Saturday, July 31, 2010

Hadeeth Ahad

advice from Ahl us Sunnah to our brothers/sisters in Hizb ut-Tahrir regarding `Aqeedah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

To my brothers and sisters in Hizb ut-Tahrir; as salaamu `alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh.

O my brothers, you are renowned for your intention in endeavouring to fulfil the obligation of re-establishing the khilaafah. A duty which has been obligatory upon Muslims since its abolishment in 1924. This is indeed a noble cause, and you are a hizb that was established to strive in it. However, albeit the case; this letter is an advice to you in order that you may reflect upon the errors of your `Aqeedah regarding the issue of excluding Al-Hadeeth As-Saheeh Al-Ahad (The Authentic Single Report) from it.

In the time of the ghurabaa (strangers) and fasaad (corruption) of the Deen, people are far way from the wahi (revelation). People will follow the majority and leave the Qur’aan and Sunnah, few will hold strong to the Deen.

The Messenger Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said,

‏ بَدَأَ الإِسْلاَمُ غَرِيبًا وَسَيَعُودُ كَمَا بَدَأَ غَرِيبًا فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ ‏‏
Islaam started as something strange and will return back as something strange, paradise is for the strangers.

The Ghurabaa (strangers) are those who reject to be from amongst the deviants. Tooba is a tree in paradise thats width is like the heavens and the earth. That tree is for the believers.

The Evidence for Hadeeth Ahad

Whether the hadeeth is mutawaatir (famous) or ahad (single report), as long as it is attributed to the Messenger Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) and is linked in narration from the beginning to the end until it is carried and delivered, it will be taken as an evidence in the Deen of Al-Islaam.

At-Talaazum (Moulding)

We cannot understand this topic unless we understand At-Talaazum (Moulding). This is where two things cannot be separated. Like Ramadaan and siyaam. Like Eemaan is sayings and actions with conviction in the heart, Qawol wal `Amal wal I’tiqaad. Like `Aqeedah (belief) and Shari’ah (Islamic law) are inseparable. It’s like you cannot be Muslim unless say Laa ilaaha illa Allaah Muhammadan Rasoolullaah. To separate these issues is to dismantle the whole matter.

Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’ala) has names, attributes and functions which cannot be separated. The two pillars of Tawheed, you cannot separate them. There is moulding between the term and its meaning, originally we always take the literal apparent meaning, and we do not go to the metaphoric meaning unless there is evidence. You cannot separate the Qur’aan and the Sunnah; there is Talaazum between both of them. You cannot separate the Messenger Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) from the Sahaabah. We say As Sahaabu Nabee wa Nabee was Sahaab (the companion of the Prophet, the Prophet and his companion). There is Moulding between ajal (life) and mawt (death); it is all in the hand of Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’ala).

Talaazum bayna hubbu fillaah wal bughdufillaah (between love for the sake of Allaah and hate for the sake of Allaah), we cannot say love for the sake of Allaah and then hate the believers. Talaazum from Khawf (fear) and Raja (hope), whoever fears Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’ala) will have Taqwa (piety). Talaazum bayna Qawol Wa Qawol (saying and saying) of the Messenger Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam). We take the saying of the Messenger Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) regardless of the number of narrators as long as it is authentically reported. If you separate saying from actions then you are separate Tawheed Ruboobiyyah (related to command to do) and Tawheed Uloohiyyah (related to doing actions in obedience to Allaah).

Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’ala) says,

وَمَا آتَاكُمُ الرَّسُولُ فَخُذُوهُ وَمَا نَهَاكُمْ عَنْهُ فَانتَهُوا
Whatsoever the messenger gives, take it, and whatsoever he prohibits, abstain from it
[Surah Al Hashr 59:7]

People make this separation to say certain evidences are taken into `Aqeedah (belief) and other evidences are not. This is because they speak from their own ration (hawaa). Hawaa is the number one enemy of Wahi.

Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’ala) says,

وَمَا يَنطِقُ عَنِ الْهَوَى – إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَى
He (Muhammad) does not speak from his hawaa, it is Wahi revealed
[Surah An Najm 53:3-4]

The Prophet (Nabee) is the one who Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’ala) sends the Wahi (revelation). The Messenger (rasool) is the one who passes on the message (risaalah) to the people.

Many people say they love the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam), yet they do not follow hadeeth Ahad. Either you take from the Prophet of this Deen or you don’t. Classify the topic for the sake of clarification by all means but don’t separate their importance. So for example when we classify Eemaan we do not separate it, we say the outer action and the inner action are both part of Eemaan.

`Ilm ul hadeeth (the science of narration) is studied by two types of scholars; Ahlul hadeeth and Ahlul Kalaam.

When they wrote `Ilm ul hadeeth it was in order to classify and not to separate. Either say Qala Rasoolullaah… the Prophet said or lum ya qula… the Prophet never said. We don’t say one Prophet for `Aqeedah and one for Shari’ah. We say the Prophet for one Deen.

Any Saheeh Hadeeth checked by the Salaf us Saalih and then by the Muta Aakhireen (later generation), we take it for all Masaail (ruling) of the Deen. We say there is no separation between Mutawaatir and Ahad hadeeth. We accept the hadeeth as long as it is Nabawih As-Saheeh and if the Muta Aakhireen and the `Ulamaa of the Salaf if in their own time attributed the hadeeth to the Messenger Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam). If the Salaf say Qala Rasoolullah… we take it into all matter of the Deen, as they never separate the `Aqeedah from the Shari’ah. The later `Ulamaa (scholars) always agreed those who came before them in this regard.

If the most knowledgeable of `Ulamaa agree that the hadeeth is Saheeh, then it is used for all aspects of the Deen. So when we classified the Tawheed we said Laa ilaaha illa Allaah There is none worthy of Worship but Allaah Muhammadan Rasoolullaah Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, this separation is classification.

If the Muta Aakhireen (later generation) disagrees on an issue, then we go to the Muta Kaddibeen (earlier generation). If Muta Kaddibeen agree it is Saheeh (authentic), then who are we to have doubt. The doubt comes from the Shaytaan. We don’t say we have the Qur’aan and Sunnah but we have bid’ah (innovation). Be Ahlul Ittibaa’ (people who follow).

The Salaf are the first three generation praised by the Messenger Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam). If the Salaf agree the hadeeth is Saheeh then we take it in all matters of the Deen.

Al-Khabar As-Saheeh Al-Ahad

This is the report that has been attributed to the Messenger Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) by muntasib (connected) Isnad (chain).

The Deen is Talaazum between the belief and the action. Action testifies to a person’s belief.
The people who say we do not take it in `Aqeedah but accept it in Shari’ah i.e. Hukm Shari’, are deviant, that’s the difference between al-Firqat un-Naajiyyah (the saved sect) and Firqatu Haaliyyah (deviant sect).

Questions That Arise

Some people say if the Ahad has doubt then why not follow the Mutawaatir and the Qur’aan?
What about the one who rejects the Khabar Ahad in Bukhari and Muslim?
What is the Hukm for the one who says we need decisive evidence?

The Jumhoor (majority) of the Salaf us Saalih were all Ahlul hadeeth. The Fuqahaa’ (scholars knowledgeable in Islamic ruling) of the Salaf and the four Imaams all agree the Saheeh Ahad hadeeth is accepted in all aspects of the Deen (`Aqeedah and Shari’ah) the ones who differ are the deviants, which are those who came after the first three generation.

Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’ala) says,

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِن جَاءكُمْ فَاسِقٌ بِنَبَأٍ فَتَبَيَّنُوا
O believers, if a faasiq (evil person) comes to you with news, verify it
[Surah Al Hujuraat 49:6]

Once it is verified Saheeh (authentic) we take it into the deen. The Shi’a Raafidah are Taa’ifa tu Kufr (group upon disbelief) we take nothing from them in our deen.

The conditions of the person narrating a hadeeth are that he must be; Muslim, mature, trustworthy and sane, also have a good memory and to keep the words of the hadeeth verbatim.

Further evidence for Ahad (lone) narration

The Messenger Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) received Wahi and he was Ahad, like all the Anbiyaa. Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’ala) sent an individual messenger.

Evidence 1
Mu’aadh ibn Jabl went to Yemen to teach Islaam. The Messenger Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said The First thing you call them to is Laa ilaaha illa Allaah

Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaa’ah quote Sahaabah, Tabi’een and Taba-Tabi’een.

Evidence 2
Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’ala) ordered the Messenger Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) make tableegh (convey). The tableegh was of the deen so we cannot separate belief and actions. The Salaf us Saalih transmitted the deen and not just the text from it, by practicing. That’s why no Sahaabah, Tabi’een or Taba-Tabi’een disagreed in the Azaab ul Qabar (punishment of the grave).

In the issue of al-Asmaa wa Sifaat of Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’ala), the four Imaams follow the hadeeth and the aayah and did not say we take Qur’aan first and Sunnah second rather followed both together and this should be our understanding too.

Examples of beliefs based on Ahad Ahadeeth

1) The statement that Aadam (`alayhis salaam) is a Prophet, as well as others besides him who are not mentioned in the Qur’aan.

2) The fact that our Prophet Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) is favoured by Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’ala) above all the other Prophets and Messengers.

3) The Great Intercession of the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) on the Day of Judgement.

4) His (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) intercession for the people of this Ummah who committed major sins.

5) All the miracles of the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) other than the Qur’aan.

6) Matters relating to the beginning of the creation.

7) The description of the Malaa’ikah, the Jinn, the Jannah, and Jahannam (the Fire).

The belief that both the Jannah and the Fire are presently existing.

9) The belief that the Black Stone is a stone from the Jannah.

10) The belief that the Prophet (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) looked into al-Jannah and saw all that Allaah has prepared for the pious believers.

11) The belief that ten (10) companions of the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) were specifically promised the Jannah.

12) The belief that everyone will be questioned in his grave by two angels (i.e. Munkar and Nakeer).

13) The belief in the punishment in the grave.

14) The belief that the Scale (al-Meezaan) which weighs the deeds on the Day of Judgement has two pans.

15) The belief in the Bridge (as-Siraat) which stretches over Jahannam.

16) The belief in the Fountain (al-Kawthar) of the Messenger (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam), and that whoever drinks once from it on the Day of Judgement will never thirst after that.

17) The belief that seventy thousand (70,000) members of the Ummah of Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) would enter the Jannah without reckoning.

18) The belief in the good and evil consequences of al-Qadr.

19) The belief that Allaah has written for everyone his happiness, his sadness, his provision, and the time of his death.

20) The belief that a Muslim who commits a major sin will not abide in Jahannam forever.

21) The belief in the Pen that was created by Allaah, and that He commanded it to write everything that will occur.

22) The belief that Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’ala) has prohibited the earth from eating the bodies of the Messengers.

Conclusion

So, my dear brothers and sisters in Hizb ut Tahrir; I implore you to reconsider your rejection of Saheeh Ahad Ahadeeth from your `Aqeedah and return to the `Aqeedah of the Salaf us Saalih.
Posted by Bilal Reactions:

From: http://www.revolutionmuslim.com

Karzai a Great Libaility to America

كرزاي العميل يحرض الغرب على ضرب باكستان

أعرب الرئيس الأفغاني حامد كرزاي اليوم الخميس عن قناعته بأن الحلفاء الغربيين لديهم القدرة على ضرب قواعد حركة طالبان المزعومة في باكستان، وحرض الدول الغربية على القيام بهذا التحرك.

وقال كرزاي في مؤتمر صحفي في كابول "الحرب ضد الإرهاب ليست في قرى أو منازل أفغانستان، لكن في الملاذات ومصادر التمويل والتدريب على الإرهاب وهي تقع خارج أفغانستان".

وأضاف "الوضع لا يرتبط بما إذا كانت أفغانستان لديها القدرة على معالجة هذا، لأن حلفاءنا لديهم هذه القدرة والسؤال الآن هو لماذا لا يتحركون؟".

وكانت باكستان قد نفت دعمها حركة طالبان الأفغانية, وقالت على لسان مصدر مسؤول بالمخابرات، فضل عدم الكشف عن هويته، إن ما نشرته مواقع ووسائل إعلام أمريكية وبريطانية بهذا الصدد يمثل "ادعاءات تحريضية اعتمدت على تقرير غير رسمي هدفه الأساسي تشويه صورة المخابرات الباكستانية".

ووصف سفير باكستان لدى الولايات المتحدة حسين حقاني تسريب مثل هذه التقارير من ساحة المعارك بأنه تصرف غير مسئول.

وقال "إنها تقارير لا تعكس سوى تعليقات وشائعات من مصدر واحد تنتشر في جانبي الحدود الباكستانية الأفغانية وغالبًا ما يثبت أنها خاطئة".
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تصفح أيضا
» أوباما يوافق على تمويل إضافى للعدوان الأمريكى فى أفغانستان» بريطانيا: حكم بالسجن على شاب رشق سياسية مسلمة ببيضة» تركيا تعلن نجاح الوساطة لاستنئاف مفاوضات النووي الإيراني» أمريكا: تشديد الإجراءات الأمنية قرب مساجد نيويورك في رمضان» سياسي جمهوري: الإسلام ليس بالدين الحقيقى وأرفض إخضاعنا لشريعته.. ومجلس العلاقات الإسلامية الأمريكية يدعوه لتلقى معلومات عن الإسلام» مقتل 152 في تحطم طائرة باكستانية شمال إسلام أباد، والحكومة تعلن حدادا وطنيا» الجارديان : الوثائق السرية تشكف عن جرائم القوات الامريكية الخاصة بالحرب الافغانية» الظواهري يهاجم منع النقاب في فرنسا.. وينتقد تخاذل الحكام العرب » وزير الخارجية الألماني: تركيا ليست ناضجة للانضمام إلى الاتحاد الأوروبي! وكاميرون يعرب عن غضبه من عرقلة انضمامها» نذر حرب شاملة فى الشرق

Blogger comment:
One of the greatest liability to the Americans and the west in their wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are the corrupted politicians. Imagine that America is occupied say by Latin America and the president of America brought to power is a very corrupt person what do you think the Americans will do. They will fight very hard to expel or execute him and fight the occupation. See how much war and anger around the world we are creating. The Iraqi politicians who came to power are very corrupt and ate up most of the money that supposed to develop their country.

When I offered myself an alternative to all the garbage in the Arab and Muslim world the lawless George Bush went after me. I thought then Obama will contact me. I am not looking for power or money but as a subcontractor I know what people in the Arab and Muslim world would need honest governments that care for them and take care of their problems not the ones who are abusing them and oppressing them. I think one main hindrance for the American politicians not to contact me is their jealous. They would feel better if an inferior guy like Mubarak in power after all who wants someone very pro-Christ to be in power.

Friday, July 30, 2010

Mubarak Tyrannical legacy to continue

(مصر كبيرة عليك) شعار حملة أيمن نور ردا على حملات جمال مبارك
والإخوان يحذرون: عملية التوريث تجرى الآن.. وعلى جميع القوى السياسية مواجهتها بالتحرك الجاد

أعلن الدكتور أيمن نور، مؤسس حزب الغد، عن إطلاق حملة جديدة تحت عنوان "مصر كبيرة عليك" ردا على الحملة التي أطلقها الائتلاف الشعبي لاختيار جمال مبارك رئيسا لمصر.

وشدد نور، خلال مؤتمر عقد أمس الخميس بمقر الحزب الدستوري الحر، على خطورة أن يحكم مصر شخص لا يمكننا محاكمته في إشارة إلى جمال مبارك، وقال "جمال هو الحاكم الفعلي لمصر من خلال وضعه السياسات العامة للوزراء رغم أنه ليس الرئيس الشرعي للبلاد، ولا أحد يستطيع تقديمه للمحاكمة".

وانتقد مؤسس حزب الغد الدكتور محمد البرادعي، المرشح المحتمل للرئاسة، وقال إن "الدكتور البرادعي أخطأ في حق مصر عندما فضل الحوار السلمي مع السلطة ورفض رئاسة الحزب الدستوري الحر".

من جهته، انتقد ممدوح قناوي، رئيس الحزب الدستوري الحر، دور أسامة الغزالي حرب رئيس حزب الجبهة الديمقراطية، وقال: "الغزالي محسوب على المعارضة لكنه يعقد صفقات سرية مع النظام". كما أبدى قناوي استغرابه من الموقف الذي اتخذه الدكتور حسن نافعة، المنسق العام للجمعية الوطنية للتغيير، تجاهه عندما حذف اسمه من الجمعية دون إبداء أسباب منطقية.

وشن الدكتور عبد الحليم قنديل، المنسق العام لحركة كفاية، هجوما حادا على استمرار العمل بقانون الطوارئ، ووصفه بـ"العار الذي يلحق بمصر ويجب إزالته فورا".

وقال قنديل إن حالة الطوارئ تصيب مصر بالشلل والعجز التام مشددا على أهمية الحراك الجماهيري وضرورة أن يتحرك الشعب للحصول على حقوقه وألا يقف مكتوف الأيدي، وأضاف "الدكتاتورية كلمة أقل من أن يوصف بها النظام المصري".
احترسوا: جارى التزوير
من جانبها، قالت جماعة الإخوان المسلمين إن عملية توريث الحكم تجرى، الآن، تحت غطاء الانتخابات المزورة، وأضافت "إن التوريث والتزوير غير مقبولين من جميع فئات الشعب، الذى يتطلع إلى الحرية والعدل والمساواة".

وطالبت الجماعة المواطنين فى بيان لها عبر موقعها الإلكترونى، بالتفاعل بشكل أكبر مع حملة التوقيعات على مطالب الإصلاح السبعة، التى تضمنها البيان التأسيسى للجمعية الوطنية للتغيير.

وأشارت إلى أن التوقيعات بلغت ربع مليون على موقع "توقيعات أون لاين"، و٨٤ ألفاً على موقع الجمعية الوطنية للتغيير.

وقالت "على جميع القوى السياسية والطوائف التحرك الجاد لتحقيق الإصلاح، حتى يعلم النظام أن للشعب رأياً فى واقعه ومستقبله، وأنه لا يقبل التوريث، وأن السيطرة على مقدرات الوطن مرفوضة من الجميع".

واعتبرت الجماعة أن التقليل من شأن اللقاء المشترك بين الجماعة والقوى السياسية، قبل أسبوعين، يأتى من قبل وسائل إعلامية محسوبة على النظام، ووصف البيان اللقاء بـ"الرقم الصعب" فى عملية الحراك السياسى، الذى يستهدف التغيير.

ورفضت ما وصفته بـ"التدخلات الخارجية فى الشأن المصرى، تحت ما يسمى دعم الديمقراطية"، مطالبة النظام بإتاحة حرية تشكيل الأحزاب، وإجراء انتخابات حرة واحترام حقوق الإنسان.

من جانبه، قال الدكتور محمد موسى، عضو مكتب الإرشاد، المتحدث الإعلامى باسم الجماعة "الإصلاح السلمى، لابد أن يتم بتوافق إرادة الشعب، مع نزول النظام عليها"، ولفت إلى أن جمع التوقيعات يهدف إلى الضغط على النظام حتى يعلم أن الإصلاح مطلب شعبى، وليس فئوياً.

وكشف حسين إبراهيم، نائب رئيس الكتلة البرلمانية للإخوان، عن استعداد المكتب الإدارى لإخوان الإسكندرية لخوض انتخابات "الشعب" المقبلة بنحو ٢٢ مرشحاً بالمحافظة، مشيراً إلى أن الجماعة تستعد للمنافسة على مقعدى كوتة المرأة، والأمر يتوقف على قرار مكتب الإرشاد. وقال "إن قوى المعارضة لن تسمح بتكرار ما وصفه بـ(التجاوزات الأمنية) التى حدثت خلال انتخابات الشورى الماضية".
أخبر صديق طباعة

Blogger Comment:
Mubarak would do anything to continue his legacy through his son Jamal. The two knew from The American politicians I could be Al Mahdi Al Muntazer and they kept following the conspiracy with George Bush not to have me known in the Arab and Muslim worlds. Whenever I e-mail Al Azhar and other governmental websites or media they block people from contacting me. They hope I would go away in peace and they will continue enjoy power, money and prestige.

They do not know that the prophecies of the prophet Muhammad are not false or do not like to know. Al Mahdi is true they sold their religion for material gain. The truth if they suspected I am Al Mahdi they should help and support me and to try to reach me and see how they can appease me. If you are true Muslim Al Mahdi is a Muslim chosen by God to lead people back to their religion and remove tyranny spread justice and equality. They were the first to stand against him. God will achieve his order and most of people know not.

They are not standing against me but against God.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Women's Liberation Through Islam

From: http://www.islam101.com/women/womlib.html

by Mary Ali and Anjum Ali

Today people think that women are liberated in the West and that the women's liberation movement began in the 20th century. Actually, the women's liberation movement was not begun by women but was revealed by God to a man in the seventh century by the name of Muhammad (peace be uponhim), who is known as the last Prophet of Islam. The Qur'an and theTraditions of the Prophet (Hadith or Sunnah) are the sources from whichevery Muslim woman derives her rights and duties.

I. HUMAN RIGHTS
Islam, fourteen centuries ago, made women equally accountable to God in glorifying and worshipping Him - setting no limits on her moral progress. Also, Islam established a woman's equality in her humanity with men.

In the Qur'an, in the first verse of the chapter entitled "Women," God says, "O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it its mate and from them both have spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty toward Allah in Whom you claim (your rights) of one another, and towards the wombs (that bore you). Lo! Allah has been a Watcher over you." (4:1)

Since men and women both came from the same essence, they are equal in their humanity. Women cannot be by nature evil (as some religions believe) or then men would be evil also. Similarly, neither gender can be superior because it would be a contradiction of equality.

II. CIVIL RIGHTS
In Islam, a woman has the basic freedom of choice and expression based on recognition of her individual personality. First, she is free to choose her religion. The Qur'an states: "There is no compulsion in religion. Right has been made distinct from error." (2:256)

Women are encouraged in Islam to contribute their opinions and ideas. There are many traditions of the Prophet (pbuh) which indicate women would pose questions directly to him and offer their opinions concerning religion, economics and social matters.

A Muslim woman chooses her husband and keeps her name after marriage. A Muslim woman's testimony is valid in legal disputes. In fact, in areas in which women are more familiar, their evidence is conclusive.

III. SOCIAL RIGHTS
The Prophet (pbuh) said: "Seeking knowledge is a mandate for every Muslim (male and female)." This includes knowledge of the Qur'an and the Hadith as well as other knowledge. Men and women both have the capacity for learning and understanding. Since it is also their obligation to promote good behavior and condemn bad behavior in all spheres of life, Muslim women must acquire the appropriate education to perform this duty in accordance with their own natural talents and interests.

While maintenance of a home, providing support to her husband, and bearing, raising and teaching of children are among the first and very highly regarded roles for a woman, if she has the skills to work outside the home for the good of the community, she may do so as long as her family obligations are met.

Islam recognizes and fosters the natural differences between men and women despite their equality. Some types of work are more suitable for men and other types for women. This in no way diminishes either's effort nor its benefit. God will reward both sexes equally for the value of their work, though it may not necessarily be the same activity.

Concerning motherhood, the Prophet (pbuh) said: "Heaven lies under the feet of mothers." This implies that the success of a society can be traced to the mothers that raised it. The first and greatest influence on a person comes from the sense of security, affection, and training received from the mother. Therefore, a woman having children must be educated and conscientious in order to be a skillful parent.

IV. POLITICAL RIGHTS
A right given to Muslim women by God 1400 years ago is the right to vote. On any public matter, a woman may voice her opinion and participate in politics. One example, narrated in the Qur'an (60:12), is that Muhammad (pbuh) is told that when the believing women come to him and swear their allegiance to Islam, he must accept their oath. This established the right of women to select their leader and publicly declare so. Finally, Islam does not forbid a woman from holding important positions in government. Abdur-Rahman Ibn Auf consulted many women before he recommended Uthman Ibn Affan to be the Caliph.

V. ECONOMIC RIGHTS
The Qur'an states: "By the creation of the male and female; Verily, (the ends) ye strive for are diverse." (92:3-4)

In these verses, God declares that He created men and women to be different, with unique roles, functions and skills. As in society, where there is a division of labor, so too in a family; each member has different responsibilities. Generally, Islam upholds that women are entrusted with the nurturing role, and men, with the guardian role. Therefore, women are given the right of financial support.

The Qur'an states: "Men are the maintainers of women because Allah has made some of them to excel others and because they spend of their wealth (for the support of women)." (4:34)

This guardianship and greater financial responsibility given to men, requires that they provide women with not only monetary support but also physical protection and kind and respectful treatment.

The Muslim woman has the privilege to earn money, the right to own property, to enter into legal contracts and to manage all of her assets in any way she pleases. She can run her own business and no one has any claim on her earnings including her husband. The Qur'an states:

"And in no wise covet those things in which Allah hath bestowed His gifts more freely on some of you than on others; to men is allotted what they earn, and to women, what they earn; but ask Allah of His bounty, for Allah hath full knowledge of all things." (4:32)

A woman inherits from her relatives. The Qur'an states: "For men there is a share in what parents and relatives leave, and for women there is a share of what parents and relatives leave, whether it be little or much - an ordained share." (4:7)

VI. RIGHTS OF A WIFE
The Qur'an states: "And among His signs is that He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may live in tranquillity with them, and He has put love and mercy between you; Verily, in that are signs for people who reflect." (30:21)

Marriage is therefore not just a physical or emotional necessity, but in fact, a sign from God! It is a relationship of mutual rights and obligations based on divine guidance. God created men and women with complimentary natures, and in the Qur'an, He laid out a system of laws to support harmonious interaction between the sexes.

"...They are your garments and you are their garments." (2:187)

Clothing provides physical protection and covers the beauty and faults of the body. Likewise, a spouse is viewed this way. Each protects the other and hides the faults and compliments the characteristics of the spouse.

To foster the love and security that comes with marriage, Muslim wives have various rights. The first of the wife's rights is to receive mahr, a gift from the husband which is part of the marriage contract and required for the legality of the marriage.

The second right of a wife is maintenance. Despite any wealth she may have, her husband is obligated to provide her with food, shelter and clothing. He is not forced, however, to spend beyond his capability and his wife is not entitled to make unreasonable demands. The Qur'an states: "Let the man of means spend according to his means, and the man whose resources are restricted, let him spend according to what Allah has given him. Allah puts no burden on any person beyond what He has given him." (65:7)

God tells us men are guardians over women and are afforded the leadership in the family. His responsibility for obeying God extends to guiding his family to obey God at all times.

A wife's rights also extend beyond material needs. She has the right to kind treatment. The Prophet (pbuh) said: "The most perfect believers are the best in conduct. And the best of you are those who are best to their wives." God tells us He created mates and put love, mercy, and tranquillity between them.

Both men and women have a need for companionship and sexual needs, and marriage is designed to fulfill those needs. For one spouse to deny this satisfaction to the other, temptation exists to seek it elsewhere.

VII. DUTIES OF A WIFE
With rights come responsibilities. Therefore, wives have certain obligations to their husbands. The Qur'an states: "The good women in the absence of their husbands guard their rights as Allah has enjoined upon them to be guarded." (4:34)

A wife is to keep her husband's secrets and protect their marital privacy. Issues of intimacy or faults of his that would dishonor him, are not to be shared by the wife, just as he is expected to guard her honor.

A wife must also guard her husband's property. She must safeguard his home and possessions, to the best of her ability, from theft or damage. She should manage the household affairs wisely so as to prevent loss or waste. She should not allow anyone to enter the house whom her husband dislikes nor incur any expenses of which her husband disapproves.

A Muslim woman must cooperate and coordinate with her husband. There cannot, however, be cooperation with a man who is disobedient to God. She should not fulfill his requests if he wants her to do something unlawful. A husband also should not take advantage of his wife, but be considerate of her needs and happiness.

VIII. CONCLUSION
The Qur'an states: "And it becomes not a believing man or a believing women, when Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad) have decided on an affair (for them), that they should (after that) claim any say in their affair; and whoso is rebellious to Allah and His Messenger, he verily goes astray in error manifest." (33:36)

The Muslim woman was given a role, duties and rights 1400 years ago that most women do not enjoy today, even in the West. These are from God and are designed to keep balance in society; what may seem unjust or missing in one place is compensated for or explained in another place. Islam is a complete way of life.

-- Mary Ali and Anjum Ali

INTRODUCTION OF III & E

The Institute of Islamic information and Education (III&E) is dedicated to the cause Islam in North America through striving to elevate the image of Islam and Muslim by providing the correct information about Islamic beliefs, history and civilization from the authentic sources. Inquiries are welcome.

E-mail: light@iiie.net

Source location: http://www.iiie.net/Brochures/Brochure-21.html

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The Heart of Holy Quran

From: http://www.iqou-moa.org/sheikh-gilani/imams-desk/surah-yasin.html

The Heart of Holy Quran

Written by His Eminence Sultan Mubarik 'Ali Gilani
Thursday, 05 November 2009

The Heart of Holy QuranSura Ya Seen is a very blessed, powerful, and effective Sura of Holy Quran, which reminds one of the goodness of this world and the Hereafter. Anyone can pick up something and go through it, but very few people have paid attention to the way I will invite all of you toward Sura Ya Seen, elaborating on its background, its purpose, its message, guidance, warning, and the wisdom which is contained therein.The background is this: The Makkan pagans, had become very violent, hurling abuses and insults at the Holy Last Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him) day and night: calling him a liar, a sorcerer, and one possessed by Jinn, leaving no wall unscaled in their efforts. The Holy Last Messenger (peace be upon him) felt very much grieved. In order to console His Beloved Messenger (peace be upon him), and give firmness to his heart and to his feet as well, Allah, Exalted is He, swore by Holy Quran, saying,

"Oh Rasullullah (i.e., Ya Seen), you are indeed one of the Messengers, and you are upon the Right Path."[Sura Ya Seen continues: "Sent down by the Aziz, the Raheem."]
This Holy Quran has been sent down by the Most Honored, Al-Aziz, Al-Raheem. I will not try to translate Aziz. I will not translate Raheem. For Aziz, there is no word in the English language; although, you can substitute the words Powerful, Mighty. Al-Raheem, is from Rahma, or Mercy. "Most Merciful" are the words that have been used for Ar Raheem. Truly, there is no translation; but, you can say these are the available words in the English language to identify the word Raheem.The Sura continues, and after consoling the Holy Last Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him), Allah, the Most Exalted, tells him about these people: Their hearts have been hardened so much that Allah has sealed their hearts and no amount of dawah (giving of invitation to right guidance) and tabligh (preaching for spiritual reformation) will bring them to the fold of Al Islam. Allah, the Most Exalted, will deal with them. Sura Ya Seen, is a very blessed, powerful, and effective Sura of Holy Quran.

If you read it in the morning, Allah, the Most High, will protect you until the evening from all the calamities, provided you have fulfilled all the rest of the religious obligations, have made prayers on time, have lawful provisions and income, and haven't done anything wrong. Whosoever recites this Sura, Allah, the Most Exalted, Himself, is very happy about it. Allah has given much honor to this Sura and will give permission to the reciter to be able to intercede on the Day of Judgement, for many.This Sura reminds one of the virtues and goodness of this world and the hereafter, and also of the calamities of this world and all those ways by which one can avoid them. It was sent down in Makkah al-Mukarramah, and has 83 ayat and five sections. Only one ayat is not Makkan, and it is about the Banu Salma, who were living around Madinah al-Munawwarah. They wanted to move, to be nearby the mosque and the Holy Last Messenger (peace be upon him). But the Holy Last Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him), said: "Don't shift. Stay where you are; because, the more steps you take to the mosque, Allah keeps a record of each and every step you take [and you are thereby rewarded.]"Ya Seen is one of the names of the Holy Last Messenger (peace be upon him). In the first ayah, Allah is swearing by Holy Quran, then addresses the Holy Last Messenger (peace be upon him): "Ya Syed, Oh Chief -Ya Seen (peace be upon him)!" Immediately after this, Allah swears by that Quran, the book which reveals the secrets and the knowledge of the creation -not only the creation, but the creature, telling the Holy Last Messenger (peace be upon him) that he is on the right path.
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010

The Forgotten American

From: http://www.nytimes.ocm/

By ROGER COHEN
Published: July 26, 2010

New York — The Dogans were a quiet family little noticed by their neighbors here in upstate New York. Ahmet Dogan had come to the area from Turkey to study accounting at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.


He was a serious student; the Dogans did little entertaining. But when their younger son, Furkan, was born in 1991, the family threw a party and a neighbor recalled a toast “to the first U.S. citizen in the family.”
Furkan Dogan would live just two years in Troy, returning to Turkey with his family in 1993. But he was proud of his American passport and dreamt of coming back after completing medical school. Five Israeli bullets — at least two of them to the head — ended that dream on May 31. Dogan was 19.
The young American, who had just completed high school with excellent grades in the central Turkish town of Kayseri, had seen an online advertisement for volunteers to deliver aid to Gaza. The ad, from a Turkish charity called the Humanitarian Relief Foundation, or I.H.H, said the goal of the trip was to show that Israel’s “embargo/blockade can be legally broken.”
Little interested in politics, but with an aspiring doctor’s concern for Palestinian suffering, Dogan won a lottery to go.
How he was killed is disputed — as is just about everything concerning the Israeli naval takeover of the six-boat Gaza-bound flotilla — but his father suspects a video camera carried by his son may have provoked Israeli commandos.
O.K., enough said, that’s the start of the story you haven’t read about the short life of Furkan Dogan, an American killed by Israeli forces in international waters on the Turkish-flagged Mavi Marmara.
In truth I have not been to Troy but I do find the effacement of Dogan since his death almost two months ago at once offensive and instructive.
I have little doubt that if the American killed on those ships had been Hedy Epstein, a St. Louis-based Holocaust survivor, or Edward Peck, a former U.S. ambassador to Mauritania, we would have heard a lot more. We would have read the kind of tick-tock reconstructions that the deaths of Americans abroad in violent and disputed circumstances tend to provoke. (Epstein had planned to be aboard the flotilla and Peck was.)
I also have little doubt that if the incident had been different — say a 19-year-old American student called Michael Sandler killed by a Palestinian gunman in the West Bank when caught in a cross-fire between Palestinians and Israelis — we would have been deluged in stories about him.
But a chill descends when you have the combination of Israeli commandos doing the firing, an American with a foreign-sounding Muslim name, and the frenzied pre-emptive arguments of Israel and those among its U.S. supporters who will brook no criticism of the Jewish state.
This chill is a bad thing. Let’s do whatever it takes to find out how Dogan died — and the eight other victims. The Middle East requires more open debate and the dropping of taboos. It needs the leading institutions of American Jewry to encourage broad discussion rather than, as Peter Beinart put it in an important recent essay in The New York Review of Books, checking “their liberalism at Zionism’s door.”
Let’s face it, without the flotilla outcry that allowed the Obama administration to question Israel’s self-defeating suffocation of Gaza, Israel would still be imposing the blockade that handed Hamas control of whatever was left of the Gaza economy. Now that blockade has been eased.
As this suggests, Israel will, ostrich-like, push policies born of the security mantra way beyond their rationale, only changing course when its critical friends raise their voices. It’s time for the U.S. Jewish establishment to think again — and think openly — or risk losing the many younger Jews troubled by Israel’s course.
I hope every member of Congress read Beinart’s piece. I contacted the office of Congressman Paul Tonko, who represents the Troy area, to ask about Dogan. A spokesman, Beau Duffy, wrote saying that “There really isn’t much of a local connection here” and that Tonko had no comment. Hardly a surprise: Nobody in Congress has had anything to say about this American death.
I called the State Department, where an official said the U.S. ambassador in Turkey has offered the Dogan family assistance. (He also denied reports that the United States plans to designate I.H.H. a terrorist organization.)
Any further action, including a possible F.B.I. investigation of Dogan’s death, will hinge on the results of the inquiry being led by a retired Israeli Supreme Court justice and including two foreign observers. The Dogan family could also request F.B.I. action.
But it seems they have few illusions. Professor Dogan, who teaches at Kayseri University, told the Wall Street Journal’s Marc Champion (who wrote the best piece on Dogan) that he’s been wondering what the U.S. response would have been if his son had been a Christian living stateside. Having lived in America, he said, “I know what people do there when a cat gets stuck in a tree.”
It’s different, however, when an American Muslim male gets stuck in a hail of Israeli gunfire.

Blogger Comment:
A very good article by Mr. Cohen. Time for the Jews to Jewish themselves. This is the way they used to look and deal with the world unbiased view, justice and freedom for all. The Jewish left here in USA or in Israel are closer to true moderate thinking Muslims than many would like to believe. There are some in the right Christians support Israel not for the love of the Jews but for the misunderstanding of prophecies. This is their simple unjust misunderstanding of prophecies: the Jews should be in the holy land before Christ return ( OK for most Muslims it is also in their prophecies) God love the Jews (expect he will do the same with Palestinians) and in the same time they want the Jews to go in wars with their neighbours to fulfil some doubtful prophecies.

Moderate Muslims on the other hand think that the redemption of all of us in the second coming of Jesus is related to follow his teachings and have justice and freedom for all including Israel and Palestine. So for the Jews again Jewish yourself follow what is logical and think of saving the world before it collapses over the heads of all of us.

Legacy of Torture

From: http://www.nytimes.com/

The Bush administration insisted that “enhanced interrogation techniques” — torture — were necessary to extract information from prisoners and keep Americans safe from terrorist attacks. Never mind that it was immoral, did huge damage to this country’s global standing and produced little important intelligence. Now, as we had feared, it is also making it much harder to try and convict accused terrorists.

Because federal judges cannot trust the confessions of prisoners obtained by intense coercion, they are regularly throwing out the government’s cases against Guantánamo Bay prisoners.
A new report prepared jointly by ProPublica and the National Law Journal showed that the government has lost more than half the cases where Guantánamo prisoners have challenged their detention because they were forcibly interrogated. In some cases the physical coercion was applied by foreign agents working at the behest of the United States; in other cases it was by United States agents.
Even in cases where the government later went back and tried to obtain confessions using “clean,” non-coercive methods, judges are saying those confessions too are tainted by the earlier forcible methods. In most cases, the prisoners have not actually walked free because the government is appealing the decisions. But the trend suggests that the government will continue to have a hard time proving its case even against those prisoners who should be detained.
In 2008, the Supreme Court ruled that Guantánamo prisoners could challenge their detention as enemy combatants in federal court, under the constitutional right of habeas corpus. Since then, the government has lost 37 of the 53 habeas cases that have been decided, largely because it could not prove the prisoners were terrorists.
In the 15 cases where prisoners have alleged coercive interrogations, according to the ProPublica report, judges have sided with the prisoners eight times. (There are probably more cases than these, but the judges’ opinions have been too heavily redacted by the government to tell.) Only three detainees in habeas cases have actually been let go.
In one compelling example, Judge Gladys Kessler of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in November threw out the case against Farhi Saeed bin Mohammed, captured in Pakistan in 2001. The government described Mr. Mohammed as a fighter for Al Qaeda, and Judge Kessler acknowledged there was some evidence he had associated with terrorists.
But the main evidence that he was an active terrorist was supplied by another prisoner, Binyam Mohamed, who Judge Kessler said was repeatedly tortured for two years while being held in Pakistan and Morocco at the behest of the United States. His genitals were mutilated; he was deprived of sleep and food; he was held in stress positions and forced to listen to piercingly loud music.
Because the government did not dispute Binyam Mohamed’s torture — and could not otherwise prove that Farhi Mohammed was actively engaged in fighting for Al Qaeda or the Taliban — she ordered him released. The government is appealing.
At least 50 other Guantánamo prisoners have filed habeas lawsuits. Torture could also affect the trial, if there is one, of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, who planned the 9/11 attack.
The decisions speak well of the federal judges who are adhering to civilized legal standards even when the decision to release prisoners is difficult. We hope this demonstrated respect for due process will help repair this country’s battered reputation. Had Bush-era interrogators held to similar standards, there would be fewer dubious detention cases at Guantánamo, and the government would have a much stronger case against those prisoners who are there legitimately.

Blogger Comment:
Add the torture to the brutality of Bush wars. Tell me what is the difference between Bush and the tyrants in the Middle East, slightly less brutal? For honesty Al Queda beheading was brutal and I mentioned that very well in my blog. For new peace in the world we have to get a balance to the world. A clash of civilization is not a destiny. It is the non-functioning world system that is leading to the chaos. Why I am oppressed and can not talk to you on a national TV because the elites do not want to see peace but wars. War is a big industry and a lot of profits. Why John Kennedy was assassinated because he was true man of peace. Al Queda has the right to liberate Muslims from tyrannical leaders. If they would play it smart they will find a lot of moderate Muslims would like to join them including me. 9/11 again to the fool Muslims is an internal job and the war on Iraq was already planned few years before 9/11.

Monday, July 26, 2010

The Secrecy State

By: Robert C. Koehler Iviews* -

Under the I-hate-government, let's-drown-it-in-the-bathtub administration of George Bush and Dick Cheney, the Secrecy State swelled to such enormous proportions it required more than a dozen investigative journalists from the Washington Post two years to fathom its size and shape.

In our otherwise financially bankrupt society, where we can afford virtually nothing that actually helps people, money is no object in the Secrecy State. Thus in the name of national security, as Dana Priest and William M. Arkin tell us in "Top Secret America," their harrowing tale of government gone wild, 1,271 government organizations and 1,931 private companies are currently in the homeland security, counterterrorism and intelligence game.

These agencies either expanded their operations vastly or sprang anew from the head of Zeus (I mean Cheney) in the wake of 9/11, when secret government, like torture, bloomed:
"At least 20 percent of the government organizations that exist to fend off terrorist threats were established or refashioned in the wake of 9/11," Priest and Arkin write in their investigative series, which began Sunday in the Post. "Many that existed before the attacks grew to historic proportions as the Bush administration and Congress gave agencies more money than they were capable of responsibly spending."

Some 854,000 people, according to the article, now hold top-secret security clearances. They generate and recirculate more data than anybody has the least idea what to do with. The NSA, for instance, intercepts 1.7 billion e-mails, phone calls and other communications every single day. And it's highly debatable, as the writers point out repeatedly, whether we're the least bit safer because of it; indeed, the government's massive harvest of classified data seems to jam the wheels of government more than anything else, burying significant bits of information amid reams of trivia.

The Post does an admirable job detailing the staggering dimensions of the Secrecy State, but I find myself, as I read about it, assaulted with questions the article doesn't take on, beginning, of course, with the legitimacy of "counterterrorism" in the first place, at least as an overweening preoccupation of government. Another term for it is paranoia, and it ain't healthy.

If nothing else, its rationality is deeply flawed. An enormous subdivision of the military-industrial complex - including, as Arkin told Amy Goodman on Democracy Now!, "the powerhouses in the defense industry . . . Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics" - has emerged for the purpose of global data extraction on the assumption that America's enemies exist in objective independence from our own activities: that our national security is more a function of intercepting a whispered plot to cause harm than, say, curtailing our own murder of civilians in the war on terror.

The imploding intelligence industry - of which torture is one piece - is the hidden side of the war on terror (the war to promote terror), and another manifestation, so it strikes me, of our unexamined urge to play God. "Man must be insane," wrote French Renaissance essayist Michel de Montaigne. "He can't make a worm, but he makes gods by the dozens." And in the nation-state we have the ultimate faux-triumph of our lunacy: a stumbling sociopath that is, or strives to be, both all-powerful and all-knowing.

The money we've poured into the intelligence industry in the last decade - expanding exponentially the worst excesses of the Cold War - has done more than gum up the wheels of government. It has usurped much of what remained of its legitimacy. The more secrets the government keeps from us, the less it belongs to us. In the Secrecy State, no one extols the value of openness. But a government that isn't open is not a democracy.

What, indeed, are these secrets that only insiders have access to? How much do they concern legitimate, and temporary, matters of national security, and how much do they merely shield unsavory truths about the status quo? How much secrecy, in other words, is of the CYA variety?
Consider, for instance, one of the most high-profile security breaches of recent months: the WikiLeaks release of a classified video showing a U.S. Apache helicopter crew strafing Iraqi civilians on a Baghdad street, killing a dozen, including two Reuters journalists, and laughing in eerie moral disconnection from what they've just done ("Oh yeah, look at those dead bastards").

A 22-year-old Army intelligence analyst, Pfc. Bradley Manning, the apparently conscience-stricken whistleblower who passed the video on to WikiLeaks, has recently been charged with 12 counts of illegal dissemination of classified data - just about the most heinous crime it's possible to commit in the Secrecy State. It's far worse, for instance, than merely killing or torturing civilians.

But in the larger world beyond the Secrecy State, where words like "democracy" and "conscience" carry more weight than "classified," he's a truth teller and a hero. Without such people, the secret government, the private government, will do nothing but grow.
*****
Robert Koehler is an award-winning, Chicago-based journalist and nationally syndicated writer. You can respond to this column at koehlercw [at] gmail [dot] com or visit his Web site at commonwonders.com.

© 2010 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

QURAN THE FINAL REVELATION

QURAN THE FINAL REVELATION

During his life time, Muhammad, peace be upon him, related powerful words of wisdom in perfect literary Arabic context with such powerful literature that amused the Arabs. This literature came to be known as the Quran revealed from God.

The Arabs of that time were renown for their rich literature and had excelled in the art of poetry and literature. But even the best of them failed to mach the power of the Quran. The Quran challenged them to come up with one chapter similar to it, a challenge that was later reduced to a challenge to come up with atleast one verse. But they never rose up to the challenge despite their opposition to Muhammad and his message. What was even more astonishing to them was the fact that Muhammad never possessed the ability to recite or even to speak poetry.

The Quran is not just a beautiful Arabic literature but also a great source of wisdom. The Quran is the last revealed word of God and the basic source of Islamic teachings and laws. It deals with a variety of subjects including the basic beliefs of Islam, morality, worship, knowledge, wisdom, God-and-man relationships, and relations among human beings. Comprehensive teachings on which sound systems of social justice, politics, economics, legislation, jurisprudence, law and international relations can be built from an important part of the Holy Quran.

Though Prophet Muhammad did not receive a formal education, the Quran, as soon as it was revealed to him in the spoken word, was committed to writing by his secretaries. In this way every word was written down and preserved during his lifetime by his companions. The Quran contains 114 chapters; 6616 verses; 77,934 words; and 323,671 letters that have remained unchanged since the end of revelation ( more than 1400 years ago ! ) The original and complete text of the Quran is in Arabic and translations of its meaning in most known languages are available in major libraries and bookstores.

Hadith, the teachings, sayings and actions of Prophet Muhammad, accurately reported and collected by his devoted companions, explain and elaborate the Quran verses. Over the decades, the Muslims were very meticulous in gathering and authenticating these teachings. Not only did they preserve the teachings in detail, they also preserved with them the chain of narrators that related these teachings and also information about these narrators.

A Message from The Quran
The Quran contains a lot of wisdom pertaining to all aspects of life. The following verses are a small portion of wisdom that reminds men of some of their duties towards God.

33 And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him. And that you be dutiful to your parents. If one of them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them but address them in terms of honor.
34 And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say : "My Lord ! Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small."
35 Your Lord knows best what is in your inner-selves. If you are righteous, then, verily, he is Ever Most Forgiving to those who turn unto Him again and again in obedience, and in repentance.
36 And follow not ( i.e., say not, or do not witness not, etc.) that of which you have no knowledge ( e.g. to say, "I have heard ..", or, "I have seen ..", while in fact he has not heard or seen). Verily ! hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each one of you will be questioned ( by Allah.)
37 And walk not on the earth with conceit and arrogance. Verily, you can neither rend nor penetrate the earth, nor can you attain the stature like the mountains in height.
38 All the bad aspect of these ( the above mentioned things) are hateful to your Lord.
39 This is (part) of the al-hikmah ( wisdom, good manners, and high character, etc.) which your Lord inspired to you. And set not up with Allah any other god lest you should be thrown into Hell, blameworthy and rejected ( from His Mercy.)
(Translation from the Quran 17:33-39)
Translation of the QURAN:
Index of the Quran by Chapters. (by MSA at USC)
Search the Quran by word. (by MSA at USC)
The Quran in Various Languages. ( by Ibrahim Shafi)
The Quran In Arabic translated in English (NEW)
Home

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Toxic legacy of US assault on Fallujah 'worse than Hiroshima'

The shocking rates of infant mortality and cancer in Iraqi city raise new questions about battle

By Patrick Cockburn

Children in Fallujah who suffer from birth defects which are thought to be linked to weapons used in attacks on the city by US Marines
More pictures
(http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00027/bullet_27264a.gif);

Dramatic increases in infant mortality, cancer and leukaemia in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, which was bombarded by US Marines in 2004, exceed those reported by survivors of the atomic bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, according to a new study.
Iraqi doctors in Fallujah have complained since 2005 of being overwhelmed by the number of babies with serious birth defects, ranging from a girl born with two heads to paralysis of the lower limbs. They said they were also seeing far more cancers than they did before the battle for Fallujah between US troops and insurgents.

Their claims have been supported by a survey showing a four-fold increase in all cancers and a 12-fold increase in childhood cancer in under-14s. Infant mortality in the city is more than four times higher than in neighbouring Jordan and eight times higher than in Kuwait.
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Dr Chris Busby, a visiting professor at the University of Ulster and one of the authors of the survey of 4,800 individuals in Fallujah, said it is difficult to pin down the exact cause of the cancers and birth defects. He added that "to produce an effect like this, some very major mutagenic exposure must have occurred in 2004 when the attacks happened".
US Marines first besieged and bombarded Fallujah, 30 miles west of Baghdad, in April 2004 after four employees of the American security company Blackwater were killed and their bodies burned. After an eight-month stand-off, the Marines stormed the city in November using artillery and aerial bombing against rebel positions. US forces later admitted that they had employed white phosphorus as well as other munitions.
In the assault US commanders largely treated Fallujah as a free-fire zone to try to reduce casualties among their own troops. British officers were appalled by the lack of concern for civilian casualties. "During preparatory operations in the November 2004 Fallujah clearance operation, on one night over 40 155mm artillery rounds were fired into a small sector of the city," recalled Brigadier Nigel Aylwin-Foster, a British commander serving with the American forces in Baghdad.
He added that the US commander who ordered this devastating use of firepower did not consider it significant enough to mention it in his daily report to the US general in command. Dr Busby says that while he cannot identify the type of armaments used by the Marines, the extent of genetic damage suffered by inhabitants suggests the use of uranium in some form. He said: "My guess is that they used a new weapon against buildings to break through walls and kill those inside."
The survey was carried out by a team of 11 researchers in January and February this year who visited 711 houses in Fallujah. A questionnaire was filled in by householders giving details of cancers, birth outcomes and infant mortality. Hitherto the Iraqi government has been loath to respond to complaints from civilians about damage to their health during military operations.
Researchers were initially regarded with some suspicion by locals, particularly after a Baghdad television station broadcast a report saying a survey was being carried out by terrorists and anybody conducting it or answering questions would be arrested. Those organising the survey subsequently arranged to be accompanied by a person of standing in the community to allay suspicions.
The study, entitled "Cancer, Infant Mortality and Birth Sex-Ratio in Fallujah, Iraq 2005-2009", is by Dr Busby, Malak Hamdan and Entesar Ariabi, and concludes that anecdotal evidence of a sharp rise in cancer and congenital birth defects is correct. Infant mortality was found to be 80 per 1,000 births compared to 19 in Egypt, 17 in Jordan and 9.7 in Kuwait. The report says that the types of cancer are "similar to that in the Hiroshima survivors who were exposed to ionising radiation from the bomb and uranium in the fallout".
Researchers found a 38-fold increase in leukaemia, a ten-fold increase in female breast cancer and significant increases in lymphoma and brain tumours in adults. At Hiroshima survivors showed a 17-fold increase in leukaemia, but in Fallujah Dr Busby says what is striking is not only the greater prevalence of cancer but the speed with which it was affecting people.
Of particular significance was the finding that the sex ratio between newborn boys and girls had changed. In a normal population this is 1,050 boys born to 1,000 girls, but for those born from 2005 there was an 18 per cent drop in male births, so the ratio was 850 males to 1,000 females. The sex-ratio is an indicator of genetic damage that affects boys more than girls. A similar change in the sex-ratio was discovered after Hiroshima.
The US cut back on its use of firepower in Iraq from 2007 because of the anger it provoked among civilians. But at the same time there has been a decline in healthcare and sanitary conditions in Iraq since 2003. The impact of war on civilians was more severe in Fallujah than anywhere else in Iraq because the city continued to be blockaded and cut off from the rest of the country long after 2004. War damage was only slowly repaired and people from the city were frightened to go to hospitals in Baghdad because of military checkpoints on the road into the capital.

Friday, July 23, 2010

O Muslims - Fulfil your covenant to Allaah!

O Muslims - Fulfil your covenant to Allaah!

Abu Hurraira narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said: ‘Whoever dies and has not fought or intended to fight (Jihaad in the path of Allaah) has died on a branch of hypocrisy’ [Muslim]
And say not of those who are killed in the Way of Allaah, "They are dead." Nay, they are living, but you perceive (it) not. (Al-Baqarah 2:154)
And fight in the Way of Allaah those who fight you, but transgress not the limits. Truly, Allaah likes not the transgressors. (Al-Baqarah 2:190)
Jihaad (holy fighting in Allaah's Cause) is ordained for you (Muslims) though you dislike it, and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allaah knows but you do not know. (Al-Baqarah 2:216)
And fight in the Way of Allaah and know that Allaah is All-Hearer, All-Knower. (Al-Baqarah 2:244)
And Allaah has already made you victorious at Badr, when you were a weak little force. So fear Allaah much [abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden and love Allaah much, perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained] that you may be grateful. (Aali Imran 3:123)
So do not become weak (against your enemy), nor be sad, and you will be superior (in victory) if you are indeed (true) believers. If a wound (and killing) has touched you, be sure a similar wound (and killing) has touched the others. And so are the days (good and not so good), We give to men by turns, that Allaah may test those who believe, and that He may take martyrs from among you. And Allaah likes not the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrong doers). And that Allaah may test (or purify) the believers (from sins) and destroy the disbelievers. Do you think that you will enter Paradise before Allaah tests those of you who fought (in His Cause) and (also) tests those who are As-Saabireen (the patient ones, etc.)? (Aali Imran 3:139-142)
If Allaah helps you, none can overcome you; and if He forsakes you, who is there after Him that can help you? And in Allaah (Alone) let believers put their trust. (Aali Imran 3:160)
Think not of those who are killed in the Way of Allaah as dead. Nay, they are alive, with their Lord, and they have provision. They rejoice in what Allaah has bestowed upon them of His Bounty, rejoicing for the sake of those who have not yet joined them, but are left behind (not yet martyred) that on them no fear shall come, nor shall they grieve. They rejoice in a Grace and a Bounty from Allaah, and that Allaah will not waste the reward of the believers. Those who answered (the Call of) Allaah and the Messenger (Muhammad SAW) after being wounded; for those of them who did good deeds and feared Allaah, there is a great reward. Those (i.e. believers) unto whom the people (hypocrites) said, "Verily, the people (pagans) have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them." But it (only) increased them in Faith, and they said: "Allaah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)." (Aali Imran 3:169-173)
Let those (believers) who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter fight in the Cause of Allaah, and whoso fights in the Cause of Allaah, and is killed or gets victory, We shall bestow on him a great reward. And what is wrong with you that you fight not in the Cause of Allaah, and for those weak, ill treated and oppressed among men, women, and children, whose cry is: "Our Lord! Rescue us from this town whose people are oppressors; and raise for us from You one who will protect, and raise for us from You one who will help." Those who believe, fight in the Cause of Allaah, and those who disbelieve, fight in the cause of Taaghoot (Satan, etc.). So fight you against the friends of Shaitaan (Satan); Ever feeble indeed is the plot of Shaitaan (Satan). (An-Nisa 4:74-76)
Not equal are those of the believers who sit (at home), except those who are disabled, and those who strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allaah with their wealth and their lives. Allaah has preferred in grades those who strive hard and fight with their wealth and their lives above those who sit (at home). Unto each, Allaah has promised good (Paradise), but Allaah has preferred those who strive hard and fight, above those who sit (at home) by a huge reward; (An-Nisa 4:95)
O you who believe! When you meet those who disbelieve, in a battle-field, never turn your backs to them. (Al-Anfal 8:15)
O you who believe! When you meet (an enemy) force, take a firm stand against them and remember the Name of Allaah much (both with tongue and mind), so that you may be successful. And obey Allaah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength depart, and be patient. Surely, Allaah is with those who are As-Saabireen (the patient ones, etc.). (Al-Anfal 8:45-46)
So if you gain the mastery over them in war, punish them severely in order to disperse those who are behind them, so that they may learn a lesson. (Al-Anfal 8:57)
And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war (tanks, planes, missiles, artillery, bomb vests, nail bombs, homemade explosives, "dirty bombs", car bombs, etc.) to threaten the enemy of Allaah and your enemy, and others besides whom, you may not know but whom Allaah does know. And whatever you shall spend in the Cause of Allaah shall be repaid unto you, and you shall not be treated unjustly. (Al-Anfal 8:60)
Now Allaah has lightened your (task), for He knows that there is weakness in you. So if there are of you a hundred steadfast persons, they shall overcome two hundred, and if there are a thousand of you, they shall overcome two thousand with the Leave of Allaah. And Allaah is with As-Saabireen (the patient ones, etc). (Al-Anfal 8:66)
Fight against them so that Allaah will punish them by your hands and disgrace them and give you victory over them and heal the breasts of a believing people, (At-Tawbah 9:14)
Do you consider the providing of drinking water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of Al-Masjid-al-Haraam as equal to the worth of those who believe in Allaah and the Last Day, and strive hard and fight in the Cause of Allaah? They are not equal before Allaah. And Allaah guides not those people who are the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers). (At-Tawbah 9:19)
Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allaah and His Messenger, and striving hard and fighting in His Cause, then wait until Allaah brings about His Decision (torment). And Allaah guides not the people who are Al-Faasiqoon (the rebellious, disobedient to Allaah). (At-Tawbah 9:24)
Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred, (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein, and fight against the Mushrikoon (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allaah) collectively, as they fight against you collectively. But know that Allaah is with those who are Al-Muttaqoon. (At-Tawbah 9:36)
O you who believe! What is the matter with you, that when you are asked to march forth in the Cause of Allaah (i.e. Jihaad) you cling heavily to the earth? Are you pleased with the life of this world rather than the Hereafter? But little is the enjoyment of the life of this world as compared with the Hereafter. If you march not forth, He will punish you with a painful torment and will replace you by another people, and you cannot harm Him at all, and Allaah is Able to do all things. (At-Tawbah 9:38-39)
March forth, whether you are light (being healthy, young and wealthy) or heavy (being ill, old and poor), strive hard with your wealth and your lives in the Cause of Allaah. This is better for you, if you but knew. (At-Tawbah 9:41)
There is no blame on those who are weak or ill or who find no resources to spend [in holy fighting (Jihaad)], if they are sincere and true (in duty) to Allaah and His Messenger. No ground (of complaint) can there be against the Muhsinoon (good-doers). And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Nor (is there blame) on those who came to you to be provided with mounts, and when you said: "I can find no mounts for you," they turned back, while their eyes overflowing with tears of grief that they could not find anything to spend (for Jihaad). The ground (of complaint) is only against those who are rich, and yet ask exemption. They are content to be with (the women) who sit behind (at home) and Allaah has sealed up their hearts (from all kinds of goodness and right guidance) so that they know not (what they are losing). (At-Tawbah 9:91-93)
Verily, Allaah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties; for the price that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allaah's Cause, so they kill (others) and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Tauraat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and the Qur'aan. And who is truer to his covenant than Allaah? Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success. (At-Tawbah 9:111)
Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allaah [i.e. they have gone out for Jihaad (holy fighting), and showed not their backs to the disbelievers], of them some have fulfilled their obligations (i.e. have been martyred), and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed [i.e.they never proved treacherous to their covenant which they concluded with Allaah] in the least. (Al-Ahzab 33:23)
So, when you meet (in fight Jihaad in Allaah's Cause), those who disbelieve smite at their necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives). Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity (i.e. free them without ransom), or ransom (according to what benefits Islaam), until the war lays down its burden. Thus [you are ordered by Allaah to continue in carrying out Jihaad against the disbelievers till they embrace Islaam (i.e. are saved from the punishment in the Hell-fire) or at least come under your protection], but if it had been Allaah's Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight), in order to test you, some with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allaah, He will never let their deeds be lost, He will guide them and set right their state. And admit them to Paradise which He has made known to them (i.e. they will know their places in Paradise more than they used to know their houses in the world). (Muhammad 47:4-6)
So be not weak and ask not for peace (from the enemies of Islaam), while you are having the upper hand. Allaah is with you, and will never decrease the reward of your good deeds. (Muhammad 47:35)
Behold! You are those who are called to spend in the Cause of Allaah, yet among you are some who are niggardly. And whoever is niggardly, it is only at the expense of his ownself. But Allaah is Rich (Free of all wants), and you (mankind) are poor. And if you turn away (from Islaam and the obedience of Allaah), He will exchange you for some other people, and they will not be your likes. (Muhammad 47:38)
Anas (radhi Allaahu `anhu) narrated that Muhammad (sal-Allaahu `alayhe wa sallam) said: "Fight against the disbelievers with your wealth, lives and tongues." [Abu Dawud]


Blogger comment:
Some Muslims now think they are fighting for the path of God, Jesus and Muhammad. Some Muslims will fight until the great prophet Jesus (PBUH) will decened in the earth among them. Some of Christians rights now realized that Islam is not the anti-Christ and is the religion of Christ and all prophets. They can not wait to see Jesus which will happen in few years. The elites are using the Chrisitans faith to maintain the status of the corrupt rotten empire that God promised to destroy it. For me I would rather have the empire repent and humble itself to God than to see it in ruins. We will be paying a lot for that, more importantly a lot of innocent people will die. Though they played part in not to stand to their emperors particualrly in semidemocracy when they did not say enough is enough. We killed a lot of people in the Arab and Muslim world we were all along standing with the tyrants we went to steal their oil and God let us drown in our own oil. We are sending young men and women out of high school to fight for emperialism disguised as patriotism. It is time we repent we can fool people but not the strong God of Israel who would punish his enemies harsh and even his own people the Jews themselves when they were injust. His robe is justice and his fury is against the oppressors and injust. Read the old testament.

Isaiah 5:16But the LORD Almighty will be exalted by his justice, and the holy God will show himself holy by his righteousness.Isaiah 5:15-17 (in Context) Isaiah 5 (Whole Chapter)
Isaiah 9:7Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this (Jesus in his second coming).Isaiah 9:6-8 (in Context) Isaiah 9 (Whole Chapter)
Isaiah 30:18Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!Isaiah 30:17-19 (in Context) Isaiah 30 (Whole Chapter)

UK admits using DU ammunition in Iraq

UK admits using DU ammunition in Iraq

UK defense secretary says American and British forces used depleted uranium (DU) ammunitions during the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003."UK forces used about 1.9 metric tons of depleted uranium ammunition in the Iraq war in 2003," UK Defense Secretary Liam Fox said in a written reply to the House of Commons on Thursday, the Kuwait News Agency reported.The announcement came after a joint study by the environment, health and science ministries in Iraq said there were communities near the cities of Najaf, Basra and Fallujah with increased rates of cancer and birth defects over the past five years.More than 40 sites across Iraq are contaminated with high levels of radiation and dioxins.Fox said the Ministry of Defense provided the coordinates of targets attacked using DU ammunition to the UN Environmental Program."They also exchanged information with humanitarian and other organizations; and warned Iraqis through signs and leaflets that they should not go near or touch any debris they find on the former battlefield," he claimed.The use of depleted uranium ammunition is widely controversial because of potential long-term health effects.It is reported that the US and Britain used up to 2,000 tons of these ammunitions during the Iraq war.The World Health Organization is now investigating the rising number of birth defects, which Iraqi doctors attribute to the use of chemical weapons and depleted uranium ammunition during the war.Iraqi doctors say they' have been struggling to cope with the rise in the number of cancer cases, especially in cities subjected to heavy US and British bombardment.Iraq's Ministry for Human Rights (puppet of the West) is expected to file a lawsuit against Britain and the US over their use of depleted uranium bombs in Iraq.The ministry will seek compensation for the victims of these weapons.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Prophet Noah (Nuh)

From: www.whyquran.com

Moral Degradation:
The Prophet Adam (peace be upon him) had left his progeny in a state of social and moral health but gradually they began to forget the teachings of Allah (Arabic word for God). They adopted the wrong path and indulged in corruption and depravity. They became mean, evil-doers and greedy. They cheated and hurt one another. They began to worship idols and forgot to pray to Almighty Allah. The entire society had been split up into different sections and this state of affairs had given birth to oppression and injustice.

The Advent of Prophet Nuh:
Under these circumstances Allah, the Most Merciful, wanted the people to be good again. He sent Nuh (Noah) as His apostle for the reclamation of the depraved humanity dwelling in that part of the earth which is called Iraq in the present era. Those people believed in Allah but they associated other gods with Allah, the Supreme. The priests of these deities exercised great control over all affairs. The people offered sacrifices in the name of their deities to please them. They spent the money lavishly and thus their condition became miserable. The Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) like other prophets was sincere, pious, patient and trustworthy. He was strong in his will and determination. Angel Gabriel (Jibra'il) conveyed him the teachings from Allah. He was commanded to reform the people who had been led astray by the Satan. He kept on preaching the faith of Allah and directed the people to pray to one God. He advised them to refrain from doing evil deeds. The Holy Qur'an affirms his endeavours to reform his people in the following Verses:
"He (Nuh) said: 0' my people! serve Allah. There is no god other than Him. If you refuse, verily I fear for you chastisement of a grievous day. The Chiefs of his people said: Most certainly we perceive you in clear error. He said: O' my people! There is no error in me but I am an Apostle from the lord of the worlds. I deliver to you the message of my Lord and I counsel you right (7: 59,60)
Again in the following Verses the Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) warned his people by declaring:
"O' my people! Surely I am a plain warner to you bidding you to serve Allah and be mindful of your duty to Him, and obey me so that He may forgive your faults." (71:2-4)
The Prophet Nuh was opposed: Most of the people did not believe in the Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him). They made fun of him and ridiculed him as a mad man. Whenever he tried to convey the message of Allah to them, they began to thrust their fingers into their ears. They persisted in their infidelity and proudly disdained his counsel to do good deeds. The people were so stubborn under the influence of their minister who they paid no heed to the message of Allah and their aversion rapidly increased. At last, after 950 years of preaching his people to do good deeds, in sheer disgust the Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) had to cry out:
"My Lord! Leave not upon land any dweller from among the disbelievers. For surely if You leave them, they will lead astray Your servants and will not beget any but immoral ungrateful offspring. My Lord! Forgive me and my parents and him who enters my house believing, and the believing males and females and do not increase the unjust in aught but destruction." (71: 26-28)
Preparation of an Ark:
Consequently Almighty Allah answered the prayer of Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) by asking him to build an ark (a very big boat). The Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) knew that Allah planned to drown all those sinners who had rejected His Commandments. He began to build the ark with the help of his followers. They went on working constantly from dawn to dusk. When the boat began to take shape, the disbelievers made fun of them. The transgressors thought that the Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) and his followers were becoming crazy and were losing their balance of mind. The Holy Qur'an says:
"And he began to build the ark and whenever the chiefs among his people passed by him, they deride him but he said: Though you scoff at us now, we will scoff at you in Hereafter." (11:38)

Calamity befalls:
When the big ark was completed, the sky became cloudy. It started to rain in torrents. The streams became bulging with water. There was water everywhere. The lightning was frightening and the thunder made the hearts pound fast. Everyone was scared and worried except the Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) and his Followers. The Holy Qur'an gives the description of this terrible deluge in the following Verses:
"So We opened the gates of the heavens with water pouring down and We caused the earth to gush forth its springs, so the water of the heavens and the earth gathered together according to measure already ordained." (54: 11, 12)
The Prophet Nuh (peace be upon trim) called on his family and followers to embark the boat. They came rushing to the ark. There was a special place in the boat for all the animates including human beings and their animals. The ark sailed amid waves like mountains while the streams of water were rising fast and filling many houses with water through the windows and the doors. Many houses collapsed and dashed to the ground. Some of disbeliever tried to swim but in vain. They were in a pathetic condition but they deserved it. The son of Nuh was separated from him because he was an evil-doer. The Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) prayed to his Lord and said:
"Surely, my son belongs to my family and Your promise is true. Allah said: Surely, he is not of your family. He is of evil conduct, therefore ask not of Me that of which you have no knowledge." (11:45, 46)
In the meantime the water rose higher and higher. The whole area was under the sway of flood and all the disbelievers were drowned. The Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) and his followers were safe and sound in the ark which was floating without any obstruction of huge waves. Finally the rain stopped and the water abated. The sky became clear.
The Prophet Nuh and his followers Remain Safe: The Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) and his believers sheltered in a safe place. They built new houses and worked hard in the fields. The next generation which sprang up from the survived believers included God-fearing persons. They worshipped one God and acted according to His teachings. The Prophet Nuh (peace be upon him) lived for about 950 years. After this dreadful destruction the people abstained from committing sins for sometime. Afterwards they began to be loose in their actions.

Source: http://www.islam101.com/history/people/prophets/nuh.htm

The characteristics of the Quran

From: http://www.whyquran.com/877/content/blogcategory/22/134/

The Quran has a number of unique characteristics, some of which are as follows:
1- It is the actual Word of Allah (God), not created but revealed for the benefit of all mankind. Allah says: [It is He Who sent down the Criterion to His servant, that it may be an admonition to all creatures] (Quran 25:1).
2- It is complete and comprehensive. The Almighty says: [Nothing have We omitted from the Book] (Quran 6: 38). In another place we read: [And We have sent down to thee the Book explaining all things] (Quran 16: 89).
3- It is a theoretical and a practical Book, not only moralizing but also specifically defining the permissible and the forbidden. The importance of understanding the message of the Quran is undeniable, but simply reciting it with the intention of seeking Allah's pleasure and reward is also an act of worship and meritorious in itself. Allah the Almighty says: [So take what the Prophet gives you, and refrain from what he prohibits you] (Quran 59: 7).
4- Allah has perfected His religion for all mankind with the revelation of this Book. He says: [This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as your religion] (Quran 5:3).
5- It is Allah's eternal miracle revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) for all succeeding generations. In response to those who doubt the origin of the Quran, Allah the Almighty has challenged the most articulate Arabs to produce a whole book, ten chapters, or even one solitary chapter that can be remotely comparable to the Quran. But to this day, no one has succeeded in meeting the challenge of the Almighty. The Almighty says: [Or they may say: "He forged it." Say: "Bring you then ten chapters forged, like unto it and call (to your aid) whomsoever ye can other than Allah, if you speak the truth] (Quran 11:13).
6- It has been revealed to re-establish the sincere worship of Allah alone, without associating any partners with Him: [This is a Book with verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning), further explained in detail, from One Who is Wise and Well-Aware. (It teaches) that you should worship none but Allah] (Quran 11: 1-2). [And they have been commanded no more than this: to worship Allah, offering Him sincere devotion, being true in faith, to establish regular prayer and to give Zakat (support of the needy), and that is the religion Right and Straight] (Quran 98: 5).
7- It contains a complete code that provides for all areas of life, whether spiritual, intellectual, political, social, or economic. It is a code that has no boundaries of time, place or nation: [Verily this Quran doth guide to that which is most right] (Quran 17: 9).
8- Allah the Almighty has taken upon Himself the duty of preserving the Quran forever in its entirety, as He says: [We have without doubt sent down the Message, and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption)] (Quran 15: 9).
9- It has been preserved so well, both in memory and in writing that the Arabic text we have today is identical to the text that was revealed to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). Not even a single letter has yielded to corruption during the passage of centuries, and so it will remain for ever, by the order of Allah.
Source:
http://www.quran.org.uk/ieb_quran_intro.htm

Quranic Style of Storytelling

http://www.quraaniclessons.com/Quranic_Style_of_Storytelling.asp

In order to appeal to human beings’ hearts and minds, the Holy Qur’an has used a number of approaches. This has been in an effort to persuade humans to support the truth, which is traced back to God, and the true path, which leads to Him. It has been done in such a way as to allow the faith to touch on the innermost feelings of man. The spiritual experience should roam in the vast realm of the ideology, lest the faith be dulled by the emptiness of the thought, or the thought should give in to the rawness of the senses.

Storytelling is among the styles of dialogue the Holy Qur’an has adopted. The approach has been applied to different brands of storytelling. Some have been historical tales, which talk about the prophets of old and bygone generations; others have been meant to serve a moral purpose; and a third type of tale, which is precise and terse in what it tries to convey, usually discusses a certain position or a particular aspect of a certain human being.

In its aims and objects, the story is not intended to give us an account of history per se. It is not expected to dwell on portraying a picture only of what happened, so that it should be governed by the modus operandi of storytelling, especially the detailed account of the incident or the position.

The Quranic story is entwined with the main guidelines and message of the Holy Qur’an, i.e. the call to the way of God, guiding people to the truth, and eventually showing them the light to believing in God and submitting to Him. Thus, it seeks to deliver man from the darkness of dishonesty and malpractice to the light that is emanating from the heart of the Message in God’s realms.

In the historical facts and situations of which the Qur’anic story has told, it has sought to achieve all the aims [discussed above]. Sometimes it can be seen that particular historical stories have been repeated in more that one surah, because they have a bearing, as a whole or in part, on the context and the notion being discussed in that particular chapter.

As a result, the Quranic style advocates different approaches to telling the story. Sometimes a detailed account of the story is given, which may contain most of the characteristics of storytelling. At other times, it gives a summary, usually contained in one or two verses.
The style may tackle the story either from the start or the end, according to the idea or the aspect being discussed or handled, or the situation or position being highlighted or focused on.
The Quranic story stresses the unity of the Message

Among the aims of the Quranic story are stressing the unity of the Divine Message, the unity of the methods the messengers use to call to the way of God, the unity of the spiritual world they live in while making efforts to deliver the Message and in enduring the trials and tribulations in executing their missions, including the challenges mounted against them by their adversaries.

This should serve as evidence of the one common path that God wanted His Messages to run along. It should also serve as a proof of the uniform problems that the activists confront at all times and places, regardless of the differences in circumstances of each and every mission and messenger. In the same vein, the Quranic story tries to highlight the uniformity that characterizes the motives of the unbelievers, the haughty, and the straying, in that these motives stem from personal inclinations. The unbelievers do not seem to be standing on any ideological ground in their rejection of God’s Message.

The history of the prophets, in all that they came to stand for, the problems they faced, and the achievements they made, was an important factor in achieving that aim. For this reason, the Holy Qur’an has discussed in detail their experiences and personal and public positions. This is so that Prophet Mohammad (p.), his companions, and those who have followed in their footsteps would find the lively picture of reunion between the past and the present of the Divine Messages. That is, without losing sight of the difference in time, place, and circumstances that had characterized each and every Message. Pondering their history would provide us with the opportunity to learn from their experiences in spreading the Message. Their history would provide us with the experience we require to withstand the pressures and odd situations, and thus give us the strength and resilience to weather adversity. It makes clear how God eventually perfected His victory on the prophets in anchoring their Messages firmly on the stage of life, against all the odds and challenges.

Also among the aims of the Qur’an is presenting life’s issues by way of giving examples, where the concept should be clearly defined. Thus the Quranic story has proved to be among the most successful methods of achieving this end result, by virtue of manifesting the notion in a live and dynamic real life setting, instead of talking about it in abstract terms.

Two distinct styles of Quranic storytelling
One can talk about two distinct manners of telling the story in the Holy Qur’an: reporting the incidents from the start of the tale to its end, and role-play, where each player in the plot plays his or her part in a transparent style. Interaction between the players then ensues.
The first approach deals with minor incidents of history. The storyteller here plays the role of guiding the listener to the fundamental points in a manner that borders on the instructive in filling the gaps.

The importance of the dialogue style of storytelling lies in its attempt to simplify and make understandable the concept all round, so that no aspect should remain ambiguous. This is because each party to the dialogue does their best to put across their point of view.

However, there is another point that distinguishes the dialogue style. It paints a live and dynamic picture of the scene. Thus, the reader lives the situations, one after the other, trying to visualize the climate of the historical occurrences through the activity of the heroes of the story as though he were living then. The reader does not only experience the narrative and its connotations, but also the dynamism and atmosphere that govern the entire story. It is obvious, therefore, that recounting the facts of the story per se cannot serve this purpose, although it should provide a detailed account of the situation.

This has been the reason why the Holy Qur’an has concentrated more on dialogue in telling a story in order to portray a lively picture of the history of the Message in its vitality in real life situations, which the Qur’an has desired to relate to the present, stressing the common denominator between all the Divine Messages. It may be said too that the Holy Qur’an has desired to raise the vital issues that relate to people’s lives in order to give them that extra dimension in their minds.

We will also come up with some samples of Quranic stories that are told in a dialogue style, in the history of prophetic missions to deliver the Divine Message to people. Some stories should also touch on the fundamental issues as they simmer in real life situations. This should help the cause of propagating the way to God and the journey of Islam in life.

In recent future we will add the article on Noah and his people, related to the above concepts.
1) QuraanicLessons.com2) UnderstandQuran.com3) emuslim.com
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May Allah help us all to master the language of the Qur’an and to aid its spread throughout the Ummah.