Brand Islam: Religious Fanaticism

There are persons to whom we preach the wisdom of the Qur'an who react to the wide divergence between it and the Islam of the majority by saying: “You are simplifying religion. How can religion be so easy to practice?”.

Followers of the brand called "Islam" often display their ignorance of the verses of the Qur'an. When one actually looks to the Qur'an, however, there is no fanatic dogmatism. If you're advocating monasticism or a certain dogmatic specificity, it is not the way of the Qur'an; for the true path is not exclusive to groups pertaining as "Muslims", the true path is simply the universal creed of Abraham, which belongs to all sincere, God-following people who seek the truth regardless of religious affiliation.

"And strive in the cause of God its truly deserved striving. He is the One who has chosen you, and He has made no hardship for you in the system, the creed of your father Abraham; He is the One who named you 'those who have submitted' from before and in this. So let the messenger be witness over you and you be witness over the people. So hold the contact prayer and contribute towards purification and hold tight to God, He is your patron. What an excellent Patron, and what an excellent Supporter." (Qur'an 22:78)

"...God does not wish to cause you any hardship..." (Qur'an 5:6)

GOD'S SPOKESMEN

Sectarian zealots who dared to act as spokesmen of God have invented the brand called Islam, and made it as if it were a curse upon mankind! They presented it as if it ran counter to human nature, logic, love and justice. One hundred and fourteen bismillahs (beginning verse of the surahs) and hundreds of other verses recite and reiterate God’s compassion and generosity. The bigoted Islamist mentality has represented themselves as a product of freakish thought, encumbering themselves with impediments and condemning the sobriety and simplicity inherent in the Quran. Music of the Quran taken by some as a sort of incantation was enough to lull the fanatic’s mentality.

"...God wants to bring you ease and not to bring you hardship..." (Qur'an 2:185)

"God wishes to lighten your difficulties, for humans are created weak." (Qur'an 4:28)

One of the main reasons of the revelation was to do away with idols, egos, priests, clergy and sanctified individuals who supposedly interceded between God and man. We cannot but witness the working of intercessors like sheikhs, sectarian imams, traditionalists and canonical scholars.

"Absolutely, to God is the true system. And those who set up allies besides Him: "We only serve them so that they may bring us closer to God." God will judge between them in what they dispute. For God does not guide him who is a liar, a rejecter." (Qur'an 39:3)

THE DIFFICULT LIFE OF THE FANATICS

We shall try now to give a brief account of a matrimonial life according to the sectarian. This will give us a good idea how difficult life has been rendered thanks to the ingenuous fabrications of the sectarian mind.

The couple should get out of bed with their right foot first. Good deeds require the primary use of the right foot, for the use of the left foot leads to the carrying out of evil deeds. One should do well to wear a headgear before entering the bathroom. Speaking in the bathroom is banned and if anyone asks something while one is in the bathroom, the question should remain unanswered. Man must give up the habit of urinating standing but do so in a crouched position.

If either of the spouses is to take a bath, he or she should keep a loincloth on. A person should acquire the habit of covering his/her private parts even when alone in the bathroom. Although there is no one around, one should be conscious of the omnipresence of angels. In the course of taking a bath one should take care that one washes first the right shoulder while continuing to recite the Arabic prayers as foreseen in the relevant books. To clean the teeth with miswak is obligatory. Proper care of teeth must not be neglected. According to certain scholars, filling teeth would cancel the ablution. The man will remain dirty. In the case of decay of a tooth, it must be pulled out and false teeth used. False teeth should be taken out during ablution and washed well since otherwise the polluted state of its wearer will continue.

When a man is to perform his "daily prayer", he would do well to wind his turban, which should preferably be seven meters long. A man must wear only green, black or white colors. Yellow or red must be avoided. The spouses should eat seated on the ground and avoid eating at tables, modern inventions. In the seated position on the ground the right leg shall be bent while the left shall remain folded beneath the buttocks. The meal is served in one single dish. Utensils like forks or spoons should be avoided. The best way of eating would be the use of one’s three fingers. It is advisable to start a meal with salt. Water during the meal should be drunk in three gulps. The use of the right hand in eating is an absolute necessity since things eaten with the left hand go to the belly of Satan. Upon the conclusion of the meal, three fingers shall be licked starting with the thumb, for this is sunna, which must be obeyed. A man must look in the mirror, check whether his beard has grown longer than allowed. Care must be taken not to trim it shorter; for, then he would assume to be too handsome. Man’s application of collyrium at the outer corner of the eye and his parting his hair down the middle are commendable.

The wife should never have her eyebrows plucked, as that is a great sin. If she happens to go out, she must make sure that a next of kin accompany her if she intends to go at a distance longer than 90 kilometers. However, it is best for her to stay indoors. When she goes out, she should not forget to cover herself and refrain from dabbing on perfume. It is best for her to cover her entire body and wear gloves. Many scholars have advised that the cut nails of a woman must be buried in the ground considering that they are a part of her body, making sure that they are not seen by males.All so-called controversial things must be avoided, according to the sects. Music, stringed instruments and especially a woman’s voice are banned. Sexual relations must take place with clothes on since otherwise angels may be offended. The sight of sexual organs must also be avoided by the couple.

When entering or leaving the house one must make sure that the first step must be with the right foot. Dogs should not be let in for fear of offending and keeping away the angels. Beds or couches must touch the ground and be without legs. One must take ablution before going to sleep. It is said that a person who dies clean in his sleep will go to paradise as a martyr. The sleeping position shall be as follows: the right hand shall be placed beneath the head while the sleeper lies on his right side. Lying flat on one’s belly is the worst position imaginable. A person who sleeps prone must be warned by either of the spouses to change his/her position.

INTERMINABLE ADVISE

All these prescriptions are enough to show how much of what passes for religion today, has been invented by dogmatic and sectarian books. This system obstructs the natural and healthy living of an individual. The same attitude may be observed in many religions today.

"Then We sent in their tracks Our messengers. And We sent Jesus, son of Mary, and We gave him the Gospel, and We ordained in the hearts of his followers kindness and mercy. But they invented Monasticism which We never decreed for them. They wanted to please God, but they did not observe it the way it should have been observed. Consequently, We gave those who believed among them their recompense, while many of them were wicked." (Qur'an 57:27)

The sectarians have filled every second of a man with obligations to be performed, giving them a fanatical character. Yet, many of these obligations they have imposed were quite often not practiced by their own fabricators.

"God does not burden a soul except with what it can bear." (Qur'an 2:286)

"And We will make easy for you the way." (Qur'an 87:8)

"The rich shall provide support in accordance with his means, and the poor shall provide according to the means that God bestowed upon him. God does not burden any soul more than He has given it. God will provide ease after difficulty." (Qur'an 65:6)