ISLAMIC RITES

"Recite what is sent of the book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular prayer: for prayer restains from shameful and evil deeds; and remembrance of Alah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt and Allah ows the (deeds) that you do." What are the 'Five Pillars of Islam'? There are five compulsory acts of worship that are paramount to Islam. They are the Vow of truth, Salat (Prayer), Zakaat (Charity), Fasting and Hajj (Pilgrimage).

What is the Vow of truth? "I testify that, none but Allah deserves to be worshipped and Muhammed (PBUH) is the messenger of Allah". It is after taking this pledge that one becomes a Muslim. The person who chants this pledge vows that he will offer worship to the One and Only creator and none else, and that he will lead his life, following the practice and example of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH).

FAQ on Top

What is Salat (Prayer)? "A person, who does not desist from bad and unjust deeds after offering prayers, strays away from Allah." Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) It is the compulsory responsibility of every Muslim to offer Salaat (namaaz) five times a day. The timings to be strictly adhered to fall before sunrise, during midday, evening, after sunset and at night. The Salaat is to be performed after doing ritual ablutions which symbolizes purification of body and soul. It is certain that the life of a true Muslim who sincerely takes the vow of truth and offers prayer five times, meticulously standing with folded hands, bowing, prostrating and sitting, thus involving oneself in a conversation with Creator, will be freed of all wrongs.

What is Zakaat (Charity)? "Of their wealth take alms, that so thou mightest purify and sanctify them; and invoke Allah for them. Verily! Your invocations are a source of security for them, and Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower." ( Holy Qur’an 9:103 ) The literal meaning of Zakat is ‘to purify’. It is not just a form of charity or almsgiving. Muslims are liable to set apart a share of their own wealth for those who suffer poverty and want in the society. This compulsory charity is known as Zakaat. The Zakaat rate of per annum is fixed at the of 2.5% for goods to be traded and 10% for agriculture produce, (5% if the produce is the result of irrigation). Certain minimum limits have been prescribed for each item, above which ‘Zakaat’ is due. The Zakaat is to be collected from those liable by the government or by an institution entrusted by the community, in order to distribute to the deserving.

What is Fasting ( Saum )? "Ramadhan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and judgement (between right and wrong). So everyone of you who is present (at his home) during that month should spent it in fasting." Holy Qur’an 2:185 It is the responsibility of a Muslim to abstain from taking food and drink and also to abstain from sexual intercourse during day time for a period of one month. Ramadhan, the month in which the Qur’an was first revealed, is the stipulated month for fasting. The believer who observes fasting for a month is able to elevate his self above all temptations of a physical nature.

What is Hajj ( Pilgrimage )? "Whoever performs Hajj solely for the sake of Allah and, in the course of it, abstains from sensuality and disobedience, he returns from there as immaculate as a child just born." Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) Every healthy and affluent Muslim should undertake a pilgrimage to Mecca, once in his life time. This pilgrimage is known as Hajj. People of different nationalities, languages and colours, gather in millions at Mecca during the month of Hajj. The concept of one humanity upheld by Islam is explicit during Hajj pilgrimage when the pilgrims have the same thought, carry the same prayer on their lips, and are uniformly dressed (the man using just two pieces of cloth – one to wear and the other to cover and the women covering all the parts of their bodies except their face and hands). A single humanity, where there is no discrimination between master or labourer, black or white, elite or lowly, native or foreigner, is symolized by the multitude of humanity that assemble for this holy pilgrimage.

What is Ka'aba? The Ka’aba is a place of worship situated in Mecca. It is the first shrine built to worship the Almighty. It was in the premises of the Ka’aba that Ibrahim (PBUH), the prophet, abandoned his child and wife, obeying God’s command. Ka’aba was rebuilt by Ibrahim and his son Ismail following God’s command. Muslims around the world offer Salaat, facing Ka’aba. The Hajj rituals are performed in the premises of Ka’aba.

Do Muslims worship Ka’aba? Muslims worship only the Omnipotent Creator of the universe. The Ka’aba is a creation, and being the first monument built for the worship of the One True God, Muslims revere it. The Hajj is performed around the Ka’aba, but it does not contain any prayer to the Ka’aba. This applies also to the Salaat being performed facing the Ka’aba. He who worships the Ka’aba and offers prayers to it, does not belong to the Islam.

What is the view of Islam with regard to Virtue and Vice? Man is incapable of accurately distinguishing and understanding virtue and vice. Prophets were sent by the Almighty to enlighten man on the nature of virtue and vice. Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) is the last prophet and therefore for any man after Muhammed (PBUH), the yardstick to measure virtue and vice is simply the life of Muhammed (PBUH) and the Qur’an, the sacred scripture presented through him. It is sufficient to look up the Qur’an and the ideal life of Muhammed (PBUH) to comprehend the good and bad related to any subject.

What are the specialities of the character of a Muslim? The Qur’an and the sayings of Muhammed (PBUH) enjoins each Muslim to have the following characteristics in each of his actions. They are-honesty, justice, honouring of contracts, patience, perseverance, tolerance, mercy, humility, affection, decency, love, respect etc.

MUHAMMED (PBUH) AND THE QUR’AN

"Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures), in the Taurat and the Gospel; For he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honour him, help him and follow the Light which is sent down with him, It is they who will prosper.." Holy Qur’an 37:15 What are the fundamental sources of Islamic faith? The sacred fundamental sources of Islamic faith are the Qur’an, and the practice and example of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH).

Who is Muhammed? Muhammed (PBUH) is the last of the prophets of Islam. It is through him that the religion of absolute submission to God, was perfected. Muhammed (PBUH) is not just the successor of Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, but of all the prophets who were sent across the world, whose names are either known or unknown. His mission was not to establish new religion, but on the other hand, to perfect the Religion taught by the earlier prophets. "We have not sent thee but as a (Messenger) to all mankind, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin), but most men know not." Holy Qur’an 37:15

How was the life of Muhammed? Muhammed (PBUH) was born at Mecca in AD 570. Having lost his father before his birth and his mother at the age of seven, he grew up as an orphan. Despite the immoral circumstances prevailing in the Arabia of his time, Muhammed was particularly well known for his personality radiating honesty, nobility, sincerity, generosity and trustworthiness. Mohammed (PBUH), at the age of twenty five married Khadeeja, a forty year old trader. He started receiving divine revelations at the age of forty. Being chosen as a prophet, he preached the divine messages to the people of Mecca. Their response however was bitter, arrogant and violent. Beaten up, tortured, and threatened with death, he fled his motherland to Yathrib (Medin) a city in the northern side of Arabia. Consequently a Muslim nation was formed in Madina and its leadership was taken up by him. Battle after battle had to be fought while in Madina when unbelievers attacked the Muslims seeking to destroy the religion of truth. In fact, they were battles fought for freedom to practice religion. The most amazing success of the Prophet’s life is the tremendous success which he achieved in transforming the life of his followers in all aspects. In a span of just 23 years, he raised them from the depth of degradation to great moral and spiritual heights so as to make them a model for future generations. He passed awayat the age of 63 in Medina, having lived a most fruitful life.

Why is Muhammed called the last prophet? "Muhammed is not the father of any of your men, but (he is) the messenger of Allah, and the seal of prophets; and Allah has full knowledge of all things." Holy Qur’an 33:40 The earlier prophets had been sent exclusively to particular regions or sects. We learn that many prophets had predicted the arrival of a great prophet who would be a blessing to the whole world. Muhammed (PBUH) is indeed a prophet to the entire world. The messages presented through him are applicable to the last of man on earth. The super human powers which were bestowed on some prophets never lasted beyond their lives. However, the Qur’an which proves the prophethood of Muhammed (PBUH), illustrates its consistency and supremacy and is open for verification by anyone. All authorities are unanimously agreed upon the fact that the life and mission of prophet Muhammed (PBUH) was realised completely under the fullest glare of documented history. The whole life of Muhammed (PBUH) has been recorded in detail and each incident, whether major or minor is worthy to be adopted as a model. It has been emphatically asserted that no messenger of God would appear after Muhammed and that all mankind ought to adopt the guidelines laid down in the Qur’an and to emulate the practice and example of Muhammed (PBUH) since the religion of Islam was perfected by them.

What is Qur'an? The Qur’an is the final sacred scripture presented through the Last Prophet of Islam. It contains nothing but the words of God. It is the sctipture that can guide all mankind to the last day. For the same reason, the very God who presented it, promised mankind that the Qur’an will be protected and preserved to the last without any alteratoin or interpolation. The Qur’an is the only religious text that is free from any human tampering. It is at the same time a text that can guide men of all times through the right path and is also an irrefutable evidence for the prophethood fo Muhammed (PBUH).

What does Qur'an narrate? The Qur’an contains the moral instruction, essential for man to suceed during this life on earth and during the life after death. We may say that, the central theme of the Qur’an borders on the relationship between the Creator and the created. The Qur’an is full of narrations that speak of beliefs and practices needed to guide one’s life through the path of virtue. The purpose of illustrating incidents of the past that have provided lessons for mankind, is to warn mankind against deviating from the path of God. Along with the precepts that aid to the refinement of the self, if contains the rules and regulations to be observed in life. Besides, the Qur’an also explains various universal phenomena, in a manner that convinces anyone of the existence of God. The Qur’an can also be said to be the crystallisation of one and the same religious consciousness preached by all prophets, and the collection of the essence and clarification of all the scriptures of the past.

Why is Qur'an considered divine? The Qur’an is a unique book, the like of which is no man is capable of composing. Despite being compiled by an illiterate, who had displayed no literary flair until the age of forty, the unique literary style of the Qur’an, is one that remains absolutely inimitable. Amongst the existing scriptures, the Qur’an remains apart, for it can claim to be the only divine text that maintains the very form in which it was first presented. The moral codes laid down in the Qur’an are applicable for all times and matchless is the righteousness that they manifest. It is indeed a wonder, that over a spell of twenty three years, under varied circumstances, the Qur’an verses dealt with subjects that are vast and intense, without any discrepancy whatsoever. Incomparable and great is the transformation that the Qur’an engendered. In such a short span, the Qur’an transformed a degraded and depraved society to a point that attained the highest levels of moral excellence, making them the models for the future generation of men. It has been proved beyond doubt that, word for word the prophecies in the Qur’an stem from a supreme source. It is a greater wonder that the Qur’an, which was revealed fourteen centuries ago, at a time when the world was in absolute darkness in the fields of science and technology, does not contain a single statement that is contradictory to modern scientific knowledge. Yet another explicit evidence that indicates the supremacy of the Qur’an is that many of the findings of modern science attest the view that the Qur’an is indeed the word of the Almighty, the Creator of the universe. "And if you are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant then produce a Sura like thereunto; And call your witness or helpers (if there are any) besides Allah, if your are truthful. But if you cannot – and of a surety you cannot then fear the fire whose fuel is men and stones, - which is prepared for those who reject faith." Holy Qur’an 33:40

ISLAMIC BELIEFS

"O people! Worship your Guardian Lord, Who created you and those who came before you that you may become righteous. Who has made the earth your couch, and the heavens your canopy; and sent down rain from the heavens; and brought forth therewith fruits for your sustenance; Then set not up rivals unto Allah when you know (the truth)." Holy Qur’an 2:21, 22 What are the Islamic beliefs? Muslims believe in one, unique, incomparable God, in the angels created by Him, in the revealed Scriptures, in the prophets through whom His revelations were made to mankind, in the Day of Judgement and life after death, individual accountability for actions, and in God’s complete authority over human destiny.

What does faith in ‘One God’ mean? Allah, the Creator and Protector of all beings in the universe, big and small, in His essence His goodness and his deeds, remains alone and unique. One offers worship only to Him, who is Almighty, higher than everyone else and Himself being perfect in everything. By monotheism, Islam implies, not the mere belief that there is just one God, but it power the way for prayers and offerings to the one who is all Merciful and Omniscient.

Who is Allah? The Arabic word ‘Allah’ is the shortened form of ‘al-ilah’, ‘The God, the one and only God, the first, the last, the eternal, the hidden, the manifest, the ultimate reality’. Even non-Muslim Arabs use the term ‘Allah’ when they speak of God. The basic creed of Islam is this simple formula: ‘There is no God but Allah’ (‘La ilaha illallah’). The Arabic term ‘Allah’ denoting God, is unique in many ways. It has no plural like ‘gods’; it has no gender like ‘godess’; nor does this word generate a visual image of any kind. "Allah", He is God, the One true God, He is the one who deserves all worship and there is nothing comparable to him. Nevertheless, ninety-nine different attributes of Allah are named in the Qur’an.

Who are the angels? Angels are the servants of God and they were created from light. They are beyond the realm and reach of human comprehension. They do not have freedom of action and can only carry out the command of God.

What are the Scriptures? The Scriptures are the sacred books containing divine revelations from God which were conveyed through His messengers for the guidance of man. Prophets were sent to all peoples of all ages, to warn them and guide them to righteousness and virtue. The names of the four known scriptures are ‘the Torah’, ‘the Zabur’, ‘the Injeel’ and ‘the Qur’an’. ‘The Torah’ was revealed to Prophet Moses (Peace be upon him) and it is the greatest among the Israelites books. The Zabur was revealed to Prophet David (Peace be upon him). ‘The Injeel’ which Allah revealed to Prophet Jesus (Peace be upon him), is a confirmation of ‘the Torah’ and a complement to it. The Qur’an, which was revealed to the last of the prophets, is but a restatement of the faith delivered to the prophets before him. The more the Qur’an is studied with an unprejudiced mind, the more this truth emerges, that the Qur’an is a confirmation of all the earlier scriptures and messages sent by God through His messengers who lived and preached among various sects of humanity.

Who are the prophets? Prophets are men, chosen by God at various stages and under varying circumstances of history, to lead men from darkness to light. The Qur’an repeatedly states the fact that prophets with the same message were sent to each and every community. The process of revelation continued unabated, sometimes in succession, at other times in broken sequences until the period in history, when the termination of Divine revelation and messengership, with the Qur’an and Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him) became a significant milestone in the history of mankind. It is true that the lives and mission of many a prophet has been made obscure and distorted by legends that grew around them or by people with vested interests, who used the names of these prophets to exploit men and mislead them from the right faith. No prophet of God has claimed himself to be divine. They were all mortals who lived and passed away from this earth after completing their mission of conveying the basic message to mankind, which was a call for the recognition and affirmation of God’s existence, uniqueness and Lordship over all creation. It is an integral part of Islamic faith to believe in all the prophets of God.

What does Islam say about life after death? Death does not terminate man’s life. On the other hand, Islam teaches that it is the door that opens to an eternal lifer after death. The appropriate reward for one’s earthly deeds, good or bad, is disbursed only in the Hereafter. The Islamic belief is that mankind will be resurrected, on the Day of Judgment, after every creation is destroyed. After being reborn, man will face a trial which will be in absolute control of the Almighty. Here, all the good and bad acts of man during his sojourn on earth will be unfurled before his eyes in order to be ultimately judged by God. The virtuous will be rewarded with virtue and the wrong doers punished appropriately. Those who have made sacrifices and discharges noble deeds will receive the shelter of peace in Heaven and those who have denigrated their lives through vices and evil will be condemned to suffer horrors of Hell. Islam inculcates the concept of accountability both in public and private life of a person by emphasizing the paramount importance of life Hereafter for mankind.

What does faith in destiny mean in Islam? The Law of God, the Creator and Ruler of the worlds, is a powerful, all pervasive law which governs all that comprises the universe. No creation can lodge this Law and man’s position is no different. Even man’s environment and physical constitution are regulated on the basis of this divine law. The good and the bad that befall him happen on the basis of divine Destiny. How they befall on each one is in accordance with the predetermined decision made by the Omniscient Creator, who is aware of the ultimate good and evil of mankind. Hence, Islam directs man to believe in Destiny, whether good or bad, which Allah has measured and ordained for all creatures according to His previous knowledge and as deemed suitable by His wisdom.

ISLAM - BASIC TERMS AND MEANINGS

What is Islam? The Arabic word ‘ Islam’ stands for ‘Submission’ or ‘Peace’. In a religious context, it implies the peace that reaches out to one when one completely submits oneself to the will of Almighty God. This is achieved only when the individual acts in accordance with the direction of his Creator in all spheres of life.

Who is the founder of Islam? The Almighty God who created the universe, endowed man with a special gift of intelligence and thought, to enable him to discriminate between good and bad. Man has also been given, the freedom to choose his own path by either accepting or rejecting the instructions of the Almighty Creator. The divine revelations were conveyed by God to mankind through numerous prophets who preached the ideals to all communities during different periods of human history. The thousands of prophets whom God selected for human guidance have promulgated the basic doctrine with remarkable similarity. The belief in and the profound reverence for all messengers and revealed scriptures from God forms an integral part of Islamic faith. Islam is not a religion founded by Prophet Mohammed, (Peace Be Upon Him). The Qur’an has most emphatically corroborated the fact that the Islamic conception of life was revealed to man by a long chain of prophets chosen by the Almighty Creator.

Who is Muslim? The word ‘Muslim’ means one who has submitted oneself to the Omnipotent Creator. A true Muslim is one who has disciplined his life in accordance with the instructions conveyed by God through His messengers. A person becomes a Muslim not by birth alone, but by his faith and deeds.

How can one be a Muslim? "I testify that there is none who deserves to be worshipped but Allah. I testify that Mohammed is the messenger of Allah". By taking this solemn oath sincerely and endeavoring to regulate one’s life following the instructions conveyed by Allah through his messengers, one becomes a true Muslim. By declaring that there is none worthy of worship save Allah, and that Mohammed is the Prophet of Allah, the believer announces his or her faith in God’s oneness, His sole right to be worshipped and that Muhammed is the last of the prophets. It also confirms his or her belief in all prophets and the scriptures they brought.

Why does Islam seem to be strict? No prophet taught that religion is to be confined within the walls of places of worship. On the contrary, Muslims are expected to follow the instructions of Almighty Allah in the course of all their activities in life. The word ‘Muslim’ means ‘one who has submitted his self to the will of Allah’, and for the same reason a true Muslim cannot compromise on anything that stands in the way of guiding his life according to divine strictures. The view that consciousness of God is to be confined only to the place of worship is alien to Islam. Muslims always have religion foremost in their minds whereas many others consider religion as irrelevant in the present age.

ISLAMIC BELIEFS "O people! Worship your Guardian Lord, Who created you and those who came before you that you may become righteous. Who has made the earth your couch, and the heavens your canopy; and sent down rain from the heavens; and brought forth therewith fruits for your sustenance; Then set not up rivals unto Allah when you know (the truth)." Holy Qur’an 2:21, 22 What are the Islamic beliefs? Muslims believe in one, unique, incomparable God, in the angels created by Him, in the revealed Scriptures, in the prophets through whom His revelations were made to mankind, in the Day of Judgement and life after death, individual accountability for actions, and in God’s complete authority over human destiny.

What does faith in ‘One God’ mean? Allah, the Creator and Protector of all beings in the universe, big and small, in His essence His goodness and his deeds, remains alone and unique. One offers worship only to Him, who is Almighty, higher than everyone else and Himself being perfect in everything. By monotheism, Islam implies, not the mere belief that there is just one God, but it power the way for prayers and offerings to the one who is all Merciful and Omniscient.

Who is Allah? The Arabic word ‘Allah’ is the shortened form of ‘al-ilah’, ‘The God, the one and only God, the first, the last, the eternal, the hidden, the manifest, the ultimate reality’. Even non-Muslim Arabs use the term ‘Allah’ when they speak of God. The basic creed of Islam is this simple formula: ‘There is no God but Allah’ (‘La ilaha illallah’). The Arabic term ‘Allah’ denoting God, is unique in many ways. It has no plural like ‘gods’; it has no gender like ‘godess’; nor does this word generate a visual image of any kind. "Allah", He is God, the One true God, He is the one who deserves all worship and there is nothing comparable to him. Nevertheless, ninety-nine different attributes of Allah are named in the Qur’an.

INEVITABLE VISITOR WAITING FOR YOU!

1.What all are the new gossips in bollywood?

2.Which is the trendiest online gadget?

3.What rocks on road this week?

4.Which is the coolest shopping mall to hang around?

5.What are the hot trends in job market?

Dear friend, how long did u take to find answer to these questions? May be a few  seconds for each, right? Let me now draw your attention to another set of questions.

1.Do you know about the “visitor” whose visit is inevitable but the “time of the visit” is unknown?

2.Do you feel that God, almighty is unjust at times?

3.Who is your guide to eternal salvation?

Thinking....? Let me break the surprise....

Did you know that the inevitable visitor that you should always expect is ‘death’? Have you taken your life for granted for another 60 or 70 years? If you glance at the news papers you will understand the fact that age is not the criteria for death to kidnap you.

Anything can be waiting for us. May be hours or minutes or just seconds away

...Does the story end there?

When millions of people die for want of a decent meal, there are people who dump tons of food into the oceans for keeping their price rate high ...

Innocent children and civilians are killed using high precision weapons, with the masterminds behind these not even questioned

There are people who are born, who live and die in luxury by exploiting those who spend their entire lives in poverty ...

A person who has killed thousands of people can only be hanged once

If death is the ultimate end, then the world would be full of injustice

See what the quran says:

“Does man think that We shall not assemble his bones?

Yes,We are able to put together in perfect order the tips of his fingers...”

(Quran 75:3-4)

Death is not the ultimate end. Instead it is the beginning of our eternal life.

What have we earned for it?

We are living in a world where man has declined to an extent where he himself demands divinity.

World is filled with enough and more ‘human gods’ who claim to sell eternal salvation. But think...is there anyone better than God himself to explain about eternal salvation?

To enrich man with the knowledge of God and to lead him in the right path, he has send prophets ever since the creation of mankind.

The last among these prophets is Muhammad (pbuh) to whom He revealed the Quran-the holy book which contains the wordings of God almighty alone.

The most interesting fact is that quran doesn’t demand mankind to believe in it blindly. It asks people to test its authenticity with logical and reasoning power.

“Had it been from other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much contradictions.” Quran 4:82

Abook that claims to be divine...A book that claims to be free from

contradictions...

A book that is compatible with the modern science...A book that discusses each and every matter of human life... Isn’t it time that we change and get closer to the Quran?

COURTACY : MSM KERALA

Why is idol worship a sin?

Introduction:

There are a number of people in the world that practice idol worship. This article aims to critically analyze idol worship, taking into consideration the reasons given by those who practice it.
Reasons given for Idol Worship:

An Idol itself is NOT god. It is just a symbol of God.
Idols are just an object of concentration. We do not believe idols themselves to be Gods.
We do not worship the idols - We worship God through idols.
We revere God like we revere our leaders and forefathers by remembering them with their pictures and statues.
God is everywhere, so worshiping idols is not a sin.
We use simple examples to make children understand. Similarly, common people are like children when it comes to spirituality. That is why idols are used during worship.

Things to remember:
God’s image is an assumption

None of us have seen God. Therefore, the images of God that people worship are not correct. They are mere assumptions made by people.
Images derived from Man’s experience

The images attributed to God are derived from people’s experiences of what they have seen and perceived in their daily life.
Why is idol worship a sin?

People think that worshipping idols is not a sin because idols are worshipped only to revere God. Idol worship is not a sin since God understands the intentions behind it.

Even though people who worship God using idols might do so with the best of intentions, idol worship is still a sin because of the following reasons.
1. God did not permit idol worship

God did not allow people to worship Him through idols. In order to be remembered or thought upon no one would like to have the statue or painting of a dog or monkey made for him, since we consider them sub-human creatures which are far below us. Similarly all objects in this universe are created by God and everything here is so insignificant that there is no comparison to any of them with God. It is a gross injustice to God to erect any of these objects to remember or to concentrate on God. Hence it becomes an unpardonable sin.
2. Images attributed to God disrespect God

Although images are made to revere God, unfortunately the same images become a means for disrespecting God. For example: we see the images attributed to God being used in calendars, hand bags, crackers, lottery tickets, invitation cards and even beedis. Once the calendar year expires, the calendar which has the image of “God” gets thrown into the garbage bin. The same happens with used and old notebooks, invitation cards and hand bags. We see old lottery tickets with the image of God being used in hair salons, while some beedis with the image of God are flushed in toilets and others stamped under people’s feet.

Would we accept such things to be done to our picture or the pictures of our parents or our beloved ones? If not, how can we accept such things done to God?
3. Images attributed to God are many times unacceptable to us

Some of the images attributed to God are many times unacceptable to us. For example: would we like to see ourselves with a big pot belly, disfigured face with teeth protruding outside? Would we agree to marry such a person or agree to get our children married to such persons? We would never accept.

God who created beauty would be the most beautiful. The images do gross injustice to God by portraying God’s image as something we ourselves would not accept.

So the reason “We revere God like we revere our leaders and forefathers by remembering them with their pictures and statues” is not valid.
4. Images of God distort the correct concept of God

When images of God are drawn from what man has experienced, man starts to think that God’s nature is similar to humans and ends up attributing all types of human weaknesses like family, wives, concubines, sleep, forgetfulness etc to God. This leads to the distortion of the correct belief of God thus making man careless about the accountability of his deeds as he starts to consider God weak.
Do we need idols for concentration?

We do not need idols or images to concentrate. The following points will explain that.

We see many people close their eyes when they pray standing in front of the images or idols. If images and idols are used for concentration, why do people close their eyes?
Concentration needs to be at the maximum when we pray to God for an urgent need. For example: You travel in a bike and the brake of the bike fails. It is natural that you would pray to God and concentration for this prayer needs to be at the maximum. Would you search for a picture or an idol of God before you pray or would you directly pray to God?
If idol is used ONLY for concentration, any object could be used and the substitution of any other object for the idol would not be opposed. This never happens. Hence the statement that idols are used only for concentration is not true.
Moreover, if the idols are used only for concentration then people should be ready to treat the idols and images like any other object. This never happens. Man gets the image and reflection of things where his mind and eyes concentrate. The idolater will have the image of the idol settled in mind, and idols will occupy God’s place. This is why the statues and images are sanctified and honored with worship (pujas). This shows that people treat the images and the idols as God. So the reasons “Idol itself is NOT god. It is just a symbol of God; idols are just an object of concentration. We do not believe idols themselves to be Gods and we do not worship the idols - we worship God through idols” are not true.
It is a common practice for people to use “photos” of the deceased during the anniversary rites. If the picture of the deceased is not to be found, would people agree to substitute with a picture of someone else? If no, how is it fine to substitute an image for God?

Is God everywhere?

People think that since God is everywhere, idols and statues can be worshipped. This reasoning is incorrect due to the following reasons.

If God is everywhere, then we can start worshiping any object present around us and need not look for an idol or an image attributed to God. Example: pen, chairs, tables etc.
It is illogical to think that God is everywhere. Creations have a beginning and end. If the God (creator) is within the creations, then what would happen to God when the creations come to an end?
Our universe comprises of matter and anti-matter. When matter and anti-matter come in contact with each other, they cancel each other and the result is non-existence. So if God is present everywhere, it would mean God is present in both matter and anti-matter. So when the matter and anti-matter come in contact with each other, it would mean that God becomes non-existent because the matter and anti-matter cancel each other. Hence, God being present everywhere is illogical and impossible.

Hence the reason “God is everywhere, so worshiping idols is not a sin” is incorrect.
How can we achieve concentration in worship?

When man starts to think about the attributes of God like God’s mercy, forgiveness, love, wisdom, poweretc man would be able to really concentrate in his worship and the worship will also become meaningful.

One important thing everyone needs to ask themselves is: have we ever tried to worship God without using an image or an idol? If no, how is it correct to dismiss the idea without even trying it?
Common people need Idols to worship God

The claim that common people are incapable of worshipping God without idols is false because:

There are millions of common people in Islam, Judaism and several denominations of Christianity who worship God without idols. If all these people can worship God without idols, it should be possible for common people of all faiths to worship God without images and idols.
To say that common people are like children in spirituality and hence would need idols is like saying “we need to draw a picture of a small sun for children to look at since they cannot see the sun rays directly”.
Only if the fundamentals of any particular subject are strong, a person will be able to excel in future. For e.g. a teacher of mathematics in standard one teaches the students that 2 + 2 = 4.Irrespective of whether the student passes school or does graduation or does a Ph. D. in mathematics, the basics of 2 + 2 = 4 will always remain the same, it will not change to 5 or 6. In higher standards the student may learn about Algebra, Trigonometry, and Logarithm etc. besides addition, but the fundamentals of addition will yet remain the same. If the teacher in standard one itself teaches the fundamentals wrong, how can you expect the student to excel in future?

Will you tell your son who is in standard one that 2 + 2 is not equal to 4 but is equal to 5 or 6 and tell him the truth after he passes school? We would never do that. In fact if he makes a mistake you will correct him and say it is 4 and not wait till he graduates; and if you don’t correct him initially you will ruin his future.

Similarly the fundamentals of worship can never change irrespective of whether the person is a scholar or a commoner.
Hindu Scriptures condemn Idol worship

A careful reading of the Vedas and Upanishads will show us that the Hindu scriptures are against idol worship. Hence organizations like Arya Samaj, Brahmo Samaj, Gayathri Samaj etc which follow the teachings of Vedas and Upanishads speak against idol worship and regard idol worship as a sin.
Do we have an excuse to worship Idols?

When we confront the person who worships an Idol with the evidences and reasons against it, he may recant saying “What matters is to be good, let us not worry about how we worship God”. Using this statement, the person attempts to nullify all the arguments against idol worship.

If this statement is made by a person who worships God, we may ask him, if it is just about being a good human being, why do you worship God?

By worshiping God, the person agrees that as much as we strive to be good human beings, it is equally important to worship God. Since worship is for God, are we not supposed to see if God ratifies how we worship? We did see that God does not permit idol worship and also the problems with it and why it becomes a sin.

Let us try to understand this through a simple example. Say there is a person called A, who does a lot of social services like helping the poor, sick and the needy and he is known as an excellent human being in his society. One day, people discover that he was involved in treason by secretly helping an enemy nation by passing on confidential information to them.

On the other hand, we have another person called B, who does not do much social services or get involved in any social welfare activities and is not considered as a great person by his society. Although this person does not do any good acts, he stays loyal to his country.

Compare these two persons, A and B. Who is better of the two? Can person A be forgiven just because he has helped a few people? In no case, will he be forgiven, as what he has done amounts to treachery and planning against the country. All countries consider treason as a very serious crime.

Similarly, God does love people who do good deeds, but under NO pretext, will God forgive those who do ‘treachery’ against Him, by worshipping things other than Him or by worshipping idols.

It is hence, very clear that when a person is involved in idol worship, he disobeys God. A person can never be a good human being by disobeying God and doing things that displeases God.Hence, to be a good human being, a person has to obey God in all matters including worship.

So the excuse “What matters is to be good, let us not worry about how we worship God” is not justified.
Essence of Worship

Worship is a deed done by the worshipper out of extreme piety, reverence and humility to God. It is unbecoming of man, who is the best of God’s creations to offer worship to something that is equal to him to or something which is below him in status.

Moreover, worship with extreme reverence is shown only to the one who deserves it. God alone is perfect in greatness, wisdom and power. So God alone deserves worship and it is God’s privilege to be worshipped and adored. What God alone deserves should not be given to others; and doing so is against God’s will because it is like elevating them to the same level as God, who is the one and only deity.
Summary

Idol worship is a major sin.
God did not permit idol worship.
Images attributed to God humiliate God.
Images of God distort the correct concept of God.
Images attributed to God are many times unacceptable to us.
We do not need idols for concentration.Concentration in worship can be achieved by thinking about the attributes of God.
The argument “God is everywhere, so Idol worship is correct” is erroneous.

Courtacy: invitetogod.com