Open Letter and Call From Muslim Leaders To The Pope.

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
On the Occasion of the Eid al-Fitr al-Mubarak 1428 A.H. / October 13th 2007 C.E., and on
the One Year Anniversary of the Open Letter of 38 Muslim Scholars to H.H. Pope Benedict XVI,
An Open Letter and Call from Muslim Religious Leaders to:
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI,
His All-Holiness Bartholomew I, Patriarch of Constantinople, New Rome,
His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa,
His Beatitude Ignatius IV, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East,
His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem,
His Beatitude Alexy II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia,
His Beatitude Pavle, Patriarch of Belgrade and Serbia,
His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania,
His Beatitude Maxim, Patriarch of Bulgaria,
His Beatitude Ilia II, Archbishop of Mtskheta-Tbilisi, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia,
His Beatitude Chrisostomos, Archbishop of Cyprus,
His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece,
His Beatitude Sawa, Metropolitan of Warsaw and All Poland,
His Beatitude Anastasios, Archbishop of Tirana, Duerres and All Albania,
His Beatitude Christoforos, Metropolitan of the Czech and Slovak Republics,
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of All Africa on the
Apostolic Throne of St. Mark,
His Beatitude Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians,
His Beatitude Ignatius Zakka I, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the
Universal Syrian Orthodox Church,
His Holiness Mar Thoma Didymos I, Catholicos of the East on the Apostolic Throne of St.
Thomas and the Malankara Metropolitan,
His Holiness Abune Paulos, Fifth Patriarch and Catholicos of Ethiopia, Echege of the See of
St. Tekle Haymanot, Archbishop of Axium,
His Beatitude Mar Dinkha IV, Patriarch of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of
the East,
The Most Rev. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury,
Rev. Mark S. Hanson, Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and
President of the Lutheran World Federation,
Rev. George H. Freeman, General Secretary, World Methodist Council,
Rev. David Coffey, President of the Baptist World Alliance,
Rev. Setri Nyomi, General Secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches,
Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, General Secretary, World Council of Churches,
And Leaders of Christian Churches, everywhere….
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful
A Common Word between Us and You
(Summary and Abridgement)
Muslims and Christians together make up well over half of the world’s population.
Without peace and justice between these two religious communities, there can be no
meaningful peace in the world. The future of the world depends on peace between
Muslims and Christians.
The basis for this peace and understanding already exists. It is part of the very
foundational principles of both faiths: love of the One God, and love of the neighbour.
These principles are found over and over again in the sacred texts of Islam and
Christianity. The Unity of God, the necessity of love for Him, and the necessity of love of
the neighbour is thus the common ground between Islam and Christianity. The following
are only a few examples:
Of God’s Unity, God says in the Holy Qur’an: Say: He is God, the One! / God, the Self-
Sufficient Besought of all! (Al-Ikhlas, 112:1-2). Of the necessity of love for God, God
says in the Holy Qur’an: So invoke the Name of thy Lord and devote thyself to Him with a
complete devotion (Al-Muzzammil, 73:8). Of the necessity of love for the neighbour, the
Prophet Muhammad  said: “None of you has faith until you love for your neighbour
what you love for yourself.”
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ  said: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord
is One. / And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. / And the
second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other
commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)
􀁈 􀁉
In the Holy Qur’an, God Most High enjoins Muslims to issue the following call to
Christians (and Jews—the People of the Scripture):
Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to a common word between us and
you: that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall ascribe no
partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside
God. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who
have surrendered (unto Him). (Aal ‘Imran 3:64)
The words: we shall ascribe no partner unto Him relate to the Unity of God, and
the words: worship none but God, relate to being totally devoted to God. Hence they all
relate to the First and Greatest Commandment. According to one of the oldest and most
authoritative commentaries on the Holy Qur’an the words: that none of us shall take
others for lords beside God, mean ‘that none of us should obey the other in disobedience
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to what God has commanded’. This relates to the Second Commandment because justice
and freedom of religion are a crucial part of love of the neighbour.
Thus in obedience to the Holy Qur’an, we as Muslims invite Christians to come
together with us on the basis of what is common to us, which is also what is most
essential to our faith and practice: the Two Commandments of love.
􀁈 􀁉
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In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful,
And may peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad
A COMMON WORD BETWEEN US AND YOU
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful,
Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and fair exhortation, and contend with
them in the fairest way. Lo! thy Lord is Best Aware of him who strayeth from His way,
and He is Best Aware of those who go aright.
(The Holy Qur’an, Al-Nahl, 16:125)
(I) LOVE OF GOD
LOVE OF GOD IN ISLAM
The Testimonies of Faith
The central creed of Islam consists of the two testimonies of faith or Shahadahsi,
which state that: There is no god but God, Muhammad is the messenger of God. These
Two Testimonies are the sine qua non of Islam. He or she who testifies to them is a
Muslim; he or she who denies them is not a Muslim. Moreover, the Prophet Muhammad
 said: The best remembrance is: ‘There is no god but God’….ii
The Best that All the Prophets have Said
Expanding on the best remembrance, the Prophet Muhammad  also said: The
best that I have said—myself, and the prophets that came before me—is: ‘There is no god
but God, He Alone, He hath no associate, His is the sovereignty and His is the praise and
He hath power over all things’iii. The phrases which follow the First Testimony of faith
are all from the Holy Qur’an; each describe a mode of love of God, and devotion to Him.
The words: He Alone, remind Muslims that their heartsiv must be devoted to God
Alone, since God says in the Holy Qur’an: God hath not assigned unto any man two
hearts within his body (Al-Ahzab, 33:4). God is Absolute and therefore devotion to Him
must be totally sincere.
The words: He hath no associate, remind Muslims that they must love God
uniquely, without rivals within their souls, since God says in the Holy Qur’an: Yet there
are men who take rivals unto God: they love them as they should love God. But those of
faith are more intense in their love for God …. (Al-Baqarah, 2:165). Indeed, [T]heir flesh
and their hearts soften unto the remembrance of God …. (Al-Zumar, 39:23).
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The words: His is the sovereignty, remind Muslims that their minds or their
understandings must be totally devoted to God, for the sovereignty is precisely everything
in creation or existence and everything that the mind can know. And all is in God’s Hand,
since God says in the Holy Qur’an: Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the sovereignty, and,
He is Able to do all things (Al-Mulk, 67:1).
The words: His is the praise remind Muslims that they must be grateful to God
and trust Him with all their sentiments and emotions. God says in the Holy Qur’an:
And if thou wert to ask them: Who created the heavens and the earth, and
constrained the sun and the moon (to their appointed work)? they would
say: God. How then are they turned away ? / God maketh the provision
wide for whom He will of His servants, and straiteneth it for whom (He
will). Lo! God is Aware of all things. / And if thou wert to ask them: Who
causeth water to come down from the sky, and therewith reviveth the earth
after its death ? they verily would say: God. Say: Praise be to God! But
most of them have no sense. (Al-‘Ankabut, 29:61-63)v
For all these bounties and more, human beings must always be truly grateful:
God is He Who created the heavens and the earth, and causeth water to
descend from the sky, thereby producing fruits as food for you, and maketh
the ships to be of service unto you, that they may run upon the sea at His
command, and hath made of service unto you the rivers; / And maketh the
sun and the moon, constant in their courses, to be of service unto you, and
hath made of service unto you the night and the day./ And He giveth you of
all ye ask of Him, and if ye would count the graces of God ye cannot
reckon them. Lo! man is verily a wrong-doer, an ingrate. (Ibrahim, 14:32-
34)vi
Indeed, the Fatihah—which is the greatest chapter in the Holy Qur’anvii—starts with
praise to God:
In the Name of God, the Infinitely Good, the All-Merciful. /
Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds. /
The Infinitely Good, the All-Merciful. /
Owner of the Day of Judgement. /
Thee we worship, and Thee we ask for help. /
Guide us upon the straight path. /
The path of those on whom is Thy Grace, not those who deserve anger nor
those who are astray. (Al-Fatihah, 1:1-7)
The Fatihah, recited at least seventeen times daily by Muslims in the canonical prayers,
reminds us of the praise and gratitude due to God for His Attributes of Infinite Goodness
and All-Mercifulness, not merely for His Goodness and Mercy to us in this life but
ultimately, on the Day of Judgementviii when it matters the most and when we hope to be
forgiven for our sins. It thus ends with prayers for grace and guidance, so that we might
attain—through what begins with praise and gratitude— salvation and love, for God says
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in the Holy Qur’an: Lo! those who believe and do good works, the Infinitely Good will
appoint for them love. (Maryam, 19:96)
The words: and He hath power over all things, remind Muslims that they must be
mindful of God’s Omnipotence and thus fear Godix. God says in the Holy Qur’an:
… [A]nd fear God, and know that God is with the God-fearing. / Spend your
wealth for the cause of God, and be not cast by your own hands to ruin; and
do good. Lo! God loveth the virtuous. / …. (Al-Baqarah, 2:194-5)…
[A]nd fear God, and know that God is severe in punishment. (Al-Baqarah,
2:196)
Through fear of God, the actions, might and strength of Muslims should be totally
devoted to God. God says in the Holy Qur’an:
…[A]nd know that God is with those who fear Him. (Al-Tawbah, 9:36) ….
O ye who believe! What aileth you that when it is said unto you: Go forth in
the way of God, ye are bowed down to the ground with heaviness. Take ye
pleasure in the life of the world rather than in the Hereafter ? The comfort of
the life of the world is but little in the Hereafter. / If ye go not forth He will
afflict you with a painful doom, and will choose instead of you a folk other
than you. Ye cannot harm Him at all. God is Able to do all things. (Al-Tawbah,
9:38-39)

The words: His is the sovereignty and His is the praise and He hath power over
all things, when taken all together, remind Muslims that just as everything in creation
glorifies God, everything that is in their souls must be devoted to God:
All that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth glorifieth God; His is
the sovereignty and His is the praise and He hath power over all things.
(Al-Taghabun, 64:1)
For indeed, all that is in people’s souls is known, and accountable, to God:
He knoweth all that is in the heavens and the earth, and He knoweth what
ye conceal and what ye publish. And God is Aware of what is in the
breasts (of men). (Al-Taghabun, 64:4)
As we can see from all the passages quoted above, souls are depicted in the Holy
Qur’an as having three main faculties: the mind or the intelligence, which is made for
comprehending the truth; the will which is made for freedom of choice, and sentiment
which is made for loving the good and the beautifulx. Put in another way, we could say
that man’s soul knows through understanding the truth, through willing the good, and
through virtuous emotions and feeling love for God. Continuing in the same chapter of
the Holy Qur’an (as that quoted above), God orders people to fear Him as much as
possible, and to listen (and thus to understand the truth); to obey (and thus to will the
good), and to spend (and thus to exercise love and virtue), which, He says, is better for
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our souls. By engaging everything in our souls—the faculties of knowledge, will, and
love—we may come to be purified and attain ultimate success:
So fear God as best ye can, and listen, and obey, and spend; that is better
for your souls. And those who are saved from the pettiness of their own
souls, such are the successful. (Al-Taghabun, 64:16)

In summary then, when the entire phrase He Alone, He hath no associate, His is
the sovereignty and His is the praise and He hath power over all things is added to the
testimony of faith—There is no god but God—it reminds Muslims that their hearts, their
individual souls and all the faculties and powers of their souls (or simply their entire
hearts and souls) must be totally devoted and attached to God. Thus God says to the
Prophet Muhammad  in the Holy Qur’an:
Say: Lo! my worship and my sacrifice and my living and my dying are for
God, Lord of the Worlds. / He hath no partner. This am I commanded, and
I am first of those who surrender (unto Him). / Say: Shall I seek another
than God for Lord, when He is Lord of all things? Each soul earneth only
on its own account, nor doth any laden bear another’s load…. (Al-An’am,
6:162-164)
These verses epitomize the Prophet Muhammad’s  complete and utter devotion
to God. Thus in the Holy Qur’an God enjoins Muslims who truly love God to follow this
examplexi, in order in turn to be lovedxii by God:
Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love God, follow me; God will love
you and forgive you your sins. God is Forgiving, Merciful. (Aal ‘Imran,
3:31)
Love of God in Islam is thus part of complete and total devotion to God; it is not a
mere fleeting, partial emotion. As seen above, God commands in the Holy Qur’an: Say:
Lo! my worship and my sacrifice and my living and my dying are for God, Lord of the
Worlds. / He hath no partner. The call to be totally devoted and attached to God heart
and soul, far from being a call for a mere emotion or for a mood, is in fact an injunction
requiring all-embracing, constant and active love of God. It demands a love in which the
innermost spiritual heart and the whole of the soul—with its intelligence, will and
feeling—participate through devotion.

None Comes with Anything Better
We have seen how the blessed phrase: There is no god but God, He Alone, He
hath no associate, His is the sovereignty and His is the praise and He hath power over all
things—which is the best that all the prophets have said—makes explicit what is implicit
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in the best remembrance (There is no god but God) by showing what it requires and
entails, by way of devotion. It remains to be said that this blessed formula is also in itself
a sacred invocation—a kind of extension of the First Testimony of faith (There is no god
but God)—the ritual repetition of which can bring about, through God’s grace, some of
the devotional attitudes it demands, namely, loving and being devoted to God with all
one’s heart, all one’s soul, all one’s mind, all one’s will or strength, and all one’s
sentiment. Hence the Prophet Muhammad  commended this remembrance by saying:
He who says: ‘There is no god but God, He Alone, He hath no associate,
His is the sovereignty and His is the praise and He hath power over all
things’ one hundred times in a day, it is for them equal to setting ten
slaves free, and one hundred good deeds are written for them and one
hundred bad deeds are effaced, and it is for them a protection from the
devil for that day until the evening. And none offers anything better than
that, save one who does more than that.xiii
In other words, the blessed remembrance, There is no god but God, He Alone, He
hath no associate, His is the sovereignty and His is the praise and He hath power over all
things, not only requires and implies that Muslims must be totally devoted to God and
love Him with their whole hearts and their whole souls and all that is in them, but
provides a way, like its beginning (the testimony of faith)—through its frequent
repetitionxiv—for them to realize this love with everything they are.
God says in one of the very first revelations in the Holy Qur’an: So invoke the
Name of thy Lord and devote thyself to Him with a complete devotion (Al-Muzzammil,
73:8). 
LOVE OF GOD AS THE FIRST AND GREATEST COMMANDMENT IN
THE BIBLE
The Shema in the Book of Deuteronomy (6:4-5), a centrepiece of the Old
Testament and of Jewish liturgy, says: Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is
one! / You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your strength.xv
Likewise, in the New Testament, when Jesus Christ, the Messiah , is asked
about the Greatest Commandment, he answers :
But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they
gathered together. / Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question,
testing Him, and saying, / “Teacher, which is the great commandment in
the law?” / Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with
all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ / This is the first
and greatest commandment. / And the second is like it: ‘You shall love
your neighbour as yourself.’ / On these two commandments hang all the
Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:34-40)
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And also:
Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together,
perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, “Which is the first
commandment of all?” / Jesus answered him, “The first of all the
commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
/ And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your
soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first
commandment. / And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your
neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than
these.” (Mark 12:28-31)
The commandment to love God fully is thus the First and Greatest
Commandment of the Bible. Indeed, it is to be found in a number of other places
throughout the Bible including: Deuteronomy 4:29, 10:12, 11:13 (also part of the Shema),
13:3, 26:16, 30:2, 30:6, 30:10; Joshua 22:5; Mark 12:32-33 and Luke 10:27-28.
However, in various places throughout the Bible, it occurs in slightly different
forms and versions. For instance, in Matthew 22:37 (You shall love the LORD your God
with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind), the Greek word for
“heart” is kardia, the word for “soul” is psyche, and the word for “mind” is dianoia. In
the version from Mark 12:30 (And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength) the word “strength” is
added to the aforementioned three, translating the Greek word ischus.
The words of the lawyer in Luke 10:27 (which are confirmed by Jesus Christ 
in Luke 10:28) contain the same four terms as Mark 12:30. The words of the scribe in
Mark 12:32 (which are approved of by Jesus Christ  in Mark 12:34) contain the three
terms kardia (“heart”), dianoia (“mind”), and ischus (“strength”).
In the Shema of Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the
LORD is one! / You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your strength). In Hebrew the word for “heart” is lev, the word for
“soul” is nefesh, and the word for “strength” is me’od.
In Joshua 22:5, the Israelites are commanded by Joshua  to love God and be
devoted to Him as follows:
“But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses
the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to
walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and
to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Joshua 22:5)
What all these versions thus have in common—despite the language differences
between the Hebrew Old Testament, the original words of Jesus Christ  in Aramaic,
and the actual transmitted Greek of the New Testament—is the command to love God
fully with one’s heart and soul and to be fully devoted to Him. This is the First and
Greatest Commandment for human beings. 􀂔
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In the light of what we have seen to be necessarily implied and evoked by the
Prophet Muhammad’s  blessed saying: ‘The best that I have said—myself, and the
prophets that came before me—is: ‘There is no god but God, He Alone, He hath no
associate, His is the sovereignty and His is the praise and He hath power over all things’
xvi, we can now perhaps understand the words ‘The best that I have said—myself, and the
prophets that came before me’ as equating the blessed formula ‘There is no god but God,
He Alone, He hath no associate, His is the sovereignty and His is the praise and He hath
power over all things’ precisely with the ‘First and Greatest Commandment’ to love God,
with all one’s heart and soul, as found in various places in the Bible. That is to say, in
other words, that the Prophet Muhammad  was perhaps, through inspiration, restating
and alluding to the Bible’s First Commandment. God knows best, but certainly we have
seen their effective similarity in meaning. Moreover, we also do know (as can be seen in
the endnotes), that both formulas have another remarkable parallel: the way they arise in
a number of slightly differing versions and forms in different contexts, all of which,
nevertheless, emphasize the primacy of total love and devotion to God xvii.
􀁈 􀁉
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(II) LOVE OF THE NEIGHBOUR
LOVE OF THE NEIGHBOUR IN ISLAM
There are numerous injunctions in Islam about the necessity and paramount
importance of love for—and mercy towards—the neighbour. Love of the neighbour is an
essential and integral part of faith in God and love of God because in Islam without love
of the neighbour there is no true faith in God and no righteousness. The Prophet
Muhammad  said: “None of you has faith until you love for your brother what you love
for yourself.”xviiiAnd: “None of you has faith until you love for your neighbour what you
love for yourself.”xix
However, empathy and sympathy for the neighbour—and even formal prayers—
are not enough. They must be accompanied by generosity and self-sacrifice. God says in
the Holy Qur’an:
It is not righteousness that ye turn your facesxx to the East and the West;
but righteous is he who believeth in God and the Last Day and the angels
and the Scripture and the prophets; and giveth wealth, for love of Him, to
kinsfolk and to orphans and the needy and the wayfarer and to those who
ask, and to set slaves free; and observeth proper worship and payeth the
poor-due. And those who keep their treaty when they make one, and the
patient in tribulation and adversity and time of stress. Such are they who
are sincere. Such are the pious. (Al-Baqarah 2:177)
And also:
Ye will not attain unto righteousness until ye expend of that which ye love.
And whatsoever ye expend, God is Aware thereof. (Aal ‘Imran, 3:92)
Without giving the neighbour what we ourselves love, we do not truly love God
or the neighbour. 
LOVE OF THE NEIGHBOUR IN THE BIBLE
We have already cited the words of the Messiah, Jesus Christ , about the
paramount importance, second only to the love of God, of the love of the neighbour:
This is the first and greatest commandment. / And the second is like it:
‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ / On these two
commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 22:38-40)
And:
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And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’
There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31)
It remains only to be noted that this commandment is also to be found in the Old
Testament:
You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke
your neighbour, and not bear sin because of him. / You shall not take
vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but
you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the LORD. (Leviticus
19:17-18)
Thus the Second Commandment, like the First Commandment, demands
generosity and self-sacrifice, and On these two commandments hang all the Law and the
Prophets. 􀂔
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(III) COME TO A COMMON WORD BETWEEN US AND YOU
A Common Word
Whilst Islam and Christianity are obviously different religions—and whilst there
is no minimising some of their formal differences—it is clear that the Two Greatest
Commandments are an area of common ground and a link between the Qur’an, the Torah
and the New Testament. What prefaces the Two Commandments in the Torah and the
New Testament, and what they arise out of, is the Unity of God—that there is only one
God. For the Shema in the Torah, starts: (Deuteronomy 6:4) Hear, O Israel: The LORD
our God, the LORD is one! Likewise, Jesus  said: (Mark 12:29) “The first of all the
commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one”. Likewise,
God says in the Holy Qur’an: Say: He, God, is One. / God, the Self-Sufficient Besought of
all. (Al-Ikhlas, 112:1-2). Thus the Unity of God, love of Him, and love of the neighbour
form a common ground upon which Islam and Christianity (and Judaism) are founded.
This could not be otherwise since Jesus  said: (Matthew 22:40)“On these two
commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” Moreover, God confirms in the
Holy Qur’an that the Prophet Muhammad  brought nothing fundamentally or essentially
new: Naught is said to thee (Muhammad) but what already was said to the messengers
before thee (Fussilat 41:43). And: Say (Muhammad): I am no new thing among the
messengers (of God), nor know I what will be done with me or with you. I do but follow
that which is Revealed to me, and I am but a plain warner (Al-Ahqaf, 46:9). Thus also
God in the Holy Qur’an confirms that the same eternal truths of the Unity of God, of the
necessity for total love and devotion to God (and thus shunning false gods), and of the
necessity for love of fellow human beings (and thus justice), underlie all true religion:
And verily We have raised in every nation a messenger, (proclaiming):
Worship God and shun false gods. Then some of them (there were) whom
God guided, and some of them (there were) upon whom error had just
hold. Do but travel in the land and see the nature of the consequence for
the deniers! (Al-Nahl, 16:36)
We verily sent Our messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them
the Scripture and the Balance, that mankind may stand forth in justice….
(Al-Hadid, 57:25)
􀁈 􀁉
Come to a Common Word!
In the Holy Qur’an, God Most High tells Muslims to issue the following call to
Christians (and Jews—the People of the Scripture):
Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to a common word between us and
you: that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall ascribe no
partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside
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God. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who
have surrendered (unto Him). (Aal ‘Imran 3:64)
Clearly, the blessed words: we shall ascribe no partner unto Him relate to the
Unity of God. Clearly also, worshipping none but God, relates to being totally devoted to
God and hence to the First and Greatest Commandment. According to one of the oldest
and most authoritative commentaries (tafsir) on the Holy Qur’an—the Jami’ Al-Bayan fi
Ta’wil Al-Qur’an of Abu Ja’far Muhammad bin Jarir Al-Tabari (d. 310 A.H. / 923
C.E.)—that none of us shall take others for lords beside God, means ‘that none of us
should obey in disobedience to what God has commanded, nor glorify them by
prostrating to them in the same way as they prostrate to God’. In other words, that
Muslims, Christians and Jews should be free to each follow what God commanded them,
and not have ‘to prostrate before kings and the like’xxi; for God says elsewhere in the
Holy Qur’an: Let there be no compulsion in religion…. (Al-Baqarah, 2:256). This clearly
relates to the Second Commandment and to love of the neighbour of which justicexxii and
freedom of religion are a crucial part. God says in the Holy Qur’an:
God forbiddeth you not those who warred not against you on account of
religion and drove you not out from your homes, that ye should show them
kindness and deal justly with them. Lo! God loveth the just dealers. (Al-
Mumtahinah, 60:8)
􀁈 􀁉
We thus as Muslims invite Christians to remember Jesus’s  words in the
Gospel (Mark 12:29-31):
… the LORD our God, the LORD is one. / And you shall love the LORD
your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and
with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. / And the second,
like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no
other commandment greater than these.
As Muslims, we say to Christians that we are not against them and that Islam is
not against them—so long as they do not wage war against Muslims on account of their
religion, oppress them and drive them out of their homes, (in accordance with the verse
of the Holy Qur’an [Al-Mumtahinah, 60:8] quoted above). Moreover, God says in the
Holy Qur’an:
They are not all alike. Of the People of the Scripture there is a staunch
community who recite the revelations of God in the night season, falling
prostrate (before Him). / They believe in God and the Last Day, and
enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency, and vie one with another in
good works. These are of the righteous. / And whatever good they do,
nothing will be rejected of them. God is Aware of those who ward off (evil).
(Aal-‘Imran, 3:113-115)
15
Is Christianity necessarily against Muslims? In the Gospel Jesus Christ  says:
He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me
scatters abroad. (Matthew 12:30)
For he who is not against us is on our side. (Mark 9:40)
… for he who is not against us is on our side. (Luke 9:50)
According to the Blessed Theophylact’sxxiii Explanation of the New Testament, these
statements are not contradictions because the first statement (in the actual Greek text of
the New Testament) refers to demons, whereas the second and third statements refer to
people who recognised Jesus, but were not Christians. Muslims recognize Jesus Christ as
the Messiah, not in the same way Christians do (but Christians themselves anyway have
never all agreed with each other on Jesus Christ’s  nature), but in the following way:
…. the Messiah Jesus son of Mary is a Messenger of God and His Word which he cast
unto Mary and a Spirit from Him.... (Al-Nisa’, 4:171). We therefore invite Christians to
consider Muslims not against and thus with them, in accordance with Jesus Christ’s 
words here.
Finally, as Muslims, and in obedience to the Holy Qur’an, we ask Christians to
come together with us on the common essentials of our two religions … that we shall
worship none but God, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of
us shall take others for lords beside God … (Aal ‘Imran, 3:64).
Let this common ground be the basis of all future interfaith dialogue between us,
for our common ground is that on which hangs all the Law and the Prophets (Matthew
22:40). God says in the Holy Qur’an:
Say (O Muslims): We believe in God and that which is revealed unto us
and that which was revealed unto Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and
Jacob, and the tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that
which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction
between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered. / And if they
believe in the like of that which ye believe, then are they rightly guided.
But if they turn away, then are they in schism, and God will suffice thee
against them. He is the Hearer, the Knower. (Al-Baqarah, 2:136-137)
Between Us and You
Finding common ground between Muslims and Christians is not simply a matter
for polite ecumenical dialogue between selected religious leaders. Christianity and Islam
are the largest and second largest religions in the world and in history. Christians and
Muslims reportedly make up over a third and over a fifth of humanity respectively.
Together they make up more than 55% of the world’s population, making the relationship
between these two religious communities the most important factor in contributing to
meaningful peace around the world. If Muslims and Christians are not at peace, the world
cannot be at peace. With the terrible weaponry of the modern world; with Muslims and
16
Christians intertwined everywhere as never before, no side can unilaterally win a conflict
between more than half of the world’s inhabitants. Thus our common future is at stake.
The very survival of the world itself is perhaps at stake.
And to those who nevertheless relish conflict and destruction for their own sake
or reckon that ultimately they stand to gain through them, we say that our very eternal
souls are all also at stake if we fail to sincerely make every effort to make peace and
come together in harmony. God says in the Holy Qur’an: Lo! God enjoineth justice and
kindness, and giving to kinsfolk, and forbiddeth lewdness and abomination and
wickedness. He exhorteth you in order that ye may take heed (Al Nahl, 16:90). Jesus
Christ  said: Blessed are the peacemakers ….(Matthew 5:9), and also: For what profit
is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul? (Matthew 16:26).
So let our differences not cause hatred and strife between us. Let us vie with each
other only in righteousness and good works. Let us respect each other, be fair, just and
kind to another and live in sincere peace, harmony and mutual goodwill. God says in the
Holy Qur’an:
And unto thee have We revealed the Scripture with the truth, confirming
whatever Scripture was before it, and a watcher over it. So judge between
them by that which God hath revealed, and follow not their desires away
from the truth which hath come unto thee. For each We have appointed a
law and a way. Had God willed He could have made you one community.
But that He may try you by that which He hath given you (He hath made
you as ye are). So vie one with another in good works. Unto God ye will
all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein ye differ. (Al-
Ma’idah, 5:48)
Wal-Salaamu ‘Alaykum,
Pax Vobiscum.
© 2007 C.E., 1428 A.H.,
The Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought, Jordan.
See: www.acommonword.org or: www.acommonword.com
17
NOTES

Muslim Scholars Reach Out to Pope

From: BBC, www.islamcity.com

The Pope's remarks on Islam last year caused angerMore than 130 Muslim scholars have written to Pope Benedict XVI and other Christian leaders urging greater understanding between the two faiths.
The letter says that world peace could depend on improved relations between Muslims and Christians.
It identifies the principles of accepting only one god and living in peace with one's neighbours as common ground between the two religions.
It also insists that Christians and Muslims worship the same god.
The letter comes on the anniversary of an open letter issued to the Pope last year from 38 top Muslim clerics, after he made a controversial speech on Islam.
Pope Benedict sparked an uproar in September last year by quoting a medieval text which linked Islam to violence.
The letter coincides with the Eid al-Fitr celebrations to mark the end of Ramadan.

Koran and Bible
It was also sent to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the heads of the Lutheran, Methodist and Baptist churches, the Orthodox Church's Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I and other Orthodox Patriarchs.
The letter, entitled A Common Word Between Us and You, compares passages in the Koran and the Bible, concluding that both emphasise "the primacy of total love and devotion to God", and the love of the neighbour.
With Muslims and Christians making up more than half the world's population, the letter goes on, the relationship between the two religious communities is "the most important factor in contributing to meaningful peace around the world".
"As Muslims, we say to Christians that we are not against them and that Islam is not against them - so long as they do not wage war against Muslims on account of their religion, oppress them and drive them out of their homes," the letter says.
READ THE LETTER
Open letter to Pope Benedict XVI [227KB]
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Download the reader here
It adds: "To those who nevertheless relish conflict and destruction for their own sake or reckon that ultimately they stand to gain through them, we say our very eternal souls are all also at stake if we fail to sincerely make every effort to make peace and come together in harmony."
One of the signatories, Dr Aref Ali Nayed, a senior adviser at the Cambridge Inter-faith Programme at Cambridge University, told the BBC that the document should be seen as a landmark.
"There are Sunnis, Shias, Ibadis and even the... Ismailian and Jaafari schools, so it's a consensus," he said.
Professor David Ford, director of the programme, said the letter was unprecedented.
"If sufficient people and groups heed this statement and act on it then the atmosphere will be changed into one in which violent extremists cannot flourish," he said in a statement.
The letter was signed by prominent Muslim leaders, politicians and academics, including the Grand Muftis of Bosnia and Hercegovina, Russia, Croatia, Kosovo and Syria, the Secretary-General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, the former Grand Mufti of Egypt and the founder of the Ulema Organisation in Iraq.

The authenticity of the Qur'an and the Bible

From: www.readingislam.com

By: Shahul Hameed

Revelation is a key part of the way God has organized this universe. There are two aspects to revelation. First the message itself and second the proof that the message comes from God. The proof comes in various ways. But, before looking at the proofs, let us briefly consider the message and why revelation is itself necessary in the scheme of things. The basic need for revelation is to provide moral authority, to guide human beings towards fulfilling the purpose of existence, which is the will of Allah. Without revelation, we may only judge what is instrumentally useful to our condition. Yet, our purpose in creation requires a greater authority than mere worldly judgments. What is right? What is wrong? These are questions about the ultimate nature of existence and can only be answered through the Ultimate Being – Allah. The Qur'an addresses this point head on. It starts with the foundational prayer of Islam al-fatihah – the opening. This is essentially a prayer to God for guidance. The next surah (chapter) of the Qur'an begins to answer this prayer with the following statements:
This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear God;
Surah 2 Verse 2When it comes to proofs that a book is indeed from Allah, there are a number of considerations. Firstly, we can look at the textual integrity and historical facts about its compilation. This establishes the historical reality of the text. Then we can see how what is says can serve as a proof of its origin, being the word of God. Let us first look at the historical evidence and consistency of the claims made in each text. The Holy Qur’an As for the authenticity of the Holy Qur’an, we can note the following points: God in the Holy Qur’an tells the Prophet:
Move not thy tongue concerning the (Qur'an) to make haste therewith. It is for Us to collect it and to promulgate it: But when We have promulgated it, follow thou its recital (as promulgated): Nay more, it is for Us to explain it (and make it clear):
Surah 75 Verses 16 - 19God gives here a guarantee that the collection and the promulgation of the Holy Qur’an are assured. It has been recorded that the Prophet, who received the divine revelation, not only dictated them to his companions, but learned them by heart. Besides, the Prophet took all measures to see that the companions also learned them by heart. The Prophet said: ‘The most superior among you (Muslims) are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it.' (Bukhari, VI - No. 546) Following the Prophet’s instructions, many of his companions learned the Qur’an by heart, immediately after the verses were revealed. Imam Suyuti mentions - in his Itqan - more than twenty well-known persons who memorized the revelation. The practice of memorizing the Qur’an was encouraged by the Prophet so much, that not only his companions, but the pious Muslims of later times also took great care to memorize it. It is true that the Qur’an was not compiled into a single book in the Prophet’s time; but the verses were scrupulously written down and passages were recited, not only during prayer, but also on other occasions. Muslims were taught that the recitation and the contemplation of the Qur’anic verses were acts of piety, worthy of great reward. For this reason, the companions of the Prophet were eager to learn the verses, which fact was to a great extent responsible for the safeguarding the Qur’an in the hearts of the people. The story of the conversion of Omar is well-known. In Ibn Hisham’s account we can read how Omar asked his sister to hand over to him a written sheet of the Qur’an, which they have been reading. This points to the fact that the practice of recording the verses on available materials was already happening in the earliest years of the revelation. It has been clearly recorded, by the Prophet’s biographers, that he had appointed many scribes to write down the Qur’anic revelations. The following hadith proves that the Qur’an was with the companions of the Prophet in written form: ‘From Ibn Omar: ... 'The messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: ‘Do not take the Qur'an on a journey with you, for I am afraid lest it should fall into the hands of the enemy’’. (Sahih Muslim & Sahih Bukhari) Obviously this is a reference to the written Qur’an. There are three hadiths in Sahih Bukhari, informing us that Angel Gabriel used to recite the Qur'an with the Prophet once a year, but he recited it twice with him in the year he died. This happened when the Prophet used to stay in i'tikaf (solitude worship) for ten days every year (in the month of Ramadan), but in the year of his death, he stayed in i'tikaf for twenty days. (Bukhari) It is clear for the above reasons that there is no comparison between the Qur’an and other Holy Scriptures, in the matter of recording and passing on to future generations. While the books of the Old and New Testaments, for example, were written, edited and compiled over long periods, sometimes centuries, the text of the Qur'an, once revelation had ceased, has remained the same, up to this very day. Zaid ibn Thabit was the chief scribe, who used to record down the revelation, dictated by the Prophet. After the Prophet’s time, in the battle of Yamama, a large number of the huffaz (those who had memorized the Qur’an) died. Then Abu Bakar appointed Zaid to collect all the available written versions of the Qur’an and to bring out a master copy. Since he had been the chief scribe of the Prophet, he was the most suited person for that job. When he completed this work, he gave the collection of written materials to Abu Bakar, which he kept with him till his death. After his death, Omar, the second khalifah, finally gave it to his daughter Hafsa – one of the prophet’s wives - for safekeeping. It was from this collection of material that Khalifah Othman prepared several copies in the form of the first books of the entire Qur’an. Some of these copies still exist. God assures us in the Holy Qur’an:
We have, without doubt, sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption).
Surah 15 Verse 9and
... indeed it is a Book of exalted power. No falsehood can approach it from before or behind it: It is sent down by One Full of Wisdom, Worthy of all Praise.
Surah 41 Verses 41 – 42For more on the historical facts around the time of the revelation of the Qur'an please read ‘Ulum al-Quran - An Introduction to the Sciences of the Qur'an - by Ahmad Von Denffer The Bible When we consider the history of the Bible, we find that the story is entirely different. For one thing, the Bible is not one book; no Christian can claim it to be one book, revealed by God to one Prophet. Rather, according to some Christian scholars, it is “a library of books”. This means that the Bible was composed by many authors at different stages in history. This is a major difference between the Qur’an and the Bible. The whole Bible is divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament consists of books composed or compiled before Jesus Christ. Then, the New Testament consists of books compiled after Jesus Christ. According to the Encyclopedia Universalis (Paris, 1974 edition, Vol. A pp. 246- 263: Entry: Bible, written by J.P. Sandroz, Professor at the Dominican Faculties, Saulchoir), the Old Testament appears as a literary monument to the Jewish people, from its origins to the coming of Christianity. The books it consists of were written, completed and revised between the Tenth and the First centuries B.C. It is a collection of works of greatly differing length and many different genres. They were written in several languages, over a period of more than nine hundred years, based on oral traditions. Many of these works were corrected and completed, in accordance with events or special requirements, often at periods that were very distant from one another. To understand what the Old Testament represents, it is important to retain this information, correctly established today by highly qualified specialists. ‘A Revelation is mingled in all these writings, but all we possess today is what men have seen fit to leave us. These men manipulated the texts to please themselves, according to the circumstances they were in and the necessities they had to meet.’ (The Bible, Qur’an and Modern Science - by Maurice Bucaille.) We also read in The Interpreter's Dictionary Of The Bible: ‘The original copies of the New Testament books have, of course, long since disappeared. This fact should not cause surprise. In the first place, they were written on papyrus, a very fragile and perishable material. In the second place, and probably of even more importance, the original copies of the NT [new testament] books were not looked upon as scripture by those of the early Christian communities.’ (George Arthur Buttrick - Ed.: The Interpreter's Dictionary Of The Bible, Volume 1, p. 599 – under: ‘Text, New Testament'). The New Testament consists of 39 books. The first four are known as the Gospels, which narrate the story of Jesus. The remaining books were written by his supposed disciples. The most prominent among them was St. Paul, who wrote some thirteen books. The irony of the matter is that this St. Paul, though a contemporary of Jesus, has never met him, nor was he among the twelve disciples chosen by Jesus himself! And yet, it is his ideas, rather than those of Jesus or any of his disciples, that have given most shape to modern Christianity! The four Gospel writers are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Among the disciples of Jesus, we find all these names except that of Luke. The Church fathers have been teaching their followers that the Gospel writers were “eyewitnesses” to the acts of Jesus. But modern research points out that the Gospel writers and the disciples were different persons. For example, there was a disciple called Matthew, but the Gospel of Matthew was not written by this Matthew! The King James Version of the Gospels points to this fact, see the titles of the Gospels: Gospel according to Matthew, Gospel according to Mark… etc., and not Gospel by Matthew, Gospel by Mark etc. The Christian teaching is that these Gospels, as well as the rest of the New Testament, were the “word of God”. They contend that the Gospel writers were inspired by God while writing, and so could not go wrong. If this were true, how could they explain the inconsistencies among the various gospels as to many details? For instance Matthew and Luke give two different genealogies for Jesus. (See Matthew: 1:1-17; and Luke 3: 23-38). Only a few names in the two lists agree! There are many more internal evidences in the Biblical books, which prove that these books were not reliably guarded from corruption. But for our purpose, I hope the foregoing will suffice. It is quite evident, from the above facts, that the Holy Qur’an as we have it now, is an authentic text. This is while the claim about the Bible (both the Old and the New Testaments) as authentic, is a spurious one. Moving beyond the historical realities of the texts, there is much material on the nature of the Qur'an. One key test of a text by which we may know it as the word of God is that it is consistent internally and consistent with science throughout time. Such claims cannot reasonably be made about the Bible and science but they can be made about the Qur'an and are.
Do they not consider the Qur'an (with care)? Had it been from other Than God, they would surely have found therein Much discrepancy.
Surah 4 Verse 82For more information on this you will find plenty of material on the internet. For example, see "The Amazing Qur'an". And… Allah knows best. You may also find the following link useful: What Islam says about the Bible

The "True Christians" according to the Qur'an

From: http://www.haqq.com.au/~salam/earlychristians/truechri.html

by Fariduddien Rice

Who were the "true Christians," by which we mean the true followers of Jesus (peace be with him), according to the Qur'an? Can we identify any historical group as being the true followers of Jesus (p.), according to what we know in the Qur'an?
In early Christianity, there were a number of Christian groups - not just the followers of Paul. Some of the beliefs of these Christians were remarkably similar to what the Qur'an says about Jesus (peace be with him).
The Qur'an says about Jesus that he was the Messiah (eg. Qur'an 3:45), was born of a virgin (eg. Qur'an 19:20), and of course that he was only a human being, not God (eg. Qur'an 4:171). He also confirmed Jewish Law (eg. Qur'an 5:49). If these claims of the Qur'an are true, you would expect that some of the followers of Jesus (peace be with him) would also have held these beliefs.
So, these four beliefs again are that Jesus (peace be with him) was 1. the Messiah, 2. born of a virgin, 3. a human being, not God, and 4. confirmed Jewish Law. Therefore, the true hisorical followers of Jesus (p.), according to the Qur'an, would follow all poinst 1-4.
Most present day Trinitarian Christians accept 1 and 2, but they reject 3 and 4, because they believe Jesus was God, and they reject following Jewish Law.
Other early Christians, however, believed like Muslims in all points 1-4. According to the Qur'anic account, therefore, it is these "Jewish Christians" who were the true followers of Jesus (p.) The earliest account we have of them is in fact in the New Testament, in the Book of Acts. This was the church established in Jerusalem, and headed at first by the Apostle Peter, and then by James, Jesus' brother. This church followed Jewish Law, according to the Book of Acts. The Gospel according to Matthew in the New Testament also quotes Jesus (p.) as stating that people must follow Jewish Law until the end of time, in Matthew 5:17-20. Jesus (p.) says he will reject those who call on him but do not do the will of "my Father in Heaven," i.e. who do not follow Jewish Law, in Matthew 7:21-23.
Here also is what one book says about some of these early Jewish Christians:
Within a few decades of Jesus' death, the Christian movement split into two factions: the followers of Paul, who believed that Christianity was a new religion completely separate from Judaism; and the Jewish Christians, who held that Christians should continue to adhere to the traditional religious practices of the Jews. The Pauline party developed into orthodox Catholicism. A group of Jewish Christians, who became known as the Ebionites, survived as a heresy.
There were two schools of thought within the Ebionite movement. One group, known as the Nazarenes, claimed that Jesus was the Messiah, born of a virgin. [...]
The doctrinal position of the Ebionites overlapped the beliefs of the Jews and orthodox Christians, and caused them to be condemned by both. In turn, the Ebionites regarded the Jews as unenlightened and damned Paul as the first Christian heretic. The sect proclaimed that most of the scriptures the Catholics revered were not authentic. [...][From "Crimes of Perception: An Encyclopedia of Heresies and Heretics," by Leonard George (Paragon House, New York, 1995), under "Ebionites."]
So, we find that a section of the early Jewish Christians, the Nazarenes, believed that Jesus (peace be with him) was the Messiah, and was born of a virgin. I have read elsewhere that they rejected that Jesus (peace be with him) was God. Therefore, their beliefs seem to be very close to what the Qur'an proclaims about Jesus (peace be with him). The Nazarenes, according to the above passage, considered Paul to be a heretic, and considered that most of the scriptures the Catholics revered (i.e. probably most of the New Testament) were not authentic.
By the way, just as a point of interest, if I remember right, the word used in the Qur'an for Christians is "Nasara" (plural) or "Nasrani" (singular), which is very close to "Nazarene."
I suggest that, based on what we know in the Qur'an, a section of these early Jewish Christians, who believed that 1. Jesus (p.) was the Messiah, 2. born of a virgin, 3. not God, but a man, and 4. who followed Jewish Law, were the true followers of Jesus, peace be upon him.
Peace,
Fariduddien Rice
Copyright © 1996, 1998 Fariduddien Rice. Permission to reprint and distribute is granted only if this notice is included, and the text is not modified in any way, shape or form to alter the intended meaning.
Back to index

Meria With Dr. Magad Taman “Easy Universal Health Care Plan”

From: http://meria.net/2005/health-wellness/meria-with-dr-magad-taman-easy-universal-health-care-plan/

Meria With Dr. Magad Taman “Easy Universal Health Care Plan”

LISTEN

Show opens with “Who’s Gonna Pay the Bill?” by http://www.papadish.com/; Dr. Maged Taman, author of “Taman Health Plan, Remedy to the Health Care System” joins me to discuss health care for everyone in America. He has a simple plan based on a credit card type of plan, eliminating all the bureaucracy which adds to the bill. A code of ethics for doctors and patients alike. Imagine being able to go to any doctor you want and receive quality treatment without the bother of insurance companies, HMO’s, etc. It is possible. 50% of all bankruptcies are for medical bills. This could reduce bankruptcies in America by 50%. Eliminating the monopoly on medicines and being able to buy the drugs you want at reasonable prices. This plan encompasses PREVENTIVE medicine which most companies do not cover. Preventive medicine (yearly exam) could save millions of dollars every year. What about outsourcing? Malpractice suits? Why are so many doctors giving up their practices? This plan could create a win-win situation for everyone. It’s easy to see the problems with our health care system, and Dr. Taman’s plan is an easy way out of it. Employers would also save under this plan. Tune in and find out how this plan could work. His book is available through my book list on site. If you’d like to contact Dr. Taman with any questions his email is magedtaman2000@yahoo.com.Published by admin March 9th, 2005 in Health / Wellness, Personal Wellness, Shows, Guests, Dr. Magad Taman

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Quranic Supplications

From: http://www.islamicfinder.org/

1- (رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ) [البقرة/201]
"Our Lord! Give us in this world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and save us from the torment of the Fire!" (2/201)
2- (رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ) [البقرة/250]
"Our Lord! Pour forth on us patience and make us victorious over the disbelieving people." (2/250)
3- (رَبَّنَا لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لاَ طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا أَنتَ مَوْلاَنَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ) [البقرة/286]
"Our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us and grant us Forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maula (Patron, Supporter and Protector, etc.) and give us victory over the disbelieving people." (2/286)
4- (رَبَّنَا لاَ تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ) [آل عمران/8]
"Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower." (3/8)
5- (رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ) [آل عمران/16]
"Our Lord! We have indeed believed, so forgive us our sins and save us from the punishment of the Fire." (3/16)
6- (رَبِّ هَبْ لِي مِن لَّدُنْكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً إِنَّكَ سَمِيعُ الدُّعَاء) [آل عمران/38]
"O my Lord! Grant me from You, a good offspring. You are indeed the All-Hearer of invocation." (3/38)
7- (رَبَّنَا آمَنَّا بِمَا أَنزَلَتْ وَاتَّبَعْنَا الرَّسُولَ فَاكْتُبْنَا مَعَ الشَّاهِدِينَِ) [آل عمران/53]
"Our Lord! We believe in what You have sent down, and we follow the Messenger ['Iesa (Jesus)]; so write us down among those who bear witness." (3/53)
8- (ربَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَِ) [آل عمران/147]
"Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and our transgressions (in keeping our duties to You), establish our feet firmly, and give us victory over the disbelieving folk." (3/147)
9- (رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذا بَاطِلاً سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ مَن تُدْخِلِ النَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ مِنْ أَنصَارٍ رَّبَّنَا إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُنَادِي لِلإِيمَانِ أَنْ آمِنُواْ بِرَبِّكُمْ فَآمَنَّا رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الأبْرَارِ رَبَّنَا وَآتِنَا مَا وَعَدتَّنَا عَلَى رُسُلِكَ وَلاَ تُخْزِنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّكَ لاَ تُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَاد ِ) [آل عمران/191-194]
"Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You! (Exalted be You above all that they associate with You as partners). Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire. *Our Lord! Verily, whom You admit to the Fire, indeed, You have disgraced him, and never will the Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrong-doers) find any helpers. *Our Lord! Verily, we have heard the call of one (Muhammad p.b.u.h.) calling to Faith: 'Believe in your Lord,' and we have believed. *Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and remit from us our evil deeds, and make us die in the state of righteousness along with Al-Abraar (those who are obedient to Allah and follow strictly His Orders). *Our Lord! Grant us what You promised unto us through Your Messengers and disgrace us not on the Day of Resurrection, for You never break (Your) Promise." (3/191-194)
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The Wisdom of Having The Quran In Stages.

The wisdom of having the Quran in stages are the following:

1- Miracle: Since it was the main miracle of Muhammad (PBUH) unlike Moses (PBUH) who had visual miracles his miracle or the Quran has to be continuous, tested and approved all time. If Muhammad was to bring the Quran one book, people at his time would think he made it and reviewed over and over then thought he was able to declare it. On the contrary from the first verse he received from the angel Gabriel he declare it to his wife and as verses came to him he declared them to the people around him. People would be able to know if he is making the Quran by observing him thinking, writing or correcting verses before he would tell the verses. He was illiterate for God wisdom to remove any doubts from people minds.

2- Dynamic: The Quran is a dynamic book though it talks to me and you after over 1400 years in many times the verses were having certain occasions. However it transcends through the human history. So it serves to answer Muslims at that time and through them it answers us today.

3- Suspense: It would be more helpful for students to have a book or a novel red to them by their teacher one chapter at a time. Giving them a book to read it is not as exciting as having it comes in chapters or part of chapters and they all do not know what coming next and when the novel or book will end.

4- Memorization: Having also the quran descent as verses or chapters rather than one book give time to people to recite and memorize the new verses.

5- Muslims need: When the prophet has the connection with heaven through angel or visions Muslims would have the answer quickly to their inquiries. We do not have this privilege today but we have to go back to Quran or hadith to find the answer. If we can not find it we go to the Muslim scholars to give us the answer or the Fatwa. For the time the prophet was alive it was necessary to have the Quran comes as verses many times in need or as we call it in medicine PRN to answer Muslims and keep the coming generations informed.

6- Graduation: For God to change the Arab behaviour he got them in the first verses particularly the chapters of Quran in Mekka to have belief in him, his existence, his names and how to build their spirits. Then as they became a community he gave them the morals ethics and lastly the laws to live by. Before God prohibited them from drinking alcohol he explained to them it has benefits and harms and the latter exceeds the first. Then he prohibited them from drinking before praying then he prohibited alcohol all together.

7- Connection: As Muslims were getting verses of the Quran every few days or weeks they had this continuous connection with God. This is particularly needed for the first followers of the religion since they are usually the most to suffer and they are the ones to carry the message to the coming generations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUkhl0L5paw

REVELATION AND HOW IT CAME TO THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD

From: www.sunnipath.com

God guides His Creation God guides His Creation

Allah the Creator has not only brought about the creation, but continues to sustain and direct it, in the way that He has created us and all that is around us. He has provided many forms of guidance, indeed, a system of guiding principles, of which the laws of 'nature' are a part.
But Allah has also granted a special form of guidance for mankind from the outset of its occupancy of the earth. He promised to Adam and his descendants: 'Get ye down all from here; and if, as is sure, there comes to you guidance from Me, whosoever follows guidance, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve' (2: 38).' [The word here used for guidance is hudan.] This guidance comes through the prophets, whom Allah continuously sent to mankind, until the last messenger, Muhammad received His final guidance.
Guidance through Revelation
We call a man to whom God in his own way communicates His guidance, a prophet or messenger (nabi, rasul). Prophets receive the word of God through revelation and then communicate it to their fellow human beings:
'We have sent thee INSPIRATION, as We sent it to Noah and the messengers after him: We sent INSPIRATION to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob and the tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Harun and Solomon, and to David We gave the Psalms. Of some apostles, We have already told the story, of others We have not and to Moses God spoke direct apostles who gave good news as well as warning, that mankind after (the coming) of the apostles should have no plea against God: for God is exalted in power and ways' (4: 163-5).
The two words italicised (capitalized) in the above translationare both derived from the Arabic root 'wahy'.

The Meaning of Wahy
The word awha, from which 'wahy' (revelation) is derived, occurs in a number of shades of meaning in the Qur'an, each of them indicating the main underlying idea of inspiration directing or guiding someone. In each example below, the italicised words in the translation are forms of the root word wahy in the original text of the Qur'an:
Guidance in natural intuition: 'so we sent this inspiration to the mother of Moses . . .' (28: 7)
Guidance in natural instinct: 'and thy Lord taught the bee to build its cells in hills, on trees and in (man's) habitations' (16: 68)
Guidance by signs: 'So Zakaria came out to his people from his chamber: he told them by signs to celebrate God's praises in the morning and in the evening' (19: 11)
Guidance from evil: 'Likewise did we make for every messenger an enemy evil ones among men and jinns, inspiring each other with flowery discourses by way of deception ...' (6: 112)
Guidance from God: 'Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message) ...' (8: 12)

Means of Revelation
Wahy in the sense of 'revelation' is guidance from God for His creation, brought by the Prophets, who received the word from God through one of the means mentioned in the following Qur'anic verse:
'It is not fitting for a man that God should speak to him except by inspiration, or from behind a veil, or by sending of a messenger to reveal with God's permission what God wills: for He is Most High, Most Wise' (42: 51)
Means of revelation are:
Inspiration, e.g. in a dream (see 37: 102, where it is related that Ibrahim receives guidance in a vision, while asleep, to sacrifice his son).
Speech hidden away (see 27: 8, where it is related that God spoke to Musa from the fire).
Words (speech) sent through a special messenger from God (see 2:97, where it is related that God sent the Angel Gabriel as the messenger to Muhammad to reveal His message).

The Qur'an revealed to Muhammad
Prophet Muhammad, the last of God's messengers, received the revelation of the Qur'an through a special messenger sent by God for this purpose: the Angel Gabriel, who recited to him God's words exactly.

The Descent of the Qur'an
According to Suyuti' [al Itqan fi ulum al quran, Beirut, 1973, Vol. I pp. 39-40] on the basis of three reports from 'Abdullah Ibn 'Abbas, in Hakim, Baihaqi and Nasa'i, the Qur'an descended in two stages:
From the lauh al-mahfuz, the 'well-preserved tablet', to the lowest of the heavens (bait al-'izza) of the world, all together, in the laila al-qadr.
From the heavens to earth in stages throughout the twenty-three years of Muhammad's prophethood, and first in the laila al-qadr of Ramadan, through the Angel Gabriel.
This second descent from the heaven to the heart of the Prophet is referred to in Sura al-isra' (17) and Sura al-furqan (25).

The Powerful Night of Ramadan

From: www.islamicity.com

We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to you what the night of power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission, on every errand: Peace!...This until the rise of morn! (97:1-5)The Night of Power in His infinite wisdom is encouraged to be searched during the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan. Since over fourteen centuries Muslims are striving diligently to benefit greatly from it. A rare trade indeed - pure profit and thousand times more!
Interestingly we have embraced the night for its mathematical magic but seemingly misplaced the very essence of the night. In fact, it was just another dark night. But it became the Night of Power because of what was revealed in the darkness. It is now known to us, a night better than a thousand months. The dark night is illuminating the world and the Quran is guiding the humanity ever since.
The Night of Power is celebrated powerfully. Masajid and communities celebrate the night by staying up all night, listening to lectures, reading Quran, etc. What seems to be missing though is to reflect on the Divine Words and to act upon it. Unless that is done, the real power will not be received from the Night of Power.
Ramadan visits us every year and offers us a reason to reflect on all aspect of our lives. The objects of our wants and fears far surpass the limits of human genius, energy, and mortal life. The sum of all that we need and desire .. spiritual or material, essential or superfluous .. simply exceeds our ability to attain it. What, then, is one to do? The believer turns to his or her Creator in prayer. The response is natural. Whether moved by need or hope, or faced with misfortune or danger, people instinctively call upon God. Prayer is at the center of our very being and the marrow of the Muslim way of life. For many in the English speaking world, however, this face of Islam is virtually unknown.
Dua - Supplication - Prayer is Muslim's hope for everything at all times. Let us submit ourselves and plead and plead and plead ... as He alone can relieve us of our anxieties and sufferings.
(the following is an excerpt from Dua Kumayl that was often recited by Imam Ali (may Allah be pleased with him))
by Thy majesty against which nothing can stand upby Thy grandeur which prevails upon all thingsby Thy authority which is exercised over all thingsby Thy knowledge which pervades all thingsO Allah! Forgive us of sins that would hinder our supplicationsO Allah! Forgive us of sins that would suppress hopeO Allah! Forgive all sins that we have committed and every error that we have erredO Allah! Accept our apologies and have pity on our intense sufferings and set us free from my heavy fetters (of evil deeds)O Allah! You are aware of my weakness to bear even a minor affliction of this world and its consequence and adversity affecting the denizen of this earth, although such afflictions are momentary, short-lived and transientHow then can I bear the retributions and the punishments of the Hereafter which are enormous and of intensive sufferings, of prolonged period and perpetual duration, and which shall never be alleviated for those who deserve the same as those retributions will be the result of Your wrath; and Your punishment which neither the heavens nor the earth can withstand and bear!My Lord! How can I, a weak, insignificant, humble, poor and destitute creature of Yours be able to bear them?O' my God! My Lord! My King! And Master! Which of the matters shall I complain to You and for which of them shall I bewail and weep?Shall I bewail for the pains and pangs of the punishment and their intensity or for the length of sufferings and their duration?
Therefore (my Lord!) If You will subject me to the penalties (of hell) in company of Your enemies and cast me with those who merited my punishments and tear me apart from Your friends and those who will be near to You, then my God, my Lord and my Master, though I may patiently bear Your punishments, how can I calmly accept being kept away from You?
I reckon that though I may patiently endure the scorching fire of the hell, yet how can I resign myself to the denial of Your pity and clemency? How can I remain in the fire while I have hopes of Your forgiveness?
So, my Lord! I look earnestly towards You and towards You, my Lord!
I have stretched forth my hands therefore, by Your honor, respond to my supplication and let me attain my prayers and, by Your bounty, frustrate not my hopes and protect me from the evils of my enemies and O' My Lord! have mercy on me whose only asset is hope and whose only weapon is lamentation.
Ameen ... Ya Rabb ... Ameen ... Ameen ...

Blogger Comment:

God forgive our sins and not being up to your expectation.
God aid us to be good Muslims.
God you know that morality is a group act.
God you know that people are following the religion of their leaders, if they are good people are good if they are bad people are bad.
God free us from the Arab Tyrants.
God have the best of us to govern us.
God have your morality and religion spread both vertically and horizontally.
God lift the oppression on us the three structures.
God have the true religion Islam spread to all world.
God as you freed the Israelites from Pharaoh do the same for us make our liberation indisputable and doubtless.
God unite all Muslims on the religion of Islam.
God I promise will follow your commandments and will have your name and knowledge to fill the earth as the water fills the seas.

Laylatul Qadr (The Night of Power)

From: http://www.haqislam.org/

Crowning Glory
Laylatul Qadr is the crowning glory of the holy month of Ramadhaan. It is associated with the sending down of the Qur'an Majeed, the last Book of Allah on His last Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), for the guidance of mankind. The Qur'an Majeed describes this Night.
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَاهُ فِي لَيْلَةِ ٱلْقَدْرِوَمَآ أَدْرَاكَ مَا لَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِلَيْلَةُ ٱلْقَدْرِ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أَلْفِ شَهْرٍتَنَزَّلُ ٱلْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيهَا بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِم مِّن كُلِّ أَمْرٍسَلاَمٌ هِيَ حَتَّىٰ مَطْلَعِ ٱلْفَجْرِ"We have indeed revealed this (message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to you what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the Angels and the Spirit (Jibraeel) by Allah's permission, on every errand: Peace! This until the rise of Morn!" (Surah 97)
The Night of Power is the night of spiritual bliss. Our Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is reported to have said concerning Ramadhaan:
"Verily this month has come to you; and therein is a night which is better than a thousand Months. Whosoever is deprived of it, is deprived of all good; and none is deprived of its good except a totally unfortunate person". (Ibn Majah)"Whosoever stands up (in prayer) at the Night of Power out of faith and hopeful of reward, all his past sins will be forgiven."(Targhib)
Better than a thousand months
A thousand months are equivalent to 83 years and 4 months. Fortunate is the person who spends this night in prayer. The man or woman, who prays for the whole night during this Night, will deserve blessings and reward for the period as if he or she had been praying for eighty three years and four months consecutively. Since the Night of Power is better than one thousand months no one can actually measure the extent as to how much better it is.
Exclusive
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: "Laylatul Qadr has been bestowed by Allah to my Ummah (People). It was not given to any people before this." (Dur-Mansoor).
How manifest and replete the special bounties and mercies of Allah Ta'ala are upon this Ummat is quite really beyond imagination. It will therefore be extremely foolish to allow ourselves to be deprived of these great blessings at the expense of sheer laziness and a few hours of extra sleep.
Which Night is it?
Although there are different reports in different traditions regarding the exact night, it is almost unanimous that the blessed night occurs in one of the last ten nights of Ramadhaan and more probably in one of the last ten odd nights i.e. 2lst, 23rd, 25th 27th or 29th night.
The popular opinion is, however, in favour of the 27th Night of Ramadhaan but that is not absolutely certain. The traditions indicate that it is to be sought in one of the last ten nights and preferably in the last three odd nights. It was therefore the practice of the Holy Prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and his companions to make I'tikaaf in the Mosque for the whole time offering Divine service during the last ten days of Ramadhaan.
Hazrath Aisha (Radhiallaahu Anha) reported that the Apostle of Allah said: "Search for the Blessed Night in the odd (nights) from the last ten (nights) of Ramadhaan" (Bukhari).
Hazrath Aisha has narrated another saying:"I asked: O Messenger of Allah! Tell me if I were to find a Night of Power, what should I recite therein?" Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) advised her to recite:
Al-laa-hum-ma in-na-ka 'afoow-wan tu-hib-bul-'af wa fa-fu 'an-ni.O Allah! You are Forgiving, You love forgiveness, so forgive me. (Bukhari).
Special attention should therefore be given to the excessive recitation of this dua on the blessed night. Furthermore one may engage in lengthy rakaats of Tahajjud salaat, Tilaawat of the Qur'an? Dua, Zikr, etc.
The worship and the vigil of the Night of Power are a treat to the soul. The heart tends to melt into tears of heartfelt gratitude. The body is in a state of angelic ecstasy The soul strives to reach nearer to Almighty Allah. In this holy month of Ramadhaan let us strive to seek the Night of Power and its bliss. May Allah reward us with His bountiful blessings. Aameen.Source: Jamiatul Ulama
Back to Ramadan articles

PROOFS OF GOD'S EXISTENCE FROM THE QURAN THE LIVING MIRACLE.

From: http://www.allaahuakbar.net/atheist/proofs_of_god.htm

Say: "To whom belong all that is in the heavens and earth?" Say: "To Allah". He has prescribed for Himself mercy. He will gather you all for the day of judgment in which there is no doubt. The ones who have lost themselves are the ones who will not believe" [Qur'ân, 6:12; Al-An'am, "The Livestock"]
The proofs of God's existence are all around us. Yet some still believe that all the wonders that surround us, from the infinite intricacy of life to the infinite wisdom with which the stars and planets float in the endless space, are but a coincidence or a product of a blind nature. To believe in that is like believing that a great painter drew a beautiful portrait by splashing buckets of paint on a dry cloth, or that a great writer wrote a masterpiece by throwing printing press letters into the air and watching them arrange themselves into words and sentences.
Because Islam is the religion chosen by God (Allah) until the end of time, and since Mohammad (peace be upon him [pbuh]) is the last of the prophets, the greatest miracles of Islam have to be of a lasting nature. Unlike the splitting of the sea by Moses (pbuh), which was witnessed only by those who were present during the event, the miracles of the Qur'an can be witnessed over and over by all generations. In other words, the greatest miracles of Islam lie within the Qur'an and can be witnessed by anyone simply by reading the words of God. When the Qur'an was inspired to Mohammad (pbuh), it carried the message that in the eyes of God, there is no difference between an Arab and a non-Arab or a black person and a white person except by his or her fear of Allah and the righteous deeds he or she does. The pagans of Quraish (the tribe living in Makkah at the time of the prophet Mohammad (pbuh) ) chose not to believe that the Qur'ân was from Allah and said that Mohammad had forged it.
They were first challenged to write a book similar to the Qur'an; they could not. Say: "verily if the whole of mankind and the jinns should assemble together to produce the like of this Qur'an, they would not produce the like thereof, Even if they backed up each other with help and support." [Qur'an, 17:88;Al-Isra', "Al-Isra"]
Next the challenge was eased to the writing of ten suras (chapters) like the suras of the Qur'an, but they were not able to do it. Or they say: "He [Prophet Mohammad] has forged it [the Qur'an]". Say: "bring you then ten forged suras like it, and call unto whomsoever you can [to help you], other than Allah, if you are truthful". So if they answer you not, then know that it [the Qur'an] was only sent down with the knowledge of Allah and that there is no god but Him. So will you be Muslims? [Qur'an, Sura II: 13-14 Hud, "Hud"]
Finally, they were challenged to write just one Surah (chapter) that would pass for a Surah of Allah's words and still they could not. And if you are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down on Our worshiper [Mohammad, peace be upon him], then produce a Surah [chapter] of the like thereof and call your witnesses [supporters and helpers] besides Allah if you are truthful. So if you do it not, and you can never do it,then fear the fire [hell] whose fuel is people and stones that was prepared for the pagans. [Qur'an, 2:23-24; Al-Baqarah, "The Cow"]
And this Qur'an is not such as could ever be invented by other than Allah, but it's agreement [and confirmation] with that which was before it [the Taurat and the Gospel] and the full explanation of the Book without doubt therein is from the Lord of all that exists. Or do they say "he [Muhammad] has forged it". Say: "bring then a surah [chapter] like it, and call upon whosoever you can [to help you], besides Allah, if you are truthful."[Qur'an, 10:37-38; Yunus, "Jonah"]
The extent of this challenge can be appreciated when one realizes that the shortest chapter in the Qur'an (108; Al-kawthar) is only three verses long! What are the rules of this challenge? The answer is simple; the pagans of Quraish who were experts in the art of the word were challenged to write something of the same literary merit as the Qur'an, but they were not able to do it. Yet the challenge was not to write something that would equal the Qur'an only in its literary merit, the challenge was to produce a book that would be an equal to the Qur'an in all aspects. To answer the question of the nature of these other aspects, we must first answer another question: 'what is the most important attribute that a book truly sent by Allah has to have?' We are given the answer to this question in the Qur'an: Do they not then ponder on the Qur'an? And had it been from other than Allah, then surely they would have found therein much discrepancies. [Qur'ân, Surah 4:82 Al-Nisa', "The Women"]
The word 'discrepancies' found at the end of this verse is a loose translation of the Arabic word 'ikhtilaf', which literally means 'difference'. If the difference is within the book itself, then it is called a discrepancy (something that contradicts something else within the same book). If the difference is between the book and the outside world as it truly is, not necessarily as our limited knowledge in a certain era tells us it is, then, this difference is called an error. Thus the challenge for us is to bring forth a book that contains truths of a scientific nature not known to us today, a book that one can read 1500 years from today and, discover that indeed it was telling the truth. A book in which not a single word would be proven to be wrong, ever. Despite all that, the pagans of Quraish still insisted that the illiterate Mohammad (pbuh) who was never a writer or a scholar had forged the Qur'an. They accused Mohammad (pbuh) of being a poet, a madman and a soothsayer. Yet could a madman or a poet produce what all of humanity was challenged to replicate and was not able to? Could a soothsayer utter truths of a scientific nature that would only be discovered hundreds of years after his death? Indeed not, and the Qur'an gives an answer to there allegations innumerous verses.
So I swear by whatsoever you see. And by whatsoever you see not. Verily this is the word of an honored messenger. And it is not the word of a poet, little is it that you believe. Nor is it the word of a soothsayer, little is it that you remember. A revelation from the Lord of the Alameen [mankind, Jinns and all that exists]. And if he [Mohammad] had invented some false saying concerning Us [Allah]. We surely would have seized him by his right hand [or with power and might]. And then certainly We would have cut off his life artery. And none of you could have withheld from him [Allah's wrath].
And verily it [the Qur'an] is a reminder for the Muttaqin [the pious and those whose fear Allah]. And verily We know that there are among those who fear Allah. And verily We know that there are among you some that belie [this Qur'an]. And verily it [the Qur'an] is an anguish for the disbelievers. And verily it is a truth of assured certainty. So glorify the name of your Lord the Most Great. [Qur'an, Sura 69:38-52; Al-Haqqah, "The Sure Reality"]
And you [Mohammad] did not recite before it [the Qur'an] any book, nor did you write it [any book] with your right hand. For then, indeed the followers of falsehood would have doubted. But it is clear revelations in the chests of those who were given knowledge. And none deny our Ayat [proofs, evidences, signs, revelations, etc.] except the unjust. And they said: "if only signs were sent down on him from his Lord." Say: "Indeed the signs are only with Allah and I am but a clear warner." Was it not enough for them that We have sent down to you the Book [the Qur'an] which is recited to them. Verily, herein is mercy and a reminder for people who believe. Say: "Sufficient is Allah for a witness between me and you. He knows what is in the heavens and earth. And those who have believed in the Batil [all false deities other than Allah] and disbelieved in Allah, those are the losers." [Qur'an, 29:48-52; Al-Ankaboot "The Spider"]
And never did We destroy a township, but it had its warners. By way of reminder, and We have never been unjust. And it is not the Shayatin [devils] who have brought it [this Qur'an] down. Neither would it suit them, nor they can [produce it]. Verily, they have been removed far from hearing it. So invoke not with Allah another god lest you be among those who will be punished. [Qur'an, 26:208-213; Al-Shua'ra', "The Poets"]
Maurice Bucaille wrote in a book titled The Bible, the Qur'an and Science (1978) "The above observation makes the hypothesis advanced by those who see Muhammad as the author of the Qur'an untenable. How could a man, from being illiterate, become the most important author, in terms of literary merits,in the whole of Arabic literature? How could he then pronounce truths of a scientific nature that no other human being could possibly have developed at that time, and all this without once making the slightest error in his pronouncement on the subject?" (p. 125).
Some Proofs from Biology (1) 1400 years before the invention of the modern microscopes and the science of embryology, Allah gave us in the Qur'an the precise stages through which the human embryo goes in the course of its development: And indeed We created man [Adam] out of an extract of clay. Thereafter We made him as a Nutfah [mixed drops of the male and female sexual discharge] [and lodged it] in a safe lodging [woman's womb]. Then We made the Nutfah into a leech [or leech-like structure] then We made the leech into a chewed lump, then We made out of the chewed lump bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh, and then We brought it forth as another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators. [Qur'an, 23:12-14; Al-Mu'minun, "The Believers"]
Dr. Keith L. Moore (Ph.D., F.I.A.C). The Department of Anatomy, University of Toronto, Canada) commented on these verses in a paper titled "A Scientist's Interpretation of References to Embryology in the Qur'ân" (The Journal of the Islamic Medical Association, Vol. 18, Jan-Jun 1986, pp. 15-16): "The zygote forms by the union of a mixture of the sperm and the ovum ("The mixed drop!"). The word "alaqah" refers to a leech or bloodsucker. This is an appropriate description of the human embryo from days 7-24 when it clings to the endometrium of the uterus, in the same way that a leech clings to the skin. Just as the leech derives blood from the host, the human embryo derives blood from the decidua or pregnant endometrium. It is remarkable how much the embryo of 23-24 days resembles a leech. As there were no microscopes or lenses available in the 7th century, doctors would not have known that the human embryo had this leech-like appearance. In the early part of the fourth week, the embryo is just visible to the unaided eye because it is smaller than a kernel of wheat. The Arabic word "mudghah" means "chewed substance or chewed lump." Toward the end of the fourth week, the human embryo looks somewhat like a chewed lump of flesh. The chewed appearance results from the somites which resemble teeth marks. The somites represent the beginnings or primordia of the vertebrae... Out of the chewed lump stage, bones and muscles form. This is in accordance with embryological development. First the bones form as cartilage models and then the muscles (flesh) develop around them from the somatic mesoderm."
(2) Allah also states in the Qur'an the correct order in which the senses of hearing, seeing and understanding develop: And He gave you hearing and sight and feeling and understanding. [Qur'an, 32:9; Al-Sajdah, "The Prostration"]
Dr. Keith L. Moore comments on these verses in the same paper mentioned above saying: "The primordia of the internal ears appear before the beginning of the eyes, and the brain (the site of understanding) differentiates last."
(3) We know that life cannot exist without water. That is why when scientists search for life anywhere, even on other planets such as Mars, the first thing they look for is evidence of the existence of water. Allah stated the fact that all living things are made of water in the Qur'an. And Allah has created every moving [living] creature from water. From them is that which goes on its belly, and from them is that which walks on two feet, and from them is that which walks on four. Allah creates what He wills. Verily Allah is able to do all things. [Qur'an, 24:45; Al-Nour, "The Light"]
(4) It is now known that mammary glands secrete milk. The mammary glands are nourished by the products of food digestion in the intestines brought to them by the bloodstream. The fact that it is the blood that transfers nutrients from the intestines to the rest of the body was discovered only recently. The mere fact that blood circulates within the body was discovered about many centuries after the revelation of the Qur'an. And verily in cattle there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink of what is within their bellies, from between excretions [the contents of the intestine] and blood, pure milk; palatable to the drinkers. [Qur'an, 16:66;Al-Nahl, "The Bees"]
Some Proofs from History (1) There is a city that was mentioned in the Qur'an by the name of Iram. Up until 1975, this city was thought by many non-Muslims to be a mere myth since no mention of it was ever made in any known writings. In 1975 another city by the name of Ibla was unearthed in Syria. In some of the tablets found in the city of Ibla, the name of the city of Iram was mentioned for the first time as a place that used to trade with the city of Ibla. Subsequently, using space photography from the space shuttle, the city of Iram was found in the vicinity of Aden. Then behold! The appearance of this city was exactly as it was described in the Qur'an as a city built with towering pillars: Did you [O Mohammad] not see how your Lord dealt with [the tribe of] Aad ? [the city of] Iram with lofty pillars. The like of which was not created in the lands. Qur'an, 89:6-8; Al-Fajr "The Dawn"]
(2) Since the 18th Egyptian dynasty, all of the ancient rulers of Egypt called themselves Pharaohs. The name initially meant the "great house" which is what the ancient Egyptians called the house of their ruler. Beginning with the 18th dynasty, the name was used to designate the king himself. In the early 17th century BC, Egypt was invaded by the Hyksos, who occupied Egypt until prince Ahmos the first finally freed the country from their grasp in 1570 BC. After Egypt was free, the Egyptians systematically destroyed and altered all the monuments built by the Hyksos. That is why the only remnants of the Hyksos invaders is poorly preserved in scarce inscriptions, sculpture and pottery. A somewhat incomplete knowledge of the Hyksos has only become available recently after extensive research. One of the things we came to learn about the Hyksos from this research was that they did not call themselves Pharaohs, but they called themselves kings. In all of the stories in the Qur'an related to Egypt, when God speaks of the ruler of Egypt, He always calls him 'Pharaoh', except in a single story; the story of Prophet Joseph (pbuh), where He calls him 'the king'. Modern history scholars believe that this is because the ruler of Egypt at the time of Prophet Joseph (pbuh) was Apophis a Hyksos king. And the king said: "bring him to me that I may attach him to my person." Then, when he spoke to him he said: "Verily, you are today with us with rank fully established and trustworthy." [Qur'an, 12:54; Youssef, "Joseph"]
(3) Allah says in the Qur'an: And We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his hosts followed them in oppression and enmity, till when drowning overtook him [Pharaoh], he said: "I believe that there is no god but He in whom the Children of Israel have believed, and I am from the Muslims." Now [you believe] while you have rebelled before and been among the evil-doers. So today We save you in your [dead] body, that you may be a sign to those who come after you. And verily, many among mankind are indeed heedless of Our Ayah [proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, ...etc.). [Qur'an, 10:90-92; Yunus, "Jonah"] Thus Allah says that the body of Pharaoh was not taken by the sea so that Pharaoh may become a sign to those who come after him. Dr. Bucaille conducted research to verify this Qur'ânic story: "in June 1975, the Egyptian high authorities very kindly allowed me to examine the parts of the Pharaoh's body that had been covered until then. They also allowed me to take photographs. What may already be derived from this examination is the discovery of multiple lesions of the bones with broad lacunae, some of which may have been mortal although it is not yet possible to ascertain whether some of them occurred before or after the Pharaoh's death. He most probably died either from drowning, according to the scriptural narrations, or from very violent shocks preceding the moment when he was drowned or both at once. Those who seek among modern data for proof of the veracity of the Holy Scriptures will find a magnificent illustration of the verses of the Qur'an dealing with Pharaoh's body by visiting the Royal Mummies room of the Egyptian Museum, Cairo!" [The Bible, The Qur'an and Science (1978)]
Some Proofs from Astronomy Let us first have a short introduction about the formation and nature of the stars and planets based upon our modern knowledge and understanding. It is a well known fact that all the stars within any given galaxy as well as their planets are formed from an initial cloud of gas. When that cloud condenses due to gravitational forces it starts to rotate causing hydrogen and helium atoms; its lighter constituents, to be present in higher proportions towards the center of the cloud, thus forming the star. The heavier constituents on the other hand form planets at larger radii due to the centrifugal effect. The star is luminescent because of the nuclear reactions therein while the planets can only be luminescent if they reflect the star's light that is incident on their surface. Each planet in a given solar system floats in space in a prescribed orbit. Furthermore, the star of the solar system itself floats in an orbit around the center of its galaxy. It is truly amazing that the Qur'an actually gives a clear mention to some of these facts.
(1) Concerning the facts that the heavens (galaxies and stars) and earth were both initially made of the same mixture of materials, then part of that material was put into the earth, and the fact that the sun and moon each float in space in a prescribed orbit, Allah says in surat Al-Anbiya': Did those who disbelieve not see that the heavens and earth were joined together as one piece, then We parted them? And We have made from water everything that is alive. Will they not then believe? And We have placed on the earth firm mountains, lest it should shake with them and We have placed therein broad roads [for them to pass through], that they may be guided. And We have made the sky as a roof, well protected. Yet they turn away from its signs. And it is He who has created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon, each in an orbit they float. [Qur'an, 21:30-33, Al-Anbiya', "The Prophets"]
(2) Concerning the initial formation of the universe and all its galaxies and solar systems, God refers in the Qur'an to the fact that the heavens and earth were brought forth from an initial cloud of gas referred to as smoke which is an accurate description of the appearance of this semi-transparent cloud made of molecules suspended in space. Allah says in the Qur'an: Then He Istawa [rose over in a way only known to Allah] towards the heaven while it was smoke, then He said to it and the earth: "come forth both of you willingly or unwillingly." They both said: "We come, in willing obedience." [Qur'an, 41:1 1; Fussilat, "Explained in Detail"]
(3) While the sun is the source of light for its solar system, the moon and the planets do no more than reflect that light. When Allah speaks in the Quran about the light of the sun, He refers to the sun as a lantern, or a shining source of light. On the other hand, when He speaks of the moon, He speaks of it only as 'lighted' which means that it takes its light from an external source. It is He who made the sun shining and the moon lighted and measured out its stages, that you may know the number of years and the count [of time]. Allah did not create this except in truth. He explains the Ayah [proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, miracles, etc.] in detail for people who have knowledge. [Qur'an, 10:5; Yunus, "Jonath"]
In surat Al-Naml, Allah gives a clear description of the movement of the earth: And you see the mountains, you think them solid [and stationary], when they pass as the passing of the clouds, The making of Allah, Who has perfected everything. Verily, He is well-acquainted with what you do. [Qur'an, 27:88; Al-Naml, "The Ants"]
This verse is truly amazing! It gives a vivid description of the constant movement of the earth. Let us dwell a little on what this verse has to say. First it says that the mountains that we think of as being stationary are actually passing. Then it gives the analogy of the passing of the clouds. One might ask; in which way the passing of the mountains is similar to the passing of the clouds? The answer is: like the clouds pass because of the movement of the medium in which they are (the air), the mountains also pass because of the movement of the earth on which they are placed. Furthermore, notice the accuracy of using the word 'pass' which implies movement in a constant direction as opposed to the word 'move' which can imply changing or random movement to accurately describe the scene one would behold if he or she was to rise high above the earth and observe, while being stationary, the mountains below.
(5) Allah also gave reference to the circular motion associated with the night and day in the Qur'an: He has created the heavens and the earth with truth. He coils the night on the day and He coils the day on the night. And He has subjected the sun and the moon. Each follows a course for an appointed term. Verily, He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving. [Qur'an, 39:5; Al- Zumar, "The Groups"]
(6) Only recently, was it discovered that the universe is in a constant state of expansion. This was observed indirectly through the Doppler effect which states that the light spectrum emitted by an object moving away from an observer would shift towards a higher wavelength. This fact was clearly stated in the Qur'an: And the heaven, We have built it with power and verily We are expanding it, [Qur'an, 51:47; Al-Zariat, "The Winds"]
This is the Book [the Qur'an] whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who fear Allah. Who believe in the unseen, and establish the prayer, and from what We have provided for them they spend. And who believe in what has been sent down to you and what has been sent down before you and of the hereafter they are certain. These are on guidance from their Lord, and those are the successful. [Qur'an, 2:2-5; Al-Baqarah, "The Cow"]

What The Qur'an Teaches: Accusations With No Semblance of Proof

By: Sayyid Qutb

Arab News,

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Beneficent

In the name of God, the Merciful, the Beneficent
Blessed is He who from on high bestowed upon His servant the standard to discern the true from the false, so that it might be a warning to all the worlds. He to whom belongs the dominion over the heavens and the earth, and who begets no offspring, and has no partner in His dominion. It is He who has created all things and ordained them in due proportions. Yet, some choose to worship, instead of Him, deities that cannot create anything but are themselves created, and do not have it in their power to avert harm from, or bring benefit to, themselves, and have no power over death, life or resurrection.
The unbelievers say: ‘This (Qur’an) is nothing but a lie which he has devised with the help of other people. In truth, it is they who have perpetrated an inequity and a falsehood.
(The Standard, Al-Furqan: 25: 1-4)

The surah begins with glorifying God and makes clear that He revealed the Qur’an to serve as a warning to mankind throughout the world, in all generations. It describes the Qur’an as the standard which separates truth from falsehood. It then makes clear that all sovereignty over the universe belongs to God alone, who has no partners. It also mentions that He is the Creator of all things, giving every type and everyone of His creatures their due proportions so that they could all survive and fulfil their functions in the overall system of creation. Day by day, human knowledge uncovers more and more of the elaborate system that gives every creature their measures. With such increased knowledge we appreciate even better the significance of the Qur’anic statement: “It is He who has created all things and ordained them in due proportions.”
The unbelievers at the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not understand anything of this. Hence they persisted with their unbelief. “Yet, some choose to worship, instead of Him, deities that cannot create anything but are themselves created, and do not have it in their power to avert harm from, or bring benefit to, themselves, and have no power over death, life or resurrection.”
Their false deities are deprived of the most essential characteristics of Godhead. Thus, they “cannot create anything,” while God has created everything, and those false deities “are themselves created.” Their servants create them in the sense that they make them, if they are statues or idols, while God creates them, in the sense of bringing them into existence, if they are angels, devils, humans or some other object of God’s making. Furthermore, they “do not have it in their power to avert harm from, or bring benefit to, themselves,” let alone doing so to others. Someone who might not be able to bring himself benefit may still be able to cause harm, but even this is out of the hands of such false deities. Hence, this is mentioned first as the easiest thing to do. It is then followed by other qualities that only God can have: “(they) have no power over death, life or resurrection.” If these deities cannot cause a living thing to die, or bring to life anything dead, or bring someone to life after death, what characteristic of Godhead could they have? How could these idolaters ascribe divinity to such beings?
It is a case of straying far from the truth to an extent that makes it unsurprising that they could make singular claims against the Prophet. Their claims against God are even more singular and more impudent. Could there be anything worse than that a human being should claim that God has partners when it is God who has created him as well as everything else in the universe and who controls all affairs? The Prophet was asked: “Which is the most cardinal sin?” His reply was: “That you should claim that God has equals, when it is He who has created you.” (Related by Al-Bukahri and Muslim).
Having shown how they fabricate such allegations against God, who is limitless in His glory, the surah refers to their impudent claims against God’s Messenger, replying to them in a way that shows how false and absurd it all is. “The unbelievers say: ‘This (Qur’an) is nothing but a lie which he has devised with the help of other people. In truth, it is they who have perpetrated an inequity and a falsehood. And they say: ‘Fables of ancient times which he has caused to be written down, so that they might be read out to him morning and evening.’ Say: ‘This (Qur’an) is bestowed from on high by Him who knows the secrets of the heavens and the earth. He is indeed Much-Forgiving, Merciful.’”
It was a most blatant lie that the unbelievers of the Quraysh said when they knew deep at heart that it had absolutely no basis. Their elders who instructed them to circulate these lies were fully aware that the Qur’an which Muhammad (peace be upon him) recited could not have been authored by a human being. They actually felt this as they were remarkable in their appreciation of fine poetic style. They could not stop themselves from being influenced by the Qur’an. Moreover, they knew Muhammad (peace be upon him) long before his prophethood, and they were aware that he was exemplary in his honesty: he never told a lie, broke a promise, or breached a trust. How could he, then, invent a lie against God, attributing to Him words which He did not say?
But they were stubborn in their attitude, motivated by fear for their social status that relied on their religious position. Hence, they resorted to such tactics, making false allegations that could be accepted by ordinary people who might not have similar literary talent. Hence they claimed that the Qur’an was “nothing but a lie which he has devised with the help of other people.” It is said that those other people were three foreign slaves, or even more. It is such an absurd allegation. If a man could, with the help of others, devise this Qur’an, or invent it, what could stop them from producing, with the help of others, a similar Qur’an to refute Muhammad’s argument? He repeatedly challenged them and they could not take up the challenge.
This is the reason why the surah does not make any argument to refute their absurd allegations. Instead, it gives its clear judgment on their statements: “They have perpetrated an inequity and a falsehood.” It is an act of injustice against the truth, Muhammad and themselves. Moreover, it is a blatant falsehood.