Islam is an oldest religion on Earth, as old as the beginning of life or evolution of Earth, which can be better understood through its truthfulness and its teachings of peace, humanity, brotherhood, security of life and teachings of peace. One biggest tragedy is that Muslims in major parts of the world are blamed, tortured, harassed, threatened without a fair investigation and trial in the name of terrorism? All these things are not solutions to the humanity. Muslims believe that they are not give the opportunity of defending themselves in a fair process of trial and such a practice in their opinion is against the tenants of justice. To know it better, we will go back to the era of Prophet hood when daughters were buried alive. Women were treated inhumanely and inferiorly. In those times people used to bury alive girl child but it is only Islam which sought the ways to protect girl child and consequently Islam also sought full protection of the rights for women and guaranteed them life with dignity. Irrefutable fact is a woman gets her better respect, security and safety in the society only from the blessed teachings of Islam. Not only it, Islam has taught both men and women most ideal ways of human relationship to make world a livable place for the human race. Islam spread fast in Arab and other parts of the world because of the humanistic values which this great religion proposes for the mankind. In those times, people in major parts of the world were divided into classes on the basis of social status, caste, Prevelidge and power, which deprived lower classes of society from their rights of life. Resultantly such deprived sections of societies tended to shape their life as muslims . All these facts reveal that no principle of humanity is above the principles of Islam. Looking back at the history of the world the majority of upper, rich and leadership classes of societies revolted against Islam from the era of Prophet Adam (PBUH) to the era of Prophet Muhammad(PBUH). They were constantly in desire to protect their leadership, luxuries, influence, which blinded them from right path and made them deaf and dumb in hearing the truth of Islam. It means, Islam is actually, glad tidings and warnings for every human soul of the day. Before, the Prophet hood of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Arabian people were engaged in community clashes, class & caste differences and other conflicts. Revenges and avenges in the communities were continued from generation to generation. Alcoholism, gambling, theft was at peak, because Arab was not in the hands of any government system then, but in the hands of community leaderships. When Islam spread and during the caliphate period of Hadrat Umar(RA), this land of revenge, gambling, theft, alcoholism became most peaceful and secure place in entire world . This state became most powerful, which defeated powerful kingdoms of thereafter. People of this newly muslim state under the leadership of most powerful, simple, honest, leader of believers and lover of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) cared very well the people of this land. Caliphates and their governors themselves were very busy in overlooking the issues of the people, preaching Islam and performing prayers in obedience to Almighty Allah. No welfare model of governance can match with the era of Hadrat Umar(RA). It is unfortunate; some people misunderstand the concept of the Islam and create doubts over its truthfulness. In Quran, It is mentioned again and again that, Islam is not a new religion, but the religion of Prophet Adam(PBUH), Hazrat Nuh(PBUH), Hazrat Ibrahim(PBUH), Hazrat Isaac(PBUH), Jacob(PBUH),Moses(PBUH) , Jeses(PBUH) etc as mentioned in many Ayahs of holy Quran.It can be concluded through these monotheistic teachings and Principles of the Judiasm,Christianity and Islam that Islam has also endorsed the Injeel, Zabur, Tawrat as holy Books from Almighty Allah. It is because, Prophets from Hazrat Adam(PBUH) to Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) has preached same that is prayers in obedience to Almighty Allah. It is unfortunate, these are the people,who after the death of their Prophets of their time divided themselves in the name of religion. For example, there is no concept about Shia, Sunni, Hambali etc in the Islam. Following the blessed teachings of Allah and his Prophet (PBUH) is must. Only difference lies in some teachings and Almighty Allah was aware about it. For example, during the Prophethood of Adam(PBUH) , Brother of evening in twin was married to sister of morning and sister of evening was married to brother of evening. It was permissible as it was need of that time. So, this was sharia of that time. All descend from Almighty Allah to the Prophet Adam(PBUH), who implemented this sharia law of that time. Now, all Muslims believe and respect this law. All it indicates is that Islam is an oldest religion, because,what has been preeched by Prophet Adam(PBUH), Nuh(PBUH), Ibrahim(PBUH), David(PBUH), Sulaiman(PBUH), Isaac(PBUH) Jacob(PBUH), Moses(PBUH), Jeses(PBUH) was also preeched by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Whenever, we search Google shows Hinduism is an oldest religion but Muslims do not believe in it questioning that when Adam(PBUH) and Eva(PBUH) were first on the Earth and both were Muslims , how Hinduism can be an oldest religion. As per the Islam, after the era of Prophet Adam(PBUH) and era his Son Prophet Sheeth(PBUH), people of that time fell in conflict over the existence of God. Some believed, life is due to Sun, some believed water, some believed Cow as sacred and some believed in Idol worship. This is the time, when Hinduism originated on the Earth.. Presently, Brahmanic Hinduism is continued,which continued since that time. After that from time to time, Allah sent about 124000 Prophets on every community and many belived them and majority didn’t belive them. Allah destroyed disbelievers and settled believers there. Many Prophets like Nuh(PBUH) , Ibrahim(PBUH) , Isaac(PBUH) , Jacob(PBUH) , David(PBUH) , Moses(PBUH), Jeses(PBUH) succeeded to spread those teachings, which were sent to them from God. With the passage of time, actual truthfulness was added with falsehood. During those times, reading, writing, documenting records was not common. So, it was easy for disbelievers to add falsehood to the truth. Islam spread throughout the Arab and its neighbouring countries and continents during the time of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and it was time, when reading, writing was common and documentation of records was easy.
Almighty Allah entrusted the divine duty of spreading Islam on people like Hadrat Abu Baker(RA),Hadrat Umar(RA),Hadrat Usman(RA), Hadrat Ali(RA),Hadrat Abu Hurrairah(RA),Hadrat Ashiya(RA),Abdullah bin Umar(RA) etc, who were most truthful and didn’t bother or tolerated to add even minute falsehood and spread the teachings of Islam, with clear proof and correct witnesses and documented them in the same way. All this indicates that Islam is not a new religion but is world’s most truthful religion. Before the era of Prophethood of beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Community fighting, revenge, gambling, corruption, adultery, theft was at peak. When Islam spread from one part to the other, the teachings and principles of Islam unified Muslims. This unification can be explained, when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions migrated from makkah to Madinah leaving behind every movable and immovable property. In those circumstances, people of Madinah welcomed them, shared their proportion of wealth, property and also many gave their next wives in the nikah of migrants. All these fact convey the message that humanity and brotherhood is best defined by the principles of Islam. It is this brotherhood, which unified Muslims and made them strong. Under those circumstances brotherhood and unification defeated enemies of Islam, who were already more powerful than Muslims, when those enemies of Islam waged war and conspiracy against Muslims. If any Muslim died during the battle in the way of Allah and his family was cared and grown very well under muslim law. Mothers, sisters, Wives of martyrs found eligible for marriage were respected well and they were offered Nikah on these grounds and children were adopted as per the teachings of holy Quran. In those times, Islam has given an exemplary culture of brotherhood, peace and security and protected people from the menace of adultery and injustice. Islam doesn’t allow it’s believers to kill a non-muslim, If he or she doesn’t want to fight with you even during the war, but to put him in safe custody. A true muslim will not do it under any circumstances. If someone despite being a muslim will commit aggression over any other person, whoever he or she may be, under those circumstances, Islam teaches to fight against the aggressor in any way, in whatever way you can. Islam teaches to cut the hands of thieves, 100 lashes for adultery and 100 lashes for gambling etc. Since this system is not prevalent in the modern world, world has become a better livable place as offences of any human nature are not allowed in any part of the world now. In the era of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), a theft case was attributed to a lady of upper class and who belonged to a rich family and many people approached Prophet Muhammad (SAW)to pardon her on the basis of her high social standard and rich class category. Prophet Muhammad PBUH replied, “If there would be me even my own daughter, Fatima(RA), she too won’t be spared”. It is the great example of Justice of Islam. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), had 10 wives at a time and all were given equal respect and share of food. It teaches the sense of justice and equality in Islam. In conclusion, we can say no theory can contradict the accuracy of the truth of our Islam. Islam remains unchanged in it’s approaches right from Prophet Adam(PBUH) to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), but the difference in Sharia of the time is possible. For example, during the time of Prophet Adam (PBUH) marrying his own sister other than twin in relationship was permissible. In the Shariah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) keeping two sisters in marriage was completely disallowed. The culture of brotherhood, established in Madinah and Muslims achieved victories over the most powers of that time. In the history of world, there is no best example of brotherhood, peace, social Security in any religion excepting Islam. Islam is world’s true religion, because it was documented with clear proof and witnesses.
(Article is published in the memory of Late Mohammed Amin Lone, who recently died due to cardiac arrest. Views are exclusively author’s own)
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