Misuse of Religion and Politics

The role of religion and spirituality in the Human life cannot be denied or overlooked. Religion is like a spiritual experience for human beings. People give it paramount importance. On the other hand, the role of politics is like a game of power and control. Religion influences people and stimulates them while Politics forces them. It is being played with barred hands. Nowadays we come across many people who do criticize holders of power. They think that power seeker does not deliver and never implement what that used to say before coming in power. They think all these power possessor misuse power and use it for their personal gains. Actually, they are those people who are stimulated by core religious wisdom and fundamental values of their religion. On the other hand, there are some people who defame religious people. When religious personalities get chains of power, they misuse religious teachings and promotes extremism. They often raise religious emotions for support of winning the seats of power. In the history, we come across many examples in which people raise their slogan on the basis of religion but after coming in politics, they use it as a tool against their opponents. Their such approach promotes extremism and sectarianism.

In Islamic history, the Abbasid rulers took the support of the controversy regarding the Holy Quran. They won the power game with the help of this. They gave strict punishment to those theologians who did not accept their controversial doctrine of the Holy Quran. Similarly, in recent times, some politicians use fundamentalism and terrorism for their political gains. Whereas Islam does not endorse it. Islam speaks about justice and equality. Religious freedom is a fundamental value in a true Islamic system. Like in some western countries, like in the UK, many Muslims enjoy religious freedom. Islamic pilgrimage services from England for Muslims are also available in the England.

Concept of Devil (Satan) In Islam

According to I religious and moral code of Islam, devil which is called Satan in the Holy Quran is enemy number one of humankind. The Holy Quran tells us that Allah Almighty created Adam, the father of all manhood, and said the angels and also Iblees or devil or the Satan to prostrate before Hazrat Adam.

All prostrated except the Satan or devil. When Allah Almighty asked him why he violated and did not prostrate, the Satan said that I was superior than him as You had shaped me of fire and him of mud. At this Allah Almighty announced the Satan outcast. Devil or Satan then threw challenge to Allah Almighty that if he was given respite, he would entice Adam and his children from right track. Allah Almighty gave him reprieve till the Doomsday or Day of Judgement assenting his challenge. The Satan ill-advised Adam and Eve to eat fruit of the prohibited tree and thus got them barred from Paradise.

From here begins the hostility between children of Adam and the Satan and also conflict between good and evil. Allah Almighty directs the mankind to right track and to Heaven through His Prophets while the Satan traps mankind to evil track and to Hell. The Holy Quran, the book of God, and the traditions of Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), the Prophet of Islam, edify the believers how to battle the Satan, how to abstain from evil and keep to the right track of Allah Almighty which leads to Paradise.

The utmost activity of Satan is to present sins as attractive and nice things to people. The demonstration of sins as good actions by Satan or devil can be compared to this, someone places bad things in good packing and gets people eat them as if they are pleasing. In this regard, the Stoning of the Devil is part of the annual Islamic Pilgrimage Services. It is a figurative renovation of Abraham's hajj, where he stoned three pillars demonstrating the enticement to disobey Allah and preserve Ishmael.