In the last 6 odd months I have been active on the “Relationship” and Religion & Philosophy" forum, I have seen similar concerns come up over and over. I have seen older members also note that issues have come up over and over again. The observation is rather very true and reflective of the Ummah mentality of the day online or offline:
We need a priesthood figure tell us what to think, and how to think. Independent thinking is only for ‘people of knowledge’
We treat Hadith as the primary source and Quran is too sacred to read like a piece of literature or textbook and reflect. Quran is so sacred its really like a magical book of spell/ruqya to be pronounced repeatedly and iteratively and blown over in all directions
No idea what ‘Jazaa’, ‘Ajr’,or ‘Thawaaab’ concept is, but its effectively a system of after-life redeemable points
We want to be pious and the shortest and cleverest way to piety is to look and sound pious (costume and phraseology)
The world, things, situations, circumstances, arts, literature, philosophy, and basically everything must essentially be pigeon-holed as HARAM and Halal. Its the only way to model a problem and grapple the reality around us
Human knowledge, wisdom and perfection was completed 1400 years ago. The only way to achieve those things is to look backwards and move backwards not forwards
Popularized classical text by authors and academics, and linguists and jurists 1400 is also immutable timeless truth. Criticizing them in anyway is practically blasphemy, and hate speech
‘Innovation’ can only mean two things: technological (which is good), or sacrilegious (worst crime). Best to stay away from participating in hell-bound innovation.
[for the Urdu readers, here is something i wrote inspired by Allama Iqbal’s Saqi Nama]
Hai Abdullah ki soch abhi mogh ajmi
Guftar e kalaam beshuk Muslim Bukhari Arabi.
Ulema o faaqih imaamut mae hai garm josh
Hur fard ba-khirad magur Yeh ummat be hosh.
Kausar aur zqum mae howa uloom ul fiqh tamaam
Bashriyat ki qeyd yeh k Luzzat-e-jazba-e-wahii Unjaan
This is not the mentality of the ummah. This is a generalisation of the mentality of Muslims who are more cultural than religious. Observations of one forum online doesn’t give an accurate representation of the Muslim majority mindset. Sorry but I don’t agree.
Ideas of priesthood are abundant in how hinduism is practiced in the last few centuries. The idea that there is an authority that will tell you how to interpret the Truth in the universe. The practice of placing more reliance on hadith than Quran stems from this too. There is practically an idolatry of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) on the subcontinent, to the point that the idea of Hadith as being an imperfect collection of human-collected literature by HUMAN SCHOLARS also now subject to HUMAN SCHOLARLY interrogation is totally considered blasphemous. The idea that a MAN is to be worshiped rather than a God.
I dont remember where exactly but I definitely read on this forum that bashing of religions is not allowed and we ought to respect others views. (Not the exact verbiage though.) Yet, I see this bashing thing happen too often and unfortunately, the Mods dont take notice of it or either choose to ignore it.
Its OK if you or your ancestors felt Hinduism isnt for you and you went your own way to follow a religion of a foreign land. Generations have passed and the country has been divided. You have your own land with the set of norms that you want to follow and practice. With less than 3% of your country’s population being Hindu, how can you still blame Hinduism for all your mishaps? Stop this HinduPhobia and just accept that your ideas are different than us Hindus. Why hold a grudge?
Again, I wonder who told you that Hindus idolize priests? Priests are just guiders or gurus. Nothing more and nothing less. And yes, just like you and I go to college to specialize in areas of our interest, they go to religious schools to learn religion. So obviously, they know something more in one particular field and I know something more in another field. Nobody worships priests. Half baked knowledge is too dangerous…better to remain quiet rather than make a mockery of yourself.
And on a side note, I’ve read a lot of your posts in the Relationships forum. The only reason I suspect that you dont like anybody is because you have a plethora of misconceptions and absolutely prejudiced about things where your actual knowledge is zilch. Spend a little time with an open mind to understand and interpret others beliefs and expectations from you and you will be set for life. God bless you.
When muslims are told to love a human being more than their own children, view each and every action of that human being as correct and worthy of being emulated (almost down to a tee), of course they will often end up idolising him. To the point where they practically worship him. Don’t see how hinduism plays into this, to be honest.
He’s our role model, how to be the perfect Muslim. We follow him but we don’t worship him. The Qur’an and hadith has stated many times that the messenger is not to be worshipped. That right belongs only to God.
