Tough Being a Mussulman

By A.A. Khan

Book is conceived keeping socio- political aspect of Islam as Religion and Muslims as community facing challenges to subsisting with conventional world in Modern times.

• Language: English
• Publisher: One Point Six Technologies Pvt Ltd
• Release date: Nov 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9789390463800

A.A. Khan

Azhar Khan is an author and an artist based at Mumbai, India. His first book ‘Tough being a Mussulman’, is a creative non-fiction based on the socio-political aspect of Islam in India.​Ak's interest is as multifarious and diverse as his several academic degrees. He also specialises in pencil portraits and commercial art; He is an eminent person in the advertising industry and has worked in a leadership position with international advertising agencies such as Publicis Groupe, R. K. Swamy BBDO & Grey Worldwide.Ak has associated with Screenwriters Association (SWA) Formerly Film Writers' Association as a member since 2013 and had registered screenwriting projects under his belt. He loves art, reading, traveling, photography, nature, football, snooker, and most of all, spending time with family.Education:Bachelor of Commerce (University of Mumbai, India).Certificates:Digital Graphics, 3Ds Max & CombustionMember:Screenwriters Association (SWA) Member No. 23359Formerly Film Writers' Association

Book preview

Chapter 1

ORIGIN OF ISLAM

The moment an infant is born in Muslim descent Azaan - an Islamic call to worship recites in the ears of the newborn. It is a command to start the journey as Mussulman in the world where all are transiently sent for a spiritual assessment. In August 1980 (1400 Hijri, Islamic calendar), I was born in a mediocre family in suburban of then Bombay now Mumbai India, and azaan is been recited in the ears by my father.

We were a family of four father, mother, and elder brother with a liberal outlook and humanistic values, my journey for spiritual assessment begin when I turned seven. Following Islamic beliefs child who reached the age of discernment, which is the age of seven years should start praying — performing namaz and learning —holy book of the Quran.

Islamic way of living thrived in my upbringing since the time of birth although formal teaching that begins at the age of seven, when father and elder brother drove me to the masjid (Mosque) for performing namaz. By the age of ten, I was allowed to stand in the row with adults during the congregational prayer. Recapitulation of religion to me was still five times prayer, learning of the holy book, fasting for a month in a year & rejoice sacrifice feast.

Perceiving of Islam takes place in my life after the occurrence of life-changing experience during 1992 communal riots in Mumbai after the demolition of Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992. This experience might be trivial to others but has a great emotional, psychological, and physical effect on our family.

That time we were inhabiting the Sion neighborhood of Bombay, Hindu domination which was terribly affected with communal disharmony, Muslim houses were picked out to burn during the communal insurrection and we saw the hideous face of society.

1992 and subsequent 1993 Mumbai riots agonize the city and everyone fled in fear, city instilled suspicion and created a communal divide. We were rehabilitated to suburban of Mumbai in Muslim domination, my family wracked with the incidence and still plead for justice.

Islam was originated in Mecca and Medina at the beginning of the 7th century, approx. 600 years after the founding of Christianity; however, the persuasion of Islam in me begins from 1993 (1413 Hijri, thirteen years after coming into existence).

At the age of thirteen, I had realized that being a Mussulman will be distinctive in all the aspects of life whether it is of religious beliefs, conventional lifestyle, or creating well-being and imparted that salvation from these will fall under living a righteous life for the God.

It may seem fanatic; however, the literal meaning of the word Islam is submission to god one of the monotheistic religions with teaching that there is only one God and that Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of God.

Islam as religion consists of faith (Aqidah), law (Sharia), and attitude (Akhlaq). Faith is nothing but Iman - believe and Islam is all about Iman, sharia means the way of living simply path to be followed. Akhlaq is the ethics, good conduct, and moral character of a person.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) once said, I have been sent to the perfect good character (Akhlaq).

Source: al-Muwaṭṭa’ 1614

Chapter 2

ISLAM AS MISSION

Over 1400 years ago, Islam was originated in the Arab states of western Asia with preaching to believe in the oneness of God and spread its faith. Today, Islam has more than 1.8 billion adherents, making up about one-quarter of the world population and constitute the second-largest religion. It is also the fastest-growing religion in the world. The above-stated facts reveal the journey of Islam as a mission.

I will start with the verse of the Quran (2:256): God says, There shall be no compulsion in [acceptance of] the religion. The right course has become clear from the wrong. Islam was never an aim to achieve but the preaching to believe and spread its faith.

Six beliefs of Islam—

1.One God

2.His prophets

3.His books

4.His angels

5.His decrees

6.The final judgment day

The concept of oneness in the simpler term is, The one and only. We believe that there is only one God, God was not created by a being, God has no parents, no children and no partners, and he is sovereign; there are no equal, superior, or lesser gods.

"O, mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous; [He] who made for you the earth a bed [spread out] and the sky a ceiling and sent down from the sky, rain and brought forth thereby fruits as provision for you. So do not attribute to Allah equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him]. [Quran 2:21-22]

To convey the purpose of existence to humans, God sent clear and practical instructions through prophets. We Muslims believe there were about 1,24,000 prophets in all, of whom only 25 are mentioned by name in the Quran — Adam was the first and Muhammad (S.A.W) was the last. To have faith in the prophets is to firmly believe that God chooses morally upright men to bear his message and pass it to humanity.

The revelation of the Quran was the greatest miracle of Muhammad (S.A.W). The Quran is the final book of Allah and the message in all other books of Allah Tawrat (Moses), Zabur (David) and Injeel (Jesus) is preserved in the Quran. The actual text for all 3 books of Allah is no longer available. The Quran is the only one of Allah’s books that is still available in the original text. Allah has promised in the Quran that his message will be preserved forever, and 1400 years later, that is still true.

Indeed, it is we who sent down the Qur’an and indeed, we will be its guardian. [Quran 15:9]

Falsehood cannot approach it from before it or from behind it; [it is] a revelation from a [Lord who is] Wise and Praiseworthy. [Quran 41:42]

Archangels: Jibra’il is the angel of revelation or announcement. He is appointed to convey revelations to the prophets by Allah. The Angel that controls the events in this realm is Mika’il; he is the angel that manages the divine work of arts that are planted on the field of the earth with the power of Allah and his order. Azra’il is the angel of death; his duty is to grasp the souls of people whose death times have come. He is also called as Malak-ul Mawt. The Angel of Soor (The Trumpet) is Israf ’il, the angel that will blow the trumpet on doomsday (end time).

And to Allah prostrates whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth of creatures, and the angels [as well], and they are