Bismillahi Ar-Rahman - The first edition of the book "The Ruling System"
Bismillahi Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem The first edition of the book "The Ruling System" was written in the early 50's of this century. Western culture had a great effect on the minds of the educated sons of the Muslims. One of its effects which dominated their thinking was that Islam is a spiritual religion that does not have a system suitable to solve the problems of life in this age and that there was no ruling system for the state beside that, the State that Islam had was religious and spiritual. Those undertaking the work for Islam used to call for it with general thoughts which were not crystallised. They lacked the clarity to show Islam as a complete system for life, state and society. They used to call for a return to Islam in an open and general manner without them having a clear vision in their minds as to what the systems of Islam were or the manner in which they were going to restore the ruling by Islam. The fact that ruling by what Allah (SWT) has revealed could not be restored without the Khilafah was absent from their Da'wah. That is why establishing the Khilafah and reinstating the ruling by what Allah (SWT) has revealed did not find a place in their program of work. At such a time a structure undertook the study of the situation of the Ummah at her present time and the condition she had reached. And it studied her history and the power and authority she had in the
The Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.).
Chapter 1 HOW IT ALL BEGAN Nearly four thousand years ago, in the Sumerian town of Ur in the valley of the river Euphrates, lived a young man named Abraham. The people of Ur had once worshipped Allah but as time passed they forgot the true religion and started praying to idols, statues made of wood or clay and sometimes even of precious stones. Even as a small child Abraham could not understand how his people, and especially his father, could make these images with their own hands, call them gods, and then worship them. He had always refused to join his people when they paid respect to these statues. Instead he would leave the town and sit alone, thinking about the heavens and the world about him. He was sure his people were doing wrong and so alone he searched for the right way. One clear night as he sat staring at the sky he saw a beautiful shining star, so beautiful that he cried out: 'This must be Allah!' He looked at it in awe for some time, until suddenly it began to fade and then it disappeared. He turned away in disappointment saying: I love not things that set. (Koran vi.77) On another night Abraham was again looking at the sky and he saw the rising moon, so big and bright that he felt he could almost touch it. He thought to himself: This is my Lord. (Koran vi.78) But it was not long before the moon set as well. Then he said, Unless my Lord guide me, I
Is Christ a Kantian?
(My name is: Sim Yong Kiat. My email address is [email protected]. This work is on Kantian Ethics for university students.) Is Christ a Kantian? A Kantian must believe that happiness needs to be deserved, yet Christ says, "Ask and you will be given," not "Do and you shall deserve." Is the moral man really one who merely does moral acts? Remember Christ also says, wash the inside of the dishes and the outside will also be clean. Thus, Christ does distinguish between a moral man and one who merely acts morally. A moral man must do what Kantian Ethics says, for Kantian Ethics is indeed the correct description of ethics, though a man who obeys Kantian Ethics every time need not be a moral man at all. What I want to say is that, Kantian Ethics is only a description of ethics, rather than an explanation, for ethics is also about the man, not only about the act. Kantian Ethics can only be half-completed in answering the question, What is a moral act? The other half i.e. the question on, Who is a moral man? (or Why be moral?) is still unanswered. For as a human being, one needs not only to know, but also to be inspired. If the task of describing ethics is more important than the inspiring of man to be moral, Christ would have chosen to be a philosopher. And that is why Kant's contribution to ethical philosophy is as great as the contribution of Newton in Natural
Modern life-prolonging technologies have sharpened some ancient dilemmas on the value of life.
Modern life-prolonging technologies have sharpened some ancient dilemmas on the value of life. Our ability to sustain vital signs virtually as long as we wish pointedly raises the question whether we value life for its electrical efflorescence or for qualities that might be enjoyed by the person whose life is in jeopardy. In fact, it raises the question what the life is that we value. Is it biology or biography? Our legal norms and moral intuitions evolved before we had techniques to separate vital signs from interesting personality, before we could hold the dying in a living death and perpetuate a hopeless limbo of darkness and electricity. They developed during the long pre-technological age in medicine when the cessation of breath and pulse always coincided with the cessation of brain function and consciousness. But these no longer coincide. Nearly every hospital in the country has the equipment, and occasionally the incentive, to preserve heartbeat and respiration in bodies not brain dead but subject to a permanent and total loss of higher brain function. Because many states have not accepted brain death as their legal definition of death, it also happens that hospitals occasionally have the incentive to prolong vital signs in bodies past the point of brain death. This was physically impossible until the past three decades. Our medical cleverness has increased much
Life of the Buddha.
Life of the Buddha (Part One) 1. Queen Maha Maya's Dream More than 2,500 years ago, there was a king called Suddhodana. He married a beautiful Koliyan princess named Maha Maya. The couple ruled over the Sakyas, a warrior tribe living next to the Koliya tribe, in the north of India, in what is now known as Nepal. The capital of the Sakya country was laid out across the foothills of the Himalayas and called Kapilavatthu. Queen Maha Maya was the daughter of King Anjana of the Koliyas. Such was her beauty that the name Maya, meaning "vision" was given to her. But it was Maya's virtues and talents that were her most wonderful qualities, for she was endowed with the highest gifts of intelligence and piety. King Suddhodana was indeed worthy of his lovely wife. He himself was called "King of the Law" because he ruled according to the law. There was no other man among the Sakyas more honored and respected. The king was admired by his nobles and courtiers, as well as by the householders and merchants. Such was the noble family from which the Buddha was to arise. One full moon night, sleeping in the palace, the queen had a vivid dream. She felt herself being carried away by four devas (spirits) to Lake Anotatta in the Himalayas. After bathing her in the lake, the devas clothed her in heavenly cloths, anointed her with perfumes, and bedecked her with divine flowers. Soon after a white
Describe in detail the way in which a fully observant Orthodox Jewish family would keep this mitzvah. You should explain the symbolism of the various ceremonies and rituals where relevantShabbat is the only Jewish holiday
Religious Studies Coursework - Feb 2004 - Judaism SHABBAT (1) "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." Exodus 20:8 Describe in detail the way in which a fully observant Orthodox Jewish family would keep this mitzvah. You should explain the symbolism of the various ceremonies and rituals where relevant Shabbat is the only Jewish holiday enjoined by the Ten Commandments, making it an especially important one to the whole family. It is observed on the seventh day in commemoration of the seventh day on which God rested after completing the Creation, and of God's role in history and his covenant with the Jewish people. Along with all Orthodox Jews, the family are strictly obligated to sanctify Shabbat at home and in the synagogue. They will all avoid work on this day and will engage in worship and study. The Talmud specifies the activities which they are to abstain from and, being Orthodox, the family would say that anything resembling these is work and is therefore forbidden on Shabbat. They stop their creative work in order to reflect on the powers God has given, making sure they make the right use of them. A member of the family, usually the mother or father, will use a Jewish calendar, diary or newspaper to find out the precise time Shabbat begins on that Friday evening. This is because it varies from week to week and it is therefore uncertain to which day the
Some westerners think Muslim women do not receive equal treatment with men. In fact, the aim of Islam is quite the opposite.' Examine and comment on this claim in the context of a multicultural society.
Some westerners think Muslim women do not receive equal treatment with men. In fact, the aim of Islam is quite the opposite.' Examine and comment on this claim in the context of a multicultural society. Why is it that western consciousness perceives Islam in such deeply flawed terms? Why are negative images of Islam more prevalent than any others? Why is it still acceptable to say things about Muslims that would simply be deemed unacceptable of Jews, Christians, or Buddhists? That years of inter-faith dialogue have done little to advance a better understanding of the Islamic faith in the western world is an indication of how profoundly entrenched in the West misrepresentations and vulgar stereotypes of Islam are. The western society generally views itself as the source of women's liberation, and feminists seem to have an obligation to broaden their rights to the eastern oppressed women. West sees the veil as a stumbling block and feels if they were to remove it would it would gain freedom for these women. These views have misunderstood the status of women in Islam and have been publicized in the media. Britain regards itself as giving equal rights to men and women Although in Britain latest studies have shown that men are paid more than women to carry out the same task. Surveys have shown that employers would rather employ men than women with the same qualifications. There
The Ethical Debate Concerning Cloning.
The Ethical Debate Concerning Cloning In the year that has elapsed since the announcement of Dolly's birth, there has been much discussion of the ethical implications of cloning humans. Although the simple use of the word "clone" may have negative connotations, many people have resigned themselves to the idea of cloning cows that produce more milk or using a cloned mouse for use in controlled experimentation. However, the idea of cloning humans is a highly charged topic. Several authors have attempted to outline some of the ethical objections to cloning while at the same time minimizing the role religion plays in this debate. The objections posed by Leon Kass and James Q. Wilson provide basic arguments that deserve consideration. Kass outlines the possibility of clones through the idea that cloning is neither inherently good nor bad in its process but that can be used to produce both good and bad results. Kass outlines three general contexts in which cloning is discussed. First he looks at the outcome of cloning on the child. One main objection to cloning is that it will naturally force parents to treat their new child differently than they would one that is born through sexual union. Technically the process of reproduction would have been different, but Kass sees no reason why parents would follow this process for producing a child unless they truly wanted it.
Abrogation of Jihad
ABROGATION OF JIHAD In his endeavours to prove that Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas opposed the concept of Jihad1 in Islam, Abdul Hafeez cites2 a passage from Hadhrat Ahmad'sas book titled Ayyamus Sulh in which he, according to his original work stated: 'We believe that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and Seyyidna Hadhrat Muhammad Mustaphasa is His Messenger and is the Seal of Prophets. We believe that the angels, the resurrection of the body, the day of judgment, heaven and hell are a reality. We also believe that whatever God, the Lord of the Hosts has stated in the noble Quran and whatever our Prophetsa has said in relation to these is true. We believe that whosoever subtracts the smallest particle in from the law of Islam, or adds to it, or lays the foundation of neglecting obligations and indifference towards them, is without faith and is turned away from Islam. I admonish the members of my community that they should, in true sincerity, have faith in the Kalimah; Laa ilaaha ila1laah Muhammadur Rasuulullaah and they should die in this faith. They should believe in all prophets and books, the truth of which is affirmed by the noble Quran. They should observe the fast and perform the salat and pay the zakat and perform Hajj and carry out all that God Almighty and His Messenger have prescribed and also abstain from all that has been forbidden and thus conform in
What Are the Causes and Effects of a Religion Splitting Into Divisions or Sects?
By Julian Gertner Introduction: In this project I intend to learn about how two main Jewish groups, Hasidism and the Reform, began and developed into a modern day sect of Judaism. I will learn how the different movements agree and disagree with one another by studying their beliefs, attitudes, social practises and the effect it has on their adherents. By looking at the advantages and disadvantages, I will also learn if Jews overcoming their differences and uniting is a good or bad idea. Questions: a) (i) Describe the origins of two main Jewish groups and the ways in which they have developed. (ii) What were the religious issues, which caused the origin and development of these two groups? b) In what ways have the religious issues, which caused the group to develop, affected the moral behaviour, attitudes and social practises of their adherents? c) 'Jews should try to overcome their differences and unite.' Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show that you have thought about different points of view. Answers: a) (i) Describe the origins of two main Jewish groups and the ways in which they have developed. The two groups I have chosen to describe are: (i) Hasidism, (ii) Reform. Hasidism: In the early seventeenth century, most of the Jews in Europe dwelled in Poland. Many famous yeshivot (Talmudic academies) were also situated in Poland,
