Question 40: We Christians have many denominations, and so do you Muslims. You have Shi’as, Druzes, Isma’iliyyas. Why all these sects, and what are the differences between them?

Answer 40: Sectarian divisions occurred in Islam as they occurred in previous religious communities. The prophet (pbuh) had predicted this phenomenon by stating that his community will split up, but only one sect will be on the right path, that is the people of the prophet’s way, the orthodox community (ahl al-sunnah wal jama’a). They will remain true to the path of the prophet and his companions. As for the other sects, which developed in the Islamic world, they have, generally speaking, deviated from the truth. The reasons for this

1. Ignorance about the religion, whims and ethnocentrism.

2. Conspiracy against its people.

Our stance towards these sects depends on how much they have deviated from the truth. Accordingly, we place some of these sects, such the Druze and Isma’ilis, beyond the pale of Islam.

Question 41: Why do you believe that you are the people of truth, while the rest are pagans and have strayed away from the truth?

Answer 41: The case is not a matter of mere claims of superiority, as much as it is an issue of sound common sense, and conclusive proofs which confirm the absolute truth in Islam’s claims, which call for pure monotheism.

Jews for example believe in Yahweh, to whom they attribute qualities that are denigrate God’s majesty. They say for example that He has a son named Uzair, [“And the Jews say: ’Uzair (Ezra) is the son of God’.”] (Holy Qur’an: 9: 30). How can we attribute a son to Him when non of His creation resembles Him? They also ascribed miserliness to Him, God says: “The Jews say ‘God’s hand is tied up’ (i.e. He does not give and spend of His bounty” (Holy Qur’an: 5: 64). They also attributed to Him qualities that are incmopatiable with His majesty, perfection, and power.

Then came the Christians and claimed likewise, that Jesus Christ (pbuh) is the son of God. They also attributed divinity to Jesus and his mother. God says in the Qur’an:

[And (remember) when God will say (on the day of reurrection): “O Jesus, son of Mary! Did you say unto men: ‘worship me and my mother as two gods besides God?’ He will say: ‘Glory is to You! It is not for me to say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing, You would surely, have known it. You know what is in my inner-self though I do not know what is in Yours; truly You, only You, are the All-Knower of all that is hidden (and seen). Never did I say to them aught except what You (God) did command me to say: worship God my Lord and your Lord. And I was a witness over them while I dwelt amongst them, but when you took me up, You were the Watcher over them; and You are a Witness to all things’.”] (Holy Qur’an: 5: 116-117).

Then Islam came with pure monotheism. God says:

“Say ‘He is God, (the) One. God is self-sufficnet. He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none co-equal or comaprable unto Him’.” (Holy Qur’an: 112: 1-4).

He also says:

“There is nothing like Him; and He is the All-Hearer, the All-seer” (Holy Qur’an: 42: 11).

The religious wars erupted in Europe as a result of the unresolved doctrinal controversies surrounding the person of Jesus. In Islam there are no controversies as to who God is, His names, His essence, and His attributes. The Qur’an’s call remains ever relevent: “Surely, in disbelief are they who say that ‘God is the Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary)’.” (Holy Qur’an: 5: 17).

Our refutation of Christian teachings in this regard are not based on personal whim or malice. We are simply stating God’s judgement on the matter. Whoever ascribes partners to God has rejected faith. God says:

“And verily, this is my straight path, so follow it, and follow not (other) paths, for they will separate you away from His path. This he has ordained for you that you may become the pious” (Holy Qur’an:6: 153).

Question 42: What is Islam’s position with regards to nationalism?

Answer 42: It is natural to love one’s country and people, as long as it does not lead to unjust dealings with other nations and peoples. A Muslim is also expected to show compassion and concern for people outside his country.

Nationalism, according to the contemporary proponents implies a kind of identity based on nationhood without reference to religious considerations. This understanding is clearly false. Nationalism, tribalism and regionalism had great influence on the lives of the people. When Islam came it refined these concepts and set rules and regulations to them, these include: no blind allegiance to nationality, race, country, and skin colour. Loyalty is first and foremost to God, and to His prophet and the community of believers wherever they may be. Love to one’s country must now be defined by the supreme allegiance to God’s religion.

Question 43: Is the one dies defending his country considered a martyr?

Answer 43: Intention is a vital issue here. Whoever is killed while defending his country with the intention of upholding the truth as revealed by God is a martyr. Whoever dies defending his country with the intention of safeguarding his honour and wealth is a martyr. However, if one dies while fighting to gain personal wealth and fame is not a martyr. One has to be a Muslim and be driven by Muslim ideals to be a candidate for martyrdom. The prophet says: “Whoever fights so that God’s word remain supreme is indeed striving on the path of God.”

PART TWO

Questions and Answers on

Islamic Jurisprudence:

Wisdom & Purposes

Translated by

Ahmad H. Al-Hout

Chapter 1:

Islamic Jurisprudence: Wisdom and Purposes

Question 44: What is the meaning of Islam?

Answer 44: Islam is total surrendering to almighty God’s command and obeying Him in all of His legislation and rules whose basis is the well-known five pillars: The two words, prayer, zakat, fasting and pilgrimage.

The perfect form of Islam is achieved when the Muslim’s life is completely involved in Islam. almighty God said: “[Our sibghah (religion) is] the Sibghah (religion) of God (Islam) and which Sibghah (religion) can be better than God’s? And he is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. (Holy Qur’an: 2: 138) and ‘Say (O Muhammad) Verily, my prayer, my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for God, the Lord of all that exists’.”) (Holy Qur’an: 6:162).

Question 45: What does faith mean?

Answer 45: Faith is the absolute belief in God, whose location is the heart. It is associated with the saying of the tongue and the observation of the senses. The basis of this faith is the belief in God, His angels, books, messengers, the doom’s day, fate (both good and evil) are all from almighty God. Therefore, the saying of the tongue indicates this absolute belief in those fundamentals and rules. The perfect action can best be testified by the implementation of Islam in the private and public life.

Question 46: What is the meaning of “perfect worship”?

Answer 46: This means “to worship God as if you were seeing Him; as you cannot see Him, He sees you”, as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) related. It is a high degree of emotional feeling to the Muslim when dealing with God as if he were seeing Him before his own eyes in terms of ability, greatness, authority and power, mercy, assistance and generosity. One who feels these divine qualities and other ones in all his conditions, will be whole-heartedly sincere and good in all his acts, behavior, manners, and will not be affected by his materialistic and personal interests and benefits. When Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was asked by `Uqbah bin Nafi’ about the perfect manners, he said, “O `Uqbah, visit those who refrained from visiting you, be kind to whoever deprived you, and do not harm those who have harmed you.” This kind of honesty makes the self of the Muslim pure, immaculate privately and publicly, whether one is alone or with others, in times of prevention and bounty, in loyalty, and in integrity—indeed, in all matters, small and big, it is a self that believes in God and attached to Him while looking at him all the time. If man’s eye may sleep sometimes, it believes, nevertheless that God’s eye does not sleep and continues to see him, that is perfect worship (ihsan).

Question 47: When did man known faith for the first time? Did people in ancient times believe in almighty God, or were they unbelievers, as anthropologists claim?

Answer 47: Belief in God is deeply rooted in the human nature. It is intrinsic in people. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Every child is born intrinsically believing in God, but his parents make him a Jew, a Christian or a Magi,”¹ i.e. every newborn is born with spontaneous belief in almighty God and surrendering to him. Islam has its own concept about the beginning of creation and human evolution. The gist is that almighty God created Adam from earth and soul was then blown into him. Next Eve was created from Adam. Then marriage began and people multiplied and populated the earth.

Adam was the first believer. He recognized God’s power and greatness. Therefore, when he sinned, he soon regretted and asked God to pardon him: he prostrated before Him implored for reconciliation and forgiveness. Almighty God said; “They said ‘Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If you forgive us not, and bestow not upon us Your Mercy, we shall certainly be of the losers”(Holy Qur’an: 7: 23). Almighty God has already said to them: “And We said; ‘O Adam! Dwell you and your wife in paradise, and eat both of you freely with pleasure and delight, of things therein as wherever you will, but come not near this tree or you both will be of thewrong-doers.’ Then Satan made them slip therefrom (paradise), and got them out from that in which they were. We said: O get you down, all, with enmity between yourselves. On earth will be a dwelling place for you and an enjoyment for a time.” Then Adam received from his Lord Words. And his Lord pardoned him (accepted his repentance). Verily, he is the One Who forgives, the Most Merciful.”

It is clear from the holy verses that Adam was a true believer in God. He lived in Paradise with his spouse, then he sinned because of the insinuations of Satan. But Adam soon repented, and God accepted his repentance. This incident indicates that faith occurred before disobedience, unbelieving and polytheism took place. Prophet Muhammad confirmed this fact by saying: “God created people to be intrinsically believing, but they were deceived by the devils.”² This means that devils ornamented polytheism for people and they deviated from the right path.

1 Cited in al-Siuti, vol. 2, hadith No. 6356.

2 Cited in Muslim, hadith No. 2637.