Why Religion Matters: The Impact of Religious Practice on Social Stability and Tranquility

I seek refuge in Allah from the evils of the accursed satan. In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate. Why Religion Matters:The Impact of Religious Practice on Social Stability and Tranquility The Holy Quran 2:21. O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allâh), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqûn [the pious and righteous persons who fear Allâh much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allâh much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)]. www.admireIslam.com

Ample evidences ● The strength of the family unit is intertwined with the practice of religion. Religious people are more likely to be married, less likely to be divorced or single, and more likely to manifest high levels of satisfaction in marriage. ● The religion is the most important predictor of marital stability and happiness. ● The regular practice of religion helps poor persons move out of poverty. ● Religious belief and practice contribute substantially to the formation of personal moral criteria and sound moral judgment. ● Regular religious practice generally inoculates individuals against a host of social problems, including suicide, drug abuse, out-of-wedlock births, crime, and divorce. ● The regular practice of religion also encourages such beneficial effects on mental health as less depression (a modern epidemic), more self-esteem, and greater family and marital happiness. ● In repairing damage caused by alcoholism, drug addiction, and marital breakdown, religious belief and practice are a major source of strength and recovery. ● Regular practice of religion is good for personal physical health: It increases longevity, improves one's chances of recovery from illness, and lessens the incidence of many killer diseases. ● Religious practice appears to have enormous potential for addressing today's social problems. As summarized in 1991 by Allen Bergin, professor of psychology at Brigham Young University, considerable evidence indicates that religious involvement reduces "such problems as sexual permissiveness, teen pregnancy, suicide, drug abuse, alcoholism, and to some extent deviant and delinquent acts, and increases self esteem, family cohesiveness and general well being. More generally, social scientists are discovering the continuing power of religion to protect the family from the forces that would tear it down.“ ● Professor Bergin's summary was echoed two years later by nationally syndicated columnist William Raspberry: "Almost every commentator on the current scene bemoans the increase of violence, lowered ethical standards and loss of civility that mark American society. Is the decline of religious influence part of what is happening to us? www.admireIslam.com

Islamic Perspective Truly! Allâh is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him (Alone). This is the Straight Path. (Quran 3:51) Truly, in remembering Allah do hearts find rest. (Quran, 13:28) www.admireIslam.com

Islam Promotes Education and Development Illiteracy is considered a major blockade in the way of development. Education at all levels — primary, secondary and higher — and of all types –formal, non-formal and informal — is fundamental to contour the values, attitudes and skills necessary to function properly in this exceedingly integrated world. Islam does not hop this indisputable constituent of development in any way. Islam’s concern to educate is depicted from the fact that pursuing knowledge is given obligatory importance. It laid the foundation of inductive knowledge and introduced three stages of education. First, acquiring of knowledge, secondly, practicing that knowledge and third is preaching. Thus fulfilling the goal of development, that is, generation and application of knowledge in an other way. Modern education systems are supposed to achieve three types of goals–moral, material and social. Islamic education system facilitates these requirements exclusively. In order to achieve moral ends it make virtues the basic purpose of education. Any edification, which does not lead to intendment of goodness and sincerity toward the world, is asked to abolish in Islam. On other hand, by intriguing man to explore the universe and instructing him to utilize the resources available to him to earn a respectable livelihood, it helps to pursue material goal of education. Moreover, by promoting equality of rights, respecting others rights and authenticating the esprit of familiarity among people, it fulfils the social purposes of modern education system. Environmental sustainability is one of the critical issues in world development policy. Islam is a staunch advocator of environmentalism. It develops harmony between nature and man by declaring him vicegerent and giving all resources in his control as trust. Nature is considered living thing and given proper rights as a distinct creature of God. For protecting nature from pollution it bounds cleanliness with faith. Gender equality, is an intrinsic part or religious practices. Religion equates both sexes in three arguments; accountability, independence and freedom of choice. A person having freedom of choice would be independent in his/her conduct and thus accountable for it. This simple channel assures gender equality that today’s developing world is seeking to achieve. It is indubitable that religious values can ultimately fulfill the goals, devised in order to make this world a better place for living. These values have flexibility to be patterned according to ongoing view of development. The only condition for fruition is the righteous and abstemious practices of these values. www.admireIslam.com

Islam’s Development of Science How Did the Spread of Islam Affect the Development of Science? Islam instructs man to use his powers of intelligence and observation. Within a few years of the spread of Islam, great civilizations and universities were flourishing. The synthesis of Eastern and Western ideas, and of new thought with old, brought about great advances in medicine, mathematics, physics, astronomy, geography, architecture, art, literature, and history. Many crucial systems, such as algebra, the Arabic numerals, and the concept of zero (vital to the advancement of mathematics), were transmitted to medieval Europe from the Muslim world. Sophisticated instruments which were to make possible the European voyages of discovery, such as the astrolabe, the quadrant, and good navigational maps, were also developed by Muslims. The Astrolabe: One of the most important scientific instruments developed by Muslims which was also used widely in the West until modern times. Muslim physicians paid much attention to surgery and developed many surgical instruments as seen in this old manuscript. www.admireIslam.com

Islam Modernism and Liberty Islam apart from being 1400 years old, is still the most modern religion. In the present era of secularism and worship of wealth, technology and power, it is a challenge for Muslim Ummah (Muslim nation) to re-establish a true ideological identity of Islam. Islam is not averse to wealth, technology and power; but refuses to pursue these as goals & objects of human life. They are useful as long as they remain means and instruments in the service of sublime goals and objectives of life-the pursuit of Godliness and the establishment of a social order based on justice and brotherhood. When these means begin to be looked upon as aims that paves the way for disaster. Such is the predicament of mankind today. A striking pervasive feature of Islam is its power of assimilation and flexibility with the passage of time. It is therefore, would not be unjust to say that Islam is applicable in this modern era too. All we need is to look from a new perspective. George Bernard Shaw in his book ‘THE GENUINE ISLAM’ Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936 has said: “I have always held the religion of Muhammad in high estimation because of its wonderful vitality. It is the only religion which appears to me to possess that assimilating capacity to the changing phase of existence which can make itself appeal to every age.” Freedom is not abolished in Islam but it should be enjoyed within the limits. Lack of limitations leads to paganism and paganism in turn becomes an evil. Thus, it is not required for a Muslim to reject the world and to shut his eyes from all sorts of modern inventions and comforts; rather he is exhorted to enjoy all of within the limits of God’s commandments. The Qur’an says: “There is no coercion (compulsion) in religion, righteousness has become distinguishable from error.” (Quran 2: 56) In conclusion, even today it is not impossible to lead our lives in accordance with Islamic laws. If we have will there would certainly be a way!!! Allâh burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. "Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error, our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us (Jews and Christians); our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us Forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maulâ (Patron, Supporter and Protector, etc.) and give us victory over the disbelieving people.“ (Quran 2:286) www.admireIslam.com

Building of Moral System Thus whatever leads to the welfare of the individual or the society is morally good in Islam and whatever is injurious is morally bad. Islam attaches so much importance to the love of God and love of man that it warns against too much of formalism. We read in the Quran: "It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in God and the Last Day and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask; and for the freeing of captives; to be steadfast in prayers, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which you made; and to be firm and patient in pain (or suffering) and adversity and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God- conscious "(Quran 2:177) We are given a beautiful description of the righteous and God-conscious man in these verses. He should obey salutary regulations, but he should fix his gaze on the love of God and the love of his fellow men. We are given four heads: a) Our faith should be true and sincere, b) We must be prepared to show it in deeds of charity to our fellow-men, c) We must be good citizens, supporting social organizations, and d) Our own individual soul must be firm and unshaken in all circumstances. This is the standard by which a particular mode of conduct is judged and classified as good or bad. Before laying down any moral injunctions Islam seeks to firmly implant in man's heart the conviction that his dealings are with God who sees him at all times and in all places; that he may hide himself from the whole world but not from Him; that he may deceive everyone but cannot deceive God; that he can flee from the clutches of anyone else but not from God. The teachings of Islam concerning social responsibilities are based on kindness and consideration of others. Since a broad injunction to be kind is likely to be ignored in specific situations, Islam lays emphasis on specific acts of kindness and defines the responsibilities and rights of various relationships. In a widening circle of relationship, then, our first obligation is to our immediate family - parents, husband or wife and children, then to other relatives, neighbors, friends and acquaintances, orphans and widows, the needy of the community, our fellow Muslims, all our fellow human beings and animals. www.admireIslam.com

Towards Perfect Happiness One of the most elusive objectives of every human being is "Happiness." The Quran reveals the secret of attaining perfect happiness in this life and forever. We learn from the Quran that happiness is an exclusive quality of the soul. Thus, a body that attains all the material successes it longs for - money, power, fame, etc. - often belongs to an unhappy person. Happiness depends totally on the degree of growth and development attained by the soul, the real person. The Quran provides a detailed map towards perfect happiness for both body and soul, both in this world and in the eternal Hereafter. In the numerous verses throughout this proven Testament, God personally guarantees the believers' happiness, now and forever (Quran 10:62-64) God promises those among you who believe and lead righteous life, that He will make them sovereigns on earth, as He did for those before them, and will establish for them the religion He has chosen for them, and will substitute peace and security for them in place of fear. All this because they worship Me alone, without setting up any idols besides Me. Those who disbelieve after this are the truly wicked" (Quran 24:55). If you want to become a "king" or a "queen" on earth, then, you have to examine yourself sincerely at every opportunity. Anytime you have a problem in any aspect of your life -money, health, relationships, any problem-you must search for the lesson. As soon as you understand the lesson, everything will be all right. The problem will simply go away, and, more importantly, God will make it up to you. All bad effects of the past will be wiped out. Therefore remember Me (by praying, glorifying, etc.). I will remember you, and be grateful to Me (for My countless Favours on you) and never be ungrateful to Me (Quran 2:152) Beautified is the life of this world for those who disbelieve, and they mock at those who believe. But those who obey Allâh's Orders and keep away from what He has forbidden, will be above them on the Day of Resurrection. And Allâh gives (of His Bounty, Blessings, Favours, Honours, etc. on the Day of Resurrection) to whom He wills without limit (Quran 2:212) Whoever desires a reward in this life of the world, then with Allâh (Alone and none else) is the reward of this worldly life and of the Hereafter. And Allâh is Ever AllHearer, AllSeer. (Quran 4:134) www.admireIslam.com

Human Rights and Justice Islam provides many human rights for the individual. rights that Islam protects. The life and property of all citizens in an Islamic state are considered sacred, whether a person is Muslim or not. Islam also protects honor. So, in Islam, insulting others or making fun of them is not allowed. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: {Truly your blood, your property, and your honor are inviolable.} Racism is not allowed in Islam, for the Quran speaks of human equality in the following terms: O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female and have made you into nations and tribes for you to know one another. Truly, the noblest of you with God is the most pious. Truly, God is All-Knowing, All-Aware. (Quran, 49:13) Islam rejects certain individuals or nations being favored because of their wealth, power, or race. God created human beings as equals who are to be distinguished from each other only on the basis of their faith and piety. The Prophet Muhammad said: {O people! Your God is one and your forefather (Adam) is one. An Arab is not better than a non-Arab and a non- Arab is not better than an Arab, and a red (i.e. white tinged with red) person is not better than a black person and a black person is not better than a red person,3 except in piety.} One of the major problems facing mankind today is racism. The developed world can send a man to the moon but cannot stop man from hating and fighting his fellow man. Ever since the days of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Islam has provided a vivid example of how racism can be ended. The annual pilgrimage (Hajj) to Makkah shows the real Islamic brotherhood of all races and nations, when about two million Muslims from all over the world come to Makkah to perform the pilgrimage. Islam is a religion of justice. God has said: Truly God commands you to give back trusts to those to whom they are due, and when you judge between people, to judge with justice.... (Quran, 4:58) And He has said: ...And act justly. Truly, God loves those who are just. (Quran, 49:9) We should even be just with those who we hate, as God has said: ...And let not the hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety.... (Quran, 5:8) The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: {People, beware of injustice, for injustice shall be darkness on the Day of Judgment.} www.admireIslam.com

Islam Against Terrorism Islam, a religion of mercy, does not permit terrorism. In the Quran, God has said: God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes. God loves just dealers. (Quran, 60:8) Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) once listed murder as the second of the major sins, and he even warned that on the Day of Judgment, {The first cases to be adjudicated between people on the Day of Judgment will be those of bloodshed.} Muslims are even encouraged to be kind to animals and are forbidden to hurt them. Once the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: {A woman was punished because she imprisoned a cat until it died. On account of this, she was doomed to Hell. While she imprisoned it, she did not give the cat food or drink, nor did she free it to eat the insects of the earth.} He (pbuh) also said that a man gave a very thirsty dog a drink, so God forgave his sins for this action. The Prophet (pbuh) was asked, “Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?” He said: {There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human.} Additionally, while taking the life of an animal for food, Muslims are commanded to do so in a manner that causes the least amount of fright and suffering possible. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: {When you slaughter an animal, do so in the best way. One should sharpen his knife to reduce the suffering of the animal.} In light of these and other Islamic texts, the act of inciting terror in the hearts of defenseless civilians, the wholesale destruction of buildings and properties, the bombing and maiming of innocent men, women, and children are all forbidden and detestable acts according to Islam and the Muslims. Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the vast majority have nothing to do with the violent events some have associated with Muslims. If an individual Muslim were to commit an act of terrorism, this person would be guilty of violating the laws of Islam. Jihad means to strive in the way of Allah by good deeds, patience and kindness. www.admireIslam.com

Abolishing Poverty Eradication of extreme poverty and hunger has been on the pinnacle in development schema for many years. Efforts went fruitless for long as poverty was only calculated in materialistic term. Islam’s first step to heal poverty is to scrutinize it in spiritual, economic and social aspects. Spiritual poverty is lack of believe and certainty about one’s place in the world and meaning in life. It adversely affects the mental health and causes greater sufferings than physical deprivation. It further leads to war, conflicts and material poverty. Islam assigns some basic obligation to each individual, thus resolves the problem of futility. By stressing on interaction and communication among individuals it promote well-being and prevent conflict at individual and national level. The end result is the elimination of physical poverty as well. In order to cease deprivation arising from poor policies it stresses to avoid extravagancy, hoarding, wasting public property and oppose to hand over the property or state to uninformed and non-professional personals. By recognizing public, private and state ownership rights, it on one hand prevents the complete monopolizing of resources and on the other hand allows individual to enjoy freedom of choice. Thus removes the social causes of poverty too. Islam deals with all these causes of poverty with various tools. It removes inequalities in various systematic steps. It strengthens the supervisory role of government which in turn provides the individual with various opportunities and encourages them to use their own potentials and correct their participation. In case of individual failures, it coerces the government to fulfill their needs with social securities and financial aid in the form of recommended payments. Islam promotes values such as collaboration, forfeit and clemency in a society, which further help in congealing social foundations and this issue will be effective in solving some problems related to poverty. Acts such as charity, alms, and interest free loans to fellow individuals, endowments, etc lead to the balancing of wealth in the society. Those who spend their wealth in the Cause of Allâh, and do not follow up their gifts with reminders of their generosity or with injury, their reward is with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. (Quran 2: 262) www.admireIslam.com

Strengthen the Family A man and a woman must come together in a permanent bond of wedlock to create a family to fulfill these material needs which may be physical, emotional and psychological. A man and a woman, taken separately, are incomplete in their existence. Both need each other to fill the voids of their personalities. The Qur’an thus says that marriage is a means of solace and comfort for both of them: And among His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may dwell in tranquility with them and He has planted love and kindness between you. (30:21) Further, in order to safeguard the institution of family, Islam has given a number of directives for the protection and preservation of the family. ● It says that a man and a woman must come together in a permanent bond of marriage and must not indulge in extra-marital relationships since they dismember the institution of family. It prescribes severe punishments for people who are guilty of adultery and ostracizes them from the society. ● It lays down a whole code of social etiquette and communal conduct to safeguard and protect chastity and modesty which themselves are necessary for the well-being of a family set-up. ● It is of the view that all differences of opinion between the husband and wife should generally be resolved in an atmosphere of mutual trust and confidence. ● It holds the parents responsible for the proper upbringing of their children. ● It urges the children to be very kind and compassionate to their parents, especially in old age. ● It says that if ever a divorce is to end a family set-up, a certain prescribed procedure should be followed in letter and spirit since this procedure ensures that the dissolution of marriage passes through an interim phase in which the decision has ample time to be reconsidered. ● It maintains that if a divorced woman intends to start a new family, her former husband or his relatives must in no way obstruct her. www.admireIslam.com

Building Social Behavior Both traditions, and the teachings of Islam as a whole, commend and encourage individual responsibility and commitment to social enrichment and social justice. This is the importance of faith in today's society. That through individual effort we might construct a healthy, cohesive, just and prosperous society. There is a wealth of traditions of the Prophet, peace be upon him, that underline the social benefits of adhering to the teachings of religion. Faith is not meant to be a mystical experience or one centered on the individual. The social and wider implications of practicing religion are an essential part of the faith. There is a saying of the Prophet which states that, 'he whose two days are the same, loses' and also, 'he is not one of us whose neighbor is not safe from his conduct'. Islam has placed restrictions on men meeting strange women privately. Similarly no man other than her husband is allowed to touch any part of a woman's body. The following traditions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) are worth noting in this connection: Do not call on women in the absence of their husbands, because Satan might be circulating in any of you like blood." (Tirmidhi). According to 'Amr ibn al-'As, the Prophet forbade men to call on women without the permission of their husbands. (Tirmidhi) The Prophet (pbuh) said, "The one who touches the hand of a woman without having a lawful relationship with her, will have an ember placed on his palm on the Day of Judgment." (Takmalah, Fath alQadir) Umi Mumineen 'A'ishah (RA) says that the Prophet (pbuh) accepted the oath of allegiance from women only verbally, without taking their hands into his own hand. He never touched the hand of a woman who was not married to him (Bukhari). The Qur'an particularly forbids him to enter their houses without alerting the women of the house so that he does not surprise them in a condition in which he would not normally see them. However, children do not have to seek such permission until they reach the age of puberty and sexual awareness stirs in them: When your children attain puberty, They should ask for leave before entering the house, just as their elders asked it before them...(Quran 24:58) There cannot be a better form of greeting than uttering 'as-salamu 'alaikum ' (peace be upon you) and greeting back with 'wa alaikum as-salam '(and peace be upon you too). www.admireIslam.com

Building Brotherhood These are the saying’s of our beloved Prophet Mohammed (pbuh): The believers, in their love, mercy, and kindness to one another are like a body: if any part of it is ill, the whole body shares its sleeplessness and fever. The most perfect of the believers in faith are the best of them in morals. And the best among them are those who are best to their wives. None of you believes (completely) until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself. The merciful are shown mercy by the All-Merciful. Show mercy to those on earth, and God will show mercy to you. Smiling at your brother is charity... A good word is charity. Whoever believes in God and the Last Day (the Day of Judgment) should do good to his neighbor. God does not judge you according to your appearance and your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and looks into your deeds. Pay the worker his wage before his sweat dries. A man walking along a path felt very thirsty. Reaching a well, he descended into it, drank his fill, and came up. Then he saw a dog with its tongue hanging out, trying to lick up mud to quench its thirst. The man said, “This dog is feeling the same thirst that I felt.” So he went down into the well again, filled his shoe with water, and gave the dog a drink. So, God thanked him and forgave his sins. The Prophet (pbuh) was asked, “Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?” He said: There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human. www.admireIslam.com

Benefits of being a Muslim (1 of 6) 1. As far as the Creator (whose proper name is Allah) is concerned, you will be able to identify Him and get to know Him, His role and your relationship to His names, you will be able to communicate with Him any time, 24 hours a day, throughout the whole year. As a result of this category, you will be able to know your origin, your roots and the wisdom as to why you are on this planet. You will be able to have good answers to the questions why, how, when, where, what and other philosophical questions. 2. As a result of the first benefit, your loyalty, allegiance, and obedience will be to the Creator himself. You will transcend yourself from all types of allegiance for this world. This means that if there is a conflict of interest between your boss, your job, your government, your system or any worldly relationship with the Creator, you will undoubtedly put your trust in Allah, the Creator of the universe. You will follow Him before you follow anyone else. 3. As a result of the second benefit, you will be able to acquire peace, harmony, tranquility and happiness within yourself, with your family, with people of the world, with the environment and with the universe. One has to remember that the source of peace is Allah, and one of his beautiful names is that He is The Peace. 4. As an endorsement to the third benefit, you will get rid of the extra electrostatic charges from your brain and the central nervous system by performing the daily Salah. Through Salah, you are to prostrate by putting your forehead to the floor; and as such are grounding yourself, and you are discharging these extra charges into the ground. As a result of this act, you will get rid of many of the neurological diseases from your body. 5. As a result of the fourth benefit, you will acquire a pleasant personality. You will be friendly and amicable. You would not need to drink alcohol, to use drugs or to get involved in vulgarity or immorality. 6. Through the experience of fasting in Islam, you will be able to have self-control, self-restraint, self-discipline, self-education, self-evaluation, and self-obedience to Allah the Creator. You undoubtedly will be able to improve health, personality, character, and behavior. www.admireIslam.com

Benefits of being a Muslim (6 of 13) 7. As a result of the sixth benefit, you will be able to control your lusts, selfishness, desires, greed, ego, and conceitedness. 8. Another side reaction of the sixth and seventh benefits is that you will be generous and hospitable; you will try to purify yourself and your mistakes by sharing your happiness and your wealth with those who are less fortunate than you. Your rewards will manifold, compounded daily until the Day of Judgment. 9. By performing pilgrimage to Makkah, you will transcend yourself from being nationalistic, sectarian, or denominational into being universal. You will be part and an essential constituent of the rainbow of Islam. You will be also part of the brotherhood of Islam with those who already submitted themselves to the Creator. At the same time, you will get rid of any inferiority or superiority complexes. You will also find yourself in synchrony and harmony with all the prophets and messengers of Allah since the creation of Adam and Eve until the last final messenger to mankind, prophet Muhammad (pbuh). While in Makkah, you will be able to visit the places of revelation of the Quran as well as the places visited by prophet Abraham and members of his family such as Hagar and Ishmael. You will visit the place where the first astronauts, Adam and Eve landed on earth. 10. In becoming a Muslim, you will do your best to stop all types of exploitations in all their forms: economic, biological, mental, spiritual, psychological, political, etc.. You will also work to liberate people and give them freedom of worship, freedom of speech, and freedom of expression. You will be a leader and help lead people to peace, tranquility and happiness. 11. In accepting Islam, you will help to reduce all types of social ills in the society: juvenile delinquency, child abuse, domestic abuse, incest, homosexuality, sexual promiscuity, premarital relationships, extramarital relationships, and other vices. 12. As a result of the eleventh benefit, you will reduce and eliminate venereal diseases, AIDS, and other diseases of similar nature in the society. 13. Finally, when you die, you will die at peace. You will have a happy life in the next later. www.admireIslam.com

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Why Religion Matters: The Impact of Religious Practice on Social Stability and Tranquility