-----Original Message-----
From: Mohammad Farooq <farooqm59@yahoo.com>
To: alochona@egroups.com <alochona@egroups.com>
Date: Friday, May 21, 1999 1:16 AM
Subject: [ALOCHONA] Re: Crazy Idea: Setting up a 'World Religion'


Salaam and greetings!

Dr. Shaikh Mizan wrote:

>Can we not do it by appeal to our SENSE OF HUMANITY and
>CONSCIENCE ? If we can not do it by our sense of humanity and
>conscience, then how can we do it by religion ?

I think we all would be better off if whatever problems we deal with we do so without being dogmatic. In my humble understanding, sense of humanity, conscience, and divine guidance are not mutually exclusive; rather they are integrally related. I hope to have other opportunities to articulate that point further. However, if sense of humanity and conscience, in exclusion of divine guidance, are all that we need to achieve what we desire, I am not sure that I won't be all for it.


>Dr. Mizan further wrote:

>Religion, invariably derives its justification from the ABSOLUTE. It 
>invariably claims that whatever it says is the absolute truth. The 
>immediate corollary to this claim is whatever opposes the absolute 
>truth is absolute falsehood. Then it is quite natural that one’s
>absolute love for the absolute truth would be reciprocated in the
>absolute hatred against absolute falsehood.

Even though Dr. Mizan's Aristotelian logic seems elegant, the conclusions he draws do not necessarily follow. I can't speak for all religions, but as a Muslim I am asked to be fair and unprejudiced even when the judgment might be against me. I am also taught I must not have any hostility "except against those who practise oppression." I am also taught "God is Kind and He
likes kindness in everything." Thus, I have to try not to harbor any prejudice against anyone. Unless, I have misunderstood the faith and to remedy it, I have to lead myself to the logical conclusion Dr. Mizan has drawn.

>Thus it is no wonder that "kafir", "yaban", "heathen", etc. are the
>expressions of absolute despise in religious terminologies.

I can't speak for other religions. I will limit myself only to what I adhere to. I am rather new to Alochona and during first few weeks of participation, I have come to enjoy Dr. Mizan's postings: they show fine sensitivity, excellent articulation, and quite refined thinking. Despite my limited knowledge and understanding, I must say that here reading the above part of his message, I am somewhat at a loss as to how can erudite person like him draw the conclusion that the word "kafir" is an "expression of absolute despise."

I am aware that there are among Muslims who may use the word in a derogatory sense, but that is due to their ignorance. Indeed, if we understand the meaning of it, Muslims are required to commit the act of Kufr and be Believer at the same time. Does it sound contradictory?

"Let there be no compulsion in Deen;
Truth stands out clear from error;
whoever rejects (note: YAKFURU) the Taghut and believes in God
has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold that never breaks..."
[al-Qur'an: 2/al-Baqara/256]

The word Kafir is not derogatory in Islam as evidenced by the verse above. Islam requires that as  people believe in God, they also do what a Kafir would do as far as Taghut is concerned. For brevity, I avoided explaining each term (Taghut, Deen, etc.) separately and in detail, which is not necessary to make the point I am trying to make.

Best regards.

Farooq

======================
Dr. Mohammad Omar Farooq
Upper Iowa University, USA

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