Sharia: Barbaric or Perfect?
Sharia is the complete code of Islamic law, which pertains to the rights and duties of the Muslims. It regulates the lives of the people. It is comprehensive and includes from the minutest details of eating, drinking and dressing to the complex details of law making.
First the Sahabas (the companions of the Prophet), who saw the Prophet, lived with him and died as believers. Then comes the next generation Tabiyen and then comes the third generation Tabetaiyen. So if there is difference of opinion regarding the Sunnah, you have to look at the lives of the Salaf-e-Saleheen (first three generations). So the Sunnah the Prophet (the authentic sayings) are the second source of Sharia.
The third source is the Ijma that is the consensus of opinion of the companions of the Prophet, followed by the consensus of opinion of the Salaf-e-Saleheen and is followed by the consensus of opinion of the Muslim Jurists of the first three centuries of the Hijara.
The fourth source of Sharia is Qiyas, which means to judge and come closer. If you can't find any direct indication in the Qur'an or in the Sunnah of the Prophet or in the Ijma, then you can use your own logic to try and find the answer based on the verses of the Qur'an or the Sayings of the Prophet or the Ijma using analogy. But Qiyas can only be used in a Islamic state, where proper Islamic Sharia is followed.
So there are four sources of Sharia. The first and highest in authority is the Qur'an, the word of God. The second is the life style of the Prophet. Third is the Ijma and fourth is Qiyas.
The Islamic Sharia is a complete of conduct and a complete way of life. But unfortunately the media and the critics of Islam present the Islamic Sharia as barbaric. Most of their allegations revolve around two aspects. The first aspect is the punishment in Islam. They show a poster or the front cover of a book of a man being whipped. The second aspect is the women in Islam. They may show a woman in Hijab and say she is subjugated.
For instance, all religions says that you should not rob. But Islam goes a step further and tells us how to stop robbery. The third pillar of Islam is Zakat that every rich person, who has the savings more than 85 grams of Gold, should give 2.5% of that saving every lunar year in charity. If every rich human being gives charity, poverty would be eradicated from the world and not a single person would die of hunger. God says in the Qur'an in Surah al-Hashr Chapter 59 Verse 7 that Zakat (obligatory) has been prescribed, so that it may prevent the wealth from circulating only in the hands of the rich people. Obligatory Charity (Zakat) is a part of Islamic Sharia. All the rich people have to pay 2.5% of their savings every lunar year in charity.
And after that Allah says that you should not rob. If anybody robs after that Allah says in the Qur'an Sura Maidah 5 Verse 38, "As to the thief, be it a man or woman chop off his/her hands as a punishment from Allah." Many people think that if they go to Saudi Arabia, where this law is practiced, every second person they would see with chopped hands:) But in fact if you go to Saudi Arabia, you may hardly see or more likely never see anyone with hands chopped because the law is so strict that a potential thief would think ten times before robbing.
The Islamic gives you advice that don't rob, but not everyone would not follow this advice. So what is the solution? The solution is that there has to be a punishment.
Though an advanced country America has one of the highest rate of theft and robbery in the world. If Islamic Sharia is implemented in USA that every rich person should give 2.5% of his savings in charity every lunar year. Then impose the law that anyone who robs his/her hands should be chopped off. I ask you will the rate of theft and robbery in America increase, decrease or remain the same? Definitely it will decrease. It is a practical law and you will get results as soon as it is imposed. We make laws to get results not only to be mentioned in books.
People fail to realize that the Islamic Sharia is perfect. Therefore does not mean that if a poor steals bread it does not mean his hands would be chopped off. Only if you rob or steal a particular big amount, then it is implemented. It is the duty of the Islamic state to provide food to him, it is the duty of the Muslim Ummah, the Muslims.
That is the reason the least rate of robbery in any part of the world is in Saudi Arabia, where this law is practiced.
This was just an example of punishment in the Islamic and the logic behind it.
In Islam men and women are equal, but they are not identical. Our Creator has made the men and women biologically, physiologically and psychologically different. Depending upon biological, physiological and psychological makeup our Creator has given different roles to men and women. In many aspects men and women are equal. In some aspects women have a degree of advantage. In some aspects men have a degree of advantage. But overall men and women are equal.
For instance, it is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Vol 8 Book of Aadab Chapter 2 Hadith 2 that once a man asked Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) that who deserves the maximum love and companionship in this world. The prophet said your mother. The man asked after that who? The prophet repeated your mother. The man asked again after that who? The prophet again repeated your mother. Once the man asked after that who? The prophet answered your father. So it means as far as love and companionship of the children is concerned the mother gets three times more than the father. Here the women have a degree of advantage.
Suppose, if a robber enters my house, I would not say that I believe in Women's liberalization. I will not tell my mother, sister or wife to go and fight. Since Allah has given us, men a degree of advantage in physical strength. It is our duty to protect and support the women.
In this post, I will only answer a few questions about women in Islam. For more answers refer to the post Frequently Asked Questions About Women in Islam.
Another common objection is that the Islamic Hijab is not for modesty and it is for subjugating the women. If we look around us today, the level of modesty keeps on differing from individual to individual depending upon the surronding and society. For instance, in certain Muslim Arab countries even looking and staring at a woman is considered immodest. In India you can look at woman. You can talk to her it is considered modest. But if you touch her it is considered immodest. Therefore the Indian greetings is with folded handed. In certain Western countries touching a woman and shaking hands with her is modest, but kissing a woman is considered immodest. In some Western countries kissing a woman on the cheeks, on the lips is considered modest. In certain Western countries, the man and woman can do whatever they want with eachother's permission and it is considered modest. If a woman wears mini skirts and short in USA, it is considered modest. But if a woman wears the clothing in the Indo-Pak subcontinent, it is considered immodest.
So who is to decide what is modest and what is immodest? The best one to decide is our Creator, Allah, God Almighty.
If we look at the history, we would come to know about the low status the women were given to the extent that they were denied basic human dignity.
In Babylonian Civilization, the women were degraded and were denied all rights under the Babylonian law. If a man murdered a woman, instead of him being punished, his wife was put to death.
Greek Civilization is considered the most glorious of all ancient civilizations. Under this very ‘glorious’ system, women were deprived of all rights and were looked down upon. In Greek mythology, an ‘imaginary woman’ called ‘Pandora’ was considered the root cause of misfortune of human beings. The Greeks considered women to be subhuman and inferior to men. Though chastity of women was precious, and women were held in high esteem, the Greeks were later overwhelmed by ego and sexual perversions. Prostitution became a regular practice amongst all classes of Greek society.
When Roman Civilization was at the zenith of its ‘glory’, a man even had the right to take the life of his wife. Prostitution and nudity were common amongst the Romans.
The Egyptian considered women evil and as a sign of devil.
Before the spread of Islam in Arabia, the Arabs looked down upon women and very often when a female child was born, she was buried alive, but after the Qur'an was revealed this evil practice stopped.
The rest of the criteria are the same for both men and women.
2. The clothes worn should be loose and should not reveal the figure.
3. The clothes worn should not be transparent such that one can see through them.
4. The clothes worn should not be so glamorous as to attract the opposite sex.
5. The clothes worn should not resemble that of the opposite sex.
6. The clothes worn should not resemble or be a sign of the unbelievers.
God Almighty says in Sura Ahzab Chapter 33 Verse 59 “O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad); that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
Lets analyze what does the Qur'an say. Allah says in the Qur'an Sura an-Nisa Chapter 4 Verse 3 "Marry women of your choice in twos, threes or fours, but if you can't do justice then marry only one." This verse "Marry only one" is only being mentioned in Qur'an", but marrying more than one is only allowed if you can do justice between the wives. Otherwise you can't. In fact marrying more than one wives is not compulsory in Islam. It is only optional. Lets analyze what is the logic behind allowing a man to marry more than one wife. By nature male and female are born in equal proportion, but any pediatrician would tell you that in the pediatric age itself more male children die as compared to females children. Because a female child has more immunity than a male child. As life goes on more males die in wars and accidents, more males die due to alcoholism and cigarette smoking. Today there are more females in the world than males. Only in a few third world countries due to the evil practice of female foeticide and infanticide. Fetuses are aborted after they are identified as females. If this evil practice stops then even in these third world countries the number of females would exceed that of males. In USA alone there are 7.8 million females more than males. In UK there are 5 million females more than males. In Germany alone there are 4 million females more than males. In Russia alone there are 9 million females more than males. And God Almighty alone knows how many females are more than males throughout the world. Suppose even if I agree with the person, who says that men should marry only one and suppose my sister or his sister lives in USA. Every man finds a partner for himself. Yet there would be 7.8 million females without any partner. The only options for these females would be to marry a man, who already has a wife, or become public property. Though the word "Public Property" is harsh, yet it is the most sophisticated word I can use. Any modest woman would prefer being the wife of a man who already has a wife rather than becoming public property. In the Western countries having a Mistress is very common. One can have as many mistresses as he wants. American statistics say that an American man has 8 sexual partners on average before settling down with one. Having on average 8 mistresses goes down their throat, but having more than one wife does not go down their throat. If we compare, a mistress is degraded and does not have any rights while a second wife is protected, gets her due rights and gets honor. The reason Islam allows some men to have more than one wife is to protect the modesty of women, not to degrade her.
When I quote Luke 22 to Christians and Bhagwad Geeta to Hindus, they say, "You know, this fighting about truth afainst falsehood." Same is in the Qur'an about truth against falsehood. Every country has a law. In USA it is prohibited to rob or rape, but still people rob and rape. To stop this every country has a military force, a police force. That is what Qur'an is telling the Muslims that they should also have such a force in their state, which should be ready to fight the enemy. What's the harm?
The Islamic Sharia tells you the good things you should do. Not to rob, Not to rape, etc. But everyone will not follow, then the punishment is laid down. But the complete Sharia also includes the fifth pillar of faith, Belief in the Hereafter, Life after Death. Allah says in the Qur'an Sura Mulk Chapter 67 Verse 2 “It is Allah who created Death and life to test which of you is best in deed." Life after death is compulsory for Emaan (faith). There are many people, who say life after death is illogical. I have already proved Hereafter: Life after Death logically. Many people do bad in this world and do not get punished, but on the day of judgement total justice is done. So if any culprit escapes punishment, he would get punished in the Hereafter as he deserves.
For instance, Hitler incinerated 6 million Jews. Suppose if Hitler had been caught what punishment could you give him. Maximum, Death Penalty. But what about the 5999999 other innocent Jews he incinerated? We can not punish him for all he did, but God Almighty can. On the day of Judgement God can burn Hitler more than six million times in hell-fire. As the Holy Qur'an says in Chapter 4 Verse 56 “Those who reject Our signs, We shall sooncast into the Fire;as often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the penalty: for Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise” On the Day of Judgement total justice will be done. Since Life after Death is a compulsory part of Sharia that is why Sharia is perfect.
If you wanna judge Sharia, judge it on the basis of Qur'an & the Sunnah (sayings & tradition of the prophet), not on what individual Muslims do. Because the media picks up the black sheep of the Muslim community and present them as though they are exemplary Muslims. If a 60 years old Arab man marries an 18 year old girl, it comes in the News Headlines. But if a 50 year old Non Muslim rapes a 6 year old girl, it comes in the News Brief. I am aware that there are black sheep in the Muslim community, who do not follow the Sharia and do bad things. Suppose if you give a Mercedes car to a bad driver and he crashes it. That does not mean that the car has any defect. If you wanna know about the car then look at its specifications. In the same way if you wanna know about Islam, read the Holy Qur'an. If you wanna see the car in action, then give it to a good driver. In the same if you wanna see Islam in action, then look at prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) in authentic sources because he is the apt representation of Islam.
The word "Sharia" literally means "the clear path to follow."
The Islamic Sharia is derived from four sources.
The first source is the Glorious Qur'an. The Qur'an is the last and final revelation of Almighty God revealed to the last and final Messenger of God Prophet Mohammed The Qur'an is the word of God and is also called "Furqaan", the criteria to judge right from wrong. It was revealed in a span of approximately 23 years to Prophet Mohammed through Archangel Gabriel fourteen hundred years ago. It contains 114 surahs or chapter and more than six thousands signs or verses. The Glorious Qur'an was revealed in Arabic, but the scholars have translated it into almost all the major languages of the World.
The second source is the Sunnah, which means the way of the Prophet, the authentic sayings of the Prophet. They act as a commentary of the Qur'an and are supplementary to it. Allah says in the Qur'an in several places including Sura Nisa Chapter 4 Verse 15 "Obey Allah, Obey the Messenger." Obey the Messenger means follow the Sunnah of the Prophet. Many a times for the details of the prophet's commandment we have to look into the life of the Sahabas, the companions of the Prophet. The Prophet said that first look in the Qur'an, then at my example and then if you want more details, look at first three generations of Muslims called Salaf-e-Saleheen.First the Sahabas (the companions of the Prophet), who saw the Prophet, lived with him and died as believers. Then comes the next generation Tabiyen and then comes the third generation Tabetaiyen. So if there is difference of opinion regarding the Sunnah, you have to look at the lives of the Salaf-e-Saleheen (first three generations). So the Sunnah the Prophet (the authentic sayings) are the second source of Sharia.
The third source is the Ijma that is the consensus of opinion of the companions of the Prophet, followed by the consensus of opinion of the Salaf-e-Saleheen and is followed by the consensus of opinion of the Muslim Jurists of the first three centuries of the Hijara.
The fourth source of Sharia is Qiyas, which means to judge and come closer. If you can't find any direct indication in the Qur'an or in the Sunnah of the Prophet or in the Ijma, then you can use your own logic to try and find the answer based on the verses of the Qur'an or the Sayings of the Prophet or the Ijma using analogy. But Qiyas can only be used in a Islamic state, where proper Islamic Sharia is followed.
So there are four sources of Sharia. The first and highest in authority is the Qur'an, the word of God. The second is the life style of the Prophet. Third is the Ijma and fourth is Qiyas.
The Islamic Sharia is a complete of conduct and a complete way of life. But unfortunately the media and the critics of Islam present the Islamic Sharia as barbaric. Most of their allegations revolve around two aspects. The first aspect is the punishment in Islam. They show a poster or the front cover of a book of a man being whipped. The second aspect is the women in Islam. They may show a woman in Hijab and say she is subjugated.
Punishment in Sharia:
Most of the religions only speak good things, but Islam besides speaking good things it shows us a practical way to achieve that state of goodness.For instance, all religions says that you should not rob. But Islam goes a step further and tells us how to stop robbery. The third pillar of Islam is Zakat that every rich person, who has the savings more than 85 grams of Gold, should give 2.5% of that saving every lunar year in charity. If every rich human being gives charity, poverty would be eradicated from the world and not a single person would die of hunger. God says in the Qur'an in Surah al-Hashr Chapter 59 Verse 7 that Zakat (obligatory) has been prescribed, so that it may prevent the wealth from circulating only in the hands of the rich people. Obligatory Charity (Zakat) is a part of Islamic Sharia. All the rich people have to pay 2.5% of their savings every lunar year in charity.
And after that Allah says that you should not rob. If anybody robs after that Allah says in the Qur'an Sura Maidah 5 Verse 38, "As to the thief, be it a man or woman chop off his/her hands as a punishment from Allah." Many people think that if they go to Saudi Arabia, where this law is practiced, every second person they would see with chopped hands:) But in fact if you go to Saudi Arabia, you may hardly see or more likely never see anyone with hands chopped because the law is so strict that a potential thief would think ten times before robbing.
The Islamic gives you advice that don't rob, but not everyone would not follow this advice. So what is the solution? The solution is that there has to be a punishment.
Though an advanced country America has one of the highest rate of theft and robbery in the world. If Islamic Sharia is implemented in USA that every rich person should give 2.5% of his savings in charity every lunar year. Then impose the law that anyone who robs his/her hands should be chopped off. I ask you will the rate of theft and robbery in America increase, decrease or remain the same? Definitely it will decrease. It is a practical law and you will get results as soon as it is imposed. We make laws to get results not only to be mentioned in books.
You may argue that since so many people are robbing, we will have to cut the hands of thousands of people. But what you fail to realize that the moment the law is imposed except a few all others would stop robbing because of the severity of the punishment. The moment you implement the Sharia, the punishment need not be implemented. It may be implemented once in a blue moon.
People fail to realize that the Islamic Sharia is perfect. Therefore does not mean that if a poor steals bread it does not mean his hands would be chopped off. Only if you rob or steal a particular big amount, then it is implemented. It is the duty of the Islamic state to provide food to him, it is the duty of the Muslim Ummah, the Muslims.
This was just an example of punishment in the Islamic and the logic behind it.
Women in Islam:
Unaware of Women's Rights in Islam, the critics of Islam claim that women are subjugated in Islam. These critics say that in Islam the men and women are not equal.In Islam men and women are equal, but they are not identical. Our Creator has made the men and women biologically, physiologically and psychologically different. Depending upon biological, physiological and psychological makeup our Creator has given different roles to men and women. In many aspects men and women are equal. In some aspects women have a degree of advantage. In some aspects men have a degree of advantage. But overall men and women are equal.
For instance, it is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Vol 8 Book of Aadab Chapter 2 Hadith 2 that once a man asked Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) that who deserves the maximum love and companionship in this world. The prophet said your mother. The man asked after that who? The prophet repeated your mother. The man asked again after that who? The prophet again repeated your mother. Once the man asked after that who? The prophet answered your father. So it means as far as love and companionship of the children is concerned the mother gets three times more than the father. Here the women have a degree of advantage.
Suppose, if a robber enters my house, I would not say that I believe in Women's liberalization. I will not tell my mother, sister or wife to go and fight. Since Allah has given us, men a degree of advantage in physical strength. It is our duty to protect and support the women.
In this post, I will only answer a few questions about women in Islam. For more answers refer to the post Frequently Asked Questions About Women in Islam.
Another common objection is that the Islamic Hijab is not for modesty and it is for subjugating the women. If we look around us today, the level of modesty keeps on differing from individual to individual depending upon the surronding and society. For instance, in certain Muslim Arab countries even looking and staring at a woman is considered immodest. In India you can look at woman. You can talk to her it is considered modest. But if you touch her it is considered immodest. Therefore the Indian greetings is with folded handed. In certain Western countries touching a woman and shaking hands with her is modest, but kissing a woman is considered immodest. In some Western countries kissing a woman on the cheeks, on the lips is considered modest. In certain Western countries, the man and woman can do whatever they want with eachother's permission and it is considered modest. If a woman wears mini skirts and short in USA, it is considered modest. But if a woman wears the clothing in the Indo-Pak subcontinent, it is considered immodest.
So who is to decide what is modest and what is immodest? The best one to decide is our Creator, Allah, God Almighty.
If we look at the history, we would come to know about the low status the women were given to the extent that they were denied basic human dignity.
In Babylonian Civilization, the women were degraded and were denied all rights under the Babylonian law. If a man murdered a woman, instead of him being punished, his wife was put to death.
Greek Civilization is considered the most glorious of all ancient civilizations. Under this very ‘glorious’ system, women were deprived of all rights and were looked down upon. In Greek mythology, an ‘imaginary woman’ called ‘Pandora’ was considered the root cause of misfortune of human beings. The Greeks considered women to be subhuman and inferior to men. Though chastity of women was precious, and women were held in high esteem, the Greeks were later overwhelmed by ego and sexual perversions. Prostitution became a regular practice amongst all classes of Greek society.
When Roman Civilization was at the zenith of its ‘glory’, a man even had the right to take the life of his wife. Prostitution and nudity were common amongst the Romans.
The Egyptian considered women evil and as a sign of devil.
Before the spread of Islam in Arabia, the Arabs looked down upon women and very often when a female child was born, she was buried alive, but after the Qur'an was revealed this evil practice stopped.
Islam is the first religion and Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) is the major benefactor, who uplifted the women and gave them their due rights. After gaving rights to the women, Islam also showed them the way how to maintain their rights, their status and their modesty. That's why Hijab was prescribed. People normally talk about Hijab for women, but in the Qur'an God Almighty first speaks about Hijab for Men and then for women. God Almighty says in the Qur'an Chapter 24 Verse 30 “Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty.” The moment a man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he should lower his gaze.
The next verse of Qur'an Chapter 24 Verse 31 speaks about the Hijab for Women. “ And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons...” And a long list of Mehrams, whom she can't marry.
There are six criteria for observing Hijab.
1. First is the extent, which is different for men and women. For men the extent is from the navel to the knee. For women the complete body should be covered. The only parts, which can be seen are the face and the hands till wrists.The rest of the criteria are the same for both men and women.
2. The clothes worn should be loose and should not reveal the figure.
3. The clothes worn should not be transparent such that one can see through them.
4. The clothes worn should not be so glamorous as to attract the opposite sex.
5. The clothes worn should not resemble that of the opposite sex.
6. The clothes worn should not resemble or be a sign of the unbelievers.
God Almighty says in Sura Ahzab Chapter 33 Verse 59 “O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad); that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
Hijab has been prescribed for the women so that it will prevent them from being molested. Suppose two sisters who are twins, and who are equally beautiful, walk down the street. One of them is wearing the Islamic hijab i.e. the complete body is covered, except for the face and the hands up to the wrists. The other sister is wearing western clothes, a mini skirt or shorts. Just around the corner there is a hooligan or ruffian who is waiting for a catch, to tease a girl. Whom will he tease? The girl wearing the Islamic Hijab or the girl wearing the skirt or the mini? Naturally he will tease the girl wearing the skirt or the mini. The Qur’an rightly says that hijab prevents women from being molested. After that if any man rapes any woman, he should be given capital punishment, death penalty. Some people object saying death penalty is barbaric and Islam is a barbaric religion. I ask them. God forbid! If someone rapes their mother and the rapist is brought in front of them, what punishment will they give him? Everybody would say death penalty. Then why this double standard. When someone rapes their mother, death penalty and if someone else's mother is raped, death penalty is barbaric?
According to a FBI report, in the year 1990, every day on an average 1756 cases of rape were committed in USA alone. Americans got bolder by the year 1996. According to the US department of justice in the year 1996 every day on an average 2713 cases of rape were committed. It is a rape in every 32 seconds. For how many minutes have you been reading this post? Maybe about 5 minutes, in these 10 minutes about 8 to 9 rape cases may have taken place in USA. I ask you! If you implement the Islamic Sharia that if any man looks at woman and any brazen thought comes to his mind, he should lower his gaze. The women should wear the Islamic Hijab, the complete body covered except the face and the hands till wrists. After if any man rapes a woman, he should get capital punishment, death penalty. I ask you, will the number of rapes in the US increase, decrease or remain the same? Naturally, it will decrease. Islamic Sharia is a practical law, which gives positive results as soon as implemented.Marrying 4 Wives in Islam:
There are many critics, who say that Islam is barbaric because it allows a man to have 4 wives. Qur'an is the only religious scriptures on the face of the earth, which says marry only one. No other religious scripture says marry only one, not the Bible, not the Vedas, not Bhagwad Geeta. No religious scripture says this except the Qur'an.
It is mentioned in Ramayan that the father of Sri Ram, King Dashrat had more than one wife. It is mentioned in Vishnu Sutra Chapter 24 Verse 1 that a Brahman can have 4 wives. If you read Mahabharat, how many wives did Sri Krishna have? Shri Krishna had 16,108 wives. When Sri Krishna could have 16,108, why can't we have 4 wives? If you read the Old Testament, Suleman had 4 wives, Abraham had 3 wives. In the Jewish religion you can marry as many wives as you can. Later on in the 10th and 11th century Rabbi Gershom ben Yehudah passed a synod that a Jew should marry only one wife. The Jewish Sephardic communities living in Muslim countries used to marry more than one wife as late as 1950. According to the Bible a Christian can marry as many wives as he wants. Nowhere the Bible says marry only one. It is later on that the church said that a Christian should marry only one. Hindu religious scriptures allow a Hindu to marry as many women as he wants. It is the Indian Penal Court, which passed a Hindu Marriage Special Act in 1954 saying Hindus should marry only one. According to the the 1975 census of India, the percentage of polygamous marriages between the years 1951 and 1961 was 5.06% among the Hindus and only 4.31% among the Muslims in India.Lets analyze what does the Qur'an say. Allah says in the Qur'an Sura an-Nisa Chapter 4 Verse 3 "Marry women of your choice in twos, threes or fours, but if you can't do justice then marry only one." This verse "Marry only one" is only being mentioned in Qur'an", but marrying more than one is only allowed if you can do justice between the wives. Otherwise you can't. In fact marrying more than one wives is not compulsory in Islam. It is only optional. Lets analyze what is the logic behind allowing a man to marry more than one wife. By nature male and female are born in equal proportion, but any pediatrician would tell you that in the pediatric age itself more male children die as compared to females children. Because a female child has more immunity than a male child. As life goes on more males die in wars and accidents, more males die due to alcoholism and cigarette smoking. Today there are more females in the world than males. Only in a few third world countries due to the evil practice of female foeticide and infanticide. Fetuses are aborted after they are identified as females. If this evil practice stops then even in these third world countries the number of females would exceed that of males. In USA alone there are 7.8 million females more than males. In UK there are 5 million females more than males. In Germany alone there are 4 million females more than males. In Russia alone there are 9 million females more than males. And God Almighty alone knows how many females are more than males throughout the world. Suppose even if I agree with the person, who says that men should marry only one and suppose my sister or his sister lives in USA. Every man finds a partner for himself. Yet there would be 7.8 million females without any partner. The only options for these females would be to marry a man, who already has a wife, or become public property. Though the word "Public Property" is harsh, yet it is the most sophisticated word I can use. Any modest woman would prefer being the wife of a man who already has a wife rather than becoming public property. In the Western countries having a Mistress is very common. One can have as many mistresses as he wants. American statistics say that an American man has 8 sexual partners on average before settling down with one. Having on average 8 mistresses goes down their throat, but having more than one wife does not go down their throat. If we compare, a mistress is degraded and does not have any rights while a second wife is protected, gets her due rights and gets honor. The reason Islam allows some men to have more than one wife is to protect the modesty of women, not to degrade her.
In Islam women are considered as a "Mohsina" as a fortress against the devil, unlike other religions where she is considered a sign of the devil. Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) said in Sahih Bukhari Volume 7 Book of Nikaah Chapter 3 Hadith 4, "O young people, whoever has the means to get married, should get married." The prophet said, "There is no Monasty in Islam." The prophet also said that whoever marries, he completes half his deen. That does not mean that if you marry twice, you complete your full deen. The prophet meant that marriage protects you from fornication, pornography, homosexuality and adultery, which are harmful for the society. Only if you marry you have a chance to become a husband or wife and a father or mother, which are important duties in Islam. So whether you marry once or twice, you only complete half your deen. The prophet also said, "Anyone who does not marry is not of me." In Sura an-Nisa Chapter 4 Verse 21, the Qur'an describes Nikaah as a Meesakh, a sacred covenant. And for marriage to solemnize the permission of both the would wife and husband is compulsory in Islam. It is mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Volume 7 Book of Nikaah Chapter 69 Hadith 49 that Once a lady by the name of Hansa Bint Khadima Al Ansaria approached the prophet and said that her father has forced her to marry a man, she does not like. And the prophet nullified the marriage.
In Islam for a marriage to solemnize Mehr is compulsory. The would-be husband should give an amount of marital gift to the would-be wife. In the Indo-Pak subcontinent the bride has to give an amount of dowr to the bridegroom. In Islam demanding dowry directly or indirectly is prohibited. You can not say that my son likes driving a Mercedes car or living in a 3 bedroom apartment indicating you want a Mercedes car or a 3 bedroom apartment in dowry. Demanding dowry directly or indirectly is prohibited in Islam. Willingly if the parents of the bride give you something as a gift, there is no problem. In fact in Islam the man gives dowry to the wife. This is how Islam protects the status of women.
Allah says in the Qur'an in Sura an-Nur Chapter 24 Verse 4 that if anyone lays an allegation against the modesty of a woman and if he can not support it with 4 witnesses, he gets 80 lashes. Suppose if he gets 4 witnesses and if any of those 4 witnesses falter during cross examination, they get 80 lashes each. Some may say 80 lashes is barbaric, So is laying a allegation against the modesty of a woman not barbaric? So it depends on what is barbaric to you.
The rule of the Islamic Sharia protects and uplifts the modesty of women, unlike the Western Culture which in the name of women's liberalization has actually degraded her to the status of concubines, mistresses and society butterflies, which are hidden behind the colorful screen of art and culture. They are selling their daughters; they are selling their mothers. The famous ad, which I have heard about, shows a girl standing in a bikini in front of a BMW car, which is famous among the youngsters and the caption says, "Test Drive Her Now." Who the girl or the car? They are selling their mothers and daughters. We in Islam protect our women. We love them. We revere them. We respect them and we honor them. We do not want to sell them.
Why women inherit half the share as compared to men in Islam?
Furthermore they ask why women inherit half the share as compared to men. Several verses of the Qur'an deal with the matters of inheritance. There are some instances, where females inherit more than that of males, but as a whole I agree that men inherit double than that of women. It is because in Islam women are financially more secure than men. In Islam, it is the duty of the father and brother before she is married and it is the duty of the husband and the son after she is married to look after her lodging, boarding and clothing. So after laying the whole financial burden on the shoulders of men, Allah has to be just because Allah is never unjust in the least degree.(Qur'an 4:40) Suppose if a man dies and after giving away other shares, $15,000 are left. According to Islam the son gets $10,000 and the daughter gets $5000. Now I ask you! Would you prefer getting $10,000 and spending $9000 on the family as men have to look after the family. Or would you prefer getting $5000 and not spending even a single penny even on yourself and sit back and enjoy from your brother's share as well. See! We Muslim men should be complaining, not the women:)
There is a misconception not only among Non Muslim, but even among Muslims that any war fought by any Muslim for any reason is called Jihad. Jihad does not mean any war fought by any Muslim for any reason.
The word "Jihad" comes from the Arabic root word "Jahada" which means "to strive, to struggle".
In the Islamic Sharia, Jihad means to strive against one's own evil inclinations, to strive to make the society better, to strive in the battlefield in self-defense or against tyranny and oppression. Jihad means to strive, to struggle. Many people translate Jihad as "Holy War", but if we translate the word 'Holy War' into Arabic, it is "Harbon Muqadasa". The word 'Harbon Muqadasa' does not occur anywhere in the whole Qur'an or any Hadith of the prophet. So Jihad is not Holy War. The word 'Holy War' was first used by the orientalists to describe the crusades, when the Christians conquered many countries and killed thousands of people in the name of Christianity. One of the types of Jihad is fighting (Qital), which is only allowed in self defense and against tyranny and oppression.
The critics of Islam pick up verses of the Qur'an out of context saying that Qur'an says that everywhere you find a Kafir kill him.
The most misquoted such verse of the Glorious Qur'an is that of Sura Tauba Chapter 9 Verse 5. If you start reading from the first verse of Chapter 9, you would get the context. There was a peace treaty between the Muslims and the pagans of Makkah and it was unilaterally broken by the pagans of Makkah. In the Glorious Qur'an Chapter 9 Allah tells the pagans of Makkah to put the things straight in a period of 4 months or it is declaration of war and in the battlefield fight them and if required kill them. So Qur'an 9:5 is revealed in the battlefield. In order to boost up the morals of his soldiers any Army General would tell his soldiers to fight the enemy and kill them. He will not tell them to get scared and run away. These critics do not quote the verse 6, but jump to verse 7. Why? Because Verse 6 has the answer to their allegation. Verse 9:6 of Qur'an says that if the enemies want peace, grant them peace and escort them to a place of security so that they may hear the word of God Almighty. The most generous Army General today would say, Leave the enemy. But Allah says escort/take the enemy to a place of security.All major religious scriptures talk about fighting against falsehood.
Same thing is mentioned in the Bible. Book of Exodus Chapter 22 & Chapter 32 talk about fighting. Book of Numbers Chapter 31 talks about fighting. Even Jesus Christ tells his disciples to take the sword and go and fight in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 22 Verse 36 and in Gospel of Mark Chapter 14 Verse 47. Same in the Hindu Scriptures. Marbharat is all about fighting. Bhagwad Geeta, the most widely read Hindu scripture is an advice that Shri Krishan gives to Arjun to fight. Arjun says in Bhagwad Geeta Chapter 1 Verse 43-46 that how can I fight my cousins. I would prefer getting killed unarmed than fighting my relatives. Shri Krishna tells Arjun in Bhagwad Geeta Chapter 2 Verses 2 & 3 that how can such impurities come into your mind that you don't want to fight? How can you become so impotent? Shri Krishna further says in Bhagwad Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 31-33 that you are a Shatriah. You should fight. Only if you fight you will get paradise.When I quote Luke 22 to Christians and Bhagwad Geeta to Hindus, they say, "You know, this fighting about truth afainst falsehood." Same is in the Qur'an about truth against falsehood. Every country has a law. In USA it is prohibited to rob or rape, but still people rob and rape. To stop this every country has a military force, a police force. That is what Qur'an is telling the Muslims that they should also have such a force in their state, which should be ready to fight the enemy. What's the harm?
Jizya, Poll Tax:
People object that why Islam takes Jaziya, tax from Non Muslim? If you know the background of Jizya, you would appreciate it. If the Khalifah (head of state) tells that you should take part in a war, it is compulsory on every Muslim to take part in the war. No matter whether you are a doctor, engineer or lawyer, you have to fight. Jaziya is just about a couple of bucks. When a Non Muslim pays Jaziya, the Islamic State provides him protection and he need not to fight. Jizya is just about a couple of bucks. If one gives me the option whether to go and fight or stay at home and get protection by paying a couple of bucks. I would prefer staying at home and letting others protect me for just a couple of bucks.
Similarly there are various verses about Non Muslims rights in Islam. Allah says in the Qur'an Sura Mumtahina Chapter 60 Verse 8, "as to those Kafirs who do not fight your faith and do not drive you out of your homes, Allah advises you to deal justly with them for Allah does not like those who are unjust." The next verse 60:9, "As to those Kafirs who fight your faith and drive you out of your homes, Allah forbids you to go to them for protection." If a Muslim an innocent Non Muslim, the Muslim is give death penalty. If a Muslim harms a Non Muslim, the Muslim gets punished. If a Muslim robs from a Non Muslim's house, the Muslim robber's hands are chopped. That is Justice.
The Islamic Sharia tells you the good things you should do. Not to rob, Not to rape, etc. But everyone will not follow, then the punishment is laid down. But the complete Sharia also includes the fifth pillar of faith, Belief in the Hereafter, Life after Death. Allah says in the Qur'an Sura Mulk Chapter 67 Verse 2 “It is Allah who created Death and life to test which of you is best in deed." Life after death is compulsory for Emaan (faith). There are many people, who say life after death is illogical. I have already proved Hereafter: Life after Death logically. Many people do bad in this world and do not get punished, but on the day of judgement total justice is done. So if any culprit escapes punishment, he would get punished in the Hereafter as he deserves.
For instance, Hitler incinerated 6 million Jews. Suppose if Hitler had been caught what punishment could you give him. Maximum, Death Penalty. But what about the 5999999 other innocent Jews he incinerated? We can not punish him for all he did, but God Almighty can. On the day of Judgement God can burn Hitler more than six million times in hell-fire. As the Holy Qur'an says in Chapter 4 Verse 56 “Those who reject Our signs, We shall sooncast into the Fire;as often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the penalty: for Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise” On the Day of Judgement total justice will be done. Since Life after Death is a compulsory part of Sharia that is why Sharia is perfect.
If you wanna judge Sharia, judge it on the basis of Qur'an & the Sunnah (sayings & tradition of the prophet), not on what individual Muslims do. Because the media picks up the black sheep of the Muslim community and present them as though they are exemplary Muslims. If a 60 years old Arab man marries an 18 year old girl, it comes in the News Headlines. But if a 50 year old Non Muslim rapes a 6 year old girl, it comes in the News Brief. I am aware that there are black sheep in the Muslim community, who do not follow the Sharia and do bad things. Suppose if you give a Mercedes car to a bad driver and he crashes it. That does not mean that the car has any defect. If you wanna know about the car then look at its specifications. In the same way if you wanna know about Islam, read the Holy Qur'an. If you wanna see the car in action, then give it to a good driver. In the same if you wanna see Islam in action, then look at prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) in authentic sources because he is the apt representation of Islam.
