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Discover Islam Editors
Name
zaki
- Malaysia
Profession
research assistant
Question
as-salam`lykum sir,
i think that Islam is always compatible with modern life.
what should be concern is some muslims who can not cope with the modern life, trying to get away or indulge in it too much.
i see that we should be moderate in any affairs without neglect our identity and faith.
we should embrace modern life with a blanket of Islam.
i think we all can do that.
Answer
Hello Zaki,
As-salamu alaikum.
Thank you very much for your question.
You are perfectly right in saying that Islam is compatible with modern life. The proof is there in the fact that more and more people who belong to ‘the most modern world’ are embracing Islam. And remember: about one-fourth of humanity are Muslims living in the modern world, participating in modern life in its varied aspects.
If some Muslims are unable to cope with modern life, so is the condition of some non-Muslims too. It is chiefly because of ignorance or incompetence that these people are unable to cope with life in modern times.
At the same time, please note: By ‘modern life’ if someone means the seamy aspects of contemporary life that promote a free and unrestrained indulgence of one’s base passions by ‘swinging’ ‘partying’ etc, Islam has nothing to do with it.
Thank you.
Name
Kabir
- Nigeria
Profession
Question
Human Behavior is always the same since the beginning. It can be summarised as love for good things and detesting failures and miserable things. The advent of Islam right since from the beginning is to passion out Man's life in such a way that he would live and die in peace with the other components surrounding his life. Islam summarily means living in peace with the Creator;with oneselve and with other creatures.Going by this what is therein modernity that differentiate present day man from his ancestors that would seek to be incompatible with Islam? The truth is that people shpouls open their minds and see what truely is there that Islam preaches and this will be the solution of Modern man's problems. The Prince of England Charles once said that Britain had tried somany Ideologies but yet ot solve their problems and at the same time suggested that Islamic system should be given a trial.
Answer
Hello Kabir,
Assalamu alaikum
Thank you for your comments.
I agree with the views you have expressed; but somewhat disagree about your implicit denial of the presence of any element that distinguishes the life of the moderns from the life of our ancestors. Indeed all of us can see that since the great scientific and technological inventions of the last century, human life has changed a lot. This means that there are new situations and very complex problems existing now, urging man to relate to them in unexpected ways. Genetic engineering, organ transplants, space travel etc are examples. Our books of Fiqh do not give solutions to these problems.
So the question is: what mechanism of Islam helps it to cope with these new situations and experiences. And our answer is: IJTIHAD, which stands for the intellectual effort made by competent scholars of Islam to solve problems based on the principles laid down in the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah. This is how Islam helps its adherents to adjust to modern situations and problems.
And Allah knows best.
Name
atheist
-
Profession
Question
Religion restricts freedoms. Religion causes war. People with religion kill others in the name of religion. Why would we need all THAT?
Answer
Hello Atheist,
Thank you for your question.
You know that in the two World Wars of the last century, Religion played no role in killing all those millions who died. Apart from this, Comrade Stalin massacred millions in Ukraine alone, besides in other places. Was it religion? And how many did Pol Pot kill in Cambodia? Over 2 million people. And think of all the human beings massacred by the Americans in different parts of the world: Vietnam, Philippines, Korea, Chile, Nicaragua and so on and on… Religion played little role there.
If you make an objective study, you can see that the role of Religion in wars is unimportant in comparison. And even where religion is in the dock, we can see that it was actually the greed, the madness or the arrogance of certain persons who put on the garb of religion that caused those wars, rather than Religion itself which invariably teaches people to strive for peace.
You may be right in saying that people with religion kill. But people without religion also kill. So what we need to do is to urge the people to accept some philosophy (as you do not like the word, religion) that persuades them to be peaceful. Islam, though terribly misunderstood, stands for Peace.
Also it is true that Religion demands restraint, which is in a way curtailment of freedom. But tell me, can we claim to be cultured or civilized beings, if we do not exercise restraints in our day to day life?
Thank you very much.
Name
Jon
- United Kingdom
Profession
student
Question
hmmm... do we need religion? for what? those who believe that we need religion probably believe that humanity is at its essence inherently evil. Those who do not think we need religion believe that humanity is inherently good. End of story.
Answer
Hello Jon,
Peace be with you!
Thank you for your question.
You are thinking of Christianity when you say that man is inherently evil. For your information, Islam does NOT accept this theory. Islam believes the same as YOU: that man is inherently GOOD.
Also Islam teaches:
“Whoever receives guidance, receives it for his own benefit: whoever goes astray does so to his own loss: No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another: nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent an apostle (to give warning).” (Qur’an 17:15)
This means: It is We who are accountable for OUR actions. No one can bear OUR burden of guilt, but OURSELVES. And only AFTER a Warner has come to you with a clear warning, that God will call you to account for your bad actions. That is to say, God will not do any injustice to any body.
Islam teaches you to strive for Justice and Truth; Islam teaches you to Prevent evil by your hand if you can; if not by your words; and if you are unable to do even that, at least, you must hate evil with all your heart.
You need to study Islam, before you blame ALL religion.
Thank you very much indeed.
Name
anon
-
Profession
Question
This is an interesting question... but what is religion in the first place?
Answer
Hello Anon,
Peace be with you!
One dictionary definition of religion is: “A set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader.” (Dictionary.com)
But ISLAM stands for the peace a person attains in this world and (eternally in the life after death) by living a life of obedience to the One True God.
God’s Guidance to humans in its complete form is available in the Qur’an, and it has been practically demonstrated in his life by Prophet Muhammad, peace be on him.
So Religion for any one who follows the Qur’an and the example of the Prophet, is the right way to live a good and useful life in this world, so that he or she is ensured of a life of eternal happiness in the hereafter.
Thank you.
Name
anon
-
Profession
Question
ok, last question... why should we allow God, if he exists, and who we can't see even if he does exist, be the one to tell us what to do and what not to do?
Answer
Hello Anon,
Peace be with you!
Thank you very much for your interesting question.
As a matter of fact God exists; and that is why the world exists, and we exist: It is because God created the world and put us here on earth that we are here. We do not see God, because He is Transcendent, existing beyond our every day world of matter. But He is our Creator and Sustainer; He is the One Who knows our strengths and weaknesses and so He is the most competent to tell us what to do, or not to do, for our welfare in this world and for our welfare in the world to come.
Because God knows best.
Name
Isabelle
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Hi.
Thank you for this chance to ask questions.
I just wantted to ask... civilizations, as we know them, are essentially sustained through the development of ideas, philosophies, etc. How can Islam, which was set down over 14 centuries ago, claim to have a civilization that is sustainable? The very fact that it was set down so long ago means that it may have been good for Islamic civilization THEN, but now, in order to sustain itself, Islamic civilization much move forward. New ideas and philosophies must be introduced.
Answer
Hello Isabelle,
Peace be with you!
Thank you for your very intelligent question.
Islam is a way of life directed by the guidance of God given in the Qur’an. The Qur’an contains precepts and guidelines that are relevant to all generations of people irrespective of race, nationality or country.
As time passes, conditions of life change, and civilizations come into being in accordance with the way the people respond to the situations prevailing. But the teachings of Islam are basic to human life, and so they transcend the times.
Moreover, Islam has built-in devices as it were, to meet the contingencies of passing times: The Shari`ah of Islam is not a stationary thing as many people imagine. It is a very dynamic institution within Islam that uses various mechanisms to move forward with the times. The most important of these devices is IJTIHAD.
Actually, the word ijtihad is an Arabic word taken from the root, "jahada", which means to exert or make efforts. In the juristic sense, ijtihad is the legal process by which the jurist practices his own reasoning based on the Shari`ah-stipulated conditions to derive or produce the rulings pertaining to issues.
But beyond that, it can be an exercise of one's reasoning to arrive at a logical conclusion (without going counter to the basics in the Qur'an) on an issue by competent scholars to deal with a new situation.
Its Importance:
In fact, allowing ijtihad is one of the most important characteristics of Islam since it shows the flexibility of the Islamic Shari`ah and its suitability to all times and places.
Ijtihad is really important to offer solutions and to provide the perspective of Shari`ah in any new issue. Since Muslim jurists agree that "the more people live, the more they get new issues and new rulings for these issues."
With the amazing progress in technology and science, people face new problems and need solutions for them. They will turn directly to Shari`ah for consultation and guidance. If Shari`ah is unable to provide solutions and answers, this will be considered a big deficiency in the sense that it will not be considered valid for all times and spaces.
And there need not be any objection to adopting new remedies to new situations, on the condition that they do not violate the fundamental priniciples in the Qur'an, which you can see are relevant for all time.
It is in this way that Islam meets changing situations in the modern times.
Hope I have answered your question.
Name
Um Mohammad
-
Profession
Question
Al salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatu Allah,
I think that it is becoming increasingly difficult to stay on strong moral grounds for some Muslims in this modern time and age. Even if no kaba'er are committed, some find it hard to resist the pressures of this modern society of things such as musical videos and even ringtones on cellphones. And it's almost impossible to go out and socialize without having to hear about people who are having premarital affairs or even within marriages. Another thing I have noticed which is becoming popular is the new "modern" Hijab for girls and women. You see them wearing tight stylish clothes like tight tops and jeans while the hair is covered in a scarf that is matching to the clothing and the accessories. I have heard that men find it more appealing to watch than uncovered women.
These new modern trends and others put a question mark whether many people are following the teachings of Islam correctly or not. What is your take on this matter?
Thank you.
Answer
Hello Um Mohammad,
As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullah.
It is true that there are so many challenges and pressures faced by Muslims in modern times.But please understand that THE VERY PRESENCE OF ALL THESE TEMPTATIONS, is a veritable test for Muslims, urging them to greater struggle (jihadul akbar). And the rewards Allah gives to those who face bigger tests and yet succeed in passing all those tests, will be really greater, insha Allah.
Besides I feel that throughout the past centuries too, there had been tests faced by Muslims, though of a different kind. And SUCCESS (FLAAH) IS FOR THOSE WHO CONFRONT ALL THESE AND YET ARE NOT OVERWHELMED BY THEM.
And Allah knows best.
Name
Max
- United States
Profession
Question
Hello, Sir.
Allow me to comment on an answer you gave in this live dialogue. In your answer to Jon from the UK, you said that "Islam believes the same as YOU: that man is inherently GOOD." My question is... if that is true, so what is the point of having a religion? If humanity is essentially good, then why does it need religion?
Answer
Hello Max,
Peace be with you!
Thank you for your question.
Please note that this was what I wrote: "Islam believes the same as YOU: that man is inherently GOOD." Note the word, 'inherently'. It means, 'intrinsically' or 'by nature'.
But as humans grow up, they acquire habits and tendencies for which they are RESPONSIBLE, because they know the consequences of their actions.
For this reason, Islam teaches that children, or insane people are never accountable for their actions.
Similarly no one is answerable for the actions of another.
The purpose of religion is to give guidance to do good; to help people to lead a useful and meaningful life here. Those who willingly accept the Guidance and take care to live a good life, get the reward from God; and those who reject the guidance and lead a bad life get the punishment.
So the purpose of religion is to teach people the guidance of God, so that they can lead a good life here, which ultimatley lead to an eternally happy life hereafter.
Hope I have answered your question.
Name
Hans
- Germany
Profession
Question
one of the features of modern life is freedom... and lately it has become obvious that Muslims do not and can not understand the concept of freedom esp. of that of speech... so this answers your question
Answer
Hello Hans,
Peace be with you!
You know very well that all freedoms have their other side too: responsibility.
No society can allow absolute freedom. If so, the result will be complete anarchy.
Therefore all societies including western societies impose all kinds of rules on people. Look at the simple example of traffic rules: You have freedom to drive your car along public road; but at the same time this freedom is restricted by all kinds of rules to prevent accidents.
Similarly your freedom MUST not encroach upon my freedom: Your freedom of speech does not give you the right to call me bad names. If so, I have the freedom to hit you.
This example explains the present cartoon scenario to some extent.
{This DOES NOT in any way mean that the violent reactions of some Muslms in certain places are justified. In fact,those people had OTHER reasons to rebel against their respective governments or against the situations prevailing in those places. For instance in Afghanistan, they were marching towards a US base, not against the Danish embassy, when some of them were shot dead; and the reason is obvious... The point is: it is not because those people are Muslims they turned violent, but because they are humans.}
Dear Brother, Muslims are human beings like you or any one else. And so they too love freedom; and those who say that they hate freedom are stupid; or they are deliberately distort the truth.
And as for Islam, it is quite evident from the Qur'an and from the example of the Prophet, that it is NEVER against human freedom. But Islam has other values too. Islam respects all prophets, including Moses and Jesus. Islam teaches Muslims to respect the prophets of other religions. So any one who insults the prophets of other religions is not following Islam.
You have implied that "Islam is not compatible with modern life, as it disallows freedom of speech". This is NOT true. Islam disallows freedom to insult. That is right. And I understand that any one who questions in the west the number of people killed in the Holocaust would be put in jail, IN SPITE OF YOUR HOLY FREEDOM OF SPEECH. AND THE NEWSPAPER Jylland-Posten SENT BACK JESUS CARTOONS SOME TIME AGO, BECAUSE, (IT WAS EXPLAINED), 'THEY WOULD HURT THE SENTIMENTS OF CERTAIN READERS'.
Dear Brother, what we cannot condone is these DOUBLE STANDARDS YOU MAINTAIN IN SUCH MATTERS.
