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By Ijaz Chaudry
Difference between
Rastafarian and Islam, Islamic point of view;
Rastafarian;
Rastafarians believe
Haile Selassie is God and that he will return to Africa members of the black
community who are living in exile as the result of colonisation and the slave
trade.
Islam;
Islam says that there
is no god besides God (the Creator of Heavens and Earth).
Islam also says that no human can be God.
This fact is explained by the example of Jesus being son of Mary rather
than the son of God. God is the all
powerful who created the Heavens and the Earth, no human can do that!!
[3:45] The angels
said, "O Mary, GOD gives you good news: a Word from Him whose name is `The
Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary. He will be prominent in this life and in the
Hereafter, and one of those closest to Me.'
Blasphemies
[9:30] The Jews
said, "Ezra is the son of GOD," while the Christians said, "Jesus is the son of
GOD!" These are blasphemies uttered by their mouths. They thus match the
blasphemies of those who have disbelieved in the past. GOD condemns them. They
have surely deviated.
[28:70] He is the
one GOD; there is no other god beside Him. To Him belongs all praise in this
first life, and in the Hereafter. All judgment belongs with Him, and to Him you
will be returned.
Rastafarian;
Rastafarian theology
developed from the ideas of Marcus Garvey, a political activist who wanted to
improve the status of fellow blacks.
Islam;
Islam is free from
prejudice against, colour, race or creed, anyone regardless of his/her religion
can be a Muslim (Submitter). God
promises the believers victory and happiness in this world and greater reward in
the Hereafter;
[5:69] Surely,
those who believe, those who are Jewish, the converts, and the Christians; any
of them who (1) believe in GOD and (2) believe in the Last Day, and (3) lead a
righteous life, have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
Happiness: Now
and Forever*
[10:62]
Absolutely, GOD's allies have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
*10:62-64 Most people think that they have to wait until the
Day of Resurrection before they receive their rewards for righteousness, or the
retribution for wickedness. But the Quran repeatedly assures the believers that
they are guaranteed perfect happiness here in this world, now and forever. At
the end of their interim here, they go directly to Paradise (see Appendix 17).
[10:63]
They are those who believe and lead a righteous life.
[10:64] For them,
joy and happiness in this world, as well as in the Hereafter. This is GOD's
unchangeable law. Such is the greatest triumph.
Rastafarian;
The movement's greatest
concerns are the repatriation of blacks to their homeland, Africa, and the
reinstatement of blacks' position in society
Islam;
The indigenous
population of Africa has suffered a lot in the past.
Islam recognizes this fact, when the Quran was revealed Slavery was a
norm. However, Islam introduced
freeing the salves, halving their punishments, to relieve some pressure from the
salves;
[2:177]
Righteousness is not turning your faces towards the east or the west. Righteous
are those who believe in GOD, the Last Day, the angels, the scripture, and the
prophets; and they give the money, cheerfully, to the relatives, the orphans,
the needy, the travelling alien, the beggars, and to free the slaves; and they
observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat); and
they keep their word whenever they make a promise; and they steadfastly
persevere in the face of persecution, hardship, and war. These are the truthful;
these are the righteous.
[4:25] Those
among you who cannot afford to marry free believing women, may marry believing
slave women. GOD knows best about your belief, and you are equal to one another,
as far as belief is concerned. You shall obtain permission from their guardians
before you marry them, and pay them their due dowry equitably. They shall
maintain moral behaviour, by not committing adultery, or having secret lovers.
Once they are freed through marriage, if they commit adultery, their punishment
shall be half of that for the free women.* Marrying a slave shall be a last
resort for those unable to wait. To be patient is better for you. GOD is
Forgiver, Most Merciful.
*4:25 This law proves
that the punishment for adultery could not possibly be stoning to death as
stated in the laws of corrupted Muslims (see 24:2).
[9:60] Charities
shall go to the poor, the needy, the workers who collect them, the new converts,
to free the slaves, to those burdened by sudden expenses, in the cause of GOD,
and to the traveling alien. Such is GOD's commandment. GOD is Omniscient, Most
Wise.
[90:12]
Which one is the difficult path?
[90:13]
The freeing of slaves.
[90:14]
Feeding, during the time of hardship.
Rastafarian;
God is found within
every man
Rastafarians believe
that God makes himself known through humanity. According to Jagessar "there must
be one man in whom he exists most eminently and completely, and that is the
supreme man, Rastafari, Selassie I."
Islam;
The manifestation of
divinity of God is apparent in all things.
The rain that falls on the crops when they need it, the sun that shines
to ripen the fruits and crops, the various fruits that we eat, it comes from the
same earth with different tastes and shapes, also God inspires the humans to fly
make luxurious means of transport, He also inspired humans to lay roads and to
sail on the sea. All these and many
more are signs of God for the believers to observe and be appreciative of God.
If a human want to count God's blessings he/she will not be able to
fathom them no matter how long or
how hard he/she tries;
[2:22] The One
who made the earth habitable for you, and the sky a structure. He sends down
from the sky water, to produce all kinds of fruits for your sustenance. You
shall not set up idols to rival GOD, now that you know.
[6:99] He is the
One who sends down from the sky water, whereby we produce all kinds of plants.
We produce from the green material multitudes of complex grains, palm trees with
hanging clusters, and gardens of grapes, olives and pomegranate; fruits that are
similar, yet dissimilar. Note their fruits as they grow and ripen. These are
signs for people who believe.
Greatness of God*
[39:67] They can
never fathom the greatness of GOD. The whole earth is within His fist on the Day
of Resurrection. In fact, the universes are folded within His right hand.* Be He
glorified; He is much too high above needing any partners.
*39:67 Our universe,
with its billion galaxies, a billion trillion stars, uncountable decillions of
heavenly bodies, spanning many billions of light-years, is the smallest and
innermost of seven universes. This incomprehensible vastness of the seven
universes is within God's hand. Such is the greatness of God. See Appendix 6.
Rastafarian;
Respect for nature
This idea refers to the
importance and respect Rastafarians have for animals and the environment, as
mirrored in their food laws.
Islam;
Islam also recognise
the importance of being kind to nature, thus we are asked to tread the earth
gently;
[25:63] The
worshipers of the Most Gracious are those who tread the earth gently, and when
the ignorant speak to them, they only utter peace.
All nice foods are
allowed in Islam, except the following;
[2:173] He only
prohibits for you the eating of animals that die of themselves (without human
interference), blood, the meat of pigs, and animals dedicated to other than GOD.
If one is forced (to eat these), without being malicious or deliberate, he
incurs no sin. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
Intoxicants and
Gambling Prohibited
[5:90] O you who
believe, intoxicants, and gambling, and the altars of idols, and the games of
chance are abominations of the devil; you shall avoid them, that you may
succeed.
Rastafarian;
Judgment is near
This corresponds to the
nearness of judgement for Rastafarians when they will be given greater
recognition.
Islam;
The only Judgment
Muslims recognize is the Day of the Judgment, when this earth will come to end
and everyone will be judged by God and make it Heaven or Hell based on the
righteous and unrighteous work they may have done on earth respectively.
This earth will be replaced by Hell, and all the disbelievers will burn
here;
Guaranteed
Happiness
Now and Forever
[16:97] Anyone
who works righteousness, male or female, while believing, we will surely grant
them a happy life in this world, and we will surely pay them their full
recompense (on the Day of Judgment) for their righteous works.
Rastafarian;
Women must also abstain
from abortion which is regarded as murder
Islam;
Selective abortion is
allowed in Islam. Taking life in
Islam is a big sin. God explains in
the Quran the Final Testament that God gives life to foetus
or deem it lifeless. Thus
abortion at an earlier stage where the baby is an embryo, abortion is
permissible. This law works well
with the modern society, for example the pill works this way.
Also in certain circumstances where a woman has been raped and would like
an abortion this is a useful law;
[22:5] O people,
if you have any doubt about resurrection, (remember that) we created you from
dust, and subsequently from a tiny drop, which turns into a hanging (embryo),
then it becomes a fetus that is given life or deemed lifeless. We thus clarify
things for you. We settle in the wombs whatever we will for a predetermined
period.* We then bring you out as infants, then you reach maturity. While some
of you die young, others live to the worst age, only to find out that no more
knowledge can be attained beyond a certain limit. Also, you look at a land that
is dead, then as soon as we shower it with water, it vibrates with life and
grows all kinds of beautiful plants.
This article has
direct reference to material on
www.bbc.co.uk/religion.
Thus the paragraphs under the heading “Rastafarian” is from BBC.
Lot of effort has been taken to leave this material in its original form
and minimize the amount of material in proportion to what BBC has put on their
site. This is done in
compliance with Section 110 (5) of the Copyright Act 1976.