Islamic Religious Reversion and Christian Conversion

 In Islam, when someone from another faith takes the Shahada, it is best to say he or she reverted to Islam because every child is born a Muslim and that it is the parents that make him a believer or disbeliever. However, in Christianity, someone who proclaims Christianity is perceived as a convert. “Revert” emphasizes returning to your original state of submission to Allah, while “convert” centers around embracing Islam from a different belief or background." Allah is Imperceivable: No eye in the whole universe, not even the combined eyesights of everyone, can encompass His Being. Believing some angels may have seen or may be seeing Allaah, including those holding His Throne that is the Arsh, is unacceptable, because, impercibility here applies to all of Allaah’s creation. Even imagining how He looks like is a major sin.

In Islam, every human being is born a Muslim and that it is the parents who change the newly born’s religion. “Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:The mother of every person gives him birth according to his true nature. It is subsequently his parents who make him a Jew or a Christian or a Magian. Had his parents been Muslim he would have also remained a Muslim. Every person to whom his mother gives birth (has two aspects of his life) ; when his mother gives birth Satan strikes him but it was not the case with Mary and her son (Jesus Christ).”[i]

At first Allaah created all souls at the same time, meaning all souls including that of Adam and Eve or Hawwa were created at the same time. Please note that the soul and the body are two different things. Later, Allaah created Adam who is the father of humankind. Even the souls of those who will continue to be born before the Last Day when the trumpet will be blown were created one time. The Last Day pertains to the day when every type or kind of creation will come to an end after the trumpet is blown. All creation will perish, including the heavens and the earth, the stars and the moon and everything else including the angels. When Allaah wants to create, He simply says  كُن فَيَكُونُ which means “be and it will be” when translated into Arabic. Below, we’ll display a few verses where Allaah used for certain explanations.

بَدِيعُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَإِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًۭا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ١١٧

“He is the One Who has originated the heavens and the earth, and when He wills to (originate) a thing, He only says to it: 'Be', and it becomes (Chapter 2, verse 117).”

قَالَتْ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى وَلَدٌۭ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِى بَشَرٌۭ ۖ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ ٱللَّهُ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًۭا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ٤٧

“Mary submitted: 'O my Lord, how shall I have a son when no man has ever touched me?' He said: 'Just as Allah creates what He pleases.' When He decides (to do) some work, He just gives it the command 'Be', and it becomes (Chapter 3, verse 47).”

إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ ءَادَمَ ۖ خَلَقَهُۥ مِن تُرَابٍۢ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ٥٩

“Surely, the example of ‘Isa (Jesus) in the sight of Allah is the same as that of Adam whom He formed from clay, then said (to him): 'Be'. And he became (Chapter 3, verse 59).”

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَيَوْمَ يَقُولُ كُن فَيَكُونُ ۚ قَوْلُهُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۚ وَلَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ يَوْمَ يُنفَخُ فِى ٱلصُّورِ ۚ عَـٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَـٰدَةِ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ ٧٣

“And He is the One (Allah) Who has created the heavens and the earth (in accordance with His decreed celestial order based) on truth. And the Day when He will say: 'Be', then that (Day of Judgment) will come into being. His Word is the truth. And His will be the sovereignty on the Day when the Trumpet will be blown. He (is the One Who) has the knowledge of the unseen and the seen, and He is All-Wise, All-Aware (6: 73).”

إِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَىْءٍ إِذَآ أَرَدْنَـٰهُ أَن نَّقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ٤٠

“Our command for a thing is but only this much that when We intend (to bring) it (into existence), We say to it: 'Be', and it becomes (Chapter 16, verse 40).”

مَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ مِن وَلَدٍۢ ۖ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥٓ ۚ إِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًۭا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ٣٥

“It is not Allah's Glory that He should take (to Himself anyone as) a son. Holy and Glorified is He (above this)! When He decrees any matter, He only says to it: 'Be', and it becomes (19:35).” Prophet Musa or Moses requested Allaah to allow him to see Him in person or reveal Himself to him, but it did not materialize because of Allaah’s impercebtibility. Seeing Allah, may He be exalted, in this world is not possible for anyone, whether he is a believer or a disbeliever.

However, in Christianity, there are 50 facts that Jesus is god. Far from the truth, because, in Islam, Jesus was a prophet who was conceived by his mother Mary. John 10:30---I and the Father are one. 

Muslim (169) narrated in his Sahih that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said on the day when he warned the people about the Dajjal: “… You should know that no one among you will ever see his Lord, may He be glorified and exalted, until he dies.”

وَلَمَّا جَآءَ مُوسَىٰ لِمِيقَـٰتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِىٓ أَنظُرْ إِلَيْكَ ۚ قَالَ لَن تَرَىٰنِى وَلَـٰكِنِ ٱنظُرْ إِلَى ٱلْجَبَلِ فَإِنِ ٱسْتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُۥ فَسَوْفَ تَرَىٰنِى ۚ فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُۥ لِلْجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُۥ دَكًّۭا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقًۭا ۚ فَلَمَّآ أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبْحَـٰنَكَ تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَأَنَا۠ أَوَّلُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ١٤٣

“When Moses came at the appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he asked, “My Lord! Reveal Yourself to me so I may see You.” Allah answered, “You cannot see Me! But look at the mountain. If it remains firm in its place, only then will you see Me.” When his Lord appeared to the mountain, He levelled it to dust and Moses collapsed unconscious. When he recovered, he cried, “Glory be to You! I turn to You in repentance and I am the first of the believers (Al-A’raf, 17:143).”

 

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

“It is proven by the text of the Quran that it was said to Musa: {You will not see Me}, and that seeing Allah is greater than the sending down of a Book from heaven, as Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): {The People of the Scripture ask you to bring down to them a book from the heaven. But they had asked of Moses [even] greater than that and said, “Show us Allah outright.”} [an-Nisa 4:153] So the one who says that any of the people saw Him is claiming that that person is greater than Musa ibn ‘Imran, and his claim is more serious than the claim of one who claims that Allah sent down to him a book from heaven.” (Majmu‘ al-Fatawa, 2/336)

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[i] Sahih Muslim 2659a, Book 46, Hadith 40. Retrieved from https://sunnah.com/muslim:2659a.

More on Hinduism

 Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent and is often referred to as Sanātana Dharma (सनातन धर्म) by its followers, a phrase from Sanskrit meaning ‘eternal law’. Having no single founder, “Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion after Christianity and Islam, with approximately a billion adherents, of whom 905,000 live in India. Other countries with large Hindu populations include Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, and the United States.”[i]

The name Hindu has its origin in Old Persian word ‘Hindu’–a reference to the Indus River. Muslim writers of Arab origin referred Hindu to include “the land of the people of modern-day India.”[ii] Hindu reform movements and revivalists started using the term Hinduism in the 19^th century. Its widespread forbearance to differences and inflexible ingenuousness make it complicated to be classified as a religion according to conventional Western ideas. Hinduism is an Eastern religion, is non-missionary, belief in life is cyclical, and that god is ultimate reality and “immanent.”[iii]

In Hinduism, “God so conceived is called Saguna Brahman, or God-with-attributes as distinct from the philosophers’ more abstract Nirguna Brahman, or God-without-attributes. Nirguna Brahman is the ocean without a ripple; Saguna Brahman the same ocean alive with swells and waves.”[iv]

With Brahman being the absolute, this religion of 33 million gods, has its scriptural knowledge preserved in the Vedas written in Sanskrit-the language of the Hindu scriptures. The gods of Hinduism include Brahman who is the creator god, Vishnu the preserver god with 10 avatars, and Siva or Shiva who is the god of destruction. The Hindu path of knowledge is identified as Jnana Yoga with yoga being discipline or yoke. Hindus believe in Karma which entails cause/effect actions while Dharma implies law, duty, or correct behavior.

Denominations of Hinduism

Hinduism may be categorized into four denominations: Saivism, Shaktism, Smartism, and Vaishnavism.

• Saivism. The followers of this denomination who believe in Shiva as ‘All and in all’ is the oldest of all the sects of Hinduism. They believe that Shiva is the creator, preserver, destroyer, revealer, and concealer of all that is.  Adherents can be found throughout India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka and most notably in Southeast Asia especially in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
• Shaktism. This sect focuses on the worship of the Hindu divine mother Shakti or Devi as the absolute, ultimate godhead. They regard Shakti as the supreme Brahman and the “one without a second”, having all forms of divinity, female or male, as divine expression. The most fundamental and crucial text of Shaktism is the Devi Mahatmya, compiled almost 1,600 years ago. Other important canonical texts include the Puranic literature and Devi Gita. Shaktism has transcended borders and is no longer restricted to India alone. Shakta temples can be found in Southeast Asia, the United States of America, Europe, and Australia where Indian Diaspora Hindus have become deeply rooted. Despite Hinduism being regarded a non-missionary religion; two major temples in the confines of major U.S. cities include the Kali Mandir in Laguna Beach, California, and the Sri Rajarajeshwari Peetam, a Srividya Shakta temple in rural Rush, New York. The proliferation of Shaktism in the U.S. and the East-West synthesis of ideological interchange have endeared many doubting agnostics to embrace it causing troubling and intricate enlightening appropriation.
• Smartism. Worshippers of the six signs (Ganesha, Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu, Surya, and Skanda) or the resemblance of all the deities as the unanimity of godhead and the conceptualization of the myriad deities of India, Smartans believe Brahman is essentially without attribute or is attribute-less. Described as liberal or non-sectarian, Smartans “…follow a philosophical, meditative path, emphasizing man’s oneness with god through understanding.” [v]
• Vaishnavism. This is the fourth branch of Hinduism. Adherents believe in reincarnation, samsara, karma, and various yoga practices with emphasis on bkati yoga (devotion) to Vishnu.

The Hindu Caste System

“The Hindu caste system is unique in the world, but resembles in some ways Plato’s ideal society of philosophers, warriors and commoners. A caste is a division of society based on occupation and family lineage. Hindu caste system recognized four distinct classes or divisions among people based on these criteria and enforced it through a rigid code of conduct that was specific to each class and rooted in the dharmashastras (law books) of the later Vedic period.”[vi]

From the cry of the author of above article, we learn that in Hinduism, caste is an important factor in determining where one belongs as categorized below:

• Brahmins. These are the priestly class or caste that enjoys the highest degree of honor. They dedicate their entire lives to learning and preserving the Vedas, perform rituals and procedures, and observe self-punishment. They show exemplary behavior and are the caretakers of knowledge and traditions. As recorded in the Dharma (sacred tradition), a Brahmin is raised to look after and serve the Dharma. The Brahmins are regarded as a noble class endowed with knowledge and intellect.
• Kshatriyas. They belonged to the warrior and landowner caste and were empowered to protect the people, shower the Brahmins with gifts, abstain from sensual cravings, present sacrifices to the gods and the ancestors, learn the holy texts, and bestow righteousness.
• Vaishyas. Though not allowed to marry women of higher castes, they enjoyed the advantage of merchants and peasants, they studied the Vedas, they were traders and money lenders, and were allowed to participate in certain rituals.
• Shudras. Their main duty was to serve the three higher castes. Traditionally, they were looked upon as laborers and were not duty bound to read or study the Vedas.
• Chandalas. The lowest of all castes, they were considered impure and unholy. Living on the fringes of society, they were regarded as untouchables because they practiced magic and had unclean habits, were considered loathsome and despicable by the upper castes. Perhaps, seeing the living disparities of the Indian people and the abject poverty this group lived in is what drove Mahatma Gandhi to classify them as “Harijans” or “god’s people.” 

Regardless of the existence of Bhakti (love/devotion) in the Vedas, and the prevalent categorization of society as a result of Karma, the visual focus known as Tantra, the daily reverent gesture of Namaste and the all-encompassing overall responsibility of Ahimsa (non-injury), if we are go by the admonitions of the Vedas, exclusively for the unconditional observance of the Mantra which is the sacred word or formula, we are led to the conclusion that Hinduism will undergo revivalism if equality and justice is to be attained before the revered Brahma regardless of equanimity of Samsara (cycle of birth). Many in India see their mode of governance as far from being a democracy but a ‘castocracy’–a system of administration where people vote for the leader in observance of the caste system that is so ingrained in the mental make-up of the general population.

Hinduism Goddesses

• Ganesha. “All Tantric and spiritual worship in the Hindu tradition begins with the invocation of Ganesha (Ganesh), the elephant-headed god.”[vii] There are many historical versions regarding how Ganesha got her elephant head. One version relates how Parvati (Shiva’s wife) created Ganesha in the absence of Siva (Shiva) to watch over her quarters. When Shiva wanted to see Parvati, Ganesha objected to which Shiva cut off her head. Later on, Shiva gave Ganesha the head of an elephant because there was no replacement.
• Annapurna. She is the Hindu goddess of food and cooking. An incarnation of the Hindu goddess Parvati, wife of Shiva, Annapurna is said to have the power to nourish indefinite number of people.
• Saraswati. She is described as the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, and the creative arts. Also called the goddess of speech, Saraswati is often seen dressed in white, riding on a swan and sometimes on a peacock, and is depicted holding a palm leaf–an indication of knowledge.

 

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[i] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism

[ii] Thapar, R.1993. Interpreting Early India. Delhi: Oxford University Press. P. 77

[iii] Encarta Dictionary: English (North America). Existing in all parts of the universe. Describes God as existing in and extending into all parts of the created universe.

[iv] Huston Smith: The World Religions. Harper Collins Publishers Inc. 10 East 53^rd Street, New York, NY 10022

[v] http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2003/10-12/44-49_four_sects.shtml

[vi] http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/h_caste.asp

[vii] http://www.santanasociety.org/hindu_gods_and_goddesses/ganesha.htm

RESEARCH PAPER ON HINDUISM

 

Hinduism

Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent and is often referred

to as Sanātana Dharma (सनातन धर्म) by its followers, a phrase from Sanskrit meaning ‘eternal law’. Having no single founder, “Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion after Christianity and Islam, with approximately a billion adherents, of whom 905,000 live in India. Other countries with large Hindu populations include Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, and the United States.” i The name Hindu has its origin in Old Persian word ‘Hindu’–a reference to the Indus River. Muslim writers of Arab origin referred Hindu to include “the land of the people of modern day India.”ii

Hindu reform movements and revivalists started using the term Hinduism in the 19^th century. Its widespread forbearance to differences and inflexible ingenuousness make it complicated to be classified as a religion according to conventional Western ideas. Hinduism is an Eastern religion, is non-missionary, belief in life is cyclical, and that god is ultimate reality and “immanent.” iii

In Hinduism, “God so conceived is called Saguna Brahman, or God-with-attributes as distinct from the philosophers’ more abstract Nirguna Brahman, or God-without-attributes. Nirguna Brahman is the ocean without a ripple; Saguna Brahman the same ocean alive with swells and waves.” iv

With Brahman being the absolute, this religion of 33 million gods, has its scriptural knowledge preserved in the Vedas written in Sanskrit-the language of the Hindu scriptures. The gods of Hinduism include Brahman who is the creator god, Vishnu the preserver god with 10 avatars, and Siva or Shiva who is the god of destruction. The Hindu path of knowledge is identified as Jnana Yoga with yoga being discipline or yoke. Hindus believe in Karma which entails cause/effect actions while Dharma implies law, duty, or correct behavior.

Denominations of Hinduism

Hinduism may be categorized into four denominations: Saivism, Shaktism, Smartism, and Vaishnavism.

• Saivism. The followers of this denomination who believe in Shiva as ‘All and in all’ is the oldest of all the sects of Hinduism. They believe that Shiva is the creator, preserver, destroyer, revealer, and concealer of all that is.  Adherents can be found throughout India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka and most notably in Southeast Asia especially in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
• Shaktism. This sect focuses on the worship of the Hindu divine mother Shakti or Devi as the absolute, ultimate godhead. They regard Shakti as the supreme Brahman and the “one without a second”, having all forms of divinity, female or male, as divine expression. The most fundamental and crucial text of Shaktism is the Devi Mahatmya, compiled almost 1,600 years ago. Other important canonical texts include the Puranic literature and Devi Gita. Shaktism has transcended borders and is no longer restricted to India alone. Shakta temples can be found in Southeast Asia, the United States of America, Europe, and Australia where Indian Diaspora Hindus have become deeply rooted. Despite Hinduism being regarded a non-missionary religion; two major temples in the confines of major U.S. cities include the Kali Mandir in Laguna Beach, California, and the Sri Rajarajeshwari Peetam, a Srividya Shakta temple in rural Rush, New York. The proliferation of Shaktism in the U.S. and the East-West synthesis of ideological interchange have endeared many doubting agnostics to embrace it causing troubling and intricate enlightening appropriation.
• Smartism. Worshippers of the six signs (Ganesha, Shiva, Shakti, Vishnu, Surya, and Skanda) or the resemblance of all the deities as the unanimity of godhead and the conceptualization of the myriad deities of India, Smartans believe Brahman is essentially without attribute or is attribute-less. Described as liberal or non-sectarian, Smartans “…follow a philosophical, meditative path, emphasizing man’s oneness with god through understanding.” v
• Vaishnavism. This is the fourth branch of Hinduism. Adherents believe in reincarnation, samsara, karma, and various yoga practices with emphasis on bkati yoga (devotion) to Vishnu.

The Hindu Caste System

“The Hindu caste system is unique in the world, but resembles in some ways Plato’s ideal society of philosophers, warriors and commoners. A caste is a division of society based on occupation and family lineage. Hindu caste system recognized four distinct classes or divisions among people based on these criteria and enforced it through a rigid code of conduct that was specific to each class and rooted in the dharmashastras (law books) of the later Vedic period.” vi

From the cry of the author of above article, we learn that in Hinduism, caste is an important factor in determining where one belongs as categorized below:

• Brahmins. These are the priestly class or caste that enjoys the highest degree of honor. They dedicate their entire lives to learning and preserving the Vedas, perform rituals and procedures, and observe self-punishment. They show exemplary behavior and are the caretakers of knowledge and traditions. As recorded in the Dharma (sacred tradition), a Brahmin is raised to look after and serve the Dharma. The Brahmins are regarded as a noble class endowed with knowledge and intellect.
• Kshatriyas. They belonged to the warrior and landowner caste and were empowered to protect the people, shower the Brahmins with gifts, abstain from sensual cravings, present sacrifices to the gods and the ancestors, learn the holy texts, and bestow righteousness.
• Vaishyas. Though not allowed to marry women of higher castes, they enjoyed the advantage of merchants and peasants, they studied the Vedas, they were traders and money lenders, and were allowed to participate in certain rituals.
• Shudras. Their main duty was to serve the three higher castes. Traditionally, they were looked upon as laborers and were not duty bound to read or study the Vedas.
• Chandalas. The lowest of all castes, they were considered impure and unholy. Living on the fringes of society, they were regarded as untouchables because they practiced magic and had unclean habits, were considered loathsome and despicable by the upper castes. Perhaps, seeing the living disparities of the Indian people and the abject poverty this group lived in is what drove Mahatma Gandhi to classify them as “Harijans” or “god’s people.” 

Regardless of the existence of Bhakti (love/devotion) in the Vedas, and the prevalent categorization of society as a result of Karma, the visual focus known as Tantra, the daily reverent gesture of Namaste and the all-encompassing overall responsibility of Ahimsa (non-injury), if we are go by the admonitions of the Vedas, exclusively for the unconditional observance of the Mantra which is the sacred word or formula, we are led to the conclusion that Hinduism will undergo revivalism if equality and justice is to be attained before the revered Brahma regardless of equanimity of Samsara (cycle of birth). Many in India see their mode of governance as far from being a democracy but a ‘castocracy’-a system of administration where people vote for the leader in observance of the caste system that is so ingrained in the mental make-up of the general population.

Hinduism Goddesses

• Ganesha. “All Tantric and spiritual worship in the Hindu tradition begins with the invocation of Ganesha (Ganesh), the elephant-headed god.” vii There are many historical versions regarding how Ganesha got her elephant head. One version relates how Parvati (Shiva’s wife) created Ganesha in the absence of Siva (Shiva) to watch over her quarters. When Shiva wanted to see Parvati, Ganesha objected to which Shiva cut off her head. Later on, Shiva gave Ganesha the head of an elephant because there was no replacement.
• Annapurna. She is the Hindu goddess of food and cooking. An incarnation of the Hindu goddess Parvati, wife of Shiva, Annapurna is said to have the power to nourish indefinite number of people.
• Saraswati. She is described as the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, and the creative arts. Also called the goddess of speech, Saraswati is often seen dressed in white, riding on a swan and sometimes on a peacock, and is depicted holding a palm leaf-an indication of knowledge.

 NB: This paper was first written on October 11, 2008

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i http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism

ii Thapar, R.1993. Interpreting Early India. Delhi: Oxford University Press. P. 77

iii Encarta Dictionary: English (North America). Existing in all parts of the universe. Describes God as existing in and extending into all parts of the created universe.

iv Huston Smith: The World Religions. Harper Collins Publishers Inc. 10 East 53^rd Street, New York, NY 10022

v http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/2003/10-12/44-49_four_sects.shtml

vi http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/h_caste.asp

vii http://www.santanasociety.org/hindu_gods_and_goddesses/ganesha.htm

Rendille and the Qur'an

According to a friend who lived among the Rendille, let me tell you what they said about abandoning, burying or burning the Qur'aan in the past. The assumption that they were forced to burn the Qur'aan by a new ethnic group that hosted them around Korondile or Qur'aan Dile is wrong.

Instead, they have a credible claim. Since the books got old or torn apart or got eaten by rats after years and years of lack of replacement, republishing or "replenishment", they had no other option but to bury them or burn them.

After mentioning all the places he has been to such as the settlements that were exclusive to the Rendille, my friend had nothing to hide about their generosity especially to Somalis on transit to other regions or those engaged in carrying out humanitarian services within their territories.

One thing he noted was that the camels they kept were smaller than the normal Somali dromedary. When hosting guests, they are known to roast or barbeque the goat after cutting it into three or four pieces or sections. Other than smearing it with ghee, they do not add anything else to the meat, not even salt.

"They are coming back to reclaim their lost identity." For identity reclamation, he meant reclaiming their lost Somali glory of the past and reverting to Islaam. Any Somali man who asks for the hand of a Rendille bride is given one without any livestock or monetary payment attached. Instead, the to-be bridegroom is given free livestock. 

Religion

If, according to the claim by Muslim Ulamaa about Adam's creation was a result of four different ingredients or colors of sand such as red, black, white, and yellow, then why do we have to believe in Hamitic Theory? A look at the four different types of sand would reveal that some races are reddish, some are black, some are white, while others have yellowish skin pigmentation.

Some researchers, especially Racialist Anthropologists, constantly dwell on the use of Caucasoid (White), Mongoloid (Asian), and Negroid (Black) classifications. Ethnic groups with short statures are referred to as Pigmoids (from pygmy). Have they forgotten the millenniums of miscegenation which is the interbreeding of people of different racial types and what about the constant weather exposures and climatic changes?

At times people of the Horn of Africa are referred to as Hamitic, Cushitic, or Afro-Asiatic. According to "Table of Nations" in Genesis 10:6 and I Chronicles 1:8, Cush or Kush was the son of Ham who was the son of Noah. The demeaning revelation that Ham passed by his drunk and naked father Noah and then walked insolently without covering his nudity paved way for Ham's imprecation and a path for his other brothers' divine right to enslave him, abuse him, and denigrate his reputation. Noah's malediction gave Ham kinky hair, flat-nose and broad lips that would last for eternity.

The rise of European imperialism, slavery, and colonialism and Arab disdain for the black race ushered in prolonged suffering for the son of Ham. European divide-and-rule tactics, neocolonialism, economic slavery, and African dictators primordial leaderships continue to pull apart the natural resources rich men and women of the African Continent.

My final point is a question for our Racialist Anthropologists and religious Historians. Apart from Noah's three sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, what color was Yaam, the one who climbed the mountain during the deluge?

Reflection of Visitation: Hindu Temple & Cultural Center of Kansas City

October 4, 2008

The Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Kansas City is located on a spacious land in a breathtaking serene atmosphere at 6330 Lackman road in Shawnee Mission of the State of Kansas. It has a sizable parking lot enough for approximately 50 cars. Upon approaching the entrance to the temple, one is attracted to the screams and laughter of children in the playground swarming around a few swings and slopes meant for their entertainment while their parents converge around a dozen deities assembled inside the temple. As is common for the typical American child, parental guidance is always a manifestly remarkable event as one or two adults keep watch over a few rambunctious toddlers left outside to bump each other for a few hours of the day especially on weekends. 

            The roofing rim of the temple is decorated with what appears to be gold colored relics similar in kind to the golden temple in Amritsar, India. According to information contained in www.pluralism.org, the temple serves the Hindu and Jain communities of Wichita, Topeka, and the Greater Kansas City area. Work on the temple commenced on Aril 9, 1984, when, after making great sacrifices, a group of committed Indians purchased a tract of land on which the current temple is sitting on. According to the web site www.htccofkc.org, the location of the temple is close to at least 80% of the Indian population of Kansas City. Where there is a will, there is a way. The struggle to have a temple for the area came to fruition in May 1988. The Indian community of Kansas City did their best to have a place to worship and display their cultural heritage. In any case they perspired enough to ensure their revered gods and goddesses remain visible in the American landscape for many years to come.

I was ushered in the temple by a young man who at first advised me to remove off shoes. To my amazement, there was a faucet for hand washing and purification. As I proceeded further down the passageway, I was led to a man who introduced himself as Mr. Sanjeev Goyal. After handing me a pamphlet detailing the day-to-day activities of the temple, Mr. Goyal instructed me to proceed to the interior of the temple where the prayer hall was located. This is where I could observe the overall activities of the worshippers. The interior of the temple contained idols earlier mentioned in class lectures. An assortment of deities filled a semi-circle rotunda resting against the wall of the main worshipping hall holding India’s holiest of Gods and Goddesses most notably Krishna and his beautiful consort, Radha, often worshipped as an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi. There was Laxman who is the brother of Rama, and Rama himself considered in Hinduism to be an avatar of Vishnu and his wife Sita. To the left was Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning followed by Parshvanath, a saint in Jainism. There was Durga, which the clergy explained as the mother of Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity revered among Hindus as remover of obstacles and Kartikeya, the God of war.

            Ironically, most of the devotees in the temple were women and children whose prayer etiquettes revolved around sitting directly in front of the deities while listening to arousing music in the background. For others it entailed disappearing behind a secret wall located directly behind the deities and then appearing minutes later the side of Shiva and Sai Baba, a saint from western India. One other appealing act I noted among women adherents is the application of forehead dyes of a variety of colors known as Bindi among Hindus. A lady worshipper explained to me that the forehead adornment mark is made from a concoction of red turmeric and zinc oxide and dye. Though a prerogative of married women, girls may also choose to wear Bindi. For married women, it is a promising indication of matrimony that shepherd opulence, grants happiness and offspring and elevates social standing. Also, I saw women devotees dip their fingers in a bowl-like container holding what I thought was a kind of nice smelling frankincense and other sorts of perfumeries and cologne. This type of sweet-smelling aroma was not new to me given that I am from the ‘Land of Punt’ or ‘Land of the Gods’-a connotation coined by ancient Egyptians in their travels to the Horn of Africa during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut.

My visit to the temple coincided with the preparation for Navaratri Garba- a special occasion where men and women dance to observe the defeat of Lord Rama over the historically contumacious Ravana whose effigy is burnt and blown up to pieces amid applause and ululation. Though not lit, the neon decorations on the ceilings of the temple and the beautifully colored bright fabric hanging from the edges of the walls must have been set for an occasion of vital importance to adherents of Hinduism. Right in the middle of the temple, a large bell suspended from an extended chain gracefully dangled above the assortment of idols. Beneath the bell, lay a charity box for Bihar flood relief and an idol of India’s most sacred animal, the cow.  Hinduism is a religion of many gods and goddesses. As explained by the caretaker of the temple, Mr. Goyal, a summary of the basic beliefs of Hinduism is outlined below:

1.      Belief in an all-pervasive supreme being who is immanent and transcendent.

2.      Belief in the divinity of the four Vedas, primordial hymns.

3.      Belief in universal creation, preservation, and dissolution.

4.      Belief in Karma, the law of cause and effect.

5.      Belief in reincarnation and liberation from cycle of rebirth.

6.      Belief that divine beings exist in unseen worlds.

7.      Belief in an enlightened master or Sat guru.

8.      Belief in the sacredness of all life and the practice of ahimsa.

9.      All religions are genuine paths to god

There was no congregation on this material day. Apart from a few individual adherents who supplicated and bowed down before a few idols here and there, by and large the atmosphere changed as we approached afternoon hours. Unfortunately, the caretaker was overwhelmed by the multitude of adherents, visitors, and children and so he did not have time to explain his religious and educational background. The knowledge I gained from the study of Hinduism on this material day will remain ingrained in my mind forever.

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the current ruling Emir of Qatar who took over after the abdication of his father Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani in 2013 and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920–75) who was the founder and President of Bangladesh and later Prime Minister until his assassination in 1975, are the only two male Muslim leaders to hold the religious title of Sheikh.

However, the current 71-year-old leader of Bangladesh whose name is Sheikh Hasina is a female. Daughter of the late President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, a look at her family tree chart reveals the title Sheikh is common among females in her family.

In Arabic, the term Sheikh or Shaikh means elder, chief, or old man as in Sural Al-Qasas (28:23):
وَلَمَّا وَرَدَ مَاءَ مَدْيَنَ وَجَدَ عَلَيْهِ أُمَّةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ يَسْقُونَ وَوَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمُ امْرَأَتَيْنِ تَذُودَانِ ۖ قَالَ مَا خَطْبُكُمَا ۖ قَالَتَا لَا نَسْقِي حَتَّىٰ يُصْدِرَ الرِّعَاءُ ۖ وَأَبُونَا شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ - 28:23
SAHIH INTERNATIONAL
And when he came to the well of Madyan, he found there a crowd of people watering [their flocks], and he found aside from them two women driving back [their flocks]. He said, "What is your circumstance?" They said, "We do not water until the shepherds dispatch [their flocks]; and our father is an old man."

Kiswahili
23. Alipo yafikia maji ya Madyana wanapo nyweshea maji alikuta karibu na kisima kundi la watu wengi mbali mbali wanawanywesha wanyama wao wa mifugo. Na pahali pa chini kuliko hapo pao akawakuta wanawake wawili wanawazuia kunywa maji kondoo na mbuzi wao. Musa akawaambia: Mbona mko mbali na maji? Wakajibu: Hatuwezi kusukumana, na wala hatunyweshi sisi mpaka hawa wachunga wamalize wao kunywesha. Na baba yetu ni mkongwe, hawezi kuchunga wala kunywesha wanyama.

Af-Soomaali
Markuu Gaadhay Biyaha Madyanna wuxuu ku Helay Ummad Dad ahoo Waraabinaysa wuxuuna ka helay Sokodooda Labo Haweena oo Reebi (Adhigooda) wuxuuna yidhi muxuu Xaalkiinu yahay, waxayna Dheheen Ma Waraabinno intay ka Fulaan Xoola jirku, Aabbahanana waa Oday Wayn.

ISLAM ILLUMINATED

How many powerful queens and kings have come and gone and will never return to us? Where is the Pharaoh who claimed to be god? You will tell me he was drowned and that his body has never been found. You're wrong. His corpse was retrieved from the salty water, was embalmed and preserved in a sarcophagus and he will remain in that state until the Day of Resurrection for humanity to see.Go to Egypt and visit the pyramids. He is there. Where are his two famous confidants, Ammon (Haamaan) and Korah (Qaaruun)? Despite being dead, they are being tormented.

Tell me, where is the powerful Nimrod? If you believe in Charles Darwin's 19th century Theory of Evolution, why not believe in past revealed books and the Grand Qur'an that has been perfected and protected by Allaah, The Beneficent, The Merciful?

How many transgressing generations were destroyed by fiery winds, deafening blasts, deluge, violent earthquakes, hell spewing volcanoes, furious hurricanes, gales, typhoons and tornadoes and will never return to this world?

What do you know of what is happening to the occupants of the graves some of who are in deep slumber and others burning and suffocating till the Day of Resurrection?

Don't you understand the contents of the Qur'an? Don't you see? Don't you reflect? Don't you ponder? Don't you hear?

Take a heavenward flight approximately 12 miles fixedly for 8-hours, then return to earth. You will not land at your previous departure point because the earth has moved.

How comes the earth is suspended, revolving and rotating day and night, yet all the oceans and rivers don't spill over? By the Power of Allaah, the mountains are stakes.

Imagine a veil is removed from your eyes and instantaneously your new vision is exposed to new creatures you have never seen or imagined before. Would you be terrified or amused by their sight?

Can you recollect when you were in your mom's womb and the stages you've been through?

If you will agree with me that you were formed from liquid, then how can you dispute with me creation without a father or creation from clay without a father and mother to be impossible?

We calculate the distance of stars from earth by light years. Yet, they are a decoration for the lower heaven and ease of navigation for you. So, imagine what is above them?

Why do we have different times and not a universal one?

We have eyes, ears and brains, but there are those who are deaf, dumb and blind because they have diseases in their hearts and The Creator has increased for them the diseases afflicting their faculties of thinking.

Don't tell me The Creator has partners, that there are two gods or many gods. How could these gods agree on power sharing if humans cannot?

There is only One Creator and His Name is Allaah. His name was in the Psalms (Zaboor) of David (Da'ood), the Torah (Tauraat) of Moses (Moosa) and the Evangel (Engeel) of Jesus (Eesa), but were deliberately deleted by men. The messages that were contained in those books have not been lost and are still with us up to this day without adulteration. They have been incorporated into and preserved in the Only Living Testament-the Qur'an that was revealed to Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets (Peace and Blessing of Allaah Be Upon Him).

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN THE QUR'AN

Ibn Kathir and the early scholars of Islam state that the Ten commandments are reiterated in two verses from the Quran.

“Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited you from, Join not anything in worship with Him; be good and dutiful to your parents; kill not your children because of poverty- We provide sustenance for you and for them; come not near to shameful sins whether committed openly or secretly; and kill not anyone whom God has forbidden, except for a just cause. This He has commanded you that you may understand. And come not near to the orphan’s property, except to improve it, until he or she attains the age of full strength; and give full measure and full weight with justice. We burden not any person but that which he can bear. And whenever you give your word (i.e. judge between men or give evidences) say the truth even if a near relative is concerned, and fulfil the Covenant of God. This He commands you, that you may remember.” (Quran 6:151-152)

ROSARIES AND AMULETS

By Adan Makina

A myth is a religion in which no one any longer believes—James Feibleman

Rosaries and Amulets are two religious symbols whose historical significance has baffled researchers mainly those engaged in anthropology, sociology, and archeology. Mythological, religious or otherwise, the rosary is seen as a device that plays a great role in human contemplation of the unknowns as well as a revealer of unfathomable heavenly mystiques. An ordinary object of daily use for millions of committed adherents with differing religious, ideological, and cultural backgrounds, the rosary continues to dangle from the necks of Sheikhs, priests, Rabbis, knowledgeable hermits, spiritualists, and monks without losing its rightful role in society regardless of whether it is crafted from simple wood or made from precious gemstone.

The use of rosaries or prayer beads is widespread among the followers of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. In Buddhism and Hinduism, the Japa Mala or simply Mala, is a rosary of 108 beads usually worn by priests exclusively for chants purposes. In esoteric Japanese and Tibetan Buddhism, rosaries are used for counting the Mantras and also serve as attributes for some deities most notably the Avalokiteshvara who is the Bodhisattva of compassion. In almost all religions, as usual, the right hand is the regulator of the rosary in every session with the finger nearest the thumb being the one that flicks and counts the preferred chant. In Chinese, the rosary is called Nianzhu; in Japanese it is Nenju; in Vietnamese it is known as Tranghat; while it is Rosarium in Latin.

There is a lot of debate regarding the origin of the rosary among users. [(1)] “In Islam, however, the performance of the rosary is an act of piety. The word for "rosary" in the Arabic language is sibha or masbaha, which is derived from Subhana Allah (God be praised). According to Ali Gom'a Mohamed, professor of fiqh (Jurisprudence in Islam) at Al-Azhar University, the number of beads in the Muslim rosary varies: there is a 33- bead rosary which requires three turns around the circle of beads. Each bead represents one of the names of God mentioned in the Qur'an, the total of which is 99. Another is divided into three parts, each made up of 33 beads which are used at the end of each of the five daily prayers. There is also a 100- bead rosary used in accordance with Sunnah. In his book, Manners and Customs of Modern Egyptians, Edward Lane mentioned a 1,000-bead rosary used for funerals.” To some Muslim scholars, the use of the fingers is more preferred than the rosary. They claim that the joints at the phalanges and metacarpals have been created to count prayer chants and that the rosary is an unnecessary innovation into Islam.

Abrahamic and philosophic religions, Pagan and animist practices display amulets of various makes, shapes, and colors worn around the neck with the promises of wealth, children, health, and other human allures or to ward off evil, magic, wicked spirits, and misfortunes. [(2)] “An amulet or charm is an apotropaic object or device, usually with writing on it, which provides prophylaxis against harm, whether of natural or supernatural origin. The use of amulets and charms is virtually universal across human cultures and across time, and Jews are no exception. Jewish amulets have been used to ward off a variety of ills: disease, mishap, sorcery, and/or malevolent spirits. They can also serve as love charms. They have been particularly used by Jews to protect women during pregnancy and to shield newborn infants.”

Amulets have been in existence since the days of the Canaanites, Phoenicians, Assyrians, and Ancient Egyptians. In Turkey, Nazar boncuk is a special type of amulet believed to protect one from evil eye. Amulets can be found all over Turkey; Turkish women use amulets as bracelets, earrings or necklaces. Turkish people hang them in their houses, offices and also inside cars while babies have specially designed amulets attached to their cloths. This leads us to the notion that the nation of Turkey is the leading producer of amulets in the world. Turkish amulets are mainly blue in color and look like an eye. Some Turkish amulets have magnetic fields making them easily stick to some select surfaces like the refrigerator door. There is a common belief among the Turkish people that even well-intentioned compliments have a conscious or unconscious measure of spite and resentment. For a Turkish amulet to guard a house, it should be hang at the entrance to the house.

An explanation of the origin of the amulet in Turkish superstition goes this way: once upon a time…there was a massive rock by the sea that could not be split asunder, cracked or broken into pieces despite the combined efforts of a hundred men and repeated dynamiting. After exhausting all energy and technical expertise, mention was made of a man who lived by the sea and who was known to carry the evil eye (nazar). Finally, a plan was hatched to bring the man to the rock venue so he could display his spectacular rock-splitting skills. Upon arriving at the scene and upon setting his sights on the rock, the man was heard to exclaim, “oh my God, what a gigantic rock!” The instant he finished his intonation, there was a crack and then a thunderous sound followed by violent convulsion that reduced the unbreakable huge rock into two pieces.

Moreover, in almost all superstitious communities, it is common for visiting neighbors and strangers alike to compliment on the health, shape, size, and color of newborn babies. For some reason, as fate would have it, the baby gets sick because the invisible evil eye penetrated the baby’s body and soul. At this point in time, parents and immediate relatives of the infant have no other choice but to contact a shaman or cleric to prepare an amulet to keep at bay all varieties of evil eyes as the baby undergoes various developmental stages of metamorphosis. In some communities, a crack on an amulet resulting from prolonged use denotes the wearer has received overwhelming protection and blessings for the duration the amulet was worn.

Egyptologists carrying out archeological excavations in the many burial sites scattered all over Egypt stumbled upon historical amulets made of papyrus finely encased in pharaonic sarcophagus. “Also, Coptic amulets dating back to the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D. have been unearthed in Egypt. Some of the amulets found in Egyptian pyramids are written in Mandaic (an Eastern Aramaic dialect) and have not been translated to this day. In some rare amulets, ancient Egyptians displayed images of the two-headed god (snake and Ibis); there are amulets depicting the cock-headed-snake-legged god, others display the eagle-headed god, crowned hawks, papyri boats, symbols of deities and the ram-headed god. Uterine amulets helped control contraception and childbirth, others were meant for regeneration and eternity and for hip pains (sciatica).” [(3) The discovery of Greco-Roman, Babylonian, and other varieties of amulets used by diverse ancient civilizations add flavor to the expanding infant archeological sciences.

In Somalia, amulet use is common among nomadic, urban and tribal communities. A well crafted amulet, depending on size and shape, typically is encased in leather while others are sheathed in fine threads. However, there is a type of amulet known locally as “Qardhaas” which is usually carved out of wood and worn around the neck.

Also, Qardhaas may be strapped round the neck of domesticated animals for protection against theft, disease, and the evil eye. The most remarkable trademark amulet known among Somalis is “Xirsi”- which is used for overcoming the whispers of the dreaded Jinni notorious for its mischievous use of supernatural powers. Whether one is seeking to expand a stagnated business enterprise, win the heart of a stubborn mademoiselle, embark on a treacherous journey, overcome the trauma of sterility or recover from a debilitating malady, owning an amulet that will dangle from one’s wrist, neck, leg, thigh, around the waist or other parts of the body, will, if determined by the amulet’s original designer or prescriber bring about abrupt changes and healing to the afflicted body and mind in the nick of time. In women, amulets may be worn to overcome gynecological ailments, vitamin deficiencies, urinary tract infections, migraines, infertility, schizophrenia, mental disorders and even to overcome jealousy.

Perhaps, humans used amulets to triumph over hardships at a time when modern medications other than herbal medicine were nonexistent. Natural hazards like Tsunamis, epidemics, flooding, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other unavoidable predicaments that decimated populations may have contributed to the discovery of amulets by shamans whose livelihood depended on the knowledge and skills of prescribing medication and healing the sick. Despite their dependence on trial and error techniques and despite premeditated medical malpractices, healers and shamans continued to be a source of inspiration for millions in need of medical attention.

Religious and historical accounts of human sacrifices as a last resort evolved as a result of appeasing virulent gods and deities whose anger could only be contained by spilling blood and goring human flesh in pagan and animist ritual practices-secret procedures found in some communities. The wave of secret murders of Albinos for ritualistic purposes and the rape of infants by HIV/AIDS sufferers in some countries epitomizes the continuation of ancient practices and the total disregard for the sanctity of human life.

People living in modern western democracies do attach importance to the use of amulets. Rock band musicians, reggae ragamuffins, gangsters, heads of government institutions, and people from all walks of society wear amulets in daily life either as ornaments or for protection against the unknowns. In the African continent, reports of leaders seeking consultations with magicians, shamans, and soothsayers, palmists and astrologers during election times is no secret. Thus, mythological experts have the power to instill fear in the hearts of their clients’ opponents or even cause them to suffer diseases unbeknownst to modern doctors. In some Asian cultures, shamans have mastered the art of shedding light on natural phenomena say like how a perceived volcanic eruption will affect surrounding inhabitants.

Amulets are widely worn as aphrodisiacs in some communities even with the advancement of medical technology. In some diverse cultures, dangling a piece of rhino horn around the neck is a prescription for erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and other aspects related to sexual genitalia malfunctioning. A man in need of instantaneous desirability from an unfriendly woman may resort to wearing a specially designed amulet meant to win her heart even when real love is not on her side. Likewise, women may influence men by wearing amulets of like kind and purpose. Wearing articulately designed amulets with religious inscriptions is a common occurrence across cultures.

However, amulets come in many shapes and designs depending on culture, religion, and intention. Primarily, women who are sterile may wear them around the waist right across where the uterus is located; it may dangle from the neck; it is worn on the wrist and it may also be worn around the thighs. It could be as tiny as a finger ring or it could even be a seed to be retained in the pocket. It is up to one’s preference and choosing how an amulet should be worn and how it should look like.

The emergence of religious fundamentalism has instilled terror among amulet wearers. Fear of retribution or the dread of being associated with certain cults has forced many to formulate assortment of amulets that dissuade the attention of religious fanatics. For example, the use of regular necklaces, finger rings, and even ear rings as amulets has made ancient amulet blueprints obsolete and replicated for modernity.

Thus, inscriptional amulets have been substituted with intentional amulets. This brings us to the idea that amulets need not be handwritten on a piece of paper by a cleric with verses from a divine scripture and then folded into shape anymore. Instead, reciting select verses on to a piece of jewelry is enough to hold the message as intention is superior to scribbling. In Africa, amulet use is widespread among cultures though its use among communities depends on the nature of religious practices and form of worship. Surprisingly, Tuareg amulets sell for up to $150 a piece on eBay. However civilized and transformed the world has become, amulet and rosary use will remain with humankind for a long time to come.

References

(1) http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/627/fe2.htm

(2) http://www.pantheon.org/articles/a/amulet.html

(3) http://www.lib.umich.edu/pap/exhibits/magic/def1.display.html

This article previously appeared on www.wardheernews.com