You Can Be A 'Slave' To Allah; Others Aren't
By
Sumit Paul, New Age Islam
18 January
2024
"I want to add a point to your comment
that all the people of the world are slaves to Allah Almighty."
By Intikhab Raza
While I
respect the piety and universality of Mr Raza, I simply don't approve of the
'slavish' term 'slaves to Allah.'
First of
all, this is an Islamic perception of devoutness. You find this servile
devotion in all Semitic faiths, esp. in Islam because all three Semitic faiths
not just approved of slavery, but also institutionalized it. Islam is Numero
Uno on this count.
The Quran
legitimises slavery and that cannot be denied, however hard you may try or
gloss over. So, the term slavery is an institutionalized linguistic reality for
the Muslims. An average Muslim will look up to Allah as a draconian and
punitive master and himself as Allah's bondsman. This is not piety. This is
unflinching obedience based on abject fear.
Remember, a
slave has no free will or volition. His existence has no value. The very word
'slave' is disgustingly demeaning and an insult to an individual. That's why,
nowadays you come across words such as 'black', 'nigger', 'negro' and 'slave'
with a note that these are offensive words in evolving social milieu. But
religion, esp. Islam, is hell-bent on remaining unchanged in every sphere. So,
Muslims still proudly, nay foolishly, call themselves 'slaves to Allah.'
Agreed, if you want to stay a slave to Allah, it's your choice. Please don't
include others and call themselves 'slaves to Allah.'
Furthermore,
people like yours truly, having no faith in any damn god, Allah or Bhagwan,
will never like to be called 'slaves to Allah' or for that matter, any
fictional entity eternally hidden in an obscure nook of the Universe.
If you
continuously call yourself a 'slave' to Allah, where's your RIGHTEOUS EGO?
You're just crawling and genuflecting before a concocted entity. Is this the
objective of a worshipper? Didn't Ghalib say, "Bandagi Mein Bhi Woh
Aazaad-O-Khudbeen Hain Ke Hum/ Ulte Phir Aayein Dar-E-Kaaba Agar Wa Na Hua"
(Though I worship, yet I retain my individuality/ I shall return home if the
doors of Kaaba don't open for me!).
At the same
time, Eastern faiths have a different kind of relation with the so-called
almighty. It doesn't stem from fear but from love. Eastern belief systems don't
like the term god-fearing because believers are god-loving.
If you
believe in the concept of An-al-Haq or Aham Brahmasmi (I'm the
Truth), there's no disparity between the god and the worshipper. Both are on an
even keel. Don't you have a very strange and sadistic god who perversely feels
good when IT enslaves you and treats you like ITS perennial slave or factotum?
And what kind of pathological pleasure do you draw by prostrating forever
before this 'divine' martinet?
You can
jolly well be a spineless slave to Allah. That's your decision and I fully
respect it. But please, don't include others.
----
A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul
is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He
has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several
languages including Persian.
URL: https://newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/slave-allah-others/d/131538