Epigraph:
Then We caused Our Messengers to follow in their footsteps; and We caused Jesus, son of Mary, to follow them, and We gave him the Gospel. And We placed in the hearts of those who accepted him compassion and mercy. But monasticism which they invented for themselves — We did not prescribe it for them — for the seeking of Allah’s pleasure; but they did not observe it with due observance. Yet We gave those of them who believed their due reward, but many of them are rebellious. (Al Quran 57:27)
Vatican City
Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times
I am not going to argue any thesis here. I hope and pray that the collection below makes a sufficiently clear cumulative case for the reader in search of truth.
In the past organized religion provided for building compassionate and just societies, which is now the mandate of the individual countries with their respective constitutions. So the search for truth in this age of social media, millions of YouTube videos and constant interaction with individuals of different religions and sects has to be individual and not a team sport.
Trump’s presidency has a silver lining in as much as it has shown many that political and religious debates are often governed by black and white or dogmatic thinking. Therefore, let me say, read on and in the words of Sir Francis Bacon, “Read not to contradict … but to weigh and consider.”
Let us build our beliefs on truths and direct our activism towards human rights and women rights rather than evangelism: