Artikel

Heaven And Hell Before Us

Suzalie Bin Mohamad

Pegawai Penyelidik

30/10/2007

The spiritual development of humanity has fallen far behind intellectual growth.
Looking back through history, It would seem, that our greatest search for knowledge
has been directed towards destruction, and our greatest discoveries the result of an
all-consuming drive for power.

The contemporary world is suffering from a dearth of morality. Global trends indicate
that humankind has reached a dangerous crossroads. Sixty years after the atomic
bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a crime against humanity that
went unpunished, humanity is still threatened by nuclear warfare. Thirty-five years
after the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT) was ratified, the world is
still threatened by nuclear proliferation. Sixteen years after the end of the Cold War,
nuclear deterrence and mutual assured destruction (MAD) remains embedded in
military psyche.

This trend is clearly indicated through the continued possession of nuclear weapons
by the nuclear states leading to a constant stimulus to other states to acquire them.
Not one nuclear weapons enabled state has abandoned plans to develop new nuclear
weapons. The nuclear doctrine of the United States of America envisages a new triad
of capabilities and new weapons, expanding the role of nuclear weapons beyond their
core function of deterrence to their use as legitimate' tactical weapons in the
battlefield. Russia has announced plans to build a new generation of strategic
"hypersonic" multiple warhead missiles to counter US plans to mount ballistic missile
defences. Britain plans to replace its Trident nuclear warheads and has renewed its
collaboration with the United States on nuclear weapons research at Los Alamos and
Lawrence Livermore laboratories, including advanced computer stimulation
technology for designing, developing and testing new weapons. France is
modernizing its nuclear arsenal, which now boasts two new French missiles to
transport nuclear warheads. China also continues to modernize feeling the need to
keep up with the rest.

In the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Changes Report, issued by the
United Nations in 2004, the UN has warned the possible collapse of the HPT regime.
The UN Secretary General has said that "the nuclear non-proliferation regime is now
at risk due to the lack of compliance with exiting commitments, withdrawal or threat
of withdrawal from Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty to escape those
commitments, a changing international security environment and the diffusion of
technology. We are approaching a point at which the erosion of the non-proliferation
regime could become irreversible and may result in a cascade of proliferation. Why is
this happening?

"Rooted in our genes". The instinct of aggression must have an outlet apparently.
But we have choice in terms of its direction. The gift of freedom and of choice have
given us an awesome responsibility, for in the absence of the day-to-day struggle for
survival we must create our own challenge.

The late Japanese philosopher, Morehei Ueshiba once said that "Maybe in an earlier
century the concept of world harmony taught by the great spiritual leaders was
thought to be an exercise of logic. People could not fully understand that a thousand
miles away there was a culture completely different from their own, different
customs, different lifestyles, and a different spiritual focus. They did not see the
problems of communication, or the way the actions on one side of the world
politically, ecologically, and economically influence the other. But now, in the
twentieth century, people have a different perspective. Through the medium of
technology we know the relationship between great bodies of land connected by
immense sea, lying under the same sky. We have seen different cultures and studied
different languages, an we understand the problems. We cannot step back; we must
continue to evolve and find peaceful and healthy solutions to the problems of our
rapidly shrinking world". It is clear to us that continuous efforts through reasonable
thought and positive collaborative international engagement must be made in order
to allow peace and harmony to become manifest.

The idea of world harmony is not unreasonable, and therefore it must be possible
exist in reality. Aggression cannot be allowed to run rampant in the face of new
weapons and weapons technology. Nationalism cannot work as more and more we
understand the globe.

As far as Malaysia is concerned, promoting world harmony is central to its foreign

policy. For instance, Malaysia introduced the Model Nuclear Weapons Convention as
a resolution to the UN General Assembly in April, 1997. It was adopted by a vote of
115 in favour. The Convention prohibits the development, production, testing,
stockpiling, transfer, use and threat of the use of nuclear weapons. It has outlined a
series of five phases for the elimination of nuclear weapons, beginning with taking
nuclear off alert, preventing weapons from deployment and removing warheads from
their delivery vehicles, disabling warheads by removing the plutonium pits', and
placing the fissile material under international control. This is done in the spirit that
every nation has the obligation to bring about goodness to humanity.

Our life in the Hereafter, if we believe in the existnce of a Hereafter, is a reflection of

what we do on this earth. This means that we can create our own heaven or hell
right here in this life of existence. I am reminded of an old Japanese folktale of an
adventurous young man who wanted to know the difference between heaven and
hell. He first looked upon hell and saw many people seated at a long table stocked
with the finest foods. But everyone had gaunt faces and sunken cheeks. They were
thin and weak, crying in despair. A closer look revealed that their hands had only two
fingers formed into the shape of the hashi (Japanese chopsticks) four feet long.
Although they could pick up the food, their fingers were so long that they could not
get the food into their mouths. In frustration they turned their tools into weapons,
fighting selfishly among themselves for the food they could not eat. Then the young
man looked upon heaven. He saw the same long table with the same beautifully
prepared food and the same long fingers. But everyone was laughing and smiling at
each other. Their cheeks were rosy and glowed with health. There was no fighting,
for they picked up the food and extended it to the other side of the table to feed
each other. What is the difference? On the one hand there were selfishness, evil and
confrontation, on the other consciousness, compassion and cooperation.
ISLAM: MEANING AND CONCEPT.
What is Islam?
Islam: Continuity of Divine Message
The Five Pillars of Islam, The Shahada (Declaration of the Islamic Faith)

What is Islam?

The word Islam is an Arabic word meaning peace, submission and obedience. In the religious context the
word Islam means total submission to the Will of Allah and obedience to His Law. The connection between
the original and the religious meanings of the word is strong and obvious. Only through submission to the
will of Allah and by obedience to His Law can peace be achieved.

The proper name of the religion is Islam and its followers are properly called Muslims. The proper name of
God, in Arabic, is Allah, and it is a unique term because it has no plural or feminine gender. Hence Islam
points to the fundamental religious creed which dictates that a Muslim should submit to the will of Allah,
conforming inwardly and outwardly to His Law.

The Will of Allah, as defined in His Revealed Guidance to all His Prophets, is good and compassionate, and
His Law is the most beneficent and equitable. The religion of Islam is the complete acceptance of and
compliance with the teachings and guidance of Allah as revealed in His Last sacred Book, the Qur'n, to
His last Messenger Muhammad - The Prophet of Islam.

The religion of Islam lays great emphasis on uncompromising monotheism and strict adherence to certain
creeds and acts of worship. It enjoins submitting to the Will of Allah and following the exemplary way of
life of Muhammad, peace be upon him.

A Muslim, accordingly, is one who believes in Allah and strives for total reorganization of his life
according to His Revealed Guidance and the Sunnah (Legal ways, orders, acts of worship statements) of
the Prophet. He also works for building human society on the same basis.

Islam: Continuity of Divine Messages

Islam is not a new religion. It is, in essence, the same message and guidance which Allah revealed to all
prophets before Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. Allah says in the Qurn:

"Say (O Muhammad) peace be upon him: We believe in Allah and in what has been sent down to us, and
what was sent down to Ibrahim (Abraham), Ismail (Ishmael), Ishaq (Isaac), Yaqub (Jacob) and Al-Asbat
(the offspring of the twelve sons of Yaqub (Jacob) and what was given to Musa (Moses), Isa (Jesus) and the
Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between one another among them and to Him (Allah) we
have submitted (in Islam)" (Qurn 3-84)
The Five Pillars of Islam (Declaration of the Islamic Faith)

In order to enter into the fold of Islam i.e. to be Muslim, one has to know, believe, accept totally and
sincerely apply the five basic principles (Pillars) on which Islam is based: Ibn Umar narrated that the
Messenger of Allah - Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said: Islam is based on the following five pillars
(principles).

1. To testify "La Ilaha Illallah Wa Anna Muhammadan Rasul Allah" (none has the right to be
worshiped but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
2. To perform (Iqamat) As-Salat (prayers), {five times a day at the prescribed times and according to
the way that the Prophet Muhammad used to perform it with all its rules and regulations}.
3. To pay Zakat {obligatory fixed proportion of the wealth and of every kind of property liable to
Zakat of a Muslim to be paid yearly for the benefit of the poor in the Muslim community}.
4. To observe Saum (fasting) during the month of Ramdan - i.e. not to eat or drink or have sexual
relations from before Adhan (call) of the Fajr (dawn) prayer till sunset.
5. To perform Hajj (i.e. pilgrimage to Makkah at least once in his life-time on condition that he is
capable of doing so physically and financially).

The oneness of the Divine Being requires that all submission must be to Him. Theres nothing in peoples
mind or in their lives which is not subject to Gods authority. The oneness of God means that there is only
One Being who has the right to set values & standards for people to require them to submit to Him, obey
Him, and implement the legislation He has enacted for them in all the affairs of their lives. There is only
one faith, namely, pure submission to God alone, which is acceptable to Him. When we said that the only
true faith acceptable to God is self-surrender to Him, we mean true Islam. This is not merely a claim to be
stated, a flag to be raised or a detached academic concept to be discussed which does not stir hearts or
minds, or even a set of acts of worship such as Prayer, fasting & pilgrimage. This is not the sort of Islam
which God describes as the only faith acceptable to Him.

True Islam means complete obedience, total submission to God & the implementation of His revelations
in human life, as stated in the Quran. Islam also means the oneness of the Divine Being who is the Eternal
Master of all. People of earlier revelations used to confuse the person of God & the person of Jesus Christ.
They also confused Gods will & that of Christs. They disagreed among themselves so violently that they
fought & killed one another on numerous occasions. God, therefore, makes the reasons for these disputes
clear for both the people of earlier revelations & for the Muslim community. Their disputes did not arise
out of ignorance of the truth. They had been given certain knowledge of Gods oneness & the fact that He is
the only Lord in the universe. They were also given the knowledge they needed about human nature & true
submission to God. They simply disagreed through mutual aggression when they abandoned the course of
justice embodied in the faith & the law of God revealed to them.