Is Islam A Death Cult?

[Niblo]

Well, I've shared my thoughts. What do you think a death cult is, Niblo? Maybe islam isn't whatever that is and if we understood each other we'd agree?

Concerning the Characteristics of a Cult:

Perhaps we are agreed that every cult has its own distinctive characteristics; but that almost all of these groups share at least some elements in common, such as:

1. The exercise of authoritarian control in matters belief.

2. Members are compelled to venerate a single individual.

3. Members are compelled to isolate themselves from society; to live and/or socialise only with other group members; to cut ties with family and friends who are not members of the Cult.

4. Members are to regard themselves as an elite; to claim a special, exalted status for the Cult; for its leader(s) and for themselves.

5. Members are compelled to hold to dogmatic beliefs; and are unable to question these belief systems without fear of reprisal, or punishment, from the leader, or other group members.

6. Members who leave (abandon) the Cult are to be punished.

My intention – in šāʾ Allāh – is to take each of these elements in turn, in order to see if they can be applied – justifiably – to Islam.

I am mindful of a famous statement, attributed to Abū Ḥanīfah’s (and also to al-Shāfi‘ī):

‘I believe that my opinions are correct, but I am cognisant of the fact that my opinions may be wrong. I also believe that the opinions of my opponents are wrong, but I am cognisant of the fact that they may be correct.’

Concerning the notion that Islam exercises authoritarian control in matters of belief:

The Qur’an makes it clear that people are free to choose whatever religion they wish (or to have no religion at all):

The Prophet (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) is addressed as follows:

‘Had your Lord willed, all the people on earth would have believed. So can you compel people to believe?’ (Yunus: 99)

His task is clearly demarcated:

‘Say: “Now the Truth has come to you from your Lord: let those who wish to believe in it do so, and let those who wish to reject it do so.”’ (Al-Kahf: 29).

Allāh (subḥānahu ūta'āla) says:

‘There is no compulsion in religion (lā ikrāha fī’l-dīn): true guidance has become distinct from error, so whoever rejects false gods and believes in Allāh has grasped the firmest hand-hold, one that will never break. Allāh is all hearing and all knowing.’ (Al-Baqara: 256).

Muhammad Abdel Haleem, King Fahd Professor of Islamic Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, writes:

‘This verse begins with the phrase lā ikrāha fī’l-dīn (there is no compulsion in religion). It is introduced by ‘lā’, the particle of absolute negation in Arabic, which negates absolutely the notion of compulsion in religion. Religion in the Qur’an is based on choice, and true choice is based on knowledge and making matters clear for people to choose. The rest of the ‘there is no compulsion in religion’ verse gives reasons justifying and explaining this.’ (‘Exploring the Qur'an: Context and Impact’).

Khaled M. Abou El Fadl – Omar and Azmeralda Alfi Distinguished Professor of Law at the UCLA School of Law – reminds us that:

‘………. there is no church in Islam, and that no person, or set of persons, embodies God’s Divine authority. The picture conveyed and repeated is one of egalitarianism and the accessibility of God’s truth to all. Muslims strive to discover the Divine Will but no one has the authority to lay an exclusive claim to it.

‘(…) Because accountability is individual and no one may carry the burden of another, the net result is a diversity of consciences, beliefs, and actions.’ (‘Speaking in God's Name’).

The notion that Islam exercises authoritarian control in matters of belief is false.

If Allāh (subḥānahu ūta'āla) had wanted to compel all people to believe, then He would have done so. Instead, He has willed that they come to believe in Him by their own free choice. It is clear, therefore, that we are free either to accept Him, or to deny Him.

Continued: