Islam ? A Man-made Religion
http://islam-watch.org/Zaa/Islam-Man-made-Religion.htmby Zaa Brifd
25 Nov, 2007
Muslims claim that Islam is a divine religion. According to them after its revelation God cancelled all His divine religions revealed before it. They claim that Judaism and Christianity were divine but incomplete religions and, therefore, after almost 2000 years of the revelation of Christianity, God revealed Islam as a perfect and complete religion. They further say that this “perfect religion” is capable enough to help and guide human race in all spheres of life. By saying this, the Muslims themselves indirectly admit that God had not been able to foresee the evolutionary requirements of religions, peoples and societies and therefore he had to cancel Judaism to introduce Christianity and then cancelled Christianity to reveal Islam. Furthermore, they also indirectly admit that at the time of introducing Islam the God got matured and revealed a perfect and complete religion.
Being in this society, when I observe around, I am unable to find the high-quality characteristics which should have been in the individuals of a society practicing the principles of a perfect religion. Though I have not studied other religions except Islam, but I think they are complete religions for in those societies one can hardly observe any significant distortion or disruption that one may say that it is for the reasons that they are believers of incomplete religions. In fact, I am of the view, that the societies, except Islamic, are not hypocrite. The reason is that they are not as conservatives and rigid as Muslims are. Muslims always try to become good Muslims but they never bother to become good human beings. There is no answer to the question that what thing differentiates Islam from other religions. Other than rituals of some different kinds, I don’t see any thing at all which was not mentioned in the previously revealed divine religions and later on God came to know those deficiencies and introduced a new religion free of all the deficiencies.
I have noticed a difference that the Muslims are more practical in terms of performing their rituals etc. but at the same time they are evenly involved in the social evils. Is it not double standards? I believe that religions were to help human become humane. Today, we see that most of the unrest on the earth is because of the “perfect religion”. That “perfect religion” has created hatred between Muslims and non-Muslims. So much so, it has also created extreme dislike towards each others among the followers of different Islamic factions. There are substantial references which prove that Islam is not a divine religion but a man-made. I am sure an unbiased and impartial study of the following paragraphs will help one ponder whether one is on the right path or otherwise:-
Quran: 5:51: Oh ye who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors; they are but friends and protectors to each other. And he amongst you that turns to them (for friendship) is of them. Verily Allah guideth not a people unjust.¡¨
Quran 2:120: Never will the jews nor the christians be pleased with you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him) till you follow their religion. Say: "Verily, the Guidance of Allah (i.e. Islamic Monotheism) that is the (only) Guidance. And if you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him) were to follow their (jews and christians) desires after what you have received of Knowledge (i.e. the Quran), then you would have against Allah neither any Walee (protector or guardian) nor any helper.
Is it possible that a practicing Muslim will ever think good of Jews and Christians in the light of the above verses? If not, then the chances of bringing peace and harmony all around are bleak.
In the teachings of Islam, there are lots of things look funny. Sexual related matters have been given much importance which, truly speaking irritates me. In this write up I would try to highlight the unjust, irrational, unnatural, illogical and discriminatory.
Permission to have Four Wives Simultaneously
If we discuss the matter of permission of having four wives simultaneously, one fails to find out any positive aspect of such permission. It is absolutely against the human behavior and instinct. I say with authority that none of the husbands or wives in the world can ever bear his or her spouse’s sexual relations with any other guy. Since Muhammad was also a human being, therefore the following Hadith narrates his behavior:
Sahih Bokhari: Volume 7, Book 62, Number 39:
Narrated 'Aisha: that the Prophet entered upon her while a man was sitting with her. Signs of anger seemed to appear on his face as if he disliked that. She said, "Here is my (foster) brother." He said, "Be sure as to who is your foster brother, for foster suckling relationship is established only when milk is the only food of the child."
When Muhammad’s wives started becoming jealous of each other and whenever they became annoyed with him on any issue, he came up with a new verse as words of God in support of his action and sexual lust and to make them frightened as well:
Sahih Bokhari: Volume 7, Book 62, Number 119:
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas : had been eager to ask 'Umar bin Al-Khattab about the two ladies from among the wives of the Prophet regarding whom Allah said 'If you two (wives of the Prophet namely Aisha and Hafsa) turn in repentance to Allah, your hearts are indeed so inclined (to oppose what the Prophet likes). (66.4) till 'Umar performed the Hajj and I too, performed the Hajj along with him. (On the way) 'Umar went aside to answer the call of nature, and I also went aside along with him carrying a tumbler full of water, and when 'Umar had finished answering the call of nature, I poured water over his hands and he performed the ablution. Then I said to him, "O chief of the Believers! Who were the two ladies from among the wives of the Prophet regarding whom Allah said: 'If you two (wives of the Prophet) turn in repentance to Allah your hearts are indeed so inclined (to oppose what the Prophet likes)?" (66.4) He said, "I am astonished at your question, O Ibn Abbas. They were 'Aisha and Hafsa." Then 'Umar went on narrating the Hadith and said, "I and an Ansari neighbor of mine from Bani Umaiyya bin Zaid who used to live in Awali-al-Medina, used to visit the Prophet in turn. He used to go one day and I another day. When I went, I would bring him the news of what had happened that day regarding the Divine Inspiration and other things, and when he went, he used to do the same for me. We, the people of Quraish used to have the upper hand over our wives, but when we came to the Ansar, we found that their women had the upper hand over their men, so our women also started learning the ways of the Ansari women. I shouted at my wife and she retorted against me and I disliked that she should answer me back. She said to me, 'Why are you so surprised at my answering you back? By Allah, the wives of the Prophet answer him back and some of them may leave (does not speak to) him throughout the day till the night.' The (talk) scared me and I said to her, 'Whoever has done so will be ruined!' Then I proceeded after dressing myself, and entered upon Hafsa and said to her, 'Does anyone of you keep the Prophet angry till night?' She said, 'Yes.' I said, 'You are a ruined losing person! Don't you fear that Allah may get angry for the anger of Allah's Apostle and thus you will be ruined? So do not ask more from the Prophet and do not answer him back and do not give up talking to him. Ask me whatever you need and do not be tempted to imitate your neighbor (i.e., 'Aisha) in her manners for she is more charming than you and more beloved to the Prophet ." Umar added,"At that time a talk was circulating among us that (the tribe of) Ghassan were preparing their horses to invade us. My Ansari companion, on the day of his turn, went (to the town) and returned to us at night and knocked at my door violently and asked if I was there. I became horrified and came out to him. He said, 'Today a great thing has happened.' I asked, 'What is it? Have (the people of) Ghassan come?' He said, 'No, but (What has happened) is greater and more horrifying than that: Allah's Apostle; has divorced his wives. 'Umar added, "The Prophet kept away from his wives and I said "Hafsa is a ruined loser.' I had already thought that most probably this (divorce) would happen in the near future. So I dressed myself and offered the Morning Prayer with the Prophet and then the Prophet; entered an upper room and stayed there in seclusion. I entered upon Hafsa and saw her weeping. I asked, 'What makes you weep? Did I not warn you about that? Did the Prophet divorce you all?' She said, 'I do not know. There he is retired alone in the upper room.' I came out and sat near the pulpit and saw a group of people sitting around it and some of them were weeping. I sat with them for a while but could not endure the situation, so I went to the upper room where the Prophet; was and said to a black slave of his, 'Will you get the permission (of the Prophet) for 'Umar (to enter)?' The slave went in, talked to the Prophet about it and then returned saying, 'I have spoken to the Prophet and mentioned you but he kept quiet.' Then I returned and sat with the group of people sitting near the pulpit. but I could not bear the situation and once again I said to the slave, 'Will you get the permission for 'Umar?' He went in and returned saying, 'I mentioned you to him but he kept quiet.' So I returned again and sat with the group of people sitting near the pulpit, but I could not bear the situation, and so I went to the slave and said, 'Will you get the permission for 'Umar?' He went in and returned to me saying, 'I mentioned you to him but he kept quiet.' When I was leaving, behold! The slave called me, saying, 'The Prophet has given you permission.' Then I entered upon Allah's Apostle and saw him Lying on a bed made of stalks of date palm leaves and there was no bedding between it and him. The stalks left marks on his side and he was leaning on a leather pillow stuffed with date-palm fires. I greeted him and while still standing I said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Have you divorced your wives?' He looked at me and said, 'No.' I said, 'Allah Akbar!' And then, while still standing, I said chatting, 'Will you heed what I say, O Allah's Apostle? We, the people of Quraish used to have power over our women, but when we arrived at Medina we found that the men (here) were overpowered by their women.' The Prophet smiled and then I said to him, 'Will you heed what I say, O Allah's Apostle? I entered upon Hafsa and said to her, "Do not be tempted to imitate your companion ('Aisha), for she is more charming than you and more beloved to the Prophet.' " The Prophet smiled for a second time. When I saw him smiling, I sat down. Then I looked around his house, and by Allah, I could not see anything of importance in his house except three hides, so I said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Invoke Allah to make your followers rich, for the Persians and the Romans have been made prosperous and they have been given (the pleasures of the world), although they do not worship Allah.' Thereupon the Prophet sat up as he was reclining. and said, 'Are you of such an opinion, O the son of Al-Khattab? These are the people who have received the rewards for their good deeds in this world.' I said, 'O Allah's Apostle! Ask Allah to forgive me.' Then the Prophet kept away from his wives for twenty-nine days because of the story which Hafsa had disclosed to 'Aisha. The Prophet had said, 'I will not enter upon them (my wives) for one month,' because of his anger towards them, when Allah had admonished him. So, when twenty nine days had passed, the Prophet first entered upon 'Aisha. 'Aisha said to him, 'O Allah's Apostle! You had sworn that you would not enter upon us for one month, but now only twenty-nine days have passed, for I have been counting them one by one.' The Prophet said, 'The (present) month is of twenty nine days.' 'Aisha added, 'Then Allah revealed the Verses of the option. (2) And out of all his-wives he asked me first, and I chose him.' Then he gave option to his other wives and they said what 'Aisha had said. " (1) The Prophet, ' had decided to abstain from eating a certain kind of food because of a certain event, so Allah blamed him for doing so. Some of his wives were the cause of him taking that decision; therefore he deserted them for one month.
Whenever Muhammad found himself in problems with regard to justify his unjustifiable desires and wishes, he would frighten his followers narrating the so-called divine verdict in support of his illogical actions:
Quran: 33:50: O Prophet, We have made lawful for thee thy wives whom thou hast given their dowries; and those whom thy right hand owns out of the spoils of war that God has given thee; and daughters of thy paternal uncle, and daughters of thy paternal aunts, and daughters of thy maternal uncle, and daughters of thy maternal aunts, who have emigrated with thee, and any Believing woman, if she gives herself to the Prophet, provided the Prophet also desires to take her in marriage; it is exclusive for thee, apart from the Believers; We know what We have ordained for them concerning their wives and what their right hands own; it is so that there may be no blame on thee; and surely God is Forgiving, Merciful.
Quran: 33:51: Thou mayest put off whom thou wilt out of them and mayest take to thee whom thou wilt; and if thou seekest any whom thou hast set aside, there is no blame on thee; thus it is likelier that their eyes will be cooled, and they will not be grieved, and all of them will be pleased with what thou givest them; and God knows what is in your hearts; and God is Knowing, Clement.
Quran: 66:1: O Prophet, why dost thou forbid what God has made lawful to thee; thou seekest the good pleasure of thy wives; and God is Forgiving, Merciful.
Quran: 66:2: God has indeed ordained for you the absolution of your oaths; and God is your Protector; and He is the Knowing, the Wise.
Quran: 66:3: And when the Prophet confided to one of his wives a certain matter; then, when she told of it, and God informed him about it, he made known part of it and turned aside from a part; so when he told her of it, she said, `who told thee of this'; he said, `the One Knowing, the Aware has told me'.
Quran: 66:4: If you (two) turn to God, for your hearts had inclined; but if you support each other against him, then God is his Protector, and also Gabriel and the righteous among the Believers; and, thereafter, the angels are his supporters.
Quran: 66:5: It may be that if he divorces you, his Lord may give him in exchange wives better than you __ surrendering, believing, obedient, penitent, serving, journeying, previously married and virgins.
The following Hadith describes that after introduction of the above verses Muhammad’s purpose was solved and his wives became God fearing:
Sahih Bokhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 48:
Narrated Hisham's father: Khaula bint Hakim was one of those ladies who presented themselves to the Prophet for marriage. 'Aisha said, "Doesn't a lady feel ashamed for presenting herself to a man?" But when the Verse: "(O Muhammad) You may postpone (the turn of) any of them (your wives) that you please,' (33.51) was revealed, " 'Aisha said, 'O Allah's Apostle! I do not see, but, that your Lord hurries in pleasing you.' "
Since human instincts of both male and female are same, therefore, as mentioned in the forgoing paragraphs, no woman can ever bear his husband’s sexual relations with any other woman even if she is the truest believer. It is because of the possessive instinct/behavior of the human beings which equally exists in both the genders. Muhammad’s wives knew him, his way of living, his teachings, etc. more than any body else and in spite of these they were unable to accept each other, which was natural. The following Hadiths are quoted to give examples of their attitude.
Sahih Bokhari: Volume 7, Book 62, Number 138:
Narrated al-Qasim: Aisha said that whenever the Prophet intended to go on a journey, he drew lots among his wives (so as to take one of them along with him). During one of his journeys the lot fell on 'Aisha and Hafsa. When night fell the Prophet would ride beside 'Aisha and talk with her. One night Hafsa said to 'Aisha, "Won't you ride my camel tonight and I ride yours, so that you may see (me) and I see (you) (in new situation)?" 'Aisha said, "Yes, (I agree.)" So 'Aisha rode, and then the Prophet came towards 'Aisha's camel on which Hafsa was riding. He greeted Hafsa and then proceeded (beside her) till they dismounted (on the way). 'Aisha missed him, and so, when they dismounted, she put her legs in the Idhkhir and said, "O Lord (Allah)! Send a scorpion or a snake to bite me for I am not to blame him (the Prophet).
Sahih Bokhari: Volume 7, Book 62, Number 152:
Narrated Anas: While the Prophet was in the house of one of his wives, one of the mothers of the believers sent a meal in a dish. The wife at whose house the Prophet was, struck the hand of the servant, causing the dish to fall and break. The Prophet gathered the broken pieces of the dish and then started collecting on them the food which had been in the dish and said, "Your mother (my wife) felt jealous." Then he detained the servant till a (sound) dish was brought from the wife at whose house he was. He gave the sound dish to the wife whose dish had been broken and kept the broken one at the house where it had been broken.
Sahih Bokhari: Volume 7, Book 62, Number 156:
Narrated 'Aisha: I never felt so jealous of any wife of Allah's Apostle as I did of Khadija because Allah's Apostle used to remember and praise her too often and because it was revealed to Allah's Apostle that he should give her (Khadija) the glad tidings of her having a palace of Qasab in Paradise .
The following is a very funny example of discrimination of a Prophet of a “perfect religion¨ when it is his person, the divine law is different, when there is the case of other believers, the law is different and when the matter of his own daughter confronted him, the divine law was set aside against the human instinct. See the following Hadith:
Volume 7, Book 62, Number 157:
Narrated Al-Miswar bin Makhrama: I heard Allah's Apostle who was on the pulpit, saying, "Banu Hisham bin Al-Mughira have requested me to allow them to marry their daughter to Ali bin Abu Talib, but I don't give permission, and will not give permission unless 'Ali bin Abi Talib divorces my daughter in order to marry their daughter, because Fatima is a part of my body, and I hate what she hates to see, and what hurts her, hurts me."
If we talk about sexual desire of the human beings, both the sexes are even. Just imagine the situation that a man having four wives fulfills his sexual desire of four times with four wives. How can each of the four wives satisfy their sexual desire of four times? Does it not look unnatural, illogical and discriminatory and violation of women’s rights?
Volume 7, Book 62, Number 139:
Narrated 'Aisha: Sada bint Zam'a gave up her turn to me ('Aisha), and so the Prophet used to give me ('Aisha) both my day and the day of Sad;
From the above Hadith one comes to know that Aisha had sexual desire more than her normal turn that was why she accepted the turn of Sada Bint Zam’a. Had Sada Bint Zam’a not given her turn to Aisha, mean that she (Aisha) had to suppress her desire.
It is a fact that sex is one of the primary instincts of human beings (male, female). It has been given so much importance but all with irrationality. I think it objectionable for two reasons. One): A large number of verses revealed wrongfully (ignoring women’s rights) in favor of sexual lust of male Muslims? Whereas, lots of other important matters including religious tolerance, peace, equality, justice etc. are discussed with less or little emphasis. Two): There are millions of couples all over the world who married and spent whole life with each other. It is not understandable that why Muslims have been permitted to marry as many as four women simultaneously and can keep countless maids with rightful permission to have sexual intercourse.
Reasons: I am of the view that there were two main reasons behind the illogical permission of having four wives simultaneously and countless female captives (maids) in Islam: One ? obviously, for the sexual lust of men and to attract more and more people (men) to accept Islam. I would say that this was a kind of bribe offered to the men of a society which was male dominated. Two ? To produce more and more children, to maximize the number of Muslims in a short period of time.
As said above, no one can deny the need of doing sex and I think it can be done having one spouse or partner, which is more feasible, logical, economical and based on equality. As I have stated above there are millions of couples around the world living happily and satisfactorily with regard to sex. Although, in this way, the Muslims have been able to increase themselves in numbers, yet they failed to establish themselves as good human beings and beneficial to others. Muslims could not visualize the bad impact of this rapid birth rate. Today, most of the problems like, social, health, education etc. are because of the growing population.
Uncontrollable Sexual Desire of a Prophet:
Muhammad being a prophet should have been a role model for the Muslims in all respect including sex. But it is astonishing that he could not control his sexual desires and married to nine women, many more than a common Muslim. He was also allowed to keep countless maids. See the following Quranic verse Muhammad told his followers to justify his marriages and keeping of maid captives.
Quran 33:50: O Prophet! We have made lawful to you the wives to whom you have given their dowers; and those ladies whom your right hands possess (from the prisoners of war) whom Allah has assigned to you; and the daughters of your paternal uncles and aunts, and the daughters of your maternal uncles and aunts, who have migrated with you; and the believing woman who gave herself to the Prophet if the Prophet desires to marry her ¡V this permission is only for you and not for the other believers; we know what restrictions We have imposed on the other believers concerning their wives and those whom their right hands possess. We have granted you this privilege as an exception so that no blame may be attached to you. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful¡¨.
The following Hadiths prove that Muhammad was a sex hungry person:
Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 6, Number 297:
Narrated Um Salama: While I was lying with the Prophet under a single woolen sheet, I got the menses. I slipped away and put on the clothes for menses. He said, "Have you got "Nifas" (menses)?" I replied, "Yes." He then called me and made me lie with him under the same sheet.
Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 6, Number 298:
Narrated 'Aisha: The Prophet and I used to take a bath from a single pot while we were Junub. During the menses, he used to order me to put on an Izar (dress worn below the waist) and used to fondle me. While in Itikaf, he used to bring his head near me and I would wash it while I used to be in my periods (menses).
Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 6, Number 299:
Narrated 'Abdur-Rahman bin Al-Aswad: (on the authority of his father) 'Aisha said: "Whenever Allah's Apostle wanted to fondle anyone of us during her periods (menses), he used to order her to put on an Izar and start fondling her." 'Aisha added, "None of you could control his sexual desires as the Prophet could."
Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 6, Number 300:
Narrated Maimuna: When ever Allah's Apostle wanted to fondle any of his wives during the periods (menses), he used to ask her to wear an Izar.
Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 6, Number 319:
Narrated Zainab bint Abi Salama: Um-Salama said, "I got my menses while I was lying with the Prophet under a woolen sheet. So I slipped away, took the clothes for menses and put them on. Allah's Apostle said, 'Have you got your menses?' I replied, 'Yes.' Then he called me and took me with him under the woolen sheet." Um Salama further said, "The Prophet used to kiss me while he was fasting. The Prophet and I used to take the bath of Janaba from a single pot."
Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 6, Number 320:
Narrated Um Salama: While I was lying with the Prophet under a woolen sheet, I got my menses. I slipped away and put on the clothes for menses. The Prophet said, "Have you got your menses?" I replied, "Yes." He called me and I slept with him under the woolen sheet.
Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 6:
Narrated Anas: The Prophet used to go round (have sexual relations with) all his wives in one night, and he had nine wives.
Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 142:
Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet used to pass by (have sexual relation with) all his wives in one night, and at that time he had nine wives.
Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 55:
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar : 'Umar bin Al-Khattab said, "When Hafsa bint 'Umar became a widow after the death of (her husband) Khunais bin Hudhafa As-Sahmi who had been one of the companions of the Prophet, and he died at Medina. I went to 'Uthman bin 'Affan and presented Hafsa (for marriage) to him. He said, "I will think it over.' I waited for a few days, then he met me and said, 'It seems that it is not possible for me to marry at present.' " 'Umar further said, "I met Abu Bakr As-Siddique and said to him, 'If you wish, I will marry my daughter Hafsa to you." Abu Bakr kept quiet and did not say anything to me in reply. I became more angry with him than with 'Uthman. I waited for a few days and then Allah's Apostle asked for her hand, and I gave her in marriage to him. Afterwards I met Abu Bakr who said, 'Perhaps you became angry with me when you presented Hafsa to me and I did not give you a reply?' I said, 'Yes.' Abu Bakr said, 'Nothing stopped me to respond to your offer except that I knew that Allah's Apostle had mentioned her, and I never wanted to let out the secret of Allah's Apostle. And if Allah's Apostle had refused her, I would have accepted her.' "
