Animal Cruelty in Islam

I've recently read several blogs mentioning the horrible death of some wandering dogs, and amongst the comments you always get the religion bashers. The ones who would jump at any opportunity to criticize a religion that has nothing to do with such horrible acts of cruelty.

I'm not a scholar and this blog was created so that it would help me educate myself in the religion of my choice, but here are some well referenced Hadiths about the treatment of animals in Islam in case anyone was wondering:

126. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "While a man was walking on his way he became extremely thirsty. He found a well, he went down into it to drink water. Upon leaving it, he saw a dog which was panting out of thirst. His tongue was lolling out and he was eating moist earth from extreme thirst. The man thought to himself: `This dog is extremely thirsty as I was.' So he descended into the well, filled up his leather sock with water, and holding it in his teeth, climbed up and quenched the thirst of the dog. Allah appreciated his action and forgave his sins". The Companions asked: "Shall we be rewarded for showing kindness to the animals also?'' He (PBUH) said, "A reward is given in connection with every living creature". [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].In the narration of Al-Bukhari, the Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said: "Allah forgave him in appreciation of this act and admitted him to Jannah (Heaven)".

Another narration says: "Once a dog was going round the well and was about to die out of thirst. A prostitute of Banu Israel happened to see it. So she took off her leather sock and lowered it into the well. She drew out some water and gave the dog to drink. She was forgiven on account of her action". 

Commentary: 1. This Hadith emphasizes the importance of kindness to every creature, even animals, because Allah is pleased with such kindness. 2. Allah's Quality of mercy and forgiveness is immensely vast. If He wants He may forgive a person even on a minor good action done by him. 

by RyadAlSalehin app for iphone

Religion and politics

Mixing religion into politics is always a bad idea, and to learn why the term 'Islamic political party' is actually an oxymoron, watch the following video interview of two brave, religious men. 

This interview is made of 8 short parts, watch them all to get the whole context.

Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8

Atheism the New Trend

Mark Twain once said:

 “Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.”

Most atheists I know are intelligent, fun to be with type of people. They are highly educated, culturally rich, and come from good family backgrounds; a blend that makes it really fun to hang out with them.

So if all the atheists I know are like that, then that leaves their opposites; the poor, the stupid and the boring. Are they the ones who are religious? Would Allah (sub-hanahu wata’ala) create a religion that segregates people like that?  Stupid, boring people go to heaven and the smart, fun ones go to hell? Would that be fair? Allah says in the Quran that He is fair.

ذِكْرَىٰ وَمَا كُنَّا ظَالِمِينَ ﴿ الشعراء: ٢٠٩﴾

By way of reminder, and We have never been unjust. 

[Ash-Shu'ara 26:209]

Although the majority of atheists are highly educated, culturally rich, and come from good family backgrounds, there are some religious people who are highly educated, culturally rich, and come from good family backgrounds too. It could be that in the religious people’s case they are seen as a minority and that the majority of them are boring old sods. Nonetheless there are exceptions, and there is no segregation on who sees the light and who doesn’t.  It’s purely a matter of choice, made by that particular human being. To believe or not to believe.

Prophet Mohammed  tells us that heaven is filled mostly with poor people (1). Probably because they had no choice in being poor and they cannot give charity but can only receive it. Rich people, on the other hand, have the money and they have the choice to do what they want with that money.

This could also be applied to the level of intelligence in people. “Stupid” people have no choice in being born with a low IQ. Intelligent people were also born that way, however they have a choice in using that intelligence in whatever way they deem right.

Many atheists haughtily call religious people: “stupid people who can’t think for themselves.” 

It needs a certain amount of humbleness for an intelligent person to have, in order to follow thoughts other than his/her own and that’s a tough choice to make, especially when it’s related to faith, a concept that does not require scientific evidence or common sense.

قَالَ الَّذِينَ اسْتَكْبَرُوا إِنَّا بِالَّذِي آمَنتُم بِهِ كَافِرُونَ [الأعراف:٧٦]

Those who were arrogant said: "Verily, we disbelieve in that which you believe in." (Al-A'raf 7:76)

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ عِندَ رَبِّكَ لَا يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَيُسَبِّحُونَهُ وَلَهُ يَسْجُدُونَ ۩ [الأعراف:٢٠٦]

Surely, those who are with your Lord (angels) are never too proud to perform acts of worship to Him, but they glorify His Praise and prostrate before Him. (Al-A'raf 7:206)

إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۚ فَالَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْآخِرَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مُّنكِرَةٌ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ [النحل:٢٢]

Your god is one God. But those who do not believe in the Hereafter - their hearts are disapproving, and they are arrogant. (An-Nahl 16:22)

لَا جَرَمَ أَنَّ اللَّـهَ يَعْلَمُ مَا يُسِرُّونَ وَمَا يُعْلِنُونَ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْتَكْبِرِينَ [النحل:٢٣]

Assuredly, Allah knows what they conceal and what they declare. Indeed, He does not like the arrogant. (An-Nahl 16:23)

وَإِذَا أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَى الْإِنسَانِ أَعْرَضَ وَنَأَىٰ بِجَانِبِهِ ۖ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ كَانَ يَئُوسًا [الإسراء:٨٣]

And when We bestow Our Grace on man (the disbeliever), he turns away and becomes arrogant, far away from the Right Path. And when evil touches him he is in great despair. (Al-Isra 17:83)

الَّذِينَ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي آيَاتِ اللَّـهِ بِغَيْرِ سُلْطَانٍ أَتَاهُمْ ۖ كَبُرَ مَقْتًا عِندَ اللَّـهِ وَعِندَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَطْبَعُ اللَّـهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ قَلْبِ مُتَكَبِّرٍ جَبَّار[غافر:٣٥] 

Those who dispute about the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh, without any authority that has come to them, it is greatly hateful and disgusting to Allâh and to those who believe. Thus does Allâh seal up the heart of every arrogant, tyrant. (So they cannot guide themselves to the Right Path). (Ghafir 40:35)

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَأَخْبَتُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ أُولَـٰئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الْجَنَّةِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ [هود:٢٣]

Verily, those who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism) and do righteous good deeds, and humble themselves (in repentance and obedience) before their Lord, - they will be dwellers of Paradise to dwell therein forever. (Hud 11:23)

إِنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَآتِيَةٌ لَّا رَيْبَ فِيهَا وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ [غافر: ٥٩]

Indeed, the Hour is coming - no doubt about it - but most of the people do not believe. (Ghafir 40:59)

Atheists?! What Atheists?

"There is nothing but our life of this world! We die and we live! And we are not going to be resurrected! [Al-Mu'minun (23):37]

إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا الدُّنْيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحْيَا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَبْعُوثِينَ] المؤمنون:٣٧]

And they said: "There is no (other life) but our (present) life of this world, and never shall we be resurrected (on the Day of Resurrection)." [Al-An'am (6):29]

وَقَالُوا إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا الدُّنْيَا وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَبْعُوثِينَ  ]الأنعام:٢٩]

And they say: "There is nothing but our life of this world, we die and we live and nothing destroys us except Ad-Dahr (the time). And they have no knowledge of it, they only conjecture. [Al-Jathiyah (45):24]

وَقَالُوا مَا هِيَ إِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا الدُّنْيَا نَمُوتُ وَنَحْيَا وَمَا يُهْلِكُنَا إِلَّا الدَّهْرُ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم بِذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ ۖ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا يَظُنُّونَ 
[الجاثية:٢٤]

Schema [link]

This Life Is A Test

Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested.

And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allâh will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allâh knows all that before putting them to test).
[Surah Al Ankabut 29:2-3]

سورة العنكبوت

Renewing My Faith

Every now and then your carefully made decision to become faithful to the path you chose to follow is routinely bombarded by other people’s ideas and influences, this goes on and on on a daily basis. You try to be strong and stick to your beliefs but sometimes you get caught at a moment of weakness. We are surrounded by information and people from different faiths, ideologies, and agendas. So this was bound to happen.

It is really tough on the faithful, the weak and the strong alike.

The weak will easily be swayed by whoever company they chose to keep and can flip both ways. They tell them jump and they’ll say how high? Pop-culture plays a major role here and the lack of contemporary Muslim role models doesn’t help either.

Some people always need a role model to follow and some people are the role models upon themselves. Some people follow, and some lead.

The strong will usually resist and stick to their principles and try their best to follow the straight path, but sometimes there will be an occasion where they are shaken to the core, by circumstances and people around them.

It is reassuring to know that this happens to everyone. In this hadith Prophet Mohammed (sallah Allahu alaihi wasaalam) told us that faith gets worn out in the core of anyone of us.

"Faith wears out in the core of any one of you just as clothes wear out, so ask Allah to renew the faith in your hearts”

Sahih Aljami Hadith no. 1590

“إن الإيمان ليخلق في جوف أحدكم كما يخلق الثوب فاسألوا الله تعالى: أن يجدد الإيمان في قلوبكم .”

 ) طب ك) عن ابن عمرو .تحقيق الألباني) صحيح) حديث رقم : 1590 في صحيح الجامع .

I know I will.

The Hedonists and the Hypocrites

By: Gigi

It was with a great deal of amusement and a little dismay that I realized how muddled things had gotten in the way people interpreted On Sheep, Cows, Flocks and Herds. What started as a (what I thought) simple metaphor of sheep and cows became a virtual menagerie of wolves, goats, shepherds, calves, elephants, and even mexican fish! That is why I felt that it was important for me to rehash my thoughts and write this follow-up entry...

First of all, some clarification on metaphors and terms used in my previous post:

Metaphorical Sheep= religious people.

Metaphorical Cows*= unreligious people.

I then went on to point out that there are among both the Sheep and the Cows those who follow their path based on an intelligent decision, and those who follow it mindlessly. I should point out here that by mindless I mean without a sense of social responsibility. I then called those who follow their chosen path mindlessly the "true" sheep and cows (i.e. not merely metaphorical :P).

This is where I later realized that I was making things confusing and that I suck at metaphors. That is why I am introducing two new, more user-friendly terms: The Hedonists and the Hypocrites.

Before I get into delineating what I mean when I speak of the Hedonists and the Hypocrites I would like to interrupt this broadcast momentarily for a Shocking! News! Update!:

News Flash!!! Calling all Ultra-Liberals:

You think you’re so intelligent and discerning but intelligent and discerning people choose to abide by religion too, where after careful thought and analysis of the alternatives in the end they believe that its purpose is good, and its solutions logical and effective, and not just because they were born into it! In fact, some of them might be more intelligent and discerning than you are!

News Flash!!! Calling all Ultra-Conservatives:

You think you’re so good and principled but there are good and principled people who do not abide by religion too, and although they find that religion does not provide them with the answers and explanations they seek they DO have another set of value systems and morals that they abide by! In fact, some of them might be better and more principled than you!

Ahem. With that out of the way let us resume our regular programming :P

What is a Hedonist?

A hedonist is a person who’s only aim in life is to satisfy his or her whims, and who thinks that the only worthy pursuit is the pursuit of pleasure untempered by any semblance of a moral or religious system. Unprincipled and unbridled, a hedonist can go to great extremes of drug usage, promiscuity, adultery, alcoholism... to the point of addiction. If left unchecked, they can spread corruption by making such actions seem natural, unalarming and nothing to be ashamed of.

What is a Hypocrite?

A hypocrite is a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion. Although on the surface they do not seem to spread corruption, the fact is that they often put on a virtuous façade for nefarious aims or with serious consequences. A pertinent example would be a person who utilizes hypocrisy in order to gain political power. Such a person relies on a “holier than thou” strategy in order to intimidate people into believing that he/she is a virtuous and upright citizen. Once in power this person resorts to enforcing rigid legislation as “proof” of their feigned righteousness, and in order to stay in power. Meanwhile, they neither practice what they preach and many people are left suffocating. Other facets to consider: terrorism.

**NOTICE: The important thing to remember is that just because a person is a religious doesn't automatically make them a Hypocrite and just because a person is unreligious doesn't make them a Hedonist.**

Now, at the end of my previous post, I asked “which one is more dangerous to society?” In light of the clarifications in this post I would like to repose the question and ask:

1)What dangers to society does a Hedonist pose?

2)What dangers does a Hypocrite pose?

And finally,

3) Of the two, which do you think causes the most harm and is less socially responsible?

(Due to the fact that this post has become longer than I had planned I will post my own response to these questions later :> )

___________________________

*“Why Cows?” you ask? Well, I needed another herd animal in order to point out that both religious as well as unreligious people are part of a larger group of people who think the same, and since both are part of either a flock or a herd of like-minded individuals then neither can really claim to be "original thinkers".

Moreover, I thought that assigning the metaphor of "cows" to unreligious people gleefully adds another level of impossibility to the Arabic phrase “In 7ajjat il-bugar 3ala groonha!” :D

P.S. Also a warm thanks to everyone who posted/commented/emailed/or messaged wondering what was up and urging me to post. I really was dragging my heels when it came to posting this entry! I think I won't be writing any more "serious" posts anymore! :P

P.P.S. A word of gratitude goes to tata for taking the time to read this just before I posted and for pointing out some flaws and stuff that I was trying to ignore and hoping no-one else would notice ;P hehehe thanks taters!

That was written on Friday, March 11, 2005.

On Sheep, Cows, Flocks and Herds

By: Gigi 

This topic has been on my mind for a long time now. Since I started blogging and reading blogs, very often I have come across bloggers and commentators refer to religious people as Sheep. It is very often said with a great deal of animosity and derision.

There is the connotation that such people are mindless cattle as opposed to the people who have decided that religion does not offer them the answers they seek.

There is also the connotation that religious people are unoriginal in that they form part of a general Flock whereas the unreligious people are Individuals who have broken out of the fold.

The points I would like to put on the table are:

1) Just because a person has embraced religion doesn't mean that it was not an informed decision based on a lot of internal struggle, questioning, seeking and analysis.

2) Just because a person is unreligious doesn't mean that they are not also part of a general Herd of like-minded individuals. In fact, I'm pretty sure that globally they form the bigger Herd, as opposed to the Flock of truly religious people.

Having said that, I do think that in both "camps" there are individuals who follow the path they follow merely out of convenience; the true Sheep and Cows.

What I need to figure out now is which of these are the most harmful to society, and why. Meanwhile, I would love to learn others' opinion on this matter.

That was written on Friday, April18, 2005.

On a Side Note

I want to start this blog by digging into the archives of a very talented Kuwaiti blogger, Gigi, she describes exactly what's on my mind regarding these topics and conveys these opinions in a more clear and eloquent way, far better than I would.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.