(A)
Any fair-minded person will admit that to evaluate
any religion, the social character of its followers
or their assertion is not the authentic source.
Instead there should be an in-depth study of
its original sources, scriptures, and the fundamental
principles propagated by its prophet or the
founder. As Christianity cannot be held responsible
for the atrocities of Hitler and Czars of Russia,
similarly the erotica at the temples of Khajuraho
and Konark are not inspired by the basic teachings
of the Hindu Dharma. Nathuram Godse was not
inspired by the basic philosophies of the Hindu
Dharma when he killed Mahatma Gandhi, the torch-bearer
of non-violence. It will be a great injustice
to state that basic concepts of these religions
are responsible for the abovementioned phenomenon.
(B)
Today the Muslims are found in almost every
corner of the world. They have distinct life
style, native cultures, age-old customs and
traditions, indigenous dogmas and rituals, remnants
of past beliefs, pride and prejudices, national
traits and tendencies. Moreover, the bizarre
attitudes and inhuman acts of some Muslim kings
and emperors who belonged to different regions
and times had their own set of rules, mostly
prompted by various political motives. All such
practices, of course, cannot be termed as the
basic teachings of Islam.
(C)
The Holy Qur’an is the prime source of
Islam. The Muslims refer to it as “their
book”. But in reality, it is not “their
book”. It is the Divine Revelation sent
down by the Creator of the entire universe including
humans who inhabit this world. How the Qur’an,
which is the Book of the Creator of humanity
can contain derogatory remarks for His creatures?
Contrary to this, the Holy Qur’an declares
that all the human beings are the off-springs
of Adam and Eve. One can see it in chapter 49
verse 13, which is as under:
"O
mankind, WE have created you all out of a male
and a female, and have made you into nations
and tribes, so that you might come to know one
another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight
of ALLAH is the one who is most deeply conscious
of HIM. Behold, ALLAH is All-knowing, All-aware”.
