Muslim and Muslima – the fundamentalist couple by Fahad

Up Close and Personal Conversations of a fundamental Muslim couple married for few years, their life behind the veil and the beard.

Part 1

Muslim and Muslima were out to attend a wedding, they came back home and discussed the events which happened earlier.

Muslim: how did it go? did u enjoy the wedding?
Muslima: Yes, it was nice but there were a few things that I got upset about….

Muslim: why what happened? Did someone say something?
Muslima: well, I was just sitting and talking about Islam with some of the ladies there and the topic about how we should strive in the way of Allah and try and stay away from some forms of entertainment like movies and songs and etc….and how you’ve kept a beard and I do the hijaab(veil)..and then one of the women referred to me as a fundamentalist just because of these views…I got bugged a bit..i mean why did she call us fundamentalist?

Muslim: Hey, cool down. Sometimes it happens. I get to hear it too…People always say things that they have no knowledge about, but you should know.… The American Heritage Dictionary defines fundamentalism as a usually like a religious movement or point of view characterized by a return to fundamental principles, by rigid adherence to those principles, and often by intolerance of other views and opposition to secularism.

Muslimah: so what..they think we’re intolerant of the Jews and Christians? We’re not criticizing them – coz that wasn’t the way of the Prophet PBUH.. Instead we even give them respect by calling them people of the book which comes from Same Allah as ours....

Muslim:..true… just hear me out..so next time you can explain if someone brings it up again…the way Fundamentalism is used today, is a fairly recent creation closely linked with the historical and cultural contexts of 1920s U.S. Protestantism (e.g. the Fundamentalist-Modernist Controversy in the Presbyterian Church). Since then the term has been 'exported' abroad and applied to a wide variety of religions including Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam.

Fundamentalism, as a movement, arose in the United States starting among conservative Presbyterian academics and theologians at Princeton Theological Seminary in the first decade of the Twentieth Century. It spread from there to conservatives among the Baptists and other denominations during and immediately after the First World War. The movement's purpose was to reaffirm orthodox Protestant Christianity and to defend it zealously against the challenges of liberal theology, German higher criticism, Darwinism, and other "-isms" it regarded as harmful to Christianity.

Muslima: so if the word itself was created by western society not any religion, so why do they imply that people of Islam are fundamentalists, when it was created by some group of people which misinterpreted the religion itself? and how does me wearing the veil or you keeping the beard make us fundamentalists? I never considered wearing a veil as a fundamentalist belief. Nuns wear it too.why don’t they think about that?. Besides which, the veil gives me a sense of self respect, I am not harassed and I don’t get sexual advances by men who are strangers to me, and Allah Himself has given the respect to women by making them Mothers, Sisters,Wives and Daughters.. I mean why don’t people understand that women don’t want men to think that they are free to check women out. Shouldn’t that just be our husbands’ right? Isn't that reflecting more love and commitment to your husband? everything in Islam is so closely related. Relationships and respect go hand in hand. Revealing clothes just make you more open to advances by men, who think well if she’s showing it off then why shouldn't we look? Just the way the beard is a sunnah of the Prophet PBUH,it gives you an identity of being a Muslim. Unity amongst all Muslim men regardless of race , status or culture.

Muslim: Yeah, that’s true but its easier for us to say because we acquire knowledge and try and be as practising as possible, but people who find it hard to give up temptations of life call us fundamentalists. Sometimes you can’t blame them, they have grown up in a society which is based on learning from media and personalities instead of a religion beliefs and sometimes they don’t dig beneath the surface to find the truth about what Islam really preaches.

Musima: anyways, every body is born free so we should have the freedom to practice whatever is good for us. Wearing a veil doesn't mean that i am behind bars,It’s the freedom to practice your religion the right way.…I mean everyone talks about Human rights all the time. Instead we are bullied and made to feel that we belong to a different world all together….

Muslim: true, but the misconceptions are spread by people who don’t understand true Islam, and sometimes even Muslims don’t support you. Everyone has been brainwashed to think Muslims oppress women, they kill people, and create havoc on earth…..

Muslima: oppress…that just reminded me…one of the ladies asked me “OH, so did your husband force you to wear the hijaab(veil)?” I kinda tried to explain to her that you never forced me, nor our religion tells us to force anyone to convert like people say and that there is no compulsion in religion. Islam never forces anyone to convert, even in Islamic history our Prophet preferred peace over war unless it was forced upon Muslims. But the thing is that even if you would've asked me to strictly adhere to wearing the veil, it would have been for the betterment of my faith,respect and dignity. Sometimes it is hard to follow, but the thing is that if women understand that it is for their own good and that Allah swt wouldn’t command Muslims to do anything that would bring disrespect to them, it just makes it easier then..

Muslim: yeah, but not everyone thinks that way…even some Muslims don’t…everyone has their own interpretation and sometimes they change the religion for their convenience. Some of the Muslims and some of people of other religions don’t want to learn, or don’t have time to learn about Islam, whatever they hear from different sources they take it on face value. Even because of some weak women who are afraid to Practice the right way of Islam go against it, and they try to show the world that they are oppressed.They give evidences regarding many things about oppression but forget to tell the world what they are required to do..

Muslima: Islam is so misunderstood! I mean people actually look at our way of life as an oppression to our kind. And yah those kind of Muslim women, they are the worst kind. If they cant follow the truth then they should leave their husbands and move on rather then complaining about it They have the freedom do that, but standing up against your religion doesn't make sense...I wish those sisters also make an effort with their lives to study Islam and if they don't want to then they should at least leave us alone to practice the religion as it is .....and by the way those women are the ones who also complain about sexual harassments and disrespect ....... so eventually they are never happy with anything.....

Muslim: Yah, thats true ..I also pray that Muslim men who don't like their wives for not listening to them should let them free and find those women who would want to practice Islam from their hearts, instead of oppressing them and trying to change something they don't want to do... You just cant force anyone to believe in something they don't want to do. A human being who wants to create problems against good people will only increase as time goes by, so we should let them to be judged by Allah(SWT) and Generally over all View towards Islam will only change when people of different faith start learning it and try to acquire more knowledge about the real Islam…. Humans are prone to errors, so you cant generalize a religion on the basis of some people weather Muslim or Non Muslims. I hope people stop listening to everyone instead they should try and learn about our religion from Quran and Sayings of Our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) .

Muslima: true they should judge us by our real religion not by people who try to change it for obvious reasons.....anyways,we should discuss it further sometime later, inshÁllah I hope Allah guides us all…

Veil in Bible:

"Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head...If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head"
1 Corrinthians 11:3-6

"I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God"
1 Timothy 2:9-10

Veil in Quran:

"O Prophet! Tell your 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."
Quran 33:59 ...

they (believing women) should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women...or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex..."
Quran 24:31

Its Hard, Its Easy- It’s a state of mind by Fahad

I was born Muslim, to Muslim parents. Growing up was easy, easier was falling for the worldly life. Longing for good clothes, nice car, and wasting money was part of life, alcohol and women were things of entertainment.

Without realizing where I was heading, I continued for years until it became a habit, things started going out of control, was cursing myself for the failure which came my way until I realized that I, myself was the reason for my self destruction.

It’s really hard to let go of the things which make you happy, it’s hard to let go of the people who make you laugh, it’s hard to let go of things which you have grown up with.

Whenever I thought of changing my direction in life something or someone would come along who wouldn’t let me leave the path of my self destruction. I started losing my own identity. I was losing control. People and things around me controlled my life; I used to live for them, used to do things they asked me to do. Being a Muslim just became a name tag.

I had to figure out the problem which I was facing, my outlook was of being wild and happy, but deep inside I was just a robot programmed to live a life which led me to nothing. If I look back it seems I never had brains, it was a total blank up there.

Muslims who grow up in an environment of worldly good tend lose their identity, like I did. Purpose of our creation on this earth was that we should to do well and live for the life of hereafter but instead temptations of the worldly good, led us to self destruction.

Shaytan (the devil) plays an important part in the whole purpose of our creation, weakness of my faith led to failure. I started blaming Shaytan (the Devil) for all what I did, and then one fine day I realized the real failure lies in my weakness for worldly good.

In the beginning Its was really hard for me to leave things which I enjoyed the most, I couldn’t imagine my life without people around me who I knew for ages and entertainment I was into. It was like I was addicted to something that if I leave I would die or become a mad man. I made my world in a bubble, whatever I saw was my world in there. Looking beyond that bubble was a nightmare of darkness.

But the life expectancy of the bubble is short lived, from somewhere wind of mercy blew on that bubble and my life sentence of thirty years was over. The new lease of life in the outside world seemed strange to me, I didn’t know people, and no one knew me. It was the hardest thing I was going through, who in the world at the peak of his youth would leave pleasures of life. The women, the parties, the clothes, coffee shops, music, movies seemed to be the hardest addiction to quit, Quitting life altogether seemed easier. The feeling I had, reminded of a breakups I had after every breakup life came to an end, loss of appetite, loneliness, guilt and realization of a loss of a loved one.

As the time went on I felt at ease, I was seeing a world I have never seen before, met the people I never met before. Just like after a break up you meet a different person and that person occupies your mind and makes you forget your past, Islam had that effect on me, it helped me forget and realize that the world is way beyond the temptations and entertainment of life.

I rediscovered Islam again; it was a treasure map that was lost in my mind somewhere during my time of self destruction. The path at first seemed rocky and harsh, but when I started to follow it, it gave me sense of self satisfaction. Fear of worldly things started to disappear, for a change there were no hangovers, drunk driving, waste of money, and fear of sexual disease, disrespect and disloyalty of people of the past.

On this path of Islam people seem to be more honest, helpful, clean from worldly desires and down to earth, I suddenly feel like home. The hardest thing seems to be the easiest; I realized it was just state of mind that I was into.

Living on this earth will always make me prone to the evils of life, the past keeps coming back. Realization of my weakness for the evil of the world has made me a better person then I was in the time of ignorance at least now I know what to guard against. My mind isn’t blank anymore; no person or anything can control me. I am trying to control my life from now on, strive (Jihad) against my temptations, Strive (Jihad) to be a better person and Strive (Jihad) in the way of Allah.

The Right path seems hard just because we think it’s hard, if you follow it than Allah will make things easier for you. The path of evil will be lonely; if need company then we should take the right path because Allah will be with us.

Allah Says:
“…Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, so he went astray.” (Qur’an: Translation of the meaning, 20:121)
“But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither belies in this Qur’an nor acts on its teaching) verily, for him is a life of hardship….” (Qur’an: Translation of the meaning, 20:124)
The definite result for disobeying Allah and following the way of the Satan and is sadness, misguidance, trouble, and wretchedness.

Rise and Fall - By Fahad

The history tells us whenever Muslims are disunited or their faith weekens, there is a fall and oppressors rule over them. The reasons to rise were just the opposite whenever Muslims unite and there faith increases, they take over all the oppression and rule the world.
At present Muslims are disunited as they were in the past, and on the brink of rising up again in near future but the change will be gradual and nobody knows when the total revival will happen. But it is certain that it will happen.

Signs of Ultimate victory of Muslims in Future from Quran:

Allah says:

“Remember how the unbelievers Plotted against thee, to keep Thee in bonds,or Slay Thee, Or get thee out (of thy home), They Plot and Plan, And Allah too Plans, But the best of Plannners is ALLAH” Surah 8 Verse 30

Allah says:

“The Unbelievers spend their wealth to hinder(Men) from their Path of Allah, and so will they continue to spend; but in the end why will have (only)regrets and sighs; at the length they will be overcome:And the unbelievers will be gathered together to Hell” Surah 8 verse 36

Allah says:

“ Let not the Unbelievers think that Our respite to them is good for Themselves: We Grant them respite that they may grow in their inquity: But the will have a shameful punishment” Surah 3 verse 178

Allah also says:

Allah Will not leave believers in the state in which ye are now, until He sparates what is evil from what is good nor ill Allah disclose to you the secrets of the unseen, But He chooses of His messengers Whom He pleases. So believe in Allah and His Messangers: And if ye believe And do right, ye have a great reward without measure.” Surah 3 Verse 179

These are some of the verses which tell us about the future when muslims will eventually be victorious, whether we join the jihad or not. If we join now then we should be the first ones and the firsts ones always have a higher position in front of Allah.

why should we fight in the way of Allah is explained in the following verses:

Allah Says:

Let those fight in the cause of Allah, who sell the life of this world for the hereafter.To him who fighteth in the cause of Allah, Whether he is slain or gets victory soon shall We give them A reward of great (value). Surah 4 Verse 74

Then Allah Says:

And why should ye not fight in the cause of Allah and of those who, being weak,are ill treated(and oppressed)?- Men, women and children, Whose cry is : “Our lord! Rescue us from this town. Whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from Thee one who will protect; and raise for us from Thee one who will help!” Surah 4 verse 75

Who should we fight and unite againts?

Once you once you understand the enimity against Islam then you should be able to distinguish and highlight your enemies and the reasons of the whole enimity against Islam, I would and whole of Muslim Ummah will appreciate if every individual reaches on common terms on betterment of Islam and ways to unite under one banner against its enemies.For the good of Humanity and Prosperity which is only possible under religion of the truth.

The war is clearly between the believers and Shaytan(the non believers), it has been since the creation of Adam (PBUH) and it will go on till the end of the judgement. In the end there will be only one winner and that winner will be the one who Allah Supports.

We have to make a choice as soon as possible,Either you are with Allah(SWT) or you are against Allah(SWT).

How do we do it ? and when do we do it ? is jihad necessary? Who are the enemies? Are we oppressed already? How do we unite? And how do we change and prepare ourselves? these questions have to be answered before its to late.

Reasons - Enimity against Islam by Fahad

Romans, Jews, Idol Worshippers and People who deviated from mainstream Islam are the main reasons why arabs and muslims all over the world have been oppressed from the beginning to the present, the description of conflicts should give you a brief idea how, why and who were involved.

Western Media surely brainwashes young minds and people least interested in Human History. It is apprent through Historical facts whenever arabs and muslims flourished, either Romans, Jews,Idol Worshippers and people who deviated from real Islam waged war against Muslims by giving the reasons other then the facts.

Presently the war on terrorism is being blamed on all muslims but if you look it in a realistic direction its all about the riches of Arabia, Arabia being the center of the World is the best location to conduct trade and has vast reserves of oil.

Its one of the miracles of Islam that faith, Piety,trade and Oil are the basis of Prosperity for Arabs and for Muslims through out the history.

Non-believers tried to sabotage the trade which was lively hood of Arabs in the beginning of their history, then at the time of Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) they attacked the faith and peity of muslims which were the basis of their religions and in recent times they attacked to take over vast reserves of Oil which is the cause of Arab and Muslim Properity.

Faith. Piety, Trade and Oil are found in abundance in Arabia, there is no other race or nation that can be compared to riches of Arabia.Strategic location of the middle east means its easiar to conduct trade between Africa,Europe and Asia.

Being in the Middle of the world, its easiar for muslims to spread Trade, Religion and Energy through out the world which leads to the ultimate prosperity. Energy of Religion which is Faith and Piety was found in abundance in the time of earliar Muslims and Still lies with Muslims as a silent volcano waiting to erupt, on the other hand source of energy which fuels ever car, plane or industry lies beneath the middle east - the center of Islam.

If you read the history of Islamic wars you will find that in reality the wars have been fought for no other reasons but Faith and Wealth. Oppression against muslims has been common but it is easily forgotten in recent times. Muslims are potrayed as terrorists in present, they were called rebels in the past. Injustice leads to uprising and history repeats it self since the first uprising in early arabs, the trend has continued, no Roman , Persians or Jews were ever able to stop the revival of Islam.

This period in recent history is just the beginning of a new Era for Muslims, We don’t know how long this oppression against muslims will last but surely it’s the beginning and every beginning has an end.

Islam Spreading by Sword and Misconceptions: By Fahad

A brief explanation of Quraanic verses, which are often mistaken as instructions to persecute Non-Muslims. And there are some verses which show the real Islam and its ideology features verses from the Qur’an that vehemently insist on religious tolerance and the idea of "no compulsion in religion."

Anti-Islamic people often use the following verses to justify the stereotype that Islam is a religion of violence and intolerance, which was spread by the sword. The explanations here were aided by Abdullah Yusuf Ali's commentary on the Holy Qur’an.

“Remember thy lord has inspired the angels with the message. Give firmness to the believers and instill terror into the hearts of the unbelievers. Smite them above their necks and smite the fingertips of them.” Surah 8: 12

Surah 9:5:"When the sacred months have passed, kill the idolaters wherever you find them."
Surah 47:4: When you encounter the unbelievers, Strike off their heads. Until you have made a wide slaughter among them tie up the remaining captives."

Surah 47 was revealed during the first year of Hijra when the Muslims were under *threat of extinction* by invasion from Makkah.

Surah 9 is interesting. Non-Muslims almost invariably quote verse 5 but leave out verse 4 and 6. Why? Because verse 4 says, "But the treaties are not dissolved with those Pagans with whom you have entered into alliance and who have you subsequently failed you in aught, nor aided anyone against you. So fulfill your engagements with them to the end of their term: for God loves the righteous."

And verse 6 says, "If one among the Pagans ask thee for asylum, grant it to him so that he may hear the Word of God; and then escort him to where he can be secure."

So basically what has been done above is:

1. The background to each surah was shown. One cannot take a verse revealed for a battle and insist it is if for the daily affairs of Muslims.

2. It was shown how Non-Muslims who wish to attack Islam; conveniently leave out verses before and after their quoted verse. Above, I have shown only one of the many examples.

These lists of verses from the Holy Qur’an show that Islam at its core and at its source is a religion of peace. Terrorists who persecute innocent people because of their faith are not welcome - their use of Islam as a scapegoat, does not make Islam what they portray it to be.

2:256 –Allah says: “There is no compulsion in religion, for the right way is clearly from the wrong way. Whoever therefore rejects the forces of evil and believes in God, he has taken hold of a support most unfailing, which shall never give way, for God, is all Hearing and All Knowing.”

17:53, 54- Allah Says: “And tell my servants that they should speak in a most kindly manner (unto those who do not share their beliefs). Verily, Satan is always ready to stir up discord between men; for verily; Satan is mans foe.... Hence, We have not sent you (Unto men O Prophet) with power to determine their Faith”

The teachings of the Prophet on how you and I should treat our Non-Muslim friends and neighbors on a day to day basis as well as how to government should treat a Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state.

"He who believes in God and the Last Day should honor his guest, should not harm his neighbor, should speak well or keep quiet." (Bukhari, Muslim)

"Whoever hurts a Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state hurts me, and he who hurts me annoys God." (Bukhari)

"He who hurts a Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state, I am his adversary, and I shall be his adversary on the Day of a Judgment." (Bukhari)

"Beware on the Day of Judgment; I shall myself be complainant against him who wrongs a Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state or lays on him a responsibility greater than he can bear or deprives him of anything that belongs to him." (Al-Mawardi)

"Anyone who kills a Non-Muslim who had become our ally will not smell the fragrance of Paradise." (Bukhari)

Islam itself started with the message of peace with Muhammad (PBUH), under oppression earlier Muslims had to leave their homes, their wealth and their family. The Prophet (PBUH) himself preferred peace of Wars, the example of 10 year truce between early Muslims and the Non Believers was the best of examples. Islam spread by words not with sword in those ten years; Muslims prospered until they became a huge nation and with time also became a threat for the non believers. Non believers felt the insecurity of the growing peaceful nation and were the first to break the truce, leaving no choice for Muslims but to fight.

Therefore Islam as the religion was never spread by sword, but the Islamic Empire was definitely spread by sword. Islamic Empire spreading with force was forced upon Muslims due to oppression against Islam and its people. There was no freedom of expression, no freedom to conduct trade, and no freedom to practice their religion. So as a last resort in every Era Muslims up against not only the non believers but fellow Muslims who deviated from real Islam and caused corruption.

Islam is the religion of Justice, Peace and Equality, the basis on which a nation can flourish in prosperity and peace. The need for the best governance was required when corruption and oppression increased. Not leaving any choice for Muslims but to take up arms to lead a peaceful life.

How can Islam be called the religion of peace when it was spread by the sword?

It is a common complaint among some non-Muslims that Islam would not have millions of adherents all over the world, if it had not been spread by the use of force. The following points will make it clear, that far from being spread by the sword, it was the inherent force of truth, reason and logic that was responsible for the rapid spread of Islam.

1. Islaam means peace. Islam comes from the root word ‘salaam’, which means peace. It also means submitting one’s will to Allah (swt). Thus Islam is a religion of peace, which is acquired by submitting one’s will to the will of the Supreme Creator, Allah (swt).

2. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace. Each and every human being in this world is not in favour of maintaining peace and harmony. There are many, who would disrupt it for their own vested interests. Sometimes force has to be used to maintain peace. It is precisely for this reason that we have the police who use force against criminals and anti-social elements to maintain peace in the country. Islam promotes peace. At the same time, Islam exhorts it followers to fight where there is oppression. The fight against oppression may, at times, require the use of force. In Islam force can only be used to promote peace and justice.

3. Opinion of historian De Lacy O’Leary. The best reply to the misconception that Islam was spread by the sword is given by the noted historian De Lacy O’Leary in the book "Islam at the cross road" (Page 8): "History makes it clear however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fantastically absurd myth that historians have ever repeated."

4. Muslims ruled Spain for 800 years. Muslims ruled Spain for about 800 years. The Muslims in Spain never used the sword to force the people to convert. Later the Christian Crusaders came to Spain and wiped out the Muslims. There was not a single Muslim in Spain who could openly give the adhan, that is the call for prayers.

5. 14 million Arabs are Coptic Christians. Muslims were the lords of Arabia for 1400 years. For a few years the British ruled, and for a few years the French ruled. Overall, the Muslims ruled Arabia for 1400 years. Yet today, there are 14 million Arabs who are Coptic Christians i.e. Christians since generations. If the Muslims had used the sword there would not have been a single Arab who would have remained a Christian.

6. More than 80% non-Muslims in India. The Muslims ruled India for about a thousand years. If they wanted, they had the power of converting each and every non-Muslim of India to Islam. Today more than 80% of the population of India are non-Muslims. All these non-Muslim Indians are bearing witness today that Islam was not spread by the sword.

7. Indonesia and Malaysia. Indonesia is a country that has the maximum number of Muslims in the world. The majority of people in Malaysia are Muslims. May one ask, "Which Muslim army went to Indonesia and Malaysia?"

8. East Coast of Africa. Similarly, Islam has spread rapidly on the East Coast of Africa. One may again ask, if Islam was spread by the sword, "Which Muslim army went to the East Coast of Africa?"
9. Thomas Carlyle. The famous historian, Thomas Carlyle, in his book "Heroes and Hero worship", refers to this misconception about the spread of Islam: "The sword indeed, but where will you get your sword? Every new opinion, at its starting is precisely in a minority of one. In one man’s head alone. There it dwells as yet. One man alone of the whole world believes it, there is one man against all men. That he takes a sword and try to propagate with that, will do little for him. You must get your sword! On the whole, a thing will propagate itself as it can."

10. No compulsion in religion. With which sword was Islam spread? Even if Muslims had it they could not use it to spread Islam because the Qur'ân says in the following verse: "Let there be no compulsion in religion, Truth stands out clear from error" [Al-Qur'ân 2:256]

11. Sword of the Intellect. It is the sword of intellect. The sword that conquers the hearts and minds of people. The Qur'ân says in Surah Nahl, chapter 16 verse 125: "Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious." [Al-Qur'ân 16:125]

12. Increase in the world religions from 1934 to 1984. An article in Reader’s Digest ‘Almanac’, year book 1986, gave the statistics of the increase of percentage of the major religions of the world in half a century from 1934 to 1984. This article also appeared in ‘The Plain Truth’ magazine. At the top was Islam, which increased by 235%, and Christianity had increased only by 47%. May one ask, which war took place in this century which converted millions of people to Islam?

13. Today the fastest growing religion in America is Islam. The fastest growing religion in Europe in Islam. Which sword is forcing people in the West to accept Islam in such large numbers?

14. Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson. Dr. Joseph Adam Pearson rightly says, "People who worry that nuclear weaponry will one day fall in the hands of the Arabs, fail to realize that the Islamic bomb has been dropped already, it fell the day Muhammad (pbuh) was born".

If a man is allowed to have more than one wife, then why does Islam prohibit a woman from having more than one husband?

A lot of people, including some Muslims, question the logic of allowing Muslim men to have more than one spouse while denying the same ‘right’ to women.
Let me first state emphatically, that the foundation of an Islamic society is justice and equity. Allah has created men and women as equal, but with different capabilities and different responsibilities. Men and women are different, physiologically and psychologically.

Their roles and responsibilities are different. Men and women are equal in Islam, but not identical.

Surah Nisa’ Chapter 4 verses 22 to 24 gives the list of women with who you can not marry and it is further mentions in Surah Nisa’ Chapter 4 verse 24 "Also (prohibited are) women already married"

The following points enumerate the reasons why polyandry is prohibited in Islam:

1. If a man has more than one wife, the parents of the children born of such marriages can easily be identified. The father as well as the mother can easily be identified. In case of a woman marrying more than one husband, only the mother of the children born of such marriages will be identified and not the father. Islam gives tremendous importance to the identification of both parents, mother and father. Psychologists tell us that children who do not know their parents, especially their father undergo severe mental trauma and disturbances. Often they have an unhappy childhood. It is for this reason that the children of prostitutes do not have a healthy childhood. If a child born of such wedlock is admitted in school, and when the mother is asked the name of the father, she would have to give two or more names! I am aware that recent advances in science have made it possible for both the mother and father to be identified with the help of genetic testing. Thus this point which was applicable for the past may not be applicable for the present.

2. Man is more polygamous by nature as compared to a woman.

3. Biologically, it is easier for a man to perform his duties as a husband despite having several wives. A woman, in a similar position, having several husbands, will not find it possible to perform her duties as a wife. A woman undergoes several psychological and behavioral changes due to different phases of the menstrual cycle.

4. A woman who has more than one husband will have several sexual partners at the same time and has a high chance of acquiring venereal or sexually transmitted diseases which can also be transmitted back to her husband even if all of them have no extra-marital sex. This is not the case in a man having more than one wife, and none of them having extra-marital sex.

The above reasons are those that one can easily identify. There are probably many more reasons why Allah, in His Infinite Wisdom, has prohibited polyandry.

Why is a man allowed to have more than one wife in Islaam? i.e. why is polygamy allowed in Islaam?

Definition of Polygamy

Polygamy means a system of marriage whereby one person has more than one spouse. Polygamy can be of two types. One is polygyny where a man marries more than one woman, and the other is polyandry, where a woman marries more than one man. In Islaam, limited polygyny is permitted; whereas polyandry is completely prohibited. Now coming to the original question, why is a man allowed to have more than one wife?

The Qur'ân is the only religious scripture in the world that says, "marry only one".

The Qur'ân is the only religious book, on the face of this earth, that contains the phrase ‘marry only one’. There is no other religious book that instructs men to have only one wife. In none of the other religious scriptures, whether it be the Vedas, the Ramayan, the Mahabharat, the Geeta, the Talmud or the Bible does one find a restriction on the number of wives. According to these scriptures one can marry as many as one wishes. It was only later, that the Hindu priests and the Christian Church restricted the number of wives to one.

Many Hindu religious personalities, according to their scriptures, had multiple wives. King Dashrat, the father of Rama, had more than one wife. Krishna had several wives.
In earlier times, Christian men were permitted as many wives as they wished, since the Bible puts no restriction on the number of wives. It was only a few centuries ago that the Church restricted the number of wives to one.

Polygyny is permitted in Judaism. According to Talmudic law, Abraham had three wives, and Solomon had hundreds of wives. The practice of polygyny continued till Rabbi Gershom ben Yehudah (960 C.E to 1030 C.E) issued an edict against it. The Jewish Sephardic communities living in Muslim countries continued the practice till as late as 1950, until an Act of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel extended the ban on marrying more than one wife.

Hindus are more polygynous than Muslims

The report of the ‘Committee of The Status of Woman in Islam’, published in 1975 mentions on page numbers 66 and 67 that the percentage of polygamous marriages between the years 1951 and 1961 was 5.06% among the Hindus and only 4.31% among the Muslims. According to Indian law only Muslim men are permitted to have more than one wife. It is illegal for any non-Muslim in India to have more than one wife. Despite it being illegal, Hindus have more multiple wives as compared to Muslims. Earlier, there was no restriction even on Hindu men with respect to the number of wives allowed. It was only in 1954, when the Hindu Marriage Act was passed that it became illegal for a Hindu to have more than one wife. At present it is the Indian Law that restricts a Hindu man from having more than one wife and not the Hindu scriptures.Let us now analyse why Islam allows a man to have more than one wife.

Qur'ân permits limited polygamy

As I mentioned earlier, Qur'ân is the only religious book on the face of the earth that says ‘marry only one’.

The context of this phrase is the following verse from Surah Nisa of the Glorious Qur’an: "Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one." [Al-Qur'ân 4:3]

Before the Qur'ân was revealed, there was no upper limit for polygyny and many men had scores of wives, some even hundreds. Islam put an upper limit of four wives. Islam gives a man permission to marry two, three or four women, only on the condition that he deals justly with them.

In the same chapter i.e. Surah Nisa verse 129 says: "Ye are never able to be fair and just as between women...." [Al-Qur'ân 4:129]

Therefore polygyny is not a rule but an exception. Many people are under the misconception that it is compulsory for a Muslim man to have more than one wife. Broadly, Islam has five categories of Do’s and Don’ts: (i) ‘Fard’ i.e. compulsory or obligatory

(ii) ‘Mustahab’ i.e. recommended or encouraged
(iii) ‘Mubah’ i.e. permissible or allowed
(iv) ‘Makruh’ i.e. not recommended or discouraged
(v) ‘Haraam’ i.e. prohibited or forbidden

Polygyny falls in the middle category of things that are permissible. It cannot be said that a Muslim who has two, three or four wives is a better Muslim as compared to a Muslim who has only one wife.

Average life span of females is more than that of males By nature males and females are born in approximately the same ratio. A female child has more immunity than a male child. A female child can fight the germs and diseases better than the male child. For this reason, during the paediatric age itself there are more deaths among males as compared to the females.

During wars, there are more men killed as compared to women. More men die due to accidents and diseases than women. The average life span of females is more than that of males, and at any given time one finds more widows in the world than widowers.

India has more male population than female due to female foeticide and infanticide
India is one of the few countries, along with the other neighbouring countries, in which the female population is less than the male population. The reason lies in the high rate of female infanticide in India, and the fact that more than one million female foetuses are aborted every year in this country, after they are identified as females. If this evil practice is stopped, then India too will have more females as compared to males.

World female population is more than male population In the USA, women outnumber men by 7.8 million. New York alone has one million more females as compared to the number of males, and of the male population of New York one-third are gays i.e sodomites. The U.S.A as a whole has more than twenty-five million gays. This means that these people do not wish to marry women. Great Britain has four million more females as compared to males. Germany has five million more females as compared to males. Russia has nine million more females than males. God alone knows how many million more females there are in the whole world as compared to males.

Restricting each and every man to have only one wife is not practical
Even if every man got married to one woman, there would still be more than thirty million females in U.S.A who would not be able to get husbands (considering that America has twenty five million gays). There would be more than four million females in Great Britain, 5 million females in Germany and nine million females in Russia alone who would not be able to find a husband.

Suppose my sister happens to be one of the unmarried women living in USA, or suppose your sister happens to be one of the unmarried women in USA. The only two options remaining for her are that she either marries a man who already has a wife or becomes public property. There is no other option. All those who are modest will opt for the first.

In Western society, it is common for a man to have mistresses and/or multiple extra-marital affairs, in which case, the woman leads a disgraceful, unprotected life. The same society, however, cannot accept a man having more than one wife, in which women retain their honourable, dignified position in society and lead a protected life.

Thus the only two options before a woman who cannot find a husband is to marry a married man or to become public property. Islam prefers giving women the honourable position by permitting the first option and disallowing the second.

Polygamy solves the problem of adultery among men, who by nature are polygamous, or are not happy with their wives, It prevents the prevalence of AIDS and other similar diseases arising from illicit sexual relations among people of loose morals.

It minimizes divorce as men are given the option to marry other women of their choice without divorcing their present wives. This subsequently, prevents the occurrence of juvenile delinquencies among children of broken families.

Furthermore, polygamy gives the opportunity for more unmarried women to be married, considering the fact that women exceed men in number. This in turn eliminates fornication and prostitution, thus greatly reducing the number of children born out of wedlock. Unfortunately, children born out of wedlock are being ostracized in the same way as their mothers are being look down by the society. In polygamy, children are recognized as legal offspring of their fathers just as their mothers are respected as legally married women.

There are several other reasons, why Islaam has permitted limited polygyny, but it is mainly to protect the modesty of women

Virtues of Surat Al-Baqarah and Surat Al `Imran

Imam Ahmad said that Abu Nu`aym narrated to them that Bishr bin Muhajir said that

`Abdullah bin Buraydah narrated to him from his father, "I was sitting with the Prophet and I heard him say,

Learn Surat Al-Baqarah, because in learning it there is blessing, in ignoring it there is sorrow, and the sorceresses cannot memorize it.

He kept silent for a while and then said,

Learn Surat Al-Baqarah and Al `Imran because they are two lights and they shade their people on the Day of Resurrection, just as two clouds, two spaces of shade or two lines of (flying) birds. The Qur'an will meet its companion in the shape of a pale-faced man on the Day of Resurrection when his grave is opened. The Qur'an will ask him, 'Do you know me' The man will say, 'I do not know you.' The Qur'an will say, 'I am your companion, the Qur'an, which has brought you thirst during the heat and made you stay up during the night. Every merchant has his certain trade. But, this Day, you are behind all types of trade.'

Kingship will then be given to him in his right hand, eternal life in his left hand and the crown of grace will be placed on his head. His parents will also be granted two garments that the people of this life could never afford. They will say, 'Why were we granted these garments' It will be said, 'Because your son was carrying the Qur'an.' It will be said (to the reader of the Qur'an), 'Read and ascend through the levels of Paradise.' He will go on ascending as long as he recites, whether reciting slowly or quickly.''


Ibn Majah also recorded part of this Hadith from Bishr bin Al-Muhajir, and this chain of narrators is Hasan, according to the criteria of Imam Muslim

Repentance of the man who committed a hundred murders

Abu Sa'id Sa'd b. Malik b. Sinan al-Khudri says that the Prophet said: "There was a man among a people before you who committed ninety-nine murders. Then he inquired about the most knowledgeable man on earth and he was led to a monk. He went to him and told him that he had killed ninety-nine people and asked him if it was possible for him to repent.

The monk told him: 'NO!' So the man killed him also and completed his hundred. Then he inquired about the most knowledgeable man on earth and was led to a scholar. He went to him and told him that he had killed a hundred people and asked him if there was repentance for him. The man told him, 'Yes. And what can come in between you and repentance?' 'Then he told him, 'Go to such and such a town for in it live people who are devoted to God. Devote yourself there to God in their company and do not come back to your own town for it is an evil place.'

So the man started towards that town. However, while he was halfway through the journey death overtook him. The angels of 'mercy' and 'punishment' descended and began to argue over him. The angels of mercy said: 'This man had repented and was seeking his Lord, (therefore he is our share),' while the angels of punishment claimed that, 'he had never done a good thing in life,' (so he was their share). While they were thus arguing, another angel arrived in the form of a man. They decided to accept him as their arbitrator. He said: 'Measure the earth between the two towns and let him be assigned to the fate of the one he is nearer to.' When they measured they found him nearer to the town he was heading towards. So the angels of mercy took him away."

Another version has it that "he was nearer to the town of the righteous people by just the span of the hand." And another version of a trustworthy report has it that "the earth was ordered to stretch itself to become closer from this end and farther from the other. So that when they measured they found him nearer to the town (of the righteous) by virtue of which he was forgiven."

Now, what can come in between a man and repentance? O you who imagine that your sins are too great - do you think that your sins are greater than those of that man (the murderer of a hundred souls) to whom Allah turned in mercy? Why should you despair? Indeed crimes can be even greater than this and yet they will be forgiven (with true repentance). Consider this,: Says Allah, glorified be He: "(The true servants of Allah are those) who do not call upon another god with Allah, who do not slay the soul Allah has forbidden, save by right, and do not commit adultery. And whosoever does that shall meet the price of sin. His chastisement will be doubled on the Day of Reckoning and he will abide therein for ever - save him who repented, believed and did righteous deeds, such are those whose evil deeds will Allah change into good ones. Allah indeed is very Forgiving, very compassionate." (Al-Furqan:68-70)

Consider the words: "Such are those whose evil deeds will Allah change into good ones." It shows the magnanimity of Allah. And the scholars have said that the changing will be of two kinds. First, change of a man's evil qualities into good ones (in this world itself). For instance of polytheism into monotheism, adultery into chastity, untruthfulness into truthfulness, deceit into honesty, etc. And second, the change of evil deeds into good ones on the day of Judgment.
Also consider the words: "The evil deeds will be changed into good ones." Allah didn't specify whether He will change every evil deed into a good one of equal magnitude. Rather it was left open, and can be lesser, equal, or even greater - depending upon the quality and sincerity of repentance. This is yet another grace from our Lord.

The following hadith brings out this point:

Abdul Rahman bin Jubair narrates on the a Prophet , on whom be peace, (another report suggests that a very old man whose eye-lashes had fallen over his eyes stood before the Prophet supporting himself on a cane), and said: "What will you say of a man who did not leave an evil deed - major or minor - but he committed it. (Another report has it that there wasn't an evil deed that he left uncommitted to the extent that were they to be divided between the people of the world, they would destroy them all). Is there repentance for him?" The Prophet asked him: "Have you embraced Islam?" He said: "Yes! I testify that there is no god but Allah, and that you are His Messenger." The Prophet told him: "Do good deeds (now onwards) and stay away from evil. Allah will change all of them into good ones." The man said: "And my treacheries an debaucheries?" The Prophet said: "Yes (them too)". The man cried out: "Allah is great" and kept repeating until he disappeared from the sight.

Here a repenting man may ask. When I was in error and sins, not even doing my Prayers - an act that severed my links with Islam - I used to do some good things. Will I be rewarded for them after I have repented or are they lost to the winds? The Answer is in another hadith.
'Urwa b. Zubair reports Hakim b, Hizam as saying that he asked the Prophet , on whom be peace: "O Apostle of God! What is your opinion about those good deeds that I used to do in the days previous to Islam, such as spending in charity, liberating a slave, or being good to my relation. Are they to be rewarded for?" The Prophet told him: "It is culmination of those good deeds that led you to Islam."

So, with repentance the sins will be forgiven and evil deeds of the past will be changed into god ones. What more do you want?