Islam As Observed By Others
Islam is a major world religion. Like Christianity and Judaism it is a monotheistic faith and has some common Prophets with them. Its followers constitute more than one fifth of world population and are spread widely all over the globe . Indonesia has the highest Muslim population . India is close second.Quran , the Holy Book of Islam , is believed to be revealed by Allah through his messenger Prophet Mohammed . It can not be altered or reformed as per the needs of the modern times by mere human beings . It can be changed only by Allah Himself . Quran's dictates are permanent and for ever .Each Muslim is required to perform five duties - Kalima ( Creed ) , Salat ( Prayer ) , Zakat ( Alms giving ) , Ramzan ( Fasting ) and Hajj ( pilgrimage ) . Along with these duties a sixth duty Jihad ( Holy War against enemies of Islam to protect the values of Allah and Rasool ) is also associated .Shariat Law , popularly known as Muslim Personal Law in India , is broadly derived from the Quran and designates the rules and regulations for governing the lives of the Muslims . Shariat Court addresses all issues concerning Muslims except disputes relating to agricultural land . For example recently in 2005 ,the Court refused to take any action against Ali Mohammed after he raped his daughter-in-law Imrana and threatened to kill her . The court ruled that her husband Noor Ilahi had ceased to be her husband . In 2006 the Shariat Court sentenced to death a Danish cartoonist who had caricatured Prophet Mohammed .Under Islamic jurisprudence "Fatwa" is a legal pronouncement made by a Shariat Scholar to safeguard Islam . For example a Fatwa was issued to kill Salman Rushdie for authoring " Satanic Verses ".
Islam is popular among men all over the world as it is the only religion which is exclusively friendly and very convenient to them . A follower of Islamic faith can have five wives simultaneously with only condition that they have to be treated equally .Before marriage a "Mehar " ( Compensation to wife if 'Talaq " --“Divorce “ is given by the husband which is a paltry sum in India ) is fixed in advance at the time of Nikah ( Wedding ) . There is no other binding on men following Islamic faith. They can divorce wives after saying " Talaq " three times - either in one go or at intervals .Islam has some binding traits inbuilt in the religion . These have lifelong impact on the psyche of the followers of Islamic faith- right from childhood they mould their thinking . These are as follows :-( a ) Halal meat for which the animals are killed slowly. This creates a sense of acceptance towards cruelty and lack of compassion for living beings from the very beginning . ( b ) Fatwa - It creates intolerance in the religion .( c ) Jihad - It encourages violence . Islam is generally spread through violence .( d ) Kafir ( nonbelievers ) -This word appears to be derogatory, repugnant and humiliating to others and is likely to create hatred with other fellow beings who do not profess Islam . The people of Islamic faith thus may find it hard to accept and coexist with other religions specially where they are either in a majority or in strength . Other ethnic groups can not survive in such an environment and may prefer converting to Islam . People of Islamic faith slowly but steadily wait to carve their majority and then act such as in Pakistan , Bangladesh , Pakistan Occupied Kashmir among others
Here are some quotations from Arun Shourie's book " The world Of Fatwas " :-Page 23 - Dr. Ambedkar's thesis - " Muslims can not coexist with non-muslims "Pages 24 -Mohammed Ali ( Ex - President of Indian National Congress before independence ) - When confronted by Muslim Ulemas, Mohammed Ali , a devout follower of Mahatma Gandhi , stated " Yes , according to my religion and creed I do hold an adulterous and a fallen Musalman to be better than Mr. Gandhi "Page 25 - " As a follower of Islam I am bound to regard the creed of Islam as superior to that professed by the followers of any non-islamic religion . And in this sense the creed of even a fallen and degraded Musalman is entitled to a higher place than that of any other non-muslim irrespective of his high character even though the person in question be Mahatma Gandhi himself " " to consider one's creed as superior to that of every non- Muslim is the duty of a Musalman ."Islamic terrorism which we see all over the world today , irrespective of the reasons , is a sad reflection on the fundamentals of Islam . Innocents are being killed in the name of Jihad . What was the fault of innocent passengers when their aircraft were smashed into twin towers . Suicide bombers and some terrorists exploding bombs in running trains or buildings are taking lives of hundreds of innocent persons .Followers of Islam must find ways and means to somehow circumvent these ills in the system and reform it . Just as Jesus Christ being Son Of God subtly made Christianity more tolerant and humane .World is small and we have to learn to coexist amicably otherwise humanity at large would continue suffering endlessly .