THE CONCEPT OF RELIGION

Throughout history religion has been abused and misunderstood.Some people use it as a means of exploitation and suppression,as a pretext for prejudice and persecution.Some other people use it as a source of power and domination over the elite and the masses alike.In the name of religion unjustifiable wars have been launched,freedom of thought and conscience has been oppressed,science has been persecuted,the right of the individual to maturity has been denied,and man's dignity and honour have been flagrantly debased.,and in the name of religion an injustice has been inflicted upon humanity with the result that religion itself has suffered many losses.
The islamic concept of religion are unique in the broadest sense of the word.It is true that genuine religion must come from God for the right guidance of man,and it is equally true that human nature and major human needs are basically the same at all times.This conception leads to one conclusion,and that is:There is only one true religion coming from the One and the Same God,to deal with the outstanding human problems of all times.This religion is ISLAM.Butit should be borne in mind that islam was not taught by Prophet Muhammad alone.On the contrary,Islam had been taught by all the prophet before Muhammad,and the true followers of Abraham and Moses as well as those Jesus and the rest were all called MUSLIMS.So islam has been,and will continue to be,the true universal of religion of God,because God is One and Changeless,and because human nature and major human needs are fundamentally the same,irrespective of time and place,of race and age,and of any other considerations..
Bearing this in mind,the islamic concept maintains that religion is not only a spiritual and intellectual necessity but also a social and universal need.It is not to bewilder man but to guide him.It is not to debase him but to evelate his moral nature.It is not to deprive him of anything useful,or burden him,or to oppresshis qualities but to open for him inexhautible of sound thinking and right action.It is not to confine him to narrow limits but to launch him into wide horizons of truth and goodness.In short,true religion is to acquaint man with God as well as with himself and the rest of the universe.This is by no means an oversimplification of the function of religion.Here what it means.....


ISLAM IN FOCUS
BY
HAMMUDAH ABDALATI