Browsing by Author "Masitoh Ahmad, Ph.D"

Various religions emphasise the importance of both inner peace and global peace. Inner peace and world peace are interconnected ideals in religious beliefs. Inner peace is intrinsically linked to spirituality, encompassing processes of spiritual purification. Despite Buddhism and Islam being recognised as religions that advocate global peace, contemporary portrayals sometimes depict encounters between Buddhists and Muslims as confrontational. In light of the modern human's prevailing lack of inner tranquillity and spiritual fulfilment, it becomes evident that establishing a robust foundation for mutual engagement, rooted in the exploration of spiritual foundations and shared attributes between Buddhism and Islam, could profoundly contribute to fostering mutual comprehension amidst adherents of both religions. Thus, this thesis focuses on the meticulous analysis and comparison of spiritual purification practices: Buddhist Visuddhi from Buddhagosa's "Visuddhimagga" and Islamic S?f? thought of Tazkiyyah from al-Ghazali's "I?y?? ?Ul?m al-d?n." The primary objective of this study is to illuminate the converging aspects of Visuddhi and Tazkiyyah within the realm of spirituality. Employing qualitative and library-based and analytical methodology, the spiritual dimensions of both religions are scrutinized using primary and secondary sources, encompassing languages such as Pali, Arabic, English, Sinhala, and Tamil. The presentation of the teachings and practices of Visuddhi and Tazkiyyah leverages descriptive and comparative methods. Furthermore, the historical approach is employed to delve into the historical evolution of Buddhagosa’s "Visuddhimagga" and al-Ghazali’s "I?y?? ?Ul?m al-d?n." The outcomes of this study underscore that the purification in Buddhism is based on mind while soul in Islam yet the pertinence of adopting Visuddhi and Tazkiyyah as shared themes in interreligious endeavors between Buddhists and Muslims. Conclusively, despite the apparent distinctions, noteworthy congruence emerges in the practices of Visuddhi and Tazkiyyah, serving as a basis for fostering enhanced interreligious understanding and collaboration between the two communities

This research sheds light on Yazidis in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and reveals their relationship with Muslims through an academic and analytical study in the light of contemporary reality. This research came to address the problem of the mystery of this religion, which is surrounded by many myths and legends, and its features were not apparent due to the geographical contiguity of this sect, and their complete isolation from others, and there was no comprehensive study showing their status and fate. The importance of the research comes to clarify the facts about this sect, to raise the illusion that exists about them, to reveal the right image of them, and to clarify ways of dealing with them, for peaceful coexistence with those around them. The research followed an analytical methodology to show the history of their origin, the origin of their religion, the roots of their religion, their ways of life and the rituals of their religion, and how they interact with others, which makes it easier for advocates to reach out to them, address them, and alert them to what is going on around them to guide them to what will benefit them in their urgent and future. The research reached decent results, and removed the potential secrets of this sect and presented the actual image to them, to pave the way for reaching them, integrating them with those around them and opening the door for dialogue with them, and pushing the illusion that comes from them and clarifying what they have and their families. The research recommended universities and prestigious research centers and a link to more work to communicate with this community that neighbors Muslims and has a direct impact on Muslim youth and try to take advantage of the advantage of tolerance that is observed in them to lift the barriers that block them from others to get them out of their isolation, and try to stop injustice from them, and follow the wisdom And mercy in dealing with them, and that is the exact Islam approach that seeks goodness and guidance for all people.

ABSTRACT The research aims to bring to light the facts related to the Rohingya genocide and explain its impact on their religious, social, cultural, political, and economic lives. It also seeks to highlight the primary causes that led to the genocide, the consequences that resulted from multidimensional discrimination against the Rohingya people, and a proposal of a set of radical solutions that can contribute to stopping the war persecution of the Rohingya in Arakan (Burma). The researcher used several methodologies to deal with this subject. Through the historical approach, the researcher identified the historical relations between the Rohingya and Buddhism. After conducting a series of personal interviews with the Rohingya people residing inside and outside Arakan, he then used the analytical approach to critically analyze the teachings of Buddhism for their failure to apply their beliefs from a religious standpoint, and criticize the destructive activities of the 969 Buddhist movement against Islam and Muslims from a political standpoint. Then, through a comparative method, the researcher made a comparative study of the teachings of Buddhism and Islam using the analytical approach so that people could know that Islam is a better religion and Buddhism is, in fact, not a religion but rather a philosophy established by humans and a bunch of manmade ideas. The research concluded with the following results: the followers of the Buddhist religion failed to apply their religious teachings in Arakan (Burma), which is apparent from the way they behaved with Muslims and their crime of genocide against them. The main solution for all the Rohingya people is that they must bring a change in themselves, whether they are leaders or general public, young or adult; they must change themselves, their thoughts, and their feelings by the Quranic verse: “Indeed, God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves” [Surah Al-Ra’ad: 11]. The researcher concluded with several recommendations for all nations in general and for the Rohingya Muslim people in particular.

This study aims to shed light on the position of modernist theological dogma about the creed system related to issues of “Samciyyāt”. It deals with the ontological view about the realities of the day of judgment, such as the resurrection, the account of deeds, the passing through the slippery path (sirāt), paradise, and hellfire, as well as other issues such as the torment of the grave, angels, and devils, in which it discusses the different views of modernists with an explanation of the criticism directed at them. However, since modernist thought is wide-ranging, and it is adopted by several thinkers, it became necessary for this study to be linked to selected models in the Arab world, to be closer to the truth. This study has adopted the inductive approach in tracing the texts of the modernists concerning the aspect of audiology by extrapolating their writings and searching for what they said about it. Also, this study relied on the analytical method in approaching their views and evaluating their proofs and evidence. Moreover, this study followed a critical method in critiquing the concept of modernity and the opinions that emerged from it, deconstructing and responding to it according to the scientific method and through rational and textual evidence. This study includes a definition of the key terms of the study, with an indication of the trends of modernism and exploring their theories on metaphysics and their techniques in understanding these metaphysical issues, such as historical and hermeneutical with an explanation of the criticism directed at these methods, as well as discussing their position on the day of judgment and its circumstances. This includes issues related to the resurrection, intersection of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), reward and punishment, the measuring of scale, the passing through the slippery path (sirāt), paradise and hellfire and countering all these claims. This study found a clear incoherence of modernist thinking in their discussion of the texts of revelation due to their ignorance of the fundamental principles of Shari’ah and the standard methodologies of scrutinizing texts. Not to mention their constant referral to applying tools of western stratagems to the texts, such as historical and hermeneutical approaches and its derivation on the theories of an infinity of meaning and the death of the author, and their attempt in the assumption of the western model of conflict between the churches and scientific revolution, which took on a new understanding of knowledge, that is an alien projection of the Islamic reality and its own temporal and spatial circumstance.