From: www.islamicity.com
By: Tariq Nelson
Lots of families - including Muslim ones - here in Northern Virginia have children going to school at Virginia Tech and were worried sick as the news came out. I know someone currently working on his master's there.
I just spoke to my friend, Ahmed Sidky who is a grad student at Virginia Tech. He is very emotional right now and says that the entire community is in a state of shock, but that the entire community - including the Muslims - has come together in this time of tragedy. Everyone was checking up on one another and trying to comfort and help one another heal. He said that the shock was intensified because they had an on campus festival on Sunday (the day before) and had a lot of pictures of the victims smiling and having a good time that added to the emotion of this. An indescribable emotional shift.
He told me that a close friend of his is "missing" and they are expecting the worse. He told me his name, but did not want me to release it until his family is notified back in Egypt. (Update: Ahmed's friend Waleed Shaalan is confirmed dead. He leaves behind a wife and son.)
The campus set up a meeting point for family and friends where they were until almost 2:30 AM trying to comfort one another. There was a large gathering of Muslims there and he told me that the Virginia Tech administration was very accommodating to them - making a special place for the prayers. He said that it was one of the most emotional prayers for him and that everyone was crying during the prayers.
Reem Samaha
He also told me that everyone met Reema Samaha's (A victim of this tragic shooting) parents and described for me the highly emotional scene in which everyone was trying to comfort her devastated parents. She was just a freshman and a highly energetic young woman who was very active and popular on campus.
In a time of tragedy, one can really see that we are all human beings and people come together to comfort one another. It did not matter the religion of the victims. Everyone was a hurting human being.
What I write here is not 1/10th as emotional as what Ahmed told me and I wish that I could do it justice, but this is what I have for now.
Let us keep all of them in our du'aa
This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 17th, 2007 at 11:19 am.
Tariq Nelson was born in Sardis, Mississippi and currently lives in the Washington DC area. He maintains a blog at http://tariqnelson.com
The Virginia Tech Muslim Student Association released this statement:
The Virginia Tech Muslim Student Association expresses great sorrow for the tragic events that occurred today on the Virginia Tech campus. We would like to convey our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and offer our help in anyway to the university campus community. We would like everyone to please keep us in their prayers. Jazakumu Allahu Khairan for the concern we received today and we definitely feel the brotherhood and sisterhood that binds all us together.
- The Executive Board of the Muslim Students Association at Virginia Tech
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
The Reality of Religion.
By: Maged Taman
95:1 By the Fig and the Olive, وَالتِّينِ وَالزَّيْتُونِ
95:2 And the Mount of Sinai, وَطُورِ سِينِينَ
95:3 And this City of security (Mecca),- وَهَذَا الْبَلَدِ الْأَمِينِ
95:4 We have indeed created man in the best of moulds, لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ
95:5 Then do We abase him (to be) the lowest of the low,- ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَاهُ أَسْفَلَ سَافِلِينَ
95:6 Except such as believe and do righteous deeds: For they shall have a reward unfailing. إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍ
95:7 Then what can, after this, contradict thee, as to the judgment (to come)? فَمَا يُكَذِّبُكَ بَعْدُ بِالدِّينِ
95:8 Is not Allah the wisest of judges? أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَحْكَمِ الْحَاكِمِينَ
In this small sura in Quran; only 8 verses God give us the history and reality of religion. In the first verse God swears by the fig and olive of the holy lands of his messages (note God when swears swear with his creation, but as his servants we swear by his names only). He then swear by Mount of Sinai and Mecca the two of most holy places. Then God explains religion very simply man was created with the best in his heart to identify God, to love the good and to feel spirituality towards the creator. Notice the innocence of young children and the look in their faces and compare that by the wickedness in the behavior and faces of many adults. When we arrogantly try to keep away from the simple call inside ourselves to live by God and be righteous we give in to be lower than animals. Then after God made his case to us he asks us who can after that deny the religion?, Is not God the wisest of judges?
95:1 By the Fig and the Olive, وَالتِّينِ وَالزَّيْتُونِ
95:2 And the Mount of Sinai, وَطُورِ سِينِينَ
95:3 And this City of security (Mecca),- وَهَذَا الْبَلَدِ الْأَمِينِ
95:4 We have indeed created man in the best of moulds, لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي أَحْسَنِ تَقْوِيمٍ
95:5 Then do We abase him (to be) the lowest of the low,- ثُمَّ رَدَدْنَاهُ أَسْفَلَ سَافِلِينَ
95:6 Except such as believe and do righteous deeds: For they shall have a reward unfailing. إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ فَلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍ
95:7 Then what can, after this, contradict thee, as to the judgment (to come)? فَمَا يُكَذِّبُكَ بَعْدُ بِالدِّينِ
95:8 Is not Allah the wisest of judges? أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِأَحْكَمِ الْحَاكِمِينَ
In this small sura in Quran; only 8 verses God give us the history and reality of religion. In the first verse God swears by the fig and olive of the holy lands of his messages (note God when swears swear with his creation, but as his servants we swear by his names only). He then swear by Mount of Sinai and Mecca the two of most holy places. Then God explains religion very simply man was created with the best in his heart to identify God, to love the good and to feel spirituality towards the creator. Notice the innocence of young children and the look in their faces and compare that by the wickedness in the behavior and faces of many adults. When we arrogantly try to keep away from the simple call inside ourselves to live by God and be righteous we give in to be lower than animals. Then after God made his case to us he asks us who can after that deny the religion?, Is not God the wisest of judges?
Why I Am Looking Forward For Christ Second Coming?
By: Maged Taman
There is no doubt that divine intervention is the only hope for salvation of humans. No doubt they can not achieve it themselves. They can work together to create the most powerful computer in the world or to conquer the most devastating disease. But they can not work together to coexist in a peaceful and a just world. All major religions' members to be blamed and not their religions. If Christ to come today he would be crucified somewhere in the Middle East. These are some of the blames that can go around:
1- Corruption.
2- Jealousy.
3- Closed mindedness.
4- Hate.
5- Fear.
6- Love of power.
7- Greed.
8- Selfishness.
9- Anger.
10- Discrimination.
11- Prejudice.
12- Oppression.
13- Political hypocrisy.
14- Religious hypocrisy.
15- Perversion.
16- Wickedness.
17- Capitalistic political complexes.
18- Abuse of religions.
I believe firmly in God but It would amaze me how God can break all these barriers. I am not the only one even for people who believe firmly in the messiah have their exclamation marks. Even an Elijah who would warn people before the messiah would not have better luck. We can not however loose faith since we are the same people that believed that the rod of prophet Moses split the sea and saved the Israelites when they were loosing every hope. Reading through the book of Revelation you believe there is light at the end of tunnel but there is a lot of unpredictable fearful events. From point A we are in now to point B which defines the golden millennium of humanity we do not know for sure what is God's plan which is ultimately our geopolitical and perception of human history mixed with very unstable ecology
There is no doubt that divine intervention is the only hope for salvation of humans. No doubt they can not achieve it themselves. They can work together to create the most powerful computer in the world or to conquer the most devastating disease. But they can not work together to coexist in a peaceful and a just world. All major religions' members to be blamed and not their religions. If Christ to come today he would be crucified somewhere in the Middle East. These are some of the blames that can go around:
1- Corruption.
2- Jealousy.
3- Closed mindedness.
4- Hate.
5- Fear.
6- Love of power.
7- Greed.
8- Selfishness.
9- Anger.
10- Discrimination.
11- Prejudice.
12- Oppression.
13- Political hypocrisy.
14- Religious hypocrisy.
15- Perversion.
16- Wickedness.
17- Capitalistic political complexes.
18- Abuse of religions.
I believe firmly in God but It would amaze me how God can break all these barriers. I am not the only one even for people who believe firmly in the messiah have their exclamation marks. Even an Elijah who would warn people before the messiah would not have better luck. We can not however loose faith since we are the same people that believed that the rod of prophet Moses split the sea and saved the Israelites when they were loosing every hope. Reading through the book of Revelation you believe there is light at the end of tunnel but there is a lot of unpredictable fearful events. From point A we are in now to point B which defines the golden millennium of humanity we do not know for sure what is God's plan which is ultimately our geopolitical and perception of human history mixed with very unstable ecology
The Buruj Sura (Mansions of Stars)
85:1 By the heaven, holding mansions of the stars, -
وَالسَّمَاء ذَاتِ الْبُرُوجِ (85:1)
85:2 And by the Promised Day. -
وَالْيَوْمِ الْمَوْعُودِ (85:2)
85:3 And by the witness and that whereunto he beareth testimony, -
وَشَاهِدٍ وَمَشْهُودٍ (85:3)
85:4 (Self) destroyed were the owners of the ditch -
قُتِلَ أَصْحَابُ الْأُخْدُودِ (85:4)
85:5 Of the fuel-fed fire, -
النَّارِ ذَاتِ الْوَقُودِ (85:5)
85:6 When they sat by it, -
إِذْ هُمْ عَلَيْهَا قُعُودٌ (85:6)
85:7 And were themselves the witnesses of what they did to the believers. -
وَهُمْ عَلَى مَا يَفْعَلُونَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ شُهُودٌ (85:7)
85:8 They had naught against them save that they believed in Allah, the Mighty, the Owner of Praise, -
وَمَا نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا أَن يُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ (85:8)
85:9 Him unto Whom belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is of all things the Witness. -
الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ (85:9)
85:10 Lo! they who persecute believing men and believing women and repent not, theirs verily will be the doom of hell, and theirs the doom of burning. -
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ فَتَنُوا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُوبُوا فَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ الْحَرِيقِ (85:10)
85:11 Lo! those who believe and do good works, theirs will be Gardens underneath which rivers flow. That is the Great Success. -
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْكَبِيرُ (85:11)
85:12 Lo! the punishment of thy Lord is stern. -
إِنَّ بَطْشَ رَبِّكَ لَشَدِيدٌ (85:12)
85:13 Lo! He it is Who produceth, then reproduceth, -
إِنَّهُ هُوَ يُبْدِئُ وَيُعِيدُ (85:13)
85:14 And He is the Forgiving, the Loving, -
وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الْوَدُودُ (85:14)
85:15 Lord of the Throne of Glory, -
ذُو الْعَرْشِ الْمَجِيدُ (85:15)
85:16 Doer of what He will. -
فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ (85:16)
85:17 Hath there come unto thee the story of the hosts -
هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ الْجُنُودِ (85:17)
85:18 Of Pharaoh and (the tribe of) Thamud? -
فِرْعَوْنَ وَثَمُودَ (85:18)
85:19 Nay, but those who disbelieve live in denial -
بَلِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فِي تَكْذِيبٍ (85:19)
85:20 And Allah, all unseen, surroundeth them. -
وَاللَّهُ مِن وَرَائِهِم مُّحِيطٌ (85:20)
85:21 Nay, but it is a glorious Qur'an -
بَلْ هُوَ قُرْآنٌ مَّجِيدٌ (85:21)
85:22 On a guarded tablet.
فِي لَوْحٍ مَّحْفُوظٍ (85:22)
Blogger Comment:
I am not Islamic Imam or scholar but the verses are simple and are self-explanatory. God swears by the two very glorious things. In this world the stars and in the afterlife the day of judgement. He swears by the two witnesses those who were witnessed tortured in this example the believers were put in fire and those who put them in and sit down to witness and enjoy the scene. In the day of judgement the opposite is true. Inspite of that God is still willing to forgive those who killed the believers if they to come back to him and he is still the loving God. The thing that make you believe much in Islam that the worst enemies of Islam when they become Muslims in one day every thing is forgiven to them and actually they become brothers to Muslims. Muslims are not looking for revenge but to live by God's commandments. God as well give examples of Pharaoh and his army and other armies of the oppressors. He is the same strong God of Israel. The same God of the bible who is loving but just, powerful and capable. God ends the sura by asserting as a witness and he is the best witness that his Quran has conveyed this message.
The difference between the Quran and my comment is every verse is a verse (a lot of them) you can put it in picture frame and hanged in your office. My comment though is understandable is a human speech. That is the glory of God he talks to us in verses that every verse can be a piece of wise phrase and they all fit together and you enjoy it as you piece together and find the connection.
وَالسَّمَاء ذَاتِ الْبُرُوجِ (85:1)
85:2 And by the Promised Day. -
وَالْيَوْمِ الْمَوْعُودِ (85:2)
85:3 And by the witness and that whereunto he beareth testimony, -
وَشَاهِدٍ وَمَشْهُودٍ (85:3)
85:4 (Self) destroyed were the owners of the ditch -
قُتِلَ أَصْحَابُ الْأُخْدُودِ (85:4)
85:5 Of the fuel-fed fire, -
النَّارِ ذَاتِ الْوَقُودِ (85:5)
85:6 When they sat by it, -
إِذْ هُمْ عَلَيْهَا قُعُودٌ (85:6)
85:7 And were themselves the witnesses of what they did to the believers. -
وَهُمْ عَلَى مَا يَفْعَلُونَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ شُهُودٌ (85:7)
85:8 They had naught against them save that they believed in Allah, the Mighty, the Owner of Praise, -
وَمَا نَقَمُوا مِنْهُمْ إِلَّا أَن يُؤْمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْحَمِيدِ (85:8)
85:9 Him unto Whom belongeth the Sovereignty of the heavens and the earth; and Allah is of all things the Witness. -
الَّذِي لَهُ مُلْكُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاللَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ شَهِيدٌ (85:9)
85:10 Lo! they who persecute believing men and believing women and repent not, theirs verily will be the doom of hell, and theirs the doom of burning. -
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ فَتَنُوا الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُوبُوا فَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ الْحَرِيقِ (85:10)
85:11 Lo! those who believe and do good works, theirs will be Gardens underneath which rivers flow. That is the Great Success. -
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ ذَلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْكَبِيرُ (85:11)
85:12 Lo! the punishment of thy Lord is stern. -
إِنَّ بَطْشَ رَبِّكَ لَشَدِيدٌ (85:12)
85:13 Lo! He it is Who produceth, then reproduceth, -
إِنَّهُ هُوَ يُبْدِئُ وَيُعِيدُ (85:13)
85:14 And He is the Forgiving, the Loving, -
وَهُوَ الْغَفُورُ الْوَدُودُ (85:14)
85:15 Lord of the Throne of Glory, -
ذُو الْعَرْشِ الْمَجِيدُ (85:15)
85:16 Doer of what He will. -
فَعَّالٌ لِّمَا يُرِيدُ (85:16)
85:17 Hath there come unto thee the story of the hosts -
هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ الْجُنُودِ (85:17)
85:18 Of Pharaoh and (the tribe of) Thamud? -
فِرْعَوْنَ وَثَمُودَ (85:18)
85:19 Nay, but those who disbelieve live in denial -
بَلِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فِي تَكْذِيبٍ (85:19)
85:20 And Allah, all unseen, surroundeth them. -
وَاللَّهُ مِن وَرَائِهِم مُّحِيطٌ (85:20)
85:21 Nay, but it is a glorious Qur'an -
بَلْ هُوَ قُرْآنٌ مَّجِيدٌ (85:21)
85:22 On a guarded tablet.
فِي لَوْحٍ مَّحْفُوظٍ (85:22)
Blogger Comment:
I am not Islamic Imam or scholar but the verses are simple and are self-explanatory. God swears by the two very glorious things. In this world the stars and in the afterlife the day of judgement. He swears by the two witnesses those who were witnessed tortured in this example the believers were put in fire and those who put them in and sit down to witness and enjoy the scene. In the day of judgement the opposite is true. Inspite of that God is still willing to forgive those who killed the believers if they to come back to him and he is still the loving God. The thing that make you believe much in Islam that the worst enemies of Islam when they become Muslims in one day every thing is forgiven to them and actually they become brothers to Muslims. Muslims are not looking for revenge but to live by God's commandments. God as well give examples of Pharaoh and his army and other armies of the oppressors. He is the same strong God of Israel. The same God of the bible who is loving but just, powerful and capable. God ends the sura by asserting as a witness and he is the best witness that his Quran has conveyed this message.
The difference between the Quran and my comment is every verse is a verse (a lot of them) you can put it in picture frame and hanged in your office. My comment though is understandable is a human speech. That is the glory of God he talks to us in verses that every verse can be a piece of wise phrase and they all fit together and you enjoy it as you piece together and find the connection.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
TEN MOST COMMON QUESTIONS ASKED BY CHRISTIAN MISSIONARIES AGAINST ISLAM
by Dr. Zakir Naik
1. QUR’AN PLAGIARIZED FROM THE BIBLE :
Question
Is it not true that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has copied the Qur’an from the Bible?
Answer
Many critics allege that Prophet Muhummad (pbuh) himself was not the author of the Qur’an but he learnt it and/or plagiarised (copied or adapted) it from other human sources or from previous scriptures or revelations.
1. MUHUMMAD LEARNT THE QUR’AN FROM A ROMAN BLACKSMITH WHO WAS A CHRISTIAN
Some Pagans accused the Prophet of learning the Qur’an from a Roman Blacksmith, who was a Christian staying at the outskirts of Makkah. The Prophet very often used to go and watch him do his work. A revelation of the Qur’an was sufficient to dismiss this charge - the Qur’an says in Surah An-Nahl chapter 16 verse 103:
"We know indeed that they say, ‘It is a man that teaches him,’ The tongue of him they wickedly point to is notably foreign, while this is Arabic, pure and clear." [Al-Qur’an 16:103]
How could a person whose mother tongue was foreign and could hardly speak little but of poor broken Arabic be the source of the Qur’an which is pure, eloquent, fine Arabic? To believe that the blacksmith taught the Prophet the Qur’an is some what similar to believing that a Chinese immigrant to England, who did not know proper English, taught Shakespeare.
2. MUHUMMAD (PBUH) LEARNT FROM WARAQA - THE RELATIVE OF KHADIJAH (RA)
Muhummad’s (pbuh) contacts with the Jewish and Christian Scholars were very limited. The most prominent Christian known to him was an old blind man called Waraqa ibn-Naufal who was a relative of the Prophet’s first wife Khadijah (r.a.). Although of Arab descent, he was a convert to Christianity and was very well versed with the New Testament. The Prophet only met him twice, first when Waraqa was worshipping at the Kaaba (before the Prophetic Mission) and he kissed the Prophet’s forehead affectionately; the second occasion was when the Prophet went to meet Waraqa after receiving the first revelation. Waraqa died three years later and the revelation continued for about 23 years. It is ridiculous to assume that Waraqa was the source of the contents of the Qur’an.
3. PROPHET’S RELIGIOUS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE JEWS AND CHRISTIANS
It is true that the Prophet did have religious discussions with the Jews and Christians but they took place in Madinah more than 13 years after the revelation of the Qur’an had started. The allegation that these Jews and Christians were the source is perverse, since in these discussions Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was performing the roles of a teacher and of a preacher while inviting them to embrace Islam and pointing out that they had deviated from their true teachings of Monotheism. Several of these Jews and Christians later embraced Islam.
4. THE PROPHET LEARNT THE QUR’AN FROM THOSE JEWS AND CHRISTIANS THAT HE MET OUTSIDE ARABIA
All historical records available show that Muhummad (pbuh) had made only three trips outside Makkah before his Prophethood:
At the age of 9 he accompanied his mother to Madinah.
Between the age of 9 and 12, he accompanied his uncle Abu-Talib on a business trip to Syria.
At the age of 25 he led Khadija’s Caravan to Syria.
It is highly imaginary to assume that the Qur’an resulted from the occasional chats and meetings with the Christians or Jews from any of the above three trips.
5. LOGICAL GROUNDS TO PROVE THAT THE PROPHET DID NOT LEARN THE QUR’AN FROM JEWS OR CHRISTIANS
The day-to-day life of the Prophet was an open book for all to see. In fact a revelation came asking people to give the Prophet (pbuh) privacy in his own home. If the Prophet had been meeting people who told him what to say as a revelation from God, this would not have been hidden for very long.
The extremely prominent Quraish nobles who followed the Prophet and accepted Islam were wise and intelligent men who would have easily noticed anything suspicious about the way in which the Prophet brought the revelations to them - more so since the Prophetic mission lasted 23 years.
The enemies of the Prophet kept a close watch on him in order to find proof for their claim that he was a liar - they could not point out even a single instance when the Prophet may have had a secret rendezvous with particular Jews and Christians.
It is inconceivable that any human author of the Qur’an would have accepted a situation in which he received no credit whatsoever for originating the Qur’an.
Thus, historically and logically it cannot be established that there was a human source for the Qur’an.
6. MUHUMMAD (PBUH) WAS AN ILLITERATE
The theory that Muhummad (pbuh) authored the Qur’an or copied from other sources can be disproved by the single historical fact that he was illiterate.
Allah testifies Himself in the Qur’anIn Surah Al-Ankabut chapter no.29 verse 48
"And thou was not (able) to recite a Book before this (Book came), nor art thou (able) to transcribe it with thy right hand: in that case, indeed, would the talkers of vanities have doubted."[Al-Qur’an 29:48]
Allah (swt) knew that many would doubt the authenticity of the Qur’an and would ascribe it to Prophet Muhummad (pbuh). Therefore Allah in His Divine Wisdom chose the last and final Messenger to be an ‘Ummi’, i.e. unlettered, so that the talkers of vanity would not then have the slightest justification to doubt the Prophet. The accusation of his enemies that he had copied the Qur’an from other sources and rehashed it all in a beautiful language might have carried some weight, but even this flimsy pretence has been deprived to the unbeliever and the cynic.
Allah reconfirms in the Qur’an in Surah Al A’raf chapter 7 verse 157:
"Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (Scriptures) in the Law and the Gospel"
The prophecy of coming of the unlettered Prophet (pbuh) is also mentioned in the Bible in the book of Isaiah chapter 29 verse 12.
"And the book is delivered to him that is not learned."[Isaiah 29:12]
The Qur’an testifies in no less than four different places that the Prophet (pbuh) was illiterate. It is also mentioned in Surah A’raf chapter 7 verse 158 and in Surah Al-Jumu’a chapter 62 verse 2.
7. ARABIC VERSION OF THE BIBLE WAS NOT PRESENT
The Arabic version of the Bible was not present at the time of Prophet Muhummad (pbuh). The earliest Arabic version of the Old Testament is that of R. Saadias Gaon of 900 C.E. - more than 250 years after the death of our beloved Prophet. The oldest Arabic version of the new Testament was published by Erpenius in 1616 C.E. - about a thousand years after the demise of our Prophet.
8. SIMILARITIES IN THE QUR’AN AND THE BIBLE DUE TO COMMON SOURCE
Similarities between the Qur’an and the Bible does not necessarily mean that the former has been copied from the latter. In fact it gives evidence that both of them are based on a common third source; all divine revelations came from the same source - the one universal God. No matter what human changes were introduced into some of these Judeo-Christian and other older religious scriptures that had distorted their originality, there are some areas that have remained free from distortion and thus are common to many religions.
It is true that there are some similar parallels between the Qur’an and the Bible but this is not sufficient to accuse Muhummad (pbuh) of compiling or copying from the Bible. The same logic would then also be applicable to teachings of Christianity and Judaism and thus one could wrongly claim that Jesus (pbuh) was not a genuine Prophet (God forbid) and that he simply copied from the Old Testament.
The similarities between the two signify a common source that is one true God and the continuation of the basic message of monotheism and not that the later prophets have plagiarised from the previous prophets.
If someone copies during an examination he will surely not write in the answer sheet that he has copied from his neighbour or Mr. XYZ. Prophet Muhummad (pbuh) gave due respect and credit to all the previous prophets (pbut). The Qur’an also mentions the various revelations given by Almighty God to different prophets.
9. MUSLIMS BELIEVE IN THE TAURAH, ZABOOR, INJEEL AND QUR’AN
Four revelations of Allah (swt) are mentioned by name in the Qur’an: the Taurah, the Zaboor, the Injeel and the Qur’an.
Taurah, the revelation i.e. the Wahi given to Moosa (a. s.) i.e. Moses (pbuh).Zaboor, the revelation i.e. the Wahi given to Dawood (a.s.) i.e. David (pbuh).Injeel, the revelation i.e. the Wahi given to Isa (A.S.) ie. Jesus (pbuh).‘Al-Qur’an’, the last and final Wahi i.e. revelation given to the last and final Messenger Muhammad (pbuh).
It is an article of faith for every Muslim to believe in all the Prophets of God and all revelations of God. However, the present day Bible has the first five books of the Old Testament attributed to Moses and the Psalms attributed to David. Moreover the New Testament or the four Gospels of the New Testament are not the Taurah, the Zaboor or the Injeel, which the Qur’an refers to. These books of the present day Bible may partly contain the word of God but these books are certainly not the exact, accurate and complete revelations given to the prophets.
The Qur’an presents all the different prophets of Allah as belonging to one single brotherhood; all had a similar prophetic mission and the same basic message. Because of this, the fundamental teachings of the major faiths cannot be contradictory, even if there has been a considerable passage of time between the different prophetic missions, because the source of these missions was one: Almighty God, Allah. This is why the Qur’an says that the differences which exist between various religions are not the responsibility of the prophets, but of the followers of these prophets who forgot part of what they had been taught, and furthermore, misinterpreted and changed the scriptures. The Qur’an cannot therefore be seen as a scripture which competes with the teachings of Moses, Jesus and the other prophets. On the contrary, it confirms, completes and perfects the messages that they brought to their people.
Another name for the Qur’an is the ‘The Furqan’ which means the criteria to judge the right from the wrong, and it is on the basis of the Qur’an that we can decipher which part of the previous scriptures can be considered to be the word of God.
10. SCIENTIFIC COMPARISON BETWEEN QUR’AN AND BIBLE
If you glance through the Bible and the Qur’an you may find several points which appear to be exactly the same in both of them, but when you analyse them closely, you realise that there is a difference of ‘chalk and cheese’ between them. Only based on historical details it is difficult for someone who is neither conversant with Christianity or Islam to come to a firm decision as to which of the scriptures is true; however if you verify the relevant passages of both the scriptures against scientific knowledge, you will yourself realize the truth.
Creation of the Universe in Six DaysAs per the Bible, in the first book of Genesis in Chapter One, the universe was created in six days and each day is defined as a twenty-four hours period. Even though the Qur’an mentions that the universe was created in six ‘Ayyaams’, ‘Ayyaam’ is the plural of years; this word has two meanings: firstly, it means a standard twenty-four hours period i.e. a day, and secondly, it also means stage, period or epoch which is a very long period of time.
When the Qur’an mentions that the universe was created in six ‘Ayyaams’, it refers to the creation of the heavens and the earth in six long periods or epochs; scientists have no objection to this statement. The creation of the universe has taken billions of years, which proves false or contradicts the concept of the Bible which states that the creation of the Universe took six days of twenty-four hour durations each.
Sun Created After the DayThe Bible says in chapter 1, verses 3-5, of Genesis that the phenomenon of day and night was created on the first day of creation of the Universe by God. The light circulating in the universe is the result of a complex reaction in the stars; these stars were created according to the Bible (Genesis chapter 1 verse 14 to 19) on the fourth day. It is illogical to mention the result that is the light (the phenomenon of day and night) was created on the first day of Creation when the cause or source of the light was created three days later. Moreover the existence of evening and morning as elements of a single day is only conceivable after the creation of the earth and its rotation around the sun. In contrast with the contents of the Bible on this issue, the Qur’an does not give any unscientific sequence of Creation. Hence it is absolutely absurd to say that Prophet Muhummad (pbuh) copied the passages pertaining to the creation of the universe from the Bible but missed out this illogical and fantastic sequence of the Bible.
Creation of the Sun, The Earth and the MoonAccording to the Bible, Book of Genesis, chapter 1, verses 9 to 13, the earth was created on the third day, and as per verses 14 to 19, the sun and the moon were created on the fourth day. The earth and the moon emanated, as we know, from their original star, the Sun. Hence to place the creation of the sun and the moon after the creation of the earth is contrary to the established idea about the formation of the solar system.
Vegetation Created on the third day and Sun on the fourth dayAccording to the Bible, Book of Genesis, chapter 1, verses 11-13, vegetation was created on the third day along with seed-bearing grasses, plants and trees; and further on as per verses 14-19, the sun was created on the fourth day. How is it scientifically possible for the vegetation to have appeared without the presence of the sun, as has been stated in the Bible?
If Prophet Muhummad (pbuh) was indeed the author of the Qur’an and had copied its contents from the Bible, how did he manage to avoid the factual errors that the Bible contains? The Qur’an does not contain any statements which are incompatible with scientific facts.
The Sun and the Moon both Emit lightAccording to the Bible both the sun and the moon emit their own light. In the Book of Genesis, chapter 1, verse 16 says, "And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night".
Science tells us today that the moon does not have its own light. This confirms the Qur’anic concept that the light of the moon is a reflected light. To think that 1400 years ago, Prophet Muhummad (pbuh) corrected these scientific errors in the Bible and then copied such corrected passages in the Qur’an is to think of something impossible.11. ADAM (PBUH), THE FIRST MAN ON EARTH, LIVED 5,800 YEARS AGO
As per the genealogy of Jesus Christ given in the Bible, from Jesus through Abraham (pbuh) to the first man on earth i.e. Adam (pbuh), Adam appeared on the earth approximately 5800 years ago:
1948 years between Adam (pbuh) and Abraham (pbuh)
Approximately 1800 years between Abraham (pbuh) and Jesus (pbuh)
2000 years from Jesus (pbuh) till today
These figures are further confused by the fact that the Jewish calendar is currently on or about 5800 years old.
There is sufficient evidence from archaeological and anthropological sources to suggest that the first human being on earth was present tens of thousands of years ago and not merely 5,800 years ago as is suggested by the Bible.The Qur’an too speaks about Adam (pbuh) as the first man on earth but it does not suggest any date or period of his life on earth, unlike the Bible - what the Bible says in this regard is totally incompatible with science.
12. NOAH (PBUH) AND THE FLOOD
The Biblical description of the flood in Genesis chapter 6, 7 and 8 indicates that the deluge was universal and it destroyed every living thing on earth, except those present with Noah (pbuh) in the ark. The description suggests that the event took place 1656 years after the creation of Adam (pbuh) or 292 years before the birth of Abraham, at a time when Noah (pbuh) was 600 years old. Thus the flood may have occurred in the 21st or 22nd Century B.C.
This story of the flood, as given in the Bible, contradicts scientific evidence from archaelogical sources which indicate that the eleventh dynasty in Egypt and the third dynasty in Babylonia were in existence without any break in civilisation and in a manner totally unaffected by any major calamity which may have occurred in the 21st century B.C. This contradicts the Biblical story that the whole world had been immersed in the flood water. In contrast to this, the Qur’anic presentation of the story of Noah and the flood does not conflict with scientific evidence or archaeological data; firstly, the Qur’an does not indicate any specific date or year of the occurance of that event, and secondly, according to the Qur’an the flood was not a universal phenomenon which destroyed complete life on earth. In fact the Qur’an specifically mentions that the flood was a localised event only involving the people of Noah.
It is illogical to assume that Prophet Muhummad (pbuh) had borrowed the story of the flood from the Bible and corrected the mistakes before mentioning it in the Qur’an.
13. MOSES (PBUH) AND PHARAOH OF THE EXODUS
The story of Moses (pbuh) and the Pharaoh of the Exodus are very much identical in the Qur’an and the Bible. Both scriptures agree that the Pharaoh drowned when he tried to pursue Moses (pbuh) and led the Israelites across a stretch of water that they crossed. The Qur’an gives an additional piece of information in Surah Yunus chapter 10 verse 92:
"This day shall We save thee in thy body, that thou mayest be a sign to those who come after thee! But verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our Signs!"[Al-Qur’an 10:92]
Dr. Maurice Bucaille, after a thorough research proved that although Rameses II was known to have persecuted the Israelites as per the Bible, he actually died while Moses (pbuh) was taking refuge in Median. Rameses II’s son Merneptah who succeeded him as Pharaoh drowned during the exodus. In 1898, the mummified body of Merneptah was found in the valley of Kings in Egypt. In 1975, Dr. Maurice Bucaille with other doctors received permission to examine the Mummy of Merneptah, the findings of which proved that Merneptah probably died from drowning or a violent shock which immediately preceeded the moment of drowning. Thus the Qur’anic verse that we shall save his body as a sign, has been fulfilled by the Pharaohs’ body being kept at the Royal Mummies room in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
This verse of the Qur’an compelled Dr. Maurice Bucaille, who was a Christian then, to study the Qur’an. He later wrote a book ‘The Bible, the Qur’an and Science’, and confessed that the author of the Qur’an can be no one else besides God Himself. Thus he embraced Islam.
14. QUR’AN IS A BOOK FROM ALLAH
These evidences are sufficient to conclude that the Qur’an was not copied from the Bible, but that the Qur’an is the Furqaan - ‘the Criteria’ to judge right from wrong and it should be used to decipher which portion of the Bible may be considered as the Word of God.
The Qur’an itself testifies in Surah Sajda chapter 32 verse 1 to 3
Alif Laam Meem.
(This is) the revelation of the Book in which there is no doubt – from the Lord of the Worlds.
Or do they say, ‘He has forged it’? Nay, it is the Truth from thy Lord, that thou mayest admonish a people to whom no warner has come before thee: in order that they may receive guidance."[Al-Qur’an 32:1-3]
7. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MARY AND MIRIAM
Question
It is mentioned in your Qur’an that Mary was the sister of Aaron (pbuh). Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who wrote the Qur’an did not know the difference between Miriam the sister of Aaron (pbuh) and Mary the Mother of Jesus (pbuh), the time span between both of them was about a thousand years.
Answer
1. IN THE SEMITIC LANGUAGES SISTER ALSO MEANS DESCENDANT
The Qur’an mentions in Surah Maryam, Chapter 19 verses 27-28
"At length she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying him (in her arms). They said: ‘O Mary! Truly an amazing thing hast thou brought!
O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!’"[Al-Qur’an 19:27-28]
Christian missionaries say that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did not know the difference between Mary the mother of Jesus (pbuh) and Miriam the sister of Aaron (pbuh). The time span between both was more than a thousand years.
In the Arabic construction of the sentence, sister is also considered as a descendant. Thus, when the people said to Mary, Ukhta Haroon i.e. ‘sister of Aaron’ it actually means descendant of Aaron (pbuh).
2. SON ALSO MEANS DESCENDANT
It is mentioned in the Gospel of Mathew, Chapter 1 verse 1
"Jesus Christ, the son of David,....".[Mathew 1:1]Gospel of Luke Chapter 3, verse 23"And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, ....."[Luke 3:23]
DID JESUS (PBUH) HAVE TWO FATHERS?
What do you call a person who has two fathers? The explanation of the phrase that Jesus (pbuh) was the son of David (pbuh), is that Jesus (pbuh) was a descendant of David (pbuh). ‘Son’, here means a descendant.
8. JESUS (PBUH) DID NOT DIE
Question
Is it not true that your Qur’an mentions in Surah Maryam, Chapter 19 verse 33 that Jesus (pbuh) died and was resurrected?
Answer
JESUS (PBUH) SAID, "THE DAY THAT I DIE", NOT "THE DAY THAT I DIED"
It is mentioned in Surah Maryam, Chapter 19 verse 33
"So Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die and the Day that I shall be raised up to life (again)".[Al-Qur’an 19:33]
The Qur’an mentions that Jesus (pbuh) said "Peace is on me the Day I was born, the day that I die". It is not stated "the day that I died". It is in the future tense and not in the past tense.
1. JESUS (PBUH) WAS RAISED UP ALIVE
The Qur’an further says in Surah Nisa, Chapter 4 verse 157-158:
"That they said (in boast), ‘We killed Jesus Christ the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah’ – But they killed him not, Nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not –
Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is exalted in Power, Wise."[Al-Qur’an 4:157-158]
9. JESUS IS "A WORD" OF ALLAH AND A "SPIRIT" FROM ALLAH
Question
Does not your Qur’an mention that Jesus is Kalimatullah –"The Word of Allah (swt)", as well as Ruhullah – "The Spirit of Allah", indicating his Divinity?
Answer1. JESUS (PBUH) "IS A WORD FROM ALLAH" NOT "THE WORD OF ALLAH"
The Qur’an mentions in Surah Ali ‘Imran Chapter 3 verse 45
"Behold! The angels said: O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus. The son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those Nearest to Allah.[Al-Qur’an 3:45]
Jesus (pbuh) is referred in the Qur’an as a word from Allah and not as ‘the word of Allah’.
"A word" of Allah means a message of Allah. If a person is referred to as "a word" from Allah, it means that he is a Messenger or a Prophet of Allah.
2. THE TITLE OF A PROPHET (PBUH) DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT EXCLUSIVELY BELONGS TO THAT PROPHET (PBUH)
Different titles are given to different prophets (pbut). Whenever a title is given to a prophet (pbuh), it does not necessarily mean that the other prophets do not have the same characteristic or quality. For e.g. Prophet Abraham (pbuh) is referred to in the Qur’an as Khaleelullah, a friend of Allah. This does not indicate that all the other Prophets (pbuh) were not the friends of Allah. Prophet Moses (pbuh) is referred to in the Qur’an as Kaleemullah, indicating that God spoke to him. This does not mean that God did not speak to others. Similarly when Jesus (pbuh) is referred to in the Qur’an as Kalimatullah, "a word from Allah", it does not mean that the other Prophets were not "the word," of Allah.
3. JOHN THE BAPTIST (PBUH) IS ALSO CALLED "A WORD" OF ALLAH
Yahya (pbuh) i.e. John the Baptist (pbuh) is also referred to in the Qur’an as Kalimatullah i.e. a word of Allah in Surah Ali ‘Imran, Chapter 3, verses 38-39
"There did Zakariya Pray to his Lord, saying: "O my Lord! Grant unto me from Thee a progeny that is pure: for Thou art He that heareth prayer!
While he was standing in prayer in the chamber, the angels called unto him: "Allah doth give thee glad tidings of Yahya, witnessing the truth of a Word from Allah, and (be besides) noble, chaste, and a Prophet – of the (goodly) company of the righteous."[Al-Qur’an 3:39]
4. JESUS (PBUH) REFERRED AS RUHULLAH – A SPIRIT OF ALLAH
Jesus (pbuh) also never referred to as Ruhullah "a spirit of Allah" but as a spirit from Allah in Surah Nisa Chapter 4 verse 171
"O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: nor say of Allah aught but the truth. Jesus Christ the son of Mary was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah, And His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His Messengers. Say not ‘Trinity’: desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is One God: glory be to Him: (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs."[Al-Qur’an 4:171]
5. SPIRIT OF ALLAH IS BREATHED IN EVERY HUMAN BEING
A spirit from Allah does not indicate that Jesus (pbuh) is God. The Qur’an mentions in several places that Allah breathed into the human beings "His Spirit" in Surah Al-Hijr, chapter 15 verse 29 in Surah Sajdah, chapter 32 verse 9
Surah Al Hijr Chapter 15 verse 29
"When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him."[Al-Qur’an 15:29]
Surah Sajdah Chapter 32 verse 9
"But He fashioned him in due proportion, and breathed into him something of His spirit. And He gave you (the faculties of) hearing and sight and feeling (and understanding): little thanks do ye give!" [Al-Qur’an 32:9]
10. IS NOT THE QUR’AN WRITTEN BY SATAN?
Question
The Qur’an is not the Word of God but on the contrary the handiwork of Satan.
Answer
In reply to a similar allegation put forward by the pagans of Makkah, that the prophet (pbuh) received the revelations from Satan, the following verses were revealed:
Surah Waqiah, chapter 56 verses 77-80
"That this is indeedA Qur’an most honourable,
In a Book well-guarded,
Which none shall touchBut those who are clean:A Revelation from the LordOf the Worlds."
Kitabim Maknoon means a book well guarded or a protected book, referring to Lauh-e-Mahfooz in the heaven, which none shall touch except the Mutahhareen. i.e. those who do not have any uncleanliness or impurity or evil like sin. This refers to the angels. The satan is absolutely prohobited.
Thus since it is impossible for satan to come anywhere close to it or touch it, the question of him writing the verses of the Glorious Qur’an does not arise.
It is further mentioned in Surah Shura, chapter 26 verse 210-212
"No evil ones have broughtDown this (Revelation):
It would neither suit themNor would they be able (To produce it).
Indeed they have been removedFar from even (a chance of)Hearing it."
Many people have a wrong concept of satan. They think that satan can probably do everything, except a couple of things that God can do. According to them, satan is slightly below God in power. Since the people do not want to accept that the Qur’an is a miraculous revelation, they say that it is satan’s handiwork.
If satan would have written the Qur’an, he would not have mentioned in the same Qur’an in Surah Nahl, chapter 16 verse no. 98
"When thou does readThe Qur’an, seek Allah’s protection from Satan the Rejected One."
Is this how you feel satan would write a book? Does he tell you; "Before you read my book ask God to save you from me?"
There are several verses in the Qur’an which will give enough evidence that satan is not the author of the Qur’an.
In Surah Al Aaraf chapter 7 verse 200
"If a suggestion from Satan assail your (mind),seek refuge with Allah; for He hears and knows(all things).
Why would satan tell his followers, that whenever he gives any suggestions to them, they should seek refuge in Allah (swt) to whom he is an avowed enemy.
In Surah Baqarah, chapter 2 verse 168
"O ye people!Eat of what is on earth, lawful and good;and do not follow the footsteps of the Evil one,For he is to you an avowed enemy."
In Surah Yasin, chapter 36 verse 60
"Did I not enjoin on you,O ye children of Adam,that ye should not worship Satan;
for that he was to you an enemy avowed?"
Satan is intelligent, no wonder that he can put this idea into the minds of people that he himself wrote the Qur’an. Compared to Almighty God, Satan is insignificant, and Allah (swt) is far more intelligent. He knows satan’s evil intentions and hence no wonder that He has given the reader of the Qur’an several proofs to show that Qur’an is God’s word, and not satan’s word.
The Bible mentions in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 3, verses 24-26
"And if a kingdom be divided against itself, thatkingdom cannot stand."
"And if a house be divided against itself,that house cannot stand."
"And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end."
1. QUR’AN PLAGIARIZED FROM THE BIBLE :
Question
Is it not true that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has copied the Qur’an from the Bible?
Answer
Many critics allege that Prophet Muhummad (pbuh) himself was not the author of the Qur’an but he learnt it and/or plagiarised (copied or adapted) it from other human sources or from previous scriptures or revelations.
1. MUHUMMAD LEARNT THE QUR’AN FROM A ROMAN BLACKSMITH WHO WAS A CHRISTIAN
Some Pagans accused the Prophet of learning the Qur’an from a Roman Blacksmith, who was a Christian staying at the outskirts of Makkah. The Prophet very often used to go and watch him do his work. A revelation of the Qur’an was sufficient to dismiss this charge - the Qur’an says in Surah An-Nahl chapter 16 verse 103:
"We know indeed that they say, ‘It is a man that teaches him,’ The tongue of him they wickedly point to is notably foreign, while this is Arabic, pure and clear." [Al-Qur’an 16:103]
How could a person whose mother tongue was foreign and could hardly speak little but of poor broken Arabic be the source of the Qur’an which is pure, eloquent, fine Arabic? To believe that the blacksmith taught the Prophet the Qur’an is some what similar to believing that a Chinese immigrant to England, who did not know proper English, taught Shakespeare.
2. MUHUMMAD (PBUH) LEARNT FROM WARAQA - THE RELATIVE OF KHADIJAH (RA)
Muhummad’s (pbuh) contacts with the Jewish and Christian Scholars were very limited. The most prominent Christian known to him was an old blind man called Waraqa ibn-Naufal who was a relative of the Prophet’s first wife Khadijah (r.a.). Although of Arab descent, he was a convert to Christianity and was very well versed with the New Testament. The Prophet only met him twice, first when Waraqa was worshipping at the Kaaba (before the Prophetic Mission) and he kissed the Prophet’s forehead affectionately; the second occasion was when the Prophet went to meet Waraqa after receiving the first revelation. Waraqa died three years later and the revelation continued for about 23 years. It is ridiculous to assume that Waraqa was the source of the contents of the Qur’an.
3. PROPHET’S RELIGIOUS DISCUSSIONS WITH THE JEWS AND CHRISTIANS
It is true that the Prophet did have religious discussions with the Jews and Christians but they took place in Madinah more than 13 years after the revelation of the Qur’an had started. The allegation that these Jews and Christians were the source is perverse, since in these discussions Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was performing the roles of a teacher and of a preacher while inviting them to embrace Islam and pointing out that they had deviated from their true teachings of Monotheism. Several of these Jews and Christians later embraced Islam.
4. THE PROPHET LEARNT THE QUR’AN FROM THOSE JEWS AND CHRISTIANS THAT HE MET OUTSIDE ARABIA
All historical records available show that Muhummad (pbuh) had made only three trips outside Makkah before his Prophethood:
At the age of 9 he accompanied his mother to Madinah.
Between the age of 9 and 12, he accompanied his uncle Abu-Talib on a business trip to Syria.
At the age of 25 he led Khadija’s Caravan to Syria.
It is highly imaginary to assume that the Qur’an resulted from the occasional chats and meetings with the Christians or Jews from any of the above three trips.
5. LOGICAL GROUNDS TO PROVE THAT THE PROPHET DID NOT LEARN THE QUR’AN FROM JEWS OR CHRISTIANS
The day-to-day life of the Prophet was an open book for all to see. In fact a revelation came asking people to give the Prophet (pbuh) privacy in his own home. If the Prophet had been meeting people who told him what to say as a revelation from God, this would not have been hidden for very long.
The extremely prominent Quraish nobles who followed the Prophet and accepted Islam were wise and intelligent men who would have easily noticed anything suspicious about the way in which the Prophet brought the revelations to them - more so since the Prophetic mission lasted 23 years.
The enemies of the Prophet kept a close watch on him in order to find proof for their claim that he was a liar - they could not point out even a single instance when the Prophet may have had a secret rendezvous with particular Jews and Christians.
It is inconceivable that any human author of the Qur’an would have accepted a situation in which he received no credit whatsoever for originating the Qur’an.
Thus, historically and logically it cannot be established that there was a human source for the Qur’an.
6. MUHUMMAD (PBUH) WAS AN ILLITERATE
The theory that Muhummad (pbuh) authored the Qur’an or copied from other sources can be disproved by the single historical fact that he was illiterate.
Allah testifies Himself in the Qur’anIn Surah Al-Ankabut chapter no.29 verse 48
"And thou was not (able) to recite a Book before this (Book came), nor art thou (able) to transcribe it with thy right hand: in that case, indeed, would the talkers of vanities have doubted."[Al-Qur’an 29:48]
Allah (swt) knew that many would doubt the authenticity of the Qur’an and would ascribe it to Prophet Muhummad (pbuh). Therefore Allah in His Divine Wisdom chose the last and final Messenger to be an ‘Ummi’, i.e. unlettered, so that the talkers of vanity would not then have the slightest justification to doubt the Prophet. The accusation of his enemies that he had copied the Qur’an from other sources and rehashed it all in a beautiful language might have carried some weight, but even this flimsy pretence has been deprived to the unbeliever and the cynic.
Allah reconfirms in the Qur’an in Surah Al A’raf chapter 7 verse 157:
"Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find mentioned in their own (Scriptures) in the Law and the Gospel"
The prophecy of coming of the unlettered Prophet (pbuh) is also mentioned in the Bible in the book of Isaiah chapter 29 verse 12.
"And the book is delivered to him that is not learned."[Isaiah 29:12]
The Qur’an testifies in no less than four different places that the Prophet (pbuh) was illiterate. It is also mentioned in Surah A’raf chapter 7 verse 158 and in Surah Al-Jumu’a chapter 62 verse 2.
7. ARABIC VERSION OF THE BIBLE WAS NOT PRESENT
The Arabic version of the Bible was not present at the time of Prophet Muhummad (pbuh). The earliest Arabic version of the Old Testament is that of R. Saadias Gaon of 900 C.E. - more than 250 years after the death of our beloved Prophet. The oldest Arabic version of the new Testament was published by Erpenius in 1616 C.E. - about a thousand years after the demise of our Prophet.
8. SIMILARITIES IN THE QUR’AN AND THE BIBLE DUE TO COMMON SOURCE
Similarities between the Qur’an and the Bible does not necessarily mean that the former has been copied from the latter. In fact it gives evidence that both of them are based on a common third source; all divine revelations came from the same source - the one universal God. No matter what human changes were introduced into some of these Judeo-Christian and other older religious scriptures that had distorted their originality, there are some areas that have remained free from distortion and thus are common to many religions.
It is true that there are some similar parallels between the Qur’an and the Bible but this is not sufficient to accuse Muhummad (pbuh) of compiling or copying from the Bible. The same logic would then also be applicable to teachings of Christianity and Judaism and thus one could wrongly claim that Jesus (pbuh) was not a genuine Prophet (God forbid) and that he simply copied from the Old Testament.
The similarities between the two signify a common source that is one true God and the continuation of the basic message of monotheism and not that the later prophets have plagiarised from the previous prophets.
If someone copies during an examination he will surely not write in the answer sheet that he has copied from his neighbour or Mr. XYZ. Prophet Muhummad (pbuh) gave due respect and credit to all the previous prophets (pbut). The Qur’an also mentions the various revelations given by Almighty God to different prophets.
9. MUSLIMS BELIEVE IN THE TAURAH, ZABOOR, INJEEL AND QUR’AN
Four revelations of Allah (swt) are mentioned by name in the Qur’an: the Taurah, the Zaboor, the Injeel and the Qur’an.
Taurah, the revelation i.e. the Wahi given to Moosa (a. s.) i.e. Moses (pbuh).Zaboor, the revelation i.e. the Wahi given to Dawood (a.s.) i.e. David (pbuh).Injeel, the revelation i.e. the Wahi given to Isa (A.S.) ie. Jesus (pbuh).‘Al-Qur’an’, the last and final Wahi i.e. revelation given to the last and final Messenger Muhammad (pbuh).
It is an article of faith for every Muslim to believe in all the Prophets of God and all revelations of God. However, the present day Bible has the first five books of the Old Testament attributed to Moses and the Psalms attributed to David. Moreover the New Testament or the four Gospels of the New Testament are not the Taurah, the Zaboor or the Injeel, which the Qur’an refers to. These books of the present day Bible may partly contain the word of God but these books are certainly not the exact, accurate and complete revelations given to the prophets.
The Qur’an presents all the different prophets of Allah as belonging to one single brotherhood; all had a similar prophetic mission and the same basic message. Because of this, the fundamental teachings of the major faiths cannot be contradictory, even if there has been a considerable passage of time between the different prophetic missions, because the source of these missions was one: Almighty God, Allah. This is why the Qur’an says that the differences which exist between various religions are not the responsibility of the prophets, but of the followers of these prophets who forgot part of what they had been taught, and furthermore, misinterpreted and changed the scriptures. The Qur’an cannot therefore be seen as a scripture which competes with the teachings of Moses, Jesus and the other prophets. On the contrary, it confirms, completes and perfects the messages that they brought to their people.
Another name for the Qur’an is the ‘The Furqan’ which means the criteria to judge the right from the wrong, and it is on the basis of the Qur’an that we can decipher which part of the previous scriptures can be considered to be the word of God.
10. SCIENTIFIC COMPARISON BETWEEN QUR’AN AND BIBLE
If you glance through the Bible and the Qur’an you may find several points which appear to be exactly the same in both of them, but when you analyse them closely, you realise that there is a difference of ‘chalk and cheese’ between them. Only based on historical details it is difficult for someone who is neither conversant with Christianity or Islam to come to a firm decision as to which of the scriptures is true; however if you verify the relevant passages of both the scriptures against scientific knowledge, you will yourself realize the truth.
Creation of the Universe in Six DaysAs per the Bible, in the first book of Genesis in Chapter One, the universe was created in six days and each day is defined as a twenty-four hours period. Even though the Qur’an mentions that the universe was created in six ‘Ayyaams’, ‘Ayyaam’ is the plural of years; this word has two meanings: firstly, it means a standard twenty-four hours period i.e. a day, and secondly, it also means stage, period or epoch which is a very long period of time.
When the Qur’an mentions that the universe was created in six ‘Ayyaams’, it refers to the creation of the heavens and the earth in six long periods or epochs; scientists have no objection to this statement. The creation of the universe has taken billions of years, which proves false or contradicts the concept of the Bible which states that the creation of the Universe took six days of twenty-four hour durations each.
Sun Created After the DayThe Bible says in chapter 1, verses 3-5, of Genesis that the phenomenon of day and night was created on the first day of creation of the Universe by God. The light circulating in the universe is the result of a complex reaction in the stars; these stars were created according to the Bible (Genesis chapter 1 verse 14 to 19) on the fourth day. It is illogical to mention the result that is the light (the phenomenon of day and night) was created on the first day of Creation when the cause or source of the light was created three days later. Moreover the existence of evening and morning as elements of a single day is only conceivable after the creation of the earth and its rotation around the sun. In contrast with the contents of the Bible on this issue, the Qur’an does not give any unscientific sequence of Creation. Hence it is absolutely absurd to say that Prophet Muhummad (pbuh) copied the passages pertaining to the creation of the universe from the Bible but missed out this illogical and fantastic sequence of the Bible.
Creation of the Sun, The Earth and the MoonAccording to the Bible, Book of Genesis, chapter 1, verses 9 to 13, the earth was created on the third day, and as per verses 14 to 19, the sun and the moon were created on the fourth day. The earth and the moon emanated, as we know, from their original star, the Sun. Hence to place the creation of the sun and the moon after the creation of the earth is contrary to the established idea about the formation of the solar system.
Vegetation Created on the third day and Sun on the fourth dayAccording to the Bible, Book of Genesis, chapter 1, verses 11-13, vegetation was created on the third day along with seed-bearing grasses, plants and trees; and further on as per verses 14-19, the sun was created on the fourth day. How is it scientifically possible for the vegetation to have appeared without the presence of the sun, as has been stated in the Bible?
If Prophet Muhummad (pbuh) was indeed the author of the Qur’an and had copied its contents from the Bible, how did he manage to avoid the factual errors that the Bible contains? The Qur’an does not contain any statements which are incompatible with scientific facts.
The Sun and the Moon both Emit lightAccording to the Bible both the sun and the moon emit their own light. In the Book of Genesis, chapter 1, verse 16 says, "And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night".
Science tells us today that the moon does not have its own light. This confirms the Qur’anic concept that the light of the moon is a reflected light. To think that 1400 years ago, Prophet Muhummad (pbuh) corrected these scientific errors in the Bible and then copied such corrected passages in the Qur’an is to think of something impossible.11. ADAM (PBUH), THE FIRST MAN ON EARTH, LIVED 5,800 YEARS AGO
As per the genealogy of Jesus Christ given in the Bible, from Jesus through Abraham (pbuh) to the first man on earth i.e. Adam (pbuh), Adam appeared on the earth approximately 5800 years ago:
1948 years between Adam (pbuh) and Abraham (pbuh)
Approximately 1800 years between Abraham (pbuh) and Jesus (pbuh)
2000 years from Jesus (pbuh) till today
These figures are further confused by the fact that the Jewish calendar is currently on or about 5800 years old.
There is sufficient evidence from archaeological and anthropological sources to suggest that the first human being on earth was present tens of thousands of years ago and not merely 5,800 years ago as is suggested by the Bible.The Qur’an too speaks about Adam (pbuh) as the first man on earth but it does not suggest any date or period of his life on earth, unlike the Bible - what the Bible says in this regard is totally incompatible with science.
12. NOAH (PBUH) AND THE FLOOD
The Biblical description of the flood in Genesis chapter 6, 7 and 8 indicates that the deluge was universal and it destroyed every living thing on earth, except those present with Noah (pbuh) in the ark. The description suggests that the event took place 1656 years after the creation of Adam (pbuh) or 292 years before the birth of Abraham, at a time when Noah (pbuh) was 600 years old. Thus the flood may have occurred in the 21st or 22nd Century B.C.
This story of the flood, as given in the Bible, contradicts scientific evidence from archaelogical sources which indicate that the eleventh dynasty in Egypt and the third dynasty in Babylonia were in existence without any break in civilisation and in a manner totally unaffected by any major calamity which may have occurred in the 21st century B.C. This contradicts the Biblical story that the whole world had been immersed in the flood water. In contrast to this, the Qur’anic presentation of the story of Noah and the flood does not conflict with scientific evidence or archaeological data; firstly, the Qur’an does not indicate any specific date or year of the occurance of that event, and secondly, according to the Qur’an the flood was not a universal phenomenon which destroyed complete life on earth. In fact the Qur’an specifically mentions that the flood was a localised event only involving the people of Noah.
It is illogical to assume that Prophet Muhummad (pbuh) had borrowed the story of the flood from the Bible and corrected the mistakes before mentioning it in the Qur’an.
13. MOSES (PBUH) AND PHARAOH OF THE EXODUS
The story of Moses (pbuh) and the Pharaoh of the Exodus are very much identical in the Qur’an and the Bible. Both scriptures agree that the Pharaoh drowned when he tried to pursue Moses (pbuh) and led the Israelites across a stretch of water that they crossed. The Qur’an gives an additional piece of information in Surah Yunus chapter 10 verse 92:
"This day shall We save thee in thy body, that thou mayest be a sign to those who come after thee! But verily, many among mankind are heedless of Our Signs!"[Al-Qur’an 10:92]
Dr. Maurice Bucaille, after a thorough research proved that although Rameses II was known to have persecuted the Israelites as per the Bible, he actually died while Moses (pbuh) was taking refuge in Median. Rameses II’s son Merneptah who succeeded him as Pharaoh drowned during the exodus. In 1898, the mummified body of Merneptah was found in the valley of Kings in Egypt. In 1975, Dr. Maurice Bucaille with other doctors received permission to examine the Mummy of Merneptah, the findings of which proved that Merneptah probably died from drowning or a violent shock which immediately preceeded the moment of drowning. Thus the Qur’anic verse that we shall save his body as a sign, has been fulfilled by the Pharaohs’ body being kept at the Royal Mummies room in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
This verse of the Qur’an compelled Dr. Maurice Bucaille, who was a Christian then, to study the Qur’an. He later wrote a book ‘The Bible, the Qur’an and Science’, and confessed that the author of the Qur’an can be no one else besides God Himself. Thus he embraced Islam.
14. QUR’AN IS A BOOK FROM ALLAH
These evidences are sufficient to conclude that the Qur’an was not copied from the Bible, but that the Qur’an is the Furqaan - ‘the Criteria’ to judge right from wrong and it should be used to decipher which portion of the Bible may be considered as the Word of God.
The Qur’an itself testifies in Surah Sajda chapter 32 verse 1 to 3
Alif Laam Meem.
(This is) the revelation of the Book in which there is no doubt – from the Lord of the Worlds.
Or do they say, ‘He has forged it’? Nay, it is the Truth from thy Lord, that thou mayest admonish a people to whom no warner has come before thee: in order that they may receive guidance."[Al-Qur’an 32:1-3]
7. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MARY AND MIRIAM
Question
It is mentioned in your Qur’an that Mary was the sister of Aaron (pbuh). Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) who wrote the Qur’an did not know the difference between Miriam the sister of Aaron (pbuh) and Mary the Mother of Jesus (pbuh), the time span between both of them was about a thousand years.
Answer
1. IN THE SEMITIC LANGUAGES SISTER ALSO MEANS DESCENDANT
The Qur’an mentions in Surah Maryam, Chapter 19 verses 27-28
"At length she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying him (in her arms). They said: ‘O Mary! Truly an amazing thing hast thou brought!
O sister of Aaron! Thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!’"[Al-Qur’an 19:27-28]
Christian missionaries say that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) did not know the difference between Mary the mother of Jesus (pbuh) and Miriam the sister of Aaron (pbuh). The time span between both was more than a thousand years.
In the Arabic construction of the sentence, sister is also considered as a descendant. Thus, when the people said to Mary, Ukhta Haroon i.e. ‘sister of Aaron’ it actually means descendant of Aaron (pbuh).
2. SON ALSO MEANS DESCENDANT
It is mentioned in the Gospel of Mathew, Chapter 1 verse 1
"Jesus Christ, the son of David,....".[Mathew 1:1]Gospel of Luke Chapter 3, verse 23"And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, ....."[Luke 3:23]
DID JESUS (PBUH) HAVE TWO FATHERS?
What do you call a person who has two fathers? The explanation of the phrase that Jesus (pbuh) was the son of David (pbuh), is that Jesus (pbuh) was a descendant of David (pbuh). ‘Son’, here means a descendant.
8. JESUS (PBUH) DID NOT DIE
Question
Is it not true that your Qur’an mentions in Surah Maryam, Chapter 19 verse 33 that Jesus (pbuh) died and was resurrected?
Answer
JESUS (PBUH) SAID, "THE DAY THAT I DIE", NOT "THE DAY THAT I DIED"
It is mentioned in Surah Maryam, Chapter 19 verse 33
"So Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die and the Day that I shall be raised up to life (again)".[Al-Qur’an 19:33]
The Qur’an mentions that Jesus (pbuh) said "Peace is on me the Day I was born, the day that I die". It is not stated "the day that I died". It is in the future tense and not in the past tense.
1. JESUS (PBUH) WAS RAISED UP ALIVE
The Qur’an further says in Surah Nisa, Chapter 4 verse 157-158:
"That they said (in boast), ‘We killed Jesus Christ the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah’ – But they killed him not, Nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not –
Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is exalted in Power, Wise."[Al-Qur’an 4:157-158]
9. JESUS IS "A WORD" OF ALLAH AND A "SPIRIT" FROM ALLAH
Question
Does not your Qur’an mention that Jesus is Kalimatullah –"The Word of Allah (swt)", as well as Ruhullah – "The Spirit of Allah", indicating his Divinity?
Answer1. JESUS (PBUH) "IS A WORD FROM ALLAH" NOT "THE WORD OF ALLAH"
The Qur’an mentions in Surah Ali ‘Imran Chapter 3 verse 45
"Behold! The angels said: O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus. The son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those Nearest to Allah.[Al-Qur’an 3:45]
Jesus (pbuh) is referred in the Qur’an as a word from Allah and not as ‘the word of Allah’.
"A word" of Allah means a message of Allah. If a person is referred to as "a word" from Allah, it means that he is a Messenger or a Prophet of Allah.
2. THE TITLE OF A PROPHET (PBUH) DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT EXCLUSIVELY BELONGS TO THAT PROPHET (PBUH)
Different titles are given to different prophets (pbut). Whenever a title is given to a prophet (pbuh), it does not necessarily mean that the other prophets do not have the same characteristic or quality. For e.g. Prophet Abraham (pbuh) is referred to in the Qur’an as Khaleelullah, a friend of Allah. This does not indicate that all the other Prophets (pbuh) were not the friends of Allah. Prophet Moses (pbuh) is referred to in the Qur’an as Kaleemullah, indicating that God spoke to him. This does not mean that God did not speak to others. Similarly when Jesus (pbuh) is referred to in the Qur’an as Kalimatullah, "a word from Allah", it does not mean that the other Prophets were not "the word," of Allah.
3. JOHN THE BAPTIST (PBUH) IS ALSO CALLED "A WORD" OF ALLAH
Yahya (pbuh) i.e. John the Baptist (pbuh) is also referred to in the Qur’an as Kalimatullah i.e. a word of Allah in Surah Ali ‘Imran, Chapter 3, verses 38-39
"There did Zakariya Pray to his Lord, saying: "O my Lord! Grant unto me from Thee a progeny that is pure: for Thou art He that heareth prayer!
While he was standing in prayer in the chamber, the angels called unto him: "Allah doth give thee glad tidings of Yahya, witnessing the truth of a Word from Allah, and (be besides) noble, chaste, and a Prophet – of the (goodly) company of the righteous."[Al-Qur’an 3:39]
4. JESUS (PBUH) REFERRED AS RUHULLAH – A SPIRIT OF ALLAH
Jesus (pbuh) also never referred to as Ruhullah "a spirit of Allah" but as a spirit from Allah in Surah Nisa Chapter 4 verse 171
"O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: nor say of Allah aught but the truth. Jesus Christ the son of Mary was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah, And His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and His Messengers. Say not ‘Trinity’: desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is One God: glory be to Him: (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs."[Al-Qur’an 4:171]
5. SPIRIT OF ALLAH IS BREATHED IN EVERY HUMAN BEING
A spirit from Allah does not indicate that Jesus (pbuh) is God. The Qur’an mentions in several places that Allah breathed into the human beings "His Spirit" in Surah Al-Hijr, chapter 15 verse 29 in Surah Sajdah, chapter 32 verse 9
Surah Al Hijr Chapter 15 verse 29
"When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My spirit, fall ye down in obeisance unto him."[Al-Qur’an 15:29]
Surah Sajdah Chapter 32 verse 9
"But He fashioned him in due proportion, and breathed into him something of His spirit. And He gave you (the faculties of) hearing and sight and feeling (and understanding): little thanks do ye give!" [Al-Qur’an 32:9]
10. IS NOT THE QUR’AN WRITTEN BY SATAN?
Question
The Qur’an is not the Word of God but on the contrary the handiwork of Satan.
Answer
In reply to a similar allegation put forward by the pagans of Makkah, that the prophet (pbuh) received the revelations from Satan, the following verses were revealed:
Surah Waqiah, chapter 56 verses 77-80
"That this is indeedA Qur’an most honourable,
In a Book well-guarded,
Which none shall touchBut those who are clean:A Revelation from the LordOf the Worlds."
Kitabim Maknoon means a book well guarded or a protected book, referring to Lauh-e-Mahfooz in the heaven, which none shall touch except the Mutahhareen. i.e. those who do not have any uncleanliness or impurity or evil like sin. This refers to the angels. The satan is absolutely prohobited.
Thus since it is impossible for satan to come anywhere close to it or touch it, the question of him writing the verses of the Glorious Qur’an does not arise.
It is further mentioned in Surah Shura, chapter 26 verse 210-212
"No evil ones have broughtDown this (Revelation):
It would neither suit themNor would they be able (To produce it).
Indeed they have been removedFar from even (a chance of)Hearing it."
Many people have a wrong concept of satan. They think that satan can probably do everything, except a couple of things that God can do. According to them, satan is slightly below God in power. Since the people do not want to accept that the Qur’an is a miraculous revelation, they say that it is satan’s handiwork.
If satan would have written the Qur’an, he would not have mentioned in the same Qur’an in Surah Nahl, chapter 16 verse no. 98
"When thou does readThe Qur’an, seek Allah’s protection from Satan the Rejected One."
Is this how you feel satan would write a book? Does he tell you; "Before you read my book ask God to save you from me?"
There are several verses in the Qur’an which will give enough evidence that satan is not the author of the Qur’an.
In Surah Al Aaraf chapter 7 verse 200
"If a suggestion from Satan assail your (mind),seek refuge with Allah; for He hears and knows(all things).
Why would satan tell his followers, that whenever he gives any suggestions to them, they should seek refuge in Allah (swt) to whom he is an avowed enemy.
In Surah Baqarah, chapter 2 verse 168
"O ye people!Eat of what is on earth, lawful and good;and do not follow the footsteps of the Evil one,For he is to you an avowed enemy."
In Surah Yasin, chapter 36 verse 60
"Did I not enjoin on you,O ye children of Adam,that ye should not worship Satan;
for that he was to you an enemy avowed?"
Satan is intelligent, no wonder that he can put this idea into the minds of people that he himself wrote the Qur’an. Compared to Almighty God, Satan is insignificant, and Allah (swt) is far more intelligent. He knows satan’s evil intentions and hence no wonder that He has given the reader of the Qur’an several proofs to show that Qur’an is God’s word, and not satan’s word.
The Bible mentions in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 3, verses 24-26
"And if a kingdom be divided against itself, thatkingdom cannot stand."
"And if a house be divided against itself,that house cannot stand."
"And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end."
A Very Efficient Government Is No Government.
Governments over the ages have been either the source of happiness of its people or sadness and depression. I look at an efficient government as the government that is so efficient that make you feel that there is no government. It is like you are dealing with a bank that is very efficient and everything goes smooth that you never call the manager. You may not have much interest how they accomplish that but you like it this way. Once a year or so you may ask for curiosity who is the manager or CEO of the bank.
I am looking for an efficient government that look the same way. It is so effective that people feel that there is no government. As you guessed the bank has no party system and is very likely very efficient because of the dedication and harmony of the staff of the bank. Can we make governments work the same way. My answer is yes if we to do the following:
1- No party system since it had proved to be divisive to the country and allowed dictators to dominate over their countries.
2- Media that supervise every part of the government.
3- No interest groups or outside money that corrupt the government.
4- All mechanisms to prevent the corruption of the government.
5- Weak politicians and strong citizens thus the government officials are serving the public and not vice versa. Politicians are not getting strength through absolute power and authority or through the strength of the party as happens in most third world country.
6- Politicians are more of independent people that in the network in the government and have to work it out between them they are not group of common interest or a gang.
7- The government will become much less attractive for dominating dictators and corrupt individuals. People are basically will change their attitude towards their leaders and they will be looked at more like CEO's.
8- The government in every country would hold the human values of free speech, women rights, women rights, religious rights... That will make the people happy feeling social justice, equality and freedom.
9- The government overtime with all its intact institutions that allow smooth and very efficient governing system will make people do not feel there is a government and they will worship their God and enjoy their families. Meanwhile will prevent most causes of wars and social upsets.
I am looking for an efficient government that look the same way. It is so effective that people feel that there is no government. As you guessed the bank has no party system and is very likely very efficient because of the dedication and harmony of the staff of the bank. Can we make governments work the same way. My answer is yes if we to do the following:
1- No party system since it had proved to be divisive to the country and allowed dictators to dominate over their countries.
2- Media that supervise every part of the government.
3- No interest groups or outside money that corrupt the government.
4- All mechanisms to prevent the corruption of the government.
5- Weak politicians and strong citizens thus the government officials are serving the public and not vice versa. Politicians are not getting strength through absolute power and authority or through the strength of the party as happens in most third world country.
6- Politicians are more of independent people that in the network in the government and have to work it out between them they are not group of common interest or a gang.
7- The government will become much less attractive for dominating dictators and corrupt individuals. People are basically will change their attitude towards their leaders and they will be looked at more like CEO's.
8- The government in every country would hold the human values of free speech, women rights, women rights, religious rights... That will make the people happy feeling social justice, equality and freedom.
9- The government overtime with all its intact institutions that allow smooth and very efficient governing system will make people do not feel there is a government and they will worship their God and enjoy their families. Meanwhile will prevent most causes of wars and social upsets.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Satan Existence: Proofs.
By: Maged Taman
It may not sound scientific and very commonly not mentioned in politics the word Satan. Commonly people mention God though a lot of them in real life are very faithful students to Satan. He is actually the greatest world politician and the Prince of our world. It is very easy to make this conclusion by studying the world affairs. Let me list below the proofs of existence of Satan:
1- Greed: you find the rich people controlling the world and doing very little to combat the severe poverty around the globe. For many good people who enjoy being generous it makes them see the strong control of Satan to people desire for giving the poor. The same people may spend a lot of wasted money in their pleasure with no regret while the poor are dying of hunger. That equally speaks of Satan control.
2- Wickedness: you hear a lot of people even politicians and religious leaders speak the word of God and the teachings of the prophets meanwhile do the exact opposite. Their tongues do not speak their hearts or their minds. You may be lucky to be able to read them but commonly they are used to deceive and lie all their lives that it is very difficult to read them.
3- Not appreciating feeling wicked: Evil people like Saddam and Hitler do not feel they are wicked on the other hand they feel they are the gift of God to the human history. This proves very well that behind these wicked beings are a master who is more wicked than them. The good in their heart is slim that Satan can easily deceive them.
4- Evil look and evil face: some people you can read the evil in their face they simply say hi we are giving you signs that Satan behind our looks fool.
5- Tyrants and Mass Killers: Hitler and Saddam are good example of how the evil exceeds every one imagination that one have to believe Satan is behind their acts.
6- The evil in all earth and its magnitude everywhere speaks of the Prince of our world Satan. It is like we all in a silent passive praying and obeying to Satan. Very few voice are screaming load to change the wrong direction of humanity. If you are a doctor it is better to have more of sick people for your practice, if you are a lawyer it is better to have people fighting so you have more cases and if you are manufacture weapons it will be more profitable to have wars. We lost the collective conscience of seeing where is the humanity is going and how we can change its direction.
7- Enjoying evil: though enjoying good is better and more rewarding in earth and the after-life people choose more the evil which speaks well of the strong control of Satan of human behavior. A common case in the American media where a man killed his beautiful pregnant wife with his child for no good reason. Satan outsmarted him and he lost everything.
8- Which Craft: It is becoming more common and some people instead of praying to God they seek witch crafting with Satan to control their affairs it may work shortly but not always and God punish them severely in the day of judgment.
9-Worshiping statues, stones, animals and other creation. So for common sense the created can not be the creator, this gives you cut clear evidence of Satan influence in human thoughts. Other idols include leaders, movie stars, money, gold, silver and so forth. The God who create us all and gave us enormous gifts only have few minutes a day from us or we use his name when we try to express our a feeling of surprise. The God of Quran wants all our life to be for him and when this happened will be united on his love and creating the righteous human unity that will be our joy and salvation.
10-Atheists: not even to recognize existence of God is a strong argument for existence of Satan. See under existence of God proofs in my web to appreciate that mind, heart and spirit prove God's existence.
11-Divisions of religions: the presence of a lot of religions and the presence of a lot of sects of every religions is used by atheists to attack religions. In fact that is the warning of God of Satan attempt and promise to do that and he succeeded. God wants us to have a common dominator which is being righteous and to argue pleasantly in debating religions. Judaism, Christianity and Islam each was one religion and after the prophets we divided each on sects and each rejected and despised the other sect and even war ignited between them. This is a strong evidence that Satan even achieve his goals through religions.
12-Animosity and wars: the presence of war all over the human history despite what peace can do to humanity speaks well of Satan control of the world. God is willing to help us and provide us with salvation if to follow his path and being righteous. We are however faithfully obeying Satan.
13-Oppressing voices that try to unite the humanity.
It may not sound scientific and very commonly not mentioned in politics the word Satan. Commonly people mention God though a lot of them in real life are very faithful students to Satan. He is actually the greatest world politician and the Prince of our world. It is very easy to make this conclusion by studying the world affairs. Let me list below the proofs of existence of Satan:
1- Greed: you find the rich people controlling the world and doing very little to combat the severe poverty around the globe. For many good people who enjoy being generous it makes them see the strong control of Satan to people desire for giving the poor. The same people may spend a lot of wasted money in their pleasure with no regret while the poor are dying of hunger. That equally speaks of Satan control.
2- Wickedness: you hear a lot of people even politicians and religious leaders speak the word of God and the teachings of the prophets meanwhile do the exact opposite. Their tongues do not speak their hearts or their minds. You may be lucky to be able to read them but commonly they are used to deceive and lie all their lives that it is very difficult to read them.
3- Not appreciating feeling wicked: Evil people like Saddam and Hitler do not feel they are wicked on the other hand they feel they are the gift of God to the human history. This proves very well that behind these wicked beings are a master who is more wicked than them. The good in their heart is slim that Satan can easily deceive them.
4- Evil look and evil face: some people you can read the evil in their face they simply say hi we are giving you signs that Satan behind our looks fool.
5- Tyrants and Mass Killers: Hitler and Saddam are good example of how the evil exceeds every one imagination that one have to believe Satan is behind their acts.
6- The evil in all earth and its magnitude everywhere speaks of the Prince of our world Satan. It is like we all in a silent passive praying and obeying to Satan. Very few voice are screaming load to change the wrong direction of humanity. If you are a doctor it is better to have more of sick people for your practice, if you are a lawyer it is better to have people fighting so you have more cases and if you are manufacture weapons it will be more profitable to have wars. We lost the collective conscience of seeing where is the humanity is going and how we can change its direction.
7- Enjoying evil: though enjoying good is better and more rewarding in earth and the after-life people choose more the evil which speaks well of the strong control of Satan of human behavior. A common case in the American media where a man killed his beautiful pregnant wife with his child for no good reason. Satan outsmarted him and he lost everything.
8- Which Craft: It is becoming more common and some people instead of praying to God they seek witch crafting with Satan to control their affairs it may work shortly but not always and God punish them severely in the day of judgment.
9-Worshiping statues, stones, animals and other creation. So for common sense the created can not be the creator, this gives you cut clear evidence of Satan influence in human thoughts. Other idols include leaders, movie stars, money, gold, silver and so forth. The God who create us all and gave us enormous gifts only have few minutes a day from us or we use his name when we try to express our a feeling of surprise. The God of Quran wants all our life to be for him and when this happened will be united on his love and creating the righteous human unity that will be our joy and salvation.
10-Atheists: not even to recognize existence of God is a strong argument for existence of Satan. See under existence of God proofs in my web to appreciate that mind, heart and spirit prove God's existence.
11-Divisions of religions: the presence of a lot of religions and the presence of a lot of sects of every religions is used by atheists to attack religions. In fact that is the warning of God of Satan attempt and promise to do that and he succeeded. God wants us to have a common dominator which is being righteous and to argue pleasantly in debating religions. Judaism, Christianity and Islam each was one religion and after the prophets we divided each on sects and each rejected and despised the other sect and even war ignited between them. This is a strong evidence that Satan even achieve his goals through religions.
12-Animosity and wars: the presence of war all over the human history despite what peace can do to humanity speaks well of Satan control of the world. God is willing to help us and provide us with salvation if to follow his path and being righteous. We are however faithfully obeying Satan.
13-Oppressing voices that try to unite the humanity.
Some Basic Islamic Beliefs.
By: Maged Taman
1) Belief in God:
Muslims believe in one, unique, incomparable God, Who has no son nor partner, and that none has the right to be worshipped but Him alone. He is the true God, and every other deity is false. He has the most magnificent names and sublime perfect attributes. No one shares His divinity, nor His attributes. In the Quran, God describes Himself:Say, “He is God, the One. God, to Whom the creatures turn for their needs. He begets not, nor was He begotten, and there is none like Him.” (Quran, 112:1-4)Chapter 112 of the Quran written in Arabic calligraphy.No one has the right to be invoked, supplicated, prayed to, or shown any act of worship, but God alone.God alone is the Almighty, the Creator, the Sovereign, and the Sustainer of everything in the whole universe. He manages all affairs. He stands in need of none of His creatures, and all His creatures depend on Him for all that they need. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, and the All-Knowing. In a perfect manner, His knowledge encompasses all things, the open and the secret, and the public and the private. He knows what has happened, what will happen, and how it will happen. No affair occurs in the whole world except by His will. Whatever He wills is, and whatever He does not will is not and will never be. His will is above the will of all the creatures. He has power over all things, and He is able to do everything. He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, and the Most Beneficent. In one of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad , we are told that God is more merciful to His creatures than a mother to her child.1 God is far removed from injustice and tyranny. He is All-Wise in all of His actions and decrees. If someone wants something from God, he or she can ask God directly without asking anyone else to intercede with God for him or her.
2) Belief in the Angels:
Muslims believe in the existence of the angels and that they are honored creatures. The angels worship God alone, obey Him, and act only by His command. Among the angels is Gabriel, who brought down the Quran to Muhammad .
3) Belief in God’s Revealed Books:Muslims believe that God revealed books to His messengers as proof for mankind and as guidance for them. Among these books is the Quran, which God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad . God has guaranteed the Quran’s protection from any corruption or distortion. God has said:Indeed, We have sent down the Quran, and surely We will guard it (from corruption). (Quran, 15:9)
4) Belief in the Prophets and Messengers of God:Muslims believe in the prophets and messengers of God, starting with Adam, including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them). But God’s final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad . Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last prophet sent by God, as God has said:Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men, but he is the Messenger of God and the last of the prophets... (Quran, 33:40)Muslims believe that all the prophets and messengers were created human beings who had none of the divine qualities of God.
5) Belief in the Day of Judgment:Muslims believe in the Day of Judgment (the Day of Resurrection) when all people will be resurrected for God’s judgment according to their beliefs and deeds.
6) Belief in Al-Qadar:Muslims believe in Al-Qadar, which is Divine Predestination, but this belief in Divine Predestination does not mean that human beings do not have freewill. Rather, Muslims believe that God has given human beings freewill. This means that they can choose right or wrong and that they are responsible for their choices.The belief in Divine Predestination includes belief in four things: 1) God knows everything. He knows what has happened and what will happen. 2) God has recorded all that has happened and all that will happen. 3) Whatever God wills to happen happens, and whatever He wills not to happen does not happen. 4) God is the Creator of everything.Modified from: http://www.islam-guide.com/
1) Belief in God:
Muslims believe in one, unique, incomparable God, Who has no son nor partner, and that none has the right to be worshipped but Him alone. He is the true God, and every other deity is false. He has the most magnificent names and sublime perfect attributes. No one shares His divinity, nor His attributes. In the Quran, God describes Himself:Say, “He is God, the One. God, to Whom the creatures turn for their needs. He begets not, nor was He begotten, and there is none like Him.” (Quran, 112:1-4)Chapter 112 of the Quran written in Arabic calligraphy.No one has the right to be invoked, supplicated, prayed to, or shown any act of worship, but God alone.God alone is the Almighty, the Creator, the Sovereign, and the Sustainer of everything in the whole universe. He manages all affairs. He stands in need of none of His creatures, and all His creatures depend on Him for all that they need. He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, and the All-Knowing. In a perfect manner, His knowledge encompasses all things, the open and the secret, and the public and the private. He knows what has happened, what will happen, and how it will happen. No affair occurs in the whole world except by His will. Whatever He wills is, and whatever He does not will is not and will never be. His will is above the will of all the creatures. He has power over all things, and He is able to do everything. He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, and the Most Beneficent. In one of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad , we are told that God is more merciful to His creatures than a mother to her child.1 God is far removed from injustice and tyranny. He is All-Wise in all of His actions and decrees. If someone wants something from God, he or she can ask God directly without asking anyone else to intercede with God for him or her.
2) Belief in the Angels:
Muslims believe in the existence of the angels and that they are honored creatures. The angels worship God alone, obey Him, and act only by His command. Among the angels is Gabriel, who brought down the Quran to Muhammad .
3) Belief in God’s Revealed Books:Muslims believe that God revealed books to His messengers as proof for mankind and as guidance for them. Among these books is the Quran, which God revealed to the Prophet Muhammad . God has guaranteed the Quran’s protection from any corruption or distortion. God has said:Indeed, We have sent down the Quran, and surely We will guard it (from corruption). (Quran, 15:9)
4) Belief in the Prophets and Messengers of God:Muslims believe in the prophets and messengers of God, starting with Adam, including Noah, Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Jesus (peace be upon them). But God’s final message to man, a reconfirmation of the eternal message, was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad . Muslims believe that Muhammad is the last prophet sent by God, as God has said:Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men, but he is the Messenger of God and the last of the prophets... (Quran, 33:40)Muslims believe that all the prophets and messengers were created human beings who had none of the divine qualities of God.
5) Belief in the Day of Judgment:Muslims believe in the Day of Judgment (the Day of Resurrection) when all people will be resurrected for God’s judgment according to their beliefs and deeds.
6) Belief in Al-Qadar:Muslims believe in Al-Qadar, which is Divine Predestination, but this belief in Divine Predestination does not mean that human beings do not have freewill. Rather, Muslims believe that God has given human beings freewill. This means that they can choose right or wrong and that they are responsible for their choices.The belief in Divine Predestination includes belief in four things: 1) God knows everything. He knows what has happened and what will happen. 2) God has recorded all that has happened and all that will happen. 3) Whatever God wills to happen happens, and whatever He wills not to happen does not happen. 4) God is the Creator of everything.Modified from: http://www.islam-guide.com/
The Criteria For The Truth.
By Soliman H. Al-But'he. © International Publishing House for Islamic Books, 1998
How do we know what a revelation such as the Qur’an, is the true word of God?
The authenticity of a divine disclosure is best determined by judging it against the criteria set opposite the truthfulness of a divine divulgence such as the following:
1. Rational Teachings
Since god bestowed reason and intellect on mankind, it is our duty to use it to the maximum to discern truth from falsehood. And so far, the true and undistorted revelation from God must be logical and one that could appeal to and be rationalized by all fair-minded people.
2. Perfection
Considering that God is All-perfect, it follow that His revelation must also be perfect and accurate, free from mistakes, omissions, interpolations and multiplicity of versions. In other words, it must be faultless in the sense that it is devoid of errors in the form of inconsistencies as well as contradictions.
3. No Myths or Superstitions
True revelation from God is free from myths or superstitions that degrade the dignity of God or man.
4. Scientific
As God is the source of all knowledge, true revelation must be scientific and can withstand the challenge of science at all times.
5. Prophecy
God is the Knower of the past, present and future. Thus His Prophecies in His revelation will be fulfilled as prophesied.
6. Inimitable by Man
True revelation from God is infallible and cannot be imitated by man. God’s true revelation is a Living Miracle, an open Book challenging all mankind to see and prove for themselves its perfection.
So, give yourself a chance to read the Qur’an for you have nothing to lose, yet everything to gain!
How do we know what a revelation such as the Qur’an, is the true word of God?
The authenticity of a divine disclosure is best determined by judging it against the criteria set opposite the truthfulness of a divine divulgence such as the following:
1. Rational Teachings
Since god bestowed reason and intellect on mankind, it is our duty to use it to the maximum to discern truth from falsehood. And so far, the true and undistorted revelation from God must be logical and one that could appeal to and be rationalized by all fair-minded people.
2. Perfection
Considering that God is All-perfect, it follow that His revelation must also be perfect and accurate, free from mistakes, omissions, interpolations and multiplicity of versions. In other words, it must be faultless in the sense that it is devoid of errors in the form of inconsistencies as well as contradictions.
3. No Myths or Superstitions
True revelation from God is free from myths or superstitions that degrade the dignity of God or man.
4. Scientific
As God is the source of all knowledge, true revelation must be scientific and can withstand the challenge of science at all times.
5. Prophecy
God is the Knower of the past, present and future. Thus His Prophecies in His revelation will be fulfilled as prophesied.
6. Inimitable by Man
True revelation from God is infallible and cannot be imitated by man. God’s true revelation is a Living Miracle, an open Book challenging all mankind to see and prove for themselves its perfection.
So, give yourself a chance to read the Qur’an for you have nothing to lose, yet everything to gain!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Living Islam - Not just performing it.
From: http://www.islamicity.com/
By: Dr. Murad Hoffman
Muslims have always been accustomed to living with people of diverse faiths. Islam is in fact the world's first ecumenical religion, not only accepting but guaranteeing a structural pluralism. Allah instead of promising Muslims to become the dominant religious community on earth wants them to compete with each other in piety and good work (Quran 5:48).Islam was meant from the outset to be a universal religion, and today thanks to massive migration in the West and new communication mediums, Islam is a truly global phenomenon. It is the second largest denomination even in places like Sweden. Yet increased contact has not reduced prejudice against Islam and Muslims. This is partially the Muslim' fault. Many 'cultural' assimilated Muslims are an embarrassment for the entire Ummah. Also, many traditionally Islamic scholars are in capable of reaching Western hearts and minds.There is no better way for Muslims to promote the message of Islam than living Islam and not just performing it. Their neighbors will not know they are Muslim by the number of times they pray or fast but by their honesty, truthfulness, compassion, reliability, cleanliness, sense of justice and civic responsibility. Such an approach is not to lead to a specific "American Islam" but the avoidance of a subculture that would seem alien and remote to the local population. Muslims can avoid such a trend if they become an expert in distinguishing between what is truly Islamic in terms of religion, and what is merely a cultural import from their homes countries.For Muslims to live in non-Muslim countries is not a new situation. The first such experience was made by those early Muslims who temporarily migrated to Christina Ethiopia. All Muslim legal schools (madahib) developed doctrines for that eventuality. In particular Imam Jaafar as-Saadiq, Imam Shafei' and the Hanafi school considered Muslim minorities a legitimate and even advantageous to Islam. Admitting pockets of dar al-Islam (abode of Islam) could exist wherever Muslim enjoyed justice and religious toleration.The Message of Islam cannot be transmitted in the West as along as Muslims play hide and seek with the issues of "democracy" and "human rights", including the rights of women. The fact that some of these concepts may not be specifically mentioned in the Quran and that they have been abused by Western imperialist colonizers, it does not mean that they are incompatible with Islam. What counts are the relevant Quranic principles (maqasid), including al-shura and the institutions of amir or khilafa (vicergerency of all human beings) and the early Islamic political history with its record of elections and free speech. One of these foundations is that it is possible to construct the model of an Islamic State - like - Malaysia - is democratic, essentially republican, pluralistic, with division of power, the rule of law, the protection of minorities and a parliament.There is no doubt that all sovereignty rests with Allah . It is, however, equally true that it takes people to translate that sovereignty into policy. Undoubtedly, Islamic Law is not made but discovered from the Quran and Sunnah and further developed into fiqh. If Muslim lawyers had been more imaginative they would have been quick to point that the core of the Western universal human rights charter are anchored in the Quran - and therefore more secure than rights invented at a conference table. Men and women are biologically not identical (Quran 3:36). In theory only, the West refuses to draw legal conclusions from this reality. The less fictitious Muslim standpoint says that it is not discrimination if Islamic law deals differently with the genders, as far as this is biologically warranted, for instance in the different codes of Islamic dress. The Quran does, however, not confer on men a superior status nor is it justification for reducing Muslimat in practice to second class citizenship.Muslims should highlight Islam as the most rational, without sacraments, a clergy, a Pope, a church, or a hierarchy and thus the religion for emancipated and pluralistic minded, post-modern people.Finally, we need to inform the world that the Muslims form a warm-hearted, mutually supportive, worldwide community of committed people-the very thing Western people are craving for. The business community might be particularly impressed if the prohibition of riba is presented to them in its correct form: profit-and-loss sharing being a safeguard for the maintenance of the entrepreneurial spirit on which the capitalist economic system depends.
Dr. Murad Hoffman is a retired German diplomat who has been an Ambassador to Algeria and Morocco.
Blogger Comment:
Very well stated "living Islam-Not just performing it". When this happens we will find God's kingdom in earth. In the Arab countries under the Arab tyrants the corrupt immoral regimes want people to perform Islam and do not to live it. One of those days we will be living Islam after we spread it vertically and horizontally. I like also Mr. Hoffman keeping of his non-Arab name. I 'd love to see Muslims by names of Linda, Lauri, John and Richard. There a lot of non-Arab Muslims who have non-Arab names. It is important as we spread our universal religion to encourage people to keep their original names. This is my opinion. When Arabs converted to Islam in the days of Muhammad (PBUH) they did not change their names, except in rare occasions.
By: Dr. Murad Hoffman
Muslims have always been accustomed to living with people of diverse faiths. Islam is in fact the world's first ecumenical religion, not only accepting but guaranteeing a structural pluralism. Allah instead of promising Muslims to become the dominant religious community on earth wants them to compete with each other in piety and good work (Quran 5:48).Islam was meant from the outset to be a universal religion, and today thanks to massive migration in the West and new communication mediums, Islam is a truly global phenomenon. It is the second largest denomination even in places like Sweden. Yet increased contact has not reduced prejudice against Islam and Muslims. This is partially the Muslim' fault. Many 'cultural' assimilated Muslims are an embarrassment for the entire Ummah. Also, many traditionally Islamic scholars are in capable of reaching Western hearts and minds.There is no better way for Muslims to promote the message of Islam than living Islam and not just performing it. Their neighbors will not know they are Muslim by the number of times they pray or fast but by their honesty, truthfulness, compassion, reliability, cleanliness, sense of justice and civic responsibility. Such an approach is not to lead to a specific "American Islam" but the avoidance of a subculture that would seem alien and remote to the local population. Muslims can avoid such a trend if they become an expert in distinguishing between what is truly Islamic in terms of religion, and what is merely a cultural import from their homes countries.For Muslims to live in non-Muslim countries is not a new situation. The first such experience was made by those early Muslims who temporarily migrated to Christina Ethiopia. All Muslim legal schools (madahib) developed doctrines for that eventuality. In particular Imam Jaafar as-Saadiq, Imam Shafei' and the Hanafi school considered Muslim minorities a legitimate and even advantageous to Islam. Admitting pockets of dar al-Islam (abode of Islam) could exist wherever Muslim enjoyed justice and religious toleration.The Message of Islam cannot be transmitted in the West as along as Muslims play hide and seek with the issues of "democracy" and "human rights", including the rights of women. The fact that some of these concepts may not be specifically mentioned in the Quran and that they have been abused by Western imperialist colonizers, it does not mean that they are incompatible with Islam. What counts are the relevant Quranic principles (maqasid), including al-shura and the institutions of amir or khilafa (vicergerency of all human beings) and the early Islamic political history with its record of elections and free speech. One of these foundations is that it is possible to construct the model of an Islamic State - like - Malaysia - is democratic, essentially republican, pluralistic, with division of power, the rule of law, the protection of minorities and a parliament.There is no doubt that all sovereignty rests with Allah . It is, however, equally true that it takes people to translate that sovereignty into policy. Undoubtedly, Islamic Law is not made but discovered from the Quran and Sunnah and further developed into fiqh. If Muslim lawyers had been more imaginative they would have been quick to point that the core of the Western universal human rights charter are anchored in the Quran - and therefore more secure than rights invented at a conference table. Men and women are biologically not identical (Quran 3:36). In theory only, the West refuses to draw legal conclusions from this reality. The less fictitious Muslim standpoint says that it is not discrimination if Islamic law deals differently with the genders, as far as this is biologically warranted, for instance in the different codes of Islamic dress. The Quran does, however, not confer on men a superior status nor is it justification for reducing Muslimat in practice to second class citizenship.Muslims should highlight Islam as the most rational, without sacraments, a clergy, a Pope, a church, or a hierarchy and thus the religion for emancipated and pluralistic minded, post-modern people.Finally, we need to inform the world that the Muslims form a warm-hearted, mutually supportive, worldwide community of committed people-the very thing Western people are craving for. The business community might be particularly impressed if the prohibition of riba is presented to them in its correct form: profit-and-loss sharing being a safeguard for the maintenance of the entrepreneurial spirit on which the capitalist economic system depends.
Dr. Murad Hoffman is a retired German diplomat who has been an Ambassador to Algeria and Morocco.
Blogger Comment:
Very well stated "living Islam-Not just performing it". When this happens we will find God's kingdom in earth. In the Arab countries under the Arab tyrants the corrupt immoral regimes want people to perform Islam and do not to live it. One of those days we will be living Islam after we spread it vertically and horizontally. I like also Mr. Hoffman keeping of his non-Arab name. I 'd love to see Muslims by names of Linda, Lauri, John and Richard. There a lot of non-Arab Muslims who have non-Arab names. It is important as we spread our universal religion to encourage people to keep their original names. This is my opinion. When Arabs converted to Islam in the days of Muhammad (PBUH) they did not change their names, except in rare occasions.
God Does Exist.
Conversations on God
A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: “I don’t believe that God exists.”“Why do you say that?” asked the customer.“Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn’t exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can’t imagine loving a God who would allow all of these things.”The customer thought for a moment, but didn’t respond because he didn’t want to start an argument.The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and un-kept.The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: “You know what? Barbers do not exist.”“How can you say that?” asked the surprised barber. “I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!”“No!” the customer exclaimed. “Barbers don’t exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.”“Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me.”“Exactly!” - affirmed the customer. “That’s the point! God, too, DOES exist!What happens, is, people don’t go to Him and do not look for Him. That’s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world.”
Form: www.islamicvoice.com
A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed.As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation.They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: “I don’t believe that God exists.”“Why do you say that?” asked the customer.“Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn’t exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can’t imagine loving a God who would allow all of these things.”The customer thought for a moment, but didn’t respond because he didn’t want to start an argument.The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and un-kept.The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber: “You know what? Barbers do not exist.”“How can you say that?” asked the surprised barber. “I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!”“No!” the customer exclaimed. “Barbers don’t exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.”“Ah, but barbers DO exist! What happens is, people do not come to me.”“Exactly!” - affirmed the customer. “That’s the point! God, too, DOES exist!What happens, is, people don’t go to Him and do not look for Him. That’s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world.”
Form: www.islamicvoice.com
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Alaq Sura: 19 verses.
96:1 READ in the name of thy Sustainer, who has-
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ (96:1)
96:2 created man out of a germ-cell
خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ (96:2)
96:3 Read - for thy Sustainer is the Most Bountiful One
اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ (96:3)
96:4 who has taught [man] the use of the pen –
الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ (96:4)
96:5 taught man what he did not know!
عَلَّمَ الْإِنسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ (96:5)
96:6 Nay, verily, man becomes grossly overweening
كَلَّا إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَيَطْغَى (96:6)
96:7 whenever he believes himself to be self-sufficient:
أَن رَّآهُ اسْتَغْنَى (96:7)
96:8 for, behold, unto thy Sustainer all must return.
إِنَّ إِلَى رَبِّكَ الرُّجْعَى (96:8)
96:9 HAST THOU ever considered him who tries to prevent
أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يَنْهَى (96:9)
96:10 a servant [of God] from praying?
عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّى (96:10)
96:11 Hast thou considered whether he is on the right way,
أَرَأَيْتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى الْهُدَى (96:11)
96:12 or is concerned with God-consciousness?
أَوْ أَمَرَ بِالتَّقْوَى (96:12)
96:13 Hast thou considered whether he may [not] be giving the lie to the truth and turning his back [upon it]?
أَرَأَيْتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّى (96:13)
96:14 Does he, then, not know that God sees [all]?
أَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَرَى (96:14)
96:15 Nay, if he desist not, We shall most surely drag him down upon his forehead
كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًا بِالنَّاصِيَةِ (96:15)
96:16 the lying, rebellious forehead! –
نَاصِيَةٍ كَاذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍ (96:16)
96:17 and then let him summon [to his aid] the counsels of his own [spurious] wisdom,
فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَه (96:17)
96:18 [the while] We shall summon the forces of heavenly chastisement!
سَنَدْعُ الزَّبَانِيَةَ (96:18)
96:19 Nay, pay thou no heed to him, but prostrate thyself [before God] and draw close [unto Him]!
كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَاسْجُدْ وَاقْتَرِبْ (96:19)
Blogger Comment:
These verses of the revelation are simple but tell you the story of the revelation. God through messenger Gabriel asked Muhammad to read to the people the Quran. He to read out to them what Gabriel would inspire him with. He to read in the name of God who created man from a little weak thing. It is that generous God who taught man with the pen. He taught him what he did not know. It is the knowledge that in our hands written by the pens God allowed us to learn it. As man knowledge increase and he thinks he control the world he thinks he does not need God and he become a tyrant. He will return eventually to God. God give an example to this tyranny of that who prevent someone form praying which was happening to Muslims when they try to pray at Kaaba God's house. As he was threatening and harming Muslims God was warning him. God asked Muhammad and Muslims not to obey him and pray and come even more closer to God as they prostrate to God.
اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ (96:1)
96:2 created man out of a germ-cell
خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِنْ عَلَقٍ (96:2)
96:3 Read - for thy Sustainer is the Most Bountiful One
اقْرَأْ وَرَبُّكَ الْأَكْرَمُ (96:3)
96:4 who has taught [man] the use of the pen –
الَّذِي عَلَّمَ بِالْقَلَمِ (96:4)
96:5 taught man what he did not know!
عَلَّمَ الْإِنسَانَ مَا لَمْ يَعْلَمْ (96:5)
96:6 Nay, verily, man becomes grossly overweening
كَلَّا إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَيَطْغَى (96:6)
96:7 whenever he believes himself to be self-sufficient:
أَن رَّآهُ اسْتَغْنَى (96:7)
96:8 for, behold, unto thy Sustainer all must return.
إِنَّ إِلَى رَبِّكَ الرُّجْعَى (96:8)
96:9 HAST THOU ever considered him who tries to prevent
أَرَأَيْتَ الَّذِي يَنْهَى (96:9)
96:10 a servant [of God] from praying?
عَبْدًا إِذَا صَلَّى (96:10)
96:11 Hast thou considered whether he is on the right way,
أَرَأَيْتَ إِن كَانَ عَلَى الْهُدَى (96:11)
96:12 or is concerned with God-consciousness?
أَوْ أَمَرَ بِالتَّقْوَى (96:12)
96:13 Hast thou considered whether he may [not] be giving the lie to the truth and turning his back [upon it]?
أَرَأَيْتَ إِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّى (96:13)
96:14 Does he, then, not know that God sees [all]?
أَلَمْ يَعْلَمْ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَرَى (96:14)
96:15 Nay, if he desist not, We shall most surely drag him down upon his forehead
كَلَّا لَئِن لَّمْ يَنتَهِ لَنَسْفَعًا بِالنَّاصِيَةِ (96:15)
96:16 the lying, rebellious forehead! –
نَاصِيَةٍ كَاذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍ (96:16)
96:17 and then let him summon [to his aid] the counsels of his own [spurious] wisdom,
فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَه (96:17)
96:18 [the while] We shall summon the forces of heavenly chastisement!
سَنَدْعُ الزَّبَانِيَةَ (96:18)
96:19 Nay, pay thou no heed to him, but prostrate thyself [before God] and draw close [unto Him]!
كَلَّا لَا تُطِعْهُ وَاسْجُدْ وَاقْتَرِبْ (96:19)
Blogger Comment:
These verses of the revelation are simple but tell you the story of the revelation. God through messenger Gabriel asked Muhammad to read to the people the Quran. He to read out to them what Gabriel would inspire him with. He to read in the name of God who created man from a little weak thing. It is that generous God who taught man with the pen. He taught him what he did not know. It is the knowledge that in our hands written by the pens God allowed us to learn it. As man knowledge increase and he thinks he control the world he thinks he does not need God and he become a tyrant. He will return eventually to God. God give an example to this tyranny of that who prevent someone form praying which was happening to Muslims when they try to pray at Kaaba God's house. As he was threatening and harming Muslims God was warning him. God asked Muhammad and Muslims not to obey him and pray and come even more closer to God as they prostrate to God.
A Quranic perspective on Polygamy
By: M Hathout, U Jamil and N AliI
Polygamy, or co-marriage to multiple wives, is discussed in the Quran as a response to a specific social situation. In the context of war-torn society in seventh-century Arabia, one which left many women widowed and children orphaned, the discussion of polygamy was revealed as part of a directive to treat female orphans justly. It was not advocated as a carte blanche to all Muslim men to allow them to fulfill their sexual desires, as is commonly misinterpreted. Polygamy should be viewed as a component of justice in the treatment of widows, but is mainly conditioned upon the need to offer fair care to orphans, according to the literal reading of the verse. It served a functional purpose for that time period, in allowing widows and orphans to be taken care of in a society in which women usually did not have independent means of financial support. But the text is clear that polygamy is only permissible if all wives are treated justly. The Quran then goes on to say that it will never be possible for a husband to treat all of his wives fairly. This effectively limits the possibility of polygamy today. A detailed rendering of the relevant verses in Surah an Nisaa follows."And if you have reason to fear that you might not act equitably towards orphans, then marry from among [other] women such as are lawful to you - [even] two, or three, or four: but if you have reason to fear that you might not be able to treat them with equal fairness, then [only] one - or [from among] those whom you rightfully posses. This will make it more likely that you will not deviate from the right course." (Surah an Nisaa - Women, 4:3). The first imperative in this verse is to deal justly with orphans, and is directed towards their male guardians who would be managing their property or wealth on their behalf. Marriage to female orphans is only advocated if and when the guardian fears that he will not be able to carry out his duty honestly. The assumption is that marriage to the orphan will give the husband a greater stake in carrying out his financial responsibility towards her. It does not by any means represent a requirement for all male guardians to marry their female wards. Second, the verse emphasizes justice towards the wife/wives as well. In other words, polygamy is only possible if the husband will be able to treat his wives justly. Otherwise, he is to marry only one wife, or even a female slave. 1 The key theme is to prevent him from doing injustice towards the woman (or women) concerned. 2 "And it will not be within your power to treat your wives with equal fairness, however much you may desire it; and so, do not allow yourselves to incline towards one to the exclusion of the other, leaving her in a state, as it were, of having and not having a husband. But if you put things to rights and are conscious of Him-behold, God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace" (Surah an Nisaa- Women, 4:129).Polygamy is treated variably in the legal codes of different Muslim countries. While Tunisian and Moroccan personal status law prohibit polygamy altogether, 3 Syria, Iraq, Pakistan and Malaysia have made polygamy subject to court permission, and only granted when certain conditions are fulfilled. These "include the infertility of the existing wife, attainment of a "lawful benefit", the just character of the husband and his financial ability to maintain a second wife. Some countries have also stipulated the consent of the existing wife to the proposed marriage, which must be given before the court." 4 However, these conditions do not have any express Quranic sanction, and are determined through social custom and practice.In conclusion, we subscribe to monogamy as the preferred norm for marriages today. Polygamy is not necessary or relevant today for two main reasons. One, the specific historical context that legitimized polygamy does not exist today. Women have more choices allowing them to be financially independent, even in cases where they are widowed or orphaned. The second, and more compelling reason, is the imperative to do justice, which prohibits having multiple wives, since, as human beings, men cannot ever be perfectly fair and just among them.
Notes:
1. This is specifically relevant to the social structure of Arabian society at the time, since female slaves or concubines were common. It should not be interpreted today as a sanction for slavery.2. Barlas, pp. 190-1913. Tunisian Law of 1957 and the Moroccan Law of 1958, respectively.4. Kamali, Fredoom, Equality and Justice in Islam, p.77.
Excerpted from the book "In Pursuit of Justice".
Blogger Comment:
How about polygamy of prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?
If you believe in Islam you will find it a miracle, if you choose not to believe you will find it odd, wrong or sinful. The prophet was well known for his best manners. Unlike a lot of men like us he would not eye a pretty woman. His religion is built on holiness. He never married until he married at the age of 25 years old if you know what I mean. He married to a woman 15 years older than him and stayed his only wife until she died and he did not marry again until he was about 51 years old. In the top of his message from age of 51 to 63 years old God has ordinated him to marry about 10 women. I found it one of the best proofs of being real messenger. No liar or social reformer would take a chance at this age to marry even two or three women. The stress of these marriages besides what he was going through and his enemies in every corner would not make any man to do that unless he is ordered by God. His message is about manners and honesty a fight with only one woman can turn badly for him she can say a caught him on a lie or he has temper. All his wives paid good respect to him and all were sincere believer which like having 10 certificates from the closet people to you that you are a very honest man. The only time they all turned against him was about spending on them and was only one occasion. He was poor and they know they married him for being the chosen prophet of God it was his love and honour they married him for. God told him to divorce whom she wants to leave him kindly if they want to. Their own families thought it would be against God and Islam to do that. He dealt with them in the best manners and they stayed as his wives after his death and no one of them married again. Any man will find it miraculous for someone to marry like him. Why God wanted Muhammad to do that? Many reasons have been forward. God did not tell us why he did that in the Quran except Muhammad is different from us. He choose to pray and fast more than other people. He was likely had these marriages to appease many people and take care of widowed women and their orphans after wars. His great manners, holiness and moral message speak of his good intentions. No doubt anyone would enjoy marriage he did not deny that himself but he could have just married one beautiful woman after his first wife death. Why he take all of this package if he was not a true prophet: jealousy between wives, potential stresses of marriages, creating enemies at home, distracting himself form his main message of Islam...... He did that at the busiest and most vigorous time of his message. God wanted that and we have to accept it. The thing that would strengthen your faith is most Muslim women would not accept their husbands to marry another woman and the accepted that for the messenger.
Polygamy, or co-marriage to multiple wives, is discussed in the Quran as a response to a specific social situation. In the context of war-torn society in seventh-century Arabia, one which left many women widowed and children orphaned, the discussion of polygamy was revealed as part of a directive to treat female orphans justly. It was not advocated as a carte blanche to all Muslim men to allow them to fulfill their sexual desires, as is commonly misinterpreted. Polygamy should be viewed as a component of justice in the treatment of widows, but is mainly conditioned upon the need to offer fair care to orphans, according to the literal reading of the verse. It served a functional purpose for that time period, in allowing widows and orphans to be taken care of in a society in which women usually did not have independent means of financial support. But the text is clear that polygamy is only permissible if all wives are treated justly. The Quran then goes on to say that it will never be possible for a husband to treat all of his wives fairly. This effectively limits the possibility of polygamy today. A detailed rendering of the relevant verses in Surah an Nisaa follows."And if you have reason to fear that you might not act equitably towards orphans, then marry from among [other] women such as are lawful to you - [even] two, or three, or four: but if you have reason to fear that you might not be able to treat them with equal fairness, then [only] one - or [from among] those whom you rightfully posses. This will make it more likely that you will not deviate from the right course." (Surah an Nisaa - Women, 4:3). The first imperative in this verse is to deal justly with orphans, and is directed towards their male guardians who would be managing their property or wealth on their behalf. Marriage to female orphans is only advocated if and when the guardian fears that he will not be able to carry out his duty honestly. The assumption is that marriage to the orphan will give the husband a greater stake in carrying out his financial responsibility towards her. It does not by any means represent a requirement for all male guardians to marry their female wards. Second, the verse emphasizes justice towards the wife/wives as well. In other words, polygamy is only possible if the husband will be able to treat his wives justly. Otherwise, he is to marry only one wife, or even a female slave. 1 The key theme is to prevent him from doing injustice towards the woman (or women) concerned. 2 "And it will not be within your power to treat your wives with equal fairness, however much you may desire it; and so, do not allow yourselves to incline towards one to the exclusion of the other, leaving her in a state, as it were, of having and not having a husband. But if you put things to rights and are conscious of Him-behold, God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace" (Surah an Nisaa- Women, 4:129).Polygamy is treated variably in the legal codes of different Muslim countries. While Tunisian and Moroccan personal status law prohibit polygamy altogether, 3 Syria, Iraq, Pakistan and Malaysia have made polygamy subject to court permission, and only granted when certain conditions are fulfilled. These "include the infertility of the existing wife, attainment of a "lawful benefit", the just character of the husband and his financial ability to maintain a second wife. Some countries have also stipulated the consent of the existing wife to the proposed marriage, which must be given before the court." 4 However, these conditions do not have any express Quranic sanction, and are determined through social custom and practice.In conclusion, we subscribe to monogamy as the preferred norm for marriages today. Polygamy is not necessary or relevant today for two main reasons. One, the specific historical context that legitimized polygamy does not exist today. Women have more choices allowing them to be financially independent, even in cases where they are widowed or orphaned. The second, and more compelling reason, is the imperative to do justice, which prohibits having multiple wives, since, as human beings, men cannot ever be perfectly fair and just among them.
Notes:
1. This is specifically relevant to the social structure of Arabian society at the time, since female slaves or concubines were common. It should not be interpreted today as a sanction for slavery.2. Barlas, pp. 190-1913. Tunisian Law of 1957 and the Moroccan Law of 1958, respectively.4. Kamali, Fredoom, Equality and Justice in Islam, p.77.
Excerpted from the book "In Pursuit of Justice".
Blogger Comment:
How about polygamy of prophet Muhammad (PBUH)?
If you believe in Islam you will find it a miracle, if you choose not to believe you will find it odd, wrong or sinful. The prophet was well known for his best manners. Unlike a lot of men like us he would not eye a pretty woman. His religion is built on holiness. He never married until he married at the age of 25 years old if you know what I mean. He married to a woman 15 years older than him and stayed his only wife until she died and he did not marry again until he was about 51 years old. In the top of his message from age of 51 to 63 years old God has ordinated him to marry about 10 women. I found it one of the best proofs of being real messenger. No liar or social reformer would take a chance at this age to marry even two or three women. The stress of these marriages besides what he was going through and his enemies in every corner would not make any man to do that unless he is ordered by God. His message is about manners and honesty a fight with only one woman can turn badly for him she can say a caught him on a lie or he has temper. All his wives paid good respect to him and all were sincere believer which like having 10 certificates from the closet people to you that you are a very honest man. The only time they all turned against him was about spending on them and was only one occasion. He was poor and they know they married him for being the chosen prophet of God it was his love and honour they married him for. God told him to divorce whom she wants to leave him kindly if they want to. Their own families thought it would be against God and Islam to do that. He dealt with them in the best manners and they stayed as his wives after his death and no one of them married again. Any man will find it miraculous for someone to marry like him. Why God wanted Muhammad to do that? Many reasons have been forward. God did not tell us why he did that in the Quran except Muhammad is different from us. He choose to pray and fast more than other people. He was likely had these marriages to appease many people and take care of widowed women and their orphans after wars. His great manners, holiness and moral message speak of his good intentions. No doubt anyone would enjoy marriage he did not deny that himself but he could have just married one beautiful woman after his first wife death. Why he take all of this package if he was not a true prophet: jealousy between wives, potential stresses of marriages, creating enemies at home, distracting himself form his main message of Islam...... He did that at the busiest and most vigorous time of his message. God wanted that and we have to accept it. The thing that would strengthen your faith is most Muslim women would not accept their husbands to marry another woman and the accepted that for the messenger.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Aldduha (The Bright Morning) Chapter in Quran
93:1 CONSIDER the bright morning hours,
وَالضُّحَى (93:1)
93:2 and the night when it grows still and dark.
وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَى (93:2)
93:3 Thy Sustainer has not forsaken thee, nor does He scorn thee:
مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَى (93:3)
93:4 for, indeed, the life to come will be better for thee than this earlier part [of thy life]!
وَلَلْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَّكَ مِنَ الْأُولَى (93:4)
93:5 And, indeed, in time will thy Sustainer grant thee [what thy heart desires], and thou shalt be well-pleased.
وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَى (93:5)
93:6 Has He not found thee an orphan, and given thee shelter?
أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيمًا فَآوَى (93:6)
93:7 And found thee lost on thy way, and guided thee?
وَوَجَدَكَ ضَالًّا فَهَدَى (93:7)
93:8 And found thee in want, and given thee sufficiency?
وَوَجَدَكَ عَائِلًا فَأَغْنَى (93:8)
93:9 Therefore, the orphan shalt thou never wrong,
فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ (93:9)
93:10 and him that seeks [thy] help shalt thou never chide,
وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلَا تَنْهَرْ (93:10)
93:11 and of thy Sustainer's blessings shalt thou [ever] speak.
وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ (93:11)
Blogger Comment:
This is one of small Sura or chapter of the Quran. The occasion of the Sura is: when the Quran inspiration did not come to Muhammad from God for a period of time the Disbelievers found it chance to mock him telling him his Satan or Gin spirit has left him. God talked to Muhammad back with these beautiful verses. He as usual swear by his creation which this time the bright morning and the night as it gets dark. He swears that he did not leave him or turn him down. As clear as the day and night he created and sustained his existence is so clear and sustained. He promised him that he will have better afterlife given the sufferings he has in this life. He reminded him when he was orphan, poor and lost and took care of him through putting in his way the good people as his uncle, wife Khadiga as well this inspiration. He ordered him as well us to take care of the orphan, poor and be grateful for his gifts.
As you see simple words with great meanings and with firm structure and if you speak Arabic you would enjoy the nice rhyme of the words as a bonus as well other linguistic beauties. Let me abbreviated to you: God is here as the day and night are here, he did not forsake Muhammad and he promised to provide for him as he did in the past and as he would do in the future. Muhammad as well as us ought to provide for the poor and orphans. The beauty of the Quran is that it does not tell you because of verse 1, verse 2 is so and because of verse 2 is so verse 3 is so. Quran let you go and enjoy discovering the meaning. Even large chapters you can find that they are formed of like small chapters connected well together. There is the unit connection of each block of verses then the smooth transition to the next block of verses and so on.
وَالضُّحَى (93:1)
93:2 and the night when it grows still and dark.
وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَى (93:2)
93:3 Thy Sustainer has not forsaken thee, nor does He scorn thee:
مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَى (93:3)
93:4 for, indeed, the life to come will be better for thee than this earlier part [of thy life]!
وَلَلْآخِرَةُ خَيْرٌ لَّكَ مِنَ الْأُولَى (93:4)
93:5 And, indeed, in time will thy Sustainer grant thee [what thy heart desires], and thou shalt be well-pleased.
وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَى (93:5)
93:6 Has He not found thee an orphan, and given thee shelter?
أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيمًا فَآوَى (93:6)
93:7 And found thee lost on thy way, and guided thee?
وَوَجَدَكَ ضَالًّا فَهَدَى (93:7)
93:8 And found thee in want, and given thee sufficiency?
وَوَجَدَكَ عَائِلًا فَأَغْنَى (93:8)
93:9 Therefore, the orphan shalt thou never wrong,
فَأَمَّا الْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ (93:9)
93:10 and him that seeks [thy] help shalt thou never chide,
وَأَمَّا السَّائِلَ فَلَا تَنْهَرْ (93:10)
93:11 and of thy Sustainer's blessings shalt thou [ever] speak.
وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ (93:11)
Blogger Comment:
This is one of small Sura or chapter of the Quran. The occasion of the Sura is: when the Quran inspiration did not come to Muhammad from God for a period of time the Disbelievers found it chance to mock him telling him his Satan or Gin spirit has left him. God talked to Muhammad back with these beautiful verses. He as usual swear by his creation which this time the bright morning and the night as it gets dark. He swears that he did not leave him or turn him down. As clear as the day and night he created and sustained his existence is so clear and sustained. He promised him that he will have better afterlife given the sufferings he has in this life. He reminded him when he was orphan, poor and lost and took care of him through putting in his way the good people as his uncle, wife Khadiga as well this inspiration. He ordered him as well us to take care of the orphan, poor and be grateful for his gifts.
As you see simple words with great meanings and with firm structure and if you speak Arabic you would enjoy the nice rhyme of the words as a bonus as well other linguistic beauties. Let me abbreviated to you: God is here as the day and night are here, he did not forsake Muhammad and he promised to provide for him as he did in the past and as he would do in the future. Muhammad as well as us ought to provide for the poor and orphans. The beauty of the Quran is that it does not tell you because of verse 1, verse 2 is so and because of verse 2 is so verse 3 is so. Quran let you go and enjoy discovering the meaning. Even large chapters you can find that they are formed of like small chapters connected well together. There is the unit connection of each block of verses then the smooth transition to the next block of verses and so on.
Dobbs: Middle class needs to fight back now
By Lou Dobbs CNN
Editor's note: Lou Dobbs' commentary appears every Wednesday on CNN.com
NEW YORK (CNN) -- I don't know about you, but I can't take seriously anyone who takes either the Republican Party or Democratic Party seriously -- in part because neither party takes you and me seriously; in part because both are bought and paid for by corporate America and special interests. And neither party gives a damn about the middle class.
Our country's middle class is not just collateral damage in what has become all-out class warfare. Political, business and academic elites are waging an outright war on working men and women and their families, and there is no chance the American middle class will survive this assault if the dominant forces unleashed over the past five years continue unchecked.
They've accomplished this through large campaign contributions, armies of lobbyists that have swamped Washington, and control of political and economic think tanks and media. Lobbyists, in fact, are the arms dealers in the war on the middle class, brokering money, influence and information between their clients our elected officials.
Yet in my entire career, I've literally never heard anyone in Congress argue that lobbyists are bad for America. In 1968 there were only 63 lobbyists in Washington. Today, there are more than 34,000, and lobbyists now outnumber our elected representatives and their staffs by a 2-to-1 margin.
According to the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity, from 1998 through 2004, lobbyists spent nearly $12 billion to not only influence legislation, but in many cases to write the language of the laws and regulations.
Individual firms, corporations and national organizations spent a record $2.14 billion on lobbying members of Congress and 220 other federal agencies in 2004, according to PoliticalMoneyLine. That's nearly $6 million a day spent to influence our leaders. We really do have the best government money can buy.
But as I discuss in my new book, "War on the Middle Class," what if we all resolved that we would not permit either the Republicans or Democrats to waste their time and ours with wedge issues? Both parties love to excite their bases by focusing on wedge issues like gay marriage, the pledge of allegiance, school prayer, judicial appointments, gun control, stem cell research and welfare reform.
Each of these wedge issues is important in varying degrees to large numbers of us, but none of them rises to the level of urgency or the requirement of immediate change in public policy.
These issues are raised by both political parties to distract and divert public attention from the profound issues -- like educating our youth, economic inequality and the war against radical Islamic terrorists -- that affect our daily lives and the American way of life. Imagine the consternation in Washington if both parties had to contend with a national electorate whose political affiliation had dramatically changed within a matter of weeks or months.
In both Republican and Democratic administrations, Congress has passed and sustained billions of dollars in royalty payments and subsidies to big oil companies; pushed through a corporate-written, consumer-crippling bankruptcy law; embraced the death of the estate tax; approved every free trade deal brought to a vote; and supported illegal immigration for the sake of cheap labor.
The party strategists and savants are telling us that fewer Americans will turn out to the polls than ever before, disgusted by a disgraced former congressman. But we don't have to wait for the midterm elections to begin to engage in our new political life.
There's something all of us could do that would have an immediate impact and send a powerful message to both corporation-dominated political parties and to our elected officials in Washington. Our so-called representatives in both parties have been working against the interests of the middle class for so long that they take our votes for granted, or they take advantage of the fact that a sizable number of us don't vote at all.
So what if a majority of us decided once and for all to walk into our town and city halls all over the country and change our party affiliation from Republican or Democrat to independent? What if that sizable number of us who don't vote at all decided to register as independents? For the first time in decades, working middle-class Americans might just get the attention of our elected officials in Washington.
Our middle class has suffered in silence for far too long, and it cannot afford to suffer or be silent much longer. Hardworking Americans have not spoken out about their increasingly marginalized role in this society, and as a consequence they've all but lost their voice.
Without that strong, clear and vibrant voice, all the major decisions about America and our future will be made by the elites of government, big business and the dominant special interests. Those elites treasure your silence, as it enables them to claim America's future for their own.
I sincerely hope that we will find the resolve to face these challenges to our way of life, and we do so soon. George Bernard Shaw said, "It is dangerous to be sincere unless you are also stupid."
I'm stupid enough to be absolutely sincere in the hope that middle-class America will awake soon and take action.
Revolution, flashmobs, and brain chips. A grim vision of the future
Richard Norton-Taylor.
The Guardian
Information chips implanted in the brain. Electromagnetic pulse weapons. The middle classes becoming revolutionary, taking on the role of Marx's proletariat. The population of countries in the Middle East increasing by 132%, while Europe's drops as fertility falls. "Flashmobs" - groups rapidly mobilised by criminal gangs or terrorists groups.
This is the world in 30 years' time envisaged by a Ministry of Defence team responsible for painting a picture of the "future strategic context" likely to face Britain's armed forces. It includes an "analysis of the key risks and shocks". Rear Admiral Chris Parry, head of the MoD's Development, Concepts & Doctrine Centre which drew up the report, describes the assessments as "probability-based, rather than predictive".
The 90-page report comments on widely discussed issues such as the growing economic importance of India and China, the militarisation of space, and even what it calls "declining news quality" with the rise of "internet-enabled, citizen-journalists" and pressure to release stories "at the expense of facts". It includes other, some frightening, some reassuring, potential developments that are not so often discussed.
New weapons
An electromagnetic pulse will probably become operational by 2035 able to destroy all communications systems in a selected area or be used against a "world city" such as an international business service hub. The development of neutron weapons which destroy living organs but not buildings "might make a weapon of choice for extreme ethnic cleansing in an increasingly populated world". The use of unmanned weapons platforms would enable the "application of lethal force without human intervention, raising consequential legal and ethical issues". The "explicit use" of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons and devices delivered by unmanned vehicles or missiles.
Technology
By 2035, an implantable "information chip" could be wired directly to the brain. A growing pervasiveness of information communications technology will enable states, terrorists or criminals, to mobilise "flashmobs", challenging security forces to match this potential agility coupled with an ability to concentrate forces quickly in a small area.
Marxism
"The middle classes could become a revolutionary class, taking the role envisaged for the proletariat by Marx," says the report. The thesis is based on a growing gap between the middle classes and the super-rich on one hand and an urban under-class threatening social order: "The world's middle classes might unite, using access to knowledge, resources and skills to shape transnational processes in their own class interest". Marxism could also be revived, it says, because of global inequality. An increased trend towards moral relativism and pragmatic values will encourage people to seek the "sanctuary provided by more rigid belief systems, including religious orthodoxy and doctrinaire political ideologies, such as popularism and Marxism".
Pressures leading to social unrest
By 2010 more than 50% of the world's population will be living in urban rather than rural environments, leading to social deprivation and "new instability risks", and the growth of shanty towns. By 2035, that figure will rise to 60%. Migration will increase. Globalisation may lead to levels of international integration that effectively bring inter-state warfare to an end. But it may lead to "inter-communal conflict" - communities with shared interests transcending national boundaries and resorting to the use of violence.
Population and Resources
The global population is likely to grow to 8.5bn in 2035, with less developed countries accounting for 98% of that. Some 87% of people under the age of 25 live in the developing world. Demographic trends, which will exacerbate economic and social tensions, have serious implications for the environment - including the provision of clean water and other resources - and for international relations. The population of sub-Saharan Africa will increase over the period by 81%, and that of Middle Eastern countries by 132%.
The Middle East
The massive population growth will mean the Middle East, and to a lesser extent north Africa, will remain highly unstable, says the report. It singles out Saudi Arabia, the most lucrative market for British arms, with unemployment levels of 20% and a "youth bulge" in a state whose population has risen from 7 million to 27 million since 1980. "The expectations of growing numbers of young people [in the whole region] many of whom will be confronted by the prospect of endemic unemployment ... are unlikely to be met," says the report.
Islamic militancy
Resentment among young people in the face of unrepresentative regimes "will find outlets in political militancy, including radical political Islam whose concept of Umma, the global Islamic community, and resistance to capitalism may lie uneasily in an international system based on nation-states and global market forces", the report warns. The effects of such resentment will be expressed through the migration of youth populations and global communications, encouraging contacts between diaspora communities and their countries of origin.
Tension between the Islamic world and the west will remain, and may increasingly be targeted at China "whose new-found materialism, economic vibrancy, and institutionalised atheism, will be an anathema to orthodox Islam".
Iran
Iran will steadily grow in economic and demographic strength and its energy reserves and geographic location will give it substantial strategic leverage. However, its government could be transformed. "From the middle of the period," says the report, "the country, especially its high proportion of younger people, will want to benefit from increased access to globalisation and diversity, and it may be that Iran progressively, but unevenly, transforms...into a vibrant democracy."
Terrorism
Casualties and the amount of damage inflicted by terrorism will stay low compared to other forms of coercion and conflict. But acts of extreme violence, supported by elements within Islamist states, with media exploitation to maximise the impact of the "theatre of violence" will persist. A "terrorist coalition", the report says, including a wide range of reactionary and revolutionary rejectionists such as ultra-nationalists, religious groupings and even extreme environmentalists, might conduct a global campaign of greater intensity".
Climate change
There is "compelling evidence" to indicate that climate change is occurring and that the atmosphere will continue to warm at an unprecedented rate throughout the 21st century. It could lead to a reduction in north Atlantic salinity by increasing the freshwater runoff from the Arctic. This could affect the natural circulation of the north Atlantic by diminishing the warming effect of ocean currents on western Europe. "The drop in temperature might exceed that of the miniature ice age of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Blogger Comment:
That is why I proposed my Moral Utopia Project (see in my blog). However, the rich and connected in America and the Arab countries do not want Arabs/Muslims to know I am a real person and exist. You remember this movie of an African man who was persecuted and he did not do anything wrong and came out of prison a real revolutionary and taught the persecutors how he can revenge. I felt like him in America with the difference I was a positive revolutionary who wanted to create a new plan that will solve the world problems like the one which take care of the Americans problems Taman Health Plan. The rich and connected want to keep status quo of the world. Many of them are the common trio of politicians, businessmen and religious leaders from many religions (sound familiar, like the time of Jesus persecution). But as the report from their military states : climate disasters, revolutions, the rise up of united middle class in all the world through communications and Internet will bring the world down. It will be over all of our heads, no winners. If the first wall is broken by revolution the fall of all walls will happen. That is why I still offer for free Moral Utopia Project to Politicians in America and Taman Health Plan for free to the American people and any nation want to adopt it. Implement both of them get the credits and I will get my reward in the day of judgement. God did I report, God be my witness.
The Guardian
Information chips implanted in the brain. Electromagnetic pulse weapons. The middle classes becoming revolutionary, taking on the role of Marx's proletariat. The population of countries in the Middle East increasing by 132%, while Europe's drops as fertility falls. "Flashmobs" - groups rapidly mobilised by criminal gangs or terrorists groups.
This is the world in 30 years' time envisaged by a Ministry of Defence team responsible for painting a picture of the "future strategic context" likely to face Britain's armed forces. It includes an "analysis of the key risks and shocks". Rear Admiral Chris Parry, head of the MoD's Development, Concepts & Doctrine Centre which drew up the report, describes the assessments as "probability-based, rather than predictive".
The 90-page report comments on widely discussed issues such as the growing economic importance of India and China, the militarisation of space, and even what it calls "declining news quality" with the rise of "internet-enabled, citizen-journalists" and pressure to release stories "at the expense of facts". It includes other, some frightening, some reassuring, potential developments that are not so often discussed.
New weapons
An electromagnetic pulse will probably become operational by 2035 able to destroy all communications systems in a selected area or be used against a "world city" such as an international business service hub. The development of neutron weapons which destroy living organs but not buildings "might make a weapon of choice for extreme ethnic cleansing in an increasingly populated world". The use of unmanned weapons platforms would enable the "application of lethal force without human intervention, raising consequential legal and ethical issues". The "explicit use" of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons and devices delivered by unmanned vehicles or missiles.
Technology
By 2035, an implantable "information chip" could be wired directly to the brain. A growing pervasiveness of information communications technology will enable states, terrorists or criminals, to mobilise "flashmobs", challenging security forces to match this potential agility coupled with an ability to concentrate forces quickly in a small area.
Marxism
"The middle classes could become a revolutionary class, taking the role envisaged for the proletariat by Marx," says the report. The thesis is based on a growing gap between the middle classes and the super-rich on one hand and an urban under-class threatening social order: "The world's middle classes might unite, using access to knowledge, resources and skills to shape transnational processes in their own class interest". Marxism could also be revived, it says, because of global inequality. An increased trend towards moral relativism and pragmatic values will encourage people to seek the "sanctuary provided by more rigid belief systems, including religious orthodoxy and doctrinaire political ideologies, such as popularism and Marxism".
Pressures leading to social unrest
By 2010 more than 50% of the world's population will be living in urban rather than rural environments, leading to social deprivation and "new instability risks", and the growth of shanty towns. By 2035, that figure will rise to 60%. Migration will increase. Globalisation may lead to levels of international integration that effectively bring inter-state warfare to an end. But it may lead to "inter-communal conflict" - communities with shared interests transcending national boundaries and resorting to the use of violence.
Population and Resources
The global population is likely to grow to 8.5bn in 2035, with less developed countries accounting for 98% of that. Some 87% of people under the age of 25 live in the developing world. Demographic trends, which will exacerbate economic and social tensions, have serious implications for the environment - including the provision of clean water and other resources - and for international relations. The population of sub-Saharan Africa will increase over the period by 81%, and that of Middle Eastern countries by 132%.
The Middle East
The massive population growth will mean the Middle East, and to a lesser extent north Africa, will remain highly unstable, says the report. It singles out Saudi Arabia, the most lucrative market for British arms, with unemployment levels of 20% and a "youth bulge" in a state whose population has risen from 7 million to 27 million since 1980. "The expectations of growing numbers of young people [in the whole region] many of whom will be confronted by the prospect of endemic unemployment ... are unlikely to be met," says the report.
Islamic militancy
Resentment among young people in the face of unrepresentative regimes "will find outlets in political militancy, including radical political Islam whose concept of Umma, the global Islamic community, and resistance to capitalism may lie uneasily in an international system based on nation-states and global market forces", the report warns. The effects of such resentment will be expressed through the migration of youth populations and global communications, encouraging contacts between diaspora communities and their countries of origin.
Tension between the Islamic world and the west will remain, and may increasingly be targeted at China "whose new-found materialism, economic vibrancy, and institutionalised atheism, will be an anathema to orthodox Islam".
Iran
Iran will steadily grow in economic and demographic strength and its energy reserves and geographic location will give it substantial strategic leverage. However, its government could be transformed. "From the middle of the period," says the report, "the country, especially its high proportion of younger people, will want to benefit from increased access to globalisation and diversity, and it may be that Iran progressively, but unevenly, transforms...into a vibrant democracy."
Terrorism
Casualties and the amount of damage inflicted by terrorism will stay low compared to other forms of coercion and conflict. But acts of extreme violence, supported by elements within Islamist states, with media exploitation to maximise the impact of the "theatre of violence" will persist. A "terrorist coalition", the report says, including a wide range of reactionary and revolutionary rejectionists such as ultra-nationalists, religious groupings and even extreme environmentalists, might conduct a global campaign of greater intensity".
Climate change
There is "compelling evidence" to indicate that climate change is occurring and that the atmosphere will continue to warm at an unprecedented rate throughout the 21st century. It could lead to a reduction in north Atlantic salinity by increasing the freshwater runoff from the Arctic. This could affect the natural circulation of the north Atlantic by diminishing the warming effect of ocean currents on western Europe. "The drop in temperature might exceed that of the miniature ice age of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Blogger Comment:
That is why I proposed my Moral Utopia Project (see in my blog). However, the rich and connected in America and the Arab countries do not want Arabs/Muslims to know I am a real person and exist. You remember this movie of an African man who was persecuted and he did not do anything wrong and came out of prison a real revolutionary and taught the persecutors how he can revenge. I felt like him in America with the difference I was a positive revolutionary who wanted to create a new plan that will solve the world problems like the one which take care of the Americans problems Taman Health Plan. The rich and connected want to keep status quo of the world. Many of them are the common trio of politicians, businessmen and religious leaders from many religions (sound familiar, like the time of Jesus persecution). But as the report from their military states : climate disasters, revolutions, the rise up of united middle class in all the world through communications and Internet will bring the world down. It will be over all of our heads, no winners. If the first wall is broken by revolution the fall of all walls will happen. That is why I still offer for free Moral Utopia Project to Politicians in America and Taman Health Plan for free to the American people and any nation want to adopt it. Implement both of them get the credits and I will get my reward in the day of judgement. God did I report, God be my witness.
Pope Mourns Iraq's 'Continual Slaughter'
From: www.newsmax.com
VATICAN CITY - Even on Christianity's most joyous day, Pope Benedict XVI lamented the "continual slaughter" in Iraq and unrest in Afghanistan as he denounced "the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion."
In his message for Easter, Benedict said suffering worldwide puts faith to the test.
"How many wounds, how much suffering there is in the world," the pontiff told tens of thousands of pilgrims, tourists and Romans gathered Sunday at St. Peter's Square where he had just finished celebrating Mass.
Benedict, delivering his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" Easter address from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, denounced terrorism and kidnappings, and "the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion," as well as human rights violations.
"Afghanistan is marked by growing unrest and instability," Benedict said. "In the Middle East, besides some signs of hope in the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, unfortunately, nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees."
He also had harsh words about the "underestimated humanitarian situation" in Darfur as well as other African places of suffering. These included violence and looting in Congo, fighting in Somalia, and the "grievous crisis" in Zimbabwe, marked by crackdowns on dissidents, a disastrous economy and severe corruption.'
Benedict said political "paralysis" threatened Lebanon's future.
"Suffering, evil, injustice, death, especially when it strikes the innocent such as children who are victims of war and terrorism, of sickness and hunger, does not all of this put our faith to the test?"
In contrast to his sorrowful address were the bright red, pink, yellow and orange splashes of color from flowers which adorned the steps of the basilica and surrounded the outdoor altar where he celebrated Mass under hazy sunshine.
Voices of choir boys floated across the square, as did the smell of incense sprinkled by clerics.
In an unusual touch for the Vatican's Easter Mass, black-robed clerics intoned a long chant from the Byzantine liturgy. This year, Eastern and Western celebrations coincided. The two rites often celebrate Easter on different dates because of different church calendars.
Benedict ended his appearance by offering Easter greetings in dozens of languages, including Arabic and Hebrew, and gave the crowd his apostolic blessing.
VATICAN CITY - Even on Christianity's most joyous day, Pope Benedict XVI lamented the "continual slaughter" in Iraq and unrest in Afghanistan as he denounced "the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion."
In his message for Easter, Benedict said suffering worldwide puts faith to the test.
"How many wounds, how much suffering there is in the world," the pontiff told tens of thousands of pilgrims, tourists and Romans gathered Sunday at St. Peter's Square where he had just finished celebrating Mass.
Benedict, delivering his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" Easter address from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, denounced terrorism and kidnappings, and "the thousand faces of violence which some people attempt to justify in the name of religion," as well as human rights violations.
"Afghanistan is marked by growing unrest and instability," Benedict said. "In the Middle East, besides some signs of hope in the dialogue between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, unfortunately, nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees."
He also had harsh words about the "underestimated humanitarian situation" in Darfur as well as other African places of suffering. These included violence and looting in Congo, fighting in Somalia, and the "grievous crisis" in Zimbabwe, marked by crackdowns on dissidents, a disastrous economy and severe corruption.'
Benedict said political "paralysis" threatened Lebanon's future.
"Suffering, evil, injustice, death, especially when it strikes the innocent such as children who are victims of war and terrorism, of sickness and hunger, does not all of this put our faith to the test?"
In contrast to his sorrowful address were the bright red, pink, yellow and orange splashes of color from flowers which adorned the steps of the basilica and surrounded the outdoor altar where he celebrated Mass under hazy sunshine.
Voices of choir boys floated across the square, as did the smell of incense sprinkled by clerics.
In an unusual touch for the Vatican's Easter Mass, black-robed clerics intoned a long chant from the Byzantine liturgy. This year, Eastern and Western celebrations coincided. The two rites often celebrate Easter on different dates because of different church calendars.
Benedict ended his appearance by offering Easter greetings in dozens of languages, including Arabic and Hebrew, and gave the crowd his apostolic blessing.
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