72 Sects and Core Values of Islam

Islam is indeed a Deen of fitra, of human nature.  When Prophet said, eventually my Ummah will splinter into 72 groups – it was a metaphoric number to mean many. This reflects the human nature, which is to differ from each other. God has intentionally created us to be unique – with our own thumb print, eye print, DNA, taste bud … and religion bud.

He said one tribe among you will be perfect, what does it mean? It does not mean 71 tribes will go to hell.

Take the class room analogy - when the teacher asks students to do well in the tests, obviously everyone can score 100 in factual sciences, but when social sciences are in the mix, only one or two will score 100. It does not mean the other 71 will fail, it simply means one was perfect, and all others scoring from 99 down to 70 will pass, a few will make D and few will have difficult times.

Remember the most dominant characteristics of God, the creator is Mercy.  Indeed, it is one of the five core values of Islam; Justice, equality, truthfulness and humility being the other.

There is something wrong with the idea of only one is going to Janna and others don’t. That is not human nature and that is not fitra. Most everyone will make it with an exception of a few... who still got the time to seek forgiveness.

Allah will not forgive Shirk! That is baloney!

Allah will forgive shirk if one seeks forgiveness. 

What is Shirk?

The simplest way to understand Shirk is to understand Tauheed. Tauheed is clarity about responsibility and accountability of your actions to one God, and one conscience, indeed God is closer to us than our jugular veins.   Shirk on the other hand is confusion about responsibility to accountability to who?

God is not a thing or a being to be counted as numerical one, number # 1, it is an idea – it is the Noor and it is the existence of unseen energy that permeates all of the creation.

I hope Dr. Nauman Anwar can share his scientific views on that.  If we cannot think, we don’t need to live as humans and become farishta’s and Jins and do what they are programmed to do. We are human and we are given the freedom to think, and we must.
  

 

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Mike Ghouse is a speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, peace, Islam, Israel, India, interfaith, and cohesion at work place. He is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day at www.TheGhousediary.com. He believes in Standing up for others and has done that throughout his life as an activist. Mike has a presence on national and local TV, Radio and Print Media. He is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News; fortnightly at Huffington post; and several other periodicals across the world. His personal site www.MikeGhouse.net indexes all his work through many links.
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Texas faith: What relevance does Pope Francis have beyond the Catholic Church?

Is Pope Francis relevant?

Thanks to Pope Francis for emphasizing, as the Washington Post said, “A Gospel teaching that may become the touchstone of his papacy: mercy.” These are the most inspiring words in a world that has placed mercy on the mantel. We pray a new norm of religion emerges: mercy. Muslims are particularly excited about Pope Francis’ message of mercy. He is one of the best representations of the teachings of Jesus Christ (my pluralist mentor) and Muslims can relate with him.  Indeed Prophet Muhammad is called “Rahmatul Aalameen – a Mercy to mankind”.

URL - http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/08/texas-faith-what-relevance-does-pope.html

TEXAS FAITH: What relevance does Pope Francis have beyond the Catholic Church?
By Bill McKenzie / Editorial Columnist | 4:23 pm on August 6, 2013 |

Pope Francis made quite a splash when he said last week in response to a question about a priest being gay: “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?”

As you may expect, there has been plenty of discussion about what the pope meant. Was he speaking personally? Was he speaking as head of the Catholic Church? Or was he speaking as both?

Beyond those remarks, the pope has received ample attention for the simplicity of his lifestyle, his attitude toward the poor and his humility in washing the feet of criminal offenders. In fact, those are just some of the areas in which the pope has gained attention, as this Washington Post editorial indicates.

Of course, his remarks, attitude and approach have a special audience among Catholics. But what relevance do they have to non-Catholics? The Catholic Church may be the world’s largest body of Christians, but what about other Christians and the many other faith traditions? What difference do comments from the pope make to them — as well as to non-believers?

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas, and speaker on interfaith issues

Thanks to Pope Francis for emphasizing, as the Washington Post said, “A Gospel teaching that may become the touchstone of his papacy: mercy.” These are the most inspiring words in a world that has placed mercy on the mantel. We pray a new norm of religion emerges: mercy.

Pope Francis continues to earn the role of world’s religious leadership. On March 13, on behalf of the World Muslim congress, I welcomed him, “I hope he heralds a new beginning for building a better world. In behalf of the people of faith or no faith, and my faith Islam, I welcome the Pope and make myself available to jump at his call for creating peace in the world, where no human has to live in fear of the others, let the world be the new kingdom of heaven where we all feel safe and secure with each other. Amen.”

Unlike all his predecessors, he is relevant to non-Catholics. “He is a man of dialogue, a man who is able to build bridges with other faiths,’ says World Jewish Congress President Ron Lauder. Padma Kuppa of the Hindu America Foundation says: “Pope Francis offers a great opportunity for the Church to build meaningful and substantive relations with a billion Hindus.” Similarly, Protestants, Sikhs, Buddhists, and others see a lot of hope in the Pope. I believe he will heal the wounds of Native Americans as well natives of the world.

Since Adam, his message to gays and lesbians is one of the most powerful statements ever delivered by a world leader other than President Obama. “If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” This is precisely what surrendering to God means.

Atheists and non-believers are part of his family now. As one observer put it, “Pope Francis has good news for atheists. Jesus died and was raised for them as well. His redemptive embrace was for all, not just a chosen few.”

Muslims are particularly excited about Pope Francis’ message of mercy. He is one of the best representations of the teachings of Jesus Christ (my pluralist mentor). Indeed Prophet Muhammad is called “Rahmatul Aalameen – a Mercy to mankind”.

He brought freedom to humanity, freed the slaves, women were restored their rights to be free individuals. He taught that all are created equal in the eyes of God, and the humility became the foundation of all of the Muslim religious practices, including ritual prayers, fasting, obligatory tithe along with performing the Hajj Pilgrimage.

He enjoined us that “if any one eats a full meal when his neighbor is hungry or starving, then he is not from among us.” He never said “Muslim neighbor.” He loved humanity and asked Muslims to be role models of mercy, charity, kindness, concern and love to all.

To read the other ten panelists thoughts, please go to Dallas Morning News at :  http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/2013/08/texas-faith-what-relevance-does-pope-francis-have-beyond-the-catholic-church.html/