From: www.islamicity.com
By Dr. Mozammel Haque
Allah says that the Last Revelation of His was sent down in the month of Ramadan on the Night of Power Lailatul Qadr. (Qur’an, 91:1-3.) It is the month of Ramadan that Allah has honoured it by revealing the Qur’an. Because of this strong relation between the Qur’an and the month of Ramadan, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to read the Qur’an to Archangel Jibreel every Ramadan.
Therefore it is the right place to discuss the purpose and objective of the revelation of the Qur’an, its importance, the various hostile campaigns against it and the do’s and don’ts of the Qur’an.First of all, Allah the Most High, created man and gave him the gift of expression. For the guidance of mankind Allah sent Prophets to every single community.
It is stated in the Qur’an, which means that there has been no community to which God’s Messengers have not come and that Muslims should make no distinction between Allah’s Messengers. So it is the duty of a Muslim to honour all the Prophets equally.The Qur’an represents the culmination of all earlier Revealed Books. It is the last of the Revealed Books sent down by Allah for the guidance of mankind.
The Qur’an is the only scripture, which requires the belief in other revelations, as part of the Islamic Faith. This Sacred Book was revealed to the last Messenger, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the month of Ramadan as Allah Himself said in the Qur’an: “Ramadan is the (month) in which was sent down the Qur’an, as a guide to mankind, also clear (signs) for guidance and judgment (between right and wrong).” (2:185) Allah the Most High has especially mentioned the exact date and month of the revelation: “We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power.” (97:1)
So the purpose of the revelation of the Qur’an was to provide true guidance to mankind.The Qur’an is emphatic in proclaiming that Islam is the religion of all Prophets: the religion of Abraham, Moses and Jesus (peace be upon him). It stresses that Prophets Moses, Jesus and all others were not Jews but Muslims. “Surely those who believe (in that which is revealed to Muhammad (peace be upon him) and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabaeans – whoever believes in Allah, and the Last Day and does good, surely their reward is with their Lord, and there is no fear for them nor shall they grieve.” (2:62). “A Guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and judgement (between right and wrong),” is the most important characteristic of the Qur’an, the Book that Allah has revealed to His last Messenger to serve as the only Book of man’s guidance till the Day of Judgment.
It is guidance for mankind having clear proof of judgement between right and wrong in all matters of human life.Before the revelation of the Qur’an, it was preserved and guarded from every kind of corruption in the “Mother of the Book.” Allah Himself said: “Nay this is a Glorious Qur’an (inscribed) in a Tablet Preserved” (85:21-22). When Allah wanted to give this Trust to someone, the heavens, the earth, and the mountains, i.e. other creatures of Allah, besides man, shirked from shouldering this Trust or responsibility.
They preferred to submit their will entirely to Allah’s Will, which is All-Wise and Perfect, and which would give them far more happiness than a faculty of choice, with their imperfect knowledge. Allah says in the Qur’an: “We did indeed offer the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains; but they declined to bear it, being afraid thereof: but man undertook it: He was indeed unjust and ignorant of its results.” (33-72).So it was the man who took the responsibility of the Trust without realizing its importance and consequences. The Qur’an is the revealed book of God which has been in existence for more than 14 hundred years and the Word of Allah is preserved in its original form.
There has not been an iota of change in this unique Divine revelation. Its originality and authenticity has been guaranteed by no other than Allah the Almighty who challenges in the Qur’an itself on various occasions.Allah said, “This Qur’an is not such as can be produced by other than Allah: on the contrary it is a confirmation of (revelation) that went before it, and a fuller explanation of the Book - wherein there is no doubt – from the Lord of the Worlds.” (Qur’an, 10:37).
In another verse of the Qur’an Allah challenges, “Or do they say, “He forged it?” Say: “Bring then a Surah like unto it; and call (to your aid) anyone who can, beside Allah if it be you speak the truth!” (Qur’an,10:38) “Or they may say, “He forged it.” Say, “Bring you then ten Suras forged, like unto it, and call (to your aid) whomsoever you can, other than Allah! – if you speak the truth!” (Qur’an,11:13)Allah said in the Qur’an, “And if you are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant then produce a Sura like thereunto, and call your witnesses and helpers (if there are any) besides Allah, if your are truthful.” (Qur’an, 2:23)
People in every age have been challenged to produce a Book like it and they were unable to produce one. It is the only Revealed Book whose text stands pure and uncorrupted today. Allah said, “Say: “if the whole of mankind and jinns were to gather together to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help and support.” (Qur’an, 17:88)
Since the revelation of the Qur’an, the enemies of Islam have been trying to distort its life-giving messages. Firstly, they said, it is not Allah’s revelation, it has been dictated to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by someone. Then they started attacking its authenticity and originality. In spite of their conspiracies, the Qur’an has been preserved in its original form.The Qur’an is the only Divine revelation which has remained for the past 14 centuries uncorrupted and pure without any human interpolation or change and will remain so till the Last Day as Allah has guaranteed its purity. (Qur’an,15:9).
The purity, preservation and propagation of the Qur’an was maintained by two methods: memorization of the Qur’an in the Qur’anic schools and the recitation of the complete Qur’an in Ramadan. In the month of Ramadan every year the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) would Qur’an with Archangel Jibreel. Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet used to repeat the recitation of the Qur’an with Jibreel once a year, but he repeated it twice with him in the year the Prophet (peace be upon him) died. The Qur’an was recited in the Taraweeh for the first time during the era of Caliph Omar (may Allah be pleased with him).Though many Huffaz and Islamic scholars were killed in the different parts of the world at different times, still there is no dearth of Islamic scholars who can recite the complete Qur’an from memory.
Severe campaigns have been launched against the Qur’anic schools, which teach the study, recitation and memorization of the Qur’an. The Qur’an is the main Book of the Muslims and it is the duty of the Muslims to learn the Qur’an, which contains their code of life and ethical values whose benefits have been experienced by mankind throughout the ages.We have discussed the objectives and importance of the Qur’an and how its originality and purity have been maintained.
Our Prophet (peace be upon him) and his Companions dedicated their whole lives to the worship of Allah. Their lives revolved completely around the Book of Allah, the Qur’an, reciting it in and out of Salah.The Qur’an is the basis of the religion of Islam, and on the preservation and propagation of Allah’s Book depends the very existence of this Faith. Hence the virtues of learning and teaching the Qur’an are self-evident and do not need further elucidation. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The best amongst you is he who learns the Qur’an and teaches it.” (Bukhari, Daud and Tirmidhi).
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Monday, September 07, 2009
The Muslims United Party.
By: Maged Taman
I am suggesting this party as a political party that can exist in every Arab and Muslim country. Though I do not believe in the party system winning election allow us to prepare the Muslim countries for the second coming of Jesus. This party would declare its principals as follows:
1- We are the third alternative to the tyrannical parties in the Muslim world and the extremists agenda.
2- Since the way to government is supposedly through elections we will do it this way and let see if the west will stand for free elections. We will have the political power to impose early elections.
3- We are honestly declaring that if we win elections and govern we will cancel the party system with a consultation system that will allow a real democracy and the sharing of people in governing themselves. We will get rid of the feud and special interest of the party system.
4- The best to control us is real free and responsible media another party will do the same like everywhere he will love the country to fail so they can win the next election.
5- We are abiding by all the principals of human rights and dignity.
6- Though we invite the world to a new world order there is no obligation we as Muslims will try to have one Muslim government or loosely attached governments. I think the west should respect our desire. If they to stand against that it will be a clear oppression from them.
7- We will be friends to all countries we will not be starting troubles to the world. We are likely to solve troubles.
8- Minority groups in all Muslim countries are invited to participate in our party. We do not have a secret agenda but justice, peace and prosperity for all of us Non-Muslims and Muslims.
9- We will not be hostile to the west or Israel and will be pragmatic. We will answer disputes through dialogue and politics.
10- Although a lot Muslim organizations look sound they do not reach out to all people. We will include them under our banner and not vice verse.
11- Extremists would not participate in our parties and we are not interested in cooperation.
12- If we are not allowed to have a party in the Muslim countries we will not fight but we will make a party even if we call it a grocery store and the tyrants can not arrest us all and the west will not allow them to do so or I hope so.
13- Solving peacefully the Palatine-Israel conflict is a must do (two states solution).
14- We will not express rhetoric against any religious group but we will expose wrong policies and ideas.
15- The culture of death that is promoted by extreme groups in all sides and preparing for Armageddon should end. Moderation is the answer to the world struggles.
16- I already have one program to take care of health care delivary and long term care
Taman Health Plan: Social Security
17- I also propse a very strong banking system that will create the right stimulus and opportunity to all our citizens. See under New World Order (Moral Utopia Project
Though I tried to do the project with the west we are able to do it in our countries since the west is not interested.
18- I believe in the brain power that means one brain what ever it is brillance is less powerful than the brains of smart people working together. A lot of good projects will come up from them. The most important way to govern is through the consultation.
19- The best hierarchy of the govenrment is that made up of the best of people both morally and in expertise from all the citizen of a country regardless of their faith or race.
20- Our ultimate goal is to prepare the world for Jesus second coming. If we are wrong and they are not coming soon we are doing what is geopolitically right (though all the signs point to his soon second coming. We are creating a large moderate Islamic movement to peacefully transition the Arab and Muslim world to a new era of justice, peace and prosperity. We will continue to talk to the west but with suspicion. If they change their policies and we feel that they are in our camp will forgive them for the past bad policies and start all over.
If you are interested please E-mail me. magedtaman@yahoo.com Be brave we are able to stand to the tyrants and extremists. America will not sit with Muslims to see how to liberate us, they have their problems. We are the one who would help them. I doubt we can work through them they need the tyrants to deal with the extremists, we can bypass them to save them the challenge.
I am suggesting this party as a political party that can exist in every Arab and Muslim country. Though I do not believe in the party system winning election allow us to prepare the Muslim countries for the second coming of Jesus. This party would declare its principals as follows:
1- We are the third alternative to the tyrannical parties in the Muslim world and the extremists agenda.
2- Since the way to government is supposedly through elections we will do it this way and let see if the west will stand for free elections. We will have the political power to impose early elections.
3- We are honestly declaring that if we win elections and govern we will cancel the party system with a consultation system that will allow a real democracy and the sharing of people in governing themselves. We will get rid of the feud and special interest of the party system.
4- The best to control us is real free and responsible media another party will do the same like everywhere he will love the country to fail so they can win the next election.
5- We are abiding by all the principals of human rights and dignity.
6- Though we invite the world to a new world order there is no obligation we as Muslims will try to have one Muslim government or loosely attached governments. I think the west should respect our desire. If they to stand against that it will be a clear oppression from them.
7- We will be friends to all countries we will not be starting troubles to the world. We are likely to solve troubles.
8- Minority groups in all Muslim countries are invited to participate in our party. We do not have a secret agenda but justice, peace and prosperity for all of us Non-Muslims and Muslims.
9- We will not be hostile to the west or Israel and will be pragmatic. We will answer disputes through dialogue and politics.
10- Although a lot Muslim organizations look sound they do not reach out to all people. We will include them under our banner and not vice verse.
11- Extremists would not participate in our parties and we are not interested in cooperation.
12- If we are not allowed to have a party in the Muslim countries we will not fight but we will make a party even if we call it a grocery store and the tyrants can not arrest us all and the west will not allow them to do so or I hope so.
13- Solving peacefully the Palatine-Israel conflict is a must do (two states solution).
14- We will not express rhetoric against any religious group but we will expose wrong policies and ideas.
15- The culture of death that is promoted by extreme groups in all sides and preparing for Armageddon should end. Moderation is the answer to the world struggles.
16- I already have one program to take care of health care delivary and long term care
Taman Health Plan: Social Security
17- I also propse a very strong banking system that will create the right stimulus and opportunity to all our citizens. See under New World Order (Moral Utopia Project
Though I tried to do the project with the west we are able to do it in our countries since the west is not interested.
18- I believe in the brain power that means one brain what ever it is brillance is less powerful than the brains of smart people working together. A lot of good projects will come up from them. The most important way to govern is through the consultation.
19- The best hierarchy of the govenrment is that made up of the best of people both morally and in expertise from all the citizen of a country regardless of their faith or race.
20- Our ultimate goal is to prepare the world for Jesus second coming. If we are wrong and they are not coming soon we are doing what is geopolitically right (though all the signs point to his soon second coming. We are creating a large moderate Islamic movement to peacefully transition the Arab and Muslim world to a new era of justice, peace and prosperity. We will continue to talk to the west but with suspicion. If they change their policies and we feel that they are in our camp will forgive them for the past bad policies and start all over.
If you are interested please E-mail me. magedtaman@yahoo.com Be brave we are able to stand to the tyrants and extremists. America will not sit with Muslims to see how to liberate us, they have their problems. We are the one who would help them. I doubt we can work through them they need the tyrants to deal with the extremists, we can bypass them to save them the challenge.
A Very Efficient Government Is No Government.
By: Maged Taman
Governments over the ages have been either the source of happiness of its people or sadness and depression. I look at an efficient government as the government that is so efficient that make you feel that there is no government.
It is like you are dealing with a bank that is very efficient and everything goes smooth that you never call the manager. You may not even have much interest to know how they accomplish that but you like it this way. Once a year or so you may ask for curiosity who is the manager or CEO of the bank.I am looking for an efficient government that look the same way. It is so effective that people feel that there is no government.
As you guessed the bank has no party system and is very likely very efficient because of the dedication and harmony of the staff of the bank.
Can we make governments work the same way. My answer is yes if we to do the following:
1- No party system since it had proved to be divisive to the country and allowed dictators to dominate over their countries.
2- Media that supervise every part of the government. It will not be right and left fighting all times. It will not be like: hi, thank you, you are great,..... There will be dialogue but down to business the problem so is better solved this way because of 1 + 1 + --- = s0.
3- No interest groups or outside money that corrupt the government.
4- All mechanisms to prevent the corruption of the government.
5- Weak politicians and strong citizens thus the government officials are serving the public and not vice verse. Politicians are not getting strength through absolute power and authority or through the strength of the party as happens in most third world country.
6- Politicians are more of independent people that in the network in the government and have to work it out between them. They are not a group of common interest or a gang. Their main interest is to make it work.
7- The government will become much less attractive for dominating dictators and corrupt individuals. People are basically will change their attitude towards their leaders and they will be looked at more like CEO's.
8- The government in every country would hold the human values of free speech, women rights, women rights, religious rights... That will make the people happy feeling social justice, equality and freedom.
9- The government overtime with all its intact institutions that allow smooth and very efficient governing system will make people do not feel there is a government and they will worship their God and enjoy their families. Meanwhile we will prevent most causes of wars and social upsets.
Governments over the ages have been either the source of happiness of its people or sadness and depression. I look at an efficient government as the government that is so efficient that make you feel that there is no government.
It is like you are dealing with a bank that is very efficient and everything goes smooth that you never call the manager. You may not even have much interest to know how they accomplish that but you like it this way. Once a year or so you may ask for curiosity who is the manager or CEO of the bank.I am looking for an efficient government that look the same way. It is so effective that people feel that there is no government.
As you guessed the bank has no party system and is very likely very efficient because of the dedication and harmony of the staff of the bank.
Can we make governments work the same way. My answer is yes if we to do the following:
1- No party system since it had proved to be divisive to the country and allowed dictators to dominate over their countries.
2- Media that supervise every part of the government. It will not be right and left fighting all times. It will not be like: hi, thank you, you are great,..... There will be dialogue but down to business the problem so is better solved this way because of 1 + 1 + --- = s0.
3- No interest groups or outside money that corrupt the government.
4- All mechanisms to prevent the corruption of the government.
5- Weak politicians and strong citizens thus the government officials are serving the public and not vice verse. Politicians are not getting strength through absolute power and authority or through the strength of the party as happens in most third world country.
6- Politicians are more of independent people that in the network in the government and have to work it out between them. They are not a group of common interest or a gang. Their main interest is to make it work.
7- The government will become much less attractive for dominating dictators and corrupt individuals. People are basically will change their attitude towards their leaders and they will be looked at more like CEO's.
8- The government in every country would hold the human values of free speech, women rights, women rights, religious rights... That will make the people happy feeling social justice, equality and freedom.
9- The government overtime with all its intact institutions that allow smooth and very efficient governing system will make people do not feel there is a government and they will worship their God and enjoy their families. Meanwhile we will prevent most causes of wars and social upsets.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Islam: The Complete Religion
By: Maged Taman
The Quran the word of God and Hadith which is the spoken words of the prophet and inspired by God gave us the complete religion of Islam. In the Quran God talk to all humanity about the creation, the wisdom behind the creation and the way to communicate with God the creator. It answers all of our question of his right religion. He talks to us in the Quran in the way he communicate his messages through prophets. He mention in the Quran the main prophets he sent us and their messages. He correct to us and the people of the books the misinterpretations to his previous messages. He gave us the law that direct us to a just and happy communities. He outlays the most important events of our life, death and resurrection.
1- God is the author of the Quran: Why God is The Author Of The Quran
2- The Quran was not inspired by Satan: Was The Quran Inspired By Satan?
3- God and the Creation: God And The Creation.
4- God in the Quran: God in the Quran
5- Submission since Adam: Islam (Submission) Since Adam
6- The Quran defined faith: Faith in Islam
7- Prophet Abraham: Abrham (PBUH) The father of the Three Major Religions
8- Worship in the Quran: Worship in The Quran
9- The wisdom of creation: The Intention behind the Creation
10- Prophet Moses in the Quran: Moses in The Quran
11- Prophet Jesus in the Quran: Worshipping Jesus is Injustice to God.
12- The truth in the Quran: The Truth in The Quran
13- The God of the Bible and the Quran: Is Allah The God Of The Bible?
14- The True Religion: Religion in The Quran
15- Prophecies of the Quran: Intrinsic Prophecies of the Quran
16- The messages of God: God Messages
17- Guidance in the Quran: Guidance In The Quran.
18- Death in the Quran: Death in The Quran
19- The day of judgement: The Day of Judgement (the Hour)
New World Order (Moral Utopia Project)
By: Maged Taman
After I made a new plan to restructure the very complicated health care/Medicare/Medicaid and social security in America with a simple health plan that insure every one in America and save billions of dollars every year to the American people I felt that the current world political and economic systems are also very complicated and we have a seriously dangerous world now. We do not have a choice but to restructure the world. You will know how a serious thinker I am before you think I am paranoid if you read my health plan that can be ordered from http://www.trafford.com/.
This plan is an unconditional gift from me to the American people, as well 50% of the profit of the book will go to the families of victims of 09/11. I welcome if any country can choose to apply it . I would ask just to keep my name on the plan (here it comes my little paranoia).Going to the world situation if you read and take the opinion of a lot of thinkers they will tell you the same about the great pitfalls of the current world system and the dysfunctional United Nation. Unfortunately most politicians over the world now adopt more reactive policies to crisis and disorganized short-term policies. A preemptive peace is what needs to be done. A new world system that insure preventing hunger, disease and wars before they happen need to be established.
Terrorism and clash of civilizations can be easily contained by this new system. No one should be feared about it. Though I put here outlines of this system it is only possible by a thorough discussion by a lot of brilliant people all over the world. I believe much in the world wide democracy. I still see the simple tribe system is the best system of democracy. There is no parties, media or institutions but people simply sit together and discuss their affairs in a transparent environment. In Islam there is no certain system of government but simply the leader is elected by any fair way and a consultation system that get input from every individual is implemented. I am still surprised to see people are fearful of Islam, the terrorism is a very unique phenomena and as president Bush himself talked about the hopelessness under repression and tyranny and the need to free people and improve their daily life. I think however the path he is taking to combat terrorism and Iraq first then spread democracy will take very long years.
My new world plan gets all problems solved in one project. Besides the global problems, it addresses the Palestine-Israel conflict, Iranian nuclear projects, Iraq and democracy all in the same time.The new system I am advocating is the one that connect the countries that are members to share the same values of democracy, free market and so forth. One such system can be called American Alliance. This alliance that can replace the current UN or progressively take over this institution. The entry in alliance is both by choice and any country can recede whenever it wants. We will need a national voting for that from the country to join the alliance. However it can not have WMD after joining or if to recede. Most people in the Arab/Muslim countries with having the Support of America will to join the alliance. We will simply overwhelm their governments. The country which would join the alliance has to follow the roles of this alliance.
These roles are:
1- Combating Satan (evil): though people talk a lot of God the world problem is that we are listening to Satan. God is waiting for us it is Satan that we need to outsmart. He wants all of us to be enemies and we end by destruction of the world and our civilization. You can see it well every one is going after his affairs and if we have a third world war every one will loose every thing he had worked for. It does not need a brainer that Satan and evil are winning now in our current world affairs.
2- Harmony between all people: Christians, Jews, Muslims and other religions.
3- Ten commandments/Major sins.
4- Good deeds and morality.
5- Honesty: dishonesty is behind every evil particularly governmental distrust, conspiracies and wars.
6-Virtue: Islam handle this very well: one has to be faithful and not to sin and put the mechanisms to prevent sinning. But if one to sin he should not talk about it and not to be repeated. Talking about sins end by unfairly accusing people, give the sense that sin is everywhere so people sin more. It became a good way to get money from people to get them to sin and then blackmail them. No one in Islam is to spy or trash any one reputation and media could not talk about a sex life of an individual. Simply, no one should know or talk about any one sexual life, it is between him, God and people that are affected by this relation. Satan want us to sin and get the worse consequences of sinning.
7-Democracy.
8-Human rights.
9-Women rights. Note for Muslim women they can work and go as high as they can. Islam protected them with the Islamic uniform and with separation in schools and work from men. The most common problems for women in the west are break of marriage due to infidelity and sexual abuse during work both can be avoided by separation of men and women at work places.
10-Minority rights.
11-Freedom of religion.
12-Absence of corruption in all its forms.
13-Absence of drug production, trafficking or dealing.
14-Justice to every one.
15-absence of any form of discrimination.The American Alliance will oversee most items. It could have anti-corruption section, human right section and so forth in the new UN.Democracy should be overseen in each country by insuring free election, free press and separation of power.
A new political system I see is what I call it the consultation system. No doubt the party system has proved not only to be inefficient, but also a dangerous system for the following reasons:
1- Most of dictators like Hitler and Saddam came through a new national party that incite peoples with crazy ideas for sake of that person greed to power, pseudo-heroism and glorification. Satan does his best job in the world through these evil people.
2-Totalitarian systems like communism strengthen themselves through a party. Every tyrant needs two structures. The upper structure as I see it is the control of media, military, police and most of institutions. The lower structure is through the party which give the people the false feeling of democracy and in the same time get strong support from the people who will benefit from the system as a second army inside the communities so they continue to protect the system.
3- Even in true democratic countries the party system is not working well. politicians are more occupied with politics than policies and for one party to take over the other party has to fail. It is the civilized war Satan is looking for. Many time the political process is not a continuum but new administrations are trying to undo what other ones have done.American politicians should consider that for our sake given above issues. Ultimately America gets dragged on by one way or another when one country political system breaks down. In the old days when people where fighting with swords we would have been well protected here in America.
In the consultation system I purpose:
1- Getting money out of politics and media.
2- Politicians who are running for different positions do not belong to any party. Every one identifies himself by his own position. If you read my health and long term care plan you will find that we will get this very important policy to a great part out of the political struggle.
3- In this system the politicians are well watched with unbiased and very independent and responsible media.
4- The president role is more like a great consultant that gets the most experienced and brightest people to share in decision making. Decision making is more like a consensus and not a monopoly.
The new economic system of the world for the American alliance:
1- Non interest based economy: lending in the Bible and Koran are supposed to lift up the poor. It is abused now it gets the rich people lend their money and make high profits from the poor. Example of such a new system is like selling a car with no interest that can be paid over three years. Same can be done with a lot of goods.
2- New Banking system: banks including the federal banks will function by having availability all time through mutual agreement of supplying money with no interest among them and Federal bank. Money will be lent with no interest to public. A good credit will allow one to borrow higher money amounts. Banks will get profits by cost of service and by selling their mutual funds and other sorts of shares to the public instead of Cd's. But why should people give the money to banks with no interest. For different reasons they would do that, it is safest way to keep money, they will get certain benefits in the future like amount of money to burrow. I think many smart ideas will come from financial experts to have pouring of money in the new banking system. As well by the main Bank of Alliance to supply regular flow of money. One important motivation to keep money in banks is the global development and contributing to abundance of the new economic system and preventing wars.
3- Investment will be mainly through stock market.
4- As the economy is in full power in America it contracts after it expands. It is like a closed room the economy that can not get any bigger. In American alliance economy on the other hand, if the American economy is in full expansion money goes to other economies (spell over) that open new economies and strengthen the American dollar buying power. It is like having a new way to expand linearly the American economy. Suppose with one dollar you buy 5 apples. If the apples are grown in Israel/Palestine, Lebanon..... the one dollar could buy you 15 apples or more.
5- That is what I call economy of abundance compare that by the greedy capitalistic system now where people lend with interest rate. The rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer. In the Alliance or Utopia economy we are lifting every one and strengthening the buying power of dollar. Thus the rich is getting richer (remember money is what it can buy of services and goods, if you have a million dollars and no one is working in the world what you have is only papers).
6-One currency economy: the American dollar will take over every other country currency and can be done gradually. In the future a dollar can have pictures of that country currency and change can be issued by the individuals countries for the small changes. One currency is very important in simplifying and encouraging investment in individual countries.
7- You may say that Americans will loose jobs. In fact their dollar will have higher buying power and my Taman health plan will have money for every American insuring his health care and long term care kept aside. In fact he will be working less hours and enjoying traveling around the world.
8- In order to develop a country the problem has always been the governments: either corruption, bureaucracy or lazy officials. In my plan good banking system will be first established in every country and money can be burrowed by people. Big corporations usually goes after money that will help to develop these countries with burrowing, job creation and paying back cycles repeated over and over we will lift every one in these countries. As you see we will bypass the hands of the officials. The UN will help the big corporations to define resources and potential projects.
9- I am for a simple Tax code like president Bush is seeking to do to be applied in each country. I actually like something in addition in Islam called Zakat or Gezia which in our American alliance can define poverty in each country and the poor defined by income divided by the number of households. People under poverty line get a certain amount of money (2.5% of yearly income of all well to do people go to the poor in same country). Except for my health care/long term care were we protect your money from you so you spend it and keep it only for health and long term care, I prefer people to have the money in their hands. Governments proved to us over the years not to do a good job with our monies.
Why Americans should benefit from such alliance:
1- Preventing third world war, we will be able to keep an eye on global politicians. Through the history America is the one ultimately has to face the bad guys as Hitler, Milosevic and Saddam.
2- America is overwhelmed by the immigrants or potential immigrants.
3- Resolving global terrorism.
4- Developing appropriately the third world and combating poverty.
5- Preventing ethnic cleansing and local wars before they start.
6- Global environmental standards.
7- Benefiting Americans corporations from the best way to invest and grow more.
8- Solving Israel-Palestine conflict.9- Halting Iran and other Muslim countries acquiring WMD.
10-Possible clearing of India and Pakistan of nuclear weapons.
11-Simplifying control of the world. Though the project is large, it is much easier in next decades to control the world. Two complicated problems of the world in the same time could take all time of American politicians. We will be lift by diplomatic alliance with China and Russia. It will be ultimate dream if both as well to join the alliance. The Europeans through their own union or joining the new alliance are likely to continue not to pose threat to the civilized world.With all the world problems and the difficulties of the individual countries to solve their own problems we do not have choice but large alliances. As you see Utopia is not a fantasia it is a most do now.
Why a country would like to join this American Alliance:
1- Protection, a country will be protected by NATO. It will have a small army joining NATO. However it will maintain its police and other local force enforcement agencies.
2- Get help during natural disasters.
3- No one would let to die of hunger in the countries of alliance.
4-Economic development.
5- Freedom of speech, free market, bill of rights and other advantages mentioned above.
We basically will be exporting America to the people with no need for them to come and take jobs from Americans. We will have an unlimited expansion of the American economy. Every country can still enjoy its culture and sovereignty. We will just be avoiding wars and maintaining an eye on global politicians so we do not see another Hitler or Saddam.People may think it is a Messianic dream, the truth is if we are realistic and pragmatic and look to the world from the geopolitical and economic mandate we will reach to the same conclusion. If you go to most third world countries you will find they share same problems and their governments can barely feed them.
If I am promoting all of these ideas I should be considered a pro-Christ, please review the Christ teachings. The world is full of immense economical and political problems and major clash of civilizations. Suppression or exclusion of Muslims from the current political scene does not help the situation but inclusion and dialogue are the answer.Most important now is to open the dialogue. When people talk they will find out they are all humans and have the same goals in life. The desire of domination and excluding other civilizations is in fact fruitless. If the Messiah comes I will be happy to step aside and let him take over. There is no obligations, the plan should be discussed openly and people, not only the few world politicians to give their opinions. If we to wait for the rupture, good luck I never saw this word in the Bible. It is the new trick to keep the status quo of the world and oppress any novel ideas.
After I made a new plan to restructure the very complicated health care/Medicare/Medicaid and social security in America with a simple health plan that insure every one in America and save billions of dollars every year to the American people I felt that the current world political and economic systems are also very complicated and we have a seriously dangerous world now. We do not have a choice but to restructure the world. You will know how a serious thinker I am before you think I am paranoid if you read my health plan that can be ordered from http://www.trafford.com/.
This plan is an unconditional gift from me to the American people, as well 50% of the profit of the book will go to the families of victims of 09/11. I welcome if any country can choose to apply it . I would ask just to keep my name on the plan (here it comes my little paranoia).Going to the world situation if you read and take the opinion of a lot of thinkers they will tell you the same about the great pitfalls of the current world system and the dysfunctional United Nation. Unfortunately most politicians over the world now adopt more reactive policies to crisis and disorganized short-term policies. A preemptive peace is what needs to be done. A new world system that insure preventing hunger, disease and wars before they happen need to be established.
Terrorism and clash of civilizations can be easily contained by this new system. No one should be feared about it. Though I put here outlines of this system it is only possible by a thorough discussion by a lot of brilliant people all over the world. I believe much in the world wide democracy. I still see the simple tribe system is the best system of democracy. There is no parties, media or institutions but people simply sit together and discuss their affairs in a transparent environment. In Islam there is no certain system of government but simply the leader is elected by any fair way and a consultation system that get input from every individual is implemented. I am still surprised to see people are fearful of Islam, the terrorism is a very unique phenomena and as president Bush himself talked about the hopelessness under repression and tyranny and the need to free people and improve their daily life. I think however the path he is taking to combat terrorism and Iraq first then spread democracy will take very long years.
My new world plan gets all problems solved in one project. Besides the global problems, it addresses the Palestine-Israel conflict, Iranian nuclear projects, Iraq and democracy all in the same time.The new system I am advocating is the one that connect the countries that are members to share the same values of democracy, free market and so forth. One such system can be called American Alliance. This alliance that can replace the current UN or progressively take over this institution. The entry in alliance is both by choice and any country can recede whenever it wants. We will need a national voting for that from the country to join the alliance. However it can not have WMD after joining or if to recede. Most people in the Arab/Muslim countries with having the Support of America will to join the alliance. We will simply overwhelm their governments. The country which would join the alliance has to follow the roles of this alliance.
These roles are:
1- Combating Satan (evil): though people talk a lot of God the world problem is that we are listening to Satan. God is waiting for us it is Satan that we need to outsmart. He wants all of us to be enemies and we end by destruction of the world and our civilization. You can see it well every one is going after his affairs and if we have a third world war every one will loose every thing he had worked for. It does not need a brainer that Satan and evil are winning now in our current world affairs.
2- Harmony between all people: Christians, Jews, Muslims and other religions.
3- Ten commandments/Major sins.
4- Good deeds and morality.
5- Honesty: dishonesty is behind every evil particularly governmental distrust, conspiracies and wars.
6-Virtue: Islam handle this very well: one has to be faithful and not to sin and put the mechanisms to prevent sinning. But if one to sin he should not talk about it and not to be repeated. Talking about sins end by unfairly accusing people, give the sense that sin is everywhere so people sin more. It became a good way to get money from people to get them to sin and then blackmail them. No one in Islam is to spy or trash any one reputation and media could not talk about a sex life of an individual. Simply, no one should know or talk about any one sexual life, it is between him, God and people that are affected by this relation. Satan want us to sin and get the worse consequences of sinning.
7-Democracy.
8-Human rights.
9-Women rights. Note for Muslim women they can work and go as high as they can. Islam protected them with the Islamic uniform and with separation in schools and work from men. The most common problems for women in the west are break of marriage due to infidelity and sexual abuse during work both can be avoided by separation of men and women at work places.
10-Minority rights.
11-Freedom of religion.
12-Absence of corruption in all its forms.
13-Absence of drug production, trafficking or dealing.
14-Justice to every one.
15-absence of any form of discrimination.The American Alliance will oversee most items. It could have anti-corruption section, human right section and so forth in the new UN.Democracy should be overseen in each country by insuring free election, free press and separation of power.
A new political system I see is what I call it the consultation system. No doubt the party system has proved not only to be inefficient, but also a dangerous system for the following reasons:
1- Most of dictators like Hitler and Saddam came through a new national party that incite peoples with crazy ideas for sake of that person greed to power, pseudo-heroism and glorification. Satan does his best job in the world through these evil people.
2-Totalitarian systems like communism strengthen themselves through a party. Every tyrant needs two structures. The upper structure as I see it is the control of media, military, police and most of institutions. The lower structure is through the party which give the people the false feeling of democracy and in the same time get strong support from the people who will benefit from the system as a second army inside the communities so they continue to protect the system.
3- Even in true democratic countries the party system is not working well. politicians are more occupied with politics than policies and for one party to take over the other party has to fail. It is the civilized war Satan is looking for. Many time the political process is not a continuum but new administrations are trying to undo what other ones have done.American politicians should consider that for our sake given above issues. Ultimately America gets dragged on by one way or another when one country political system breaks down. In the old days when people where fighting with swords we would have been well protected here in America.
In the consultation system I purpose:
1- Getting money out of politics and media.
2- Politicians who are running for different positions do not belong to any party. Every one identifies himself by his own position. If you read my health and long term care plan you will find that we will get this very important policy to a great part out of the political struggle.
3- In this system the politicians are well watched with unbiased and very independent and responsible media.
4- The president role is more like a great consultant that gets the most experienced and brightest people to share in decision making. Decision making is more like a consensus and not a monopoly.
The new economic system of the world for the American alliance:
1- Non interest based economy: lending in the Bible and Koran are supposed to lift up the poor. It is abused now it gets the rich people lend their money and make high profits from the poor. Example of such a new system is like selling a car with no interest that can be paid over three years. Same can be done with a lot of goods.
2- New Banking system: banks including the federal banks will function by having availability all time through mutual agreement of supplying money with no interest among them and Federal bank. Money will be lent with no interest to public. A good credit will allow one to borrow higher money amounts. Banks will get profits by cost of service and by selling their mutual funds and other sorts of shares to the public instead of Cd's. But why should people give the money to banks with no interest. For different reasons they would do that, it is safest way to keep money, they will get certain benefits in the future like amount of money to burrow. I think many smart ideas will come from financial experts to have pouring of money in the new banking system. As well by the main Bank of Alliance to supply regular flow of money. One important motivation to keep money in banks is the global development and contributing to abundance of the new economic system and preventing wars.
3- Investment will be mainly through stock market.
4- As the economy is in full power in America it contracts after it expands. It is like a closed room the economy that can not get any bigger. In American alliance economy on the other hand, if the American economy is in full expansion money goes to other economies (spell over) that open new economies and strengthen the American dollar buying power. It is like having a new way to expand linearly the American economy. Suppose with one dollar you buy 5 apples. If the apples are grown in Israel/Palestine, Lebanon..... the one dollar could buy you 15 apples or more.
5- That is what I call economy of abundance compare that by the greedy capitalistic system now where people lend with interest rate. The rich gets richer and the poor gets poorer. In the Alliance or Utopia economy we are lifting every one and strengthening the buying power of dollar. Thus the rich is getting richer (remember money is what it can buy of services and goods, if you have a million dollars and no one is working in the world what you have is only papers).
6-One currency economy: the American dollar will take over every other country currency and can be done gradually. In the future a dollar can have pictures of that country currency and change can be issued by the individuals countries for the small changes. One currency is very important in simplifying and encouraging investment in individual countries.
7- You may say that Americans will loose jobs. In fact their dollar will have higher buying power and my Taman health plan will have money for every American insuring his health care and long term care kept aside. In fact he will be working less hours and enjoying traveling around the world.
8- In order to develop a country the problem has always been the governments: either corruption, bureaucracy or lazy officials. In my plan good banking system will be first established in every country and money can be burrowed by people. Big corporations usually goes after money that will help to develop these countries with burrowing, job creation and paying back cycles repeated over and over we will lift every one in these countries. As you see we will bypass the hands of the officials. The UN will help the big corporations to define resources and potential projects.
9- I am for a simple Tax code like president Bush is seeking to do to be applied in each country. I actually like something in addition in Islam called Zakat or Gezia which in our American alliance can define poverty in each country and the poor defined by income divided by the number of households. People under poverty line get a certain amount of money (2.5% of yearly income of all well to do people go to the poor in same country). Except for my health care/long term care were we protect your money from you so you spend it and keep it only for health and long term care, I prefer people to have the money in their hands. Governments proved to us over the years not to do a good job with our monies.
Why Americans should benefit from such alliance:
1- Preventing third world war, we will be able to keep an eye on global politicians. Through the history America is the one ultimately has to face the bad guys as Hitler, Milosevic and Saddam.
2- America is overwhelmed by the immigrants or potential immigrants.
3- Resolving global terrorism.
4- Developing appropriately the third world and combating poverty.
5- Preventing ethnic cleansing and local wars before they start.
6- Global environmental standards.
7- Benefiting Americans corporations from the best way to invest and grow more.
8- Solving Israel-Palestine conflict.9- Halting Iran and other Muslim countries acquiring WMD.
10-Possible clearing of India and Pakistan of nuclear weapons.
11-Simplifying control of the world. Though the project is large, it is much easier in next decades to control the world. Two complicated problems of the world in the same time could take all time of American politicians. We will be lift by diplomatic alliance with China and Russia. It will be ultimate dream if both as well to join the alliance. The Europeans through their own union or joining the new alliance are likely to continue not to pose threat to the civilized world.With all the world problems and the difficulties of the individual countries to solve their own problems we do not have choice but large alliances. As you see Utopia is not a fantasia it is a most do now.
Why a country would like to join this American Alliance:
1- Protection, a country will be protected by NATO. It will have a small army joining NATO. However it will maintain its police and other local force enforcement agencies.
2- Get help during natural disasters.
3- No one would let to die of hunger in the countries of alliance.
4-Economic development.
5- Freedom of speech, free market, bill of rights and other advantages mentioned above.
We basically will be exporting America to the people with no need for them to come and take jobs from Americans. We will have an unlimited expansion of the American economy. Every country can still enjoy its culture and sovereignty. We will just be avoiding wars and maintaining an eye on global politicians so we do not see another Hitler or Saddam.People may think it is a Messianic dream, the truth is if we are realistic and pragmatic and look to the world from the geopolitical and economic mandate we will reach to the same conclusion. If you go to most third world countries you will find they share same problems and their governments can barely feed them.
If I am promoting all of these ideas I should be considered a pro-Christ, please review the Christ teachings. The world is full of immense economical and political problems and major clash of civilizations. Suppression or exclusion of Muslims from the current political scene does not help the situation but inclusion and dialogue are the answer.Most important now is to open the dialogue. When people talk they will find out they are all humans and have the same goals in life. The desire of domination and excluding other civilizations is in fact fruitless. If the Messiah comes I will be happy to step aside and let him take over. There is no obligations, the plan should be discussed openly and people, not only the few world politicians to give their opinions. If we to wait for the rupture, good luck I never saw this word in the Bible. It is the new trick to keep the status quo of the world and oppress any novel ideas.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Taman Health Plan: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Health Care: One Plan
By: Maged Taman
Americans' Future In One Plan: Taman Health Plan (http://www.trafford.com/04-1619 ) takes care of all the health care, Medicare, Medicaid and social security. It will threw all bureaucracies out of window. Let me explain shortly how it works:
1- there will be no more health care insurance companies, no Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security. My plan will take care of all.
2- Basically will be only one Big Health care organization (Taman Health Plan or THP).
3- The center of the plan will be in Washington while the health departments in every state will be the branches.
4- One organized body will be taking care of the Health Care and long term care of all Americans replacing 1500 insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
5- This will allow us to provide a uniform service to all Americans every where in both inpatients, outpatients and long term care.
6- When you go to any Duncan Donuts branch your expectation is to have a fresh coffee and a donut with no long wait. We will try to provide a similar predictable service everywhere as Duncan Donuts. With having only one body will be able to do that.
7- The Capital of the plan will be the funds of Medicare and Social Security (before the bankruptcy of both systems). The maintenance will be a yearly tax from each of us (will replace our yearly social security and Medicare holding taxes). A percent of each of us go to his account cards and a percent go to THP itself. The money of the plan will be invested by the investing sector of the plan very likely in Wall Street.
8- We will have 5 ATM cards with a corresponding accounts.
Card A (children),
Card B (working group 18-65years old),
Card C (Medicare card >65 years old),
Card D (Medicaid card),
Card E ( expensive medicines or investigations).
We will have the health cards devoted to health care and long term care. Thus we will have: health cards, banks with accounts to each card and credit card machines in outpatients care and hotelling part of hospitals and nursing homes.
9- Cards will pay for the outpatient medical care including doctors, emergency room visits, investigations, medical supplies, pharmacies and the hotelling part of hospitals and nursing homes. While the medical part of hospitals and nursing homes will be budget by the plan itself.
10- In the first year of issuing cards: Card B and C (most of people) will have a bonus it could be a percent of their Medicare and social security withholding (70 % or so). We will try to be fair to every one but every one has to know that most of us already lost a lot of money with the HMO's. For next year new comers to card B at age of 18 when first issued will have a bonus of 50,000 dollars. It will change every year by a percent a according to inflation.
11- every one of us will get a statement every one or two months of his card account. Card B account will phase in card C at the age of 65. If card C account is vanished Card D will be issued (hoteling part will be less luxurious). Only few of Card B will have card D if there account vanish most likely those with severe medical problems.
12- So basically most of us will have our own account Card B then card C. Say you are 45 and you have now in your account $ 200,000 you can take one or more years out of work, you Can retire early if you like and with your card you will control all the medical services and its prices.
13- With this card system we will end all bureaucracies of health care, Medicare and Medicaid. No one will stand between you and any medical or long term service (only your card). Shop around with you card, have early health care security and responsibility and invest in your health.
14- We will not need Social Security since after age of 65 we will be able to use our cards to stay in any nursing home each according to his account in card C or card D. So when you invest well in your health you will be able to enjoy a nicer nursing home when you get old (actually it will be also a kind of tourism).
15- The money in cards do not get inherited when we pass away but recycle in the plan to support the next generations.
16- The plan will have very positive effects not only in simplifying our care, save a lot of waste in health care, give early health care security and responsibility to Americans it will also have a positive effect on the economy, saving billions of dollars to Americans, creating jobs in health care and cutting outsourcing.
Very likely, you figure it out by now I could have sold the plan to one of the presidential candidate before the 2004 election for millions of dollars (they had spent 2 billion dollars in campaign). I could have done the same this 2008 presidential election. It is my gift to the American people (it will help the healing process of the two worlds America and the Muslim/Arabs). At that time of 2004 I sent this plan to big organizations in America in health care, political and others. I was trying to negotiate through this plan to have freedom in the Arab world. This does not mean that we will go and invade each one but will create the strong political will to make drastic changes in these countries. The American government did not allow me or my plan to see the light since they did not want their close tyrant friends in the Arab world to be threatened.
These are the benefits to the American people:
1- Insure all Americans for health care.
2- Take care of the entitlements of all programs as above.
3- Save billions of dollars to America every year.
4- Give to the Americans early health care security and responsibility.
5- Inject the American economy by the right stimulus in health care and long care to stimulate the economy.
6- Creating more jobs that is difficult to outsource.
7- Give the Americans the freedom to be off from work for months or years without socialism.
8- Will diminish much the hidden deficit in health care which will diminish the yearly budget deficit and debt.
9- Will save a lot of lives 18,000 are lost yearly due to lack of insurance.
10- Will cut much in crimes and incarcerations that many times are related to hopelessness, lack of health and long term security and resentment.
The American Government have blocked me for few years to talk to the public since they do not want people to know me, particularly Muslims and to take me seriously. This plan is still my gift to the American people if there leaders will change their positions in the world.
Americans' Future In One Plan: Taman Health Plan (http://www.trafford.com/04-1619 ) takes care of all the health care, Medicare, Medicaid and social security. It will threw all bureaucracies out of window. Let me explain shortly how it works:
1- there will be no more health care insurance companies, no Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security. My plan will take care of all.
2- Basically will be only one Big Health care organization (Taman Health Plan or THP).
3- The center of the plan will be in Washington while the health departments in every state will be the branches.
4- One organized body will be taking care of the Health Care and long term care of all Americans replacing 1500 insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
5- This will allow us to provide a uniform service to all Americans every where in both inpatients, outpatients and long term care.
6- When you go to any Duncan Donuts branch your expectation is to have a fresh coffee and a donut with no long wait. We will try to provide a similar predictable service everywhere as Duncan Donuts. With having only one body will be able to do that.
7- The Capital of the plan will be the funds of Medicare and Social Security (before the bankruptcy of both systems). The maintenance will be a yearly tax from each of us (will replace our yearly social security and Medicare holding taxes). A percent of each of us go to his account cards and a percent go to THP itself. The money of the plan will be invested by the investing sector of the plan very likely in Wall Street.
8- We will have 5 ATM cards with a corresponding accounts.
Card A (children),
Card B (working group 18-65years old),
Card C (Medicare card >65 years old),
Card D (Medicaid card),
Card E ( expensive medicines or investigations).
We will have the health cards devoted to health care and long term care. Thus we will have: health cards, banks with accounts to each card and credit card machines in outpatients care and hotelling part of hospitals and nursing homes.
9- Cards will pay for the outpatient medical care including doctors, emergency room visits, investigations, medical supplies, pharmacies and the hotelling part of hospitals and nursing homes. While the medical part of hospitals and nursing homes will be budget by the plan itself.
10- In the first year of issuing cards: Card B and C (most of people) will have a bonus it could be a percent of their Medicare and social security withholding (70 % or so). We will try to be fair to every one but every one has to know that most of us already lost a lot of money with the HMO's. For next year new comers to card B at age of 18 when first issued will have a bonus of 50,000 dollars. It will change every year by a percent a according to inflation.
11- every one of us will get a statement every one or two months of his card account. Card B account will phase in card C at the age of 65. If card C account is vanished Card D will be issued (hoteling part will be less luxurious). Only few of Card B will have card D if there account vanish most likely those with severe medical problems.
12- So basically most of us will have our own account Card B then card C. Say you are 45 and you have now in your account $ 200,000 you can take one or more years out of work, you Can retire early if you like and with your card you will control all the medical services and its prices.
13- With this card system we will end all bureaucracies of health care, Medicare and Medicaid. No one will stand between you and any medical or long term service (only your card). Shop around with you card, have early health care security and responsibility and invest in your health.
14- We will not need Social Security since after age of 65 we will be able to use our cards to stay in any nursing home each according to his account in card C or card D. So when you invest well in your health you will be able to enjoy a nicer nursing home when you get old (actually it will be also a kind of tourism).
15- The money in cards do not get inherited when we pass away but recycle in the plan to support the next generations.
16- The plan will have very positive effects not only in simplifying our care, save a lot of waste in health care, give early health care security and responsibility to Americans it will also have a positive effect on the economy, saving billions of dollars to Americans, creating jobs in health care and cutting outsourcing.
Very likely, you figure it out by now I could have sold the plan to one of the presidential candidate before the 2004 election for millions of dollars (they had spent 2 billion dollars in campaign). I could have done the same this 2008 presidential election. It is my gift to the American people (it will help the healing process of the two worlds America and the Muslim/Arabs). At that time of 2004 I sent this plan to big organizations in America in health care, political and others. I was trying to negotiate through this plan to have freedom in the Arab world. This does not mean that we will go and invade each one but will create the strong political will to make drastic changes in these countries. The American government did not allow me or my plan to see the light since they did not want their close tyrant friends in the Arab world to be threatened.
These are the benefits to the American people:
1- Insure all Americans for health care.
2- Take care of the entitlements of all programs as above.
3- Save billions of dollars to America every year.
4- Give to the Americans early health care security and responsibility.
5- Inject the American economy by the right stimulus in health care and long care to stimulate the economy.
6- Creating more jobs that is difficult to outsource.
7- Give the Americans the freedom to be off from work for months or years without socialism.
8- Will diminish much the hidden deficit in health care which will diminish the yearly budget deficit and debt.
9- Will save a lot of lives 18,000 are lost yearly due to lack of insurance.
10- Will cut much in crimes and incarcerations that many times are related to hopelessness, lack of health and long term security and resentment.
The American Government have blocked me for few years to talk to the public since they do not want people to know me, particularly Muslims and to take me seriously. This plan is still my gift to the American people if there leaders will change their positions in the world.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Ramadan thoughts: Understanding the Quran
From: www.islamicity.com
Source ::: The PENINSULA
The overarching importance of the noble Quran, which Muslims believe is the word of God (Allah), is underscored in Islam owing to a number of factors such as the following:
1. The Quran is, according to Islam, the last of the revealed scriptures of God. It clearly teaches that all the previous scriptures have been revealed by God Almighty to His prophets, though they were not preserved intact over time. Only the noble Quran has been protected from addition, deletion, or interpolation. That is why Muslims believe that today, only the noble Quran is authentic as the word of God.
And what is more, it is kept intact on a tablet preserved in Heaven for all times. And in fact, the essential message of all the earlier scriptures was extracted from the same tablet, called in the Quran the “Preserved Tablet”:
“Nay, this is a Glorious Quran (inscribed) in a Tablet Preserved!” (85:21-22)
Ibn Kathir, a well-known Quran interpreter and scholar, said:
“The phrase “in the Preserved Tablet” means, it is among the higher rank groups (i.e., angels), preserved and protected from anything being added or taken away, or from any alteration or changes.” (part 8, page 271)
2. God Almighty in the noble Quran clearly states that all the previous scriptures were revealed provisionally for the benefit of a particular people of a particular period. But the noble Quran is the final testament of God revealed for the whole of humanity, until the Day of Judgment. For this reason, all the teachings contained in the former scriptures which were meant to be of lasting value and importance are included in the Quran.
3. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the final messenger from Allah to mankind; and he brought the final revelation from God to man. Therefore, the scripture containing this revelation is the last of the sacred scriptures.
The basic message of the noble Quran is the same as the basic message of the previous revelations and books; and the teachings and instructions by which it provides guidance for man are of a universal nature. They apply for all times to come and to all situations.
This revelation corresponds to a critical juncture that marks a stage of cultural, intellectual, and spiritual development in human history.
4. If you make a careful study of the language and subject of the Quran and the language and subject of other scriptures, you can see the clear difference of the Quran.
It is a fact that there is no scripture of any religion existing now in the same form as it existed at the time of its revelation. In most cases, we have only translations, not the original scripture.
As for the Quran, it is the original Arabic Quran that is always called the Quran, not any translation. That is to say, the noble Quran is the only scripture that exists in the same language and form in which it was originally revealed by Allah Almighty to humankind.
5. Another important point to note about the Quran is the perfect harmony between its content and language. We may get to know the meaning of the Quran from a translation, preferably with sufficient explanations. But the beauty of the Quranic language is to a great extent lost to any one who does not know Arabic.
As a matter of fact, the verses of the Quran appeal to our heart and head at the same time; as we see in them a harmony of rhyme, rhythm and reason, a matching of powerful ideas with moving expression.
We should remember that the Quran came at a time in Arabia when poetry was reigning supreme; but the master-poets of the day could not equal the Quranic richness in diction, style, and beauty. Indeed, its haunting rhythms rocked the whole of Arabia from Sudan to Syria and from Morocco to Oman, and continues to awe those who listen to it, even if they do not understand Arabic.
It is noteworthy that while the Quran continues to occupy the pedestal as an abiding model for literary Arabic, the languages of other scriptures have, more or less, become dead languages.
6. In fact, there is no other Book in human history that has molded, and is continuing to mold, the life of generations of people as the Quran. Every verse of the Book has become the unalterable source of a code of laws that govern every aspect of the life of Muslims.
This was a Book that brought into being the renowned universities and centers of learning that awakened a new enlightenment in the world, such as no other civilization of the past could match.
It was indeed a brilliant and lasting miracle of Allah effected through the Quran, which was at the center of a unique spiritual revolution, which shines through history. The Quran helped in forging unity among tribes, races and social classes. It liberated the thought patterns and the ennobled human knowledge.
The Quran also contained the criteria for social transformation.
Consequently, even some people, such as the Mongols who conquered Islamic lands and triumphed over the Muslims owing to their military superiority, lost their dominance in the end when they were confronted with the spiritual power of Islam. In addition, it is an interesting historical fact that eventually most of them even adopted the religion of the people they had conquered.
www.islamonline.net
Source ::: The PENINSULA
The overarching importance of the noble Quran, which Muslims believe is the word of God (Allah), is underscored in Islam owing to a number of factors such as the following:
1. The Quran is, according to Islam, the last of the revealed scriptures of God. It clearly teaches that all the previous scriptures have been revealed by God Almighty to His prophets, though they were not preserved intact over time. Only the noble Quran has been protected from addition, deletion, or interpolation. That is why Muslims believe that today, only the noble Quran is authentic as the word of God.
And what is more, it is kept intact on a tablet preserved in Heaven for all times. And in fact, the essential message of all the earlier scriptures was extracted from the same tablet, called in the Quran the “Preserved Tablet”:
“Nay, this is a Glorious Quran (inscribed) in a Tablet Preserved!” (85:21-22)
Ibn Kathir, a well-known Quran interpreter and scholar, said:
“The phrase “in the Preserved Tablet” means, it is among the higher rank groups (i.e., angels), preserved and protected from anything being added or taken away, or from any alteration or changes.” (part 8, page 271)
2. God Almighty in the noble Quran clearly states that all the previous scriptures were revealed provisionally for the benefit of a particular people of a particular period. But the noble Quran is the final testament of God revealed for the whole of humanity, until the Day of Judgment. For this reason, all the teachings contained in the former scriptures which were meant to be of lasting value and importance are included in the Quran.
3. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was the final messenger from Allah to mankind; and he brought the final revelation from God to man. Therefore, the scripture containing this revelation is the last of the sacred scriptures.
The basic message of the noble Quran is the same as the basic message of the previous revelations and books; and the teachings and instructions by which it provides guidance for man are of a universal nature. They apply for all times to come and to all situations.
This revelation corresponds to a critical juncture that marks a stage of cultural, intellectual, and spiritual development in human history.
4. If you make a careful study of the language and subject of the Quran and the language and subject of other scriptures, you can see the clear difference of the Quran.
It is a fact that there is no scripture of any religion existing now in the same form as it existed at the time of its revelation. In most cases, we have only translations, not the original scripture.
As for the Quran, it is the original Arabic Quran that is always called the Quran, not any translation. That is to say, the noble Quran is the only scripture that exists in the same language and form in which it was originally revealed by Allah Almighty to humankind.
5. Another important point to note about the Quran is the perfect harmony between its content and language. We may get to know the meaning of the Quran from a translation, preferably with sufficient explanations. But the beauty of the Quranic language is to a great extent lost to any one who does not know Arabic.
As a matter of fact, the verses of the Quran appeal to our heart and head at the same time; as we see in them a harmony of rhyme, rhythm and reason, a matching of powerful ideas with moving expression.
We should remember that the Quran came at a time in Arabia when poetry was reigning supreme; but the master-poets of the day could not equal the Quranic richness in diction, style, and beauty. Indeed, its haunting rhythms rocked the whole of Arabia from Sudan to Syria and from Morocco to Oman, and continues to awe those who listen to it, even if they do not understand Arabic.
It is noteworthy that while the Quran continues to occupy the pedestal as an abiding model for literary Arabic, the languages of other scriptures have, more or less, become dead languages.
6. In fact, there is no other Book in human history that has molded, and is continuing to mold, the life of generations of people as the Quran. Every verse of the Book has become the unalterable source of a code of laws that govern every aspect of the life of Muslims.
This was a Book that brought into being the renowned universities and centers of learning that awakened a new enlightenment in the world, such as no other civilization of the past could match.
It was indeed a brilliant and lasting miracle of Allah effected through the Quran, which was at the center of a unique spiritual revolution, which shines through history. The Quran helped in forging unity among tribes, races and social classes. It liberated the thought patterns and the ennobled human knowledge.
The Quran also contained the criteria for social transformation.
Consequently, even some people, such as the Mongols who conquered Islamic lands and triumphed over the Muslims owing to their military superiority, lost their dominance in the end when they were confronted with the spiritual power of Islam. In addition, it is an interesting historical fact that eventually most of them even adopted the religion of the people they had conquered.
www.islamonline.net
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Did God Answer our Questions?
By: Maged Taman
1- Is there a creator? Failure to prove we are not created from non-existence or we are the creators (since we are practically the only intelligent creation we know of) prove there is other creator.
52:35 Have they themselves been created without anything [that might have caused their creation]? Or are they the creators? أَمْ خُلِقُوا مِنْ غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَالِقُونَ (52:35)
2- Why God created us? The reason for creation is to worship the creator: It would not increase or diminish his creation he is not needing of us though it would please him to find us grateful.
6:102 Such is Allah, your Lord. There is no God save Him, the creator of all things, so worship Him. And He taketh care of all things. - ذَلِكُمُ اللّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَاعْبُدُوهُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ (6:102)
51:56 I created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me. وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ (51:56)
21:25 Not an apostle did We send before thee without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve Me.وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ (21:25)
3- Why Gods other than the true one God of the Bible and the Quran are false?
God has created in us the human spirituality: and the feeling of rest when we worship him:
13:28 Who have believed and whose hearts have rest in the remembrance of Allah. Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest! - الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
Also our curiosity to know how things created and God gave us the brain and the tools to trace his creation. No wonder that we found the big bang, the DNA, water as the origin of life and so on.
29:20 Say (O Muhammad): Travel in the land and see how He originated creation, then Allah bringeth forth the later growth. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things. قُلْ سِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانظُرُوا كَيْفَ بَدَأَ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ اللَّهُ يُنشِئُ النَّشْأَةَ الْآخِرَةَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ (29:20)
43:27 "(I worship) only Him Who made me, and He will certainly guide me." إِلَّا الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي فَإِنَّهُ سَيَهْدِينِ (43:27)
7- How God compelled us to call into him? Most people have faith when they are in severe distress: One of the great evidence of God is our calling to him in the time of stress. Even those with weak faith or no faith are faithful at that time.
29:65 And when they mount upon the ships they pray to Allah, making their faith pure for Him only, but when He bringeth them safe to land, behold! they ascribe partners (unto Him), - فَإِذَا رَكِبُوا فِي الْفُلْكِ دَعَوُا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ فَلَمَّا نَجَّاهُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ إِذَا هُمْ يُشْرِكُونَ (29:65)
31:32 And if a wave enshroudeth them like awnings, they cry unto Allah, making their faith pure for Him only. But when He bringeth them safe to land, some of them compromise. None denieth Our signs save every traitor ingrate. وَإِذَا غَشِيَهُم مَّوْجٌ كَالظُّلَلِ دَعَوُا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ فَلَمَّا نَجَّاهُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ فَمِنْهُم مُّقْتَصِدٌ وَمَا يَجْحَدُ بِآيَاتِنَا إِلَّا كُلُّ خَتَّارٍ كَفُورٍ (31:32)
8- How God conduct his messages to us?Conducted through humans called messengers:
16:43 And before thee also the apostles We sent were but men, to whom We granted inspiration: if ye realise this not, ask of those who possess the message. َمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلاَّ رِجَالاً نُّوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ فَاسْأَلُواْ أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ (16:43)
4:165 messengers of good cheer and off warning, in order that mankind might have no argument against Allah after the messengers. Allah was ever Mighty, Wiseرُّسُلاً مُّبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ لِئَلاَّ يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ وَكَانَ اللّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا (4:165)
13:38 And verily We sent messengers (to mankind) before thee, and We appointed for them wives and offspring, and it was not (given) to any messenger that he should bring a portent save by Allah's leave. For everything there is a time prescribedوَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلاً مِّن قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِيَ بِآيَةٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللّهِ لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ (13:38)
9- How the messangers are contacted by God? through Angels, visions or talking to them directly by God.
16:2 He sendeth down the angels with the Spirit of His command unto whom He will of His bondmen, (saying): Warn mankind that there is no god save Me, so keep your duty unto Me. -
يُنَزِّلُ الْمَلآئِكَةَ بِالْرُّوحِ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ عَلَى مَن يَشَاء مِنْ عِبَادِهِ أَنْ أَنذِرُواْ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنَاْ فَاتَّقُونِ (16:2)
48:27 Allah hath fulfilled the vision for His messenger in very truth. Ye shall indeed enter the Inviolable Place of Worship, if Allah will, secure, (having your hair) shaven and cut, not fearing. But He knoweth that which ye know not, and hath given you a near victory beforehand. - لَقَدْ صَدَقَ اللَّهُ رَسُولَهُ الرُّؤْيَا بِالْحَقِّ لَتَدْخُلُنَّ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ إِن شَاء اللَّهُ آمِنِينَ مُحَلِّقِينَ رُؤُوسَكُمْ وَمُقَصِّرِينَ لَا تَخَافُونَ فَعَلِمَ مَا لَمْ تَعْلَمُوا فَجَعَلَ مِن دُونِ ذَلِكَ فَتْحًا قَرِيبًا (48:27)
4:164 And messengers We have mentioned unto thee before and messengers We have not mentioned unto thee; and Allah spoke directly unto moses; وَرُسُلاً قَدْ قَصَصْنَاهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَرُسُلاً لَّمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ عَلَيْكَ وَكَلَّمَ اللّهُ مُوسَى تَكْلِيمًا (4:164)
10- How God punish the people who stands against his messages? People who are standing against God and his messages will be destroyed particularly in the afterlife:
14:13 And the Unbelievers said to their apostles: "Be sure we shall drive you out of our land, or ye shall return to our religion." But their Lord inspired (this message) to them: "Verily We shall cause the wrong-doers to perish! وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِرُسُلِهِمْ لَنُخْرِجَنَّـكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِنَآ أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِي مِلَّتِنَا فَأَوْحَى إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ (14:13)
10:13 We destroyed the generations before you when they did wrong; and their messengers (from Allah) came unto them with clear proofs (of His Sovereignty) but they would not believe. Thus do We reward the guilty folk: وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا الْقُرُونَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُواْ وَجَاءتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَمَا كَانُواْ لِيُؤْمِنُواْ كَذَلِكَنَجْزِي الْقَوْمَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ 10:13)
40:5 The folk of Noah and the factions after them denied (their messengers) before these, and every nation purposed to seize their messenger and argued falsely, (thinking) thereby to refute the Truth. Then I seized them, and how (awful) was My punishment. كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَالْأَحْزَابُ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ وَهَمَّتْ كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ بِرَسُولِهِمْ لِيَأْخُذُوهُ وَجَادَلُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا بِهِ الْحَقَّ فَأَخَذْتُهُمْ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ (40:5)
14:47 So think not that Allah will fail to keep His promise to His messengers. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Able to Requite (the wrong).فَلاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ اللّهَ مُخْلِفَ وَعْدِهِ رُسُلَهُ إِنَّ اللّهَ عَزِيزٌ ذُو انْتِقَامٍ (14:47)
11- How about the people who follow God's messages? Those on the other hand followed the messengers are promised heaven:
57:21 Race one with another for forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whereof the breadth is as the breadth of the heavens and the earth, which is in store for those who believe in Allah and His messengers. Such is the bounty of Allah, which He bestoweth upon whom He will, and Allah is of infinite bounty. سَابِقُوا إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَاء وَالْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ذَلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاء وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ (57:21)
12- How we attain faith? One of the great evidence of God is the Quran. it was inspired by God. Muhammad before that was not aware of faith. The Quran create faith in Muhammad heart and he was then able to spread the faith to us.
42:52 And thus have We inspired in thee (Muhammad) a Spirit of Our command. Thou knewest not what the Scripture was, nor what the faith. But We have made it a light whereby We guide whom We will of Our bondmen. And lo! thou verily dost guide unto a right pathوَكَذَلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ رُوحًا مِّنْ أَمْرِنَا مَا كُنتَ تَدْرِي مَا الْكِتَابُ وَلَا الْإِيمَانُ وَلَكِن جَعَلْنَاهُ نُورًا نَّهْدِي بِهِ مَنْ نَّشَاء مِنْ عِبَادِنَا وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِي إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ (42:52)
13- How God guid us to the true faith? if you are searching for God sincerely with knowledge, willing to be faithful (if convinced) and enlightening book (The Quran) God will direct you to him.
5:16 Whereby Allah guideth him who seeketh His good pleasure unto paths of peace. He bringeth them out of darkness unto light by His decree, and guideth them unto a straight path. -يَهْدِي بِهِ اللّهُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ رِضْوَانَهُ سُبُلَ السَّلاَمِ وَيُخْرِجُهُم مِّنِ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ (5:16)
29:69 As for those who strive in Us, We surely guide them to Our paths, and lo! Allah is with the good. وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ (29:69)Thus people who are sincere in seeking the truth God guides them to the Islam.
14- What to have faith in? The Quran: This is the way God decided to us our faith. Do not expect angels will talk to you or a sign in the sky that persists over human history. However the Quran have all the arguments of God about his existance and his commands. If you find it fit all the logic you have to bleive in what is unseen to you like God, angels, Satan, spirits, the day of judgment. It is his speech, decide for youself.
ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ (
2:2) 2:2 (Picktall) This is the Scripture whereof there is no doubt, a guidance unto those who ward off (evil).الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ (2:3)
2:3 (Picktall) Who believe in the unseen, and establish worship, and spend of that We have bestowed upon them;
15- How to prove our faith? We prove our faith by doing the good deeds:
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لله وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ واتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَاتَّخَذَ اللّهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلاً (4:125)
4:125 Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole self to Allah, does good, and follows the way of Abraham the true in faith? For Allah did take Abraham for a friend.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّالِحَاتِ يَهْدِيهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ بِإِيمَانِهِمْ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الأَنْهَارُ فِي جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ (10:9)
10:9 Those who believe, and work righteousness,- their Lord will guide them because of their faith: beneath them will flow rivers in gardens of bliss.
فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتِ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَا كُفْرَانَ لِسَعْيِهِ وَإِنَّا لَهُ كَاتِبُونَ (21:94)
21:94 Whoever works any act of righteousness and has faith,- His endeavour will not be rejected: We shall record it in his favour.
16- How we will be tested in our faith?
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُواْ الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْاْ مِن قَبْلِكُم مَّسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاء وَالضَّرَّاء وَزُلْزِلُواْ حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللّهِ أَلا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللّهِ قَرِيبٌ (2:214)
2:214 Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? they encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: "When (will come) the help of Allah." Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near!
!وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوفْ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الأَمَوَالِ وَالأنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ (2:155)
2:155 Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere,
17- Why some people reject faith? Some people reject faith for envy of the messengers
بِئْسَمَا اشْتَرَوْاْ بِهِ أَنفُسَهُمْ أَن يَكْفُرُواْ بِمَا أنَزَلَ اللّهُ بَغْياً أَن يُنَزِّلُ اللّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ عَلَى مَن يَشَاء مِنْ عِبَادِهِ فَبَآؤُواْ بِغَضَبٍ عَلَى غَضَبٍ وَلِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ (2:90)
2:90 Miserable is the price for which they have sold their souls, in that they deny (the revelation) which Allah has sent down, in insolent envy that Allah of His Grace should send it to any of His servants He pleases: Thus have they drawn on themselves Wrath upon Wrath. And humiliating is the punishment of those who reject faith.
مَّا يَوَدُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ وَلاَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَاللّهُ يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِ مَن يَشَاء وَاللّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ (2:105)
2:105 It is never the wish of those without faith among the People of the Book, nor of the Pagans, that anything good should come down to you from your Lord. But Allah will choose for His special Mercy whom He will - for Allah is Lord of grace abounding.
Others reject faith for arrogance:
بَلَى قَدْ جَاءتْكَ آيَاتِي فَكَذَّبْتَ بِهَا وَاسْتَكْبَرْتَ وَكُنتَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ (39:59)
39:59 "(The reply will be:) 'Nay, but there came to thee my Signs, and thou didst reject them: thou wast Haughty, and became one of those who reject faith!'"
Others have faith but with partenership: For some Christians it is difficult for them to reject Jesus as God since they taught early on their lives.
ذَلِكُم بِأَنَّهُ إِذَا دُعِيَ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ كَفَرْتُمْ وَإِن يُشْرَكْ بِهِ تُؤْمِنُوا فَالْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْكَبِيرِ (40:12)
40:12 (The answer will be:) "This is because, when Allah was invoked as the Only (object of worship), ye did reject faith, but when partners were joined to Him, ye believed! the Command is with Allah, Most High, Most Great!"
18- Why is the Quran not the work of Satan? Because its message is of straight path while Satan path is that of errors.
وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوْلِ شَيْطَانٍ رَجِيمٍ (81:25)
81:25 (Picktall) Nor is this the utterance of a devil worthy to be stoned
فَأَيْنَ تَذْهَبُونَ (81:26)
81:26 (Picktall) Whither then go ye?
إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ (81:27) 81:27 (Picktall) This is naught else than a reminder unto creation,
لِمَن شَاء مِنكُمْ أَن يَسْتَقِيمَ (81:28) 81:28 (Picktall) Unto whomsoever of you willeth to walk straight.
24:21 O ye who believe! follow not satan's footsteps: if any will follow the footsteps of satan, he will (but) command what is shameful (sins) and wrong: and were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah on you, not one of you would ever have been pure: but Allah doth purify whom He pleases: and Allah is One Who hears and knows (all things).يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَمَن يَتَّبِعْ خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَاء وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ مَا زَكَا مِنكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَبَدًا وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يُزَكِّي مَن يَشَاء وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
17:53 Say to My servants that they should (only) say those things that are best: for satan doth sow dissensions among them: For satan is to man an avowed enemy. وَقُل لِّعِبَادِي يَقُولُواْ الَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ كَانَ لِلإِنْسَانِ عَدُوًّا مُّبِينًا
1- Is there a creator? Failure to prove we are not created from non-existence or we are the creators (since we are practically the only intelligent creation we know of) prove there is other creator.
52:35 Have they themselves been created without anything [that might have caused their creation]? Or are they the creators? أَمْ خُلِقُوا مِنْ غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَالِقُونَ (52:35)
2- Why God created us? The reason for creation is to worship the creator: It would not increase or diminish his creation he is not needing of us though it would please him to find us grateful.
6:102 Such is Allah, your Lord. There is no God save Him, the creator of all things, so worship Him. And He taketh care of all things. - ذَلِكُمُ اللّهُ رَبُّكُمْ لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ فَاعْبُدُوهُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ (6:102)
51:56 I created the jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me. وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ (51:56)
21:25 Not an apostle did We send before thee without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve Me.وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ (21:25)
3- Why Gods other than the true one God of the Bible and the Quran are false?
The worship of false Gods does not prove those Gods but rather the presence of another force we call it Satan that want you to worship anything other than God, even of his creation:
25:3 Yet they choose beside Him other gods who create naught but are themselves created, and possess not hurt nor profit for themselves, and possess not death nor life, nor power to raise the dead. وَاتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً لَّا يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْئًا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ وَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ لِأَنفُسِهِمْ ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا وَلَا يَمْلِكُونَ مَوْتًا وَلَا حَيَاةً وَلَا نُشُورًا (25:3)
10:66 Behold! verily to Allah belong all creatures, in the heavens and on earth. What do they follow who worship as His "partners" other than Allah. They follow nothing but fancy, and they do nothing but lie. أَلا إِنَّ لِلّهِ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَات وَمَن فِي الأَرْضِ وَمَا يَتَّبِعُ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ اللّهِ شُرَكَاء إِن يَتَّبِعُونَ إِلاَّ الظَّنَّ وَإِنْ هُمْ إِلاَّ يَخْرُصُونَ (10:66)
12:40 "If not Him, ye worship nothing but names which ye have named,- ye and your fathers,- for which Allah hath sent down no authority: the command is for none but Allah. He hath commanded that ye worship none but Him: that is the right religion, but most men understand not... مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلاَّ أَسْمَاء سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَآؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلاَّ لِلّهِ أَمَرَ أَلاَّ تَعْبُدُواْ إِلاَّ إِيَّاهُ ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَـكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ (12:40)
The fatra or the way God created us is to worship him alone: as Abraham (PBUH) mentioned and as most converts to Islam realize that they were born Muslims (submitting to one God)
3:26 Behold! Abraham said to his father and his people: "I do indeed clear myself of what ye worship: وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ إِنَّنِي بَرَاء مِّمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ (43:26)
43:27 "(I worship) only Him Who made me, and He will certainly guide me." إِلَّا الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي فَإِنَّهُ سَيَهْدِينِ (43:27)
4- Why the God of the Bible and the Quran is the true God:
The God of the Quran is the God of the proofs. The Quran has the message of God and what other prophets had:
21:24 Or have they taken for worship (other) gods besides him? Say, "Bring your convincing proof: this is the Message (the Quran) of those with me and the Message of those before me." But most of them know not the Truth, and so turn away. أَمِ اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً قُلْ هَاتُوا بُرْهَانَكُمْ هَذَا ذِكْرُ مَن مَّعِيَ وَذِكْرُ مَن قَبْلِي بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ الْحَقَّ فَهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ (21:24)
These messengers were identified: by either prophecies about them from previous scripture, prophecies to them, miracles or wise scripture like the Quran.
7:157 "Those who follow the apostle, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (scriptures),- in the law and the Gospel;- for he commands them what is just and forbids them what is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honour him, help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him,- it is they who will prosperالَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الرَّسُولَ النَّبِيَّ الأُمِّيَّ الَّذِي يَجِدُونَهُ مَكْتُوبًا عِندَهُمْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالإِنْجِيلِ يَأْمُرُهُم بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَاهُمْ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَيُحِلُّ لَهُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَيُحَرِّمُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْخَبَآئِثَ وَيَضَعُ عَنْهُمْ إِصْرَهُمْ وَالأَغْلاَلَ الَّتِي كَانَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ فَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ بِهِ وَعَزَّرُوهُ وَنَصَرُوهُ وَاتَّبَعُواْ النُّورَ الَّذِيَ أُنزِلَ مَعَهُ أُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ (7:157)
35:25 And if they deny thee: those before them also denied. Their messengers came unto them with clear proofs (of Allah's sovereignty), and with the Psalms and the Scripture giving light. - وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كَذَّبَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ جَاءتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَبِالزُّبُرِ وَبِالْكِتَابِ الْمُنِيرِ (35:25)
5- Why there is no proof of no creator? The creator answers those who lead people astray in finding the creator that they did not witness his creation or can prove he did not create. After all he did not need their help during the creation.
18:51 I did not make them witnesses of the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor of the creation of their own selves; and neither do I [have any need to] take as My helpers those [beings] that lead [men] astray. مَا أَشْهَدتُّهُمْ خَلْقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَا خَلْقَ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمَا كُنتُ مُتَّخِذَ الْمُضِلِّينَ عَضُدًا (18:51)
6- How God made us long to him?God has created in us the human spirituality: and the feeling of rest when we worship him:
13:28 Who have believed and whose hearts have rest in the remembrance of Allah. Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest! - الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
Also our curiosity to know how things created and God gave us the brain and the tools to trace his creation. No wonder that we found the big bang, the DNA, water as the origin of life and so on.
29:20 Say (O Muhammad): Travel in the land and see how He originated creation, then Allah bringeth forth the later growth. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things. قُلْ سِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانظُرُوا كَيْفَ بَدَأَ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ اللَّهُ يُنشِئُ النَّشْأَةَ الْآخِرَةَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ (29:20)
43:27 "(I worship) only Him Who made me, and He will certainly guide me." إِلَّا الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي فَإِنَّهُ سَيَهْدِينِ (43:27)
7- How God compelled us to call into him? Most people have faith when they are in severe distress: One of the great evidence of God is our calling to him in the time of stress. Even those with weak faith or no faith are faithful at that time.
29:65 And when they mount upon the ships they pray to Allah, making their faith pure for Him only, but when He bringeth them safe to land, behold! they ascribe partners (unto Him), - فَإِذَا رَكِبُوا فِي الْفُلْكِ دَعَوُا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ فَلَمَّا نَجَّاهُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ إِذَا هُمْ يُشْرِكُونَ (29:65)
31:32 And if a wave enshroudeth them like awnings, they cry unto Allah, making their faith pure for Him only. But when He bringeth them safe to land, some of them compromise. None denieth Our signs save every traitor ingrate. وَإِذَا غَشِيَهُم مَّوْجٌ كَالظُّلَلِ دَعَوُا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ فَلَمَّا نَجَّاهُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ فَمِنْهُم مُّقْتَصِدٌ وَمَا يَجْحَدُ بِآيَاتِنَا إِلَّا كُلُّ خَتَّارٍ كَفُورٍ (31:32)
8- How God conduct his messages to us?Conducted through humans called messengers:
16:43 And before thee also the apostles We sent were but men, to whom We granted inspiration: if ye realise this not, ask of those who possess the message. َمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلاَّ رِجَالاً نُّوحِي إِلَيْهِمْ فَاسْأَلُواْ أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ (16:43)
4:165 messengers of good cheer and off warning, in order that mankind might have no argument against Allah after the messengers. Allah was ever Mighty, Wiseرُّسُلاً مُّبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ لِئَلاَّ يَكُونَ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى اللّهِ حُجَّةٌ بَعْدَ الرُّسُلِ وَكَانَ اللّهُ عَزِيزًا حَكِيمًا (4:165)
13:38 And verily We sent messengers (to mankind) before thee, and We appointed for them wives and offspring, and it was not (given) to any messenger that he should bring a portent save by Allah's leave. For everything there is a time prescribedوَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلاً مِّن قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِيَ بِآيَةٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللّهِ لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ (13:38)
9- How the messangers are contacted by God? through Angels, visions or talking to them directly by God.
16:2 He sendeth down the angels with the Spirit of His command unto whom He will of His bondmen, (saying): Warn mankind that there is no god save Me, so keep your duty unto Me. -
يُنَزِّلُ الْمَلآئِكَةَ بِالْرُّوحِ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ عَلَى مَن يَشَاء مِنْ عِبَادِهِ أَنْ أَنذِرُواْ أَنَّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ أَنَاْ فَاتَّقُونِ (16:2)
48:27 Allah hath fulfilled the vision for His messenger in very truth. Ye shall indeed enter the Inviolable Place of Worship, if Allah will, secure, (having your hair) shaven and cut, not fearing. But He knoweth that which ye know not, and hath given you a near victory beforehand. - لَقَدْ صَدَقَ اللَّهُ رَسُولَهُ الرُّؤْيَا بِالْحَقِّ لَتَدْخُلُنَّ الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ إِن شَاء اللَّهُ آمِنِينَ مُحَلِّقِينَ رُؤُوسَكُمْ وَمُقَصِّرِينَ لَا تَخَافُونَ فَعَلِمَ مَا لَمْ تَعْلَمُوا فَجَعَلَ مِن دُونِ ذَلِكَ فَتْحًا قَرِيبًا (48:27)
4:164 And messengers We have mentioned unto thee before and messengers We have not mentioned unto thee; and Allah spoke directly unto moses; وَرُسُلاً قَدْ قَصَصْنَاهُمْ عَلَيْكَ مِن قَبْلُ وَرُسُلاً لَّمْ نَقْصُصْهُمْ عَلَيْكَ وَكَلَّمَ اللّهُ مُوسَى تَكْلِيمًا (4:164)
10- How God punish the people who stands against his messages? People who are standing against God and his messages will be destroyed particularly in the afterlife:
14:13 And the Unbelievers said to their apostles: "Be sure we shall drive you out of our land, or ye shall return to our religion." But their Lord inspired (this message) to them: "Verily We shall cause the wrong-doers to perish! وَقَالَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لِرُسُلِهِمْ لَنُخْرِجَنَّـكُم مِّنْ أَرْضِنَآ أَوْ لَتَعُودُنَّ فِي مِلَّتِنَا فَأَوْحَى إِلَيْهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ لَنُهْلِكَنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ (14:13)
10:13 We destroyed the generations before you when they did wrong; and their messengers (from Allah) came unto them with clear proofs (of His Sovereignty) but they would not believe. Thus do We reward the guilty folk: وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا الْقُرُونَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُواْ وَجَاءتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَمَا كَانُواْ لِيُؤْمِنُواْ كَذَلِكَنَجْزِي الْقَوْمَ الْمُجْرِمِينَ 10:13)
40:5 The folk of Noah and the factions after them denied (their messengers) before these, and every nation purposed to seize their messenger and argued falsely, (thinking) thereby to refute the Truth. Then I seized them, and how (awful) was My punishment. كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ وَالْأَحْزَابُ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ وَهَمَّتْ كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ بِرَسُولِهِمْ لِيَأْخُذُوهُ وَجَادَلُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا بِهِ الْحَقَّ فَأَخَذْتُهُمْ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ (40:5)
14:47 So think not that Allah will fail to keep His promise to His messengers. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Able to Requite (the wrong).فَلاَ تَحْسَبَنَّ اللّهَ مُخْلِفَ وَعْدِهِ رُسُلَهُ إِنَّ اللّهَ عَزِيزٌ ذُو انْتِقَامٍ (14:47)
11- How about the people who follow God's messages? Those on the other hand followed the messengers are promised heaven:
57:21 Race one with another for forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden whereof the breadth is as the breadth of the heavens and the earth, which is in store for those who believe in Allah and His messengers. Such is the bounty of Allah, which He bestoweth upon whom He will, and Allah is of infinite bounty. سَابِقُوا إِلَى مَغْفِرَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَجَنَّةٍ عَرْضُهَا كَعَرْضِ السَّمَاء وَالْأَرْضِ أُعِدَّتْ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ ذَلِكَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُؤْتِيهِ مَن يَشَاء وَاللَّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ (57:21)
12- How we attain faith? One of the great evidence of God is the Quran. it was inspired by God. Muhammad before that was not aware of faith. The Quran create faith in Muhammad heart and he was then able to spread the faith to us.
42:52 And thus have We inspired in thee (Muhammad) a Spirit of Our command. Thou knewest not what the Scripture was, nor what the faith. But We have made it a light whereby We guide whom We will of Our bondmen. And lo! thou verily dost guide unto a right pathوَكَذَلِكَ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ رُوحًا مِّنْ أَمْرِنَا مَا كُنتَ تَدْرِي مَا الْكِتَابُ وَلَا الْإِيمَانُ وَلَكِن جَعَلْنَاهُ نُورًا نَّهْدِي بِهِ مَنْ نَّشَاء مِنْ عِبَادِنَا وَإِنَّكَ لَتَهْدِي إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ (42:52)
13- How God guid us to the true faith? if you are searching for God sincerely with knowledge, willing to be faithful (if convinced) and enlightening book (The Quran) God will direct you to him.
5:16 Whereby Allah guideth him who seeketh His good pleasure unto paths of peace. He bringeth them out of darkness unto light by His decree, and guideth them unto a straight path. -يَهْدِي بِهِ اللّهُ مَنِ اتَّبَعَ رِضْوَانَهُ سُبُلَ السَّلاَمِ وَيُخْرِجُهُم مِّنِ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَيَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ (5:16)
29:69 As for those who strive in Us, We surely guide them to Our paths, and lo! Allah is with the good. وَالَّذِينَ جَاهَدُوا فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَمَعَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ (29:69)Thus people who are sincere in seeking the truth God guides them to the Islam.
14- What to have faith in? The Quran: This is the way God decided to us our faith. Do not expect angels will talk to you or a sign in the sky that persists over human history. However the Quran have all the arguments of God about his existance and his commands. If you find it fit all the logic you have to bleive in what is unseen to you like God, angels, Satan, spirits, the day of judgment. It is his speech, decide for youself.
ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ (
2:2) 2:2 (Picktall) This is the Scripture whereof there is no doubt, a guidance unto those who ward off (evil).الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَيُقِيمُونَ الصَّلاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ (2:3)
2:3 (Picktall) Who believe in the unseen, and establish worship, and spend of that We have bestowed upon them;
15- How to prove our faith? We prove our faith by doing the good deeds:
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لله وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ واتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَاتَّخَذَ اللّهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلاً (4:125)
4:125 Who can be better in religion than one who submits his whole self to Allah, does good, and follows the way of Abraham the true in faith? For Allah did take Abraham for a friend.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّالِحَاتِ يَهْدِيهِمْ رَبُّهُمْ بِإِيمَانِهِمْ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الأَنْهَارُ فِي جَنَّاتِ النَّعِيمِ (10:9)
10:9 Those who believe, and work righteousness,- their Lord will guide them because of their faith: beneath them will flow rivers in gardens of bliss.
فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِنَ الصَّالِحَاتِ وَهُوَ مُؤْمِنٌ فَلَا كُفْرَانَ لِسَعْيِهِ وَإِنَّا لَهُ كَاتِبُونَ (21:94)
21:94 Whoever works any act of righteousness and has faith,- His endeavour will not be rejected: We shall record it in his favour.
16- How we will be tested in our faith?
أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُواْ الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْاْ مِن قَبْلِكُم مَّسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاء وَالضَّرَّاء وَزُلْزِلُواْ حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللّهِ أَلا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللّهِ قَرِيبٌ (2:214)
2:214 Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? they encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the Messenger and those of faith who were with him cried: "When (will come) the help of Allah." Ah! Verily, the help of Allah is (always) near!
!وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوفْ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الأَمَوَالِ وَالأنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ (2:155)
2:155 Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere,
17- Why some people reject faith? Some people reject faith for envy of the messengers
بِئْسَمَا اشْتَرَوْاْ بِهِ أَنفُسَهُمْ أَن يَكْفُرُواْ بِمَا أنَزَلَ اللّهُ بَغْياً أَن يُنَزِّلُ اللّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ عَلَى مَن يَشَاء مِنْ عِبَادِهِ فَبَآؤُواْ بِغَضَبٍ عَلَى غَضَبٍ وَلِلْكَافِرِينَ عَذَابٌ مُّهِينٌ (2:90)
2:90 Miserable is the price for which they have sold their souls, in that they deny (the revelation) which Allah has sent down, in insolent envy that Allah of His Grace should send it to any of His servants He pleases: Thus have they drawn on themselves Wrath upon Wrath. And humiliating is the punishment of those who reject faith.
مَّا يَوَدُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ وَلاَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ خَيْرٍ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَاللّهُ يَخْتَصُّ بِرَحْمَتِهِ مَن يَشَاء وَاللّهُ ذُو الْفَضْلِ الْعَظِيمِ (2:105)
2:105 It is never the wish of those without faith among the People of the Book, nor of the Pagans, that anything good should come down to you from your Lord. But Allah will choose for His special Mercy whom He will - for Allah is Lord of grace abounding.
Others reject faith for arrogance:
بَلَى قَدْ جَاءتْكَ آيَاتِي فَكَذَّبْتَ بِهَا وَاسْتَكْبَرْتَ وَكُنتَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ (39:59)
39:59 "(The reply will be:) 'Nay, but there came to thee my Signs, and thou didst reject them: thou wast Haughty, and became one of those who reject faith!'"
Others have faith but with partenership: For some Christians it is difficult for them to reject Jesus as God since they taught early on their lives.
ذَلِكُم بِأَنَّهُ إِذَا دُعِيَ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ كَفَرْتُمْ وَإِن يُشْرَكْ بِهِ تُؤْمِنُوا فَالْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْكَبِيرِ (40:12)
40:12 (The answer will be:) "This is because, when Allah was invoked as the Only (object of worship), ye did reject faith, but when partners were joined to Him, ye believed! the Command is with Allah, Most High, Most Great!"
18- Why is the Quran not the work of Satan? Because its message is of straight path while Satan path is that of errors.
وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوْلِ شَيْطَانٍ رَجِيمٍ (81:25)
81:25 (Picktall) Nor is this the utterance of a devil worthy to be stoned
فَأَيْنَ تَذْهَبُونَ (81:26)
81:26 (Picktall) Whither then go ye?
إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ (81:27) 81:27 (Picktall) This is naught else than a reminder unto creation,
لِمَن شَاء مِنكُمْ أَن يَسْتَقِيمَ (81:28) 81:28 (Picktall) Unto whomsoever of you willeth to walk straight.
24:21 O ye who believe! follow not satan's footsteps: if any will follow the footsteps of satan, he will (but) command what is shameful (sins) and wrong: and were it not for the grace and mercy of Allah on you, not one of you would ever have been pure: but Allah doth purify whom He pleases: and Allah is One Who hears and knows (all things).يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَمَن يَتَّبِعْ خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَإِنَّهُ يَأْمُرُ بِالْفَحْشَاء وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ مَا زَكَا مِنكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ أَبَدًا وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يُزَكِّي مَن يَشَاء وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
17:53 Say to My servants that they should (only) say those things that are best: for satan doth sow dissensions among them: For satan is to man an avowed enemy. وَقُل لِّعِبَادِي يَقُولُواْ الَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنزَغُ بَيْنَهُمْ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ كَانَ لِلإِنْسَانِ عَدُوًّا مُّبِينًا
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
After a Grim Diagnosis, Determined to Make a ‘Good Ending’
From: http://www.nytimes.com/
By MARK LEIBOVICH
Published: August 26, 2009
WASHINGTON — The once-indefatigable Ted Kennedy was in a wheelchair at the end, struggling to speak and sapped of his energy. But from the time his brain cancer was diagnosed 15 months ago, he spoke of having a “good ending for myself,” in whatever time he had left, and by every account, he did.
Mr. Kennedy at Fenway Park in Boston before delivering the ceremonial first pitch on opening day for the Red Sox this April, driven by the former Red Sox great Jim Rice. More Photos >
As recently as a few days ago, Mr. Kennedy was still digging into big bowls of mocha chip and butter crunch ice creams, all smushed together (as he liked it). He and his wife, Vicki, had been watching every James Bond movie and episode of “24” on DVD.
He began each morning with a sacred rite of reading his newspapers, drinking coffee and scratching the bellies of his beloved Portuguese water dogs, Sunny and Splash, on the front porch of his Cape Cod house overlooking Nantucket Sound.
If he was feeling up to it, he would end his evenings with family dinner parties around the same mahogany table where he used to eat lobster with his brothers.
He took phone calls from President Obama, house calls from his priest and — just a few weeks ago — crooned after-dinner duets of “You Are My Sunshine” (with his son Patrick) and “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” (with Vicki).
“There were a lot of joyous moments at the end,” said Dr. Lawrence C. Horowitz, Mr. Kennedy’s former Senate chief of staff, who oversaw his medical care. “There was a lot of frankness, a lot of hugging, a lot of emotion.”
Obviously, Dr. Horowitz added, there were difficult times. By this spring, according to friends, it was clear that the tumor had not been contained; new treatments proved ineffective and Mr. Kennedy’s comfort became the priority.
But interviews with close friends and family members yield a portrait of a man who in his final months was at peace with the end of his life and grateful for the chance to savor the salty air and the company of loved ones.
Befitting the epic life he led, Mr. Kennedy was the protagonist of a storybook finale from the time of his diagnosis in May 2008. It was infused with a beat-the-clock element: his illness coincided with the debate over health care (“the cause of my life”) and the election of a young president he championed.
Mr. Kennedy raced to complete his legislative work and his memoirs (“I’ve got to get this right for history,” he kept saying), leaned heavily on his faith, enjoyed (or endured) a procession of tributes and testimonials and just recently petitioned Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts to push for a speedy succession so his Senate seat would not be vacant long.
The knowledge that his death was approaching infused Mr. Kennedy’s interactions with special intensity, his friends say.
“He was the only one of the Kennedy boys who had a semi-knowledge that his end was near,” said Mike Barnicle, the former Boston Globe columnist and an old friend who lives nearby on Cape Cod and visited the senator this summer. “There was no gunman in the shadows, just an M.R.I. It was a bad diagnosis, but it allowed for the gift of reflection and some good times.”
Even as Mr. Kennedy’s physical condition worsened over the summer, he still got out of bed every day until Tuesday, when he died in the evening, said Senator Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut and one of Mr. Kennedy’s closest friends in the Senate.
“I’m still here,” Mr. Kennedy would call colleagues out of the blue to say, as if to refute suggestions to the contrary. “Every day is a gift,” was his mantra to begin conversations, said Peter Meade, a friend who met Mr. Kennedy as a 14-year-old volunteer on Mr. Kennedy’s first Senate campaign.
Some patients given a fatal diagnosis succumb to bitterness and self-pity; others try to cram in everything they have always wanted to do (sky-diving, a trip to China). Mr. Kennedy wanted to project vigor and a determination to keep on going. He chose what he called “prudently aggressive” treatments.
“He always admired people who took risks, like Teddy and Kara did,” Mr. Dodd said, referring to two of Mr. Kennedy’s children, who both beat cancer with bold treatments. And he vowed to work as hard as he could to lead a legislative overhaul of the nation’s health care system.
“He was the irrepressible Ted Kennedy,” said Senator John Kerry, the Massachusetts Democrat, who visited with his longtime colleague last week. “He was determined to get things done, but he also understood he had limitations.”
Mr. Kennedy deputized Dr. Horowitz, who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, to research all treatment options before deciding on an intensive regimen of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation — hardly a clear-cut choice with an almost inevitably lethal disease and a patient of Mr. Kennedy’s age. Some physicians assembled at Massachusetts General Hospital considered his tumor inoperable — and measured his likely survival time between six weeks and a few months.
Before he traveled by private plane from Cape Cod to Duke University Medical Center for his surgery in June 2008, Mr. Kennedy made sure to put his affairs in order — his will, his medical directives and even his legislative instructions, family members say.
On the way to the airport, he called two Democratic colleagues: Mr. Dodd, telling him to take over a mental health bill he had been working on, and Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, instructing her to take over a higher education bill he had been shepherding.
“Barbara,” he boomed over the phone, “as if he was at a Red Sox-Orioles baseball game,” Ms. Mikulski said in an interview. Just days after the surgery, Mr. Kennedy began following up with Ms. Mikulski. “He was Coach Ted,” she said.
Mr. Kennedy took no comfort, friends say, in hearing how missed he was in Washington, or how in his absence he had been become something of a “spiritual leader” on issues with which he is identified, like health care. He kept in close touch with his staff and colleagues, and he was engaged in a running conversation with Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, on the delicate subject of whether Mr. Kennedy would be available to vote.
Mr. Reid assured him that he would not ever ask him to come to Washington unless his vote was essential. (His disease and treatments made Mr. Kennedy vulnerable to infections, so wading into crowded areas was risky.) When a crucial Medicare provision came up last summer, Mr. Reid asked Mr. Kennedy if he could make it down.
Mr. Kennedy’s family and staff debated the issue until the senator ended it. “I’ll be there,” he said, according to a member of his staff who was involved in the decision. He received a standing ovation when he returned to the Senate floor, and the bill passed easily.
Vicki Kennedy fiercely guarded her husband’s privacy, but Mr. Kennedy’s illness had an undeniably public component. His setbacks and hospital visits often drew news media attention. After his emotional speech at last summer’s Democratic Convention in Denver, it was disclosed that he had been suffering from kidney stones and had barely been able to get out of his hospital bed a few hours earlier.
He had to memorize the text of his speech because he struggled to see the teleprompter (his surgery had left him with impaired vision). The seizure Mr. Kennedy had at an Inaugural luncheon at the Capitol led his son Patrick to joke that his father was trying to overshadow Mr. Obama on his big day.
Mr. Kerry remembers Mr. Kennedy telling him on the Senate floor in March that he was having trouble preparing for an event he had been extremely excited for — throwing out the first pitch on opening day at Fenway Park.
While Mr. Kennedy typically told people he felt well and vigorous, by spring it was becoming clear that his disease was advancing to where he could not spend his remaining months as he had hoped, helping push a health care plan through the Senate.
He left Washington in May, after nearly a half-century in the capital, and decamped to Cape Cod, where he would contribute what he could to the health care debate via phone and C-Span. He would sail as much as possible, with as little pain and discomfort as his caretakers could manage.
He also told friends that he wanted to take stock of his life and enjoy the gift of his remaining days with the people he loved most.
“I’ve had a wonderful life,” he said repeatedly, friends recalled.
Mr. Dodd, in an interview, said: “At no point was he ever maudlin, ever ‘woe is me.’ I’m confident he had his moments — he wouldn’t be Irish if he didn’t — but in my presence, he always sounded more worried about me than he was about himself.”
Starting in late July, Vicki Kennedy organized near-nightly dinner parties and singalongs at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port. The senator was surrounded in the dining room by his crystal sailing trophies and a semiregular cast of family members that included his three children, two stepchildren and four grandchildren. Jean Kennedy Smith, Mr. Kennedy’s sister, had rented a home down the street this summer and became a regular, too. Instead of singing, she would sometimes recite poetry.
Even as Mr. Kennedy became frustrated about his limitations, friends say his spirit never flagged. “This is someone who had a fierce determination to live, but who was not afraid to die,” said Representative Bill Delahunt, a Democrat and a Kennedy friend whose district includes Cape Cod. “And he was not afraid to have a lot of laughs until he got there.”
In recent years, friends say, Mr. Kennedy had come to lean heavily on his Roman Catholic faith. In eulogizing his mother, Rose Kennedy, in 1995, he spoke of the comfort of religious beliefs. “She sustained us in the saddest times by her faith in God, which was the greatest gift she gave us,” Mr. Kennedy said, his voice stammering.
He attended Mass every day in the year after his mother’s death and continued to attend regularly, often a few times a week.
The Rev. Mark Hession, the priest at the Kennedys’ parish on the Cape, made regular visits to the Kennedy home this summer and held a private family Mass in the living room every Sunday. Even in his final days, Mr. Kennedy led the family in prayer after the death of his sister Eunice on Aug. 11. He died comfortably and in no apparent pain, friends and staff members said.
His children had expected him to hold on longer — Mr. Kennedy’s son Patrick and daughter Kara could not get back to Hyannis Port in time from California and Washington.
But the senator’s condition took a turn Tuesday night and a priest — the Rev. Patrick Tarrant of Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville, Mass. — was called to his bedside. Mr. Kennedy spent his last hours in prayer, Father Tarrant told a Boston television station, WCVB-TV.
Mr. Kennedy had told friends recently that he was looking forward to a “reunion” with his seven departed siblings, particularly his brothers, whose lives had been cut short.
“When he gets there, he can say ‘I did it, I carried the torch,’ ” Mr. Delahunt said. “ ‘I carried it all the way.’ ”
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Senator Ted Kennedy was inspirational to us in his life, in dying and after death. He died with grace enjoying his last days with the best in his life his family, friends and his memories. He died in peace with the world and with his God. He died with grace making people around him happy during his dying, a real gentleman to the last hour.
By MARK LEIBOVICH
Published: August 26, 2009
WASHINGTON — The once-indefatigable Ted Kennedy was in a wheelchair at the end, struggling to speak and sapped of his energy. But from the time his brain cancer was diagnosed 15 months ago, he spoke of having a “good ending for myself,” in whatever time he had left, and by every account, he did.
Mr. Kennedy at Fenway Park in Boston before delivering the ceremonial first pitch on opening day for the Red Sox this April, driven by the former Red Sox great Jim Rice. More Photos >
As recently as a few days ago, Mr. Kennedy was still digging into big bowls of mocha chip and butter crunch ice creams, all smushed together (as he liked it). He and his wife, Vicki, had been watching every James Bond movie and episode of “24” on DVD.
He began each morning with a sacred rite of reading his newspapers, drinking coffee and scratching the bellies of his beloved Portuguese water dogs, Sunny and Splash, on the front porch of his Cape Cod house overlooking Nantucket Sound.
If he was feeling up to it, he would end his evenings with family dinner parties around the same mahogany table where he used to eat lobster with his brothers.
He took phone calls from President Obama, house calls from his priest and — just a few weeks ago — crooned after-dinner duets of “You Are My Sunshine” (with his son Patrick) and “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” (with Vicki).
“There were a lot of joyous moments at the end,” said Dr. Lawrence C. Horowitz, Mr. Kennedy’s former Senate chief of staff, who oversaw his medical care. “There was a lot of frankness, a lot of hugging, a lot of emotion.”
Obviously, Dr. Horowitz added, there were difficult times. By this spring, according to friends, it was clear that the tumor had not been contained; new treatments proved ineffective and Mr. Kennedy’s comfort became the priority.
But interviews with close friends and family members yield a portrait of a man who in his final months was at peace with the end of his life and grateful for the chance to savor the salty air and the company of loved ones.
Befitting the epic life he led, Mr. Kennedy was the protagonist of a storybook finale from the time of his diagnosis in May 2008. It was infused with a beat-the-clock element: his illness coincided with the debate over health care (“the cause of my life”) and the election of a young president he championed.
Mr. Kennedy raced to complete his legislative work and his memoirs (“I’ve got to get this right for history,” he kept saying), leaned heavily on his faith, enjoyed (or endured) a procession of tributes and testimonials and just recently petitioned Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts to push for a speedy succession so his Senate seat would not be vacant long.
The knowledge that his death was approaching infused Mr. Kennedy’s interactions with special intensity, his friends say.
“He was the only one of the Kennedy boys who had a semi-knowledge that his end was near,” said Mike Barnicle, the former Boston Globe columnist and an old friend who lives nearby on Cape Cod and visited the senator this summer. “There was no gunman in the shadows, just an M.R.I. It was a bad diagnosis, but it allowed for the gift of reflection and some good times.”
Even as Mr. Kennedy’s physical condition worsened over the summer, he still got out of bed every day until Tuesday, when he died in the evening, said Senator Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut and one of Mr. Kennedy’s closest friends in the Senate.
“I’m still here,” Mr. Kennedy would call colleagues out of the blue to say, as if to refute suggestions to the contrary. “Every day is a gift,” was his mantra to begin conversations, said Peter Meade, a friend who met Mr. Kennedy as a 14-year-old volunteer on Mr. Kennedy’s first Senate campaign.
Some patients given a fatal diagnosis succumb to bitterness and self-pity; others try to cram in everything they have always wanted to do (sky-diving, a trip to China). Mr. Kennedy wanted to project vigor and a determination to keep on going. He chose what he called “prudently aggressive” treatments.
“He always admired people who took risks, like Teddy and Kara did,” Mr. Dodd said, referring to two of Mr. Kennedy’s children, who both beat cancer with bold treatments. And he vowed to work as hard as he could to lead a legislative overhaul of the nation’s health care system.
“He was the irrepressible Ted Kennedy,” said Senator John Kerry, the Massachusetts Democrat, who visited with his longtime colleague last week. “He was determined to get things done, but he also understood he had limitations.”
Mr. Kennedy deputized Dr. Horowitz, who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, to research all treatment options before deciding on an intensive regimen of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation — hardly a clear-cut choice with an almost inevitably lethal disease and a patient of Mr. Kennedy’s age. Some physicians assembled at Massachusetts General Hospital considered his tumor inoperable — and measured his likely survival time between six weeks and a few months.
Before he traveled by private plane from Cape Cod to Duke University Medical Center for his surgery in June 2008, Mr. Kennedy made sure to put his affairs in order — his will, his medical directives and even his legislative instructions, family members say.
On the way to the airport, he called two Democratic colleagues: Mr. Dodd, telling him to take over a mental health bill he had been working on, and Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, instructing her to take over a higher education bill he had been shepherding.
“Barbara,” he boomed over the phone, “as if he was at a Red Sox-Orioles baseball game,” Ms. Mikulski said in an interview. Just days after the surgery, Mr. Kennedy began following up with Ms. Mikulski. “He was Coach Ted,” she said.
Mr. Kennedy took no comfort, friends say, in hearing how missed he was in Washington, or how in his absence he had been become something of a “spiritual leader” on issues with which he is identified, like health care. He kept in close touch with his staff and colleagues, and he was engaged in a running conversation with Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, on the delicate subject of whether Mr. Kennedy would be available to vote.
Mr. Reid assured him that he would not ever ask him to come to Washington unless his vote was essential. (His disease and treatments made Mr. Kennedy vulnerable to infections, so wading into crowded areas was risky.) When a crucial Medicare provision came up last summer, Mr. Reid asked Mr. Kennedy if he could make it down.
Mr. Kennedy’s family and staff debated the issue until the senator ended it. “I’ll be there,” he said, according to a member of his staff who was involved in the decision. He received a standing ovation when he returned to the Senate floor, and the bill passed easily.
Vicki Kennedy fiercely guarded her husband’s privacy, but Mr. Kennedy’s illness had an undeniably public component. His setbacks and hospital visits often drew news media attention. After his emotional speech at last summer’s Democratic Convention in Denver, it was disclosed that he had been suffering from kidney stones and had barely been able to get out of his hospital bed a few hours earlier.
He had to memorize the text of his speech because he struggled to see the teleprompter (his surgery had left him with impaired vision). The seizure Mr. Kennedy had at an Inaugural luncheon at the Capitol led his son Patrick to joke that his father was trying to overshadow Mr. Obama on his big day.
Mr. Kerry remembers Mr. Kennedy telling him on the Senate floor in March that he was having trouble preparing for an event he had been extremely excited for — throwing out the first pitch on opening day at Fenway Park.
While Mr. Kennedy typically told people he felt well and vigorous, by spring it was becoming clear that his disease was advancing to where he could not spend his remaining months as he had hoped, helping push a health care plan through the Senate.
He left Washington in May, after nearly a half-century in the capital, and decamped to Cape Cod, where he would contribute what he could to the health care debate via phone and C-Span. He would sail as much as possible, with as little pain and discomfort as his caretakers could manage.
He also told friends that he wanted to take stock of his life and enjoy the gift of his remaining days with the people he loved most.
“I’ve had a wonderful life,” he said repeatedly, friends recalled.
Mr. Dodd, in an interview, said: “At no point was he ever maudlin, ever ‘woe is me.’ I’m confident he had his moments — he wouldn’t be Irish if he didn’t — but in my presence, he always sounded more worried about me than he was about himself.”
Starting in late July, Vicki Kennedy organized near-nightly dinner parties and singalongs at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port. The senator was surrounded in the dining room by his crystal sailing trophies and a semiregular cast of family members that included his three children, two stepchildren and four grandchildren. Jean Kennedy Smith, Mr. Kennedy’s sister, had rented a home down the street this summer and became a regular, too. Instead of singing, she would sometimes recite poetry.
Even as Mr. Kennedy became frustrated about his limitations, friends say his spirit never flagged. “This is someone who had a fierce determination to live, but who was not afraid to die,” said Representative Bill Delahunt, a Democrat and a Kennedy friend whose district includes Cape Cod. “And he was not afraid to have a lot of laughs until he got there.”
In recent years, friends say, Mr. Kennedy had come to lean heavily on his Roman Catholic faith. In eulogizing his mother, Rose Kennedy, in 1995, he spoke of the comfort of religious beliefs. “She sustained us in the saddest times by her faith in God, which was the greatest gift she gave us,” Mr. Kennedy said, his voice stammering.
He attended Mass every day in the year after his mother’s death and continued to attend regularly, often a few times a week.
The Rev. Mark Hession, the priest at the Kennedys’ parish on the Cape, made regular visits to the Kennedy home this summer and held a private family Mass in the living room every Sunday. Even in his final days, Mr. Kennedy led the family in prayer after the death of his sister Eunice on Aug. 11. He died comfortably and in no apparent pain, friends and staff members said.
His children had expected him to hold on longer — Mr. Kennedy’s son Patrick and daughter Kara could not get back to Hyannis Port in time from California and Washington.
But the senator’s condition took a turn Tuesday night and a priest — the Rev. Patrick Tarrant of Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville, Mass. — was called to his bedside. Mr. Kennedy spent his last hours in prayer, Father Tarrant told a Boston television station, WCVB-TV.
Mr. Kennedy had told friends recently that he was looking forward to a “reunion” with his seven departed siblings, particularly his brothers, whose lives had been cut short.
“When he gets there, he can say ‘I did it, I carried the torch,’ ” Mr. Delahunt said. “ ‘I carried it all the way.’ ”
Blogger comment:
Senator Ted Kennedy was inspirational to us in his life, in dying and after death. He died with grace enjoying his last days with the best in his life his family, friends and his memories. He died in peace with the world and with his God. He died with grace making people around him happy during his dying, a real gentleman to the last hour.
U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy dies at age 77
From: http://www.yahoo.com/
Reuters – U.S Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) waves as he walks out of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, …
By Scott Malone Scott Malone – 1 hr 14 mins ago
BOSTON (Reuters) – U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, a towering figure in the Democratic Party who took the helm of one of America's most fabled political families after two older brothers were assassinated, died at age 77, his family said.
"Edward M. Kennedy, the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply, died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port (Massachusetts)," the Kennedy family said in a statement early on Wednesday.
One of the most influential and longest-serving senators in U.S. history -- a liberal standard-bearer who was also known as a consummate congressional dealmaker -- Kennedy had been battling brain cancer, which was diagnosed in May 2008.
His death marked the twilight of a political dynasty and dealt a blow to Democrats as they seek to answer President Barack Obama's call for an overhaul of the healthcare system.
Kennedy was a longtime advocate of healthcare reform, a signature issue of Obama's presidency. Obama said on Wednesday he was heartbroken to hear of the death of Kennedy, a crucial supporter of his presidential candidacy.
"I valued his wise counsel in the Senate, where, regardless of the swirl of events, he always had time for a new colleague. I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the Presidency. And even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I've profited as President from his encouragement and wisdom," said Obama, who was elected last November and took office in January.
Kennedy had recently urged Massachusetts lawmakers to change state law so the governor, if necessary, could quickly fill a Senate vacancy as the chamber debates the contentious healthcare issue.
Known as "Teddy," he was the brother of President John Kennedy, assassinated in 1963, Senator Robert Kennedy, fatally shot while campaigning for the 1968 Democratic presidential nomination, and Joe Kennedy, a pilot killed in World War Two.
When he first took the Senate seat previously held by John Kennedy in 1962, he was seen as something of a political lightweight who owed his ascent to his famous name.
Yet during his nearly half century in the chamber, Kennedy became known as one of Washington's most effective senators, crafting legislation by working with lawmakers and presidents of both parties, and finding unlikely allies.
At the same time, he held fast to liberal causes deemed anachronistic by the centrist "New Democrats," and was a lightning rod for conservative ire.
He helped enact measures to protect civil and labor rights, expand healthcare, upgrade schools, increase student aid and contain the spread of nuclear weapons.
"There's a lot to do," Kennedy told Reuters in 2006. "I think most of all it's the injustice that I continue to see and the opportunity to have some impact on it."
After Robert Kennedy's death, Edward was expected to waste little time in vying for the presidency. But in 1969, a young woman drowned after a car Kennedy was driving plunged off a bridge on the Massachusetts resort island of Chappaquiddick after a night of partying.
Kennedy's image took a major hit after it emerged he had failed to report the accident to authorities. He pleaded guilty to leaving the scene and received a suspended sentence.
Kennedy eventually ran for his party's presidential nomination in 1980 but lost to then-President Jimmy Carter.
His presidential ambitions thwarted, Kennedy devoted himself to his Senate career.
A 2009 survey by The Hill, a Capitol Hill publication, found that Senate Republicans believed Kennedy was the chamber's easiest Democrat to work with and most bipartisan.
Republican Senator John McCain called Kennedy "the single most effective member of the Senate if you want to get results."
In January 2008, Kennedy endorsed Obama, who was serving his first term as a senator, for the Democratic presidential nomination. Many saw the endorsement as the passing of the political torch to a new generation. A year to the day before his death, Kennedy made an electrifying speech to the Democratic convention that nominated Obama for president.
'LION' BATTLED ON
Kennedy had been largely sidelined in Congress since becoming ill. The "Lion of the Senate" began to use a cane and often looked tired and drained as he mixed work with treatment.
Yet colleagues and staff said he remained determined to fulfill what he called "the cause of my life," providing health insurance to all Americans. He helped draft legislation to overhaul the $2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare system.
Kennedy's interest in healthcare dated from his son's bout with cancer in the 1970s. More recently, he cited his own illness as he made a case for reform.
"I've benefited from the best of medicine, but I've also witnessed the frustration and outrage of patients and doctors alike as they face the challenges of a system that shortchanges millions of Americans," he wrote in a May 28, 2009, issue of the Boston Globe.
His charisma as "the last of the Kennedy brothers" was such that draft-Teddy drives were a feature of U.S. presidential election years from 1968 through the 1980s.
But he never fully escaped the cloud of the Chappaquiddick accident. A decades-long argument arose about whether he tried to cover up his involvement by leaving the scene while Mary Jo Kopechne's body remained submerged and whether police helped sweep such questions under the rug. All involved denied any cover-up.
Later crises involving younger Kennedys, notably the 1991 Palm Beach rape trial of his nephew, William Kennedy Smith, caught a bloated and weary-looking Uncle Ted in a media glare. Reports of heavy drinking and womanizing led to a public apology for "the faults in the conduct of my private life."
Kennedy was remarried soon after that to Victoria Reggie, a 38-year-old lawyer with two young children from her first marriage. He poured renewed energy into the Senate, where he would become the third-longest serving senator in history.
Even his Republican foes recognized Kennedy's dedication as he worked to protect civil rights, give federal help to the poor, contain the spread of nuclear weapons, raise the minimum wage, expand health coverage and improve America's schools.
FAMILY STANDARDS
Born on February 22, 1932, Edward Moore Kennedy was the last of four sons and five daughters born to millionaire businessman Joseph Kennedy, who would later be ambassador to Britain, and his wife, Rose.
The Boston Irish family combined the competitive spirit of nouveau riche immigrants with acquired polish and natural charm. The sons were expected to mature into presidential timber and were groomed for that starting with the oldest, Joseph Jr., a bomber pilot who died in World War Two.
"I think about my brothers every day," Kennedy told Reuters. "They set high standards. Sometimes you measure up, sometimes you don't."
Like his brothers, Kennedy was known for his oratory, delivered in a booming voice at rallies, congressional hearings and in the Senate.
He drew praise from liberals, labor and civil rights groups and scorn from conservatives, big business and anti-abortion and pro-gun activists. His image was often used by Republicans in ads as a money-raising tool.
Tragedies dogged Kennedy throughout his life. They included a 1964 plane crash that damaged his spine and left him with persistent pain; bone cancer that cost son Teddy a leg; first wife Joan's battles with alcoholism that contributed to their divorce, and drug problems involving nephews, one of whom died of an overdose. His nephew, John Kennedy Jr., died in July 1999 when his small plane crashed into the ocean near Cape Cod.
In May 2008, Edward Kennedy collapsed at his Cape Cod home and was flown to hospital in Boston, where he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Brain cancer kills half its victims within a year.
Kennedy's illness kept him from attending the funeral of his sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a leading advocate of the mentally disabled, who died on August 11 at the age of 88.
(Additional reporting by Thomas Ferraro in Washington and Patricia Zengerle in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts; Editing by Peter Cooney)
Blogger comment:
God bless the soul of the great American politician Senator Ted Kennedy one of most regarded American politicians. He was a symbol of decency with having the spirit of a fighter. He was a rich man who felt for the poor and those with all sufferings. He worked for health care and stood with President Obama to bring to the top the first American Black President. A man I will continue to respect and admire. For his family and the country my condolence and my prayers to God to accept him to his heaven.
Reuters – U.S Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) waves as he walks out of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, …
By Scott Malone Scott Malone – 1 hr 14 mins ago
BOSTON (Reuters) – U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy, a towering figure in the Democratic Party who took the helm of one of America's most fabled political families after two older brothers were assassinated, died at age 77, his family said.
"Edward M. Kennedy, the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply, died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port (Massachusetts)," the Kennedy family said in a statement early on Wednesday.
One of the most influential and longest-serving senators in U.S. history -- a liberal standard-bearer who was also known as a consummate congressional dealmaker -- Kennedy had been battling brain cancer, which was diagnosed in May 2008.
His death marked the twilight of a political dynasty and dealt a blow to Democrats as they seek to answer President Barack Obama's call for an overhaul of the healthcare system.
Kennedy was a longtime advocate of healthcare reform, a signature issue of Obama's presidency. Obama said on Wednesday he was heartbroken to hear of the death of Kennedy, a crucial supporter of his presidential candidacy.
"I valued his wise counsel in the Senate, where, regardless of the swirl of events, he always had time for a new colleague. I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the Presidency. And even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I've profited as President from his encouragement and wisdom," said Obama, who was elected last November and took office in January.
Kennedy had recently urged Massachusetts lawmakers to change state law so the governor, if necessary, could quickly fill a Senate vacancy as the chamber debates the contentious healthcare issue.
Known as "Teddy," he was the brother of President John Kennedy, assassinated in 1963, Senator Robert Kennedy, fatally shot while campaigning for the 1968 Democratic presidential nomination, and Joe Kennedy, a pilot killed in World War Two.
When he first took the Senate seat previously held by John Kennedy in 1962, he was seen as something of a political lightweight who owed his ascent to his famous name.
Yet during his nearly half century in the chamber, Kennedy became known as one of Washington's most effective senators, crafting legislation by working with lawmakers and presidents of both parties, and finding unlikely allies.
At the same time, he held fast to liberal causes deemed anachronistic by the centrist "New Democrats," and was a lightning rod for conservative ire.
He helped enact measures to protect civil and labor rights, expand healthcare, upgrade schools, increase student aid and contain the spread of nuclear weapons.
"There's a lot to do," Kennedy told Reuters in 2006. "I think most of all it's the injustice that I continue to see and the opportunity to have some impact on it."
After Robert Kennedy's death, Edward was expected to waste little time in vying for the presidency. But in 1969, a young woman drowned after a car Kennedy was driving plunged off a bridge on the Massachusetts resort island of Chappaquiddick after a night of partying.
Kennedy's image took a major hit after it emerged he had failed to report the accident to authorities. He pleaded guilty to leaving the scene and received a suspended sentence.
Kennedy eventually ran for his party's presidential nomination in 1980 but lost to then-President Jimmy Carter.
His presidential ambitions thwarted, Kennedy devoted himself to his Senate career.
A 2009 survey by The Hill, a Capitol Hill publication, found that Senate Republicans believed Kennedy was the chamber's easiest Democrat to work with and most bipartisan.
Republican Senator John McCain called Kennedy "the single most effective member of the Senate if you want to get results."
In January 2008, Kennedy endorsed Obama, who was serving his first term as a senator, for the Democratic presidential nomination. Many saw the endorsement as the passing of the political torch to a new generation. A year to the day before his death, Kennedy made an electrifying speech to the Democratic convention that nominated Obama for president.
'LION' BATTLED ON
Kennedy had been largely sidelined in Congress since becoming ill. The "Lion of the Senate" began to use a cane and often looked tired and drained as he mixed work with treatment.
Yet colleagues and staff said he remained determined to fulfill what he called "the cause of my life," providing health insurance to all Americans. He helped draft legislation to overhaul the $2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare system.
Kennedy's interest in healthcare dated from his son's bout with cancer in the 1970s. More recently, he cited his own illness as he made a case for reform.
"I've benefited from the best of medicine, but I've also witnessed the frustration and outrage of patients and doctors alike as they face the challenges of a system that shortchanges millions of Americans," he wrote in a May 28, 2009, issue of the Boston Globe.
His charisma as "the last of the Kennedy brothers" was such that draft-Teddy drives were a feature of U.S. presidential election years from 1968 through the 1980s.
But he never fully escaped the cloud of the Chappaquiddick accident. A decades-long argument arose about whether he tried to cover up his involvement by leaving the scene while Mary Jo Kopechne's body remained submerged and whether police helped sweep such questions under the rug. All involved denied any cover-up.
Later crises involving younger Kennedys, notably the 1991 Palm Beach rape trial of his nephew, William Kennedy Smith, caught a bloated and weary-looking Uncle Ted in a media glare. Reports of heavy drinking and womanizing led to a public apology for "the faults in the conduct of my private life."
Kennedy was remarried soon after that to Victoria Reggie, a 38-year-old lawyer with two young children from her first marriage. He poured renewed energy into the Senate, where he would become the third-longest serving senator in history.
Even his Republican foes recognized Kennedy's dedication as he worked to protect civil rights, give federal help to the poor, contain the spread of nuclear weapons, raise the minimum wage, expand health coverage and improve America's schools.
FAMILY STANDARDS
Born on February 22, 1932, Edward Moore Kennedy was the last of four sons and five daughters born to millionaire businessman Joseph Kennedy, who would later be ambassador to Britain, and his wife, Rose.
The Boston Irish family combined the competitive spirit of nouveau riche immigrants with acquired polish and natural charm. The sons were expected to mature into presidential timber and were groomed for that starting with the oldest, Joseph Jr., a bomber pilot who died in World War Two.
"I think about my brothers every day," Kennedy told Reuters. "They set high standards. Sometimes you measure up, sometimes you don't."
Like his brothers, Kennedy was known for his oratory, delivered in a booming voice at rallies, congressional hearings and in the Senate.
He drew praise from liberals, labor and civil rights groups and scorn from conservatives, big business and anti-abortion and pro-gun activists. His image was often used by Republicans in ads as a money-raising tool.
Tragedies dogged Kennedy throughout his life. They included a 1964 plane crash that damaged his spine and left him with persistent pain; bone cancer that cost son Teddy a leg; first wife Joan's battles with alcoholism that contributed to their divorce, and drug problems involving nephews, one of whom died of an overdose. His nephew, John Kennedy Jr., died in July 1999 when his small plane crashed into the ocean near Cape Cod.
In May 2008, Edward Kennedy collapsed at his Cape Cod home and was flown to hospital in Boston, where he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Brain cancer kills half its victims within a year.
Kennedy's illness kept him from attending the funeral of his sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a leading advocate of the mentally disabled, who died on August 11 at the age of 88.
(Additional reporting by Thomas Ferraro in Washington and Patricia Zengerle in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts; Editing by Peter Cooney)
Blogger comment:
God bless the soul of the great American politician Senator Ted Kennedy one of most regarded American politicians. He was a symbol of decency with having the spirit of a fighter. He was a rich man who felt for the poor and those with all sufferings. He worked for health care and stood with President Obama to bring to the top the first American Black President. A man I will continue to respect and admire. For his family and the country my condolence and my prayers to God to accept him to his heaven.
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