One
of the most distinguishing features of Islam that sets it apart from
all other faiths and ways of life is the fact that it is simple, easy to
practice, appeals to human reason and is best suited to human nature as
opposed to the conventional tags of hardship, dogmatism and complicity
associated with religion simultaneously having to itself the aura of
Truth and Divine attestation to its legislation and advocacy.
Indeed
the reason for the ease and beauty that one can experience in Islam is
that it is the way of life specially tailored for man. Man was created
to live in Islam and Islam alone is the way for Mankind. This is the
reason that when one accepts Islam and starts living it practically one
begins to feel a sense of ease.
Islam works on the principle of the Golden mean and the avoidance of the extremes in all cases and it
is the Sunnah of the Prophet (saw) to choose the way that is easiest
from the available options provided it dosent contain any sin[1].
The
ease that manifests itself in Islam as opposed to the hardships in
other ways of life can easily be illustrated with the help of two
examples:
· The first example is regarding the Ruling on "Love and Marriage" in Islam as opposed to "celibacy & monasticism" in Jainism.
· The second example covers the broadness of Islamic doctrines in the rulings allowing new technology into our lives as long as not proven un-Islamic as opposed to the impracticable Amish rulings of completely abandoning anything associated with the new age.
1.
MARRIAGE IN Islam V/S MONASTICISM IN JAINISM: Islam does not believe in
self negation manifested in abhorrence of wealth, monasticism, celibacy
etc. Islam allows an individual to earn wealth, marry, to settle down
and enjoy the lawful joys of the world in a balanced manner.
Love
is not a Taboo in Islam, and in recognition of the true nature of
mankind, its need for love, compassion, companionship and the need for
fulfillment of one's desires allows every adult individual the right to
marry a person of their choice within a certain boundary of laws. The
only form of love between a man and woman recognized in Islam is that
guarded by a marriage contract. There is a high level of ease in the
Islamic ruling on marriage as a person may marry whom he/ she pleases as
long as they are Muslim and that the relationship does not include
fornication, adultery or homosexuality and that the person sought in
marriage does not fall in the category of the close blood relatives forbidden in marriage[2].
This
allowance for marriage in Islam becomes a source of peace and
contentment for them, making the journey of life easy. The Islamic
ruling is easier to practice for a common man as compared to celibacy as
illustrated by the scientific fact of the inherent presence of hormones[3] that excite an inclination towards the opposite sex, an urge that if not fulfilled leads to frustration and agony[4]. Further Islamic ruling on marriage allows men to have more than one wife (upto four)[5] which again is in accordance with the nature of men and much easier and beneficial for both men and women[6].
By
way of marriage, Islam gives the individual the leeway to fulfill their
genuine sexual needs and saves them from the many hardships of illicit
relationships, illegal children, Sexually transmitted diseases and many
more hardships that would befall one if marriage would have been
forbidden.
Jainism is one of the most intense forms of Asceticism.
As opposed to the subtle and easy Islamic ruling on love and marriage
Jainism disapproves of the practice of marriage and demands celibacy from its followers as a condition for the attainment of Moksha (liberation from birth and rebirth).
"Celibacy
(Brahmacarya) - to control the senses including mind from indulgence.
Brahmacarya, "monastic celibacy", is the complete abstinence from sex,
incumbent upon monastics"[7]
"Jain monks and nuns practice strict asceticism and strive to make their current birth their last, thus ending their cycle of transmigration."[8]
Such
a way of life that expects one to completely keep away from all ways of
fulfilling ones desires is opposed to human nature and in fact
absistence its ultimate sense is impossible in since a human being is
but a bundle of desires and if not vented they give rise to tension
& conflict.
Thus
as opposed to the “impossible to tread” path of living through self
negation and self denial in Jainism, the option of marriage in Islam is
much easier to follow.
2. ISLAMIC RULING ON ACCEPTANCE OF BENIFICIAL ASPECTS OF NEW TECHNOLOGY V/S ABHORENCE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE AMISH FAITH:
Islam
does not forbid technology in its totality just as it does not forbid
money, food, good clothing or a healthy life style. According to Islam
anything that is in the general good and welfare of the society is to be
accepted and anything detrimental to the individual or society is to be
curbed. The same applies to technology.
The
reality is that Muslims are allowed by their faith to make best
possible use of beneficial technology such as the beneficial aspects of
internet, "Like most other faith-based communities, Muslims are also
using Facebook pages, text messaging, tweets, and blogs to promote their
causes. "[9]
The
reason being that Islam embraces genuine human efforts for betterment
of their lot and elevating the difficulties, no scholar worth his merit
has ever ruled against technological advances such as the T.V. or
Internet, Vaccines, surgeries or even things as small as a toothbrush.
The basic principle governing any new invention or technology is that it
is permissible unless proven to be a menace or going against Quran or
Sunnah.
As opposed to the broadened rulings of Islam, the Amish faith[10], whose rules are dictated by a list of written or oral rules, known as Ordnung[11], is radically averse to technology.
An article on the subject states: "The
Amish are averse to technology ... electricity, television,
automobiles, telephones ...are not encouraged or accepted. Most Amish
cultivate their fields with horse-drawn machinery, live in houses
without electricity, and get around in horse-drawn buggies. Several
Amish families will share a telephone in a wooden shanty between farms."[12]
Some Amish orders are ultra-conservative regarding use of technology like "The Swartzentruber" and "Andy Weaver Amish" who do not even allow the use of battery lights[13].
The
above comparison clearly shows that Islam leaves much room for a
holistic approach to society and the issue of modernity and technology
which Islamic methodology teaches us to tackle subtlety rather than with
brute force, for, Islam came to reform and re-construct in the ideal form not to destroy and coerce.
[1] Sahih Al Bukhari, Vol 4 No 760
[2] Surah 24, Ayah 31
[3] Oxytoxin is referred to as the 'love hormone', while Testosterone is tagged as the 'libido driver'
[5] Surah An-Nisa Verse 3
[6] Polygamy in Islam- A.A.B. Philips, Jameela Jones
[10] G.Melton Institute for the Study of American Religion, classifies them as part of the European Free-Church Family with Mennonites
Salam,
ReplyDeleteThia is iesha javed here. How have you put up my article here without prior permission? This was purely for purposes of being submitted as an assignment to IOU. Kindly provide me with a clarification as to how and why u have used something without author's permission.