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Created on July 11, 2013 at 09:56
Deception in the name of religion
Mir Mahboob Ali Op-Ed
Deception in the name of religion | Dhaka Tribune
There is no bigger disservice to Islam than saying Islam is peace and practicing the opposite of what you preach
'Woe to every kind of scandal-monger and-backbiter,' The Quran 104:1
Photo- Dhaka Tribune
Religions have been misused to deceive common people throughout history. It has been used to divide, create confusion amongst, and even subjugate people.
The British used divide and rule, the Pakistanis used deprive and rule while alienating nationalist leaders from the people, all based on differences in religious beliefs. People, after much suffering, won their war against oppression, and did away with deprivation in the name of religion.
Without much thought, faithful adherents instantly fall for the propaganda that religion is divisive, and creates conflicts. Historically, we find riots, battles and wars all around the Earth. We see sects from the same religion fighting even today; giving rise to the impression that religion is all about fighting.
Contrary to the misconceptions and mishaps, no religion advocates violence and bloodshed. No major religion advises the propagation of violence and the establishment of supremacy by any one group. Love, affection, respect, peace and justice are what they preach. Tolerance, patience, perseverance, magnanimity and benevolence all come under the purview of religion. Then where does this blistering campaign to spread hate stem from?
For Bangladesh, a Muslim majority country, the discussion can focus on Islam, and other religions in our nation do not differ much in opposing violence and slander. Islam is absolutely against any violence, falsehood, hypocrisy, and slander, but unfortunately those who claim to be protectors of Islam have used religion for detrimental purposes to the utter astonishment of passive faithful Muslims.
These people, disregarding all Islamic norms, mislead people by mounting a hate campaign by wrongfully accusing a section of our people, under whom religion never suffered. Instead, under this very group, terrorism, an anti-Islamic activity, was brought under control.
For these un-Islamic activities in the name of Islam, the religion has been defamed all over the world. Terrorism and all other acts of violence, slander, disturbing communal harmony, and creating chaos are all utterly in contradiction with Islam. There can is bigger disservice to Islam than saying Islam is peace and practicing the opposite of what you preach.
When people see arson, looting, killing and burning at the hands of people wearing jeans, they take it differently than when these acts are perpetrated by people in long robes and headgear (or in turbans and Gerua clothes). Anything done by those clad in perceived religious dresses can be misjudged as carrying the tacit concurrence of religion.
Therefore, those perpetrating irreligious acts, while clad in religious outfits are doing acts of grave impiety. Spreading rumours, causing scandals for people or a group is in itself is a grave sin and the severity of the misdeed increases when done in the name of Islam ("Woe to every kind of scandal-monger and-backbiter," The Quran 104:1). If the same is done to achieve worldly gains, its severity increases many-fold. Simultaneously, religion is defamed; people are deceived and they get the wrong message when these acts are carried out for a, professedly, right cause. Clearly, the actual desire is worldly gain by exploiting religion.
Are not these religious zealots harming and belittling religion in the eyes of the nations of the world and earning a bad name for it? Islam is the majority religion in Bangladesh, and the most damage is done to this faith here by the so-called faithful, clad in perceived Islamic dresses.
Perhaps these people believe they are doing all that they are doing from a deep conviction of fighting for Islam, but they are not. They are clearly being misled by their leaders and are simply being used as pawns in the greater scheme of things.
When terrorist outfits like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda began, they were lauded by many just because they opposed and injured a mighty power like the US. Gradually, people started becoming disillusioned by the savage destruction of innocent lives and property and have come to realise that such is not the way of Islam.
Islam means peace, and the Prophet of Islam is declared in the Quran as Rahmatullil al-Amin (Mercy of the worlds). In all dealings, be it individual, in groups, within regions or across countries, the prophet (SM), true to his epithet, never took the course of violence.
He showed utmost restraint in dealing with Meccans, after conquering Mecca. Hoping to find willing ears for his mission, the Prophet (SM) went to Tayef. The Tayefians did not respond kindly to the Prophets (SM) invitation and they insulted and tormented the Apostle (SM) of God, and proved more savage than the Meccans.
Mercilessly, they wounded the Prophet, pelting him with stones. The Prophet was wounded severely and was unable to walk. Zaid (RA) had to carry his bloodied body to a nearby orchard and nurse him.
Even then, the Prophet prayed for their forgiveness and did not curse the perpetrators. He prayed: Oh God, show them the true path.
Of all deceptions, deception in the name of religion is the easiest to execute and works almost instantly as it excites the faithful easily. So intense is the faith even in the manifestly not-so-faithful, that the littlest deviation drives them momentarily crazy. They leap into doing the unimaginable at a moments notice without thinking of the consequences. This is exactly the emotional convulsion that the deceivers use to their benefit.
Unfortunately, it is against our religion and gives it a bad name. This ploy might work in the short term, but in the end these practices will come back to haunt them.
RELIGIONISLAM
Last updated on July 11, 2013 at 11:55
Deception in the name of religion
Mir Mahboob Ali Op-Ed
Deception in the name of religion | Dhaka Tribune
There is no bigger disservice to Islam than saying Islam is peace and practicing the opposite of what you preach
'Woe to every kind of scandal-monger and-backbiter,' The Quran 104:1
Photo- Dhaka Tribune
Religions have been misused to deceive common people throughout history. It has been used to divide, create confusion amongst, and even subjugate people.
The British used divide and rule, the Pakistanis used deprive and rule while alienating nationalist leaders from the people, all based on differences in religious beliefs. People, after much suffering, won their war against oppression, and did away with deprivation in the name of religion.
Without much thought, faithful adherents instantly fall for the propaganda that religion is divisive, and creates conflicts. Historically, we find riots, battles and wars all around the Earth. We see sects from the same religion fighting even today; giving rise to the impression that religion is all about fighting.
Contrary to the misconceptions and mishaps, no religion advocates violence and bloodshed. No major religion advises the propagation of violence and the establishment of supremacy by any one group. Love, affection, respect, peace and justice are what they preach. Tolerance, patience, perseverance, magnanimity and benevolence all come under the purview of religion. Then where does this blistering campaign to spread hate stem from?
For Bangladesh, a Muslim majority country, the discussion can focus on Islam, and other religions in our nation do not differ much in opposing violence and slander. Islam is absolutely against any violence, falsehood, hypocrisy, and slander, but unfortunately those who claim to be protectors of Islam have used religion for detrimental purposes to the utter astonishment of passive faithful Muslims.
These people, disregarding all Islamic norms, mislead people by mounting a hate campaign by wrongfully accusing a section of our people, under whom religion never suffered. Instead, under this very group, terrorism, an anti-Islamic activity, was brought under control.
For these un-Islamic activities in the name of Islam, the religion has been defamed all over the world. Terrorism and all other acts of violence, slander, disturbing communal harmony, and creating chaos are all utterly in contradiction with Islam. There can is bigger disservice to Islam than saying Islam is peace and practicing the opposite of what you preach.
When people see arson, looting, killing and burning at the hands of people wearing jeans, they take it differently than when these acts are perpetrated by people in long robes and headgear (or in turbans and Gerua clothes). Anything done by those clad in perceived religious dresses can be misjudged as carrying the tacit concurrence of religion.
Therefore, those perpetrating irreligious acts, while clad in religious outfits are doing acts of grave impiety. Spreading rumours, causing scandals for people or a group is in itself is a grave sin and the severity of the misdeed increases when done in the name of Islam ("Woe to every kind of scandal-monger and-backbiter," The Quran 104:1). If the same is done to achieve worldly gains, its severity increases many-fold. Simultaneously, religion is defamed; people are deceived and they get the wrong message when these acts are carried out for a, professedly, right cause. Clearly, the actual desire is worldly gain by exploiting religion.
Are not these religious zealots harming and belittling religion in the eyes of the nations of the world and earning a bad name for it? Islam is the majority religion in Bangladesh, and the most damage is done to this faith here by the so-called faithful, clad in perceived Islamic dresses.
Perhaps these people believe they are doing all that they are doing from a deep conviction of fighting for Islam, but they are not. They are clearly being misled by their leaders and are simply being used as pawns in the greater scheme of things.
When terrorist outfits like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda began, they were lauded by many just because they opposed and injured a mighty power like the US. Gradually, people started becoming disillusioned by the savage destruction of innocent lives and property and have come to realise that such is not the way of Islam.
Islam means peace, and the Prophet of Islam is declared in the Quran as Rahmatullil al-Amin (Mercy of the worlds). In all dealings, be it individual, in groups, within regions or across countries, the prophet (SM), true to his epithet, never took the course of violence.
He showed utmost restraint in dealing with Meccans, after conquering Mecca. Hoping to find willing ears for his mission, the Prophet (SM) went to Tayef. The Tayefians did not respond kindly to the Prophets (SM) invitation and they insulted and tormented the Apostle (SM) of God, and proved more savage than the Meccans.
Mercilessly, they wounded the Prophet, pelting him with stones. The Prophet was wounded severely and was unable to walk. Zaid (RA) had to carry his bloodied body to a nearby orchard and nurse him.
Even then, the Prophet prayed for their forgiveness and did not curse the perpetrators. He prayed: Oh God, show them the true path.
Of all deceptions, deception in the name of religion is the easiest to execute and works almost instantly as it excites the faithful easily. So intense is the faith even in the manifestly not-so-faithful, that the littlest deviation drives them momentarily crazy. They leap into doing the unimaginable at a moments notice without thinking of the consequences. This is exactly the emotional convulsion that the deceivers use to their benefit.
Unfortunately, it is against our religion and gives it a bad name. This ploy might work in the short term, but in the end these practices will come back to haunt them.
RELIGIONISLAM
Last updated on July 11, 2013 at 11:55
