Chapter 5: ISLAM: A UNIVERSAL RELIGION

The Christianity of Jesus Christ is not meant to be a universal religion. Though as far as its fundamental message and teaching are concerned, the religion of Jesus is not different from Islam, yet it does not contain complete guidance for all aspects of human life and for all nations and ages. During the countless centuries of human history, when the different races of mankind were living in more or less complete isolation and there was no quick means of communication between one nation and another, God has sent different prophets to different peoples. Jesus was one of these national prophets. He was the Messiah of the Israelites. This is what Dr. C.J. Cadoux, an author whom we have already quoted several times in this book, writes with regard to the limited (national) scope of Jesus’ mission:

“The office of Messiahship with which Jesus believed himself to be invested, marked him out for a distinctly national role: and accordingly we find him more or less confining his preaching and healing ministry and that of his disciples to Jewish territory, and feeling hesitant when on one occasion he was asked to heal a Gentile girl. Jesus, obvious veneration for Jemsalem, the Temple, and Scriptures indicate the special place which he accorded to israel in his thinking: and several features of his teaching illustrate the same attitude. Thus, in calling his heaters brothers of one another (ie., fellow Jews) and frequently contrasting their ways with those of ‘the Gentles’, in defending his cure of a woman on the Sabbath with the plea that she was a ‘daughter of Abraham and befriending the tax-collector Zacchaeus ‘because he too is a son of Abraham and in fixing the number of his special disciples at twelve to match the number of the tribes of Israel in all this Jesus shows how strongly Jewish a stamp he wished to impress upon his mission.”[1]

Each nation having been separately guided to the truth by the national prophets, the time was ultimately ripe in the Plan of God to raise the World – Prophet and reveal the Universal

Religion. And so, when the world was on the eve of becoming one. God raised the Prophet Muhammad to represent the essential message of all prophets, shorn of all that was of temporary and limited nature and purged of all the later adulterations and misinterpretations. He amalgamated the religious traditions of the different nations into a single universal Faith and culture and united the peoples of all nations and lands into a single world-wide brotherhood. He gave the world a complete code of life for the entire humanity.

To establish the truth of his Religion. the Prophet Muhammad did not resort to miracles, which may win over the few who witness them but fail to carry conviction to those of the subsequent generations. The appeal of his Religion is to the reason and the conscience of man. To carry the truth home to us, he draws our attention to the phenomena of nature. the lessons of history and the teachings and experiences of the prophets of various nations. There is nothing in Islam which is of interest or benefit only to the people of a particular region or age. The Glorious

Qur’an enjoins nothing which is not uniformly inspiring, edifying and practicable for peoples of all nations and times. The religious and moral teachings of Islam of universal nature.

In considering the proposition that Islam and not Christianity is the universal Religion, the reader must bear in mind the following facts;

1. The mission of Jesus was only for the children of Israel, but the Prophet Muhammad came with a message for all nations of the earth. Jesus clearly stated:

“I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

(Matthew l5:24)

He chose twelve special disciples to match the number of the tribes of Israel and he clearly told them:

“Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

(MatthewlO: 5,6)

On the other hand, the Prophet Muhammad from the very beginning of his ministry addressed himself to the entire humanity. It was revealed to him:

(We have not sent thee (Muhammad) but as a mercy to all the nations.)

(Qur’an 21:107)

(Say (O Muhammad): O mankind! Lo! I am the Messenger of God to you all – the Messenger of Him unto Whom belongeth the sovereignty of the heavens and the earth. There is no god save Him.)

(Qur’an 7: 158)

2. Christianity believes that the Israelites are a chosen people. God had sent His Revelations and prophets to them alone. The Christians acknowledge only the prophets of Israel. They regard all others as impostors. But Islam says that it would be a denial of the universal Providence of God to assert that prophets were raised only in one nation. According to the Glorious Qur’an, God is the Lord and Cherisher of all the worlds. He has made no discrimination between nations in

sending His Revelations. He has raised prophets among all nations of the globe. The same religion was revealed to all prophets. The Glorious Qur’an says:

(There is not a nation but a warner hath passed among them)

(35:24)

(And for every nation there is a Messenger.)

(10:48)

(Verily we sent messengers before thee (Muhammad), among them are those of whom we have told thee, and some of whom we have not told thee.)

(Qur’an 40:78)

(Mankind are one community, and so God sent (unto all sections of them) Prophets as bearers of good tidings and as warners, and revealed therewith the Scripture with the truth that it might judge between mankind concerning that wherein they differed)

(Qur’an 2:213)

The Prophet Muhammad had come to complete, not to destroy, the work of the earlier prophets. He told his followers to have faith in the prophets of all the nations:

(Say (O Muslims) We believe in God and that which is revealed unto us and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets (of each and every nation) received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered.)

(Qur’an 2: 136)

Islam is the consummation of all the religions. By accepting the prophets and scriptures of all nations, Islam affirms the Unity and universal Providence of God and the universality of

religious experience, and also seeks to bring together people of all races and creeds in a single all-embracing Faith and Brotherhood.

3. Islam, and not Christianity, gives complete guidance for all aspects and conditions of life, individual as well as social, national as well as international. Jesus Christ himself admitted that he had not come with the final or complete Divine message for mankind, for the time was not yet ripe for it:

“I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot hear them now. Howbeit, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide y0u into all truth.”

(John 16:12-I3)

Five centuries after him the Spirit of truth appeared in the person of the Prophet Muhammad. to convey the whole truth to mankind. God revealed to him:

This clay have I pejected your Religion for you and completed My favor nitro you, and have chosen for you as Religion Al-Islam .

(Qur’an:5-3)

The Prophet Muhammad is thus the seal Prophet and the Message which he brought from God is the final and complete message. Let us compare certain aspects of the religions of Islam and Christianity to see why we regard Islam and not Christianity as the complete message.

[1][1] C. J. Cadoux, The life 0f Jesus, pp. 81,82.

The Status of Women in Islam and Christianity

Jesus was the seal prophet to appear among the Beni-Israel. Allah sent him to make reforms in the teachings of the earlier Israelite prophets. He reinterpreted some of the religious precepts of Moses to bring them in line with the needs of his age; but others he left as they were. The so-called Old Testament of the Bible advocates massacre, condones polygamy, accepts slavery and orders the burning of witches. Jesus, who had come “not to destroy the law and the prophets but to fulfil”, apparently saw nothing wrong with these or, at any rate, had no time to

remedy them. For, he said or did nothing to humanize the Mosaic laws of war or to abolish slavery or to raise the status of women. He said not a word against polygamy.

St. Paul, who was the real founder of Christianity as it is understood and believed by Christians, regarded woman as temptress. He laid the entire blame for the fall of man and the genesis of sin on woman. This is what we read in the New Testament of the Bible:

“For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels”

(I Corinthians 11:8,10)

And this is what some of the canonized saints of Christianity have said about woman:

“Woman is a daughter of Falsehood, a sentinel of Hell, the enemy of peace; through her Adam lost Paradise.”

(St. John Damascene)

“Woman is the instrument which the Devil uses to gain possession of our souls.”

(St. Cyprian)

“Woman is the fountain of the arm of the Devil; her voice is the hissing of the serpent”

(St. Anthony)

“Women has the poison of an asp, the malice of a dragon.”

(St. gregory the Great)

The Glorious Qur’an clears woman of the responsibility for the fall of Adam and vindicated her honor and dignity. It raises the status of woman to make her man’s equal. For the first time in history woman is given the same rights as those of man by Islam:

“And they (women) have rights similar to those of men over them in a just manner.

(Qur’an 2:228)

The modern man recognizes that there can be no true freedom and dignity without economic rights. Fourteen hundred years ago, Islam has given woman the right to inherit the property and wealth of her father and husband and to acquire, own and dispose of wealth as she likes. The Glorious Qur’an says:

{Unto men a fortune from that which they have earned, and unto women a fortune from that which they have earned};

(Qur’an 4:32)

(Unto men (of a family) belongeth a share of that which parents or near kindred leave, and unto women share of that which parents or near kindred whether it be little or much – a legal share.)

(Qur’an 4:7)

In marriage a woman is considered by Islam to be an equal and free partner. Marriage in Islam is a sacred contract between a man and a woman and the consent of both parties has to be taken before marriage can take place. The Glorious Qur’an describes woman as a companion of her husband – an object of love and a source of peace and solace to him:

(And of His Signs is this: He created for you helpmates from among yourselves that ye may find rest in them and He ordained between you love and mercy. Lo, here indeed are portents for folk who reflect.)

(Qur’an 30:21)

To impress upon his followers the exalted position and sacredness of womanhood, the Prophet declared:

“Paradise lies at the feet of mothers. ” _

He said that “women are the twin-halves of men,” and that men and women come from the essence. Islam makes no distinction between them as regards their moral and spiritual

capabilities and rewards:

(The believers, men and women, are protecting friends of one another, they enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and they perform Prayer and they pay Zakah, and they obey God and His Messenger. As for these, will have mercy on them. Lo! God is All-Mighty, All-Wise.)

(Qur’an 9:71)

(Whoever doeth right, whether male or female, and is a believer, him (or her) verily We shall quicken with good life, and we shall pay them a recompense in proportion. To the best of what they used to do.)

(Qur’an 16:97)

(Lo! men who surrender unto God, and women who surrender, and men who believe and women who believe, and men who obey and women who obey, and men who speak the truth and women who speak the truth, and men who are persevere in righteousness and women who are

persevere, and men who are humble, and women who are humble. and men who give alms and women who give alms, and men who fast and women who fast and men who guard their modesty and women who guard their modesty, and men who remember God much and women who remember  God hath prepared for them forgiveness and vast reward.)

(Quran 33:35)

Elimination of Slavery

Islam is the first Religion to improve the condition of slaves and to take steps for the total abolition of slavery. As the first step, the Glorious Prophet made kind and brotherly treatment of

slaves, a duty of Muslims. They were to be considered as members of the family:

“Your slaves are your brethren. So if any one of you happens to have a slave, let him give him the same food that he himself’ eats, and the same clothing that he himself wears. And do not give them such work as is beyond their power to perform, and if you ever happen. to give them. Such work, you should help them in doing it. ”

(Bukhari, Kitab Al- ‘Itq)

The following are just two of the many verses of the Glorious Qur’an exhorting men to emancipate the slaves:

(Ali, what will convey unto thee what the Ascent is! It is to free the slaves and to feed in the day of hunger an orphan near of kin, or some poor wretch in misery, and to be of those who believe and exhort one another to perseverance and exhort one another to pity.)

(90: 12-17)

(and the West; but righteous is he who believeth in God and the Last Day… and giveth his wealth, for love of Him, to kinsfolk and t0 orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who ask, and to set slaves free… )

(2:177)

The institution of slavery being opposed to the Islamic teaching of the equality and dignity of man, the Prophet prohibited the taking of fresh slaves in very strong words:

“God has spoken to me, saying, there are three classes of men whose adversary I shall be on the Day of Judgment. Firstly, the man who makes a covenant with someone in My Name and then breaks it. Secondly, the man who enslaves a free man, sells him and eats his price. Thirdly, the man who employs a man to do a work and exacts pill work from him but does not pay him his full wages”

(Bukhari, Kitab Al-Bai ‘)

Finally, came the categorical Command of God not only to give freedom to the slaves but also a part of 0ne’s wealth to rehabilitate them:

(And such of your slaves as seek a writing of emancipation, write it for them, if you are aware of aught of good in them, and bestowed upon them of the wealth of God which He hath bestowed upon you.)

(Qur’an 24:33)

On the other hand, Jesus was not related to say anything to emancipate the slaves or to improve the lot of these miserable creatures.

Political Constitution

Christianity does give some guidance with regard to what Aristotle described as private virtues, but is absolutely silent on the question of political virtues. The result of the separation of religion and politics in Christianity has been the growth of I Machiavellism in the West. Islam, on the other hand, being the last revealed Religion, and foreseeing the eventual evolution of humanity, has to formulate a basic code of comprehensive guidance for mankind in all their activities and relations, whether they fall within the public or the private sector. Islam ensures social justice and international peace by bringing political, economic and international relations and affairs under the control of religion and ethics and by defining the basic duties of the individual towards the state and of the state towards the individual and of one state toward another. It lays down some basic principles which every community is enjoined to adopt ` and then gives each the liberty to develop its structure according to the needs of the age, provided this superstructure observes the basic principles and remains within their scope. .

The first basic principle of the Islamic political system is that the sovereignty of the state rests with God and no legislature or parliament has the right to pass a law or act which is contrary to

the spirit and letter of the Commands of God as contained in the Glorious Qur’an and the precepts of the Prophet. Thus Islam ensures uniform justice and saves the state and the destinies of people from being swayed by the whims, shortsighted decisions of the legislators, and the minority group from the brute will of the majority, and the interests of the people as a whole from those of the dominating economic class in the parliament.

The Glorious Qur’an says:

(Say: O God, Owner of Sovereignty! Thou givest sovereignty unto whom Thou wilt and Thou withdrawest sovereignty from whom Thou wilt. Thou exaltest whom Thou wilt and Thou abasest whom Thou wilt. In Thy Hand is the good. Lo! Thou art Able to do all things.)

(3:26)

The second basic principle is that all men are equal before Law and in the Sight of God. They have equal political rights. The same Law applies to all. In an Islamic State no one, not even the head of the state, is above Law for the breach of any law, even the Caliph can be summoned in the court and punished, if found guilty.

The third basic principle is that all public offices, including that of the chief executive, are trusts from God, and the trustee must exercise the authority given to them as per the Command of God and for the benefit of the people. As the head of the state is appointed by them, he can also be removed by people, if they find that he is not carrying on the administration according to the Commands of God and in best interests of the people.

The fourth basic principle is that all public matters are to be decided by consultation and after taking into consideration the views of the citizens or the Islamic State:

(So pardon them and ask forgiveness for them and consult with them upon the conduct of affairs. And when thou art resolved, then put thy trust in God. Lo! God loveth those who put their trust in Him.)

(Qur’an 3:159)

(And those who answer the Call 0f their Lord and perform Prayer and whose affair is by consent among themselves and who spend on others out of what we have bestowed on them.)

(42:38)

Islam brings into existence the first true democracy in which there is no distinction of free-born and slave, citizen and serf, and no discrimination on the basis of race or color, or sex or creed. All are equal before Law and enjoy the same rights.

The Economics of Islam

In the economic field, Islam considers all unearned income to be unjust and unlawful. It upholds the dignity of labor. The Prophet said:

“No one eats better food than that which he eats out of the work of his own hands. ”

(Bukhari, 35: 15)

In the social order of Islam the possibility of exploitation of man by man is minimized, without the total abolition of private property or enterprise, by the prohibition of monopoly, blackmarketing, hoarding and interest (riba), that is, a fixed extra return for money lent for any purpose. Says the Quran:

(Those who live on interest cannot rise up save as he ariseth whom the Devil hath prostrated by his touch. That is because they say: Trade is just like interest; whereas God permitteth trading and forbiddeth interest.)  (2:275)

In order to reduce inequality and make sure that everyone gets the basic necessities and has equal opportunities in life, Islam imposes a tax on the capital of the rich for the benefit of the poor. This tax, called Zakah, is different from and in addition to Khairat or voluntary charity. Moreover, the Qur’an contains frequent and repeated exhortations to the people to spend their wealth for the welfare of others. It says that the profession of Faith and the religious devotions of a man who is not actively engaged in works of mercy are vain and not acceptable before God. And, finally, by its judicious laws of inheritance, Islam makes the concentration of wealth in few hands impossible.

While not ignoring the importance of economic activities in human life, Islam strongly condemns the tendency to judge people by their financial and social status. The mark of a man’s worth is not his wealth but higher morals and greater participation in the works of mercy. Wealth is not an end, but “a means of support” to the people. The wealth that a man earns is not absolutely his. It is a trust with him from God. He has acquired it by employing the God-given faculties and by the aid and the facilities provided by the society. He must repay his debt to the society and spend as much as possible, out of what he has earned, in the Way of God. Above all, in the pursuit of wealth a man must not lose sight of the higher values of life.

Religious Freedom

Just as Islam has made the state subject to the same ethical principles as govern individuals and has brought international relations within the scope of morality, making the subjugation and exploitation of one nation by another as reprehensible as the subjugation and exploitation of one man by another, in the same way Islam has ordained justice, equality and mutual respect in inter-religious affairs and relations. In the Islamic social order all individuals and religious communities are free to follow the religion of their own choice. No individual or religious community has the right to impose his own beliefs on others or to restrict in any way the profession, preaching and practice by others of the religion which appeals to them. Says the Glorious Qur’an:

(There is no compulsion in religion.)

(2:256)

The Islamic attitude towards inter-religious relations is much more than that of mere toleration. Islam enjoins equal faith in the prophets of all Divine religions of the world. It invites people of other religions to join the Muslims in forming a League of Faiths to uphold the principles of the Unity of God and righteous conduct.

In Muslim countries Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians and Hindus have enjoyed the freedom, which, till recently, was totally denied to the non-Christians in Christendom.

The Universal Brotherhood of Islam

The Islamic belief in the unity of mankind is the corollary of the doctrine of the Unity of God. The self-same God is the Creator and Nourisher of the men and women of all nations, races, colors, creeds and cultures. And hence all mankind may be regarded as God’s big family:

(Mankind are one community.)

(Qur’an 2:213)

Islam rejects all false criteria of superiority based on race, nationality, color or language. It makes righteousness and good conduct the only mark of superiority in the Sight of God:

(O mankind! Lo! We have created you rnale and female and made you nations and tribes that ye may know one another. Lo! The noblest of you, in the Sight of God is the best in conduct. Lo! God is All-Knowing, All-Aware.)

(Qur’an 49:13)

The Prophet of Islam, commenting on the above verse on the occasion of the Last Pilgrimage, observed:

“No Arab has superiority over any non-Arab, and no non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; no black person has any superiority over a white person and no white person has any superiority over a black person. The criterion of honor in the Sight of God is righteousness and honest living. ”

(Saying of Muhammad)

Islam unites all human beings in love and sympathy as brothers. The brotherhood of Islam transcends all geographical and political barriers. Even the strictly religious obligations of

Islam, like the congregational Prayers, Fasting, Zakah and Pilgrimage to Mecca have the additional function of creating brotherly feelings and equality among all sections of humanity.

The Glorious Qur’an says:

(Be not disunited. And remember God ‘s Favor unto you: how ye were enemies and He made friendship between your hearts so that ye became as brothers by His Grace; and how ye were upon the brink of an abyss of F ire, and He did save you front it. Thus God maketh clear His Revelations unto you, that haply ye may be guided.)

(3:103)

Thus it will be seen that Islam gives guidance on many matters and aspects of human relations on which Christianity is silent. The Prophet Muhammad completed what was left incomplete by Jesus. Islam is the true Religion of Jesus, revived by a fresh Revelation and perfected to cover all aspects of human actions and relations and to give guidance to the people of all times and nations. It is, in short, a Universal Religion. Lt does not only respond to man’s devotional urges but to human life as a whole. It does not only give us an infallible metaphysics, but also a comprehensive and sublime code of individual and social ethics, a sound economic system, a just political ideology, and many other things besides. It is not a solitary star, but a whole solar system, encompassing the whole and illuminating the whole.