Righteousness

ALL RELIGIONS TEACH MEN TO BE RIGHTEOUS, THEN WHY FOLLOW ONLY ISLAM?

All religions basically teach followers to do good deeds. Why should a person only follow Islam? Can he not follow any of the religions?

Answer

Major difference between Islam and most other religions

All religions basically exhort humankind to be righteous and eschew evil. But Islam goes beyond that. It guides us towards practical ways of achieving righteousness and eliminating evil from our individual and collective lives. Islam takes into account human nature and the complexities of human society. Islam is guidance from the Creator Himself. Therefore, Islam is also called the Deen-ul- Fitrah (the natural religion of Man).

Example – Islam commands us to shun robbery and also prescribes a method of eliminating robbery
Islam prescribes method of eliminating robbery
All major religions teach that theft is an evil act. Islam teaches the same. So what is the difference between Islam and the other religions? The difference lies in the fact that Islam, besides teaching that robbing is evil, shows a practical way of creating a social structure in which people will not rob.

Islam prescribes Zakaat

Islam prescribes a system of Zakaat (obligatory annual charity). Islamic law prescribes that every person who has a saving that exceeds the nisaab level i.e. more than 85 grams of gold, should give 2.5% of that saving every lunar year in charity. If every rich person in the world gives Zakaat sincerely, poverty will be eradicated from this world. Not a single human being would die of hunger.

Chopping-off the hand as punishment for robbery

Islam prescribes chopping-off the hand of the convicted robber. The Glorious Qur’an says in Surah Al Maidah:

“As to the thief, male or female, cut off his or her hands: a punishment by way of example, from Allah, for their crime: and Allah is Exalted in power, full of wisdom.”

[ Al-Qur’an 5:38]

Example — Islam prohibits the molestation and rape of women. It enjoins hijaab and prescribes capital punishment for a convicted rapist
Islam prescribes method of eliminating molestation and rape. All the major religions declare the molestation and rape of women as grave sins. Islam teaches the same. What then is the difference between Islam and the other religions? The difference lies in the fact that Islam does not merely preach respect for women, or abhor molestation and rape as serious crimes, but also gives clear guidance as to how society can eliminate such crimes.

Hijaab for men
Islam has a system of hijaab. The Glorious Qur’an first mentions hijaab for the men and then for the women. Hijaab for the men is mentioned in the following verse:

“Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do.”

[Al Qur’an 24:30]

The moment a man looks at a woman and if any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his mind, he should lower his gaze.

Hijaab for women
Hijaab for women is mentioned in the following verse:

“And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands’ fathers, their sons….”

[Al Qur’an 24:31]

The extent of hijaab for a woman is that her complete body should be covered. The only part that can be seen, is the face and the hands up to the wrists. If they wish to cover, they can even cover these parts of the body. However, some Islamic scholars insist that even the face should be covered.

Hijaab prevents molestation

The reason why Allah has prescribed Hijaab for the women is given in the Qur’an in the following verse of Surah Al Ahzaab:

“O Prophet! Tell thy wives and daughters, and the believing women, that they should cast their outer garments over their persons (when abroad): that is most convenient, that they should be known (as such) and not molested. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, most Merciful.”

[Al Qur’an 33:59]

The Qur’an says that Hijaab has been prescribed for the women so that they are recognized as modest women and this would prevent them from being molested.

Example of twin sisters
Suppose two sisters who are twins and who are equally beautiful, walk down a street. One of them is wearing the Islamic Hijaab i.e. the complete body is covered except for the face and the hands up to the wrists, and the other twin is wearing a miniskirt or shorts. Around the corner, there is a hooligan who is waiting for an opportunity to tease a girl. Whom will he tease? The girl wearing the Islamic hijaab or the girl wearing the miniskirt or shorts? Dresses that expose more than they conceal, are an indirect temptation to the opposite sex for teasing, molestation and rape. The Qur’an rightly says that the hijaab prevents women from being molested.

Capital punishment for rapist
The Islamic shari’ah prescribes capital punishment for a convicted rapist. 

Islam has practical solutions for the problems of humankind

Islam is the best way of life because its teachings are not doctrinaire rhetoric but practical solutions for the problems of humankind. Islam achieves results both at the individual and collective levels. Islam is the best way of life because it is a practical and universal religion not confined to any ethnic group or nationality.

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