Teachings of Islam and our activity
By Major General (Retd) S M Ibrahim
Sun, 7 May 2006, 10:55:00
The world, where Muslims live, spans a geographically diverse scenario. If we begin from the shores of Atlantic, it traverses ice-copped mountains of Europe, the immeasurable Sahara, the fertile lands of the Nile valley and then on to the heart of Africa. You cross the Red Sea and you are in the cauldron of conflicts of the semitic nations; to the Holy cities of Arabia and up to capital city of Jerusalem -'heart throb' of three major religions, each happy enough to justifiably (in their view) go to war for the city. The ancient civilisations of Iraq, Turkey, Iran and South Asia from one - arch, while a line from Albania through the Caucasus across central Asia establishes the northern frontier of Islam. The adjacent land mass of India is an avenue linking up the 'Central' to the 'South East Asia': "a hundred races stretch across continents and countries through a welter of cultural differences but with a single and uniquely uniting faith that has bypassed the skepticism synonymous with religion in modern times". Yes, people are skeptical about religion.
The word 'religio' has been narrowed down to mean only a set of rituals involving a part of the life. But 'Islam' has with stood the pressures of historical circumstances and fluidity of human explanations to mean what it was designed to be. 'Deen Islam' is the prescribed way of life-a code considered congenial for peaceful living in the world. It was prescribed by the Almighty Creator, who designed the earth and the environment, who created human beings and all other animals. It is, therefore, logical that the Creator will prescribe a way of living which would be mutually compatible the all the users of this earth and environment. Over the years, Islamic outlook on many of the contemporary issues have become unique in having a world view arising from the fountain of Islamic teachings, not to talk of personal living styles. But it must also be mentioned that, Muslims do falter at individual level in upholding the principles of Islamic teaching. These give rise to anomalies at family level, social level in the immediate vicinity and at the level of international relations. Individual Muslims falter because of their inability to comprehend fully the 'practice' or 'example' left behind by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW). But the influence of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) on the lives of the Muslim across various continents, through all the ages, is impossible to be exaggerated. And the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is but a display of human behaviour in various perspectives meant to lead a life : happy, congenial and worthy of living. It is in this background that the failings of individuals have to be evaluated.
It is, therefore, in context that efforts be made to constantly remind the followers of Islam about the very teachings of Islam on a frequent basis. This is however not done well enough. ATN Bangla has undertaken this project and has made reasonable contribution in this regard. Through the various episodes it is trying to highlight the exact teachings of Islam on various matters, relate it to what the followers (i.e. 'We' the Muslims) do. Let us illustrate few mundane matters. Islam lays tremendous emphasis on good neighbourly relations. One is expected not to have a complete or full meal leaving his neighbours tiungry. But that is probably one of the last things we are following these days. An individual family can have another family as neighbour. Number of families will make a community or 'neighbourhood'. Communities have as neighbours-other communities. In our contemporary Dhaka, for example, rich or elite communities are generally living in one part of the city and poorer people live in another part, as neighbours in the City. Does the 'rich community' in Dhaka bother about the 'poor community' of the same Dhaka? On the same analogy rich communities make up a rich country and the rich country has poor neighbours.
Islam teaches austerity and simple living, but we resort to luxurious living and wasteful habits. Islam teaches us not to bring allegations based on assumption, we do the reverse too frequently. Islam teaches us to look after the safety and security of family members, neighbours and countrymen, we are neglectful to the extreme. Islam teaches us not to grab the properties of orphans, we are too quick to do the reverse. Islam teaches us to work hard and try self upliftment, or for the upliftment of our community or country ourself, on the contrary, we begin by looking for foreign aid. Islam teaches one to consult and take advice from the wise and the honest; we do not consult and even if we do, we give priority to the counsel of the self interested ones only. These are few of the many traits of our contemporary society reflecting the distance from Islamic teachings. The programme "What Islam says ; What do we do?" is doing its best to generate awareness in the right direction, in the above context. I have been associated with the programme since the first episode, and pray for its success in future too.
[The writer is a security analyst]
By Major General (Retd) S M Ibrahim
Sun, 7 May 2006, 10:55:00
The world, where Muslims live, spans a geographically diverse scenario. If we begin from the shores of Atlantic, it traverses ice-copped mountains of Europe, the immeasurable Sahara, the fertile lands of the Nile valley and then on to the heart of Africa. You cross the Red Sea and you are in the cauldron of conflicts of the semitic nations; to the Holy cities of Arabia and up to capital city of Jerusalem -'heart throb' of three major religions, each happy enough to justifiably (in their view) go to war for the city. The ancient civilisations of Iraq, Turkey, Iran and South Asia from one - arch, while a line from Albania through the Caucasus across central Asia establishes the northern frontier of Islam. The adjacent land mass of India is an avenue linking up the 'Central' to the 'South East Asia': "a hundred races stretch across continents and countries through a welter of cultural differences but with a single and uniquely uniting faith that has bypassed the skepticism synonymous with religion in modern times". Yes, people are skeptical about religion.
The word 'religio' has been narrowed down to mean only a set of rituals involving a part of the life. But 'Islam' has with stood the pressures of historical circumstances and fluidity of human explanations to mean what it was designed to be. 'Deen Islam' is the prescribed way of life-a code considered congenial for peaceful living in the world. It was prescribed by the Almighty Creator, who designed the earth and the environment, who created human beings and all other animals. It is, therefore, logical that the Creator will prescribe a way of living which would be mutually compatible the all the users of this earth and environment. Over the years, Islamic outlook on many of the contemporary issues have become unique in having a world view arising from the fountain of Islamic teachings, not to talk of personal living styles. But it must also be mentioned that, Muslims do falter at individual level in upholding the principles of Islamic teaching. These give rise to anomalies at family level, social level in the immediate vicinity and at the level of international relations. Individual Muslims falter because of their inability to comprehend fully the 'practice' or 'example' left behind by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW). But the influence of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) on the lives of the Muslim across various continents, through all the ages, is impossible to be exaggerated. And the life of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is but a display of human behaviour in various perspectives meant to lead a life : happy, congenial and worthy of living. It is in this background that the failings of individuals have to be evaluated.
It is, therefore, in context that efforts be made to constantly remind the followers of Islam about the very teachings of Islam on a frequent basis. This is however not done well enough. ATN Bangla has undertaken this project and has made reasonable contribution in this regard. Through the various episodes it is trying to highlight the exact teachings of Islam on various matters, relate it to what the followers (i.e. 'We' the Muslims) do. Let us illustrate few mundane matters. Islam lays tremendous emphasis on good neighbourly relations. One is expected not to have a complete or full meal leaving his neighbours tiungry. But that is probably one of the last things we are following these days. An individual family can have another family as neighbour. Number of families will make a community or 'neighbourhood'. Communities have as neighbours-other communities. In our contemporary Dhaka, for example, rich or elite communities are generally living in one part of the city and poorer people live in another part, as neighbours in the City. Does the 'rich community' in Dhaka bother about the 'poor community' of the same Dhaka? On the same analogy rich communities make up a rich country and the rich country has poor neighbours.
Islam teaches austerity and simple living, but we resort to luxurious living and wasteful habits. Islam teaches us not to bring allegations based on assumption, we do the reverse too frequently. Islam teaches us to look after the safety and security of family members, neighbours and countrymen, we are neglectful to the extreme. Islam teaches us not to grab the properties of orphans, we are too quick to do the reverse. Islam teaches us to work hard and try self upliftment, or for the upliftment of our community or country ourself, on the contrary, we begin by looking for foreign aid. Islam teaches one to consult and take advice from the wise and the honest; we do not consult and even if we do, we give priority to the counsel of the self interested ones only. These are few of the many traits of our contemporary society reflecting the distance from Islamic teachings. The programme "What Islam says ; What do we do?" is doing its best to generate awareness in the right direction, in the above context. I have been associated with the programme since the first episode, and pray for its success in future too.
[The writer is a security analyst]