why is polygamy allowed in Islam?

1. POLYGAMY

Question:

Why is a man allowed to have more than one wife in Islam? i.e. why is polygamy allowed in Islam?

Answer:

1. Definition of Polygamy

Polygamy means a system of marriage whereby one person has more than one spouse. Polygamy can be of two types. One is polygyny where a man marries more than one woman, and the other is polyandry, where a woman marries more than one man. In Islam, limited polygyny is permitted; whereas polyandry

is completely prohibited.

Now coming to the original question, why is a man allowed to have more than one wife?

2. The Qur’an is the only religious scripture in the world that says, “marry only one”.

The Qur’an is the only religious book, on the face of this earth, that contains the phrase ‘marry only one’. There is no other religious book that instructs men to have only one wife. In none of the other religious scriptures, whether it be the Vedas, the Ramayan, the Mahabharat, the Geeta, the Talmud or the Bible does one find a restriction on the number of wives. According to these scriptures one can marry as many as one wishes. It was only later, that the Hindu priests and the Christian Church restricted the number of wives to one.

Many Hindu religious personalities, according to their scriptures, had multiple wives. King Dashrat, the father of Rama, had more than one wife. Krishna had several wives.

In earlier times, Christian men were permitted as many wives as they wished, since the Bible puts no restriction on the number of wives. It was only a few centuries ago that the Church restricted the number of wives to one.

Polygyny is permitted in Judaism. According to Talmudic law, Abraham had three wives, and Solomon had hundreds of wives. The practice of polygyny continued till Rabbi Gershom ben Yehudah (960 C.E to 1030 C.E) issued an edict against it. The Jewish Sephardic communities living in Muslim countries

continued the practice till as late as 1950, until an Act of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel extended the ban on marrying more than one wife.

(*Interesting Note:- As per the 1975 census of India Hindus are more polygynous than Muslims. The report of the ‘Committee of The Status of Woman in Islam’, published in 1975 mentions on page numbers 66 and 67 that the percentage of polygamous marriages between the years 1951 and 1961

was 5.06% among the Hindus and only 4.31% among the Muslims. According to Indian law only Muslim men are permitted to have more than one wife. It is illegal for any non-Muslim in India to have more than one wife. Despite it being illegal, Hindus have more multiple wives as compared to Muslims. Earlier, there

was no restriction even on Hindu men with respect to the number of wives allowed. It was only in 1954, when the Hindu Marriage Act was passed that it became illegal for a Hindu to have more than one wife. At present it is the Indian Law that restricts a Hindu man from having more than one wife and not the

Hindu scriptures.)

Let us now analyse why Islam allows a man to have more than one wife.

3. Qur’an permits limited polygyny

As I mentioned earlier, Qur’an is the only religious book on the face of the earth that says ‘marry only one’. The context of this phrase is the following verse from Surah Nisa of the Glorious Qur’an:

“Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if ye fear that ye shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one.” [Al-Qur’an 4:3]

Before the Qur’an was revealed, there was no upper limit for polygyny and many men had scores of wives, some even hundreds. Islam put an upper limit of four wives. Islam gives a man permission to marry two, three or four women,only on the condition that he deals justly with them.

In the same chapter i.e. Surah Nisa verse 129 says:

“Ye are never able to be fair and just as between women....”[Al-Qur’an 4:129]

Therefore polygyny is not a rule but an exception. Many people are under the misconception that it is compulsory for a Muslim man to have more than one wife. Broadly, Islam has five categories of Do’s and Don’ts: (i) ‘Fard’ i.e. compulsory or obligatory

(ii) ‘Mustahab’ i.e. recommended or encouraged

(iii) ‘Mubah’ i.e. permissible or allowed

(iv) ‘Makruh’ i.e. not recommended or discouraged

(v) ‘Haraam’ i.e. prohibited or forbidden

Polygyny falls in the middle category of things that are permissible. It cannot be said that a Muslim who has two, three or four wives is a better Muslim as compared to a Muslim who has only one wife.

4. Average life span of females is more than that of males By nature males and females are born in approximately the same ratio. A female child has more immunity than a male child. A female child can fight the germs and diseases better than the male child. For this reason, during the pediatric age itself there are more deaths among males as compared to the females.

During wars, there are more men killed as compared to women. More men die due to accidents and diseases than women. The average life span of females is more than that of males, and at any given time one finds more widows in the world than widowers.

5. India has more male population than female due to female foeticide and infanticide

India is one of the few countries, along with the other neighbouring countries, in which the female population is less than the male population. The reason lies in the high rate of female infanticide in India, and the fact that more than one million female foetuses are aborted every year in this country, after they are identified as females. If this evil practice is stopped, then India too will have more females as compared to males.

6. World female population is more than male population

In the USA, women outnumber men by 7.8 million. New York alone has one million more females as compared to the number of males, and of the male population of New York one-third are gays i.e sodomites. The U.S.A as a whole has more than twenty-five million gays. This means that these people do not wish to marry women. Great Britain has four million more females as compared

to males. Germany has five million more females as compared to males. Russia has nine million more females than males. God alone knows how many million more females there are in the whole world as compared to males.

7. Restricting each and every man to have only one wife is not practical

Even if every man got married to one woman, there would still be more than thirty million females in U.S.A who would not be able to get husbands (considering that America has twenty five million gays). There would be more than four million females in Great Britain, 5 million females in Germany and nine

million females in Russia alone who would not be able to find a husband.

Suppose my sister happens to be one of the unmarried women living in USA, or suppose your sister happens to be one of the unmarried women in USA. The only two options remaining for her are that she either marries a man who already has a wife or becomes 'public property'. There is no other option. All

those who are modest will opt for the first. Most women would nto like to share their husband with other women. But in Islam when the situation deems it really neccessary Muslim women in due faith

could bear a small personal loss to prevent a greater loss of letting other Muslim sisters becoming 'public properties'.

8. Marring a married man preferable to becoming 'public property'

In Western society, it is common for a man to have mistresses and/or multiple extra-marital affairs, in which case, the woman leads a disgraceful, unprotected life. The same society, however, cannot accept a man having more than one wife, in which women retain their honourable, dignified position in society and

lead a protected life. Thus the only two options before a woman who cannot find a husband is to

marry a married man or to become 'public property'. Islam prefers giving women the honourable position by permitting the first option and disallowing the second.

There are several other reasons, why Islam has permitted limited polygyny, but it is mainly to protect the modesty of women.

Scientific Facts Mentioned in the Qur'an

Scientific Facts Mentioned in the Qur'an

Theory of Probability

In mathematics there is a theory known as ‘Theory of Probability’. If you have two options, out of which one is right, and one is wrong, the chances that you will chose the right one is half, i.e. one out of the two will be correct. You have 50% chances of being correct. Similarly if you toss a coin the chances that your guess will be correct is 50% (1 out of 2) i.e. 1/2. If you toss a coin the second time, the chances that you will be correct in the second toss is again 50% i.e. half. But the chances that you will be correct in both the tosses is half multiplied by half (1/2 x 1/2) which is equal to 1/4 i.e. 50% of 50% which is equal to 25%. If you toss a coin the third time, chances that you will be correct all three times is (1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2) that is 1/8 or 50% of 50% of 50% that is 12½%.

A dice has got six sides. If you throw a dice and guess any number between 1 to 6, the chances that your guess will be correct is 1/6. If you throw the dice the second time, the chances that your guess will be correct in both the throws is (1/6 x 1/6) which is equal to 1/36. If you throw the dice the third time, the chances that all your three guesses are correct is (1/6 x 1/6 x 1/6) is equal to 1/216 that is less than 0.5 %.

Let us apply this theory of probability to the Qur’an, and assume that a person has guessed all the information that is mentioned in the Qur’an which was unknown at that time. Let us discuss the probability of all the guesses being simultaneously correct.

At the time when the Qur’an was revealed, people thought the world was flat, there are several other options for the shape of the earth. It could be triangular, it could be quadrangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, spherical, etc. Lets assume there are about 30 different options for the shape of the earth. The Qur’an rightly says it is spherical, if it was a guess the chances of the guess being correct is 1/30.

The light of the moon can be its own light or a reflected light. The Qur’an rightly says it is a reflected light. If it is a guess, the chances that it will be correct is 1/2 and the probability that both the guesses i.e the earth is spherical and the light of the moon is reflected light is 1/30 x 1/2 = 1/60.

Further, the Qur’an also mentions every living thing is made of water. Every living thing can be made up of either wood, stone, copper, aluminum, steel, silver, gold, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, oil, water, cement, concrete, etc. The options are say about 10,000. The Qur’an rightly says that everything is made up of water. If it is a guess, the chances that it will be correct is 1/10,000 and the probability of all the three guesses i.e. the earth is spherical, light of moon is reflected light and everything is created from water being correct is 1/30 x 1/2 x 1/10,000 = 1/60,000 which is equal to about .0017%.

The Qur’an speaks about hundreds of things that were not known to men at the time of its revelation. Only in three options the result is .0017%. I leave it upto you, to work out the probability if all the hundreds of the unknown facts were guesses, the chances of all of them being correct guesses simultaneously and there being not a single wrong guess. It is beyond human capacity to make all correct guesses without a single mistake, which itself is sufficient to prove to a logical person that the origin of the Qur’an is Divine.

Qur'an and Modern Science

Qur'an and Modern Science

The methods of proving the existence of God with usage of the material provided in the ‘Concept of God in Islam’ to an atheist may satisfy some but not all.

Many atheists demand a scientific proof for the existence of God. I agree that today is the age of science and technology. Let us use scientific knowledge to kill two birds with one stone, i.e. to prove the existence of God and simultaneously prove that the Qur’an is a revelation of God.

If a new object or a machine, which no one in the world has ever seen or heard of before, is shown to an atheist or any person and then a question is asked, " Who is the first person who will be able to provide details of the mechanism of this unknown object? After little bit of thinking, he will reply, ‘the creator of that object.’ Some may say ‘the producer’ while others may say ‘the manufacturer.’ What ever answer the person gives, keep it in your mind, the answer will always be either the creator, the producer, the manufacturer or some what of the same meaning, i.e. the person who has made it or created it. Don’t grapple with words, whatever answer he gives, the meaning will be same, therefore accept it.

NON-VEGETARIAN FOOD MAKES MUSLIMS VIOLENT

Question:

Science tell us that whatever one eats, it has an effect on one’s behavior. Why then, does Islam allow Muslims to eat non-vegetarian food, since eating of animals could make a person violent and ferocious?

Answer:

1. Only eating of herbivorous animals allowed

I agree that, what a person eats has an effect on his behaviour. This is one of the reasons why Islam prohibits the eating of carnivorous animals like lion, tiger, leopard, etc. who are violent and ferocious. The consumption of the meat of such animals would probably make a person violent and ferocious. Islam only allows the eating of herbivorous animals like cow, goat, sheep, etc. that are peaceful and docile. Muslims eat peaceful and docile animals because Muslims are peace loving and non-violent people.

2. The Qur’an says Prophet prohibits what is bad

The Qur’an says:

“The Prophet commands them what is just and prohibits what is evil”. “He allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them what is bad (and impure),” [Al-Qur’an 7: 157]

“So take what the Messenger assigns to you and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you.” [Al-Qur’an 59: 7]

For a Muslim, the Prophet’s statement is sufficient to convince him that Allah does not wish humans to eat some kinds of meat while allowing some other kinds.

3. Hadith of Mohammad (pbuh) prohibi-ting eating of carnivorous animals

According to various authentic Ahadith narrated in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim including hadith narrated by Ibn Abbas in Sahih Muslim, Book of hunting and slaughter, Hadith No. 4752 and Sunan Ibn-I-Majah chapter 13 Hadith no. 3232 to 3234, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) prohibited the eating of:

(i) Wild animals with canine teeth, i.e. meat eating carnivorous animals. These are animals belonging to the cat families such as lion, tiger, cats, dogs,

wolfs, hyenas, etc.

(ii) Certain rodents like mice, rats, rabbits with claws, etc.

(iii) Certain reptiles like snakes, alligators, etc.

(iv) Birds of prey with talons or claws, like vultures, eagle, crows, owl, etc. There is no scientific evidence that proves beyond doubt that eating nonvegetarian food makes one violent.

create Wavy Banner:

This tutorial shows you how to apply a wavy effect to a banner using highlights and shadows, in the process creating a 3D effect to any object. Explore it now!

This tutorial assumes that you are familiar with the concept of Layers.

(Banner is a combination of Image ID: 2900875 © darrenwhi 123RF.com, 1895796 © Markus 123RF.com and 531921 © Gino 123RF.com)

STEP 1


First, create a canvas: 1600 x 1600 pixels

Next, find an image from 123RF.com (preferably rectangular shaped) and drag it into the canvas.

Resize it so that it is smaller than the canvas. This image should be named Layer 1.

STEP 2


Create another Layer (Layer > New > Layer) with a size that is larger than your original image in Layer 1.

Using the Marquee tool, draw a rectangular box across the canvas. Hold down the SHIFT key and draw several other similar boxes like our example above.

Once done, fill the Marquees with black color.

STEP 3


Go to Filter > Blur > Gaussian Blur

Set value = 30 (higher or lower, depending on the boxes you have created)

STEP 4


Press CTRL+T/CMD+T and transform the object in Layer 2 into a rectangular shape that covers your original Layer 1 image.

Warp the object using the Warp tool. Go to Edit > Transform > Warp.

Next, drag the points (sides and middle parts) until the desired wave is achieved (when you determine how your wave should look like).

STEP 5


Click on Layer 2. Select all (CTRL+A/CMD+A) and copy (CTRL+C/CMD+C) the now distorted Layer 2.

Create a new file (CTRL+N/CMD+N) with the same width and height (1600 x 1600 pixels). Press CTRL+V/CMD+V to paste the distorted Layer 2 on it.

Then, flatten the image (Layer > Flatten Image), and save it as eg. "wave1.psd". This serves as a displacement map that we will be using later on.

Close "wave1.psd" after saving.

STEP 6


Go back to the main file. Select Layer 2.

Apply Filter > Stylize > Emboss
Set Angle = -147
Height = 20px
Amount = 200

You may change the values you see here based on your needs.

STEP 7


The applied filter should look something like the image above.

STEP 8


Next, distort the source image - Layer 1. (Layer 2 has been reduced of its opacity to aid in the distortion of source image)

Using the warp tool once more, drag the shape according to the waves created. Press the ENTER key when desired shape is achieved.

STEP 9


Now that we've got the shape, go to:
Filter > Distort > Displace

Set Horizontal scale = 5
Vertical scale = -5

Select Stretch to Fit and Repeat Around Edges. You can apply the filter once more by pressing CTRL+F/CMD+F.

STEP 10


Select Layer 2 and duplicate it as "Layer 2 copy". Now we've got two same layers.

Reselect Layer 2 again.
Set blending mode = Multiply layer opacity = 30% (depending on how dark the shadows needs to be).

The same displacement can also be added to this layer (CTRL+F/CMD+F), as it adds a bit more depth to the waves.

Step 11


Select Layer 2 Copy.
Set blending mode = Multiply layer opacity = 30% (depending on how bright the highlights needed to be).

Step 12


Press Ctrl and click on layer 1. Select layer 2, and set Layer > Layer mask > Reveal All.

Repeat the same step for Layer 2 copy.

STEP 13


Select Layer 1, Layer 2, and Layer 2 Copy.

Merge them (CTRL+E/CMD+E) and you're done.



You might want to trim the edges of the final image, add brightness or even explore different blend modes and properties to yield a different outcome.

7 Great Life Lessons

7 Great Life Lessons

John Wesley of Pick the Brain published recently an article called 7 Life Lessons I Learned Playing Halo where he gives seven great advices that can change your life significantly and for better. I found them very inspiring maybe because I’ve learned most of them the hard way trying to break walls with my head. They are not easy to accomplish but they definitely are worth trying.

I don’t play Halo or similar games so I will only comment on the life implications of these lessons.

1. Hesitation is death. No matter if you are playing combat games or you live the real life. Nothing is more destructive to your life than hesitation and doubt. You may be wrong in your plans, you may reach insuperable obstacles but you will never know how to deal with them unless you try. I was hesitating to start my own business for 13 years and now I regret it. I’ve been suffering all this time that I could do the things better but I never had the courage to make it. Don’t hesitate! Don’t be afraid that you might fall because when you fall you will know how much it hurts. Otherwise you will be afraid of the pain much more than it really hurts.


2. Success requires experience. Well, we’ve all heard about successful teenage businessmen but they are just an exception. If you want to succeed in business you need to learn the basics of the profession and to practice it repeatedly. It’s not enough just to try once. It’s necessary to try it many times. To fall and to stand up again until you realize the internal power that you have and until you learn how to use it effectively.


3. You can’t win without teamwork. In the real life no one succeeds by doing things by himself. The lonely runners are not the successful ones. To be successful you must beat your ego and sacrifice your personal glory. You need to take care about your buddies as they take care of you. When you learn to trust your team and to count on their skills you will get to success.


4. Anticipation is the key to victory. Always try to change your point of view and loof from the eyes of the others. Try to put yourself in the other people’s shoes and to understand their problems, their desires and their hopes – this way you will be able to better serve your customers and outgo you competition.


5. Leverage your strengths. Everyone is unique in some way. If you want to succeed you must know your unique qualities - your strengths which you must leverage and improve, and your weaknesses which you should keep low.


6. Winning comes in streaks. Some days you are full of energy and you can do a lot of work and some days you just can’t concentrate as well as others. To be successful, you need to recognize your streaks so you can weather the bad ones and make the most of the good ones.


7. The Devil’s in the details. As John says “[in Halo] the difference between life and death can be as small as the angle of a grenade toss or the decision to reload. The same is true in real life. You need to pay attention to all the tiny details that contribute to success or failure.” Nothing more to add.

HIJAB (VEIL) FOR WOMEN

Question:
Why does Islam degrade women by keeping them behind the veil?



Answer:
The status of women in Islam is often the target of attacks in the secular media.
The ‘hijab’ or the Islamic dress is cited by many as an example of the
‘subjugation’ of women under Islamic law. Before we analyze the reasoning
behind the religiously mandated ‘hijab’, let us first study the status of women in
societies before the advent of Islam



1. In the past women were degraded and used as objects of lust
The following examples from history amply illustrate the fact that the status of
women in earlier civilizations was very low to the extent that they were denied
basic human dignity:
a. Babylonian Civilization:
The women were degraded and were denied all rights under the Babylonian
law. If a man murdered a woman, instead of him being punished, his wife
was put to death.
b. Greek Civilization:
Greek Civilization is considered the most glorious of all ancient civilizations.
Under this very ‘glorious’ system, women were deprived of all rights and
were looked down upon. In Greek mythology, an ‘imaginary woman’ called
‘Pandora’ is the root cause of misfortune of human beings. The Greeks
considered women to be subhuman and inferior to men. Though chastity of
women was precious, and women were held in high esteem, the Greeks
were later overwhelmed by ego and sexual perversions. Prostitution
became a regular practice amongst all classes of Greek society.
c. Roman Civilization:
When Roman Civilization was at the zenith of its ‘glory’, a man even had the
right to take the life of his wife. Prostitution and nudity were common
amongst the Romans.
d. Egyptian Civilization:
The Egyptian considered women evil and as a sign of a devil.
e. Pre-Islamic Arabia:
Before Islam spread in Arabia, the Arabs looked down upon women and
very often when a female child was born, she was buried alive.



2. Islam uplifted women and gave them equality and expects them
to maintain their status.
Islam uplifted the status of women and granted them their just rights 1400 years
ago. Islam expects women to maintain their status.
Hijab for men
People usually only discuss ‘hijab’ in the context of women. However, in the
Glorious Qur’an, Allah (swt) first mentions ‘hijab’ for men before ‘hijab’ for the
women. The Qur’an mentions in Surah Noor:
“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.
Hijab for women.
The next verse of Surah Noor, says:
“ 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 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]



3. Six criteria for Hijab.
According to Qur’an and Sunnah there are basically six criteria for observing
hijab:



1. Extent:
The first criterion is the extent of the body that should be covered. This is
different for men and women. The extent of covering obligatory on the male
is to cover the body at least from the navel to the knees. For women, the
extent of covering obligatory is to cover the complete body except the face
and the hands upto the wrist. If they wish to, they can cover even these
parts of the body. Some scholars of Islam insist that the face and the hands
are part of the obligatory extent of ‘hijab’.



All the remaining five criteria are the same for men and women.

2. The clothes worn should be loose and should not reveal the figure.
3. The clothes worn should not be transparent such that one can see through
them.
4. The clothes worn should not be so glamorous as to attract the opposite sex.
5. The clothes worn should not resemble that of the opposite sex.
6. The clothes worn should not resemble that of the unbelievers i.e. they
should not wear clothes that are specifically identities or symbols of the
unbelievers’ religions.



4. Hijab includes conduct and behaviour among other things
Complete ‘hijab’, besides the six criteria of clothing, also includes the moral
conduct, behaviour, attitude and intention of the individual. A person only
fulfilling the criteria of ‘hijab’ of the clothes is observing ‘hijab’ in a limited sense.
‘Hijab’ of the clothes should be accompanied by ‘hijab’ of the eyes, ‘hijab’ of the
heart, ‘hijab’ of thought and ‘hijab’ of intention. It also includes the way a person
walks, the way a person talks, the way he behaves, etc.



5. Hijab prevents molestation
The reason why Hijab is prescribed for women is mentioned in the Qur’an in the
following verses of Surah Al-Ahzab:
“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 Hijab has been prescribed for the women so that they are
recognized as modest women and this will also prevent them from being
molested.



6. Example of twin sisters
Suppose two sisters who are twins, and who are equally beautiful, walk down
the street. One of them is attired in the Islamic hijab i.e. the complete body is
covered, except for the face and the hands up to the wrists. The other sister is
wearing western clothes, a mini skirt or shorts. Just around the corner there is
a hooligan or ruffian who is waiting for a catch, to tease a girl. Whom will he
tease? The girl wearing the Islamic Hijab or the girl wearing the skirt or the mini?
Naturally he will tease the girl wearing the skirt or the mini. Such dresses are an
indirect invitation to the opposite sex for teasing and molestation. The Qur’an
rightly says that hijab prevents women from being molested.

7. Capital punishment for the rapists
Under the Islamic shariah, a man convicted of having raped a woman, is given
capital punishment. Many are astonished at this ‘harsh’ sentence. Some even
say that Islam is a ruthless, barbaric religion! I have asked a simple question to
hundreds of non-Muslim men. Suppose, God forbid, someone rapes your wife,
your mother or your sister. You are made the judge and the rapist is brought in
front of you. What punishment would you give him? All of them said they would
put him to death. Some went to the extent of saying they would torture him to
death. To them I ask, if someone rapes your wife or your mother you want to put
him to death. But if the same crime is committed on somebody else’s wife or
daughter you say capital punishment is barbaric. Why should there be double
standards?
8. Western society falsely claims to have uplifted women
Western talk of women’s liberalization is nothing but a disguised form of
exploitation of her body, degradation of her soul, and deprivation of her honour.
Western society claims to have ‘uplifted’ women. On the contrary it has actually
degraded them to the status of concubines, mistresses and society butterflies
who are mere tools in the hands of pleasure seekers and sex marketeers,
hidden behind the colourful screen of ‘art’ and ‘culture’.



9. USA has one of the highest rates of rape

United States of America is supposed to be one of the most advanced countries
of the world. It also has one of the highest rates of rape in any country in the
world. According to a FBI report, in the year 1990, every day on an average
1756 cases of rape were committed in U.S.A alone. Later another report said
that on an average everyday 1900 cases of rapes are committed in USA. The
year was not mentioned. May be it was 1992 or 1993. May be the Americans
got ‘bolder’ in the following years.
Consider a scenario where the Islamic hijab is followed in America. Whenever
a man looks at a woman and any brazen or unashamed thought comes to his
mind, he lowers his gaze. Every woman wears the Islamic hijab, that is the
complete body is covered except the face and the hands upto the wrist. After
this if any man commits rape he is given capital punishment. I ask you, in such
a scenario, will the rate of rape in America increase, will it remain the same, or
will it decrease?
10. Implementation of Islamic Shariah will reduce the rate of rapes
Naturally as soon as Islamic Shariah is implemented positive results will be
inevitable. If Islamic Shariah is implemented in any part of the world, whether it
is America or Europe, society will breathe easier. Hijab does not degrade a
woman but uplifts a woman and protects her modesty and chastity.

By DR. ZAKIR ABDUL-KARIM NAIK

DR. ZAKIR NAIK - PRESIDENT, IRF

DR. ZAKIR NAIK - PRESIDENT, IRF A medical doctor by professional training, Dr. Zakir Naik is renowed as a dynamic international orator on Islam and Comparative Religion. Dr. Zakir Naik clarifies Islamic viewpoints and clears misconceptions about Islam, using the Qur'an, authentic Hadith and other religious Scriptures as a basis, in conjunction with reason, logic and scientific facts. He is 43 years old. Dr. Zakir is popular for his critical analysis and  convincing answers to challenging questions posed by audiences after his public talks. In the last 6 years (by the year 2002), Dr. Zakir Naik has delivered more than 1000 public talks in the U.S.A., Canada, U.K., Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, South Africa, Italy, Mauritius, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hongkong, Thailand, Guyana (South America), Trinidad and many other countries, in addition to numerous public talks in India. He has successfully participated in several symposia and dialogues with prominent personalities of other faiths. His public dialogue with Dr. William Campbell (of USA), on the topic, “The Qur’an and the Bible in the light of Science” held in city of Chicago, U.S.A., on April 1, 2000 was a resounding success. Sheikh Ahmed Deedat, the world famous orator on Islam and Comparative Religion, who had called Dr. Zakir, "Deedat plus" in 1994, presented a plaque in May 2000 awarded to Dr. Zakir Abdul-Karim Naik for his achievement in the field of Da’wah and the study of Comparative Religion with the engraving "Son what you have done in 4 years had taken me 40 years to accomplish, Alhamdullilah.” Dr. Zakir Naik appears regularly on many international T.V. Channels in more than 100 countries of the world. He is regularly invited for T.V. and Radio interviews. More than a hundred of his talks, dialogues, debates and symposia are available on VCDs and DVDs. He has authored books on Islam and Comparative Religion.

BIO-DATA DR. ZAKIR ABDUL-KARIM NAIK ISLAMIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION 56/58 Tandel Street (North), Dongri, Mumbai - 400 009 (India) Tel : (0091-22) 23736875 (8 lines) Fax : (0091-22) 23730689 e-mail: zakir@irf.net website : http://www.irf.net BIRTH DATE & PLACE : October 18, 1965 in Mumbai, India OCCUPATION : Islamic Da'wah (Propagation of Islam) 1. President, Islamic Research Foundation, Mumbai 2. Chairman, I.R.F. Educational Trust, Mumbai 3. President, Islamic Dimensions, Mumbai EDUCATED AT : 1. St. Peter's High School (I.C.S.E.), Mumbai 2. Kishinchand Chellaram College, Mumbai 3. Topiwala National Medical College, Nair Hospital, Mumbai UNIVERSITY DEGREE : M.B.B.S. (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery), University of Mumbai PUBLIC LECTURES : Hundreds of Public Lectures (usually followed by Open Question and Answer Sessions) given internationally, of which more than a 100 are available on VCDs and DVDs DA'WAH TRAINING PROGRAMMES : Conducted several Da'wah Training Programmes including International Da'wah Training Programme for training Muslims to effectively convey the message of Islam FIELDS OF INTEREST : * Studies in Comparative Religion * Medicine * Humanitarian, Social, Moral, Educational and Economic Welfare activities DA'WAH LECTURE TOURS ABROAD TO : U.S.A., Canada, Britain, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar,  U.A.E., South Africa, Botswana, Singapore, Guyana, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand and  Other Countries BOOKS AUTHORED BY DR. ZAKIR NAIK : 1. REPLIES TO THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS ASKED BY NON-MUSLIMS 2.  QUR'ÂN AND MODERN SCIENCE - Compatible Or Incompatible 3. CONCEPT OF GOD IN MAJOR RELIGIONS 4.  ISLAM AND TERRORISM 5.  WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN ISLAM - Protected Or Subjugated? 6.  AL-QUR'ÂN - Should it be Read with Understanding? 7.  IS THE QUR'ÂN GOD'S WORD?

PORK FORBIDDEN

Question:

Why is the eating of pork forbidden in Islam?

Answer:

The fact that consumption of pork is prohibited in Islam is well known. The

following points explain various aspects of this prohibition:

1. Pork prohibited in Qur’an

The Qur’an prohibits the consumption of pork in no less than 4 different places.

It is prohibited in 2:173, 5:3, 6:145 and 16:115.

“Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine,

and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah.”

[Al-Qur’an 5:3]

The above verses of the Holy Qur’an are sufficient to satisfy a Muslim as to why

pork is forbidden.

2. Pork prohibited in the Bible

The Christian is likely to be convinced by his religious scriptures. The Bible

prohibits the consumption of pork, in the book of Leviticus

“And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth

not the cud; he is unclean to you”.

“Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch,

they are unclean to you.” [Leviticus 11:7-8]

Pork is also prohibited in the Bible in the book of Deuteronomy

“And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud,

it is unclean unto you. Ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their

dead carcass.” [Deuteronomy 14:8]

A similar prohibition is repeated in the Bible in the book of Isaiah chapter 65 verse 2-5.

3. Consumption of pork causes several diseases

The other non-Muslims and atheists will agree only if convinced through reason,

logic and science. Eating of pork can cause no less than seventy different types

of diseases. A person can have various helminthes like roundworm, pinworm,

hookworm, etc. One of the most dangerous is Taenia Solium, which is in lay

man’s terminology called tapeworm. It harbours in the intestine and is very long.

Its ova i.e. eggs, enter the blood stream and can reach almost all the organs of

the body. If it enters the brain it can cause memory loss. If it enters the heart it

can cause heart attack, if it enters the eye it can cause blindness, if it enters the

liver it can cause liver damage. It can damage almost all the organs of the body.

Another dangerous helminthes is Trichura Tichurasis.

A common misconception about pork is that if it is cooked well, these ova die.

In a research project undertaken in America, it was found that out of twenty-four

people suffering from Trichura Tichurasis, twenty two had cooked the pork very

well. This indicates that the ova present in the pork do not die under normal

cooking temperature.

4. Pork has fat building material

Pork has very little muscle building material and contains excess of fat. This fat

gets deposited in the vessels and can cause hypertension and heart attack. It is

not surprising that over 50% of Americans suffer from hypertension.

5. Pig is one of the filthiest animals on earth

The pig is one of the filthiest animals on earth. It lives and thrives on muck,

faeces and dirt. It is the best scavenger that I know that God has produced. In

the villages they don’t have modern toilets and the villagers excrete in the open

air. Very often excreta is cleared by pigs.

Some may argue that in advanced countries like Australia, pigs are bred in very

clean and hygienic conditions. Even in these hygienic conditions the pigs are

kept together in sties. No matter how hard you try to keep them clean they are

filthy by nature. They eat and enjoy their own as well as their neighbour’s

excreta.

6. Pig is the most shameless animal

The pig is the most shameless animal on the face of the earth. It is the only

animal that invites its friends to have sex with its mate. In America, most people

consume pork. Many times after dance parties, they have swapping of wives;

i.e. many say “you sleep with my wife and I will sleep with your wife.” If you eat

pigs then you behave like pigs.

By Dr. Zakir Naik

Sumera's Fantasy

[caption id="attachment_359" align="aligncenter" width="495" caption="i design this for my dear friend."][/caption]

Today is birthday of my friend... and i remember this day.