Page 18 - Islam and Karma

ISLAM AND KARMA

their degree of morality in that life.
For example, someone who is rich and successful in this life is
being rewarded with wealth for having been a good person in their
previous life. In the same way (according to the concept of karma),
someone who is poor, crippled or a failure in this life will have done
bad things in their previous life and is now reaping the reward for
those actions. In fact, it is claimed by those who subscribe to this su-

perstitious belief system that people may take the form of plants or an-
imals in their successive lives, depending on the nature of the evil they
have done. Later in this book we will demonstrate in detail that belief
in reincarnation is mere superstition.
At first sight it might appear that a belief in karma would provide
a strong incentive for people to adopt attractive moral qualities, since
they will want to enjoy the best

possible conditions when they
are reborn into this world.
However, the belief in reincar-
nation and other superstitious
concepts fostered by religions
which espouse karma (such as
Hinduism and decadent
Buddhism), are contrary to
human logic, human nature

and the human conscience.
Thus, the laws and practices of
these religions cannot possibly
endow people with good moral
No matter how much the philosophy of karma ap-
qualities; they cannot bring in- pears to encourage people towards ethical behav-
dividuals peace of mind, inner iour, it is in fundamental conflict with belief in the
hereafter and a great many matters of faith de-
confidence or happiness. The scribed in the Qur'an.

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