Islam (Pro) Vs. Buddhism (Con)

Second: Overall Better P-1. - Moving to the second stage of this debate, I am gonna aim to establish that Islam is, overall, better than Buddhism: Universality: - Message: Islam was founded to be a universal message for all-times, & all-nations: “Verily this is no less than a Message to (all) the Worlds” (81: 27), it is thus universal by design. Its message is centred around 3 concepts: 1. Devotion = Ibadah: the concept that Humans are created to recognise right from wrong & eventually recognise & worship the One True God. 2. Delegation = Khilafah: the concept that Humans are here on Earth as temporary delegates responsible for their selves & for the Earth. 3. Establishment = Imarah: the concept that the function of Humans, as delegates, is to establish themselves on the Earth by occupying it in: cultivating it, settling in it, preserving it. . . => The 1st concept has to do essentially with the Afterlife, the remaining two are general & universal, for they are strictly compatible with the Human Condition: Humans are mortal cognitive beings, who survive by cultivating the Earth, settling in it, & preserving it. The Islamic Tradition: it’s a vast tradition that holds immense amounts of Knowledge & Thought it’s ready to offer: - Scripture: 1. Qur’an: faithfully preserved in its original language, form & meaning, & extensively studied. 2. Hadith: exhaustive accounts from the founder of Islam, equally extensively studied. - Worldview: 1. Law = Fiqh = Physical Dimension: discourse to the body (actions & practices). Islamic Law, with all its schools & branches, is without a doubt the vastest & most comprehensive legal tradition, for it is concerned with virtually all aspects of the outward life: private, public, political. . . & has been a living tradition for 15 continuous centuries for 1/5 to 1/3 the human race, 2. Theology = Kalam = Intellectual Dimension: discourse to the intellect (beliefs & convictions). Islamic Theology is based on one of the most strait-forward doctrines: Tawhid (Oneness of God). It was systematically established as a science very early on (as early as 8th century), & its 2 major schools (Ash’ari + Mu’tazili = 98% the muslim world) which emphasise Reason & rational thought [27]. 3. Mysticism = Tasawuf (Sufism) = Spiritual Dimension: discourse to the soul (spirituality & intentions). This dimension is maybe the closest link Islam has with Buddhism, as it deals with human psychology, emotions, suffering, ego, addictions, & also spirituality. & it is equally based on experience, analysis, statistics, testimony. . - Knowledge [28]: 1. Literature: Islamic Literature is a very rich & extensive literature written in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Indian. . . 2. Philosophy = Falsafah: Islamic Philosophy is also a vast & rich tradition, it classically encompassed: Logic ; Mathematics (Arithmetics, Algebra, Calculus, Geometry, Astronomy) ; Natural Sciences (Medicine, Botany, Zoology, Paediatrics, Mineralogy, Optics, Mechanics, Chemistry) ; Politics, Ethics, Aesthetics & Metaphysics. 3. Science: science was classically understood as a category of philosophy & it is a known fact that science flourished under Islam for over 10 centuries, which revolutionised human knowledge by thousands of discoveries & inventions (in Medicine, Maths, Physics. . .). 4. History: Islamic History is a very rich source of information about a significant portion of the human race, stretched over ~15 centuries, dozens of empires, hundreds of peoples, & a great many number of impressive persons. Tolerance: - Equality: Islam has been clear cut about the Equality of Mankind in: 1. Birth: “Every child is born in the state of Fitrah (equal among all mankind)” the Prophet [29]. 2. Humanity: “ “Humans are equal, like a set of a tooth-comb” “there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab, nor of a non-Arab over an Arab, nor of a white over a black, nor a black over a white” the Prophet [30]. 3. Religious Obligation: “Everyone a guardian and is responsible for his charges” the Prophet [31]. - Gender: in Islam Men & Women are: 1. Equal in Birth, Humanity & Religious Obligation, for they both are among Mankind. 2. Equivalent in Gender: “Verily, Women are the equivalent to Men” the Prophet [32]. => As far as I know Islam is the only religion that unequivocally asserts, without any ambiguity of interpretation, the equality of all human beings, man or woman, slave or freeman, believer or not ; & the equity, though not equality (for obvious reasons), in gender. Which expresses an inherent Tolerance in the Islamic Tradition not open to circumstances & interpretations. - Religion: religion is the first of the 6 Sacred Necessities Shari’a Law is designed to preserve (along with: Life, Intellect, Lineage, Wealth & Honour), & thus Freedom of Religion is a fundamental concept at the heart of Islam: “There is no compulsion in religion” (2:256). This Tolerance is apparent in how the Islamic Tradition legally & historically divides the World into 2 regions [33]: 1. Dar al-Islam: region where there is Freedom of Religion, where the tenets of Islam are freely practiced, & its message is freely transmitted, & this region includes: > Muslims: members of the Ummah (the muslim supra-national community). > Protected (Dhimmis): members of the People of the Book (Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians & Hindus), who are given the freedom to practice their religion, apply their own law, & own their own land. Plus, they are exempt from participating in the military (for their own protection), in exchange for a very small Jizyah Tax (~$160 per year, for every able adult male, not old, not sick, not poor & not disabled). > Secured (Mustamin): residents not from the People of the Book: pagans, foreigners. . . have the same status more or less as the previous ones. > Confederate (Muahid): state/nation currently under Treaty with Muslims, much like most of the World today. > Land of Mission (Dar ad-Daawa): regions where the message of Islam is not oppressed. > Land of Residence (Dar al-Iqamah): regions where muslims are free to practice the tenets of their religion. 2. Dar al-Harb: regions where there is less than the necessary elements of Freedom of Religion. => “With the flourishing of Arab civilisation, religious toleration was absolute” Le Bon [34]. Contrary to propaganda, when muslims conquered the world they showed absolute toleration to their conquered, where each community was allowed to practice its own religion & law on its own land & participate in the intellectual, economic & political life: many were non-muslim scholars teaching & learning in Islamic Universities, & many were from the elite in wealth & politics [35]. For instance: Ibn Masawayh, who was appointed by Caliph Harun Rashid as head of Bayt al-Hikma (the highest university of the world) [36] ; the Caliph al-Mamun threatened the Byzantine ruler with war for he refused to send christian doctors to teach in Baghdad, his personal adviser was a christian whom he mourned after his death by abstaining from food for a whole day [37] ; & the polymath Hunyn Ibn Ishaq who was the personal doctor of the Caliph al-Mutawakkil [38]. - Mercy: it is at the core of the Islamic Tradition, & it is one of the Four Pillars of Shari’a. 1. Mankind: Islam is explicit in being merciful towards all Mankind, the Prophet said:. * “The merciful are shown mercy by The Most Merciful. Be merciful on the earth, and you will be shown mercy from Who is above the heavens.” [39]. * “He will enter Heaven only he who possesses mercy. It is not the mercy that one has for his friend, but the Mercy for all creation.” [40]. 2. Animals: this Mercy extends also Animals, the Prophet said: * "Do not take any living creature as a target.” [41] * “There is a reward for serving any animate (living being).” [42] * "There was a dog moving around a well whom thirst would have killed, an Israeli prostitute saw it and took off her shoe and watered it. So Allah forgave her because of that good deed.” [43] 3. Nature: * "Eat and drink from the provision of Allah , and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption." (2:60) * "If anyone cuts a tree (with no just cause), Allah brings him headlong into Hell.” the Prophet [44] Rebuttals: - Con claims that Islam is faith based because it requires the declaration of faith! To which I already responded by saying: “according to Islamic Theology, the first requirement of a believer is: Discernment ('Aq'l), which must come before the Declaration of Faith.”. The declaration faith doesn’t imply taking it on faith alone! God in Islam is minimalist (Existent, One & has Absolute Free Will), & there are extensive demonstrations of His existence in Islamic Theology (aka Kalam), such as the Kalam Cosmological Argument. Similarly, the prophethood of Muhammad is equally supported by rational demonstration to which I already provided an example. - Con doubts the validity of the prophecies because they exist in Islamic sources! & the fact is, Hadiths are, by definition, accounts on the Prophet, thus inquiring about “non-islamic sources” of Hadiths is basically nonsensical. However, the Hadiths I provided are authenticated & purposely about prophecies appearing over 6 centuries after the death of the Prophet, where all Hadiths have been canonised & finalised centuries before ; some of the prophecies even weren’t fulfilled until very recently (20th & 21st century), they couldn’t have possibly been forged. Con’s contention here is pointless. - Con avoids speaking about the many supernatural aspects of Buddhism but referring them to interpretation, which is a contradiction, for I can interpret Devas as the angels & devils in Islam & thus I’ll be talking about Islam not Buddhism anymore!>>> To be continued.