Is this justice....?: ‘Judge Islam by Prophet’s life and teachings’: Swami Lakshmi Shankaracharya

Monday, February 4, 2013

‘Judge Islam by Prophet’s life and teachings’: Swami Lakshmi Shankaracharya

'Judge Islam by Prophet's life and teachings': Swami Lakshmi Shankaracharya

Epigraph:

"I am a Muslim and profoundly conscious of the fact that I have inherited Islam's glorious tradition of the last fourteen hundred years. I am not prepared to lose even a small part of that legacy. The history and teachings of Islam, its arts and letters, its culture and civilization are part of my wealth and it is my duty to cherish and guard them. But, with all these feelings, I have another equally deep realization, born out of my life's experience which is strengthened and not hindered by the Islamic spirit. I am equally proud of the fact that I am an Indian, an essential part of the indivisible unity of the Indian nationhood, a vital factor in its total makeup, without which this noble edifice will remain incomplete." Maulana Abul Kalam Azad

Swami Lakshmi Shankarcharya addressed in Hyderabad on 14th of Oct, 2012 and more recently in Patna. A Vedic Scholar who finds Islam is religion of peace and guidance to all mankind. Earlier he was very critical about Islam in his book Islam and Terrorism, once he could explore truth from Islamic book Quran al Hakeem, he retracted and wrote a book in defense of Islam.
Source: TwoCircles.net:
By M Naushad Ansari
We are talking about the Prophet Muhammad and we should keep it in our mind that he is the greatest individual in history. If anyone wants to know about Islam, he should "Judge Islam by the Prophet's life and his teachings," said Swami Lakshmi Shankracharya, founder, Jan Ekta Manch.

Addressing a talk on 'Seerat-un-Nabi' at Anjuman Islamia Hall, Patna on January 26th, the Swami, in his enlightening speech, said that peace and humanity is the core teaching of Islam. But, unfortunately, most of the Muslims don't follow Islamic teachings and they hardly learn from the life of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
"It is the duty of every Muslim according to their religion to save and protect humanity, Muhammad always forgave his enemies and showed patience when he was harmed by others, this was his moral teaching, which made Islam an international religion," he added.
In particular he cited the stories of 'Fatah-e-Makkah' when enemies of Islam were given complete liberty and amnesty despite being made prisoners of war by Muslims. On 'Jihad' he clarified that it has got nothing to do with killings of the innocent and terrorism. The first permission to take up arms was accorded in verse 22:39 of Holy Quran, which reads: "Permission (to take up arms) is hereby given to those who were attacked, because they have been wronged." The Quran further says: "Fight, for the sake of Allah with those that fight against you, but do not be aggressive."
He cited extensively from the Veda and Gita to substantiate that Islam's endeavor to establish peace is not different from what Sanatan scriptures enjoin.
Watch Swami's speech and read further in the Muslim Times.