Before i say anything, i would like you to open the dictionary and read the definition of these words in detail: Respect andTolerance. In here i share with you the definition of these words directly from Oxford Dictionaries (The world's most trusted dictionaries)
There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Tâghût and believes in Allâh, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allâh is All-Hearer, All-Knower. (Al-Baqarah 2:256)
Definition of respect (http://oxforddictionaries.
noun [mass noun] a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements:
verb [with object] admire (someone or something) deeply, as a result of their abilities, qualities, or achievements:
Definition of tolerance (http://oxforddictionaries.
noun [mass noun] the ability or willingness to tolerate the existence of opinions or behaviour that one dislikes or disagrees with: the tolerance of corruption, an advocate of religious tolerance
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I have been thinking over the use of the word Respect, its meaning, and how we are told to use it in the United States of America. The US obligates us to respect their pledge of allegiance, they call us to the respect of Christianity along with their holidays, they call us to respect all other religions and their disbelief, sins, transgressions, fornications, drinking alcohol, homosexuality, lesbians and list goes on and on. We are suppose to respect these and the people who do these. So this concept of respect has brain washed the Muslims and the revert Muslims grew up with it to the extent that a revert Muslim once told me that her scholars said, musical instruments are permission, thus i should respect their opinion. In my head i was: Maa shaa Allah, what a request she had made!!! (I have not an atom weight of respect for anything that oppose what Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhe wa sallam legislated).
It was only other day that i found a solution to my long thoughts while i was visiting a dear sister's profile on facebook. She wrote about Muslims greeting the non-Muslims during their christmas holidays. So someone replied saying something like: why is she commenting on that, everyone should respect each others. Subhan Allah, her reply to the commenter was a powerful reply. She said in the most beautiful words that i could think of. She has solved the problem that i have been thinking of for so long. If only she allowed me to copy her comments, i would have shared with the world but she didn't reply to my request. So she said something like: We do not respect other religions but we Tolerate because respect means to hold something in esteem and in high rank. This we cannot do with regard to the things that Allah and His Messenger has forbidden us. It would be like someone did shirk and we are congratulating them for committing the shirk. While shirk is the greatest of all sins and Allah will never forgive this sin and the one who dies upon shirk is in the HELLFIRE forever, shirk is to set up equals with Allah.
Her reply was a complete reply leaving no confusion with regard to the matter of respect and tolerance. Indeed, Islam is a religion of tolerance. Islam does not force one to follow its way of life at all. One is completely free to choose this way of life and live by it. We tolerate other religion but we can never respect those other religions in the least. Because Shirk is the greatest sin because it holds creations in high respect over or equal to Allah. Swearing by other than Allah is forbidden because when one swears by anything they hold that thing or person in high esteem, in respect, and admiration that is forbidden in Islam, it is elevating the creation. We cannot celebrate manmade days because it is honoring the man and putting him in charge of the legislation while Allah said it is for Him only. And the list goes on and on like this.
In Summary, all of these goes against the very basic essence of Islam that is Worshipping Allah alone and following the Legislation that Allah had sent down upon His Last Messenger Muhammad sallallahu alayhe wa sallam to worship Him alone in the way He Loves and Pleased with.
The other day i was in a school work: when the pledge of allegiance started, i was sitting down while the teacher asked students to stand along with her. When the teacher saw me sitting down, she requested that i stand up in respect for the pledge of allegiance while i do not have to put my hand on the chest nor do i have to say the words of the pledge. I replied to her: I can't do that. And then she was like she thought i could at least stand etc, and i wanted to explain but she stop me from saying anything, saying she respect my stance. However, if she really respected my stance why did her attitude change! And everything changed with me thereafter. I went quiet and didn't say anything further. in my head i was like: she said it why i should stand, and it is still in honor of the pledge of allegiance AND that is the ONLY reason it is forbidden for me to take part in the pledge of allegiance.
You see they do not tolerate our religion so as to leave us with it alone but they want us to respect what they do to the extent that they make us do what they do in the name of the mis-used term: respect. They play with this one word and make people take part in what they would not want to do due to their own beliefs and cultures.
However, whoever just spends a couple of months as a pure Muslim trying to practice Islam in its entirety, the person will know these disbelievers show NO RESPECT whatsoever to the religion of Islam and the Muslims except those Allah willed. But these exceptional ones do not respect, they TOLERATE ONLY. They tolerate and let everyone do what they will. Let me tell you, the claim of equal opportunity for jobs regardless of religion and race only works based on the desire of the one hiring, it is based on their will that they hire and fire whoever they wish. But the excuse for firing is done differently so they are not accused of discrimination based on religion or race. It is just that they pick on little things and make up an excuse and fire the person and that's it. So long they can get rid of the person they do not want, they are happy.
FINALLY: Guard Your religion and protect it from all nullifiers of Islam. Your religion is your main wealth, if you lose it, you lost everything.
And beware of the falsehood of RESPECT, BUT Tolerate.
لاَ إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىَ لاَ انفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
إِنَّ شَرَّ الدَّوَابِّ عِندَ اللّهِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَهُمْ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ
Verily, The worst of moving (living) creatures before Allâh are those who disbelieve, - so they shall not believe. (Al-Anfal 8:55)
وَلِلّهِ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَإِلَيْهِ يُرْجَعُ الأَمْرُ كُلُّهُ فَاعْبُدْهُ وَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَيْهِ وَمَا رَبُّكَ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
And to Allâh belongs the Ghaib (unseen) of the heavens and the earth, and to Him return all affairs (for decision). So worship Him (O Muhammad SAW) and put your trust in Him. And your Lord is not unaware of what you (people) do." (Hud 11:123)
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ أَلاَ لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالأَمْرُ تَبَارَكَ اللّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Indeed your Lord is Allâh, Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days, and then He Istawâ (rose over) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty). He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly, and (He created) the sun, the moon, the stars subjected to His Command. Surely, His is the Creation and Commandment. Blessed be Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists)! (Al-A'raf 7:54) |
