Common and Sundry between Islam, Judaism and Christianity - Research Paper Example

Research the teachings of Islam and how they are interpreted and or practiced in the United States and Great Britain The spread of Islam started 1400 years back when the last Messenger of God, Prophet Muhammad was given the charge of spreading Islam in the world’s different corners. The teachings of Islam are pretty simple but it is the manner in which they are being interpreted in different parts of the world which has made the whole issue debatable. The preaching of Islam is such that the Muslims are asked to worship one God and no one else. The five pillars of Islam focus primarily on the ways and means through which man commits himself to his God. The Holy Book Quran is the final word on everything as far as the religion is concerned. Being good to others and showing morality are regarded as the most significant factors within Islam. The basic tenets of Islam include the five prayers, the deduction of zakat from one’s earnings, fasting in the Holy month of Ramadan for 30 days, offering pilgrimage and complying staunchly with the concept of oneness of God and Muhammad being his last Prophet. It is compulsory on the part of the followers of Islam to understand and apply the basic tenets of Islam so that they can become good Muslims. Each Muslim is accountable and answerable to God alone, and hence on the Day of Judgment, he would either be sent to Heaven or burned in Hell. These are some of the most basic concepts upon which the premise of Islam is based. The differences that Islam has with Judaism and Christianity are very basic yet the affects are magnanimous. Christians believe that there is one God and that Christ is the son of God. On the other hand, Muslims cannot think of having anyone related with God in any way. If this happens, it is known as sharing within Islam, more specifically ‘shirk’ which is an absolute sin for Muslims. In Judaism, Jews also pray regularly. They have 13 principles of faith which were coined within the 12th century. Jews also believe that God cannot be compared with anyone and it is right to pray for one Creator and no one else (Denny, Corrigan, Eire & Jaffee 1997). This is in line with the basic beliefs of the Muslims. The Holy Book of the Christians is the Bible while the Torah is the Book that the Jews follow. All the three religions believe in the premise that the good people of faith would be rewarded by God while the ones who do not do the good deeds would be punished not only in this life but also in the life hereafter. Islam is being interpreted in a very negative fashion throughout the world. There are a number of reasons for this anomaly. First and foremost is the manner in which Muslims do not obey their own principles and do not follow the basic injunctions of the religion. There is disharmony amongst the Muslims when it comes to unity. They have crept far behind in the race to educate their own selves. Also they have not done their bit within the industries, different walks of life and science and technology regimes. The War on Terror has also made matters worse for the Muslims as they have been subjected to all forms of bias at the hands of the non-Muslims. There is the racial biasness that has engulfed the Muslims and one must not forget that Muslims have done little to thwart such reactions that have been meted out upon them. The anti-Muslim forces have also played their undue part at racially profiling the Muslims and maligning the religion of Islam in a number of different ways. All these actions and behaviors have brought about a bad name for this religion which is considered very sacred and spiritual worldwide. Its teachings are such that even a non-follower would agree that Muslims are clean and pure people, however this is hardly the case that could be fathomed within the Western world of present times. It is an unfortunate thing on the part of the Muslims and towards the religion of Islam in meticulous. What is even worst is the fact that Muslims are doing very little to amend such problematic areas, and are concentrating towards their own lives (Warner 2005). The unity is missing which is a very shameful thing for the religion of Islam. The leaders within the Muslim countries are also not loyal towards their people as well as towards their religion and hence the fact that there is so much acrimony for Muslims all around the world. It has been seen that people do not like to be associated with Muslims for all the wrong reasons, and time proves this theory again and again. In the United States, Muslims are treated in a very unfair manner. They are subjected to discrimination in almost all walks of life. This is because they are simply the followers of a religion which gives importance to Jihad (or war in the name of God). This concept has been blown out of proportion for a number of decades now and has been given more air by the September 11, 2001 attacks on the superpower nation of the world, the United States of America. Since these attacks involved Muslims as hijackers, the hatred for this religion grew in an exponential way (Esposito 2002). It increased beyond proportions so much so that Muslims were treated unfairly at airports and major metros. Also the Americans felt insecure with the Muslims living in their close vicinity. The visa laws were made stringent and no one was allowed to enter the United States in an easy way. The rules and regulations are harsher now than ever before. Even the most trivial of activities of Muslims are now being monitored which is in direct opposition to the philosophy of human rights. Also the manner in which America is known as the free society has raised a number of questions left, right and center. The media within the United States has done much harm than bringing about any relief for the followers of Islam. It has raised stories which did not demand that much attention. It has made the average Muslim as a scapegoat for many issues, which is unfortunate and untrue to state the least. This similarity can also be witnessed within the Great Britain. The same policies and laws are being drafted within the British regimes which ask for the Muslims to abstain in any activity that comes directly under the aegis of the free world premise. Muslims are being treated unfairly and there is reason enough to believe such a claim. Visa issuance problems are also being seen within the Great Britain which has always remained a close ally of the United States, and more so after the War on Terror started in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Tough laws are in place which has put the Muslims at a standoff as to whether they should return to their native lands or lives with a lowered sense of dignity at their end. Serious problems have arisen for those Muslims who were born and bred within the Great Britain as it is indeed their home and they have no other place to go and seek refuge. These are some of the most problematic aspects that one can consider when he thinks about the issues that the Muslims within the United States and Great Britain face on a consistent basis. The perceptions that have been created of these Muslims are such that they are being seen in a very negative way. One should believe that there is more to such discussions than one can see with eyes. Misperceptions have been created and have thus been expounded upon time and time again. There are problems for the Muslims in the different areas and regions of the world and not just the United States and the Great Britain. The linkage and associations between the Muslims and the non-Muslims has hit an all-time low as the latter do not believe in the Muslims at all. There is hatred for the religion of Islam as according to them it cultivates disharmony and terrorism, which is not the case at all. 99 percent of all Muslims are very peaceful people. It is just the 1 percent that spoils the name of Islam (Lewis 1994). The fanatics are bringing a bad name because they have hidden agendas, and they are listening to someone else rather than their own God. It would be right to suggest that they are Muslims by tongue but not by heart, where the latter is more important than just being labeled as a Muslim alone. The relationships between these two has deteriorated and evidence for the same banks on the theory that terrorism comes into the related equation whenever non-Muslims are inquired as per their disliking of the followers of the religion of Islam. What can be done to thwart such negativities is important because it will exactly pinpoint the basis of hatred that has come into the debate of associations or the lack thereof between the Muslims and the ones who are regarded as the non-Muslims. What needs to be done in the coming times is an attitudinal shift amongst the non-Muslims. They must learn to co-exist with the Muslims because this is the need of the hour. This world is a global village and each one of us must understand this dictum in entirety. It is important that nearly everyone is on board and complies with this philosophy so that the world could become a better place to live within. Also the role of the government within the first world nations has to change, for the better. This is because their action or even inaction could mean a great deal for the followers of Islam. The element of being treated as fair and equal is significant within the relevant contexts. It would do justice to the way this world is run by the movers and shakers through their policies and laws. The Muslims are being subjected to undue pressure by these governments just because they follow this religion. It is against the human rights to treat someone unfairly just because one follows a particular religion, and in the case, Islam alone. Christians and Jews would never appreciate it if they would have been racially targeted throughout the world (Wike 2006). Same is the case with Muslims who demand equal attention and an absolutely unbiased attitude towards their day to day chores and tasks. It is important because this will set the global house in order and that too for all the right reasons. In the end, it would be correct to suggest here that Muslims have a long way to go. They must set their house in order first before thinking of being a part of the world’s active and respected communities. They must bring harmony within their ranks to turn the tides their way. Unity is the key here as it will pave the way for many things to come in the future. What has happened has in entirety happened, and will never take place again. The Muslims must remember that their forefathers brought laurel for the religion and there is no doubt that such recognition can once again be back within the folds of Muslims as well as their religion, Islam. On the same footing, their communication and interaction with non-Muslims must not deteriorate rather the emphasis should be upon building such long lasting linkages which will pave the way for cross-religion harmony. There needs to be tolerance within the people of the world towards the Muslims and a greater understanding is sought as per the doctrines of Islam and how a few people are bringing a bad name time and time again. The world of today looks up to the Muslims to be at their best and not to showcase what has happened in the last decade or so. There is a great deal of hatred which needs to be wiped off and this would not happen overnight. Concerted efforts need to be made so that sanity could prevail within the related ranks in the times to come. References Denny, F., Corrigan, J., Eire, C. & Jaffee, M (1997). Jews, Christians, Muslims: A Comparative Introduction to Monotheistic Religions. Prentice Hall Esposito, J (2002). Unholy War: Terror in the Name of Islam. Oxford University Press Lewis, B (1994). Islam and the West. Oxford University Press Warner, C (2005). The War for Muslim Minds: Islam and the West. Ethics & International Affairs, Vol. 19 Wike, R (2006). The Great Divide: How Westerners and Muslims view each other. Pew Global Attitudes Project. Found Online at: http://pewglobal.org/2006/06/22/the-great-divide-how-westerners-and-muslims-view-each-other/ Read More