What about Takfir, Divine Mercy, Hell, Heaven, So-Called Jihad, Radicalism and Misinterpretations of the Quran and Hadith, and Battling Radical Ideologies?
By
New Age Islam Staff Writer
29 April 2023
Muhammad
Raafat, an Islamic Scholar, Responds To the Question in an Interview with
Al-Bawaba News
Main
Points
1. Allah Almighty did not give
the keys to Heaven and Hell to anyone.
2. The mercy of Allah Almighty
extends to everything.
3. Extremist groups are trying
to interpret the texts according to their deviant thinking and whims.
------
Muhammad
Raafat, a writer and researcher in comparative religions, holds a master’s
degree in comparative religions from Zagazig University. In an Arabic interview
with Al-Bawabah News about extremist groups and extremist ideology, he
stressed that extremist groups are striving to interpret the texts in
accordance with their whims and erroneous thinking, so as to serve their purposes
and interests.
Extremism
in religion, according to Raafat, is one of the main reasons for Takfir,
a practice that runs counter to all the tolerant tenets of Islam. It typically
results from ignorance and a lack of understanding of religious concepts. He
said that the religious institutions in Egypt, most notably Al-Azhar
Al-Sharif, are combining their efforts to combat those who contaminate the
minds of young people and attempt to lure them into the clutches of extremists.
Muhammad Raafat, an Islamic Scholar
------
Full
Text of the Interview
Translated
from Arabic by Ghulam Ghaus Siddiqi, New Age Islam
· You are one of the researchers who compare
religions; how do you envision various religions being integrated?
Allah
Almighty created the whole universe in perfect harmony. The difference is a
cosmic norm that God Almighty made as one of His signs. Thus, the diversity of
languages, dialects, and colours is proof of the power of God Almighty, as the
Almighty said, “And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the
earth and the diversity of your languages and your colours. Indeed in that are
signs for those of knowledge.” (30:22)
Allah
Almighty made the difference and diversity among human beings, as we said, a
cosmic norm, so if He had desired, He would have united all peoples under one
nation, as the Almighty says:
“And
if Allah had willed, He could have made you [of] a single community, but He
sends astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And you will surely be
questioned about what you used to do.”
(16:93)
He
Almighty also said, “And if your Lord had willed, He could have made mankind
one community; but they will not cease to differ. Except whom your Lord has
given mercy, and for that He created them." (11:118-119)
All
religions are integrated and all of them came with the message of oneness (Tauheed)
of God Almighty, after which they imparted moral perfection and virtues.
However, God Almighty gave each its own set of rules and guidelines.
· If religions are integrated; then why do we still
encounter sceptics?
God
Almighty commanded Muslims to believe in all the prophets, as well as all the
heavenly books. God Almighty says: “The Messenger has believed in what
was revealed to him from his Lord, and [so have] the believers. All of them
have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers,
[saying], "We make no distinction between any of His
messengers." And they say, "We hear and we obey. [We seek] Your
forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the [final] destination.” (2:285)
If
a believer doesn't accept all of the prophets and all of the heavenly books,
his faith isn't perfect. According to a well-known hadith, when our
master Angel Gabriel visited the Prophet (peace be upon him), he asked him what
faith. The Prophet replied that faith means believing in God, His angels, His
scriptures, and His messengers.
Our
Prophet Isaa (Jesus peace be upon him) ratified the Torah and gave glad
tidings of the arrival of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as God
Almighty says: “And [mention] when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "O
Children of Israel, indeed I am the messenger of Allah to you confirming what
came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a messenger to come
after me, whose name is Ahmad.” (61:6)
As
a result, there is no room for doubt or for trading accusations.
· What do you think of the takfir issue, which
is advocated by those with extremist ideologies?
Takfir is a big issue since God Almighty condemned it in
the Holy Qur'an. The Kharijites were the first to adopt this idea in the
history of Islam when they declared Imam Ali to be a Kaafir. This is a
problem that arises from a misinterpretation of the Qur'anic verses or
Prophetic sayings. Extremist organisations make an effort to read texts in a
way that advances their objectives and interests. This was warned about in the
Qur'an.
Allah
says in the Quran:
“O
believers! When you struggle in the cause of Allah, discern (between friend and
foe). And do not say to those who offer you [greetings of] peace, “You are not
a believer!”—seeking a fleeting worldly gain. Instead, Allah has infinite
bounties [in store]. You were initially like them then Allah blessed you [with
Islam]. So be sure! Indeed, Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” (4:94)
Also
noteworthy is what the Messenger (peace be upon him) said when Hazrat Usama
killed a man who declared, “None has the right to be worshipped but
Allah.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Hazrat Usama, “Did you kill him
after he had said; 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah?" Hazrat
Usama said, "O Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him)! “He said so out of
fear of our weapons". The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked him, “Why did
you not cut his heart open to find out whether he had done so sincerely or
not?”
Islamic
law forbids falsely accusing others of committing Kufr, as shown by the Qur'anic
text as well as by the hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
The
Prophet (peace be upon him) says: "Whoever says to his brother
'disbeliever' then it will have settled upon one of them." (Jami`
at-Tirmidhi 2637)
Abu
Dharr (May Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah
(peace be upon him) saying, "If somebody accuses another of disbelief or
calls him the enemy of Allah, such an accusation will revert to him (the
accuser) if the accused is innocent." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Thus,
religious extremism is one of the main causes of takfir. Extremism in
religion is unquestionably in opposition to all of the merciful principles of
Islam, and it frequently arises from a lack of knowledge and comprehension of
religious matters.
· However, some extremist groups cite the hadith
“I have been commanded to fight people until they testify that there is no god
but Allah.” in order to justify their actions. Does this hadith
legitimise the assault and killing of non-Muslims under the pretext of jihad?
As
I've already indicated, radical organisations attempt to interpret the
scriptures in a way that supports their whims and deviant thinking. The hadith
just says, "I have been commanded to fight," not, "I have been
commanded to kill." The two expressions significantly differ from one another.
Consequently, the Hadith "I have been commanded to fight" was
intended to thwart and deter aggression. God Almighty forbade the beginning of
aggression, regardless of whether there is a religious difference or a
difference of opinion that could cause conflict. The Prophet (peace be upon
him) made a covenant with the Jews in Medina for this reason, right?
When
the Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) made peace and reconciliation with the
Quraysh at Al-Hudaybiyah, God Almighty gave man freedom of
worship and freedom of belief and reserved the reckoning for him alone. Allah
Almighty said: “There is no compulsion in religion.” The call to Islam should
not involve compulsion and violence.
The
invitation to Islam has some means mentioned in the holy Quran: “Invite (all)
to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them
in ways that are best and most gracious” (16:125)
God
Almighty also said: “Had your Lord so willed, all those who are on the earth
would have believed. Will you, then, force people into believing?” (10:99)
Extremist
organisations do not take into account such texts in their creed, but instead,
work to stoke misunderstandings in order to advance their objectives.
· But what about those who assert that X is in heaven
and Y is in hell?
God
alone has the power to decide Heaven and Hell. Because of their
misinterpretation of the texts, people who swear an oath in the name of God
will face harsh punishment from God, the Most Mighty. This is also because they
have granted themselves the authority to judge the servants of God in the
kingdom of God in a manner that is contrary to what God desires. Then, I am in
awe of those who judge someone's punishment or termination after observing
their lives and actions, while God Almighty said:
“Those
who have gone astray will not harm you when you have been guided. To Allah is
your return all together; then He will inform you of what you used to do. O you
who have believed, (look) after your (own) selves (Literally: upon you are
yourselves). He who errs (does not) harm you when you are (rightly) guided.” (5:105)
The
only one with authority is Allah. He is the only one who judges and holds
others accountable. What Allah Almighty has widened, the extremist elements
have shrunk. Allah Almighty declared, "My mercy extends to
everything." He alone holds the keys to both Heaven and Hell; no one else
has been given them or has been selected to hand them out to people on His
behalf.
· What part do religious organisations play in
battling radical ideologies?
Religious
organisations in Egypt, led by Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, play a significant
role in debunking and responding to the suspicions made by extremists. Al-Azhar
established the global observatory, which addresses extremist ideas and claims
in numerous languages, as well as the World Organisation of Al-Azhar
Graduates, which has produced a large number of books, most notably, the series
Refuting Extremist Ideology, which addresses all of the concerns brought up by
those with extremist ideologies. The Al-Azhar Training Academy is an
additional effort in this regard. Dar Al-Iftaa is also exerting
significant effort through its observatory and the publications it has
produced. The Ministry of Religious Endowments has decided to prevent non-Azharis
from holding the pulpit. All efforts are combined to combat those with radical
ideologies who seek to hijack the minds of young people and take them captive
in the service of extremism.
Source
of the Arabic interview: https://www.albawabhnews.com/4785702
URL: https://newageislam.com/interview/takfir-mercy-hell-heaven-jihad-quran-hadith-radical/d/129668
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