Prophet Abraham was blessed with two great sons – Ismael and Isaac who are also regarded as Allah’s prophets. Later, Ismael’s descendants formed a big community known as Ismaelite and Isaac’s descendants also formed a big community known as Israelite in the Bible. Since the two lineages started with Prophet Abraham, he is regarded as the patriarch of Ismaelites and Israelites establishing a blood relation between them. Abraham was first Imam appointed by Allah for mankind and He also took him as His friend (The Qur’an 2:124, 4:125).
The Jews and Christians claim that Judeo-Christianity professed by them is the Abrahamic religion. The Bible says nothing about the Abrahamic religion and its tenets nor about what the religion Prophet Abraham professed and preached. Conversely the Qur’an clearly says that Abraham was an upright Muslim: “Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian but he was an upright Muslim.”(3:67) Abraham prayed: “O our Lord! Make us Muslims and also make our descendants Muslims.” (2:128)
Everyone knows that a Muslim’s religion is Islam meaning submission to the Will of Allah (divine law) and its adherents are uprightly called Muslims. Calling Prophet Abraham an upright Muslim in the Qur’an signifies that he practised full allegiance and fealty to Islam i.e. submission to the Will of Allah and it was really his religion.
In fact, nothing can be true, pure and best religion other than submission to the Will of the Creator (Allah) and Islam is the only religion that teaches man how to establish submission to the Will of the Creator. As such the Qur’an states: “The religion chosen by Allah (for mankind) is only Islam. If anybody chooses a religion (or way of life) other than Islam, Allah will not accept it from him; and he will be a loser in the hereafter.” (3:19, 85) All prophets appointed by Allah preached Islam dealing with the submission to Allah. Allah announces in the Qur’an: “O Muhammad! I sent no Prophet before thee but I inspired him saying: “There is no God save Me; so worship Me.” (21:25,16:36)
Muhammad Abdus Samad
Ambari,Dhupdhara, Assam
The Caste Bias Hurts
The report on a Dalit youth and his brother being thrashed for drinking water from a pot during a wedding ceremony at Haldwani (UP) made for agonising reading. The youths were abused with casteist remarks and then physically assaulted and had to be hospitalised.
Almost 80 years after freedom from the British rule, we, the Indians, continue to carry deep-seated biases in our minds when it comes to caste. Whether it be marriage, social functions or even jobs, caste continues to play a stifling role ensuring that the lower castes are excluded from any benefits. How long are we going to allow such a situation to continue which is sure to hurt societal relations in the long run? It’s high time to cast away the evil of caste and live as freedom- and justice-loving citizens who will NOT tolerate any unkind action against anyone.
Saeed Ahmed
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Why Limited Ceasefire? Why Not End of War?
The Financial Timeshas reported that the ceasefire between the US and Iran is likely to be extended by 60 days. Fresh diplomatic push has been reported after Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir met top Iranian leadership in Tehran. Pakistan has said that an MoU to end Iran-US war is being fine-tuned.
Peace is what we all aspire for. Therefore, the trillion-dollar question is: why limited ceasefire, just for 60 days? Why not they consider a ceasefire for ever, i.e. the end of war.
Rashid Mansoor
Meerut, Uttar Pradesh