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A religion's primary claims to legitimacy stems from its conceptions of God, purpose of life and life after death. When it comes to Islam, most people forget theology, they forget that Islam means submission to the One True Creator of this universe Who assigned everything in the heaves and the earth a place and a function in the grand scale of existence. From the minute whirling electron to the mighty nebulas, animals humans, mountains and meadows are all His Creation, sustained and owned only by Him. People forget that Islam adjudges the worship of this Magnificent, Generous and Benevolent Creator - the purpose of human life.
Allah (God) says in the Qur'an, "He created the heavens and earth in truth. High is He above what they associate with Him. He created man from a sperm-drop; then at once, he is a clear adversary. And the grazing livestock He has created for you; in them is warmth and [numerous] benefits, and from them you eat. And for you in them is [the enjoyment of] beauty when you bring them in [for the evening] and when you send them out [to pasture]. And they carry your loads to a land you could not have reached except with difficulty to yourselves. Indeed, your Lord is Kind and Merciful. And [He created] the horses, mules and donkeys for you to ride and [as] adornment. And He creates that which you do not know. And upon Allāh is the direction of the [right] way, and among the various paths are those deviating. And if He willed, He could have guided you all. It is He who sends down rain from the sky; from it is drink and from it is foliage in which you pasture [animals]. He causes to grow for you thereby the crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and from all the fruits. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought. And He has subjected for you the night and day and the sun and moon, and the stars are subjected by His command. Indeed in that are signs for a people who reason. And [He has subjected] whatever He multiplied for you on the earth of varying colors. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who remember. And it is He who subjected the sea for you to eat from it tender meat and to extract from it ornaments which you wear. And you see the ships plowing through it, and [He subjected it] that you may seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful. And He has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it shift with you, and [made] rivers and roads, that you may be guided, And landmarks. And by the stars they are [also] guided. Then is He who creates like one who does not create? So will you not be reminded? And if you should count the favors of Allāh, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful. And Allāh knows what you conceal and what you declare. And those they invoke other than Allāh create nothing, and they [themselves] are created." - [Quran, 16: 3-20]
For the irrational atheists who think the birth of the universe was an accident and a coincidence, Allah (God) reminds them, "Then do they not look at the camels – how they are created? And at the sky – how it is raised? And at the mountains – how they are erected? And at the earth – how it is spread out?" - [Qur'an, 17-20] Can we human intellect and technology today construct animals or manufacture mountains or assemble the sky? No, these things are beyond us, even if we pool all our energies, resources and wealth - we cannot even create a fly or take from the fly if it steals a crumb (without killing it of course). When it is impossible to tactfully bring another world (like this one) into existence, then it is ridiculous to assume that our world occurred by chance. Nothing in the world materializes on its own then how can the world itself pop out of no where?
Anyway, people forget that Islamic theology is logical and sound. It satisfies all empirical and philosophical questions catapulted against it. See Hamza Tzortzis lecture on Islam and Atheism, and guaranteed, inshaAllah - Islam will make more sense to anyone, even to those with half a brain.
So how do most people assess Islam? They ignore almost every other aspect of Islam and linchpin on the issue of women's rights. They complain that women are enveloped in Islam - from head to toe, forced into marriages and then not allowed to work or even leave the house. They think Islam is unfair because it doesn't allow women any freedom. Despite these accusations, women of North American and European decent make the majority of converts to Islam. They weren't forced, no one elbowed them to cover, to marry or to stay at home but they choose to do this on their own, as independent and free women. Why? I can't speak for all of them but I think the Rock 'n' Roll religion had something to do with it.
Rock 'n' Roll
Music is a way of life, it teaches its listeners everything from life, love and relationships to death, detest and war. Subconsciously or consciously, music controls our thoughts, feelings and personality. Several studies of Rock 'n' Roll listeners show that more than any other group, they suffer from antisocial attitudes and machismo, they are more involved in sex, drugs and occult practices and are less accepting of authority. 51% of Rock music subscribers committed suicide (Stak, Gundlach & Reeves, 1994) and even more reported to have sexually abused women, at least once in their lifetime (St. Lawrence & Joyner, 1991). So before the canons of hate and rejection are fired at Islam, ask yourself, is the Rock 'n' Roll religion better?
Rock 'n' Roll music is rock music and popular music, it includes hard rock, soft rock, punk rock, heavy metal, rap, grunge, salsa and soul music. In 2000, 6 out of the 20 top albums were rap. The famous rap artist, Eminem is nothing short of controversial. His album, the Marshall Mathers LP sold 7.92 million copies in 2000 and was the number two album in America. And what did he sing in this album? "New kids on the block sucked a lot of d-/boy-girl groups make me sick. And I can't wait 'til I catch all you faggots in public/I'ma love it." This song was so popular that the editors of Entertainment Weekly ran a cover story on him titled "Lewd Awakening" (Schwarzbaum, 2000). Another Eminem's song, Kim is about the protagonist cutting his wife's throat and locking her in the truck of his car. Mystikal raps, "Came here with my d---k in my hand. Don't make me leave here with my foot in yo'a---".
Are these isolated incidents? No - this horrifying quashing of women is the subject of almost all rap songs. Rapper Ja Rule admitted to the Newsweek, "There is nothing to rap about except money, sex, murder or pimping" (Samuels, 2000). And right he is! Ja Rule himself sang in Livin' it Up, "Half the ho's hate me, half them love me. The ones that hate me only hate me 'cause they ain't f---ked me. And they say I'm lucky. Do you think I've got time to f---k all these ho's?".
A study of 490 rap songs found most containing lyrics endorsing misogyny and violence against women. Just look at the lyrics of Rammstein, "Red welts on teh white skin. I'm hurting you. And you are loudly whimpering. Now you are scared," and Insane Clown Poose, "I looked into her eyes and she was scared as hell. I knew she was a snitch, so I cut off her tongue." Lil Booise sang in I smoke I drank, "I smoke (yea!), I drank (yea!) I'm suppose to stop but I can't (uh-huh). I am a dog (yea!), I love hoes (Yea!) And I'm addicted to money, cars adn clothes. Do it big then. I do it big nigga [3x]."
Then there is Rock music. Groups such as Metallica, Black Sabbath, Megadeath, Slayer and AC/DC are most notorious for their lyrics. In 1989, the group Guns n' Roses reported a 2-year income of more than $20 million. And what do these groups sing? Song titles like, "Staring through the eyes of the dead", "F--- with a knife", "Stripped, raped and strangled", "She was asking for it", "Force fed broken glass". To give you a taste of the sexism and savagery in these songs, read the following lyrics by Cannibal Corpse (group name in itself is disgusting and frightening - imagine how dreadful will be their songs), from their song, F---- with a knife, "She liked the way it felt insider her. F---- her, harder, harder. Stick it in. Rip the skin. Carve and twist. Torn flesh, I cut her cr---- in her a--- I stick my c---- killing her as I come."
Where is the nauseating feminists movement now? You don't see the extreme, homicidal degradation of women in Rock 'n' Roll music? Children and young adults spend most of their life and life-savings listening to this music. Not only there is a misogynist mafia making money of such music but also corrupting the minds and criminalizing their behaviour. A study conducted by Strasburger and Hendren in 1995 concluded that music changes people into being socially withdrawn, emotionally reserved and violent. They overuse drugs and alcohol and exploit their sexual relations. A case study of on 17 year old boy in their research led Strasburger and Hendren to discover that this boy was in psychiatric hospital for several suicidal attempts. He admitted to listening to heavy metal rock, being part of a satanic cult and performing several female sacrifices as part of this cult.
Rock 'n' Roll has made the United States the world's most chavuinistic nation in the world. 1 woman is raped every 2 minutes in the United States, 1 in 7 has been raped in her lifetime, and 30% of women murdered in the US are killed by their husbands, ex-husbands, or boyfriends (US Justice Department). Can you produce such haunting statistics about any Muslim country?
It's not just music but television, commercials and the internet preach hatred of women and barbarity. Even children are brainwashed into insulting and sexually abusing women. In 1974, a 9-year-old girl was attacked by three girls and aboy and raped with a soda bottle. The children later admitted that they got the idea of rape from a TV movie, Born Innocent, that was aired on NBC. In 1977, a 15-year-old boy was put on trial for the burglary and murder of an elderly woman. The boy claimed that he was merely copying an episode from Kojak, one of his favourite TV programs, where a woman had been shot by intruders. The boy said he wanted to shave his head so he could more like his hero, Kojak. 1n 2001, a 13-year-old boy inadvertently killed a much younger girl as he wrestled with her. He watched wrestling on TV. A 12 year-old boy killed a 6 year-old-girl who was being babysat by his mother in his house. Her autopsy revealed that the girl suffered from a fractured skull, lacerated liver, internal hemorrahge adn more than 30 other injuries. Morbid, but true. The Rock 'n' Roll religion controls and consumes the general public, thereby obsessing with sex and sadism. Can any nation survive such maiming for long? Who are the real terrorists - the media or the Muslims?
And commercials? Have you ever seen a fat dark-skinned women on TV? No, you probably only see, white-skinned anorexic women in close to no clothing selling everything from shoes, stationary, sauce and sports car. Result? Women want to be skinny and scandalous and men want to ... well, you know. Impact on society? Approximately 19 million new STI cases occur each year: about half in young persons aged 15 to 24. Also nearly 3 million new cases of chlamydia occur every year. Of all cases in female patients, half occur in girls aged 15 to 19. HPV affects about 20 million people in the U.S as well; about 6.2 million new HPV infections occur each year. HPV infection also causes vulvar, vaginal, penile, anal, and head and neck cancers. In 2006, more than 35,000 new HIV cases were diagnosed in the U.S. More than 500,000 Americans have died of AIDS, with 16,000 deaths occurring each year. Moreover the report stated that about 750,000 teenagers become pregnant each year. Teen parents are more likely to drop out of school, continue to have non-marital pregnancies, change jobs more frequently, be on welfare, and have mental and physical health problems. Not to mention early sexual activity and multiple partners are even associated with pain and suffering from broken relationships, a sense of betrayal and abandonment, confusion about romantic feelings, altered self-esteem, depression, and impaired ability to form healthy long-term relationships. (See: The Journal of American Physicians and Surgeon, 2008 - http://findarticles.com/p/
Would any woman want to live like this? Do you want your father and brothers to listen to music that dehuamizes you? Do you want your neighbours' kids watch programs that brutalize women? Do you want to read magazines that demand you murder your health and slay your mind in order to become an ideal sexpot?
Islam
I choose Islam because it is reasonable and respectful. I like how Islam connects me to my Creator, it reminds me that everything around me is a sign of His Mercy and existence. Allah (God) says, "And a sign for them is the dead earth. We have brought it to life and brought forth from it grain, and from it they eat. And We placed therein gardens of palm trees and grapevines and caused to burst forth therefrom some springs – That they may eat of His fruit. And their hands have not produced it, so will they not be grateful? Exalted is He who created all pairs – from what the earth grows and from themselves and from that which they do not know. And a sign for them is the night. We remove from it [the light of] day, so they are [left] in darkness. And the sun runs [on course] toward its stopping point. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing. And the moon – We have determined for it phases, until it returns [appearing] like the old date stalk. It is not allowable for the sun to reach the moon, nor does the night overtake the day, but each, in an orbit, is swimming. And a sign for them is that We carried their forefathers in a laden ship. And We created for them from the likes of it that which they ride." - [Quran, 36:33-42]
Can I deny the earth, the trees and the fruits? Can I deny the sky, the sun and the moon? Then how can I deny Allah who created the very earth on which I stand, the fruits which I eat, the sky that covers me and the sun that shines upon me?
I also like Islam because it teaches me that women are persons of great caliber and honoure. Take Aisha (r.a) for instance, an early woman of Islam and also the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). She was an orator, teacher, scholar, an expert, a social reformer and a wife. She exerted influence over men and women and provided them with inspiration and leadership. Her speech was rich and captivating. Her answers, decisive and profound. She was the guardian and mentor of the orphans in her city. Simultaneously, she was a source of pleasure, joy and comfort to her husband. She didn't graduate from any university (because there was none at her time) but today her utterances are studied in faculties of literature; her legal rulings are studied in law schools and her life is researched by students and teachers of Muslim History all over the world.
Then there is Fatimah (r.a), the resplendent, pure and acetic was the youngest daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). Her face beamed of a radiant light so much that it is said that when she stood for prayer, her room reflected the light of her countenance. She spent most of her time in worship of Allah and reading the Qur'an. Although she as busy with her 4 children, she ran a soup kitchen for the poor and destitute of her city. The hungry would always find a free meal in her house. She also volunteered as a nurse for the wounded in battle. There are many other examples of diligent and gallant Muslim women. Read: Contributions of women in spreading the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) and Women scholars of Hadith.
Islam instills in women the passion to study audaciously and work hard in performing good deeds. In fact, Allah often mentions women in the Qur'an, along with men (thereby giving both genders equal-footing in religion) and motivates them to do good. Allah (God) says, "Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do." [Qur'an, 16:97].
In defense of women, Allah (God) teaches men, "And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought." [Qur'an, 30:21] Women are the partners of men and their companion so there should be love, tenderness, grace and leniency in husband and wife relationship. Allah orders men to give women their rights, "O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allāh, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed Allāh is ever, over you, an Observer." [Qur'an, 4:1]
Even if a husband dislikes a quality in his wife, he cannot cut her or slap her around as the Rock 'n' Roll religion advocates. Allah (God) says, " O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion. And do not make difficulties for them .... And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them - perhaps you dislike a thing and Allāh makes therein much good." [Qur'an, 4:19] As his final and ultimate advise, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) warned men, "Fear Allah (God) regarding women. Verily you have married them with the trust of Allah, and made their bodies lawful with the word of Allah. You have got rights over them, and they got rights over you in respect of their food and clothing according to your means."
You must be wondering, Islam doesn't talk about dating? What about rights of girlfriends? Well, men don't date in Islam - they marry women and keep them as wives with care and dignity. So you decide inshaAllah which religion you want to follow and what kind of a woman you want to be.
Reference: Strasburger, Victor C., and Barbara J. Wilson. Children, adolescents, & the media . Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications, 2002. Print.
Can I deny the earth, the trees and the fruits? Can I deny the sky, the sun and the moon? Then how can I deny Allah who created the very earth on which I stand, the fruits which I eat, the sky that covers me and the sun that shines upon me?
I also like Islam because it teaches me that women are persons of great caliber and honoure. Take Aisha (r.a) for instance, an early woman of Islam and also the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). She was an orator, teacher, scholar, an expert, a social reformer and a wife. She exerted influence over men and women and provided them with inspiration and leadership. Her speech was rich and captivating. Her answers, decisive and profound. She was the guardian and mentor of the orphans in her city. Simultaneously, she was a source of pleasure, joy and comfort to her husband. She didn't graduate from any university (because there was none at her time) but today her utterances are studied in faculties of literature; her legal rulings are studied in law schools and her life is researched by students and teachers of Muslim History all over the world.
Then there is Fatimah (r.a), the resplendent, pure and acetic was the youngest daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). Her face beamed of a radiant light so much that it is said that when she stood for prayer, her room reflected the light of her countenance. She spent most of her time in worship of Allah and reading the Qur'an. Although she as busy with her 4 children, she ran a soup kitchen for the poor and destitute of her city. The hungry would always find a free meal in her house. She also volunteered as a nurse for the wounded in battle. There are many other examples of diligent and gallant Muslim women. Read: Contributions of women in spreading the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) and Women scholars of Hadith.
Islam instills in women the passion to study audaciously and work hard in performing good deeds. In fact, Allah often mentions women in the Qur'an, along with men (thereby giving both genders equal-footing in religion) and motivates them to do good. Allah (God) says, "Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do." [Qur'an, 16:97].
In defense of women, Allah (God) teaches men, "And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought." [Qur'an, 30:21] Women are the partners of men and their companion so there should be love, tenderness, grace and leniency in husband and wife relationship. Allah orders men to give women their rights, "O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allāh, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed Allāh is ever, over you, an Observer." [Qur'an, 4:1]
Even if a husband dislikes a quality in his wife, he cannot cut her or slap her around as the Rock 'n' Roll religion advocates. Allah (God) says, " O you who have believed, it is not lawful for you to inherit women by compulsion. And do not make difficulties for them .... And live with them in kindness. For if you dislike them - perhaps you dislike a thing and Allāh makes therein much good." [Qur'an, 4:19] As his final and ultimate advise, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) warned men, "Fear Allah (God) regarding women. Verily you have married them with the trust of Allah, and made their bodies lawful with the word of Allah. You have got rights over them, and they got rights over you in respect of their food and clothing according to your means."
You must be wondering, Islam doesn't talk about dating? What about rights of girlfriends? Well, men don't date in Islam - they marry women and keep them as wives with care and dignity. So you decide inshaAllah which religion you want to follow and what kind of a woman you want to be.
Reference: Strasburger, Victor C., and Barbara J. Wilson. Children, adolescents, & the media . Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications, 2002. Print.
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