Structure of Islam

Society Religion & Philosophy
21

“Islam opposes blasphemy against any other religion, as it does against Islam.”

Dear Akif, pls be kind and give some practical example. Pls make sure that the example you provide is not from some 7th or 8th century.
Possibly tell something from present day history that we cannot refute.

On the contrary I can give you a lot of examples from our time, present history how Quran, your holy book is used for dirt ends by Muslims, political and religious.

Best rgds

I do not see any reason to get angry, hence we are talking an ideology, and sentiments should be kept apart.

22

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by anand: *
On the contrary I can give you a lot of examples from our time, present history how Quran, your holy book is used for dirt ends by Muslims, political and religious.

[/QUOTE]

I specifically asked you to clarify this point in almost each post of mine.

Are you picking on the flaws of 'Muslims', or 'Islam'?

In all your previous posts, you were pointing fingers at Islamic laws, in how the stoning law is against humanity for you, or how blasphemy law is not civilized etc etc. And now here you are talking about Muslims, and clearly implying how their attitude has changed over the centuries. You first need to be clear on your question.

I never disputed the fact that Muslims of today are not good Muslims. They do not follow Islam the way it is supposed to be. They are far far away from the actual teachings of Islam. But common sense dictates that just because Muslims are erring in their ways, that doesnt automatically make Islam responsible. Like you mentioned, The Holy Quran and Islam have been used by people calling themselves Muslims, as an excuse to justify their erroneous actions, only to win favor with the wider public. And the same holds true for other religions as well. Hindu terrorists used bhagwan as an excuse to mass murder and mass rape muslim women in Gujarat, in case you remember.

There is no doubt in the fact that Islam and Muslims are being targeted for reasons other than so called terrorism. The group of muslims who engage in terrorism against the likes of USA and Israel come from places that have been directly or indirectly hurt by these 2. And the media has picked on this opportunity to typecast muslims all over the world in the same role. So debating over it is worthless for the most part.

23

Dear Akif, I will try to make it clear what you have pointed out.

First, the law of blasphemy or Sharyat laws, that is stoning a woman to death, and many likes that may be civilized for you for religious reasons, I do not consider them civilized, but I see no reason to hang over these points, once both of us are not defending ourselves.

Now whether I am picking on Islam or Muslims? I like the word analyze and not picking.

We have every reason to question an ideology that can easily be exploited for dirty ends, killings. Is it clear to you?

I have always questioned the impact of a particular religious pattern on mind and the outcome. Pls do not blame media all the time. Media is not guilty for questioning all odds in Islamic States and societies.
I want to say that majority of Muslims are good people. Not because they are Muslims, but because they are simple people as people of any other community.

Now will you pls tell me some examples from our times if Law of blasphemy is provoked for protecting all religions? Your statement is a little contradictory; once Quran dictates that there is no God other than Allah…I hope you understand me.

You have raised the Gujrat violence scenario. I will be happy if we analyze and understand the reasons. So far I can tell you that RSS is also a Madrisa, a hard core Hindu Madrisa and the impact of this Madrisa on mind has been manifested in many violence in some last years.

Best Rgds

24

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by anand: *
[/QUOTE]

First, the law of blasphemy or Sharyat laws, that is stoning a woman to death, and many likes that may be civilized for you for religious reasons, I do not consider them civilized, but I see no reason to hang over these points, once both of us are not defending ourselves.

It is civilized when used in the right context, and right circumstances. When used erroneously, and without ample proof against anyone, its inhumane no doubt.
Keep in mind, if a punishment is lenient, it does not serve its primary purpose, which is to keep others away from that sin in the future.

Now whether I am picking on Islam or Muslims? I like the word analyze and not picking.

If you were analyzing, you would include at least one other religion in the context, if not all.

We have every reason to question an ideology that can easily be exploited for dirty ends, killings. Is it clear to you?

Again back to my question in my previous post, why not question hinduism, since that led hindus to destroy Babri masjid, and led them to massacre Muslims in Gujarat.
As far as Islam is concerned, the ideology of it is entirely peaceful. Your problem is selective analysis. You are nowhere to be found when Muslims are on the receiving end of terrorism, but jump up in your boots all over when Muslims commit terrorism.
Now a followup question, if muslims committing terroristic acts automatically makes Islam a terrorist religion in your mind, then why dont attacks against muslims constitute a war against Islam?

Now will you pls tell me some examples from our times if Law of blasphemy is provoked for protecting all religions?

Blasphemy law does not protect Islam. Islam does not need protection from some disgruntled person badmouthing the Prophet or The Quran or Allah SWT. The issue is more about respect than anything else, and no doubt, this law has been misused a lot in many Muslim countries. But that misuse does not mean this law is wrong or bad. Its simply being misused. I hope you can see the difference.

As far as the Gujarat violence is concerned, I think its abundantly clear that it is an anti-muslim rampage by hindu zealots, since it has been proved by the Indian media itself that the train fires were NOT lit by muslims, but by the inmates of the train itself, i-e, VHP karsevaks, who still have not been condemned, nor arrested by your government.

25

normal hindus are good. Modi is vampires

26

Akif, you want comparative analyzes. You are welcome.

Christianity asks to pray for enemy, Buddhism sees no enmity, where as Islam defines the characteristics of enemy and explains the most wonderful ways to ‘slay’ him.
What about Hindus? They also have the same notions about an enemy as it is in Islam, but they remain passive. You know why?
Hindus do not have a Madrisa system. One RSS is there in India tit for tat for Islamic Madrisas and the result is well known. If you think that I will defend the post Babri or Gujrat massacre, you are wrong. And I am afraid that it is not the end.

No religion is sane in history.
The difference is that only Islam remains the active religion today. Not all Madrisa outcomes become terrorists, but mostly all terrorists have spent their childhood in a Madrisa, and the quranic learning ends in killings at a later stage. You can repeat day and night that Islam is a peaceful religion, but does it change the result.

Let us go thru the 20th century. We meet very few terrorist, suicide squads from other religions. We can count them on fingers. What about Islam?

Quran/ Islam has given a very wide scope to declare any one a Kafir. Shall I remind you that in history Muslims have killed Muslims more than some other community by using the above facility?

If you are not ready to understand the psycho impact of a religion on mind, you will continue falsely defending your religion.

“Islam opposes blasphemy against any other religion, as it does against Islam.”
You are not ready to give any example, may be you said so by mistake?

And ‘stoning a woman to death’, it is an inhuman punishment. An inhuman mind can invent it. There is nothing sound in such a thesis.

With best rgds

27

Time and again I have tried to separate 'religion' from 'followers', and yet you only use it when it serves your purpose:)
I will try yet again.

[QUOTE]
Originally posted by anand: *
**Hindus do not have a Madrisa system. One RSS is there in India tit for tat for Islamic Madrisas and the result is well known*

I explained in the very beginning. A madrissa is a school. Scholars teach students about Islam in these schools. Now if some tom dick or harry opens up a unit, calling it a madrassah, and in guise, starts training people to become terrorists, is it the fault of Islam? Is Islam responsible for folks using the good name of Islam to hide their wrongs?

One RSS according to you is not supposed to highlight the entire hindu religion...but on the same token, you refuse to understand and apply the same concept to Islam.

Christianity asks to pray for enemy, Buddhism sees no enmity, where as Islam defines the characteristics of enemy and explains the most wonderful ways to ‘slay’ him.

Again, back to my previous post, your problem is selective reading. You pick out the parts where killing an aggressor is mentioned, and use that to form your ill-advised analysis.
If you take the time to read the entire Holy Quran, and read the context in which all the verses are written, you will realize that it is all a stepwise process. Without you having all that knowledge, you are not equipped at all to make such judgements, and hence, it all comes across to me as simple finger pointing for the sake of fingerpointing.

What about Hindus? They also have the same notions about an enemy as it is in Islam, but they remain passive. You know why?

I think the mass murders in Gujarat, and the massacres in Occupied Kashmir speak otherwise. And indians went ahead as a nation to elect these vagabonds into power. Your PM is a part of the same party....and the CM of Gujarat still remains. They are your representatives..good old democracy, means govt of the people by the people eh:)

Not all Madrisa outcomes become terrorists, but mostly all terrorists have spent their childhood in a Madrisa

Again, not too well advised. Circumstances play a bigger part than anything else in shaping a persons mind. Take the example of where muslims have committed 'terrorism' according to you, and see what the circumstances were for them, and then tell me what you would do, had you been in their place.
1. Kashmir....a place occupied, with routine gangrapes of women by the occupiers, routine kidnappings, routine killings.
2. Palestine....a place occupied by force......house demolitions, apartheid regime, kidnappings, assassinations....
3. Afghanistan......a place attacked and attacked by foreigners over and over and over.

What would you do if you were in any of their places? Give me your counteractions on how you would react if some soldier came into your house and hauled away your brother, never to be seen again, or took away your sister? How would you react if your house was demolised and bulldozed, and you had to witness underage babies being killed from your family? How would you react if all you had was a dried up bread and a glass of water to eat for days, and a 10 member family to feed?

How would you deal with these situations? Kindly enlighten me, so I can see where Kashmiries, Palestinians or AFghanis have gone wrong, and how they could take a path to life away from 'terrorism'.

and the quranic learning ends in killings at a later stage. You can repeat day and night that Islam is a peaceful religion, but does it change the result.

I assume you have read the Quran to say that. If not, your argument is baseless. If so, make your case.

Let us go thru the 20th century. We meet very few terrorist, suicide squads from other religions. We can count them on fingers. What about Islam?

THe reason for that is that in the 20th century, Islamic countries have been suppressed the most. Post WWII brought with it the occupation of Palestine, followed by Israel spreading its wings over all other neighboring muslim countries, with the help of the US. At the same time, India invaded and occupied Kashmir. Then in late 70s, your beloved USSR invaded Afghanistan. So isnt it a matter of common sense that if Muslims are being attacked the most, they will retaliate the most? Your version of calling them terrorists is your personal media and religiously guided opinion...not reality.

Quran/ Islam has given a very wide scope to declare any one a Kafir.
Do you know what the word kafir implies? It means 'infidel', which anyone would be, if they were not muslims. Its simply a term. Its not my fault hinduism doesnt have a word to signify non-hindus.

If you are not ready to understand the psycho impact of a religion on mind, you will continue falsely defending your religion.

Islam does not need me to defend it. Your hollow views are shaky enough to fall on their own. In the meantime, I am still trying to make you admit to the fact that it is the desire to pick on Islam that has brought you to this forum, not search for knowledge or desire for a debate.

You are not ready to give any example, may be you said so by mistake?
And ‘stoning a woman to death’, it is an inhuman punishment. An inhuman mind can invent it. There is nothing sound in such a thesis.

Again and yet again, are you picking on Islam, or are you willing to have a sensible debate on it? I have explained and answered these two points to you too many times for me to repeat it yet again..so i suggest you re-read the thread.

28

This is totally fascinating discussion.

Anand, to your following remark, I take exception:

Let us go thru the 20th century. We meet very few terrorist, suicide squads from other religions.<<<<

Suicide bombing was invented by Tamils (Hindus) fighting for independent land in Sri Lanka. We can’t paint it as a Hindu phenomenon however.

Secondly, I am not an Islamic Scholar, but a lot of stories in the Quran are described in a Metaphysical sense and it only reflects the wisdom of the times it was revealed in. Stoning to death was a common practice among Arabs long long LONG VER LONG before the advent of Quran. I can share some history with you (non-biblical) if you wish.

‘Islam’ simply means ‘peace’ in Arabic Language, and it is not a way of life. What it is (in my opinion) a guide to a way of life that leads to peace. It is a very modern and forward looking faith. The state that it is in today is a result of it being politicized by hate filled morons.

29

Reminds me a little of Immanuel Kant's argument of "thing in its own". The mind holds a concept of a chair. That chair is "Ideal", all real implementations are ofcourse flawed and can only approach perfection. I guess in religion, I do not know how really useful it is to talk about "ideal and true" religion: What is the ideal and true "hinduism"? What is the ideal and true "Islam"? or the ideal and true Christianity or Bhuddhism etc. One can argue and keep bringing up different scholars who usually do not agree amongst themselves on what they consider ideal. Is hinduism as specified by RamaKrishna Society ( These are the same guys who wanted to get themselves declared non-hindus so they could benefit from the tax laws in India ) more ideal than the one propounded by the Kali-Bhakti school in bengal? Is Islam as propounded by the Ayatollha of Iran more Ideal than the one explained by the Salafis of Saudi Arabia, or the Naqshbandhi Sufis have the better version in lebanon? Maybe the Deobandi and Barealvi issue in India and Pakistan never existed, and Sir Syed Ahemed Khan was never charged with Apostacy. Individually we can argue and state what our personal opinion is as to what constitutes the Ideal, but I doubt given human nature that many people will agree with one Ideal.
All we are really left with is the actual implementation of the religion by its followers, and I am sorry to say that history casts shame universally on the crackpots who have taken the name of religion to torture and kill.

30

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by NYAhmadi: *
It is a very modern and forward looking faith. The state that it is in today is a result of it being politicized by hate filled morons.
[/QUOTE]

Agreed 100% NYA......and this is what anand refuses to see, since hes criss-crossed the hate from the 'hate-filled-morons' to match with Islam, from 'islam-the-forward-looking-faith'.

31

Dear Lahori, nice reply!

This statement must be included in guidelines for religious forum.

32

Any active religion cannot bring in peace..So is Islam.

When I want to study the psycho impact of Islamic Madrisa on mind, my Muslim friends start looking around. Majority of Islam oriented terrorists have spent their childhood at Madrisas, sitting there for many many long hours, learning Quran. If Islam is peace, peace and peace, they must have become saints.

"You are either with us, or with them"
These are your words Akif. I smell Madrisa training in these words. This is the structure of Islam.

An RSS trained cadre also talks the same way, "You are either with us, or with them"
And the result you have seen, very recently in Gujrat.
Do you have any information of RSS Madrisa? They also pick up the children.
Pls pay attn that they pick up the children and train their mind in a particular pattern, pour deep in mind the so called glory period of Hindu religion.

A grown up RSS cadre also cannot compromise. Mind does not allow.

Akif, you escape all the time. Pls find some time and read your own posts!
My friends always say ‘learn Islam’. They never say ‘study Islam’. Fact is that a thorough study can expose a lot. But for that you need an open mind.

With best Rgds

33

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by anand: *
"You are either with us, or with them"
These are your words Akif. I smell Madrisa training in these words. This is the structure of Islam.

An RSS trained cadre also talks the same way, "You are either with us, or with them"
And the result you have seen, very recently in Gujrat.
Do you have any information of RSS Madrisa? They also pick up the children.
Pls pay attn that they pick up the children and train their mind in a particular pattern, pour deep in mind the so called glory period of Hindu religion.

A grown up RSS cadre also cannot compromise. Mind does not allow.
[/QUOTE]

George W Musta be a graduate of a "madrissa" cuz err thats kinda what he said, i.e. "you are with us or with them" and if you look at the sheer number of ppl who also say that on the news/opinion shows...i guess we have tons of those here too.

34

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by anand: *
Akif, you want comparative analyzes. You are welcome.

Christianity asks to pray for enemy, Buddhism sees no enmity, where as Islam defines the characteristics of enemy and explains the most wonderful ways to ‘slay’ him.
What about Hindus? They also have the same notions about an enemy as it is in Islam, but they remain passive. You know why?
Hindus do not have a Madrisa system. One RSS is there in India tit for tat for Islamic Madrisas and the result is well known. If you think that I will defend the post Babri or Gujrat massacre, you are wrong. And I am afraid that it is not the end. **

adding on to the comparative analysis.

dont forget the old testament

OLD TESTAMENT
Ezekiel 9: 1–11

He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.

And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar.

And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side;

And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity:

Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.

And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord God! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?

Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The Lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth not.

And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head.

NOW...

would anyone move from beyond religion being the only common factor among these people to other common factors... history, colonialism, totalitarian regimes with little room for personal expression, dissent. social and political fabric of these societies. But yep we can take the easy path.

and as far as hindus pacifism goes we have seen demonstration of that time and time again since before 1947 to this day. I will not blame the religion though, I will blame the pseudo religious political leaders who get idiots riled up, ppl who feel someone owes them something, these leaders sow the seeds of hate, grow them and use them to their own advantages...it has occured and occurs in every religion, and in every timeperiod.

35

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by anand: *
Dear Lahori, nice reply!

This statement must be included in guidelines for religious forum.
[/QUOTE]

Anand ji: There is an old saying "All five fingers are never identical" in practically all languages of South Asia. Trust me there are awful muslims just as there as real saintly ones walking around. I guess there are horrible hindus just as there are very good human beings among them. Do you really do justice to your own beliefs when you give into the dubious pleasure of bashing an entire culture? Think about it? I remember seeing in the movie Gandhi, how near the end when a hindu muderer confesses to killing a muslim man and he asks how can he attain forgiveness. I was very impressed with the reply that Ghandi gave. I checked it in history documents and verified that it was a true statement and not just made up. "If you really want forgiveness, then adopt a muslim orphan and raise him to be a good and true muslim", is what Ghandi said. Islam has a lot to offer, and unfortunately many of its practioners these days have sunk into barbarism. Unlike many of my muslim brothers, I think hinduism has a lot to offer too, and I would not want people to judge hinduism by the barbarity of RSS in Gujarat, but by the actions of Ghandi in Bengal.

36

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by anand: *
[/QUOTE]

Any active religion cannot bring in peace..So is Islam.

seems more like you are preaching atheism here.

When I want to study the psycho impact of Islamic Madrisa on mind, my Muslim friends start looking around.

No....you start looking around when they answer you:) Like i told you before, a madrissah is a simple school where Quran is taught AND studied. Sure there are a select few people who use the concept of madrissa to churn out terrorists...and well, if you look at it with an open mind, you will see that those madrissas have nothing to do with Islam, and everything to do with the personal politically or revengefully motivated goals of certain individuals.

Majority of Islam oriented terrorists have spent their childhood at Madrisas, sitting there for many many long hours, learning Quran. If Islam is peace, peace and peace, they must have become saints.

Most of them are. Problem is, you have never seen any. You probably didnt even know the word madrissa till Sept 11 last year, when all the negative propaganda started churning out....and you got to see just the dark side of it. Pakistan has thousands of madrissas, with hundreds of thousands of students studying there. About 1% of those madrissas are terrorist havens, and the folks coming out of those are terrorists no doubt. And the problem lies in the fact that those 1% have been beaten to death in the media, conveniently ignoring the 99% others, who have nothing to do with this terrorism stuff.

"You are either with us, or with them"
These are your words Akif. I smell Madrisa training in these words. This is the structure of Islam.

These are the words of George Wubya. And he followed his words with attacks and threats of attack on whoever comes in his way. DO you smell madrassa training in his words? COuld he be a muslim in disguise?

Do you have any information of RSS Madrisa? They also pick up the children.

Madrissas are not confined to children. Recently, a 75 year old aunt of mine just joined a madrissa. Madrissas are places of learning. They are schools. You study, and you learn.

My friends always say ‘learn Islam’. They never say ‘study Islam’. Fact is that a thorough study can expose a lot. But for that you need an open mind.

You are nitpicking here, just for the heck of it. Islam is meant to be studied, learned, taught, etc etc. And if you study it with an open mind, you will find out the facts for yourself.
And again, you didnt answer my question.....Have YOU studied Islam in order to be making all these allegations?

Just a final note........A few terrorists calling themselves muslims has led you to question Islam left and right. But you quoted RSS above, but havent gone on to question hinduism. I couldnt care less about that, but all that does is show your actual motives.

And last, but not least, refer to NYAs post above...suicide bombing was invented by hindus, wasnt it? The concept was created even before, by kamikaze pilots from japan. But your sensors brought you straight to Islam...wonder why.

37

Dear Akif,

Pls correct me if I say that all Muslims are bad. But I stress that all Islamic terrorists are given a typical mindset since childhood at Madrisas.
An Arab, in most cases a rich Arab joins the Al Queda band in Afghanistan, what is inspiring him, a lust for reaching heaven by a shortcut? Where he picked up such a mindset?
Japanese suicide bombers or Tamil suicide bombers, did they do so for religious reasons?

You need very badly to label Hindu ‘the terrorist’. You cannot. How many suicide bombers or killers you can count? A Hindu is not sure of a heaven if he kills some one. Gujrat violence will be repeated since an RSS Madrisa mindset is playing a bigger game. Any question on Hindu religion? You are welcome. I will do my best to be rational.

You have raised some points of Kashmir, Palestine etc. I have no objection even if we discuss these political issues on this religious forum. Religious Islam and political Islam are twins, no doubt.

With best Rgds

I inquired earlier why in Islam there was only entrance and no exit. You quoted, "You are either with us, or with them". And in fact I am interesting to know whom you consider this ‘with them’? No doubt the RSS orientation also differs the people in ‘with us’ and ‘with them’. Frankly I have no objection if now you have quoted George Wubya.

38

Akif

How on earth can you truly be trying to justify Islam to someone like Anand.

He doesn't even understand his own belief system, so how can he understand something for which he has a 'negative fatal attraction'.

Just for the record, I'll prove my point on how much this person really knows about his own Faith, let alone the MADRASSA system!!!

Anand. Can you please translate into english the quote from the Bhavishya Puran, in the following section.

Prati Sarg III: 3, 3. 5-8.

Shalokas 10-27,

The First Mantra in the Kuntap Sukt and

Atharva Veda XX:21,6

Can you also please confirm if the flesh and milk of a camel is forbidden for an Indian Rishi, in line with the laws of Dharma Shastara. Manu, V: 8,18 and Manu, XI: 201.

What is your opinion on the Kuntup Sakt. Are they riddles and un-intelligible enigmas or do they actually form part of the Atharva Veda?

Once you answer the above, then I think you might just be eligible to ask questions about Islam.

In the meantime. Good luck. Cuz u sure gonna need it!!!

As they say in Pakistan, ' Saala baat karta hei'!

39

Citing stuff from an old discredited Abdul Haq Vidyharthi’s books is neither scholarship nor a sign of intelligence. He is so dated that he might be talking about the Rathis in Sumeria.

http://www.muslim.org/islam/miws/author.htm

Maulana Abdul Haq Vidyarthi (1888 – 1977), who bore the title vidyarthi due to his extensive knowledge of the Hindu Vedas, was a scholar of the major religions of the world and their languages, and a missionary of Islam of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement. The environment of multi-faith debate, polemic and discussion, prevailing in the Indian subcontinent in the early 20th century, greatly influenced and interested him. This was one reason why, in 1907, he joined the Ahmadiyya Movement at the hands of its Founder, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, as this Movement had a broad, universalistic outlook towards other religions, regarding all of them as originally revealed, a fact first disclosed by Islam.

In 1914, when the Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha‘at Islam was founded in Lahore by Maulana Muhammad Ali and his associates, Maulana Abdul Haq Vidyarthi joined this Muslim missionary society, in which he worked for the rest of his life as missionary, journalist, lecturer, writer and scholar. First he mastered the Hindu scriptures and studied the Sanskrit language. Later on, he studied Hebrew and other ancient languages of world scriptures. His purpose was two-fold: (1) to be better equipped to refute the storm of criticism and vituperative allegations against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad by the Hindu Arya Samaj sect as well as Christian proselytisers; (2) to unearth prophecies about the coming of the Holy Prophet Muhammad which, according to Islam, are to be found in previously-revealed scriptures.

In the period 1918 to the 1940s, the Maulana was frequently called upon, by various Muslim bodies throughout India, to represent Islam in public debates against Arya Samaj Hindus and Christian missionaries. He achieved supreme triumph in these debates, and his name became renowned and legendary. He also wrote several Urdu books in response to the Arya and Christian objections against Islam. On a purely scholarly front, he published an Urdu translation of part of a Hindu scripture, the Yajur Veda.

After the founding of Pakistan and the ending of the multi-faith environment, the Maulana toured the countries of Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname, and Fiji during the 1950s at the invitation of the local Muslim communities, and gave lectures to large multi-faith audiences, achieving fame and renown for his knowledge and noble character in those countries as well. He also spent time in the U.S.A. during 1959-1962, collecting further material for the present book from reference works in libraries.

He originally wrote Muhammad in World Scriptures in Urdu as Mithaq-un-nabiyyin, published in 1936. Then he had it translated into English and it appeared under the present title in 1940. A little later he published a second part in Urdu. He then went on to expand the English version considerably, which was published in 3 volumes between 1966 and 1975.

Maulana Abdul Haq Vidyarthi was renowned and respected not only as a man of the highest learning and scholarship, but also as one who was thoroughly upright and saintly, and a recipient of extensive spiritual experiences. Having a humble and unassuming nature, and well-known for his good humour, Maulana Vidyarthi served the cause of Islam by pen, speech and personal example for more than sixty years in a unique and rare way which will have its own place in the history of religion.

40

Old Lahori

On one hand you state that the author is discredited and dated!

And on the other hand you are posting praises shining out of his a...!

Is this a new technique or is it normal practice?

I'll leave you to work it out, and maybe you will be kind enough to give the translations now that you have championed Anands cause!

Peace.