Ignorance
Some superstitions prevalent in the name of religion and the relevant position of Islam: Part Two
Some superstitions prevalent in the name of religion and the relevant position of Islam: Part II
In the history of human civilization, on the one hand, religion has been established as a means of teaching morality, values, and humanity, on the other hand, some mistakes and superstitions have also been embedded in society in the name of religion, which are contrary to mainstream religious teachings and rational consciousness. Most of these have come as a result of ignorance, greed for power, or attempts to maintain social control. In this article, we will analyze some more mistakes or superstitions prevalent in some religions and finally see what Islam says about them.
Excessive belief in the 'miraculous powers of gurus' in Sikhism:
The basic foundation of Sikhism was the teaching of monotheism and humanity. The first Guru Nanak Sahib preached that God is one and that He can be realized through spiritual knowledge, service, and the pursuit of truth. But later, some Sikh groups began to attribute miraculous powers to the gurus and consider them almost like gods. Where the practice of worship centered on the Guru Granth Sahib should have been primarily educational, many began to limit themselves to poetic hymns or rituals and measure the realization of God through external rituals.
Islam takes a very strict stance against this type of guru worship or the attribution of supernatural powers. Islam says that the prophets and messengers are also human beings, they act according to the revelation and command of Allah, and they do not have supernatural powers themselves. The Quran clearly states:
"Say, I am only a human being like you. It has been revealed to me that your god is only Allah."
(Surah Kahf, verse 110)
It is clear from this verse that equating a prophet or religious leader with God is completely prohibited in Islam.
Spirit or ancestor worship in African tribal religions:
Spirit or ancestor worship has a great influence in the tribal religions of various regions of Africa. Sometimes, animal sacrifices are offered to appease the dead spirits or festivals are celebrated in their name. The soul of the deceased is even considered a protector, and any danger or illness is considered to be the wrath of the ancestors.
Islam considers this spirit-worship, or the treatment of the soul of the deceased as an incorporeal force, as 'shirk', or associating partners with Allah. Islam states that when a person dies, his work ceases — and he simply awaits judgment in the grave. No spirit can interfere with the lives of the living. The Quran states:
"Those whom you call upon besides Allah create nothing. Rather, they are created. They are dead, not alive. They do not know when they will be resurrected."
(Surah An-Nahl, verses 20-21)
This verse directly rejects superstitious spirit-worship and teaches reliance on Allah alone.
The concept of the soul of objects or natural elements in Japanese Shinto:
The Japanese Shinto religion has the concept of 'kami', which believes in the existence of special spirits in various objects, nature, mountains, trees, rivers, etc. In this way, inanimate objects or natural elements are often worshipped, or considered to be divine forces. Natural disasters or rainfall are considered to be the result of the will of the kami-god.
Islam has directly called this type of belief 'shirk'. Islam sees nature as a creation of Allah, but it is not suitable for worship in any way. Rather, Allah says in the Quran:
"The sun and the moon are only signs of Allah. Do not prostrate to the sun and the moon, but prostrate to Allah who created them."
(Surah Fussilat, verse 37)
Therefore, no matter how powerful the elements of nature are, they are not worthy of worship; they are only signs of the power of the Creator.
‘Crystal Healing’ or ‘New Age’ Therapy in the New-Generation Western Religious Practices:
A type of ‘New Age Spiritualism’ has become popular in today’s modern society. Many people believe that wearing certain crystals or stones can reduce stress or change one’s destiny. A kind of religious practice has developed around ‘crystal healing’, ‘star sign rituals’ or ‘inner energy’, which is based on faith rather than reason.
In Islam, these things are considered ‘tamimah’ or ‘talismans’ and are considered as shirk. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“Whoever hangs something (amulet, stone, etc.), it is as if he has put his trust in it rather than in Allaah.”
(Sunan an-Nasa’i)
Therefore, any object such as a stone, crystal or zodiac sign — these cannot have any effect on a person’s life without the permission of Allaah.
Principles of Islam: Monotheism and Rational Thought:
The greatest foundation of Islam is monotheism — belief in the sole sovereignty of one God. Islam prohibits any kind of superstition, reliance on fate, worship of supernatural objects or spirits. Islam says that a person's future is determined by his willpower, trust in God, following the path of justice and fear of God. Superstition and polytheism make people weak, dependent and irrational — whereas Islam wants to free people's thoughts.
Conclusion:
This discussion shows that over time, some superstitions have entered the various religions of the world, which deviate from the original religious teachings. These superstitions create blindness, discrimination and obstacles to progress in society. Islam, as a complete system of life, teaches not only spiritual development, but also intellectual and logical thinking. Islam not only rejected idolatry and external customs, but also established a belief system in which knowledge, reason, and fear of God are behind every action.
If we want true liberation, we should get out of the web of superstition, blind faith, and religious perversion and return to the true teachings of religion. Islam shows the way to that teaching—a path to a life based on unity, justice, knowledge, and kindness.
About the Creator
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In the history of human civilization, religion has been a force that has driven people to search for morality, meaning of life, relationships, self-purification and an ultimate truth. Various religions have emerged in different nations and territories, in different historical contexts. But if we look deeply, we see that there is a surprising similarity amidst the various differences — all religions in one way or another call people to morality, good deeds, kindness, self-control and a search for a supreme power. These similarities tell us that the fundamental purpose of religion is to guide people on the path of human welfare, self-purification and ultimate truth.
By Abdul Barik8 months ago in Writers
Silent Struggle
No one noticed the moment his life began to feel heavy. There was no single disaster, no dramatic fall. Everything happened slowly—quietly—like dust settling on furniture no one cared to clean. From the outside, his life looked normal. He woke up, went to work, smiled when needed, and returned home exhausted. But inside, a silent struggle was growing every single day. His name was Hamza. Hamza used to believe effort was always rewarded. As a child, he was told that if you worked hard, life would eventually open its doors for you. For a long time, he held onto that belief. He studied late into the night, sacrificed weekends, and stayed disciplined when others took shortcuts. But as years passed, reality felt cruelly different. People with less effort moved ahead. Opportunities passed him by. Promises turned into excuses. At work, Hamza was dependable—but invisible. When projects succeeded, others were praised. When mistakes happened, eyes quietly turned toward him. He never complained. He didn’t want to be seen as weak or ungrateful. Instead, he stayed silent. That silence slowly became his habit. At home, expectations followed him like a shadow. Everyone assumed he was “doing fine” because he never spoke about his struggles. Friends stopped asking how he was. Conversations became shallow. No one knew how many nights he lay awake staring at the ceiling, wondering if something was wrong with him. The hardest part wasn’t failure. It was feeling unseen. One night, after another exhausting day, Hamza sat alone in his room. The city outside was loud, full of people chasing dreams, celebrating small wins, living loudly. Inside his room, everything felt still. He picked up his phone and scrolled through social media. Success stories. Smiling faces. Motivational quotes. Each post felt like a reminder of how far behind he was. His chest tightened. A thought crept into his mind—soft, dangerous, and persistent. “Maybe I’m not meant for more.” That thought scared him. Not because it hurt—but because it felt believable. For the first time, Hamza considered giving up. Not dramatically. Not by quitting everything. Just… stopping the effort. Doing the bare minimum. Accepting an ordinary life without expectations. No one would notice anyway. But something held him back. It wasn’t hope. It wasn’t motivation. It was stubbornness. A quiet refusal to completely let go. The next morning, nothing changed externally. The same routine. The same people. The same silence. But inside Hamza made a small decision: “I’ll keep going—even if nothing changes.” He stopped waiting for encouragement. He stopped seeking validation. He focused only on improving himself, one small step at a time. He learned after work when others relaxed. He practiced skills no one asked him to learn. He failed quietly and corrected himself without announcing it. Some days, he felt strong. Most days, he felt tired. But he showed up anyway. Weeks turned into months. There were still no rewards. No applause. No sudden success. But something subtle was happening—something Hamza didn’t notice at first. He was becoming resilient. Things that once broke his confidence no longer shook him as much. Rejection still hurt, but it didn’t stop him. Criticism no longer crushed him; it taught him. Silence, once painful, became his training ground. One evening, a major issue arose at his workplace. A complicated problem that others avoided because failure would be visible. Managers were tense. Deadlines were tight. Blame was already being prepared. Hamza didn’t speak up immediately. He simply started working. He stayed late. He researched. He tested ideas. He made mistakes and fixed them. There were moments he doubted himself. Moments when fear whispered, “You’re not good enough for this.” But he answered back with action. Days later, the problem was solved—not perfectly, but effectively. This time, people noticed. Not with applause. Not with excitement. But with curiosity. “Who handled this?” “When did he learn that?” “Why didn’t we see this before?” Hamza didn’t feel proud in the way he expected. Instead, he felt calm. Grounded. Secure in a way that didn’t depend on others. When his manager finally called him in and acknowledged his work, Hamza thanked him politely. But inside, he knew the truth: This moment wasn’t built overnight. It was built during silent nights. Unseen effort. Unrecognized discipline. Life hadn’t ignored him. Life had been watching. Testing whether he would keep going without praise. Years later, Hamza looked back at the version of himself who almost quit. The man who felt invisible. The man who believed silence meant failure. He wished he could tell him one thing: “Your struggle wasn’t wasted. It was shaping you.” Not everyone’s journey is loud. Not every victory is celebrated. Some people are built quietly—strong enough to stand when others fall. If you are struggling silently today, know this: You are not behind. You are not invisible. You are not weak. You are being prepared. And one day, without warning, life will notice. Final Line (Powerful Ending): The strongest people are often the ones no one sees fighting—but they keep going anyway.
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Comments (1)
This is an interesting read. It's eye-opening to see how superstitions can creep into religions over time. I'm curious about the specific superstitions in African tribal religions you'll discuss later. Also, it makes sense that Islam firmly rejects guru worship. It's important to stay true to the core teachings and not let false beliefs take over. Can't wait to see more on this topic.