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CHALLENGES

The New World Religion Shifa Mustapha

"Verily those who say, "Our Lord is Allah," and remain firm ­ on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve."

(Quran 46:13)

Mankind is standing on the brink of a maelstrom. Having travelled far down the path of science and technology, man, in his arrogance and ignorance, believes himself to be in command. "We have come to a time, in earth's history when the old books and teachings are of no consequence. We are the makers of our own destiny," is often heard from those who embrace the belief that in science and human wisdom is the salvation of mankind.

A gift from Allah

"If there be but the weight of a mustard seed and it were hidden in a rock, or in the heavens or on earth, Allah will bring it forth: for Allah understands the finer mysteries and is well-acquainted with them... Do ye not see that Allah has subjected for your use all things in the heavens and on earth and has made His bounties flow to you in exceeding measure, both seen and unseen? .."

(Quran 31:17,20)

Scientific achievement has long been hailed by Islam as being an integral part of man's God-given right and responsibility. Many have been the achievements of our scientists and scholars of the past, particularly during the time when Christian religion prohibited such advancements. In many instances it has been the findings of our Islamic scientists which have made modern accomplishments possible, regardless of the denial of this fact by Western sources. Thus we do not see science as anti-God or against conscience. However, science, as with every other facet of life, is governed by the ultimate Truth, that all creation, all knowledge, all intelligence is dependent upon The One, The Only, Creator God, Allah. Therefore, Science also must correspond to the moral and Divine code. To use Science as a tool against what God has ordained, is to court disaster.

World Policy on Religion?

Is Christianity to be the dominant rule of religion? The West, it has always been acknowledged, is rooted and grounded in Christianity. Although its forms have varied, nevertheless, it is an accepted fact that the unfurled banner of Christianity, since the conversion of pagan Rome, has flown proudly at the head of, what we now deem, Western nations. With great zealousness this creed, in all its forms, has, for good or ill, been carried far into non-Western cultures and civilisations. Therefore, it could be thought that Christianity is an ideal vehicle of religion.

No! If we look to most of the sincere Christian religious publications we find that Christianity is considered to have suffered dilution to the point of extinction. Has it been that while the missionaries have been sedulously "saving" the souls from other lands, those of their own have been slipping out of reach? Or is it that Christianity itself has undergone some form of deviation? What has happened to Christians and Christianity? Is this a religious or a political factor?

John Cotter(1), in his analysis (1991), believes that it is a political factor, syncretism being the tool of destruction. It is this, he believes, which is to be the One World Religion. What is syncretism? Herein he quotes Tom Harpur's definition, "the blending of the best of all religions" (Toronto Star August 20, 1983). Cotter, himself a devout Christian, traces the syncretist movement back over the last 150 years, starting with the Bahais in 1844, Theosophy, The World Parliament of Religions, World Congress of Faiths, Self-Realisation Fellowship, Temple of Understanding and the United Nations World Conference on Religion and Peace (which operates from the U.N. Building).

Islam and Syncretism

As Muslims how do we view this movement? If Cotter is right, would we be prepared to sacrifice any one part of our God-given Islamic heritage? If so, what part? If we were allowed to keep all of our Islamic belief, intact, but had to accept other religious concepts as well, could we do this? How far are we prepared to go to meet syncretism?

You and I both know that this is an impossibility. This is so because as Muslims we submit, not to man or man-made ideals, but to the Creator God. Islam has been designed by God, not man. Therefore it is Him, Allah, we obey, and His Commands we practise. By deleting or adding even the smallest part to either the Quran, or Islamic structure of belief, we would no longer be Muslims. We would be committing polytheism (shirk), for we would have taken man as partner to the Almighty.

We have ample evidence for this in the life and actions of the Holy Prophet (s). In particular we should, if we are serious about this, look to the time when the pagan Quraish tempted the Holy Prophet (s) by asking him to compromise just a little. He would only have to prostrate himself to their gods, and they in turn would prostrate themselves to Allah. The reason for this? Why, peace of course! What was his answer?

"I worship not that which ye worship, nor will ye worship that which I worship . . . to you be your way, and to me mine."

(Quran 109:2,6)

That, of course, has to be our answer also.

Does that then mean that we are to remain aloof from those of other faiths? No, we accept that they have different beliefs, but we do not have to accept those different beliefs as part of our system of belief. Likewise we do not expect them to alter their beliefs to accommodate us. If we look to Shariah we find that those of other religions who live in Islamic countries have the God-given right to worship in the way in which they believe. Their synagogues and churches are to be held in respect and protected in the same way that mosques are valued.

Denigration of Prophets

While there is a definite pattern emerging of blurring the edges of revealed religions and attempting to put them into a melting pot, there is also something else quite sinister taking place. During the past few years we have seen in books and movies, the insults which have been hurled at the person of Jesus (a). The Washington D.C. homosexual magazine, The Advocate, (December 13, 1994), depicted, on its cover, an image of Jesus (a.s.) with homosexual drawings. This defilement has even extended to the arts, where a photograph of a crucifix in urine, by one Andre Serrano, was supported by the (U.S.) National Endowment of the Arts.

As Muslims we have even taken to the streets, at times, to vindicate and uphold the name and person of Jesus (a.s.) as Prophet and Messenger of the Creator God, and one whose position demands respect. Why is it that these blasphemous actions are allowed? Where are those who uphold political correctness? Perhaps they would, as in the case of Rushdie, be apparent only in hastening to defend those who are responsible for such despicable works. Then, no doubt, there would be a cry for "human rights" or "tolerance" as is witnessed from time to time.

We have not always realised or recognised that these actions stem from the same source as those who upheld, and possibly motivated, Salman Rushdie's "Satanic Verses." We have seen it constantly in the world-wide media push against Islam and Muslims. We see it in the defiant, blasphemous works which depict Allah s.w.t. as the fiendish creation of a mentally-twisted so-called Arabian Prophet. We see it also in the vindictive denunciations of the Word of God, the Holy Quran.

More than Syncretism

While Cotter may see Syncretism as the coming New World Religion, I am not prepared to agree. Surely it is a tool which has been honed to perfection and is very effective. Certainly it is a worldwide movement which goes hand in hand with political aspirations, as may be seen in the title of the 1988 first-ever conference, Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders for Human Survival. Yet, this does not fully explain the vicious attacks which have been perpetrated against all that is righteous and sacred. Indeed now the only sin which Western society recognises as being committed, is by a person who has the temerity to use the word sin in describing any actions which are, in fact, sinful. This has not come from the churches, but has been carefully nurtured from another direction.

Let's look again

Recently I was given a book to read written by one professing humanism(2). This tone went on to attempt annihilation of all that is held sacred in Islam. His desecration of the mention of Allah, of the Holy Prophet (s), of the Quran was further compounded by his attempt to rewrite history by disavowing any scientific achievements of practising Muslims, grudgingly accepting that there were Muslims, but not really practising Muslims, who had bequeathed anything of value to the world. Every disgraceful element of propaganda imaginable, every misquoted hadith, every verse of Quran which could be taken out of context to bolster his argument, were hurled through the pages, assaulting the senses and, as in my case, making the soul ache.

During the reading of this deplorable work, I noted some very interesting facts:

1. This man who espoused humanism, was anti-God, and this included both Christian and Judaic references as well as those to Allah and Islam.
2. He was extremely concerned about mankind, the human aspect, although, contradictorily, it seemed quite feasible to him that our people have been slain throughout the world, marking us as terrorists better done without, but not mentioning the awesome truths of the matter.
3. He quoted the importance of the Golden Rule, which in his context meant that anyone should be allowed to do anything which gave them pleasure, but no-one should question or interfere with that person's right to do as he so chooses (unless, of course, he chooses Islam as his religion and wishes to his children to live in this way)
4. He believed that psychological damage was being wreaked by the recitation of Quran and the learning of it by our children. It is his opinion that the Quran, as well as the Bible and Torah, should be altered. As he put it, monotheism is flawed, and apart from deleting the old brain sections of them, there is no hope of building a humanist religion on them.
5. Science should intervene and, where possible, Muslims, and those believing in a God who requires to be worshipped and obeyed, should be treated in an effort to rid them of their delusions. Therefore this man who professes so much respect for life and human dignity sees nothing amiss in brainwashing those whom he believes hold the wrong belief. One must seriously ask the question "what would become of those who did not respond in the recommended manner, to the scientific, psychological treatment the author has in mind?"

Humanism

Humanism is best described as the antithesis of what may be called the religious approach to human destiny. It is opposed to all three Abrahamic religions, though seems somewhat more biased against Islam, in all probability because Muslims are called upon to fight for what is right, not just sit back and allow evil to prosper.

Perhaps the most well-known Humanist on the world scene has been Sir Julian Huxley. An atheistic philosopher, a member of the Fabian-Socialist Society and an advocate of the "one world state" he was appointed Director General of the United Nations' Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (U.N.E.S.C.O). U.N.E.S.C.O. reportedly supplied the U.N. with guiding texts for the drawing up of the International Declaration of Human Rights, thus its influence must not be overlooked.

Science is a vital part of Humanism. Man's intellectual progress is something which is revered. In his paper, "Man and His future", Sir Julian writes, "The general level of genetic intelligence could theoretically be raised by eugenic selection; and even a slight rise in its average level would give a marked increase in the number of the outstandingly intelligent and capable people needed to run our increasingly complex societies. How to implement a eugenic policy in practise is another matter. The effects of merely encouraging potentially well-endowed individuals to have more children, and vice versa, would be much too slow for modern psychosocial evolution. Eugenics will eventually have to have recourse to methods like multiple artificial insemination by preferred donors of high genetic quality...." Is it not interesting in the light of this that his brother, Aldous Huxley, wrote "Brave New World" which places so much emphasis on science and human enslavement?

Another who took the future world government into account was Earl Russell who spoke of diet, injections and injunctions as combining from an early age to produce characteristics and beliefs which would be desirable to authorities. He also mentioned selective breeding. (Ref. "The Impact of Science Upon Society" Simon and Schuster, '53. p.49). No this is not fiction, this is what men who are regarded as leaders, who reputedly know all the answers, have envisioned for the world of the future, their own version of a new world religion which has been accepted on the highest rung of the political ladder.

If we look to what is happening in research laboratories worldwide we will not doubt that the the influence of these men has been powerfully passed on and financed.

U.N. Declaration of Human Rights(3)

This declaration, though seen by many as admirable, makes no mention of God. This was objected to very strongly by the Netherlands Representative in 1948, at which time the final debate regarding this declaration was taking place. He is reported to have said : "...I am referring to the origin of these rights. The fact that man's rights and freedoms are based on his divine origin and immortal destiny, the fact that there is a Supreme Being who is the fount of these rights, increase their value and importance. To ignore this relation would mean the same thing as breaking a plant from its roots, or building a house and forgetting its foundations." (Ref. Our Rights as Human Beings, U.N. Publications, 3rd. Rev.,'53.p.18.) We say "Bravo!" to the Netherlands representative on his stance which would have to be upheld by all true Muslims.

It is quite obvious that while the upholding of human rights is listed high on the world agenda, there is no mention of the rights of the Creator God i.e. to be worshipped and obeyed. Conventions may be worded ambiguously, thus deluding the unwary, but whether one is Christian, Muslim or Jew, God and His Power are undeniable, unmistakable. Not all the juggling in the world will alter the unalterable.

Future Religion

As stated previously, I do not believe that Syncretism will be the religion of the One World Government as such. It may well be being used to divest monotheistic religions of the doctrine of belief in the Creator God, thus, should worship and obedience be discarded, faith, too, would die.

Humanism is already a religion to some. Whether its doctrines are such as to call it a religion, let alone the religion for such a One World Government, is questionable. It could ultimately reveal itself to be slavery, and while it may be highly questionable, its deity is not.

We have seen that this humanistic code is very selective as to who should have rights and who should not. There appears to be a distinct lack of humanity in moral life and death issues. The attainment of inhuman, un-Godly scientific ends through questionable means is gradually becoming accepted through the malaise which is engulfing humanity.

It is time that people looked more closely. We all seem to be just going along for the ride, completely unaware of the vital issues which surround us. We have become absorbed in details of our personal existence to the point of forgetting from Whence this existence came. We have put aside unity for egocentric purposes, forgetting that we have been commanded, "Be not divided." The warning is clear, no man should be complacent.

May Allah grant us the wisdom to stay close to His Way and to safeguard our families from such malformations of the soul. May He remind us of our responsibilities, and give us the strength and the courage to stand firmly. May we also remember that regardless of what mankind believes itself capable, it is merely, in its ignorance and arrogance, fulfilling prophesy.

"They plot and plan, and Allah too, plans, but the best of planners is Allah."

(Quran 8:30)

Acknowledgements:

(1) Syncretism and the Golden Rule, John Cotter, Angelus Books of Barrie, Canada.

(2) The Wrath of Allah, Robert E Burns, A Ghosh Publications, Houston, Texas, 1994, printed in USA Library of Congress No. TXU630-159.

(3) Light on the United Nations, Compilers R & P Lanzon, "Divine Light" Documental N/Letter, Vic.

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