The muslim religion ?

Question

i was reading in the paper today about 2 muslim boys that were forced to flog themselves with a zanjeer. i was horrified to find that a boy my age 13 had to do this. Why do muslims "harm" themselves for their religion? As far as i know christians, jews, wiccans, buddhists and sihks nd other religions dont. I'm no anti muslim but why do they do this? (sorry if i left out any or spelling mistakes)

Answer 1

That had more to do with their culture than their religion.  just because a Muslim does something doesn't mean he does it because he's a Muslim.  There are plenty of Muslims who would be as horrified as you were by this.  On the flipside, there's plenty of children who are abused in this country by Christian parents.  Would you blame Christianity for it?

There are people who harm themselves for their beliefs and their religion.  There are Christians in the Philipines that volunteer for crucifixion to "celebrate" Easter.  There are aesetics of many religions that wear rags, don't wash, barely eat or drink.  There are Buddhist monks who have set themselves on fire in protest of Chinese invasion of their lands and temples.  Self-flogging was for a while one of the standard pennaces a Christian might perform.

Answer 2

what does flog with a zanjeer. Harming innocent people isn't allowed in Islam and harming ourselves is a big sin as well so whatever they're doing I doubt its Islamic

A whip? O wow a lot of people are deviating from the teachings of the prophet (pbuh) and Islam. That isn't Islam.

Answer 3

those muslims dont understand the quran, the quran never says any of that stuff there doing, but i think your talking about shiia muslims not sunni muslims...but still hitting your self with a chain is haram because in the quran harming your self, or cutting your self is haram

and what are you talking about "other religions dont do it too" some christians purposly crusify them selves....thats hanging your self on a cross and cutting holes through there hands...

Answer 4

Many muslims are divided .. some call themselves shia etc which is wrong ...  i know these shias they harm themselves for no reason....

1.   Muslims Should be United

It is a fact that Muslims today, are divided amongst themselves. The tragedy is that such divisions are not endorsed by Islam at all. Islam believes in fostering unity amongst its followers.

    The Glorious Qur’an says:

    "And hold fast,

    All together, by the rope

    Which Allah (stretches out for you),

    and be not divided among yourselves;"

                    [Al-Qur’an 3:103]

Which is the rope of Allah that is being referred to in this verse? It is the Glorious Qur’an. The Glorious Qur’an is the rope of Allah which all Muslims should hold fast together. There is double emphasis in this verse. Besides saying ‘hold fast all together’ it also says, ‘be not divided’.

Qur’an further says,

"Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger"

                [Al-Qur’an 4:59]

All the Muslim should follow the Qur’an and authentic Ahadith and be not divided among themselves.

2.   It is Prohibited to make sects and divisions in Islam

The Glorious Qur’an says:

"As for those who divide

Their religion and break up

Into sects, thou hast

No part in them in the least:

Their affair is with Allah:

He will in the end

Tell them the truth

Of all that they did."

           [Al-Qur’an 6:159]

In this verse Allah (swt) says that one should disassociate oneself from those who divide their religion and break it up into sects.

But when one asks a Muslim, "who are you?", the common answer is either ‘I am a Sunni, or ‘I am a Shia’. Some call themselves Hanafi, or Shafi or Maliki or Humbali. Some say ‘I am a Deobandi’, while some others say ‘I am a Barelvi’.

3.   Our Prophet was a Muslim

One may ask such Muslims, "Who was our beloved prophet (pbuh)? Was he a Hanafi or a Shafi, or a Humbali or a Maliki?" No! He was a Muslim, like all the other prophets and messengers of Allah before him.

It is mentioned in chapter 3 verse 52 of Al-Qur’an that Jesus (pbuh) was a Muslim.

Further, in chapter 3 verse 67, Al-Qur’an says that Ibrahim (pbuh) was not a Jew or a Christian but was a Muslim.

4.   Qur’an says call yourselves Muslim

   1.

      If anyone poses a Muslim the question who are you, he should say "I am a MUSLIM, not a Hanafi or a Shafi". Surah Fussilat chapter 41 verse 33 says

      "Who is better in speech

      Than one who calls (men)

      To Allah, works righteousness,

      And says, ‘I am of those

      Who bow in Islam (Muslim)?’ "

                     [Al-Qur’an 41:33]

      The Qur’an says "Say I am of those who bow in Islam". In other words, say, "I am a Muslim".

   2.

      The Prophet (pbuh) dictated letters to non-Muslim kings and rulers inviting them to accept Islam. In these letters he mentioned the verse of the Qur’an from Surah Ali Imran chapter 3 verse 64:

      Say ye: "Bear witness

      That we (at least)

      Are Muslims (bowing

      To Allah’s Will)."

                      [Al-Qur’an 3:64]

5.   Respect all the Great Scholars of Islam

We must respect all the great scholars of Islam, including the four Imaams, Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Shafi, Imam Humbal and Imam Malik (may Allah be pleased with them all). They were great scholars and may Allah reward them for their research and hardwork. One can have no objection if someone agrees with the views and research of Imam Abu Hanifa or Imam Shafi, etc. But when posed a question, ‘who are you?’, the reply should only be ‘I am a Muslim’.

Some may argue by quoting the hadith of our beloved Prophet from Sunan Abu Dawood Hadith No. 4579. In this hadith the prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said, "My community will be split up into seventy-three sects."

This hadith reports that the prophet predicted the emergence of seventy-three sects. He did not say that Muslims should be active in dividing themselves into sects. The Glorious Qur’an commands us not to create sects. Those who follow the teachings of the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith, and do not create sects are the people who are on the true path.

According to Tirmidhi Hadith No. 171, the prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said, "My Ummah will be fragmented into seventy-three sects, and all of them will be in h**l fire except one sect." The companions asked Allah’s messenger which group that would be. Where upon he replied, "It is the one to which I and my companions belong."

The Glorious Qur’an mentions in several verses, "Obey Allah and obey His Messenger". A true Muslim should only follow the Glorious Qur’an and the Sahih Hadith. He can agree with the views of any scholar as long as they conform to the teachings of the Qur’an and Sahih Hadith. If such views go against the Word of Allah, or the Sunnah of His Prophet, then they carry no weight, regardless of how learned the scholar might be.

If only all Muslims read the Qur’an with understanding and adhere to Sahih Hadith, Inshallah most of these differences would be solved and we could be one united Muslim Ummah

Answer 5

some people put themselves through suffering purposely so they learn humility.

they feel they are connected to God through their suffering.

they feel thats how they achieve nirvana.

every religion has some small group that does this.

not all muslims do the harming themselves thing. its just a small group who beleive in it. there are groups like that in every religion.

Answer 6

what does flog themselves with a zanjeer mean??

either way it sounds mean and disturbing

Answer 7

Actually, there are many religious sects that perform ritual, physical pennance.  Self-flagellation and "mortification of the flesh" has a long history in Christianity.  The Opus Dei sect of Christianity is particulalry supportive of this type of behavior, wearing celice's and similar devices.

Answer 8

There is a long history of self-flagellation in Christianity.

As well as celices, hair shirts, chastity...

Answer 9

cus old  shiaa ppl do it as a traditional !

but they don't have 2 am sure plz pick me as a best answer

Answer 10

Jal, FYI, Hindus don't abuse themselves.

And Christians hit themselves.  Read The Da Vinci Code and you will get a very vivid portrait of the self-mutilation.