Response to Muslim Propaganda from Sikh Scholar Gurmukh Singh.
Please email this to your friends, and post on other websites.
This is a most regrettable, irresponsible, provocative
and bigoted nonsense from Al-Muhajiroun, UK.
Ludicrous statements like the following do much damage
to Islam.
> The Seal of Messengers, Prophet Mohammad (saw)
> said that at the lowest level of Paradise each
> person will have up to 10,000 servants!
The author's challenge is:
> So, the message to any Sikh and Hindu is do your
> research and ask yourself "are you Sikh or Hindu
> because you really want to be or is it because
> your parents are". Remember, on the Day of
> Judgment, no religion will be accepted from
> Allah except Islam. Come to Trafalgar Square on
> the 25th July 2004 and give up your false beliefs
> and accept the perfect and embrace Deen of
> Al-Islam.
Let us do some research into this "Deen of Al-Islam"
The research says:
PLEASE DO GIVE YOUR REAL SCHOLARS AT LEAST A FIGHTING
CHANCE TO SAVE YOUR FAITH IN THE 21ST CENTURY! WE ARE
EVEN PREPARED TO ACCEPT THE MOST LIBERAL
INTERPRETATION OF YOUR RELIGIOUS METAPHOR AND
ALLEGORY! NOW READ ON:
Let us start “In the Name of the Allah, the Merciful,
the Compassionate” :
Is this the religion being compared with Sikhism?
(GGS= Guru Granth Sahib HQ = Holy Quran SM=Sahih
Muslim by Abdul Hamid Sadiqi Lahore SB= Sahih Bukhari
Sharif Ishait-al-Islam Delhi)
Is this “Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate”??
Slavery is permitted in I
slam (HQ 4:3). Bilal was
Prophet Muhammad’s slave and the Prophet’s cousin
Zubair (son of Abu Bakar) had 1000 slaves. A Muslim,
who emancipates a Muslim slave, Allah saves every limb
of his from fire for every limb of the slave, even his
private parts for him” (SM 3604 SB 693V.3 B.46)).
Islam does not condemn slavery.
Slavery is not condoned in Sikhism in any form
whatsoever. Indeed the Guru proclaimed in no uncertain
terms:
“The Gracious Lord has now decreed, “None shall
oppress or inflict pain on another. All shall abide in
peace as the regime shall be compassionate.”
(GGS p.74)
Islamic treatment of women and view about sex etc: A
woman’s testimony (Shahadah) has half the weight of a
man’s (HQ 2: 282, 4:177). When inheritance is to be
shared “A male is equal to the portion of two
females.”(SM 3933 HQ4: 177) A man can divorce his wife
by simply saying “Talaaq, talaaq, talaaq” three times
(HQ 2:229-230,SM 3491-93).
Adultery and pornication are punishable in Islam but
not if committed with women captured in war (SM 3234).
A Muslim can also beat his wife (SM, Trimidhi and HQ
4:34). If a slave girl commits adultery she should be
lashed. If she does it thrice then she should be sold
even for a hair rope.(SB 362,435,731 V.3 B.46) Talaaq
literally means, “undoing the knot”. A man cannot
marry the same woman twice until she has married
another man and divorced him (Ihya 2:230). “The
proportion of rights and powers between male and
female, as laid down by Islam, naturally demand that
out of the two parties only the former should be
entitled to pronounce divorce” (Maulana Moududi quoted
in CIS page 110)
“Islam allows the conversion of female slaves into
concubines with whom <admin-profanity filter activated> relations are legitimate
without the necessity of marriage. Once they have been
allotted to their masters they become their property”
(Maulana Moududi quoted in CIS page 112 Als
o see HQ
4-3) (SM 3432-34)”. The Prophet’s wife Safia (wife of
Kinana) was a captive at the battle of Khaibar. So
were Rihana and Juwariya (SM 4292 Also see Sirat Rasul
Allah pages 493 and 517)
“And all married women (are forbidden unto you) save
those (captives) whom your right hand possesses. It is
a decree of Allah for you” (HQ 4:24)
“Force not your slave girls to whoredom that ye may
seek enjoyment of the life of the world, if they would
preserve their chastity. And if one forces them, then
Allah, after their compulsion, is All-forgiving,
All-compassionate ” HQ 24:33.
“Islam allows the conversion of female slaves into
concubines with whom <admin-profanity filter activated> relations are legitimate
without the necessity of marriage. Once they have been
allotted to their masters they become their property”
(Maulana Moududi quoted in CIS page 112 Also see HQ
4-3) (SM 3432-34)”
“And all married women (are forbidden unto you) save
those (captives) whom your right hand possesses. It is
a decree of Allah for you” (HQ 4:24)
Islam defines different rights and responsibilities of
men and women.
“Men are in charge of women because Allah hath made
the one to excel the other and because they spend
their property (for the support of women)”(HQ4: 34).
Polygamy is permissible and allows up to four women
(HQ 4:3). The Quran instructs “you will not be able to
deal equally between (your) wives however much ye wish
to do so but turn not altogether away (from one)
leaving her as in suspense.” (HQ 4: 129). A woman is
entitled to a dowry (mehar) and a lawful maintenance
(nafqah) but the domination of a husband is paramount,
“Your women are like a tilth for you (to cultivate),
go unto your tilth as ye will”(HQ 2:223 SM 3363). “Had
it not been for Eve, women would never have acted
unfaithfully towards their husbands.”(SM 3471)
However, “Thy women have rights similar to those (of
men)
over them in kindness, and men are a degree above
them”(HQ 2: 228). “As for those from whom ye fear
rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds
apart, and scourge them. Then if they obey you, seek
not a way against them.”(HQ 4:34-35). “Serving a
husband is obligatory since her husband is named her
master in Allah’s Book and she is a captive with him
as is shown in the Sunnah of Allah’s
Messenger”(Adaab-uz-Zufaaf by Muhammad Nasir-ud-din
page 47). “ As for those of your women who are guilty
of lewdness, call to witness four of you against them.
And if they testify (to the truth of the allegation),
then confine them to the houses until death take them
or (until) Allah appoint for them a way (through the
new legislation)”(HQ 4:15) Accoring to Islam “ Never
will succeed such a nation as makes a woman their
ruler” (SB 219 V.9 B.88). “No lady should travel on a
journey of two days except with her husband or a
Dhi-Mahram”(SB 215 V3 B31)
Islamic dress for women
There are no restrictions on what men wear. Burqa or
Hijab is a contraption used by the Muslim women to
keep their bodies covered except for the eyes (HQ
33:59, 24:31). Sharia requires women to dress up with
clothes meeting the following criteria
(Adaab-uz-Zufaaf page30).
1. The whole body must be covered except for the oval
of the face and the two hands.
2. The material of the cloth must not be decorative.
3. The material must be thick enough to be opaque.
4. The dress must be loose enough as not to make clear
the shape of the
body.
5. A woman must never wear perfume in public.
6. The dress must not resemble the dress worn by men.
7. The dress must not resemble that worn by
disbelieving women.
8. The dress must not be ostentatious.
Sikhism treats women as equal to men and forbids
adultery or beating of women in any situation. “Like
the companionship of a poisonous snake is the desire
of another’s woman”(GGS P
.403). Ill treatment of women
captured in war is strictly forbidden. This is what we
read about Sardar Sham Singh Attariwala, “It was
disorder, anarchy and confusion in Punjab, they moved
from Malwa to Majha. Just before settling at Attari
and the process of establishing their control they
came across a helpless Muhammadan bride of the nearby
Amir of Sarai Salamat Khan. The manner in which they
returned her to the Amir became a legend and people
still give example of their noble and moral character”
(Ranjit Singh’s Khalsa Raj and Attariwala Sardars,’
National Book Depot Delhi 1944 Edition page 14.)
Sikhism preaches complementary roles of men and women
in all social spheres. However, women are not debarred
from any activities carried out by men; nor are they
restricted to any special dress. Indeed, although
there is a traditional Panjabi dress for women
(salwar, kameez and a light material head cloth), they
may dress exactly like men and go to battle if need
be. Some famous Sikh women have in fact led armies to
battle.
Islamic intolerance: “One who chooses to follow the
code revealed by God becomes a Muslim and one who
refuses to follow it becomes a Kafir.”(The Religion of
Islam by Khurshid Ahmed page 4). “Believers are God’s
party but un-believers are Devil’s party”(HQ4: 76).
“Allah (Himself) is an enemy to the disbelievers” (HQ
2:15, 90,98). “Accursed, they will be seized wherever
found and slain with a (fierce) slaughter (HQ 33:61).
The tribes of Uraina and Ukl had their hands and legs
cut off, their eyes gouged out and no water was given
to them. They died a slow and painful death. (SB 577)
Sikhism: The nearest word to kafir in Sikhism is
sakat. In Gurbani it is used for those who do not
believe in the existence of God. Unlike Islam, Sikhism
does not order killing of such persons but does advise
to avoid their company. “Shun the company of sakat,
keep him at an arm’s length”(GGS p. 1371)
. Whatever
the extent of enmity, Sikhism does not sanction cruel
treatment. Guru Gobind Singh blessed Bhai Kanhaya when
the latter offered water and assistance to the fallen
enemy in the battlefield. The Guru also instructed him
to treat the wounds of the enemies.
“The True Guru has no anger or vengeance and preaches
the same. He looks upon son and enemy alike. He helps
in removing faults and mistakes and thus purifies the
human body”(GGS 960)
Superstition:
Prophet Muhammad preferred always to travel only on a
Thursday, which is considered auspicious. (SB 199
V.4.B.52) “The year is of twelve months out of which
four months (Dhul Qa’da, Dhul Hijja, Muharrum and
Rajab) are sacred.”(SB 419 V4 B54)
In Sikhism no day or month is considered more
auspicious than the others are.
“The same moon rises, the same stars, the same sun
shines in the sky, the earth remains the same and the
same wind blows. How can it be then that some times
are sacred and the others not?” (GGS P.902)
Sacrifice or cruelty to animals? :
All adult Muslims are supposed to sacrifice an animal
on Id-al-Adha (SM 4818-4835) because “There is a
reward annexed to every hair of the animal sacrifice”
(Trimidhi V.1-1392). “On the day of judgement the
horns, hair and hoofs of the sacrificed animal fall in
the pan of pious deeds and thus cancel out the
misdeeds of the devotees”(Mishkwat –al- Masabih Book 4
.Chapter 49-2)
According to Sikhism animal sacrifice has no spiritual
merit and is strictly forbidden.
“The use of force is tyranny even if you call it
halal. When your account is called for in the court of
the Lord, what will your predicament be then?”
(GGS Page 1374)
Sikhism believes in sacrifice for a noble cause or for
the good of humanity when necessary. Guru Gobind
Singh, at Chamkaur, dressed and sent his own two sons
to the battle in a spirit of sacrifice for the right
cause.
S
ervice with humility (sewa), sharing one’s food and
earnings with the needy, treading the righteous path
regardless of cost, and inner detachment while living
a full life, is the Guru’s way of sacrifice. Sikhism
preaches that a real sacrifice is to lay down one’s
own life for a noble cause.
Religious war: Islamic view:
Jihad is defined by H.G. Koenigsberger as “Spreading
Islam by war.”
“The various means employed by an Islamic state to
spread Islam are called jihad, if they involve strife
and struggle. The more popular form of jihad is holy
war”(CIS p.54)
“Fight against such of those who have been given the
Scripture as believe not in Allah nor the Last Day,
and forbid not that which Allah hath forbidden by His
Messenger, and follow not the religion of truth, until
they pay the tribute readily, being brought low.” (HQ
9:29)
Regarding the spoils of war the Holy Quran says, “Now
enjoy ye what you have won, as lawful and good” (HQ
8:69,48:15). “If a town disobeys Allah and the
Messenger one fifth of the booty seized therefrom is
for Allah and His Apostle and the rest is for you”
said Muhammad (SM 4346)
Sikhism is opposed to spreading religion through war.
The nearest concept to Jihad is dharam yudh (fight for
justice or the righteous cause). Use of force for
propagating religion or for changing another’s
ideology or point of view runs contrary to Sikh belief
and practice. The divinely inspired compositions of
Muslim and Hindu saints have been included in Sri Guru
Granth Sahib and given the same status as the hymns of
the Sikh Gurus.
Sikhism, therefore, demonstrably preaches that no
single ideology has the monopoly of access to God or
the Ultimate Truth. The Sikh Guru went further when
Guru Tegh Bahadhur (Nanak IX) gave his life to uphold
another’s right of worship in his own way. Sikh Gurus
were fully aware of the need for the use of arms for
defending freedom of religious ideo
logy and the
geo-political implications which were bound to flow
from it. The concept of Khalsa Raj and the just
theo-political aspirations of the Sikhs have brought
(and continue to bring) the Sikh nation into armed
conflict with authoritarian regimes. In certain
circumstances, when all other means have failed,
resort to arms is considered legitimate. Guru Tegh
Bahadur’s injunction is:
“Frighten none and accept fear from no-one.” (GGS p.
1427)
Guru Nanak’s followers could not shirk their
responsibility towards other fellow beings nor could
they accept fear from anyone. Guru Nanak spoke out
against social, political and administrative injustice
and he expected his followers to do the same. The Sikh
Gurus and the bhagats (saints), whose compositions are
recorded in the Holy Granth, were well aware of the
need for resorting to arms for defending human rights
and the freedom of religious ideologies.
“The true warrior is one who fights in defence of the
downtrodden.”
(GGS p. 1105)
“When all attempts to obtain justice fail, it is
legitimate to move the hand to the hilt of the sword.”
(Guru Gobind Singh’s Zafarnama to Moghul Emperor
Aurangzeb).
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For more information please visit:
http://www.whyichosesikhism.com/
