9. MUSLIMS WORSHIP THE KAABA

Question:

When Islam is against idol worship why do the Muslims worship, and bow down
to the Kaaba in their prayer?
Answer:
Kaaba is the Qibla i.e. the direction Muslims face during their prayers. It is
important to note that though Muslims face the Kaaba during prayers, they do
not worship the Kaaba. Muslims worship and bow to none but Allah.
It is mentioned in Surah Baqarah:
“We see the turning of thy face (for guidance) to the heavens: now shall
We turn thee to a Qiblah that shall please thee. Turn then thy face in the
direction of the Sacred Mosque: wherever ye are, turn your faces in that
direction.”                                                                       [Al-Qur’an 2:144]
1.  Islam believes in fostering unity
For instance, if Muslims want to offer Salaah (Prayer), it is possible that some
may wish to face north, while some may wish to face south. In order to unite
Muslims in their worship of the One True God, Muslims, wherever they may be,
are asked to face in only one direction i.e. towards the Kaaba. If some Muslims
live towards the west of the Kaaba they face the east. Similarly if they live
towards the east of the Kaaba they face the west.

2. Kaaba is at the Centre of the World Map
The Muslims were the first people to draw the map of the world. They drew the
map with the south facing upwards and north downwards. The Kaaba was at
the centre. Later, western cartographers drew the map upside down with the
north facing upwards and south downwards. Yet, Alhamdullilah the Kaaba is at
the centre of the world map.
3. Tawaf around Kaaba for indicating one God
When the Muslims go to Masjid-e-Haram in Makkah, they perform tawaf or
circumambulation round the Kaaba. This act symbolizes the belief and worship
of One God, since, just as every circle has one centre, so also there is only one
Allah (swt) worthy of worship.

4.  Hadith of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)
Regarding the black stone, hajr-e-aswad, there is a hadith (tradition), attributed
to the illustrious companion of the Prophet Muhammed (pbuh), Umar (may Allah
be pleased with him).
According to Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, book of Hajj, chapter 56, H.No. 675.
Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “I know that you are a stone and
can neither benefit nor harm. Had I not seen the Prophet (pbuh) touching (and
kissing) you, I would never have touched (and kissed) you”.

5.  People stood on Kaaba and gave the adhaan
At the time of the Prophet, people even stood on the Kaaba and gave the
‘adhaan’ or the call to prayer. One may ask those who allege that Muslims
worship the Kaaba;  which idol worshipper stands on the idol he worships?

8. NON-VEGETARIAN FOOD MAKES MUSLIMS VIOLENT

Question:

Science tell us that whatever one eats, it has an effect on one’s behaviour. Why
then, does Islam allow Muslims to eat non-vegetarian food, since eating of
animals could make a person violent and ferocious?

Answer:
1. Only eating of herbivorous animals allowed
I agree that, what a person eats has an effect on his behaviour. This is one of
the reasons why Islam prohibits the eating of carnivorous animals like lion, tiger,
leopard, etc. who are violent and ferocious. The consumption of the meat of
such animals would probably make a person violent and ferocious. Islam only
allows the eating of herbivorous animals like cow, goat, sheep, etc. that are
peaceful and docile.  Muslims eat peaceful and docile animals because Muslims
are peace loving and non-violent people.
2. The Qur’an says Prophet prohibits what is bad
The Qur’an says:
“The Prophet commands them what is just and prohibits what is evil”.
“He allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them
what is bad (and impure),”
[Al-Qur’an  7: 157]
“So take what the Messenger assigns to you and deny yourselves that
which he withholds from you.”
[Al-Qur’an  59: 7]
For a Muslim, the Prophet’s statement is sufficient to convince him that Allah does
not wish humans to eat some kinds of meat while allowing some other kinds.
3. Hadith of Mohammad (pbuh) prohibi-ting eating of carnivorous
animals
According to various authentic Ahadith narrated in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih
Muslim including hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas in Sahih Muslim, Book of hunting
and slaughter, Hadith No. 4752 and Sunan Ibn-I-Majah chapter 13 Hadith no.
3232 to 3234, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) prohibited the eating of:
(i) Wild animals with canine teeth, i.e. meat eating carnivorous animals. These
are animals belonging to the cat families such as lion, tiger, cats, dogs,
wolfs, hyenas, etc.

(ii) Certain rodents like mice, rats, rabbits with claws, etc.

(iii) Certain reptiles like snakes, alligators, etc.

(iv) Birds of prey with talons or claws, like vultures, eagle, crows, owl, etc.
There is no scientific evidence that proves beyond doubt that eating non-
vegetarian food makes one violent.

7. ISLAMIC METHOD OF SLAUGHTERING ANIMALS APPEARS RUTHLESS

Question:
Why do Muslims slaughter the animal in a ruthless manner by torturing it and
slowly and painfully killing it?
Answer:
The Islamic method of slaughtering animals, known as Zabiha has been the
object of much criticism from a large number of people.
One may consider the following points, which prove that the Zabiha method is
not only humane but also scientifically the best:
1. Islamic method of slaughtering animal
Zakkaytum is a verb derived from the root word Zakah (to purify). Its infinitive is
Tazkiyah which means purification. The Islamic mode of slaughtering an animal
requires the following conditions to be met:
a. Animal should be slaughtered with sharp object (knife)
The animal has to be slaughtered with a sharp object (knife) and in a fast
way so that the pain of slaughter is minimised.
b. Cut wind pipe, throat and vessels of neck
Zabiha is an Arabic word which means ‘slaughtered’. The ‘slaughtering’ is
to be done by cutting the throat, windpipe and the blood vessels in the neck
causing the animal’s death without cutting the spinal cord.
c. Blood should be drained
The blood has to be drained completely before the head is removed. The
purpose is to drain out most of the blood which would serve as a good
culture medium for micro organisms. The spinal cord must not be cut
because the nerve fibres to the heart could be damaged during the process
causing cardiac arrest, stagnating the blood in the blood vessels.

2. Blood is a good medium for germs and bacteria
Blood is a good media of germs, bacteria, toxins, etc. Therefore the Muslim way
of slaughtering is more hygienic as most of the blood containing germs,
bacteria, toxins, etc. that are the cause of several diseases are eliminated.
3. Meat remains fresh for a longer time
Meat slaughtered by Islamic way remains fresh for a longer time due to
deficiency of blood in the meat as compared to other methods of slaughtering.
4. Animal does not feel pain
The swift cutting of vessels of the neck disconnects the flow of blood to the
nerve of the brain responsible for pain. Thus the animal does not feel pain.
While dying, the animal struggles, writhers, shakes and kicks, not due to pain,
but due to the contraction and relaxation of the muscles defecient in blood and
due to the flow of blood out of the body.

6. EATING NON-VEGETARIAN FOOD

 

Question:

Killing an animal is a ruthless act. Why then do Muslims consume non-

vegetarian food?

Answer:

‘Vegetarianism’ is now a movement the world over. Many even associate it with

animal rights. Indeed, a large number of people consider the consumption of

meat and other non-vegetarian products to be a violation of animal rights.

Islam enjoins mercy and compassion for all living creatures. At the same time

Islam maintains that Allah has created the earth and its wondrous flora and

fauna for the benefit of mankind. It is upto mankind to use every resource in this

world judiciously, as a niyamat (Divine blessing) and amanat (trust) from Allah.

Let us look at various other aspects of this argument.

 

1. A Muslim can be a pure vegetarian

A Muslim can be a very good Muslim despite being a pure vegetarian. It is not

compulsory for a Muslim to have non-vegetarian food.

 

2. Qur’an permits Muslims to have non-vegetarian food

The Qur’an, however permits a Muslim to have non-vegetarian food. The

following Qur’anic verses are proof of this fact:

“O ye who believe! Fulfil (all) obligations. Lawful unto you (for food) are

all four-footed animals with the exceptions named.”

[Al-Qur’an 5:1]

“And cattle He has created for you (men): from them Ye derive warmth,

and numerous benefits, And of their (meat) ye eat.”

[Al-Qur’an 16:5]

“And in cattle (too) ye have an instructive example: From within their

bodies We produce (milk) for you to drink; there are, in them, (besides),

numerous (other) benefits for you; and of their (meat) ye eat.”

 [Al-Qur’an 23:21]

 

3. Meat is nutritious and rich in complete protein

Non-vegetarian food is a good source of excellent protein. It contains

biologically complete protein i.e. all the 8 essential amino acid that are not

synthesized by the body and should be supplied in the diet. Meat also contains

iron, vitamin B1 and niacin.

 

 

4. Humans have Omnivorous set of teeth

If you observe the teeth of herbivorous animals like the cow, goat and sheep,

you will find something strikingly similar in all of them.  All these animals have

a set of flat teeth i.e. suited for herbivorous diet. If you observe the set of teeth

of the carnivorous animals like the lion, tiger, or leopard, they all have a set of

pointed teeth i.e. suited for a carnivorous diet. If you analyze the set of teeth of

humans, you find that they have flat teeth as well as pointed teeth. Thus they

have teeth suited for both herbivorous as well as carnivorous food i.e. they are

omnivorous.  One may ask, if Almighty God wanted humans to have only

vegetables, why did He provide us also with pointed teeth? It is logical that He

expected us to need and to have both vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian

food.

 

5. Human beings can digest both vege-tarian and non-vegetarian

food

The digestive system of herbivorous animals can digest only vegetables. The

digestive system of carnivorous animals can digest only meat. But the digestive

system of humans can digest both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. If

Almighty God wanted us to have only vegetables then why did He give us a

digestive system that can digest both vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian

food?

 

6. Hindu scriptures give permission to have non-vegetarian food

a. There are many Hindus who are strictly vegetarian. They think it is against

their religion to consume non-vegetarian food. But the true fact is that the

Hindu scriptures permit a person to have meat. The scriptures mention

Hindu sages and saints consuming non-vegetarian food.

b. It is mentioned in Manu Smruti, the law book of Hindus, in chapter 5 verse 30

      “The eater who eats the flesh of those to be eaten does nothing bad,

even if he does it day after day, for God himself created some to be eaten

and some to be eater.”

c. Again next verse of Manu Smruti, that is, chapter 5 verse 31 says

“Eating meat is right for the sacrifice, this is traditionally known as a rule of

the gods.”

d. Further in Manu Smruti chapter 5 verse 39 and 40 says

“God himself created sacrificial animals for sacrifice, … , therefore killing in

a sacrifice is not killing.”

 

 

e. Mahabharata Anushashan Parva chapter 88 narrates the discussion

between Dharmaraj Yudhishthira and Pitamah Bhishma about what food

one should offer to Pitris (ancestors) during the Shraddha (ceremony of

dead) to keep them satisfied. Paragraph reads as follows:

“Yudhishthira said, “O thou of great puissance, tell me what that object is

which, if dedicated to the Pitiris (dead ancestors), become inexhaustible!

What Havi, again, (if offered) lasts for all time? What, indeed, is that which

(if presented) becomes eternal?”

“Bhishma said, “Listen to me, O Yudhishthira, what those Havis are which

persons conversant with the rituals of the Shraddha (the ceremony of dead)

regard as suitable in view of Shraddha and what the fruits are that attach to

each. With sesame seeds and rice and barely and Masha and water and

roots and fruits, if given at Shraddhas, the pitris, O king, remain gratified for

the period of a month. With fishes offered at Shraddhas, the pitris remain

gratified for a period of two months. With the mutton they remain gratified

for three months and with the hare for four months, with the flesh of the

goat for five months, with the bacon (meat of pig) for six months, and with

the flesh of birds for seven. With venison obtained from those deer that

are called Prishata, they remaingratified for eight months, and with that

obtained from the Ruru for nine months, and with the meat of Gavaya for

ten months, With the meat of the bufffalo their gratification lasts for eleven

months. With beef presented at the Shraddha, their gratification, it is said ,

lasts for a full year. Payasa mixed with ghee is as much acceptable to the

pitris as beef. With the meat of Vadhrinasa (a large bull) the gratification

of pitris lasts for twelve years. the flesh of rhinoceros, offered to the pitris

on anniversaries of the lunar days on which they died, becomes

inexhaustible. The potherb called Kalaska, the petals of kanchana flower,

and meat of (red) goat also, thus offered, prove inexhaustible.

So but natural if you want to keep your ancestors satisfied forever, you

should serve them the meat of red goat.

 

7. Hinduism was influenced by other religions

Though Hindu Scriptures permit its followers to have non-vegetarian food, many

Hindus adopted the vegetarian system because they were influenced by other

religions like Jainism.

 

8. Even plants have life

Certain religions have adopted pure vegetarianism as a dietary law because

they are totally against the killing of living creatures. If a person can survive

without killing any living creature, I would be the first person to adopt such a way

of life. In the past people thought plants were lifeless. Today it is a universal fact

that even plants have life. Thus their logic of not killing living creatures is not

fulfilled even by being a pure vegetarian.

 

 

9. Even plants can feel pain

They further argue that plants cannot feel pain, therefore killing a plant is a

lesser crime as compared to killing an animal. Today science tells us that even

plants can feel pain. But the cry of the plant cannot be heard by the human

being. This is due to the inability of the human ear to hear sounds that are not

in the audible range i.e. 20 Hertz to 20,000 Hertz. Anything below and above

this range cannot be heard by a human being. A dog can hear up to 40,000

Hertz. Thus there are silent dog whistles that have a frequency of more than

20,000 Hertz and less than 40,000 Hertz. These whistles are only heard by

dogs and not by human beings. The dog recognizes the masters whistle and

comes to the master. There was research done by a farmer in U.S.A. who

invented an instrument which converted the cry of the plant so that it could be

heard by human beings. He was able to realize immediately when the plant

itself cried for water. Latest researches show that the plants can even feel happy

and sad. It can also cry.

 

10. Killing a living creature with two senses less is not a lesser crime

Once a vegetarian argued his case by saying that plants only have two or three

senses while the animals have five senses. Therefore killing a plant is a lesser

crime than killing an animal. Suppose your brother is born deaf and dumb and

has two senses less as compared to other human beings. He becomes mature

and someone murders him. Would you ask the judge to give the murderer a

lesser punishment because your brother has two senses less? In fact you would

say that he has killed a masoom, an innocent person, and the judge should give

the murderer a greater punishment.

In fact the Qur’an says:

“O ye people! Eat of what is on earth, lawful and good”

[Al-Qur’an 2:168]

 

11. Over population of cattle

If every human being was a vegetarian, it would lead to overpopulation of cattle

in the world, since their reproduction and multiplication is very swift. Allah (swt)

in His Divine Wisdom knows how to maintain the balance of His creation

appropriately. No wonder He has permitted us to have the meat of the cattle.

 

12. Cost of meat is reasonable since all aren’t non-vegetarians

I do not mind if some people are pure vegetarians. However they should not

condemn non-vegetarians as ruthless. In fact if all Indians become non-

vegetarians then the present non-vegetarians would be losers since the prices

of meat would rise.

5. MUSLIMS ARE FUNDAMENTALISTS AND TERRORISTS

Question:

Why are most of the Muslims fundamentalists and terrorists?
Answer:
This question is often hurled at Muslims, either directly or indirectly, during any
discussion on religion or world affairs. Muslim stereotypes are perpetuated in every
form of the media accompanied by gross misinformation about Islam and Muslims.
In fact, such misinformation and false propaganda often leads to discrimination and
acts of violence against Muslims. A case in point is the anti-Muslim campaign in the
American media following the Oklahoma bomb blast, where the press was quick to
declare a ‘Middle Eastern conspiracy’ behind the attack. The culprit was later
identified as a soldier from the American Armed Forces.

Let us analyze this allegation of ‘fundamentalism’ and ‘terrorism’:
1. Definition of  the word ‘fundamentalist’
A fundamentalist is a person who follows and adheres to the fundamentals of
the doctrine or theory he is following.  For a person to be a good doctor, he
should know, follow, and practise the fundamentals of medicine. In other words,
he should be a fundamentalist in the field of medicine. For a person to be a
good mathematician, he should know, follow and practise the fundamentals of
mathematics. He should be a fundamentalist in the field of mathematics. For a
person to be a good scientist, he should know, follow and practise the
fundamentals of science. He should be a fundamentalist in the field of science.
2. Not all ‘fundamentalists’ are the same
One cannot paint all fundamentalists with the same brush. One cannot
categorize all fundamentalists as either good or bad. Such a categorization of
any fundamentalist will depend upon the field or activity in which he is a
fundamentalist. A fundamentalist robber or thief causes harm to society and is
therefore undesirable. A fundamentalist doctor, on the other hand, benefits
society and earns much respect.

3. I am proud to be a Muslim funda-mentalist
I am a fundamentalist Muslim who, by the grace of Allah, knows, follows and
strives to practise the fundamentals of Islam. A true Muslim does not shy away
from being a fundamentalist. I am proud to be a fundamentalist Muslim
because, I know that the fundamentals of Islam are beneficial to humanity and
the whole world. There is not a single fundamental of Islam that causes harm or
is against the interests of the human race as a whole. Many people harbour
misconceptions about Islam and consider several teachings of Islam to be
unfair or improper. This is due to insufficient and incorrect knowledge of Islam.
If one critically analyzes the teachings of Islam with an open mind, one cannot
escape the fact that Islam is full of benefits both at the individual and collective
levels.
4. Dictionary meaning of the word ‘fundamentalist’
According to Webster’s dictionary ‘fundamentalism’ was a movement in
American Protestanism that arose in the earlier part of the 20th century.  It was
a reaction to modernism, and stressed the infallibility of the Bible, not only in
matters of faith and morals but also as a literal historical record. It stressed on
belief in the Bible as the literal word of God. Thus fundamentalism was a word
initially used for a group of Christians who believed that the Bible was the
verbatim word of God without any errors and mistakes.
According to the Oxford dictionary ‘fundamentalism’ means ‘strict maintenance
of ancient or fundamental doctrines of any religion, especially Islam’.
Today the moment a person uses the word fundamentalist he thinks of a Mus-
lim who is a terrorist.

5. Every Muslim should be a terrorist
Every Muslim should be a terrorist. A terrorist is a person who causes terror.
The moment a robber sees a policeman he is terrified. A policeman is a terrorist
for the robber. Similarly every Muslim should be a terrorist for the antisocial
elements of society, such as thieves, dacoits and rapists. Whenever such an
anti-social element sees a Muslim, he should be terrified. It is true that the word
‘terrorist’ is generally used for a person who causes terror among the common
people. But a true Muslim should only be a terrorist to selective people i.e. anti-
social elements, and not to the common innocent people. In fact a Muslim
should be a source of peace for innocent people.
6. Different labels given to the same individual for the same action,
i.e. ‘terrorist’ and ‘patriot’
Before India achieved independence from British rule, some freedom fighters of
India who did not subscribe to non-violence were labeled as terrorists by the
British government. The same individuals have been lauded by Indians for the
same activities and hailed as ‘patriots’. Thus two different labels have been
given to the same people for the same set of actions. One is calling him a
terrorist while the other is calling him a patriot. Those who believed that Britain
had a right to rule over India called these people terrorists, while those who
were of the view that Britain had no right to rule India called them patriots and
freedom fighters.
It is therefore important that before a person is judged, he is given a fair hearing.
Both sides of the argument should be heard, the situation should be analyzed,
and the reason and the intention of the person should be taken into account,
and then the person can be judged accordingly.

7. Islam means peace
Islam is derived from the word ‘salaam’ which means peace. It is a religion of
peace whose fundamentals teach its followers to maintain and promote peace
throughout the world.
Thus every Muslim should be a fundamentalist i.e. he should follow the
fundamentals of the Religion of Peace: Islam. He should be a terrorist only towards
the antisocial elements in order to promote peace and justice in the society.