CALLS FOR PRAYERS FROM THE MINARETS OF MOSQUES

CALLS FOR PRAYERS FROM THE MINARETS OF MOSQUES

'Ripley' wrote a book "Believe it or not". This book was published in New York and received popularity very quickly. He wrote this book in response to a question as to "what is the noise most frequently heard in the world?" In response to this question, Ripley left his house for investigating about it in the darkest corners of the earth.
When Ripley reached Calcutta after having wandered around the world, Professor Ahmaduddin Mareharwi met him in 1935 and gave him company for several days. Professor Ahmaduddin writes that Ripley had written names of some Hindu books in his dairy, which he wanted to study in connection with his research. Simultaneously, he was on the lookout for some learned men who could provide him with necessary information specially on the subject of "Islam and the Hindu religions". So, one Hindu Brahmin by the name of Chattopadhayay who was learned man from Sanskrit section, but the secret of his knowledge exposed when Ripley questioned him: tell me, how many temples are there in India? And what are the worship timings in the temples? How do you offer your worships? The pundit made his speech but this increased Ripley's disappointment. Ripley turned to the professor and said, "I have come to find out which is the noise most heard about? First of all I checked and examined the speeches of animals but I found very little harmony in them. Then I turned to human beings and there also I found many different voices in them. Then I examined railway whistles, I found difference in American whistles, Europeans whistles and African whistles. Now, one thing remains to check, different religions of the world. There might be some praise of God which may be internationally popular. There are four large religions: Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism. I am examining these currently. The Christian countries have provided me with full information but there is lot of differences and variations; Buddhists give first importance to forcible worship practice. In India, collecting datas and figures is very difficult task for me. Therefore, success does not appear close". Ripley turns over other pages of his dairy. I have not completed my visit to all Islamic countries. I had visited Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Iraq. Only one thing is common among these countries that the worship they perform is in Arabic language.
It was the fifth day of Ripley in Calcutta. During this period he had met many people. He had also gone to many temples and heard many Hindu hymns and songs, yet he was disappointed. Professor Ahmaduddin provided Ripley with information about millions of mosques in Egypt, S. Arabia, Constantinople, Indonesia, Africa and India, and told him about the call for prayer. When Ripley heard same voice from every small and big mosque of every Indian village, he became very happy and shook hands with the professor saying, "You have accomplished my year's old labour. My happiness has no bounds".
The professor said that it was a great victory for Islam. When Ripley returned to the USA and started writing the second volume of his book "Believe it or not", he wrote, in the beginning of 'which voice is most heard in the world', the call for prayer of Muslims from the minarets of mosques and in substantial proof of it, he gave the datas and figures of the mosques in Egypt, Palestine, Arabia, India, Indonesia, Africa, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq and Constantinople and proved that there is only one voice which is raised five times a day simultaneously and it is "Allah u Akbar, Allah u Akbar".

THE CURSE OF USURY

In the Period of Ignorance, before the conferment of Prophethood, blood was cheap and there was no respect of human life. Likewise, the people were suffering from disparity and imbalance of wealth. A wealthy man would be sucking a poor man's blood and would increase his comforts, luxury and resources and there would be none in the world to pity his poverty. The financial system of that time was founded on extremism and intemperance. The system of usury was the backbone of that social system. It was not limited to Arabs only but in all parts of the world, similar financial imbalance was prevailing. In India, according to "Kautaliya" elaboration, interest rate up to 60% of the capital was legal and reasonable. Later, Hindu society reduced this rate regarding it an oppression. During 16th century in England, the interest rate was 10% in practice. In Europe the popular interest rate was 8-9%, but afterwards, describing it as excessive, it was reduced. Islam was the first which declared this system as oppressive and cruel and uprooted it completely. The last Prophet(P.B.U.H.) declared clearly in his last address: (The usurious system prevailing in the Period of Ignorance is hereby abrogated), and further elaborated: (For you is the real amount of loan, neither you practice oppression nor oppression will be practiced on you). It was clarified that what was given out as a loan was the right on the lender and he will get it back. The prevalent interest on this amount is hereby cancelled. Now it cannot be demanded.It needs attention that the Prophet (P.B.U.H.) started his first step on it from his own house and said: And I first of all cancel the interest of my family, Abbas Bin Abdul Muttalib, which is now cancelled).The rejection of usurious business, as found in the Holy Qura'an, does not appear alike on any other action, the Holy Qura'an says: (O ye who believe! Fear Allah, and give up what remains of your demand for usury, if ye are indeed believers). There are two basic types of usury, the first one as mentioned in the preceding verse has further been elaborated by the Prophet(P.B.U.H): Any debt from which you derive a profit is usury. There is another type of usury which is mentioned only in Hadith that all those materials which have been transacted on usurious basis,the same materials are bought and sold on credit after increasing and decreasing it.These days, that type of usury which is clearly declared unlawful by the Holy Qura'an is most common; and in Hadith, even a resemblance of it is forbidden. One narrative says: Give up usury and also anything which look like it. In modern times, the bank loans are included in this type. The Prophet (P.B.U.H.) has not only cursed the borrower but also the lender on usury. He has also cursed the one who co-operates in the transaction. The Hadith says: Curse of Allah is on those who use usury and on the one who lends him and on the one who writes it and on the one who bears witness to it). In one narrative the words used are so horrifying, it says that "The lowest category of usury is like one fornicating own mother". There is a warning in this Hadith for those people who have some involvements in usurious transactions. And those people who openly do business on usury and do not feel bad about it; their Eiman is in danger because rejection of any command of the Holy Qura'an amounts to rejection of faith and no virtue is acceptable after it.In fact, usury is the worst type of transaction in capitalism in which wealth is centralized. This blood-sucking system is common from an individual level to regional, national, international and governmental levels. A money lender realizes more usury from one who is weaker and more compelled. The rich man increases his wealth at the cost of a poorman's hard earned money.In fact, the way world is suffering from monetary imbalance, its basic reason is usury. If the usurious system is cancelled and the system of 'Islamic Poortax (Zakat)' is given recognition, there will not be one destitute person. But the way the wealth is being enhanced by sucking the blood of the poor and being centralized, is a warning bell for the whole world. Even if the rates of usury are reduced but are oppression is after all an oppression, it can never be named justice. The system of justice which the Prophet of Mercy P.B.U.H. presented, has erased the curse of usury completely. The Prophet's Arafat address is a wealth of mercy.

WHAT IS ISLAM?

Islam is an Arabic word which mean peace, submission and obedience. It also means acceptance and commitment to abide by the teachings and guidance of God. One of the beautiful names of God is As-Salaam (The Peace). Islam also means to be at peace with God and His creatures. Being at peace with God implies complete submission to His will, who is the source of all purity and goodness. Being at peace with His creatures implies living in peace within one's self, with other people and with the environment. Thus, Islam is the total system of living in peace. Islam is same message and guidance which God revealed through all His prophets to every people throughout the history of mankind. One who follows Islam is called a Muslim (an Arabic word which means, the one who submits to the will of God).

IS ISLAM A NEW RELIGION?

No! It is the same religion which was preached by all the prophets and is further elaborated throughout the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. God ordered him:
"Say: We believe in Allah and in that which was revealed to us, and in that which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the tribes and in that which was given to the Moses and Jesus and to other prophets from their God; we make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we are Muslims". Al-Qur'an 3:84
The religion of Islam is as old as humanity itself. It was in fact the region of every prophet of God, who appears in any part of the world. According to the Qur'an, Islam was the religion of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and Jesus, peace be upon them all. However, it was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in its comprehensive, complete and final form.

WHAT IS THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURE OF ISLAM?

The major characteristic of Islam is that through believing in all the Prophets and God's message revealed to each of them; it lays down the basis of peace and harmony among the people of the world.
The great mission of Islam is not only to preach the above-mentioned truth, but also to correct those errors which had crept into the prevailing religions. Most important of all, Islam gathers in one book all those truths which are contained in earlier Divine revelations granted to previous Prophets for the guidance of the mankind, and to meet all the spiritual and moral requirements of an ever-advancing humanity.
Muslims are encouraged to cooperate with all those who are faithful and God-concious people, namely those who received scriptures (Torah, Psalms and Gospel) through His Prophets. Christians and Jews are called the "People of the Book", and their Prophets and Scriptures are honored by the Muslims.

HOW ISLAM RELATES TO MANKIND?

Islam teaches that diversity among human beings is a sign of God's mercy and no one has superiority based on one's color, language or nationality.
Islam promotes the brotherhood of man, toleration of one another, sympathy for the unfortunate and cooperation for general human happiness. If there is any one religion in the world which has strove to eliminate racism, it is Islam. There is no distinction between men on account of mere birth in a particular family, particular profession, particular race or particular country, and all human beings are equal. God created people of different colors, nationalities, languages and ethnic origins so that we may recognize one another.
In Islam, superiority is based on the love and fear of God, doing good deeds, and maintaining high moral and spiritual qualities. In many respects Islam has regulated the relationships between men regardless of creeds, races or colors. One of the aims of Islam is to emphasize the oneness of humanity as a whole and also the Oneness of the Creator of mankind and of all beings. Islam pronounces loudly, clearly, and with great emphasis that all people are, by nature, equal in all respects and that no one is better or superior to anyone else except through piety.