person. When one surrenders oneself to Allah, one can face the problems of life without any fear. But if one does not surrender to Allah alone, one has to obey false gods like the fear of danger or the fear of hunger. Allah has said in the Noble Qur'an: "If Allah helps you, then none can overcome you and if He forsakes you, then who is there to help you after Him? And the believers should rely only on Allah" (3:160)

Luqman Hakim has been mentioned in the Qur'an as an intelligent and wise man. He told his son: "O my son! Do not associate anyone with Allah. Truly, polytheism is a tremendous wrong" (31:13). He also said: "O my son! Establish Salah and command the right and forbid the evil and bear patiently whatever may befall you, for this is firmness (of purpose) in (the conduct of) affairs. Do not turn your face away in disgust from people, nor walk arrogantly in the land. Surely, Allah does not love any arrogant boaster. Be moderate in your pace and lower your voice. Truly the harshest of all voices is the voice of the ass" (31:17, 18, 19).

Muslims should read the Glorious Qur'an and Hadiths about a Muslim's character and behaviour so that they could improve. Everyone makes mistakes but that does not mean that we can't improve ourselves. We should learn from our mistakes and improve. Muslims should help other Muslims by encouragement and not by exploiting their mistakes. A Muslim should think of himself as a mirror for his brother.

Hadrat Abu Hurairah (Rady Allahu Anhu) narrates that the Noble Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) said: "Let him who believes in Allah and the Last day, either speak good or keep silent, and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be generous to his neighbour, and let him who believes in Allah and the Last Day be generous to his guest (Bukhari and Muslim). In another Hadith, Hadrat Abu Hurairah narrates that the Noble Prophet Muhammad ( Sallallahu 'alayhi wa Sallam) said: "Do not envy one another; do not inflate prices to one another; do not hate one another, do not turn away from one another; and do not undercut one another, but be brothers, O slaves of Allah. A Muslim is the brother of a Muslim: he neither oppresses him nor disgraces him, he neither lies to him nor does he hold him in contempt. Piety and righteousness is here - and he pointed to his breast three times. It is evil enough for a man to hold his brother Muslim in contempt. The whole of a Muslim for another Muslim is inviolable; his blood, his property, and his honour (Muslim).

The more we help others, the better we will become as well because we mature through helping others. Islam shows how an ideal Muslim's character should be and we should act upon that so that we might save ourselves from Hell-fire and attain Paradise.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD MUSLIM ²

Muslim is one who is willing to give up pleasure for long-term gains (Aakhirah).

Muslim is one who has the ability to settle differences without resentment or anger

Muslim is one who perseveres despite setbacks.

Muslim is one who knows life is too short to waste in idle activities.

Muslim is one who has no prejudice, intolerance, hatred or revenge.

Muslim is one who has the capacity to face disappointments and adversity without becoming bitter.

Muslim is one who accepts his mistakes and who does not complain that the rose bush has thorns but rejoices that it bears roses.

Muslim is one whose needs conform to the Qur'anic commands and those of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Muslim is one who makes Jihad (struggle) to change things, which he can and who lives in peace with things that he cannot change.

Muslim is one who gently and constantly questions himself/herself "AM I A MUSLIM?"

 

A Muslim meets his brother with a smiling face (he restrains from anger and is forgiving). The Prophet said: "Do not think little of any good deed even if it is just greeting your brother with a cheerful countenance [face] {MUSLIM}. The Prophet said: "Your smiling at your brother is an act of charity {Sadaqah}" {al-TIRMIDHI who said it is Hasan gharib}. 

The Muslim should always be pure of heart and should have a cheerful and friendly face. He should meet his brother with warmth and smiles. There's no excuse--Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) always had a warm smile on his face even though he went through hardships, torture, and suffering in this life. 

"... [those] who restrain anger and pardon {all} men- for Allah loves 
those who do good."  [Translation of the Qur'an-Al-Imran 3:134] 

The true Muslim restrains his anger and is forgiving. He does not see any shame in doing so, rather he sees it as a good deed which will bring him closer to Allah (SWT). 

He has a good attitude towards others and treats them well. Anas (RA) said: "I served the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) for ten years, and he never said to me 'UFF!'. If I did something, he never said, "Why did you do that?" And if I did not do something, he never 
said, "Why did you not do such-and-such? [Agreed Upon] 

The Prophet said: "Among the best of you are those who have the best attitude (towards others)". [Agreed upon] 

He (SAWS) also said: "Nothing will weigh more heavily in the balance of the believing servant on the Day of Resurrection than a good attitude (towards others). Verily Allah hates those who utter vile words and obscene speech." [Al-Tirmidhi, Hasan Sahih hadith] 

The true Muslim has a good attitude. He is humble and soft and gentle in his speech. He does not use bad language or insult others. He is patient, gentle, forgiving, tolerant, cheerful, and sincere towards others.

REFERENCES

Important note to learn to read quran online

There are many ways to improve the Quran recitation, here are some of themlisten quran online with tajweed , Quran Recitation Online  When a Holy Quran Reciter or Learn Quran with proper understanding it helps you in understanding the complexities of the world and its daily life It helps you in making your life simpler to understand and easier to cope with. Recitation of online Koran gives your strength and knowledge to deal with different patterns of life. Reading Quran or Recitation of Quran doesn’t even gives you mental peace and calmness but if you recite it with complete understanding of what each verse is saying to you, you would find those verses a complete guideline for you to deal with your daily life problems and confusions. Prophet Muhammad said, so join the true path of knowledge and learn holy quran to bring purity to your life. And see Learning Quran blog more quranic article and join online quran teachers for quran memorization courses one on one 

Schisms and Heterodoxy Among Muslims

Schisms and Heterodoxy Among Muslims

By: Javeed Akhter, M.D.

Executive Director

International Strategy and Policy Institute,

Chicago, Illinois, USA
 

An etiological analysis & lessons from the past. 

One of Islam's major objectives is to achieve unity of mankind through unity of God. The first and essential step toward unity of mankind is the unity of the Muslim community (Umma.) Quran's exhortations to Muslims to remain united are stated in clear and unambiguous terms. "And hold fast, all together, unto the bond with Allah, and do not draw apart from one another. And remember the blessings, which Allah has bestowed upon you: how you were enemies, He brought hearts together, so that through His blessings you become brethren". (Al-Imran. 6:159 and Al-Anbiya. 21:92-93.) Islam's annoyance at those who tear apart the unity of the community"wide asunder piece by piece, --" (Al-Muminun. 23:52-52) is unmistakable. The condemnation of previous communities who have broken apart in sects also appears forcefully on multiple occasions. (Al-Anam. 6:159 and Al-Anbiya. 21:92-93.)

It is therefore surprising and perplexing to see how divided and torn apart the Muslim community is. Heterodoxy or departure from the original religious point of view of the Quran and Sunnah (The way) of Prophet Muhammad appears to be the rule rather than the exception. In fact sometimes it is difficult to identify a group that is universally accepted as truly representing the tenets of Quran. There are a multitude of Islamic and quasi-Islamic sects. In one instance an entirely new religion has evolved. This old and continuing phenomenon of discord and heterodoxy deserves close scrutiny and analysis.

Clustering of sects and movements according to etiology.

Although chronological and descriptive accounts of the various movements and sects in Islam are available and useful, it would be more instructive to look at them from a causative point of view. An attempt at understanding the reasons, which lead to the departures from the norm, would be more meaningful than a mere cataloging of beliefs and practices. 

1.      Political discord about succession: The Kharajites and the Shias.

2.      Conceptual differences between "freedom of action" versus "Will of Allah." Asharites and Mutazalites.

3.      Mystic influences: Sufis and Barelvis.

4.      Back to the roots movements: Wahabis and Salafis.

5.      Modernizing movements. Syed Ahmed Khan's Aligarh Muslim University in India and Mohammed Abduh's original Salafiya movement in Egypt.

6.      Movements that sprang from charismatic leaders. Hashashians that were followers of Hasan Salah and Ahmadiyas that follow Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Groups that are looking for a savior or Khalifa like the Hizb ut Tahrir.

7.      The suicidal militant.

8.      The evangelists (Tablighis.) 

9.      Miscellaneous: Qarmatians that were a communistic faith. Bahaism that started out as an offshoot of Islam is now a distinct and separate faith.

1. Political discord about succession.

In the first civil war fought among Muslims at Sifffin in 669 C.E (37 A.H), Ali and Muawiya agreed to settle the dispute about succession by arbitration. A group of puritans among the followers of Ali disagreed and broke away forming the first heterodoxic group in the history of Islam. They believed only God (Allah) could decide the issue of succession. How this could be accomplished is a mystery to me. 

One of the beliefs of this group, "The Exitors" (Kharajiya) was that any Muslim who committed a major sin became de facto an apostate and earned the death penalty. Though sincere in their beliefs "The Exitors" were uncompromising and dogmatic and were responsible for much violence in early Islam. Their descendants are called Ibadites after an early leader Abdullah bin Ibad and are much more moderate in their views.

Political discord about succession also lead to the formation of the party of Ali (Shia of Ali) now simply called the Shia. The Shias account for approximately 10-15% of Muslims. They believe that the their religious or Imam has to be a direct descendant of Ali and is infallible. The Imam is the only source of religious instruction and guidance. There are many sub-sects among the Shias. The sub-sects are based largely on the number at which the chain of Imams is believed to have broken with the occultation, rather than death, of the last Imam in the chain. Iranians (Ithna Asharis or twelve Imamers) believe the chain broke with the 12th Imam. The "Ismailis" on the other hand claim the chain broke with the 7th Imam. The Ismailis consecrate the number 7 and point out that there are 7 heavens, 7 orifices in the head, 7 stages of knowledge, 7 major prophets and world goes around in cycles of 7 thousand years. Shia philosophy is highly chiliastic awaiting the return of the "occulted Imam." In the absence of the Imam his surrogate, for example the Ayatollah, has absolute authority. As a result of the massacre of Imam Husayn (Ali's son and Prophet Muhammad's grandson) and his followers at Karbala, there is also a pervasive sense of martyrdom. Annual commemoration of this massacre occurs in the first 10 days of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar. 

2. Conceptual differences of opinion about "freedom of action versus the will of Allah."

Wasil ibn Ata broke off from his mentor Hasan al-Basari a famous teacher, and founded the Mutazalite movement. Italaza the root word for Mutazila means to secede. The issue at hand was the status of a Muslim who had committed a major sin. Was he as the Kharajites claimed an apostate and should be killed or was he merely a hypocrite as Hasan al-Basari taught? Wasil ibn Ata felt the status of that category of sinner was somewhere between those two positions. 
Mutazalites were essentially rationalists and believed man had free will. They proclaimed Quran to have been "created in time and that it wasn't the uncreated word of Allah." Heavily influenced by Greek (Hellenistic) philosophy they applied reason to solve all problems. They were ascendant in the time of Khalifa al-Mamun in 212 A.H. and persecuted others. The next Khalifa, in whose reign Asharism took hold, in turn persecuted them.

Al-Ashari a former Mutazalite formed an anti-Mutazalite movement named after him. This school proposed "man has power over his will but has control over his responsibilities, even though they are willed by Allah." The famous Nizamiyah School was founded to propagate the Ashari viewpoint. Asharism is the prevalent viewpoint on man's free will in Islam today.

3. Mystic Influences.

Sufism is a reactive movement that arose to counter and soften the rigid and harsh ritualism of orthodox Islam. It injected a heavy dose of mysticism and is widely accepted as the "inner dimension" of Islam. Sufis are ascetic in their practices and their language is veiled and allusive. There is a liberal use of metaphors of wine and love in Sufi discourse. Dhikr (Trance) sessions are important in their practice. There are many Sufi sects in South and Central Asia and Iran. Most Sufis are Sunnis. Some Sufi practices appear to be influenced by Persian Shaminism and Indian Hinduism. In the Indian sub-continent the "Barelvis" follow many of the Sufi practices including use of music (Qawwali) and intercession by their teacher or Peer. 

4. Back to the roots movements.

Wahabism founded a little over 200 years ago rejects all innovation in Islam after the third century from the Prophet Muhammad's time. They attack saint worship and believe in divine decree (Qadr) in all human endeavor. They are rigid in their interpretation of the Sharia (Islamic jurisprudence) and notoriously intolerant of Sufism and of innovation. One major reason for Wahabism's continued influence is its patronage by the Saudi royal family. Wahabism is the official creed of Saudi Arabia. An example of the literalist Wahabi interpretation of Islam is that women are denied the right to drive a car to "protect their dignity". The Deobandi movement of the Indian sub-continent is a watered down version of Wahabism.

Many of the politically active movements like the "Muslim Brotherhood" have "back to the roots philosophy" as their driving force. The rationale of these movements is that the way out of the current decline of the Muslim community is to go back to its origins.

5. Modernizing movements.

Other reformers feel that Muslim renaissance will come by way of modernization and finding creative solutions to new problems based on old principles (Ijtehad). 

Syed Ahmed Khan, popularly known as Sir Syed, formed the Aligarh Muslim university with the intent of bringing Western education to Muslims. He was much vilified in his time but was remarkably successful. At the time of its formation many of the ruling elite in Pakistan were graduates of Aligarh.

Another important reformer, Mohammad Abduh and his disciple Rashid Rida in Egypt formed the Salafiya movement. They ascribed Quranic verses about human institutions to prophet's thinking rather than the word of Allah. The Salafiya movement has metamorphosed into a clone of Wahabism.

There have been a number of other reformers like Ali Shariati in the Shia tradition, Jamaluddin Afgahani who was a charismatic speaker but wrote little, the Pakistani scholar of Islamic thought Fazalur Rahman who did much of his work at the University of Chicago and among current scholars Khaled Abu Fadl who lives in California. However these reformers have been unable to generate populist reform movements and influence only a minority of Muslims.

6. Followers of charismatic leaders and groups that are looking for a savior.

Hashashians, consumers of Hashish (Assassins) were the followers of Hasan al-Salah. The followers of this creed were heavily indoctrinated in the Ismaili brand of Shia Islam. Active in 1112 C.E. (480A.H.) they were believed to follow their leaders instructions unto death. The stories about them claim that would take Hashish and would go unhesitatingly on missions of assassination as well as suicide. Most of these stories appear to be fiction perpetrated by the Crusaders who were constantly harassed by daring raids from this group. There survivors of Hashashians are called Khojas whose titular head is the Agha Khan. They would be considered a quasi-Islamic sect.

Mirza Ghulam Ahmed 1922 C.E. (1290 A.H.) started out as reformer. Later he declared himself many things at different times including "Prophet", "Mahdi of Islam", the promised "Messiah of Christians" and "Krishna of Hindus". The Ahmediya movement is basically a personality cult and has broken onto Qadiyani and Lahori factions. The state of Pakistan has declared it un-Islamic. However this has been successfully challenged in South African courts. It is quite likely that just as the Bahais did earlier, the Ahmediyas may declare themselves a separate religion.

The "Hizb ut Tahrir" is a relatively new group that has as its main goal the establishment of the Caliph (Khalifa) who will be the savior for the Muslims. They feel Muslims should unite in one Islamic state that is administered by Sharia. Anyone who governs by non-Islamic law is considered either a transgressor (Fasiq) or a disbeliever (Kafir.) Their economic system calls for the state revenues to be collected from multiple sources including booty of war (Maal-e-Ghanimat.) It is an important and largely peaceful resistance movement in the Russian Stans. In the US and West they have a small but vocal following that is known for its tactic of disrupting meetings of other groups and organizations that they consider hypocritical. 

7. The suicidal militant.

Islam's rejection of suicide is clear and categorical. This rejection is based on the belief that life is a sacred gift from God that man may not end even if he is in pre-terminal distress. Islam's rejection of killing or even harming the innocent is equally clear and forceful.

"I f one slayeth another for other than man-slaughter or for spreading disorder in the land, it shall be as if he hath slain all mankind. But if one saveth a life of a single person, it shall be as if he hath saved the life of all mankind" (Al-Maida. 5:32)

It is therefore all the more surprising that the 21st century has seen the use of suicide attacks by militant Muslims to fight oppression. The desire to fight oppression is understandable as is the sense of powerlessness and humiliation in the face of hypocrisy and remorseless brutality. However the use of suicide attacks that additionally have caused many innocent deaths is difficult to understand.

These groups justify attacks on the military and civilians by designating the target groups or nations as those that are spreading "disorder" (Fasad) on earth. One scholar, citing civilian Palestinian deaths including the killing of large numbers of children, has rationalized suicide attacks within the state of Israel but not outside. The suicide attackers see themselves as martyrs to a noble cause and the act of suicide as altruistic. They appear to have rejected many other political and economic non-violent means available to bring about change. They forget that Prophet Muhammad never sent any one on a suicide mission. Islam honors bravery and martyrdom however Prophet Muhammad always prayed for the safe return of those who had go into combat. 

8. The evangelists (Tablighis.)

The second largest congregation of Muslims after the Hajj is the gathering (Ijtema) of the followers of the "Tablighi Jamaat." Formed in the mid 19th century in India to evangelize new Muslims in the villages of North India it has become immensely popular and claims a following in the millions. The Tablighis follow a very structured routine that is simple though demanding. They are very particular about how they dress eat, sleep and interact with others. Their program has six steps to it that include bearing witness (Kalimah), performing ritual prayers (Salat), acquisition of knowledge and remembrance of Allah (Ilm-o-Zikr), social conduct that requires respect of all Muslims (Ikram-e-Muslimeen), sincerity of intent (Ikhlas-e-Niyyat), and sparing time for Allah (Tafriq-e-Waqt). This last requirement demands that the followers go away in groups for days to weeks at a time evangelizing other Muslims as well as rejuvenating their own faith. It is not uncommon to hear an announcement that a Tablighi Jamaat is visiting the local Masjid and a sermon from one of the leaders of the group will follow the prayer service.

9. Miscellaneous.

There have seen many different movements in Muslim history that defy easy stratification. An example is the Qarmatians that were a communistic sect. They shared property and wives by way of initiation into the group. Their claim to infamy lies in stealing the black stone (Hajr-e-Aswad) of Kaaba for over 20 years. 

Islam influenced many of the local religions and traditions and sparked monotheistic movements in Hinduism. However a new religion Bahaism (also called Baabism) also emerged from it. Syed Ali Mohammad the charismatic founder of Bahaism had a Muslim background. Later he declared himself the gateway or "Baab" through which the divine truth is revealed. At various times he also called himself "Mahdi", "Buddhist Maitrya" and "Shah Behram of Zoraster".

 

Lessons from past experiences.

A retrospective review of the various schisms leaves one with the impression that although some of these movements were truly bizarre most were an understandable result of the growth of a community. They were a result of diversity and vigor in religious discourse and the influence of the faiths and traditions Islam came into contact with during its spread. It is also striking how poorly these variances from the norm were tolerated. The extent of persecution the heterodoxic groups were subjected to was sometimes extreme. In many instances the persecution drove the heterodoxic group to break away completely from the main stream and form a different cult or even a new religion. It is also apparent that most of these schisms could have been prevented or at least modulated if the larger orthodox community of the time had practiced simple tolerance and compassion.

1. Political discord about succession: 

Political discord is avoidable by compromise for politics is indeed the art of compromise. Shia and Sunni discord may with good justification be called an accident of history. There are many areas of commonality between these two communities. The challenge is to focus on these areas of commonality and unite. 

Political discord is not just a historical phenomenon. There are many areas of political discord in today's Muslim world. It is worth noting that states with representative governments are able to deal with the political discord best.

2. Conceptual differences:

Honest conceptual disagreements will predictably occur in any large religious community. It is the intolerance of other's point of view that results in much discord and sometimes bloodshed. By cultivating the simple art of respecting honest differences of opinion much of this discord could have been avoided. Arguably honest differences of opinion are healthy in the growth of any community. The challenge, as has been observed, is to disagree without being disagreeable. This is an area where Muslims may learn valuable lessons both from the ethics of disagreement the early companions of Prophet Muhammad practiced as well as from the prevalent culture in the west that respects differences opinion. A true paradox is that Muslims have shown more tolerance toward non-Muslims than toward each other.

3. Mystic influences: 

Sufism is the vehicle through which Islam spread in most of South Asia and central Asia. It remains an important vehicle for the spread of Islam in the US and West. It continues to provide spiritual solace to millions. Its contributions to Islam are massive and it is clearly a part of Islam. 

Nevertheless it is worth noting that the poet/philosopher Iqbal considered it one of the major weaknesses affecting Muslims. Many orthodox Muslims share this viewpoint. Nonetheless Sufis should be accepted it the main stream of Islam. The followers of Sufism should feel comfortable in all Mosques (Masajids) and their leaders should share the Friday podium with others. Sufis tend to be intolerant of Wahabi/Salafi Islam. They should take a hard look at some of the rituals that are heavily influenced by Hindu and Shaman practices as well reevaluate doctrines of intercession and self-annihilation. 

4. Back to the roots movements:

It is easy to understand the evolution of the back to the roots movements. These are a reaction to the mutations that have arisen in Islam over time as well as a yearning for Islam's ascendant past. If they are able to modulate their extremism they could play a healthy role in the evolution of the Muslim community. The Sufi-Salafi divide is one of the major areas of friction among today's Muslims. 

5. Modernizing movements:

Though diametrically opposed to the Whabi/Salafi movements in their approach the modernizing movements share the objective of reforming the community and restoring its strength. Their approach at reforming Islam is completely different from the Wahabi group. They use the innovative or "Ijtehadi" approach as opposed to the literalist or "Taqlidi" approach of the Wahabi/Salafi groups. The modernist approach provides the best chance of re-energizing Muslims. The modernist scholars, however, have been singularly unsuccessful in producing a populist movement and have remained largely elitist. If they could spawn a populist movement or teaching institution it would be of immense benefit to Islam and Muslims. 

6. Movements that sprang from charismatic leaders and the Khilafa group: 

As long as there are gullible and naive people around charismatic leaders can find fertile ground for their maverick ideologies. Additionally many Muslims are looking for a charismatic leader, in some instances Khilafa, to be their savior. These charismatic leaders and sects exploit this popular yearning in establishing their hold on their followers. The only antidote to this is increasing the level of education and sophistication among the general populace. The orthodox mainstream should keep lines of communication open with these fringe groups rather than spend its energies in unproductive confrontation. The more we reject these groups the more likely it is that they will break off completely. 

7. The suicidal militant:

The suicidal militants spring from young men with seething and legitimate anger toward the oppressors of Muslims all over the world. These violent followers of the non-violent religion of Islam are an anachronism. Their suicidal missions are reactive to the injustice they are faced with and not the result of an accepted theology or philosophy. Restoration of justice and fair play within nations and in international relations will largely vaporize the motivation for a suicidal mission. 

8. The evangelists. (Tablighis):

Some form of evangelism is an inevitable part of any religion. The intellectual leaders of this group have the opportunity to channel its enormous energy to practical piety like building homes for the homeless, teaching the illiterate, running food kitchens and shelters.


Will Muslims ever reach the degree of education and sophistication necessary to avoid schisms? The answer is unclear. However post 9/11 Muslims do not have the luxury of remaining divided.

The best chance of a moderate movement to emerge that would overcome disunity and heterodoxy among Muslims may still be in the West. The level of education among Muslims in the West is higher than in any Muslim majority country. They have free access to literature and varied opinion. This allows them to examine differing ideologies first hand without the filter of a biased opinion or censorship of the state or the intellectual oppression of the community that is present in most Muslim majority states. Muslims in the West are also influenced by the local traditions of freedom of expression and defense of other's point of view though not necessarily the Muslim viewpoint. A maverick in the west is often tolerated and sometimes even celebrated rather than ostracized. 

The solution for heterodoxy does not merely lie in an attitudinal change. The emergence of a model Muslim state that is just, pluralistic, practices democracy based on Islamic principles (Shuracracy), is successful economically and has clout and dignity in world affairs would be the best antidote for many of the extreme trends among Muslims. Muslims would look to this successful role model and may stop trying to replicate the past. 

Would the monumentally self centered and often Machiavellian worldview of the dominant political culture in the West allow that to happen? Would a Muslim state overcome its internal challenges and emerge as a role model for Muslims today? Once again the answers are unclear. Currently the only candidate state for this role is Malaysia. Turkey under the leadership of modernist Muslims and not the illiberal secular military that rules it currently also has a remote chance. 

A united Muslim community (Umma) clearly is the first step before Muslims may fulfill the Quranic mandate of uniting the entire mankind.

Important note to learn and do reading online quran

Online Quran Tutor is the one who comes into mind when someone says to learn Holy Quran online or learning the Quran with the right pronunciation. The Holy Quran online is the word of Allah Ta’ala and recitation of the Quran is a sensitive matter. We have to listen quran with full attention and read quran online with the perfection and it is suppose to be read, there are many places in the Koran online which have to be recited with care and attention because if someone recites them with the wrong pronunciation, the whole context and meaning of the verse get changed. It’s the beauty of every Muslim parent to carry on with the teaching of Islam and letting there kids to learn quran  

DRUGS MUSLIMS SHOULD AVOID

by Ibrahim B. Syed, Ph. D. 
 President
 Islamic Research Foundation International, Inc.
 7102 W. Shefford Lane
 Louisville, KY 40242-6462, U.S.A.
 E-mail: IRFI@INAME.COM
 Website:  http://WWW.IRFI.ORG 

"O you who believe, intoxicants, and gambling, and the altars of idols, and the games of chance are abominations of the devil; you shall avoid them, that you may succeed."

                                                                                      The Qur'an 5:90

Drugs impair decision-making ability leading to irresponsible behaviour. The third Caliph (Khalifa) `Uthman Ibn Affan (ra) said: "Intoxicants are the key to all evils. A man was once asked either to tear up a copy of the Quran, or kill a child, or bow in worship to an idol, or drink a cup of alcohol, or sleep with a woman. He thought the lesser wrong action would be to drink the cup of alcohol, so he drank. Then he slept with the woman, killed the child, tore up the copy of the Quran and bowed in worship to an idol."

What Is a Drug? ¹

Most people would agree that heroin is a drug.   It is a white powder that produces striking changes in the body and mind in tiny doses. But is sugar a drug? Sugar is also a white powder that strongly affects the body, and some experts say it affects mental function and mood as well. Like heroin, it can be addicting. How about chocolate? Most people think of it as a food or flavor, but it contains a chemical related to caffeine, is a stimulant, and can also be addicting. Is salt a drug? Many people think they cannot live without it, and it has dramatic effects on the body. A common definition of the word drug is any substance that in small amounts produces significant changes in the body, mind, or both. This definition does not clearly distinguish drugs from some foods. The difference between a drug and a poison is also unclear. All drugs become poisons in high enough doses, and many poisons are useful drugs in low enough doses. Is alcohol a food, a drug, or a poison? The body can burn it as a fuel, just like sugar or starch, but it causes intoxication and can kill in overdose. Many people who drink alcohol crusade against drug abuse, never acknowledging that they themselves are involved with a powerful drug. In the same way, many cigarette addicts have no idea that tobacco is a very strong drug, and few people who drink coffee realize the true nature of that beverage. The decision to call some substances drugs and others not is often arbitrary. In the case of medical drugs - substances such as penicillin, used only to treat physical illness - the distinction may be easier to make. But talking about psychoactive drugs - substances that affect mood, perception, and thought - is tricky. In the first place, foods, drugs, and poisons are not clear-cut categories. Second, people have strong emotional reactions to them. Food is good. Poison is bad. Drugs may be good or bad, and whether they are seen as good or bad depends on who is looking at them. Many people agree that drugs are good when doctors give them to patients in order to make them better. Some religious groups, such as Christian Scientists, do not share that view, however. They believe that God intends us to deal with illness without drugs. When people take psychoactive drugs on their own, in order to change their mood or feel pleasure, the question of good or bad gets even thornier. The whole subject of pleasure triggers intense controversy. Should pleasure come as a reward for work or suffering? Should people feel guilty if they experience pleasure without suffering for it in some way? Should work itself be unpleasant? These questions are very important to us, but they do not have easy answers. Different people and different cultures answer them in different ways. Drug use is universal. Every human culture in every age of history has used one or more psychoactive drugs. (The one exception is the Eskimos, who were unable to grow drug plants and had to wait for white men to bring them alcohol.) In fact, drug taking is so common that it seems to be a basic human activity. Societies must come to terms with people's fascination with drugs. Usually the use of certain drugs is approved and integrated into the life of a tribe, community, or nation, sometimes in formal rituals and ceremonies. The approval of some drugs for some purposes usually goes hand in hand with the disapproval of other drugs for other purposes. For example, some early Muslim sects encouraged the use of coffee in religious rites, but had strict prohibitions against alcohol. On the other hand, when coffee came to Europe in the seventeenth century, the Roman Catholic Church opposed it as an evil drug but continued to regard wine as a traditional sacrament. Everybody is willing to call certain drugs bad, but there is little agreement from one culture to the next as to which these are. In our own society, all nonmedical drugs other than alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine are viewed with suspicion by the majority There are subgroups within our society, however, that hold very different opinions. Many North American Indians who use peyote and tobacco in religious rituals consider alcohol a curse. The most fervent members of the counterculture that arose in the 1960s regard marijuana and psychedelics as beneficial while rejecting not only alcohol, tobacco, and coffee but most other legal and illegal drugs as well. Classic heroin addicts, or junkies, may reject psychedelics and marijuana as dangerous but think of narcotics as desirable and necessary. Some yogis in India use marijuana ritually, but teach that opiates and alcohol are harmful. There are  some Muslims who  may tolerate the use of opium, marijuana, and qat (a strongly stimulating leaf), but are very strict in their exclusion of alcohol. Furthermore, attitudes about which drugs are good or bad tend to change over time within a given culture. When tobacco first came to Europe from the New World it provoked such strong opposition that authorities in some countries tried to stamp it out by imposing the death penalty for users. But within a century its use was accepted and even encouraged in the belief that it made people work more efficiently. In this century Americans' attitudes toward alcohol have shifted from nonchalant tolerance to antagonism strong enough to result in national prohibition, and back to near-universal acceptance. The current bitter debate over marijuana is mostly a conflict between an older generation that views the drug as evil and a younger generation that finds it preferable to alcohol. Students of behavior tell us that dividing the world into good and evil is a fundamental human need. The existence of evil provokes fear and demands explanation. Why is there sickness? Why is there death? Why do crops fail? Why is there war? And, most important, how should we act to contain evil and avoid disaster? One attempt at a solution is to attribute evil to external things, and then prohibit, avoid, or try to destroy them. This is how taboos arise. People tend to create taboos about the activities and substances that are most important to them. Food, sex, and pleasure are very important, and many taboos surround them although, again, there is little agreement from culture to culture as to what is good and what is bad. Muslims and Jews eat beef but not pork; some groups in India eat pork but not beef. Homosexuality is taboo in most modern Western cultures, but has been fully accepted in the past and is still accepted today in certain parts of the world. People who adhere to taboos justify them with logical reasons. Jews like to think they do not eat pork because pigs are unclean and may have carried disease in former times. Muslims and Christians argue that homosexuality is a sin because it perverts God's intended use of sex for procreation. Actually, reasons for taboos are secondary; the basic process is the dividing of important things into good and evil - a form of magical thinking that tries to gain control over sources of fear. The reasons and justifications come later. Because psychoactive drugs can give pleasure and can change the ways people think - perceive the world, behave, and relate to each other, they invite magical thinking and taboos.

God has mercifully provided us with a myriad variety of delectable drinks; water, milk, fruit and vegetable juices, and  nectars  and natural teas. Our minds and bodies have no need of alcohol and the mind active drugs. The following is a list of mind active drugs that Muslims should avoid.

 

CAFFEINE: Found in coffee, tea, and Cola drinks-also in Chocolate-this drug stimulates wakefulness and awareness.  Heavy use can cause nervousness and insomnia (sleeplessness).  Long term heavy use may contribute to heart attack.

 

ALCOHOL: Ethyl alcohol is the active ingredient in wine, beer, and liquor.  In moderate doses, it produces relaxation, euphoria (feeling of well being). Heavy use can damage the brain, heart, and liver.  Alcoholism is a serious worldwide social problem.

 

NICOTINE: Found in tobacco, nicotine is a relaxant, and one of the world's most pervasive addictive drugs.  Studies have linked smoking to cancer, lung damage (cancer, chronic bronchitis and emphysema)  and heart disease and impotence in males.

 

MARIJUANA/HASHISH: Made from the Cannabis sativa plant, marijuana alters perception (ability to recognize objects or feelings), produces euphoria (feeling of well being), confuses sense of time.

 

NARCOTICS: Codeine, morphine, opium, heroin, methadone, Demerol, and others.  Narcotics are painkillers and cause a sense of euphoria and drastic alteration of perception.  All are extremely addictive.  Heavy misuse can lead to death.

BARBITURATES: Barbiturates are pharmaceuticals, which go under various trade names.  Prescribed by doctors for their sedative effects, these pills produce sleepiness, relaxation, etc. They are addictive and cause twice as many deaths from over-doses every year as heroin.  Mixing them with alcohol is a dangerous practice.

 

MINOR TRANQUILLIZERS:  Drugs like Valium and Librium relieve anxiety and muscle tension.  They are the world's most prescribed drugs, operating on the body much the same as barbiturates.

 

AMPHETAMINES: These stimulants, which go by various trade names, increase alertness and elevate moods.  Overuse can produce paranoia (mental derangement with delusions of grandeur, persecution, etc.) and increased blood pressure.  They are prescription drugs but are often obtained illegally.

 

COCAINE: Comes from the tropical Coca bush.  Not physically addictive, Cocaine (usually seen as a white powder) produces a physical high.  Chronic use may damage nasal membranes and produce effects similar to abuse of amphetamines.

INHALANTS

Most inhalants are common household products that give off mind-altering chemical fumes when sniffed. These common products include paint thinner, fingernail polish remover, glues, gasoline, cigarette lighter fluid, and nitrous oxide. They also include fluorinated hydrocarbons found in aerosols, such as whipped cream, hair and paint sprays, and computer cleaners. The chemical structure of the various types of inhalants is diverse, making it difficult to generalize about the effects of inhalants. It is known, however, that the vaporous fumes can change brain chemistry and may be permanently damaging to the brain and central nervous system.

Inhalant users are also at risk for Sudden Sniffing Death (SSD), which can occur when the inhaled fumes take the place of oxygen in the lungs and central nervous system. This basically causes the inhalant user to suffocate. Inhalants can also lead to death by disrupting the normal heart rhythm, which can lead to cardiac arrest. Use of inhalants can cause hepatitis, liver failure, and muscle weakness. Certain inhalants can also cause the body to produce fewer of all types of blood cells, which may result in life-threatening aplastic anemia.

Inhalants also alter the functioning of the nervous system. Some of these effects are transient and disappear after use is discontinued. But inhalant use can also lead to serious neurological problems, some of which are irreversible. For example, frequent long-term use of certain inhalants can cause a permanent change or malfunction of nerves in the back and legs, called polyneuropathy. Inhalants can also act directly in the brain to cause a variety of neurological problems. For instance, inhalants can cause abnormalities in brain areas that are involved in movement (for example, the cerebellum) and higher cognitive function (for example, the cerebral cortex).

HALLUCINOGENS

Hallucinogens are drugs which cause altered states of perception and feeling and which can produce flashbacks. They include natural substances, such as mescaline and psilocybin that come from plants (cactus and mushrooms), and chemically manufactured ones, such as LSD and MDMA (ecstasy). LSD is manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in ergot, a fungus that grows on rye and other grains. MDMA is a synthetic mind-altering drug with hallucinogenic properties. Although not a true hallucinogen in the pharmacological sense, PCP causes many of the same effects as hallucinogens and so is often included with this group of drugs. Hallucinogens have powerful mind-altering effects. They can change how the brain perceives time, everyday reality, and the surrounding environment. They affect regions and structures in the brain that are responsible for coordination, thought processes, hearing, and sight. They can cause people who use them to hear voices, see images, and feel sensations that do not exist. Researchers are not certain that brain chemistry permanently changes from hallucinogen use, but some people who use them appear to develop chronic mental disorders. PCP and MDMA are both addicting; whereas LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline are not.

Research has provided many clues about how hallucinogens act in the brain to cause their powerful effects. However, because there are different types of hallucinogens and their effects are so widespread, there is still much that is unknown. The following paragraphs describe some of what is known about this diverse group of drugs.

ANABOLIC STEROIDS

Anabolic steroids are chemicals that are similar to the male sex hormone testosterone and are used by an increasing number of young people to enhance their muscle size. While anabolic steroids are quite successful at building muscle, they can damage many body organs, including the liver, kidneys, an

 

 

Important note to learn and read quran online

Reading Quran Online is one of the contemporary styles of reading and learning Quran online. If you have been facing issues in teaching Quran to your young ones, you have your problems solved now learning Quran online is easy for yourself as well and at the same time, your kids can also benefit from it. and listen quran online from online quran reciter and practice to learn holy quran online with the tajweed and be perfect to reading quran online its not a wonder now its on your door step just a click away and you are there

On The Character of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

By: Professor Maqsood Jafri

 

Before announcing Prophet-hood, the Prophet of Islam Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) lived the life of a pure and pious man.  In his childhood he acted as a herdsman.  In his adolescence he joined his uncle Abu Talib as a tradesman.  He spent most of his time in the cave of Hira worshiping.  He helped the poor and the needy.  He married at the age of twenty five.  His youth was crystal like morning dew.  No blot or blemish on his character can be found.  Youth is the period of strain and stress.  Young people are easily trapped in the meshes of sexual corruption, adultery or fornication.  History testifies the piety and chastity of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) before his marriage and after his marriage.  Even his sworn enemies called him the Honest, the Pious, the Truthful and the Trustworthy.  When he was twenty five he married a great and pious lady of forty years named Khadijah.  He loved her, respected her and lived happily with her.  No body blamed or charged him.  But when at the age of forty on divine will he announced the mission of God, the influential chieftains of Mecca turned against him.  What was his mission?  He announced to reject idolatry and accept monotheism.  He condemned fascism and supported human freedom.  He abhorred imperialism and capitalism and stood for justice, humanity, peace, equality and love.  What was wrong in his mission?  The anti-human forces opposed him.  He was teased, tortured and troubled.  He was exiled. He was attacked.  The battles were imposed on him.  His near and dear ones were killed.  Once he said: “No prophet was teased as much as I am teased.”  Such a pious and kind man who gave a universal message was attacked and unfortunately is still being attacked by vicious minds.  The cause of writing this article is the statements of some of evil minded people of our times.  Last year, Jerry Vines, the former president of Southern Baptist Convention, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination with 15 million members, described the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a “demon-possessed pedophile.”  Televangelist Jimmy Swaggard referred to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a “sex deviant”, “pervert” and “pedophile”.  Franklin Graham appeared on the NBC Nightly News, commenting on Islam he said: “we are not attacking Islam but Islam has attacked us.  The God of Islam is not the same God.  He is not the son of God of the Christians or Judeo-Christian faith.  It is a different God, and I believe Islam is a very evil and wicked religion.”  Briefly commenting on these views one can say that if Prophet Muhammad was a “demon possessed”, then how he preached an propounded godly wisdom?  He should have given the message of Demon not of God.  The Quran time and again condemns demon.  The Quran is a message of noble, divine and virtuous values.

 

The Islamic teachings mirror generosity, virtuosity, fairness, wisdom and monotheism. How a Demon can speak against himself?  It is not Demon but God speaking against Demon and his allies and associates.  Sulayman Rushdie in his vile and notorious book titled “The Satanic Verses” has also expressed such unfounded malicious ideas.  The heretics of Mecca said the same about the Quran what these modern so called intellectuals and politicians are saying.  The honest intellectual giants of the west like Thomas Carlyle and Goethe paid immense tributes to the Prophet of Islam whom Jerry Vines and Jimmy Swaggart are calling “demon-possessed” and “pervert”.  On the sexual life of the Prophet much has been written.  His supporters regard him sexually potent and balanced.  His opponents call him over-sexed and pervert.  In the history of Prophets we find Prophet Solomon having many wives.  On the contrary we find Jesus Christ a bachelor.  At the age of 33 he was taken to the heavens alive through the apparent crucifixion process.  Polygamy was the order of the day.  No body took it as something bad.  The Arabs practised pologamy.  In the wake of custom the Prophet Muhammad married some ladies.  Hazrat Khadijah was fifteen years older to him at the time of marriage.  Most of them were his age sake.  In his fifties he married Harzat Aiysha, the daughter of Hazrat Abu Bakr when she was just bloomed to youth.  Hinting this marriage some of the orientalists charge Prophet Muhammad as a “pedophile”.  It was not only the Prophet Muhammad who had married a young girl even the father of Harzat Aiysha, Hazrat Abu Bakr had also married a young girl in his sixties.  It was the part of the prevalent Arab culture and custom.  Hence not to be taken seriously.  It is not objectionable either from religious or from social point of view.  So far as the comments of Franklin Graham about Islam are concerned they are quite funny and ridiculous.  He seems to be entirely unaware of history.  Islam has never attacked anyone.  It is a religion of peace and moderation.  In the earlier days of Islam, it were the Meccans who thrice under the command of Abu Suffyan assaulted on the Muslims of Madina.  The Quran shows full respect to Moses and Jesus.  The Quran claims that Jesus like other Prophets was a Prophet.  He was not the Son of God.  In Islam no one is the son or the daughter of God.  Time and again the Quran declares that God neither begets nor is begotten.  The Bible also at different places pronounced Christ as the Son of Man and the Messenger of God.  The Gospel of Matthew says: “one of them, an expert in the law, tested with this question: Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law/ - Jesus replied: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.”(22:35-38).

 

The God of Jesus is the God of Moses and Muhammad.  When Franklin Graham says that the God of Islam is not the God of Christians he is sadly mistaken.  The Arabic word Allah means God.  When Jesus was taken to gallows he said Eli, Eli – Which means Allah in Arabic and God in English. God is God.  IT is the God of all humans.  So far as the remarks of Franklin Graham about Islam as its being an evil and wicked religion are concerned I leave unto all honest and impartial sages and scholars to comment on it.  What an academic dishonesty! Alas; what is wrong with such jaundiced and prejudiced minds.  The Quran is the book which is the basic source of Islamic ideology.  The balanced and neutral non-Muslim scholars have paid tremendous tributes to this original source of divine values.  Sir E. Dennison Ross, Rodwell A. Sale, Palmer, Sarojini Maidu, Dr. A. Bertherand and De Lay O’ Leary have paid great tributes to the Quranic wisdom.  Only to quote an eminent English statement and orator Edmund Burke may prove our claim.  He writes: “The Muhammadan Law which is binding on all from the crowned head to the meanest subject, is a law interwoven with the system of the wisest, the most learned and the most enlightened jurisprudence that ever existed in the world.”  What a difference between two opinions.  Both the opinions hail down from non-Muslims.  The Islam whom Franklin Graham regards “wicked and evil” is regarded “the wisest” by Edmund Berke.  Let Allah show the right path to the detractors.  The demand of interfaith dialog is to respect the religions of all human kind.  The standing universal principal should be love your religion but learn to respect the religions of others as well.  The demand of decency is to logically differ on principals in an educated and cultured manner.  The way the above three mentioned persons have used slanderous language about the highly esteemed and divined personality can in no way be admired or accepted.

 The things Muslim should do. We as Muslim should give our first priority in learning quran and do quran reading to seek the right path of Islam and through the quran teaching we can achieve the goal of our life and the deputy to guiding our kids to learn Koran that we should fulfill with perfecting kids quran recitation power and knowledge in Islam and also motivate our children’s to do quran memorization and then guide them to learn holy Quran tafseer  so they could understand the quran in Arabic and the quranic translation and also let or kids to listen quran from top quran reciters to get them inspired. at last I would pray for all my Muslim brothers and sisters that may Allah accept there Dwas and prayers and inspire you with the teachings of our holy prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) so let us join hands and spread the knowledge that every Muslim is born to spread the knowledge of Islam now a day many online quran tutor are available for kids and elders to learn tajweed quran and with exact pronunciation and perfect the quran recitation online with qualified teaching staff  who can guide then with there experience and knowledge and the write teachings to help us in achieving the path of Jannah so learn quran and its teaching and spread the word of Allah join live quran teacher and do one on one sessions from tajweed teachers