Tolerance and understanding

Religion

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Understanding other religions can be an exercise in tolerance, patience and, above all, knowledge.

What is seen on the nightly news does not explain or portray a belief system.  Every newscast originating from Muslim countries, seems to focus of late on the obvious aspects of war.  Others, such as those emanating from France, focus on the wearing of the hijab and burka by Muslim women and the illegalities within a political system.

Islam has become a religion personified by outwear but few know what it really is or the meanings behind it.

First of all the word Islam is derived from the root word  'salaam' meaning peace.  Islam is actually a way of life that means living in harmony with nature.  The Arabic word,  'Islam', means "voluntary surrender to the will of Allah" ... Allah being the Muslim word for God. 

Islam, with more than one billion followers in the world, and growing, has many of the same values that are found in Christianity and other religions, such as :

1) "The strong one is not he who knocks out his adversary; the strong one is he who keeps control over his temper."

2) "It does not befit a Siddiq (a true man) that he should opt to cursing."

3) "God the Dignified has no mercy for one who has no mercy for others."

4) "None of you is a perfect Muslim until he desires for his brother Muslim that which he desires for himself."

5) "Help your brother whether he is an oppressor or an oppressed person.

6) "Look at the person who is inferior to you; and do not look at one who is superior to you. Thereby you would be able to appreciate better the benevolences of God bestowed upon you."

7) The best of you are those who have the best manners."

8) "A person who gives surety to (safeguard) the thing between the jaws (tongue) and the thing between his two legs (private organs), I guarantee his entrance into Paradise."

9) "Among the Muslims most perfect, as regards his faith, is one whose character is excellent, and the best among you are those who treat their wives well."

10) "Do not consider even the smallest good deed as insignificant; even meeting your brother with a cheerful face (is a good deed).

11) "Make things easy and convenient and don't make them harsh and difficult. Give cheers and glad tidings and do not create hatred."

12) "God, the Most Exalted, has revealed to me that you should show courtesy and be cordial with each other, so that nobody should consider himself superior to another nor harm him."

13) "Do not reproach or abuse dead persons for they are facing the consequences of what they had done in this world."

14) "Avoid jealousy for this destroys good deeds as fire destroys wood."

15) "Do not rejoice over the troubles of your brother lest God the Most High might have mercy on him and involve you in this trouble."

16) "God the Most High has revealed that you should adopt humility, so that nobody oppresses another, nor one should hold himself above another."

Obviously, there are many more teachings in Islam just as there are in Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and many other religions, but the similarities between them are there ... if people only take the time to look and learn.

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Saturday, February 06, 2010