Islam and pluralism

All religions are about creating harmony

In a discussion thread, I wrote, " I sincerely believe all religions uplifts one's soul. No religion is superior to the other, religion is about humility and not arrogance."

Irtaza, my friend had the following question;
What is your understanding on 11:21? "These are the ones who lose their souls, and the idols they had fabricated will disown them."

Indeed, that is the beauty of quraan; one world, one web, one creator who is all embracing and all loving of his infinitely diverse creation.

Those who have fabricated their own God who serves their interests and not the interests of entire creation, have committed a grave mistake in creating conflicting interest groups; a source of disharmony and imbalance in the society.

الَّذِينَ يَصُدُّونَ عَن سَبِيلِ اللّهِ وَيَبْغُونَهَا عِوَجًا وَهُم بِالآخِرَةِ هُمْ كَافِرُونَ (11:19)
11:19 (Asad) "who turn others away from the path of God and try to make it appear crooked -since it is they, they who refuse to acknowledge the truth of the life to come ! [38] -"

God is about harmony, love, equillibrium and balance. Every thing that created has a self balancing mechanism built into it. Those who cannot see this truth continue to live in confusion.

أُولَـئِكَ لَمْ يَكُونُواْ مُعْجِزِينَ فِي الأَرْضِ وَمَا كَانَ لَهُم مِّن دُونِ اللّهِ مِنْ أَوْلِيَاء يُضَاعَفُ لَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ مَا كَانُواْ يَسْتَطِيعُونَ السَّمْعَ وَمَا كَانُواْ يُبْصِرُونَ (11:20)

11:20 (Asad) "Never can they elude [their final reckoning, even if they remain unscathed] on earth : [39] never will they find anyone who could protect them from God. [In the life to come] double suffering will be imposed on them [40] for having lost the ability to hear [the truth] and having failed to see [it]."

They may get away momentarily, but deep down they have depleted their positive energy. They will suffer from anxieties and imbalance.

أُوْلَـئِكَ الَّذِينَ خَسِرُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُواْ يَفْتَرُونَ (11:21)

11:21 (Asad) "It is they who have squandered their own selves-for [on the Day of Resurrection] all their false imagery [42] will have forsaken them."

Indeed they have brought in their own misery.

لاَ جَرَمَ أَنَّهُمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ هُمُ الأَخْسَرُونَ (11:22)
11:22 (Asad) "truly it is they, they who in the life to come shall be the losers!"

Divisive attitudes will bring them misery.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّالِحَاتِ وَأَخْبَتُواْ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ أُوْلَـئِكَ أَصْحَابُ الجَنَّةِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ (11:23)

11:23 (Asad) "Behold, [only] those who attain to faith and do righteous deeds and humble themselves before their Sustainer - [only] they are destined for paradise, and there shall they abide. "

Those who believe that the creator has created a balanced world, and continue to subscribe and contribute to that balance, have earned the peace of mind and freedom to enjoy the god given life.


Mike Ghouse
Committed to cohesive America
www.MikeGhouse.net