Women's role in Islam
Zameena Binth Thasthakeer
RIGHTS: Islam sees a woman, whether single or married, as an
individual in her own right, with the right to own and dispose of her
property and earnings without any guardianship over her (whether that be
her father, husband, or anyone-else).
She has the right to buy and sell, give gifts and charity, and may
spend her money as she pleases. A marriage dowry is given by the groom
to the bridge for her own personal use, and she keeps her own family
name rather than taking her husband's.
Islam encourages the husband to treat his wife well, as the Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The best among you are those who are
best to their wives" (Narrated in Ibn Majah and Al-Tirmizi).
Mothers in Islam are highly honoured. Islam recommends treating them
in the best way. "A man came to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)
and said: "O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy
of my good companionship?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Your
mother". The man said: "Then who?" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said
: "Then your mother." The man further asked: "Then who?" The Prophet
(peace by upon him) said: "Then your father."
(Narrated in Saheeh Muslim and Saheeh Al-Bukhri)
(Please visit www.islam-guide.com/women for more information on women
in Islam)
This article is an extract from the book "A brief Illustrated Guide
to Understanding Islam."
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Compassion towards children
Zahrina Careem
TRUST: Children are a great blessing form Allah. Islam considers
children to be an amanah (trust) given to the family and says it is
compulsory for the family to raise a child in a righteous manner. In
Islam, both male and female children should be treated equally and
should be loved and cherished.
In today's world many parents are so involved deeply in worldly life
that they forget to pay attention to their children. The fact is
financial support alone doesn't fulfil a parent's duty towards their
children. One can only win a child's heart through love and gentle
attitude. It is child's right to be loved and cherished.
The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) is the model for the
whole of humankind. His attitude towards children was always
compassionate and merciful. He never held back his love for the children
and always expressed his fondness to them.
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah's peace be upon him) narrated. I never saw
anyone who was more compassionate towards children than Allah's
Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him). His son Ibrahim was in the
care of a wet nurse in the hills around Madinah.
He would go there and we would go with him, and he would enter the
house, pick up his son and kiss him, then come back (Muslim)
The Prophet's love for children was not limited to his children and
grandchildren. The purpose of his mercy and affection embraced all
children and he showed the same interest and gentleness to his
companion's children.
Narrated Abu Hurrairah (may Allah's peace be upon him) Allah's
Messenger kissed Al-Hasan ibn Ali, while Al-Aqra ibn Habis Al-Tamim was
sitting with him. Al-Agra said. "I have ten children and never kissed
one of them." The Prophet cast a look at him and said. "Whoever is not
merciful to others will be treated mercifully."
(Al- Bukhari)
The Prophet was always patient and considerated with children and
took great pain not to hurt their tender feelings.
Narrated Abu Qatadah (peace be upon him) said: "The Messenger of
Allah (peace and blessing be upon him) came towards us while carrying
umamamh the daughter of Abi-Al-As (Prophet's granddaughter) over his
shoulder. He prayed, and when he wanted to bow, he put her down, and
when he stood up he lifted her up."
(Al-Bukhari)
In another narration we see Prophet's tolerance towards children.
Narrated A'ishah (peace be upon her) "The Prophet (peace and blessing be
upon him) took a child in his lap..... and then, the child urinated on
him. So he asked for water and poured it over the place of the urine.
(Al- Bukhari)
From all above hadith we can see Prophet Mohammed's (peace and
blessing be upon him) attitude towards children is an example for the
whole human life that shows how to treat them and cherish them at all
times.
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Ancient historical account of Hinduism
Prof. Pon. Sakthivel
HISTORY: Hindu history falls into 3 periods.
1) Ancient Period : 2000 BC - 1000 AD
2) Medieval Period: 1000 AD - 1750 AD
3) Modern Period: 1750 AD - Present
The period can be subdivided into:
a) Vedic Age - 2000 BC to 500 BC
b) The Age of the Kalpastras - 500 BC to 200 BC
c) The Epic Age - 200 BC to 300 AD
d) Age of the Puranas and Darshnas - 300 AD - 650 AD
e) Age of the later Puranas and Darshnas - 650 AD to 1000 AD
The Vedic Age 2000 BC
During the earliest period i.e. of the Mantras, the Aryans are seen
pouring into the Punjab. Worship in this region and elsewhere in India
is to the personifications of nature and the 'gods' of heaven through
prayer, sacrifice and hymns to Agni, Indra, Varuna and Prajapathi
Brihaspati. Worship is predominantly henotheism i.e. one god dominant
for a period but later giving way to another.
But there gradually becomes an awareness and even contemplation of
the one spirit in and beyond the world. Gradually some form of a cosmic
and moral order of the accepted - known as Rita; Yagna (sacrifice)
becomes the means to Rita. The Rig Veda Samhita is in 10 'mandalas'.
The great brahmarishis Vasishta and Vishwamitra belong to this
period. Subsequently in what may be termed the period of the Brahmanas.
The Aryans move Eastward and Southward into Bengal and the Deccan.
Elaborate sacrifices replace the singing of hymns in importance mainly
as a result of the falling of indebtedness to "gods".
The other features are the varnas (bramin, kshatriya, vaisya and
sudra) the 4 Ashramas (bramachariya, grihastra, Vanaprastha, Sanyasa)
and the belief in rebirth after death. Prajapati is still the Chief God,
but Vishnu rises in importance.
The pre-Aryan Shiva is identified with the Aryan and Vedic Rudra
(staunch Shawaites will refute this). The Priests are all powerful, due
to the firm belief in the value of sacrifices. The Rig is now divided
into Rig Veda, Sama Veda and Yagur Veda and a fourth Veda is now added
Atharva Veda. During the last phase i.e. of the Upanishads, the entire
Northern India becomes fully Aryanised and the South is now invaded.
The state there known as Magadha is now a great power and there is
maritime and over land trade with Persia, Babylon, Egpt and Greece. The
upanishads from the basis of Hindu philosophy.
The Ramayana and Mahabaratha take shape as well as the Granmars of
Yaska and Pannur Janaka, Yajnavalka, Agatsya Kapila Valmimik and Vyasa
are prominent characters Buddha and Mahavira the 24th Thirithankara
(born 566 BC and 547 BC respectively) make reforms and spread their
teachings which later gives rise to Buddhism and Janism respectively.
The Age of the Kalpasuras - 500 BC - 200 BC Magaha becomes the seat
of the powerful Mauryan empire (under Bimbisara, Chandragubbthu,
Bindasara and Asoka) Alexander from Greece invades India but is
compelled to retreat (327 BC - 325 BC) Asoka's glorious reign of more
than 40 years (273 BC - 252 BC) makes this era the golden Age of
Buddhism, which is also due to Brahminism's rigorous caste distinctions
weired rites ceremonies, sacrifices and fantastic metaphysical Theories.
Asoka sends Buddhist missionaries all over India and to Sri Lanka,
Burma, Syria and Egypt, Janism spreads to South India. Vaishravism and
Shaivism sects are now seen in Hinduism.
Towards the end of 2nd century BC Buddhism loses momentum mainly due
to its rigid monasticism perversion of the upanishadic teachings
Soulless and godless philosophy and its rejection of vedic authority.
Hinduism has by now assimilated the beautiful aspects of Buddhism. The
practice of Ahimsa in Hinduism is more due to Jain influence
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Christianity - Emergence of the Church
Miran Perera
BACKGROUND: Christianity is grounded on the Holy Bible and the New
Testament in particular. In addition most Christians profess belief in
the statements of the three creeds. i.e. ....The apostles creed, The
Nicene creed and the Athanasian creed.
Belief in God who is all good, all wise, and all powerful is the
fundamental concept of Christianity combined with the doctrine of
Trinity or the Union of the three persons, the father, the son and the
Holy Ghost in one creed.
Most Christians believe in the incarnation and the Resurrection of
Christ and the universal belief of all Christians are that Christ is the
redeemed or the saviour of mankind. Christianity includes a vast number
of sects which represent different versions of the faith in God.
The three main sects are the members of the Roman Catholic Church
which is the largest Christian denomination and includes members of the
universal one, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic church founded by Jesus
Christ.
Then comes the Evangelical communities professing the doctrine that
distinguishes these in the Christian churches who place supreme emphasis
on the saving power of the blood of Jesus Christ Shed for the redemption
of mankind and the eastern orthodox church which include the Christian
churches of many nations inhabiting the eastern part of Europe, North
and West Africa, including Greeks, Russians, Rumanians, Serbians,
Bulgarians, Georgians and Albanians.
Judea was a part of the ancient Palestine, the home of the Hebrew
people and of the Jewish religion. From time to time it had been
conquered in turn by the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians,
Macedonians, Greeks and the Romans.
At the time of Jesus it was a province of the Roman Emperor which
became a republic in 509 BC but preserved some show of self government.
It had a native king named Herod popularly known as Herod the Great
who was declared King of Judea by the Romans in 40 BC. Three years later
he established his Kingdom in Jerusalem.
Christianity began with the birth of Jesus in Judea South Palestine,
now occupied by South West Israel and West Jordan a small hill country
on the eastern run of the Mediterranean sea.
Judea was the home and of the Hebrew people and of the Jewish
religion.
It had finally been conquered by the Romans. A Christian is the
follower of Christ Jesus. According to the Holy Bible the disciples of
Christ were called Christians first in Antioch and that was about the
year 43 AD.
The Jews called the disciples Nazarenes or Galilean. Jesus was the
son of Virgin Mary of the tribe of Judah and of the family of David.
Jesus did not belong to any aristocratic class.
He had no wealth and no important social standing. He was one among
the common people who worked with his hands and travelled mostly on
foot. But there was something unique in his personality.
He did not scorn to associate with outcasts and the most repulsive
forms of disease and sin drew from him only loving aid. It was recorded
of him that he cured insanity that he caused the bedridden to walk,
restored sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and speech to the dumb.
Jesus was born in a stable at Bethlehem, a Biblical town in Jerusalem
in Judea but he spent most of his life at Nazareth, a town in Galilee.
Hence he came to be popularly known as Jesus Nazarenes.
Jesus gave new meaning to old precepts and practices. He emphasised
such things as Justice, Love and Duty. Jesus insisted that next to the
duty of loving and serving supreme duty is to love his fellow men as he
loves himself.
Among the disciples of Jesus were 12 men whom he had chosen for
special training as messengers of the true religion.
They were (1) Simon known as Peter (2) Andrew his brother (3) James
(4) John (5) Philip (6) Bartholomew (7) Thomas (8) Matthew (9) James son
of Alphaens (10) Labbaeus (11) Simon the canaanite (12) Judas Iscariot,
who betrayed Jesus as mentioned in the Holy Bible. These men of course
were the leaders among the disciples.
They preached at Jerusalem and there on the Jewish feast of pentecost
they received new power through the Holy Ghost as Jesus had promised
them. On a fateful Friday in the spring time of 29 AD when Jesus was
crucified his mission seemed a failure. His followers were dismayed and
scattered. Some had lost faith in him.
There was no detailed programme for his disciples to follow. To
Pontius Pilate the whole thing must have seemed a trivial affair among a
disposed people in a small corner of Julius Ceaser's great empire but
the crucifixion did not end the matter nor was it forgotten.
It is recorded in the Christian gospels that on the Sunday after the
crucifixion Jesus rose from the dead and during the next forty days he
was frequently with his disciples and others and was then taken up in to
heaven.
The Holy Bible says 'With great power gave the Apostles witness of
the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (Acts 4:33).
For the disciples of Jesus and all later Christians his rising from
the dead turned dismay in to joy, despair in to hope, fear in to courage
and failure in to success.
The turning point came when a Jewish tentmaker named soul of Tarsus
also known as Paul as he was nearing Damascus on his way from Jerusalem
suddenly became convinced of the Messianic claims of the dead leader
whose followers he had hitherto bitterly opposed.
Hence forth he was one of the most prominent and indubitably the most
fiery of the circle. It was due to him probably more than to any other
person that Christianity assumed the form in which we now know it and
which ultimately swept the world.
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Jesus and Judas: The redeemer and the traitor
Miran Perera
Continued from last week
At his kiss of betrayal he instantly read his masters eyes. Those
eyes which spoke volumes of knowledge of the why? of his heinous act and
Judas had been a very poor actor.
The gospel writers give us of Jesus tantalizing glimpses someone even
more astounding than the controversial Rabbi. The gospel describe Jesus
as the redeemer who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind in
redemption.
Jesus is the redeemer. The gospel writers show us a man who was the
incarnation of god himself. Most clearly revealed at the transfiguration
and after the resurrection. The divinity of Jesus was hinted at by
statements and incidents during his ministry.
Multiplying the loaves, calming the storm, healing the sick and
raising the dead demonstrated the power and authority of Jesus.
The gospels do not stop with an ordinary Jesus. The Evangelists go on
to give us a picture of a man who was regarded in his own time as a
prophet and a leader. A man charismatic enough to be considered a threat
by those in power. A man who forgave sins and died on the cross for it,
a redeemer in a mission of redemption for all mankind.
A man anointed by God as the promised Messiah. he performed
miraculous signs and wonders and spoke with an authority that those who
knew his humble origins could not account for. The Bible says of Judas;
'The devil entered him, so asking forgiveness for ones misdemeanours or
crimes will be unthinkable? Satan had bought the soul of Judas and would
not part with it.
Judas betrayed Jesus his master who raised the dead and gave sight to
the blind, who made the lame walk and healed the sick, who preached of a
wondrous kingdom, a whole new concept of a social order. Judas betrayed
Jesus with a kiss and sold him to those who came to arrest Jesus for
thirty pieces of silver, thus becoming the most notorious traitor in
world history.
How would have Judas felt at the realisation of the monstrosity in
his act of betrayal. The burning with shame and utter regret. Judas saw
the blackness of his soul. Judas realised the world had condemned him
and what more was there as he had not totally given up the world when
following his master Jesus.
The acute anguish and pain of Judas's betrayal finally made him
sought some sort of solace in suicide. As Jesus dies nature is
horrified. Darkness and Jesus's fidelity reaches new depths in his
agonized cry. 'My God! My God! why have you abandoned me? Christ's
terrible cry came from the dregs of the consequence of his union with
us.
As evening falls on his body he is taken down and buried. The story
of violent cruelty and filial loyalty comes to its climax. His death
released faith, a new life and a universal hope.
We are taught that Jesus can be known, loved and followed only when
we see the son of God, himself the redeemer, unlike the traitor Judas
who betrayed Jesus. The hope of the human community is in the crucified
Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus's death on the cross is the final spelling out
of the coming of God's escatological rule. This death is the form in
which the Kingdom of God exists under, the conditions of this age, the
kingdom of God in human powerlessness, wealth in poverty, love in
desolation, abundance in happiness and life in death.
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Easter morn
The first Eastern morn
The holy women did make their way;
To the sepulchre where Jesus lay
The crucified Christ was there no more
The empty tomb proved it so.
Distressed, terrified to Peter they ran
To convey the message in the best way then can.
That was the first great Easter morn,
When our Lord Jesus rose in all human form
Mankind was redeemed from death, sin and hell;
The Risen Christ conquered as the prophets did tell
The scriptures were fulfilled as it was foretold
The Light of the world let's now behold
Easter the greatest feast that man ever got
Make merry, be happy, enjoy a lot
Let's all join hands and praises sing
To our Heavenly Father for the gift of a Redeemer and king.
Norma Perera |
