From: http://www.adishakti.org/mayan_end_times_prophecy_12-21-2012.htm
943 days, 4 hrs, 14 mins, 51 secs left for Age of Transition to begin !Mayan Calender "
Both the Hopis and Mayans recognize that we are approaching the end of a World Age... In both cases, however, the Hopi and Mayan elders do not prophesy that everything will come to an end. Rather, this is a time of transition from one World Age into another. The message they give concerns our making a choice of how we enter the future ahead. Our moving through with either resistance or acceptance will determine whether the transition will happen with cataclysmic changes or gradual peace and tranquility. The same theme can be found reflected in the prophecies of many other Native American visionaries from Black Elk to Sun Bear." — Joseph Robert Jochmans "Amazingly, there is a cultural/prophetic context for the arising of this Feminine-based planetary transformation that is underway. The Mayan 2012 prophecies foretold of this shift of planetary stewardship into the hands of the Feminine. In a personal communication with this author, Nicaraguan Mayan Grandmother Flordemayo, of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers, explained that the final glyph (pictogram) from the “Mayan Story of Creation” (the Dresden Codex) shows the Reawakening of the Feminine." — Vikki Hanchin
Cusp Of Great CycleWe are living today in the cusp of the Mayan end times, the end of a galactic day or time period spanning thousands of years. One galactic day of 25,625 years is divided into five cycles of 5,125 years.The Great Cycle of the Mayan Long Count calendar ends on the winter solstice of 2012 A.D. Following Mayan concepts of cyclic time and World Age transitions, this is as much about beginnings as endings. In fact, it was considered by the ancient Mayans to signify the creation of a new World Age. We are almost at the end of the fifth and final 5,125 year cycle!
Why is everyone talking about the year 2012?The Solstice on December 21, 2012—precisely at 11:11 AM Universal Time—marks the completion of the 5,125 year Great Cycle of the Ancient Maya Long Count Calendar.Rather than being a linear end-point, this cycle that is closing is naturally followed by the start of a new cycle. What this new cycle has in store for humanity is a mystery that has yet to unfold...2012 is also considered the completion of the 26,000 year Precession of the Equinoxes cycle, and some say it also signifies the end of a 104,000 year cycle.The recent "2012" movie serves to alert a targeted 140 million people, in case they too haven't already heard the news. Unfortunately, however, the movie does a dis-service because it distorts the message of this ancient prophecy by associating it with fear and destruction, as depicted by the movie's global disaster scenario, rather than the themes of transformation and renewal the prophecy is actually based in.The 2012 date indeed marks the completion of this World Age Cycle. Rather than something to fear, we can understand the 2012 prophecy as signalling us that we need to awaken and realize that these times on Earth are auspicious; we are living in land-mark times in the history of our planet. We are collectively in a cross-roads moment that is calling out to us to participate in our fullest capacity. We are each being summoned to bring our inspiration and empowerment to the fore, as we must all take our places in transforming our human culture to be one of Harmony—with ourselves, with each other and with all of Nature.Together we are in a great initiation process, living in times of unprecedented challenge, transformation and opportunity. This planetary moment has never existed before as it does right now. Our human population is climbing off the charts, accelerating by the day, as is our environmental crises and the vast whole-system struggles of peoples worldwide, both physically and spiritually. The old world mentality, founded in separation, greed, ignorance, and unconscious consumer materialism, has reached dangerous peaks. Simultaneously, there has never been so much possibility at our fingertips as there is right now. A new paradigm is trying to emerge in our world, through our hearts and minds, like a flower trying to grow through the cracks in the cement sidewalk. New comprehensions and new solutions are emerging in our collective journey—from new sciences, to new economic models, new healing modalities, new energy technologies, new educational models, new forms of conflict resolution, etc. These times of crisis are unifying us and catalyzing us to awaken to our personal and collective responsibilities in this one planetary equation.As we perceive the 2012 completion date as a reminder to us from the Ancients that right here and now we are living in precious times, we can realize how critical it is that we align together in respect for life, becoming more and more conscious of how our intentions and actions affect the Whole. This is an important theme of this prophecy: Becoming Conscious of All that has been Unconscious. It is time to see and know and become aware of how we can participate directly in this great transformation process, inside of ourselves and in our shared world, from the energies we transmit through our feelings and intentions, to the details of our lifestyle choices.The New Cycle that is to emerge is founded on us awakening to the beauty and responsibility of our interconnectedness. Every one of us has a piece in this cosmic puzzle, and we must help each other find our heart's guidance in these mysterious times. As we recognize we are in a Global Healing Crisis, we can shake off the wounded victim mentality, and arise as Medicine Warriors, here to do the necessary work to help lay the ground for a New Era to root, conscious of our obligations to future generations.Carlos Barrios, who was trained as an Ajq'ij in the Maya tradition, has this to share in regards to 2012:"Our planet can be renewed or ravaged. Now is the time to awaken and take action... The prophesized changes are going to happen, but our attitude and actions determine how harsh or mild they are."This is a crucially important moment for humanity and for earth. Each person is important. If you have incarnated into this era, you have spiritual work to do balancing the planet...The greatest wisdom is in simplicity. Love, respect, tolerance, sharing, gratitude, forgiveness. It's not complex or elaborate. The real knowledge is free. It's encoded in your DNA. All you need is within you. Great teachers have said that from the beginning. Find your heart, and you will find your way."http://www.13moon.com/prophecy%20page.htm
Friday, May 21, 2010
Karima Burns, Ex-Christian, USA
From: www.islamicity.com
By Karima Burns
I sat in the Alhambra Mosque in Granada, Spain staring at the script that bordered the walls. It was the most beautiful language I had ever seen. “What language is that?” I said a Spanish tourist. “Arabic,” they answered.
The next day, when the tour attendant asked which language I wanted my tour book in, I answered, “Arabic.”
“Arabic?” she said, surprised. “Do you speak Arabic?”
“No,” I replied. “Can you give me one in English too?”
By the end of my trip I had a bag full of Arabic tour guides to all the sites I had visited in Spain. In fact, my bag was so full that at one point I had to give away some of my clothes so I could make everything fit. But, I hung on to my Arabic tour books as if they were made of gold. I would open them every night and look at the letters of the language as they flowed across the page. I imagined being able to write such beautiful script and I thought to myself that there must be something worth knowing about a culture that had such an artistic language. I vowed that I would study this language when I started college in the fall.
Only two months before, I had left my family in Iowa to take a trip through Europe, alone. I was only 16 years old and due to enter Northwestern University in the fall and I had wanted to “see the world” first. At least, that is what I told my friends and family. In reality I was searching for answers. I had left the church only a few months before and did not know where to turn. I knew that I was not comfortable with what I was being taught, but I did not know of any alternatives.
Where I grew up, in the Midwest, there was no room for confusion - you were either part of the church or you were not. So, I had no idea there was something else. When I set off for Europe I hoped that there was.
In my church we were not allowed to pray to God, we could only pray to Jesus and hope that he would relay the message to God. I had intuitively felt that there was something wrong with that and so, without telling anyone, I secretly prayed to “God.” I sincerely believed that there was only one entity to pray to. But, I felt guilty because this was not what I had been taught. Then, there was the confusing matter of what to do during one’s “daily life.”
“I dutifully went to church every Sunday and was very serious about what I learned regarding honesty, kindness and compassion. So, it confused me when I saw people from church acting so differently during the week Blogger: (many Muslims do that today as well). Were there no rules during the week? Did they only apply on Sundays? I looked for some guidance…but found none.
There were the Ten Commandments that covered the obvious things like killing, stealing and lying, but other than that, I had no guidelines for how to act when I wasn’t in church. All I knew was: perhaps there was something wrong with wearing mini-skirts to church and only going to Sunday School because of cute guys that attended.
One day, I went to a teacher’s house and saw a shelf lined with Bibles. I asked what they were. “Different versions of the Bible,” my teacher replied. It did not seem to bother him at all that there were so many different versions. But, it bothered me. Some of them were really different and some chapters were even missing from the version I had. I was very confused.
I returned to college that fall disappointed that I had not found the answers I was hoping for in Europe, but with a passion for a language I had only just learned about - Arabic. Ironically, I had stared right at the answers I was searching for, on the walls of the Alhambra. But, it took me two more years to realize that.
The first thing I did when I reached the campus was…enroll in Arabic classes. I was one of only three people in the highly unpopular class. I immersed myself in my Arabic studies with such a passion that my teacher was confused. I did my homework with a calligraphy pen and I went into the Arab areas of Chicago just to track down a Coca Cola bottle written in the language. I begged him to lend me books in Arabic just so I could look at the script. By the time my second year of college came around, I decided I should consider a major in Middle Eastern Studies. So, I enrolled in some classes focusing on the region. In one class we studied the Quran.
I opened the Quran one night to “do my homework” and could not stop reading it. It was like I had picked up a good novel. I thought to myself, “Wow. This is great. This is what I have always believed. This answers all my questions about how to act during the week and it even states very clearly that there is only one God.”
It just all made so much sense. I was amazed that there was this book written about everything I believed in and had been searching for. I went to class the next day to ask about the author of the book so I could read more books by them. In the copy I had been given, there was a name. I thought it was the author of the book, akin to the Gospels written by St. Luke or the other religions I had studied…that all attributed their writings to some person who was inspired enough to write it down.
My professor informed me that it was not the author but the translator because “according to the Muslims no one had written the book.” The Quran was, according to THEM (referring to Muslims, he was Christian) the word of God and had not been changed since it was inspired, recited and then transcribed. Needless to say, I was fascinated. After that, I became passionate, not only about my studies of Arabic, but about studying Islam and about going to the Middle East.
My senior year in college I finally went to Egypt to continue my studies. My favorite place to go became “Islamic Cairo,” where the mosques always gave me a sense of comfort and awe. I felt that by being in them, one could really feel the beauty, power and awe of Allah. And, as always I enjoyed staring at the elegant calligraphy on the walls.
One day a friend asked me why I didn’t convert to Islam if I liked it so much. “But I am already Muslim.” My answer surprised me. But then, I realized that it was a simple matter of logic and common sense. Islam made sense. It inspired me. I knew it was right. Why did I then have to convert? My friend informed me that in order to “be official,” I needed to actually go to the mosque and state my intention in front of two witnesses. So, I did. But, when they gave the certificate to me, I just filed it in my file cabinet with my “other” medical and personal records…because to me, I had always been Muslim. I didn’t need to hang a piece of paper on my wall to tell me that. I had known it the minute I picked up the Quran. The minute I opened it, I felt like I had found my long lost family. I hung a picture of the Alhambra Mosque on my wall instead.
By Karima Burns
I sat in the Alhambra Mosque in Granada, Spain staring at the script that bordered the walls. It was the most beautiful language I had ever seen. “What language is that?” I said a Spanish tourist. “Arabic,” they answered.
The next day, when the tour attendant asked which language I wanted my tour book in, I answered, “Arabic.”
“Arabic?” she said, surprised. “Do you speak Arabic?”
“No,” I replied. “Can you give me one in English too?”
By the end of my trip I had a bag full of Arabic tour guides to all the sites I had visited in Spain. In fact, my bag was so full that at one point I had to give away some of my clothes so I could make everything fit. But, I hung on to my Arabic tour books as if they were made of gold. I would open them every night and look at the letters of the language as they flowed across the page. I imagined being able to write such beautiful script and I thought to myself that there must be something worth knowing about a culture that had such an artistic language. I vowed that I would study this language when I started college in the fall.
Only two months before, I had left my family in Iowa to take a trip through Europe, alone. I was only 16 years old and due to enter Northwestern University in the fall and I had wanted to “see the world” first. At least, that is what I told my friends and family. In reality I was searching for answers. I had left the church only a few months before and did not know where to turn. I knew that I was not comfortable with what I was being taught, but I did not know of any alternatives.
Where I grew up, in the Midwest, there was no room for confusion - you were either part of the church or you were not. So, I had no idea there was something else. When I set off for Europe I hoped that there was.
In my church we were not allowed to pray to God, we could only pray to Jesus and hope that he would relay the message to God. I had intuitively felt that there was something wrong with that and so, without telling anyone, I secretly prayed to “God.” I sincerely believed that there was only one entity to pray to. But, I felt guilty because this was not what I had been taught. Then, there was the confusing matter of what to do during one’s “daily life.”
“I dutifully went to church every Sunday and was very serious about what I learned regarding honesty, kindness and compassion. So, it confused me when I saw people from church acting so differently during the week Blogger: (many Muslims do that today as well). Were there no rules during the week? Did they only apply on Sundays? I looked for some guidance…but found none.
There were the Ten Commandments that covered the obvious things like killing, stealing and lying, but other than that, I had no guidelines for how to act when I wasn’t in church. All I knew was: perhaps there was something wrong with wearing mini-skirts to church and only going to Sunday School because of cute guys that attended.
One day, I went to a teacher’s house and saw a shelf lined with Bibles. I asked what they were. “Different versions of the Bible,” my teacher replied. It did not seem to bother him at all that there were so many different versions. But, it bothered me. Some of them were really different and some chapters were even missing from the version I had. I was very confused.
I returned to college that fall disappointed that I had not found the answers I was hoping for in Europe, but with a passion for a language I had only just learned about - Arabic. Ironically, I had stared right at the answers I was searching for, on the walls of the Alhambra. But, it took me two more years to realize that.
The first thing I did when I reached the campus was…enroll in Arabic classes. I was one of only three people in the highly unpopular class. I immersed myself in my Arabic studies with such a passion that my teacher was confused. I did my homework with a calligraphy pen and I went into the Arab areas of Chicago just to track down a Coca Cola bottle written in the language. I begged him to lend me books in Arabic just so I could look at the script. By the time my second year of college came around, I decided I should consider a major in Middle Eastern Studies. So, I enrolled in some classes focusing on the region. In one class we studied the Quran.
I opened the Quran one night to “do my homework” and could not stop reading it. It was like I had picked up a good novel. I thought to myself, “Wow. This is great. This is what I have always believed. This answers all my questions about how to act during the week and it even states very clearly that there is only one God.”
It just all made so much sense. I was amazed that there was this book written about everything I believed in and had been searching for. I went to class the next day to ask about the author of the book so I could read more books by them. In the copy I had been given, there was a name. I thought it was the author of the book, akin to the Gospels written by St. Luke or the other religions I had studied…that all attributed their writings to some person who was inspired enough to write it down.
My professor informed me that it was not the author but the translator because “according to the Muslims no one had written the book.” The Quran was, according to THEM (referring to Muslims, he was Christian) the word of God and had not been changed since it was inspired, recited and then transcribed. Needless to say, I was fascinated. After that, I became passionate, not only about my studies of Arabic, but about studying Islam and about going to the Middle East.
My senior year in college I finally went to Egypt to continue my studies. My favorite place to go became “Islamic Cairo,” where the mosques always gave me a sense of comfort and awe. I felt that by being in them, one could really feel the beauty, power and awe of Allah. And, as always I enjoyed staring at the elegant calligraphy on the walls.
One day a friend asked me why I didn’t convert to Islam if I liked it so much. “But I am already Muslim.” My answer surprised me. But then, I realized that it was a simple matter of logic and common sense. Islam made sense. It inspired me. I knew it was right. Why did I then have to convert? My friend informed me that in order to “be official,” I needed to actually go to the mosque and state my intention in front of two witnesses. So, I did. But, when they gave the certificate to me, I just filed it in my file cabinet with my “other” medical and personal records…because to me, I had always been Muslim. I didn’t need to hang a piece of paper on my wall to tell me that. I had known it the minute I picked up the Quran. The minute I opened it, I felt like I had found my long lost family. I hung a picture of the Alhambra Mosque on my wall instead.
You Must Know This Man!
From: www.islamicity.com
By: Syed Husain Pasha
You may be an atheist or an agnostic. Or you may belong to any one of the religious denominations that proliferate in the world today. You may be a Communist or a Fascist or a believer in free enterprise, freedom and human rights. You may be a fundamentalist, fanatic or just about anything else. But no matter who or what you are, and no matter what your religious and political beliefs or personal and social habits and proclivities happen to be, YOU MUST STILL KNOW THIS MAN!
He was by far the most remarkable man that ever set foot on this earth. He preached a "religion," as people call it, founded a state, built a nation, laid down a moral code, initiated numberless social and political reforms, established a dynamic and powerful society to practice and represent his teachings in perpetuity, and completely revolutionized the worlds of human thought and action for all times to come.
HIS NAME WAS MUHAMMAD, peace and blessings of Almighty God be upon him - and upon all the Prophets of God, listed in the Bible or anywhere else! And he accomplished all these wonders in the unbelievably short span of about two decades or less.
Muhammad, peace and blessings of Almighty God be upon him, was born in Arabia on 20th August, in the year 570 of the Christian era, and when he died after 63 years, the whole of the Arabian Peninsula had changed from paganism and idol-worship to the worship of One God; from tribal quarrels and wars to national solidarity and cohesion; from drunkenness and debauchery to sobriety and piety; from lawlessness and anarchy to disciplined living; and from utter moral bankruptcy to the highest standards of moral sublimity and excellence.
Human history has never known such a complete transformation of a people or a place before or since!
The Encyclopedia Britannica calls him "the most successful of all religious personalities of the world." Bernard Shaw, a famous British playwright and social philosopher and commentator of the 20th Century, said about him that if Muhammad were alive today he would succeed in solving all those problems which threaten to destroy human civilization in our times.
Thomas Carlyle, a 19th-Century essayist and historian, was amazed how one man, single-handedly, could weld warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades. Napoleon and Gandhi never tired of dreaming of a society along the lines established by this man in Arabia thirteen centuries before their time.
Indeed no other human being ever accomplished so much, in such diverse fields of human thought and behavior, in so limited a space of time, as did Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him. He was a "religious" teacher, a social reformer, a moral guide, a political thinker, a military genius, an administrative colossus, a faithful friend, a wonderful companion, a devoted husband, a loving father - ALL IN ONE.
No other man in history ever excelled or equaled him in any of these demanding and difficult departments of life.
The world has had its share of great personalities. But these were mostly one-sided figures who distinguished themselves in but one or two fields such as religious thought, political reform, academic scholarship, philosophical acumen or military leadership. None of the other great leaders of the world ever combined in himself so many different qualities to such an amazing level of perfection as did Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him.
The lives and teachings of other great personalities of the world are shrouded in the mist of time. There is so much speculation about the time and the place of their birth, the mode and style of their life, the nature and detail of their teachings and the degree and measure of their success or failure that it is impossible for humanity today to reconstruct accurately and precisely the lives and teachings of those men.
Not so this man Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him. Not only was he born in the fullest blaze of recorded history, but every detail of his private and public life, of his actions and utterances, has been most accurately documented and faithfully preserved to our day. The authenticity of the information so preserved is vouched for not only by faithful followers but also by unbiased critics and open-minded scholars of practically every political leaning and religious persuasion.
The fact is the life and teachings of this man Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, are the only true and authentic historical record of any individual, people, time or culture that humanity has in its possession. While all other history is mostly guesswork and speculation, the full and detailed record of his teachings exist in our hands today, not in the form of analysis and conclusions by historicists and scholars, but in the form of raw and primary data that all generations of the human race can analyze and understand by themselves for all times to come.
At the level of ideas there is no system of thought and belief - secular or religious, social or political - which could surpass or equal ISLAM - the system which Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, propounded. In a fast-changing world, while other systems have undergone profound transformations, or have mostly disintegrated and perished, Islam alone has remained above all change and mutation, and retained its original form for the past 1400 years.
What is more, the positive changes that are taking place in the world of human thought and behavior today, and have done since the advent of Islam, truly and consistently reflect the healthy and salubrious influence of Islam in these areas.
Furthermore, it is not given to the best of thinkers to put their ideas completely into practice, and to see the seeds of their labors grow and bear fruit, in their own lifetime. Except of course, Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, who not only preached the most wonderful ideas but also successfully translated each one of them into practice in his own lifetime.
At the time of his death, his teachings were not mere precepts and ideas straining for fulfillment, but had become the very core of the life of tens of thousands of perfectly trained individuals, each one of whom was a marvelous personification of everything that Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, taught and stood for.
At what other time or place and in relation to what other political, social or "religious" system, philosophy or ideology, or individual, did the world ever witness such a perfectly amazing phenomenon?
Indeed no other system or ideology, secular or "religious," social or political, ancient or modern - could ever claim the distinction of having been put into practice in its fullness and entirety EVEN ONCE in this world, either before or after the death of its founder, least of all by the putative founder himself. Except of course ISLAM, the ideology preached by Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, which was established as a complete way of life by the teacher himself, before he departed from this world.
History bears testimony to this fact and the greatest skeptics have no option but to concede this point.
In spite of these amazing achievements and in spite of the countless absolutely convincing and authentic miracles performed by him and the phenomenal success which crowned his efforts, he did not for a moment claim to be God or God's incarnation or Son - but only a human being who was chosen and ordained by God to be a teacher of truth to humanity and a complete model and pattern for its actions.
He was nothing more or less than a human being. But he was a man with a noble and exalted mission - and his unique mission was to unite humanity on the worship of ONE AND ONLY GOD, the same as was proclaimed by the First Commandment in the Old as well as the New Testament, and to teach human beings the way to honest and upright living in accordance with the laws and commands of God. He always described himself as A MESSENGER AND SLAVE OF GOD, and so indeed every single action and movement of his proclaimed him to be.
A world which has not hesitated to raise to Divinity individuals whose very lives and missions have been lost in legend and who historically speaking did not accomplish half as much - or even one tenth as much - as was accomplished by Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, should stop to take serious note of this remarkable man's claim to be God's messenger to all of humanity.
Today after the lapse of some 1400 years, the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, have survived without the slightest loss, alteration or interpolation. Today they offer the same undying hope for treating humanity's many ills which they did when Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, was alive.
This is our honest claim and this is the inescapable conclusion forced upon us by a critical and unbiased study of history.
Therefore, the least YOU should do as a thinking, sensitive, concerned human being is to stop for one brief moment and ask yourself: Could it be that these statements, extraordinary and revolutionary as they sound, are really true?
Supposing they really are true and you did not know this man Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, or hear about his teachings? Or did not know him well and intimately enough to be able to benefit from his guidance and example?
Isn't it time you responded to this tremendous challenge and made a personal effort to know him? It will not cost you anything, but it may well prove to be the beginning of a completely new awakening in your life.
Come, let us make a new discovery of the life of this wonderful man Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, the like of whom never walked on this earth, and whose example and teachings can change YOUR LIFE and OUR WORLD for the better.
May God shower his choicest blessings upon him - and upon those who choose to follow him!
Dr. Syed Husain Pasha is an educator, scholar, mentor, organizer and community leader of exceptional talent, training and experience. His background combines authentic traditional Islamic education and training with a Ph.D. from one of the premier research universities in the West. His lectures, seminars, camps, community clean-up and other programs and activities provide extraordinary training, education and motivation in Islam and in life in general. He can be reached at DrSyedPasha [at] AOL [dot] com or www.IslamicSolutions.com
Blogger comment:
Muslims believe that Muhammad (PBUH) is a true prophet of God for a lot of reasons among them are the above great achievements in very short time of human history. Other reasons to believe is the acuteness of the message, before the revelation of the Quran he was an ordinary man, though he was their best. He did not read or write or have an scholarship or piece of literature. He was inspired with the Quran and was guided by God. The amount of knowledge and direction was in most part inspired by God. He did not take the credit to himself like most humans does even if they had modest achievements. His absolute faith that the one who is inspiring him is God and through his angel Gabriel made a lot of sense to him and people around him. Not his own mind talking to him, Satan or UFO but the great creator who would talk to him in the Quran and us with great glory and absolute confidence that he is God, this is his book and that Muhammad is a messenger like the others before him. But God declare it clearly that this is his last message the one to follow and his words the Quran the one protected and preserved. Jesus (PBUH) in his second coming will actually judge by the message of Muhammad (PBUH). In fact Muhammad never had animosity to Jesus but all love and respect.
By: Syed Husain Pasha
You may be an atheist or an agnostic. Or you may belong to any one of the religious denominations that proliferate in the world today. You may be a Communist or a Fascist or a believer in free enterprise, freedom and human rights. You may be a fundamentalist, fanatic or just about anything else. But no matter who or what you are, and no matter what your religious and political beliefs or personal and social habits and proclivities happen to be, YOU MUST STILL KNOW THIS MAN!
He was by far the most remarkable man that ever set foot on this earth. He preached a "religion," as people call it, founded a state, built a nation, laid down a moral code, initiated numberless social and political reforms, established a dynamic and powerful society to practice and represent his teachings in perpetuity, and completely revolutionized the worlds of human thought and action for all times to come.
HIS NAME WAS MUHAMMAD, peace and blessings of Almighty God be upon him - and upon all the Prophets of God, listed in the Bible or anywhere else! And he accomplished all these wonders in the unbelievably short span of about two decades or less.
Muhammad, peace and blessings of Almighty God be upon him, was born in Arabia on 20th August, in the year 570 of the Christian era, and when he died after 63 years, the whole of the Arabian Peninsula had changed from paganism and idol-worship to the worship of One God; from tribal quarrels and wars to national solidarity and cohesion; from drunkenness and debauchery to sobriety and piety; from lawlessness and anarchy to disciplined living; and from utter moral bankruptcy to the highest standards of moral sublimity and excellence.
Human history has never known such a complete transformation of a people or a place before or since!
The Encyclopedia Britannica calls him "the most successful of all religious personalities of the world." Bernard Shaw, a famous British playwright and social philosopher and commentator of the 20th Century, said about him that if Muhammad were alive today he would succeed in solving all those problems which threaten to destroy human civilization in our times.
Thomas Carlyle, a 19th-Century essayist and historian, was amazed how one man, single-handedly, could weld warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades. Napoleon and Gandhi never tired of dreaming of a society along the lines established by this man in Arabia thirteen centuries before their time.
Indeed no other human being ever accomplished so much, in such diverse fields of human thought and behavior, in so limited a space of time, as did Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him. He was a "religious" teacher, a social reformer, a moral guide, a political thinker, a military genius, an administrative colossus, a faithful friend, a wonderful companion, a devoted husband, a loving father - ALL IN ONE.
No other man in history ever excelled or equaled him in any of these demanding and difficult departments of life.
The world has had its share of great personalities. But these were mostly one-sided figures who distinguished themselves in but one or two fields such as religious thought, political reform, academic scholarship, philosophical acumen or military leadership. None of the other great leaders of the world ever combined in himself so many different qualities to such an amazing level of perfection as did Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him.
The lives and teachings of other great personalities of the world are shrouded in the mist of time. There is so much speculation about the time and the place of their birth, the mode and style of their life, the nature and detail of their teachings and the degree and measure of their success or failure that it is impossible for humanity today to reconstruct accurately and precisely the lives and teachings of those men.
Not so this man Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him. Not only was he born in the fullest blaze of recorded history, but every detail of his private and public life, of his actions and utterances, has been most accurately documented and faithfully preserved to our day. The authenticity of the information so preserved is vouched for not only by faithful followers but also by unbiased critics and open-minded scholars of practically every political leaning and religious persuasion.
The fact is the life and teachings of this man Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, are the only true and authentic historical record of any individual, people, time or culture that humanity has in its possession. While all other history is mostly guesswork and speculation, the full and detailed record of his teachings exist in our hands today, not in the form of analysis and conclusions by historicists and scholars, but in the form of raw and primary data that all generations of the human race can analyze and understand by themselves for all times to come.
At the level of ideas there is no system of thought and belief - secular or religious, social or political - which could surpass or equal ISLAM - the system which Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, propounded. In a fast-changing world, while other systems have undergone profound transformations, or have mostly disintegrated and perished, Islam alone has remained above all change and mutation, and retained its original form for the past 1400 years.
What is more, the positive changes that are taking place in the world of human thought and behavior today, and have done since the advent of Islam, truly and consistently reflect the healthy and salubrious influence of Islam in these areas.
Furthermore, it is not given to the best of thinkers to put their ideas completely into practice, and to see the seeds of their labors grow and bear fruit, in their own lifetime. Except of course, Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, who not only preached the most wonderful ideas but also successfully translated each one of them into practice in his own lifetime.
At the time of his death, his teachings were not mere precepts and ideas straining for fulfillment, but had become the very core of the life of tens of thousands of perfectly trained individuals, each one of whom was a marvelous personification of everything that Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, taught and stood for.
At what other time or place and in relation to what other political, social or "religious" system, philosophy or ideology, or individual, did the world ever witness such a perfectly amazing phenomenon?
Indeed no other system or ideology, secular or "religious," social or political, ancient or modern - could ever claim the distinction of having been put into practice in its fullness and entirety EVEN ONCE in this world, either before or after the death of its founder, least of all by the putative founder himself. Except of course ISLAM, the ideology preached by Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, which was established as a complete way of life by the teacher himself, before he departed from this world.
History bears testimony to this fact and the greatest skeptics have no option but to concede this point.
In spite of these amazing achievements and in spite of the countless absolutely convincing and authentic miracles performed by him and the phenomenal success which crowned his efforts, he did not for a moment claim to be God or God's incarnation or Son - but only a human being who was chosen and ordained by God to be a teacher of truth to humanity and a complete model and pattern for its actions.
He was nothing more or less than a human being. But he was a man with a noble and exalted mission - and his unique mission was to unite humanity on the worship of ONE AND ONLY GOD, the same as was proclaimed by the First Commandment in the Old as well as the New Testament, and to teach human beings the way to honest and upright living in accordance with the laws and commands of God. He always described himself as A MESSENGER AND SLAVE OF GOD, and so indeed every single action and movement of his proclaimed him to be.
A world which has not hesitated to raise to Divinity individuals whose very lives and missions have been lost in legend and who historically speaking did not accomplish half as much - or even one tenth as much - as was accomplished by Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, should stop to take serious note of this remarkable man's claim to be God's messenger to all of humanity.
Today after the lapse of some 1400 years, the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, have survived without the slightest loss, alteration or interpolation. Today they offer the same undying hope for treating humanity's many ills which they did when Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, was alive.
This is our honest claim and this is the inescapable conclusion forced upon us by a critical and unbiased study of history.
Therefore, the least YOU should do as a thinking, sensitive, concerned human being is to stop for one brief moment and ask yourself: Could it be that these statements, extraordinary and revolutionary as they sound, are really true?
Supposing they really are true and you did not know this man Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, or hear about his teachings? Or did not know him well and intimately enough to be able to benefit from his guidance and example?
Isn't it time you responded to this tremendous challenge and made a personal effort to know him? It will not cost you anything, but it may well prove to be the beginning of a completely new awakening in your life.
Come, let us make a new discovery of the life of this wonderful man Muhammad, peace and blessings of God Almighty be upon him, the like of whom never walked on this earth, and whose example and teachings can change YOUR LIFE and OUR WORLD for the better.
May God shower his choicest blessings upon him - and upon those who choose to follow him!
Dr. Syed Husain Pasha is an educator, scholar, mentor, organizer and community leader of exceptional talent, training and experience. His background combines authentic traditional Islamic education and training with a Ph.D. from one of the premier research universities in the West. His lectures, seminars, camps, community clean-up and other programs and activities provide extraordinary training, education and motivation in Islam and in life in general. He can be reached at DrSyedPasha [at] AOL [dot] com or www.IslamicSolutions.com
Blogger comment:
Muslims believe that Muhammad (PBUH) is a true prophet of God for a lot of reasons among them are the above great achievements in very short time of human history. Other reasons to believe is the acuteness of the message, before the revelation of the Quran he was an ordinary man, though he was their best. He did not read or write or have an scholarship or piece of literature. He was inspired with the Quran and was guided by God. The amount of knowledge and direction was in most part inspired by God. He did not take the credit to himself like most humans does even if they had modest achievements. His absolute faith that the one who is inspiring him is God and through his angel Gabriel made a lot of sense to him and people around him. Not his own mind talking to him, Satan or UFO but the great creator who would talk to him in the Quran and us with great glory and absolute confidence that he is God, this is his book and that Muhammad is a messenger like the others before him. But God declare it clearly that this is his last message the one to follow and his words the Quran the one protected and preserved. Jesus (PBUH) in his second coming will actually judge by the message of Muhammad (PBUH). In fact Muhammad never had animosity to Jesus but all love and respect.
Que es el lslam?
From: http://www.islamicbulletin.com/services/foreign.htm#a16
Que es el lslam?
Musulmanes rezando en Jerusalen en el exterior de la mezquita Al Aqsa con la Cupula de la Roda difisandose al fondo.
Un marroqui rezando.
El Islam no es una nueva religion, sino la misma verdad que Dios ha revelado a travez de todos Sus Profetas a cada pueblo.
Para una quinta parte de la poblacion mundial el Islam es a la vez una religion y una forma completa de vida. Lo musulmanes siguen religion de paz, misericordia y perdon y la mayoria no tiene nada que ver con los gravisimos acontecimientos que se han venido asociando recientemente con su fe.
◊ Quienes son los Musulmanes?
Mil millones de personas de un amplio abanico de razas, nacionalidades y culturas a lo largo del globo, desde el sur de Filipinas hasta Nigeria, estan unidas en su comun fe islamica. Alrededor del 18% vive en el mundo arabe; la mayor comunidad islamica del mundo se halla en Indonesia; partes importantes de Asia y la mayoria de Africa son musulmanes, y amplias minorias se encuentran en la Union Sovietica, China, America del Norte y del Sur y en Europa.
◊ Que creen los Musulmanes?
Los musulmanes creen en Dios, Uno y Unico e Incomparable; en los Angeles creados por El; en los Profetas a travez de quienes llegaron Sus revelaciones a la humanidad; en el Dia del Juicio final y en la responsabilidad individual por las acciones de cada uno; en la autoridad absoluta de Dios sobre el destino humano y en la vida despues de la muerte. Los musulmanes creen en una cadena de profetas que comienza con Adan y que incluye a Noe, Abraham, Ismael, Isaac, Jacob, Jose, Job, Moises, Aaron, David, Salomon, Elias, Jonas, Juan el Bautista, Jesus, que la paz sea con ellos! Pero el mensaje final de Dios al hombre, reconfirmacion del mensaje eterno y suma de todo lo anterior; le fue revelado al Profeta Mohammad a travez del Angel Gabriel.
◊ Como se convierte una persona en Musulman?
Simplemente diciendo que no hay divinidad mas que la Divinidad y Muhammad es el Mensajero de Dios, Mediante esta declaracion, el creyente anuncia su fe en todos los mensajeros de Dios y en las Escrituras que trajeron.
◊ Que significa la palabra Islam?
El termino arabe 'Islam' 'significa sumision' y se deriva de una palabra cuyo significado es 'paz'. En un contexto religioso, quiere decir sumision total a la voluntad de Dios, 'Mahometanismo' es un apelativo equivocado ya que sugiere que los musulmanes adoran a Muhammad en vez de a Dios "Allah" es el nombre de Dios en arabe y es utilizado tanto por los musulmanes como por los cristianos.
◊ Por que el Islam a menudo parece extrano?
El Islam puede parecer exotico o incluso extrano en el mundo moderno. Talvez ello se deba a que la religion no domina la vida cotidiana en el Occidente de hoy, mientras que los musulmanes consideran la religion como algo decisivo en su vida y no hacen ninguna division entre lo secular y lo sagrado. Creen que la Ley Divina, la Shari'a debe tomarse muy en serio y por ellos todo lo relacionado con la religion sigue siendo muy importante.
◊ El Islam y el Cristianismo tienen origenes diferentes?
No. Ambos se remontan, junto con el Judaismo, al profeta y patriarca Abraham, y los tres profetas de estas religiones descienden directamente de los hijos de aquel: Mohammad del mayor, Ismael, y Moises y Jesus de Isaac. Abraham fundo la colonia que hoy es la ciudad de La Meca y construyo la ka'ba hacia la que todos los musulmanes se orientan cuando rezan.
◊ Que es la Ka'ba?
La Ka'ba es el lugar de oracion que Dios mando construir a Abraham y a Ismael hace mas de cuatro mil anos. El templo fue edificado en piedra en un lugar donde muchos creen que se hallaba un samtuario establecido por Adan. Dios ordeno a Abraham que exhortara a toda la Humanidad a visitar este lugar y cuando los peregrinos acuden hoy alli, contestan en repuesta a la llamada de Abraham: "A Tu servicio, Oh Senor".
Meca, Arabia Saudita
◊ Quien es Muhammad?
Muhammad nacion el La Meca en el ano 570, cuando el Cristianismo todavia no estaba completamente establecido en Europa, debido a que su padre fallecio antes de su nacimiento y su madre murio poco tiempo despues, se hizo cargo de el uno de sus tios, miembro de la respetada tribu de los Quraysh, A medida que iba creciendo iba siendo conocido por su veracidad, generosidad y sinceridad, y debido a ello se le buscaba como arbitro de las disputas. Los historiadores le describen como una persona serena y propensa a la meditacion.
Mohammad tenia una profunda naturaleza religiosa y detestaba la decadencia de la sociedad en la que vivia. Tenia por costumbre meditar de vez en cuando en la Cueva de Hira, cerca de la cima de Yabal al Nur, la Monatana de la Luz, en las proximidades de La Meca.
◊ Como se convirtio en Profeta y Mensajero de Dios?
La Mezquita del Profeta en Medina. La cupula indica el lugar donde estaba su casa y donde esta enterrado.
La Montana de la Luz donde el Angel Gabriel se aparecio a Muhammad.
A la edad de 40 anos durante uno de sus retiros espirituales, Muhammad recibio la primera revelacion de Dios a travez del Angel Gabriel. El conjuto de esta Revelacion, que continuo durante 23 anos, se conoce con el nombre del Coran.
Tan pronto como comenzo a recitar las palabras que habia oido de Gabriel y a predicar la verdad que Dios le habia revelado,el y su pequeno grupo de seguidores sufrieron una amarga persecucion, que fue creciendo de forma tan intensa que en el ano 622 Dios les ordeno que emigraran. Este acontecimiento, la Hijra, 'emigracion' en la que abandonaron La Meca para ir a Medina, a unos 416 kilometros al norte, constituye el punto de partida del calendario islamico.
Despues de algunos anos, el Profeta y sus seguidores pudieron regresar a La Meca, perdonaron a sus enemigos y establecieron de modo definitivo el Islam. Antes de que el Profeta muriera a la edad de 63 anos, la mayor parte de Arabia era musulmana y, en los cien anos siguientes a su muerte, el Islam se habia extendido hasta Espana, en el oeste, y hasta China en el este.
◊ Como ha influido en el mundo la expansion del Islam?
Taj Mahal, India.
Entre las razones para la rapida y pacifica expansion del Islam hay que destacar la sencillez de su doctrina; el Islam proclamo la fe en un solo Dios digno de adoracion. Tambien insta repetidamente al hombre para que utilice sus dones de inteligencia y observacion.
El Profeta dijo, ‘Buscad el conocimiento incluso en China: la mezquita Hui Shen se construyó en el siglo VII.
En pocos anos, grandes civilizaciones y universidades florecieron, pues segun el Profeta 'la busqueda del conocimiento es una obligacion para cada musulman, sea hombre o mujer'. La sintesis de las ideas del Occidente y del Oriente, y del nuevo pensamiento con el antiguo, trajo grandes avances en medicina, matematicas, fisica, astronomia, geografia, arquitectura, arte, literatura e historia. Muchos sistemas de importancia decisiva como el algebra, la numeracion arabiga y el concepto del cero (vital para el progreso de las matematicas) fueron transmitidos a la Europa medieval a traves del Islam. Se desarrollaron asimismo isntrumentos tan sofisticados como el astrolabio, la brujula y buenos mapas de navegacion, que hicieron posible los viajes europeos de descubrimientos de nuevas tierras.
◊ Que es el Coran?
Arabic
El Noble Coran, La sure que Abre el 'Libro'
El Coran es una transcripcion de las palabras exactas reveladas por Dios al Profeta Muhammad atravez del Angel Gabriel, Las palabra fueron memorizadas por Muhammad, dictadas luego a sus companero y mas tarde escritas por escribas, que las examinaron detenidamente mientras el profeta aun vivia. Ninguna palabra de sus 114 capitulos, las Suras, ha sido cambiada desde entonces, y de este modo, el Coran sigue siendo, en cada detalle, el texto unico y milagroso revelado a Mohammad hace catorce siglos.
◊ De que trata el Coran?
El Coran, la ultima Palabra revelada por Dios, es la fuente principal de la fe y de la practica de cada musulman, Abarca todos los temas que nos conciernen como seres humanos; la sabiduria, la doctrina, el culto y la ley; pero su tema basico es la relacion entre Dios y Sus criaturas. Al mismo tiempo, el Coran suministra las lineas maestras para una sociedad justa, una conducta humana apropiada y un sistema economico equitativo.
◊ Existen otra fuentes sagradas?
Si, la sunna, la practica y el ejemplo del Profeta, es la segunda fuente para los musulmanes. Un Hadith es un relato autorizado de lo que el Profeta dijo, hizo o aprobo. Creer en la sunna forma parte de la fe islamica.
Ejemplos de dichos del Profeta:
El Profeta dijo:
"Dios no tiene misericordia del que no la tiene con los demas".
Ninguno de nosotros cree verdaderamente hasta que no desea para su projimo lo que desea para si mismo".
El que come hasta saciarse mientras su projimo esta sin comida no es un creyente."
"El comerciante veridico y digno de confianza se asocia con los profetas, los santos y los martires."
"No es poderoso el que derriba a otro, sino el que se controla a si mismo en un arranque de ira."
Dios no os juzga segun nuestros cuerpos y apariencia sino que examina nuestros corazones y mira nuestros acciones.
Un hombre que caminaba por un sendero sintio una gran sed. al legar a un pozo descendio dentro, bebio hasta saciarse y salio al exterior. Entonces vio a un perro con la lengua afuera, tratando de lamer el barro para buscar un poco de agua con que aplacar su sed. El hombre se dio cuenta de que el perro estaba sufriendo, sintiendo la misma sed que el antes tenia. volvio a bajar al pozo, lleno su zapato con agua y le dio al perro de beber; Dios le perdono sus pecados por esta accion. Preguntaron al Profeta; Mensajero de Dios, hay recompensa por mostrarse compasivo con los animales? Respondio el: Hay recompensa por mostrar compasion hacia cualquier ser viviente.
Tomado de las compilaciones de Hadiths de Bujari, Muslim, Tirmidhi y Bayhaqi.
◊ Cuales son los 'cinco pilares del Islam?
Constituyen el marco de la vida musulmana y son : la fe, la oracion, la preocupacion por los necesitados, el ayuno y la peregrinacion a La Meca para los que puedan llevarla a cabo.
Shahada inscrita sobre la entrada del Palacio otomano de Topkapi (el museo contiene, entre otros tesoros, un manto usado por el Profeta), Estanbul.
1. LA FE
"No hay mas divinidad que Dios, y Muhammad es el Mensajero de Dios."
Este testimonio de fe se llama la Shahada, una sensilla formula que pronuncia todos los fieles. en arabe, la primera parte es la ilaha illa Llah - 'no hay mas divinidad qeu Dios'; ilaha (divinida o dios con minuscula) se refiere a cualquier cosa que podamos sentirnos tentados a poner en lugar de Dios la riqueza, el poder o cualquier otra cosa mundana similar.
Despues viene illa 'Llah: 'sino Dios', la fuente de toda la Creacion. La segunda parte de la Shahada es Muhammadun rasula "Llah: 'Muhammad es el mensajero de Dios', Un mensaje de guia y direccion llegado a traves de un hombre como nosotros.
2. LA ORACION
Adhan
Nuevo México, U.S.A. Llamada a la oración en la mezquita Abiquiu.
Salat es el nombre que reciben las oraciones obligatorias que se rezan cinco veces al dia y que son un lazo directo entre el creyente y Dios. No hay autoridad jerarquica en el Islam ni sacerdotes y, por ello, las oraciones las dirige una persona letrada que conozca el Coran y que la comunidad elige. Estas cinco oraciones contienen versiculos del Coran y se rezan en arabe, la lengua de la Revelacion; tambien se pueden dirigir a Dios oraciones personales en la propia lengua del que reza. Las oraciones se rezan al amanecer, al mediodia, por la tarde, a la puesta del sol y por la noche y, de este modo, determinan el ritmo de todo el dia.
Aunque se preferible rezar colectivamente en una mezquita, un musulman puede rezar casi en cualquier lugar; en el campo, en la oficina, en la fabrica o en la universidad. Las personas que visitan el mundo musulman se quedan impresionadas por el caracter primordial que la oracion tiene en la vida cotidiana.
3. EL ZAKAT
Patio de la Gran Mezquita en Heart, Aghanistan.
El Zakat mantiente la fluidez monetaria en una sociedad. El Cairo.
Uno de los pricipios mas importantes del Islam es que todo pertenece a Dios y que por tanto, la riqueza la tienen los hombres en deposito. La palabra Zakat significa tanto 'purificacion' como 'crecimiento'. Nuestras posesiones se purifican reteniendo una parte para los necesitados y, como la poda de los arboles, este corte trae consigo un equilibrio y fomenta un nuevo crecimiento.
Cada musulman calcula su propio zakat de forma individual y consiste en el pago anual del dos y medio por ciento del capital de cada uno.
Una persona piadosa tambien puede dar tanto como quiera como sadaqa y lo hace preferiblemente en secreto. Aunque esta palabra puede traducirse como 'caridad voluntaria' tiene un significado mas amplio.
El profeta dijo: "Incluso salir al encuentro de tu hermano con una cara soriente es caridad".El profeta dijo: 'La caridad es una necesidad para cada musulman'. Alguien le pregunto: Que ocurre si una persona no tiene nada? el profeta contesto" Debe trabajar con sus propias manos para su beneficio y dar algo de sus propias ganancias como caridad'. Los Companeros preguntaron: Que sucede si no puede trabajar? El Profeta respondio 'Debe ayudar a los pobres y a las personas necesitadas'. Los Companeros insistieron: Y si ni siquiera puede hacer eso? el Profeta dijo: El debe apremiar a los demas para hacer el bien' Los Companeros volvieron a pregunta: "Y si tampoco puede hacer eso? El Profeta contesto: 'Debe abstenerse de hacer el mal. Tambien eso es hacer caridad'.
4. EL AYUNO
Cada ano durante el mes de Ramadan todos los musulmanes ayunan desde el alba hasta la puesta del sol, absteniendose de comer, beber y tener relaciones sexuales. Los enfermos, los ancianos, los que estan de viaje y las mujeres embarazadas o en estado de amamantar a sus hijos tienen permiso para quebrantar el ayuno y recuperear el numero igual de dias en el transcurso del ano. Si no pueden realizarlo debido a causas fisicas, deben alimentar a una persona necesitada para cada dia que no cumplieron el ayuno. Los ninos empiezan a ayunar (y a practicar regularmente las oraciones) desde el pubertad, aunque muchos comienzan antes. Aunque el ayuno es muy beneficiosos para la salud, se le considera pricipalmente como medio de purificacion de uno mismo. el que ayuna, al abstenerse de las comodidades mundanas aunque sea por un corto periodo del tiempo, logra una mayor compasion hacia los que sufren hambre, a la vez que profundiza en su vida espiritual.
5. LA PEREGRINACION (HAJJ)
Peregrinos rezando frente a la Ka’ba en La Meca.
La peregrinacion anual a La Meca - El Hajj - es una obligacion solo para los que desde un punto de visita fisica y economico puedan efectuarla. A pesar de ello, cerca de dos millones de personas acuden cada ano a La Meca desde todos los rincones de la tierra, en una opurtunidad unica de encuentro para personas de diferentes naciones. Aunque La Meca esta simpre repleta de visitantes, el Hajj anual comienza en el mes duodecimo del ano islamico (que es lunar y no solar, y por ello el Hajj y el Ramadan caen a veces en verano y otras en invierno). Los Peregrinos visten de forma especial; ropas sencillas que dejan de lado las diferencias de clase y cultura para que todos sean iguales ante Dios.
Tiendas de los peregrinos.
Los ritos del Hajj, que son de origen abrahamico, incluyen la circunvalacion a la Ka'ba la circunvalacion a la Ka'ba siete veces y el recorrido, siete veces tambien, del camino entre los monticulos de Safa y Marwa, como hizo hagar durante su busqueda de agua. Los peregrinos se agrupan despues en la amplia llanura de Arafa y se juntan en oracion pidiendo el perdon de Dios, en lo que a veces se ha contemplado como una anticipacion del dia del Juicio Final.
En los siglos pasados el Hajj era una empresa ardua. Hoy, sin embargo, Arabia Saudita abastece a millones de personas con agua, transportes modernos y avanzados servicios medicos.
La clausura del hajj se celebra en todas las comunidades musulmanas del mundo con una fiesta, la eid al-Adha, en la que ser eza y se intercambian regalos. Esta fiesta y la de Eid-al Fitr, el dia que conmemora el final del Ramadan, son las pricipales celebraciones del calendario islamico.
◊ Tolera el Islam otras creencias?
El Coran dice: 'Dios no os prohibe que seais bondadosos y justos con quienes no han combatido contra nosotros a causa de la religion, ni os han expulsado de nuestros hongares, Dios ama a los que son justos.' (Quran 60:8)
Una funcion de la ley islamica es proteger la condicion privilegiada de las minorias y, por esta causa, lugares de culto no musulmanes han florecido por todo el mundo islamico. La historia suministra muchos ejemplos de la tolerancia musulmana hacia otras creencias: cuando, por ejemplo, el califa Omar entro en jerusalem en el ano 634, garantizo la libertad de culto a todas las comunidades religiosas de la ciudad.
La ley islamica tambien permite a las minorias no musulmanas instituir sus propios tribunales de justicia que aplican las leyes domesticas redactadas por dichas minorias.
◊ Que piensan los musulmanes sobre Jesucristo?
Los musulmanes respetan y veneran a Jesus, y esperan su segundo advenimiento. Le consideran uno de los mas grandes mensajeros de Dios a la humanidad. Un musulman nunca se refiere a el simplemente como 'Jesus' sino que siempre anade la frase 'sobre el sea la Paz'. El Coran confirma su nacimiento virginal (una Sura del Coran se titula 'Maria' como la mujer mas pura de la creacion. El Coran describe la Anunciacion del siguiente modo:
Y dijo el Angel: 'Maria! Dios te ha escogido y purificado. Te ha escogido entre todas las mujeres del Universo. Oh Maria! Dios te anuncia la buena nueva de una Palabra que procede de El. Su nombre sera el Mesias, Jesus, hijo de Maria, glorificado en este mundo y en el Mas Alla, y sera uno de los allegados a Dios. Hablara a ala gente ya desde la cuna y en la edad madura sera de los justos'.
Dijo ella: 'Oh mi Senor! como tendre un hijo, si no me ha tocado ningun hombre?' El dijo: 'Asi sera. Dios crea lo que quiere. cuando decreta algo, El le dice "Se" y ello es'. (Coran 3:42-47)
Jesus nacio milagrosamente por medio del mismo poder que dio el ser, sin intervencion de padres, a Adan.
Para Dios Jesus es semejante a Adan, a quien creo de la tierra y luego le dijo; "Se" y fue. (Coran 3:59)
Durante su mision profetica, Jesus realizo muchos milagros y el Coran cuenta que el dijo:
"Os he traido un signo que vienen de vuestro Senor: Voy a hacer para vosotros, de la arcilla, a modo de pajaros. Luego soplare en ellos y, con el permiso de Dios, se convertiran en pajaros. Y curare, con permiso de Dios, al ciego de nacimiento y al leproso y resucitare a los muertos." (Coran 3:49)
Ni Muhammad, ni Jesus, vinieron a cambiar la doctrina basica de la creencia en un solo Dios, traida por los anteriores profetas, sino para confirmarla y renovarla, en el Coran se dice que Jesus anuncio que habia venido:
'Para confirmar la ley anterior a mi y declararos licitas algunas de las cosas que se os habian prohibido. Venga a vosotros con un signo que viene de vuestro Senor Temed, pues, a Dios y obedecedme! (Coran 3:50)
El profeta Muhammad dijo:
'Aquel que creee que no hay divinidad sino Dios, solo y sin asociado, que Mohammad es Su mensajero, que Jesus es el servidor y el mensajero de Dios, quien insuflo Su palabra dentro de Maria con el espiritu que de El emana, y que el Paraiso y el Infierno son verdaderos, aquel sera recibido por Dios en los Cielos.' (Hadith de Bujari)
◊ Por que la familia es tan importante para los musulmanes?
La familia es la base de la sociedad islamica. Se valora enormemente la paz y la seguridad que una unidad familiar estable ofrece, y ello se considera esencial para el desarrollo espiritual de sus miembros. Un orden social armonico se deriva de la existencia de familias numerosas, donde los hijos, que son estimados como un tesoro, raramente abandonan el hogar paterno hasta casarse.
◊ Las mujeres en el Islam
El Islam considera a la mujer; soltera o casada, como una persona con todos sus derechos, incluyendo los de poseer y disponer de su patrimonio y sus ganancias. el novio otorga una dote a la novia para su uso personal y la mujer conserva su propio apellido en vez de tomar el de su marido.
Tanto la mujer como el hombre deben vestir de manera modesta y digna. Las tradiciones de vestido femenino que se encuentran en algunos paises musulmanes son frecuentemente solo la expresion de costrumbres locales.
El Mensajero de Dios dijo:
'El mas perfecto en la fe entre los creyentes es aquel que se comporta mejor y con mas carino hacia su esposa.'
◊ Puede un musulman tener mas de una esposa?
Al haberse revelado la religion del Islam para todos las sociedades y para cualquier epoca, se adapta con facilidad a los diferentes requisitos sociales. Las circunstancias pueden justificar que se tome otra esposa y la Ley lo permite, pero ello solo puede realizarse, de acuerdo con el Coran, con la condicion de que el marido sea escrupulosamente justo con ellas.
◊ Es el matrimonio islamico como el cristiano?
El matrimonio islamico no es un 'sacramento' sino un simple contrato legal en el que cada parte tiene libertad de incluir condiciones. En consecuencia, las costrumbre matrimoniales varian mucho de un pais a otro. Como resultado de ello, el divorcio no es comun, aunque no se prohibe como ultimo recurso. Segun el Islam, no se puede obligar a ninguna joven musulmana a casarse contra su voluntad. Su padres simplemente pueden sugerirle jovenes que ellos consideran apropiados.
◊ Como tratan los musulmanes a los ancianos?
En el mundo islamico no hay asilos de ancianos. El esfuerzo de cuidar a los padres en esta dificil epoca de sus vidas se considera un honor, una bendicion y una oportunidad para un mayor desarrollo espiritual. Dios no solo pide que se rece por los padres sino que se les trate con una compasion sin limites, recordando que cuando eramos criaturas desvalidas nos prefirieron a si mismos. A las madres se las honra especialmente: el Profeta enseno que 'el Paraiso yace a los pies de las madres'. Cuando los padres envejecen se les trata con misericordia, carino y generosidad.
En el Islam, servir a los padres es el deber mas importante despues de la oracion y para ellos es un derecho el que asi sea. se considera despreciable el irritarse cuando, sin que sea su culpa, los ancianos se tornan dificiles.
El Coran dice: Tu Senor ordena que no adoreis a otro sino a El y que seais bondadosos con vuestros padres. Si uno de ellos o ambos envejecen en tu casa, no les digas: Uf! ni les trates con antipatia, sino honrales y se carinoso con ellos. Tratalos con umildad y di: Senor! ten piedad de ellos, pues ellos me cuidaron cuando era nino! (17:23-4)
◊ Como contemplan la muerte los musulmanes?
Los musulmanes como los judios y los cristianos, creen que la vida presente es solo una prueba preparatoria para la proxima existencia. Los pilares basicos de la fe incluyen: el dia del Juicio Final, la Resurreccion, el Paraiso y el Infierno. Cuando muere un musulman, es lavado y envuelto en un lienzo limpio y blanco y, preferentemente, se le entierra el mismo dia despues de una sencilla oracion. Los musulmanes consideran esta ceremonia como uno de los ultimos servicios que se pueden hacer por los familiares y una oportunidad para recordar su propia breve existencia sobre la Tierra. El Profeta enseno que hay tres cosas que pueden continuar ayudando a una persona despues de morir; la caridad que el difunto realizara, el conocimiento que hubiera ensenado y las plegarias que un hijo virtuoso pueda rezar por el.
◊ Que dice el Islam sobre la guerra?
El Islam, al igual que el Cristianismo, permite luchar en defensa propia, en defensa de la religion, o por parte de aquellos que han sido expulsados a la fuerza de sus hogares. el islma establece reglas estrictas de combate que incluyen prohibiciones contra el ataque a ciudadanos civiles y la destruccion de cosechas, arboles o ganado. Los musulmanes piensan que la injusticia triunfaria en el mundo si no existieran hombres buenos dispuestos a arriesgar su vida por una causa justa. El Coran dice:
Cobatid por Dios contra quienes combatan contra vosotros, pero no os extralimiteis. Dios no ama a los transgresores. (Coran 2:190)
Si, al contrario, se inclinan hacia la paz, inclínate tú también hacia ella! Y confía en Alá! Él es Quien todo lo oye, Quien todo lo sabe. (Coran 8:61)
La guerra, por tanto, es el ultimo recurso y esta sujeta a las rigurosas condiciones establecidas por la ley sagrada. El termino Jihad significa literalmente 'lucha' y los musulmanes piensan que existen dos clases de jihad. La otra jihad es la lucha interior que cada uno realiza contra sus deseos egoistas con el fin de alcanzar al paz interior.
◊ La alimentacion
El codigo alimenticio que observan los musulmanes, aunque es mucho mas sencillo que las leyes dieteticas seguidas por los judios y los primeros cristianos, prohibe el consumo de la carne de cerdo o de cualquier tipo de bebida alcoholica. El Profeta enseno que 'tu cuerpo tiene derechos sobre ti', y una comida saludable y el llevar una vida sana se consideran obligaciones religiosas.
El profeta dijo: 'Pidele a Dios la certeza [de la fe! y la salud; pues despues de la certeza, nadie recibe un don mejor que el de la salud!
"Diversidad cultural reflejada en la arquitectura de las mezquitas:
Nuevo Mexico, USA
Iran
Mali
La Mezquita de la Universidad de Al Azhar ha sido un centro de ensenanza desde el ano 969. Asisten a ella estudiantes de todo el Mundo Islamico.
◊ Como garantiza el Islam los derechos humanos?
La libertad de conciencia esta establecida por el propio Coran: 'No cabe coaccion en la religion.'
En un estado islamico, la vida y la propiedad de todos los ciudadanos se consideran sagradas tanto si una persona es musulmana como si no lo es.
El rasismo es una nocion incompresible para los musulmanes pues el Coran habla de la igualdad humana en los siguientes terminos:
Hombres! Os hemos creado de un alma unica, varon y hembra, y hemos hecho de vosotros pueblos y tribus, para que os conozcais unos de otros. Para Dios, el mas honorable de entre vosotros es el mas piadoso. Dios es omnisciente, todo lo sabe. (Coran 49:13)
◊ El Islam en los Estados Unidos
Resulta imposible generalizar sobre los musulmanes americanos: conversos, inmigrantes, trabajadores de fabricas, medicos, todos contribuyen al futuro de America. Esta comunidad compleja esta unida por una fe comun y apoyada por una red de mil mezquitas a lo largo del pais.
El centro cultural islámico, Washington DC.
Los musulmanes llegaron pronto a Norteamerica. Ya en el siglo dieciocho habia muchos miles de ellos trabajando como esclavos en las plantaciones. Estas comunidades tempranas, desgarradas de su herencia y familias, perdieron inevitablemente su identidad islamica con el paso del tiempo. Hoy, muchos musulmanes afro-americanos desempenan una funcion importante dentro de la comunidad islamica.
El siglo diecinueve presento, sin embargo, los comienzos de una afluencia de musulmanes arabes, muchos de los cuales se establecieron en los principales centros industriales, donde rezaban en habitaciones alquiladas. Al principio del siglo veinte llegaron algunso cientos de miles de musulmanes de la Europa del Este. La primera mezquita albanesa se abrio en Maine en 1915; pronto surgieron otras y un grupo de musulmanes polacos inauguro una mezquita en Brooklyn en 1928.
En 1947 se fundo el Centro Islamico de Washington durante la presidencia de Truman y, en los anos cincuenta, se crearon diversas organizaciones a nivel nacional. Durante el mismo periodo se formaron otras comunidades que en muchos aspectos tomaban como modelo el Islam, pero mas recientemente numerosos miembros de estos grupos se han adherido a la ortodoxia Islamica. En la actualidad, se calcula que existen en America alrededor de cinco millones de musulmanes.
Al Khulafa Al Rashiudin Mezquita - Asmara Eritrea.
Shibam, Hadramwat, Yemen (La tierra de la reina Sheiba.)
Para mas información, por favor comuníquese.
The Islamic Bulletin P.O. Box 410186, San Francisco, CA 94141-0186Phone 415-552-8831info@islamicbulletin.org
Que es el lslam?
Musulmanes rezando en Jerusalen en el exterior de la mezquita Al Aqsa con la Cupula de la Roda difisandose al fondo.
Un marroqui rezando.
El Islam no es una nueva religion, sino la misma verdad que Dios ha revelado a travez de todos Sus Profetas a cada pueblo.
Para una quinta parte de la poblacion mundial el Islam es a la vez una religion y una forma completa de vida. Lo musulmanes siguen religion de paz, misericordia y perdon y la mayoria no tiene nada que ver con los gravisimos acontecimientos que se han venido asociando recientemente con su fe.
◊ Quienes son los Musulmanes?
Mil millones de personas de un amplio abanico de razas, nacionalidades y culturas a lo largo del globo, desde el sur de Filipinas hasta Nigeria, estan unidas en su comun fe islamica. Alrededor del 18% vive en el mundo arabe; la mayor comunidad islamica del mundo se halla en Indonesia; partes importantes de Asia y la mayoria de Africa son musulmanes, y amplias minorias se encuentran en la Union Sovietica, China, America del Norte y del Sur y en Europa.
◊ Que creen los Musulmanes?
Los musulmanes creen en Dios, Uno y Unico e Incomparable; en los Angeles creados por El; en los Profetas a travez de quienes llegaron Sus revelaciones a la humanidad; en el Dia del Juicio final y en la responsabilidad individual por las acciones de cada uno; en la autoridad absoluta de Dios sobre el destino humano y en la vida despues de la muerte. Los musulmanes creen en una cadena de profetas que comienza con Adan y que incluye a Noe, Abraham, Ismael, Isaac, Jacob, Jose, Job, Moises, Aaron, David, Salomon, Elias, Jonas, Juan el Bautista, Jesus, que la paz sea con ellos! Pero el mensaje final de Dios al hombre, reconfirmacion del mensaje eterno y suma de todo lo anterior; le fue revelado al Profeta Mohammad a travez del Angel Gabriel.
◊ Como se convierte una persona en Musulman?
Simplemente diciendo que no hay divinidad mas que la Divinidad y Muhammad es el Mensajero de Dios, Mediante esta declaracion, el creyente anuncia su fe en todos los mensajeros de Dios y en las Escrituras que trajeron.
◊ Que significa la palabra Islam?
El termino arabe 'Islam' 'significa sumision' y se deriva de una palabra cuyo significado es 'paz'. En un contexto religioso, quiere decir sumision total a la voluntad de Dios, 'Mahometanismo' es un apelativo equivocado ya que sugiere que los musulmanes adoran a Muhammad en vez de a Dios "Allah" es el nombre de Dios en arabe y es utilizado tanto por los musulmanes como por los cristianos.
◊ Por que el Islam a menudo parece extrano?
El Islam puede parecer exotico o incluso extrano en el mundo moderno. Talvez ello se deba a que la religion no domina la vida cotidiana en el Occidente de hoy, mientras que los musulmanes consideran la religion como algo decisivo en su vida y no hacen ninguna division entre lo secular y lo sagrado. Creen que la Ley Divina, la Shari'a debe tomarse muy en serio y por ellos todo lo relacionado con la religion sigue siendo muy importante.
◊ El Islam y el Cristianismo tienen origenes diferentes?
No. Ambos se remontan, junto con el Judaismo, al profeta y patriarca Abraham, y los tres profetas de estas religiones descienden directamente de los hijos de aquel: Mohammad del mayor, Ismael, y Moises y Jesus de Isaac. Abraham fundo la colonia que hoy es la ciudad de La Meca y construyo la ka'ba hacia la que todos los musulmanes se orientan cuando rezan.
◊ Que es la Ka'ba?
La Ka'ba es el lugar de oracion que Dios mando construir a Abraham y a Ismael hace mas de cuatro mil anos. El templo fue edificado en piedra en un lugar donde muchos creen que se hallaba un samtuario establecido por Adan. Dios ordeno a Abraham que exhortara a toda la Humanidad a visitar este lugar y cuando los peregrinos acuden hoy alli, contestan en repuesta a la llamada de Abraham: "A Tu servicio, Oh Senor".
Meca, Arabia Saudita
◊ Quien es Muhammad?
Muhammad nacion el La Meca en el ano 570, cuando el Cristianismo todavia no estaba completamente establecido en Europa, debido a que su padre fallecio antes de su nacimiento y su madre murio poco tiempo despues, se hizo cargo de el uno de sus tios, miembro de la respetada tribu de los Quraysh, A medida que iba creciendo iba siendo conocido por su veracidad, generosidad y sinceridad, y debido a ello se le buscaba como arbitro de las disputas. Los historiadores le describen como una persona serena y propensa a la meditacion.
Mohammad tenia una profunda naturaleza religiosa y detestaba la decadencia de la sociedad en la que vivia. Tenia por costumbre meditar de vez en cuando en la Cueva de Hira, cerca de la cima de Yabal al Nur, la Monatana de la Luz, en las proximidades de La Meca.
◊ Como se convirtio en Profeta y Mensajero de Dios?
La Mezquita del Profeta en Medina. La cupula indica el lugar donde estaba su casa y donde esta enterrado.
La Montana de la Luz donde el Angel Gabriel se aparecio a Muhammad.
A la edad de 40 anos durante uno de sus retiros espirituales, Muhammad recibio la primera revelacion de Dios a travez del Angel Gabriel. El conjuto de esta Revelacion, que continuo durante 23 anos, se conoce con el nombre del Coran.
Tan pronto como comenzo a recitar las palabras que habia oido de Gabriel y a predicar la verdad que Dios le habia revelado,el y su pequeno grupo de seguidores sufrieron una amarga persecucion, que fue creciendo de forma tan intensa que en el ano 622 Dios les ordeno que emigraran. Este acontecimiento, la Hijra, 'emigracion' en la que abandonaron La Meca para ir a Medina, a unos 416 kilometros al norte, constituye el punto de partida del calendario islamico.
Despues de algunos anos, el Profeta y sus seguidores pudieron regresar a La Meca, perdonaron a sus enemigos y establecieron de modo definitivo el Islam. Antes de que el Profeta muriera a la edad de 63 anos, la mayor parte de Arabia era musulmana y, en los cien anos siguientes a su muerte, el Islam se habia extendido hasta Espana, en el oeste, y hasta China en el este.
◊ Como ha influido en el mundo la expansion del Islam?
Taj Mahal, India.
Entre las razones para la rapida y pacifica expansion del Islam hay que destacar la sencillez de su doctrina; el Islam proclamo la fe en un solo Dios digno de adoracion. Tambien insta repetidamente al hombre para que utilice sus dones de inteligencia y observacion.
El Profeta dijo, ‘Buscad el conocimiento incluso en China: la mezquita Hui Shen se construyó en el siglo VII.
En pocos anos, grandes civilizaciones y universidades florecieron, pues segun el Profeta 'la busqueda del conocimiento es una obligacion para cada musulman, sea hombre o mujer'. La sintesis de las ideas del Occidente y del Oriente, y del nuevo pensamiento con el antiguo, trajo grandes avances en medicina, matematicas, fisica, astronomia, geografia, arquitectura, arte, literatura e historia. Muchos sistemas de importancia decisiva como el algebra, la numeracion arabiga y el concepto del cero (vital para el progreso de las matematicas) fueron transmitidos a la Europa medieval a traves del Islam. Se desarrollaron asimismo isntrumentos tan sofisticados como el astrolabio, la brujula y buenos mapas de navegacion, que hicieron posible los viajes europeos de descubrimientos de nuevas tierras.
◊ Que es el Coran?
Arabic
El Noble Coran, La sure que Abre el 'Libro'
El Coran es una transcripcion de las palabras exactas reveladas por Dios al Profeta Muhammad atravez del Angel Gabriel, Las palabra fueron memorizadas por Muhammad, dictadas luego a sus companero y mas tarde escritas por escribas, que las examinaron detenidamente mientras el profeta aun vivia. Ninguna palabra de sus 114 capitulos, las Suras, ha sido cambiada desde entonces, y de este modo, el Coran sigue siendo, en cada detalle, el texto unico y milagroso revelado a Mohammad hace catorce siglos.
◊ De que trata el Coran?
El Coran, la ultima Palabra revelada por Dios, es la fuente principal de la fe y de la practica de cada musulman, Abarca todos los temas que nos conciernen como seres humanos; la sabiduria, la doctrina, el culto y la ley; pero su tema basico es la relacion entre Dios y Sus criaturas. Al mismo tiempo, el Coran suministra las lineas maestras para una sociedad justa, una conducta humana apropiada y un sistema economico equitativo.
◊ Existen otra fuentes sagradas?
Si, la sunna, la practica y el ejemplo del Profeta, es la segunda fuente para los musulmanes. Un Hadith es un relato autorizado de lo que el Profeta dijo, hizo o aprobo. Creer en la sunna forma parte de la fe islamica.
Ejemplos de dichos del Profeta:
El Profeta dijo:
"Dios no tiene misericordia del que no la tiene con los demas".
Ninguno de nosotros cree verdaderamente hasta que no desea para su projimo lo que desea para si mismo".
El que come hasta saciarse mientras su projimo esta sin comida no es un creyente."
"El comerciante veridico y digno de confianza se asocia con los profetas, los santos y los martires."
"No es poderoso el que derriba a otro, sino el que se controla a si mismo en un arranque de ira."
Dios no os juzga segun nuestros cuerpos y apariencia sino que examina nuestros corazones y mira nuestros acciones.
Un hombre que caminaba por un sendero sintio una gran sed. al legar a un pozo descendio dentro, bebio hasta saciarse y salio al exterior. Entonces vio a un perro con la lengua afuera, tratando de lamer el barro para buscar un poco de agua con que aplacar su sed. El hombre se dio cuenta de que el perro estaba sufriendo, sintiendo la misma sed que el antes tenia. volvio a bajar al pozo, lleno su zapato con agua y le dio al perro de beber; Dios le perdono sus pecados por esta accion. Preguntaron al Profeta; Mensajero de Dios, hay recompensa por mostrarse compasivo con los animales? Respondio el: Hay recompensa por mostrar compasion hacia cualquier ser viviente.
Tomado de las compilaciones de Hadiths de Bujari, Muslim, Tirmidhi y Bayhaqi.
◊ Cuales son los 'cinco pilares del Islam?
Constituyen el marco de la vida musulmana y son : la fe, la oracion, la preocupacion por los necesitados, el ayuno y la peregrinacion a La Meca para los que puedan llevarla a cabo.
Shahada inscrita sobre la entrada del Palacio otomano de Topkapi (el museo contiene, entre otros tesoros, un manto usado por el Profeta), Estanbul.
1. LA FE
"No hay mas divinidad que Dios, y Muhammad es el Mensajero de Dios."
Este testimonio de fe se llama la Shahada, una sensilla formula que pronuncia todos los fieles. en arabe, la primera parte es la ilaha illa Llah - 'no hay mas divinidad qeu Dios'; ilaha (divinida o dios con minuscula) se refiere a cualquier cosa que podamos sentirnos tentados a poner en lugar de Dios la riqueza, el poder o cualquier otra cosa mundana similar.
Despues viene illa 'Llah: 'sino Dios', la fuente de toda la Creacion. La segunda parte de la Shahada es Muhammadun rasula "Llah: 'Muhammad es el mensajero de Dios', Un mensaje de guia y direccion llegado a traves de un hombre como nosotros.
2. LA ORACION
Adhan
Nuevo México, U.S.A. Llamada a la oración en la mezquita Abiquiu.
Salat es el nombre que reciben las oraciones obligatorias que se rezan cinco veces al dia y que son un lazo directo entre el creyente y Dios. No hay autoridad jerarquica en el Islam ni sacerdotes y, por ello, las oraciones las dirige una persona letrada que conozca el Coran y que la comunidad elige. Estas cinco oraciones contienen versiculos del Coran y se rezan en arabe, la lengua de la Revelacion; tambien se pueden dirigir a Dios oraciones personales en la propia lengua del que reza. Las oraciones se rezan al amanecer, al mediodia, por la tarde, a la puesta del sol y por la noche y, de este modo, determinan el ritmo de todo el dia.
Aunque se preferible rezar colectivamente en una mezquita, un musulman puede rezar casi en cualquier lugar; en el campo, en la oficina, en la fabrica o en la universidad. Las personas que visitan el mundo musulman se quedan impresionadas por el caracter primordial que la oracion tiene en la vida cotidiana.
3. EL ZAKAT
Patio de la Gran Mezquita en Heart, Aghanistan.
El Zakat mantiente la fluidez monetaria en una sociedad. El Cairo.
Uno de los pricipios mas importantes del Islam es que todo pertenece a Dios y que por tanto, la riqueza la tienen los hombres en deposito. La palabra Zakat significa tanto 'purificacion' como 'crecimiento'. Nuestras posesiones se purifican reteniendo una parte para los necesitados y, como la poda de los arboles, este corte trae consigo un equilibrio y fomenta un nuevo crecimiento.
Cada musulman calcula su propio zakat de forma individual y consiste en el pago anual del dos y medio por ciento del capital de cada uno.
Una persona piadosa tambien puede dar tanto como quiera como sadaqa y lo hace preferiblemente en secreto. Aunque esta palabra puede traducirse como 'caridad voluntaria' tiene un significado mas amplio.
El profeta dijo: "Incluso salir al encuentro de tu hermano con una cara soriente es caridad".El profeta dijo: 'La caridad es una necesidad para cada musulman'. Alguien le pregunto: Que ocurre si una persona no tiene nada? el profeta contesto" Debe trabajar con sus propias manos para su beneficio y dar algo de sus propias ganancias como caridad'. Los Companeros preguntaron: Que sucede si no puede trabajar? El Profeta respondio 'Debe ayudar a los pobres y a las personas necesitadas'. Los Companeros insistieron: Y si ni siquiera puede hacer eso? el Profeta dijo: El debe apremiar a los demas para hacer el bien' Los Companeros volvieron a pregunta: "Y si tampoco puede hacer eso? El Profeta contesto: 'Debe abstenerse de hacer el mal. Tambien eso es hacer caridad'.
4. EL AYUNO
Cada ano durante el mes de Ramadan todos los musulmanes ayunan desde el alba hasta la puesta del sol, absteniendose de comer, beber y tener relaciones sexuales. Los enfermos, los ancianos, los que estan de viaje y las mujeres embarazadas o en estado de amamantar a sus hijos tienen permiso para quebrantar el ayuno y recuperear el numero igual de dias en el transcurso del ano. Si no pueden realizarlo debido a causas fisicas, deben alimentar a una persona necesitada para cada dia que no cumplieron el ayuno. Los ninos empiezan a ayunar (y a practicar regularmente las oraciones) desde el pubertad, aunque muchos comienzan antes. Aunque el ayuno es muy beneficiosos para la salud, se le considera pricipalmente como medio de purificacion de uno mismo. el que ayuna, al abstenerse de las comodidades mundanas aunque sea por un corto periodo del tiempo, logra una mayor compasion hacia los que sufren hambre, a la vez que profundiza en su vida espiritual.
5. LA PEREGRINACION (HAJJ)
Peregrinos rezando frente a la Ka’ba en La Meca.
La peregrinacion anual a La Meca - El Hajj - es una obligacion solo para los que desde un punto de visita fisica y economico puedan efectuarla. A pesar de ello, cerca de dos millones de personas acuden cada ano a La Meca desde todos los rincones de la tierra, en una opurtunidad unica de encuentro para personas de diferentes naciones. Aunque La Meca esta simpre repleta de visitantes, el Hajj anual comienza en el mes duodecimo del ano islamico (que es lunar y no solar, y por ello el Hajj y el Ramadan caen a veces en verano y otras en invierno). Los Peregrinos visten de forma especial; ropas sencillas que dejan de lado las diferencias de clase y cultura para que todos sean iguales ante Dios.
Tiendas de los peregrinos.
Los ritos del Hajj, que son de origen abrahamico, incluyen la circunvalacion a la Ka'ba la circunvalacion a la Ka'ba siete veces y el recorrido, siete veces tambien, del camino entre los monticulos de Safa y Marwa, como hizo hagar durante su busqueda de agua. Los peregrinos se agrupan despues en la amplia llanura de Arafa y se juntan en oracion pidiendo el perdon de Dios, en lo que a veces se ha contemplado como una anticipacion del dia del Juicio Final.
En los siglos pasados el Hajj era una empresa ardua. Hoy, sin embargo, Arabia Saudita abastece a millones de personas con agua, transportes modernos y avanzados servicios medicos.
La clausura del hajj se celebra en todas las comunidades musulmanas del mundo con una fiesta, la eid al-Adha, en la que ser eza y se intercambian regalos. Esta fiesta y la de Eid-al Fitr, el dia que conmemora el final del Ramadan, son las pricipales celebraciones del calendario islamico.
◊ Tolera el Islam otras creencias?
El Coran dice: 'Dios no os prohibe que seais bondadosos y justos con quienes no han combatido contra nosotros a causa de la religion, ni os han expulsado de nuestros hongares, Dios ama a los que son justos.' (Quran 60:8)
Una funcion de la ley islamica es proteger la condicion privilegiada de las minorias y, por esta causa, lugares de culto no musulmanes han florecido por todo el mundo islamico. La historia suministra muchos ejemplos de la tolerancia musulmana hacia otras creencias: cuando, por ejemplo, el califa Omar entro en jerusalem en el ano 634, garantizo la libertad de culto a todas las comunidades religiosas de la ciudad.
La ley islamica tambien permite a las minorias no musulmanas instituir sus propios tribunales de justicia que aplican las leyes domesticas redactadas por dichas minorias.
◊ Que piensan los musulmanes sobre Jesucristo?
Los musulmanes respetan y veneran a Jesus, y esperan su segundo advenimiento. Le consideran uno de los mas grandes mensajeros de Dios a la humanidad. Un musulman nunca se refiere a el simplemente como 'Jesus' sino que siempre anade la frase 'sobre el sea la Paz'. El Coran confirma su nacimiento virginal (una Sura del Coran se titula 'Maria' como la mujer mas pura de la creacion. El Coran describe la Anunciacion del siguiente modo:
Y dijo el Angel: 'Maria! Dios te ha escogido y purificado. Te ha escogido entre todas las mujeres del Universo. Oh Maria! Dios te anuncia la buena nueva de una Palabra que procede de El. Su nombre sera el Mesias, Jesus, hijo de Maria, glorificado en este mundo y en el Mas Alla, y sera uno de los allegados a Dios. Hablara a ala gente ya desde la cuna y en la edad madura sera de los justos'.
Dijo ella: 'Oh mi Senor! como tendre un hijo, si no me ha tocado ningun hombre?' El dijo: 'Asi sera. Dios crea lo que quiere. cuando decreta algo, El le dice "Se" y ello es'. (Coran 3:42-47)
Jesus nacio milagrosamente por medio del mismo poder que dio el ser, sin intervencion de padres, a Adan.
Para Dios Jesus es semejante a Adan, a quien creo de la tierra y luego le dijo; "Se" y fue. (Coran 3:59)
Durante su mision profetica, Jesus realizo muchos milagros y el Coran cuenta que el dijo:
"Os he traido un signo que vienen de vuestro Senor: Voy a hacer para vosotros, de la arcilla, a modo de pajaros. Luego soplare en ellos y, con el permiso de Dios, se convertiran en pajaros. Y curare, con permiso de Dios, al ciego de nacimiento y al leproso y resucitare a los muertos." (Coran 3:49)
Ni Muhammad, ni Jesus, vinieron a cambiar la doctrina basica de la creencia en un solo Dios, traida por los anteriores profetas, sino para confirmarla y renovarla, en el Coran se dice que Jesus anuncio que habia venido:
'Para confirmar la ley anterior a mi y declararos licitas algunas de las cosas que se os habian prohibido. Venga a vosotros con un signo que viene de vuestro Senor Temed, pues, a Dios y obedecedme! (Coran 3:50)
El profeta Muhammad dijo:
'Aquel que creee que no hay divinidad sino Dios, solo y sin asociado, que Mohammad es Su mensajero, que Jesus es el servidor y el mensajero de Dios, quien insuflo Su palabra dentro de Maria con el espiritu que de El emana, y que el Paraiso y el Infierno son verdaderos, aquel sera recibido por Dios en los Cielos.' (Hadith de Bujari)
◊ Por que la familia es tan importante para los musulmanes?
La familia es la base de la sociedad islamica. Se valora enormemente la paz y la seguridad que una unidad familiar estable ofrece, y ello se considera esencial para el desarrollo espiritual de sus miembros. Un orden social armonico se deriva de la existencia de familias numerosas, donde los hijos, que son estimados como un tesoro, raramente abandonan el hogar paterno hasta casarse.
◊ Las mujeres en el Islam
El Islam considera a la mujer; soltera o casada, como una persona con todos sus derechos, incluyendo los de poseer y disponer de su patrimonio y sus ganancias. el novio otorga una dote a la novia para su uso personal y la mujer conserva su propio apellido en vez de tomar el de su marido.
Tanto la mujer como el hombre deben vestir de manera modesta y digna. Las tradiciones de vestido femenino que se encuentran en algunos paises musulmanes son frecuentemente solo la expresion de costrumbres locales.
El Mensajero de Dios dijo:
'El mas perfecto en la fe entre los creyentes es aquel que se comporta mejor y con mas carino hacia su esposa.'
◊ Puede un musulman tener mas de una esposa?
Al haberse revelado la religion del Islam para todos las sociedades y para cualquier epoca, se adapta con facilidad a los diferentes requisitos sociales. Las circunstancias pueden justificar que se tome otra esposa y la Ley lo permite, pero ello solo puede realizarse, de acuerdo con el Coran, con la condicion de que el marido sea escrupulosamente justo con ellas.
◊ Es el matrimonio islamico como el cristiano?
El matrimonio islamico no es un 'sacramento' sino un simple contrato legal en el que cada parte tiene libertad de incluir condiciones. En consecuencia, las costrumbre matrimoniales varian mucho de un pais a otro. Como resultado de ello, el divorcio no es comun, aunque no se prohibe como ultimo recurso. Segun el Islam, no se puede obligar a ninguna joven musulmana a casarse contra su voluntad. Su padres simplemente pueden sugerirle jovenes que ellos consideran apropiados.
◊ Como tratan los musulmanes a los ancianos?
En el mundo islamico no hay asilos de ancianos. El esfuerzo de cuidar a los padres en esta dificil epoca de sus vidas se considera un honor, una bendicion y una oportunidad para un mayor desarrollo espiritual. Dios no solo pide que se rece por los padres sino que se les trate con una compasion sin limites, recordando que cuando eramos criaturas desvalidas nos prefirieron a si mismos. A las madres se las honra especialmente: el Profeta enseno que 'el Paraiso yace a los pies de las madres'. Cuando los padres envejecen se les trata con misericordia, carino y generosidad.
En el Islam, servir a los padres es el deber mas importante despues de la oracion y para ellos es un derecho el que asi sea. se considera despreciable el irritarse cuando, sin que sea su culpa, los ancianos se tornan dificiles.
El Coran dice: Tu Senor ordena que no adoreis a otro sino a El y que seais bondadosos con vuestros padres. Si uno de ellos o ambos envejecen en tu casa, no les digas: Uf! ni les trates con antipatia, sino honrales y se carinoso con ellos. Tratalos con umildad y di: Senor! ten piedad de ellos, pues ellos me cuidaron cuando era nino! (17:23-4)
◊ Como contemplan la muerte los musulmanes?
Los musulmanes como los judios y los cristianos, creen que la vida presente es solo una prueba preparatoria para la proxima existencia. Los pilares basicos de la fe incluyen: el dia del Juicio Final, la Resurreccion, el Paraiso y el Infierno. Cuando muere un musulman, es lavado y envuelto en un lienzo limpio y blanco y, preferentemente, se le entierra el mismo dia despues de una sencilla oracion. Los musulmanes consideran esta ceremonia como uno de los ultimos servicios que se pueden hacer por los familiares y una oportunidad para recordar su propia breve existencia sobre la Tierra. El Profeta enseno que hay tres cosas que pueden continuar ayudando a una persona despues de morir; la caridad que el difunto realizara, el conocimiento que hubiera ensenado y las plegarias que un hijo virtuoso pueda rezar por el.
◊ Que dice el Islam sobre la guerra?
El Islam, al igual que el Cristianismo, permite luchar en defensa propia, en defensa de la religion, o por parte de aquellos que han sido expulsados a la fuerza de sus hogares. el islma establece reglas estrictas de combate que incluyen prohibiciones contra el ataque a ciudadanos civiles y la destruccion de cosechas, arboles o ganado. Los musulmanes piensan que la injusticia triunfaria en el mundo si no existieran hombres buenos dispuestos a arriesgar su vida por una causa justa. El Coran dice:
Cobatid por Dios contra quienes combatan contra vosotros, pero no os extralimiteis. Dios no ama a los transgresores. (Coran 2:190)
Si, al contrario, se inclinan hacia la paz, inclínate tú también hacia ella! Y confía en Alá! Él es Quien todo lo oye, Quien todo lo sabe. (Coran 8:61)
La guerra, por tanto, es el ultimo recurso y esta sujeta a las rigurosas condiciones establecidas por la ley sagrada. El termino Jihad significa literalmente 'lucha' y los musulmanes piensan que existen dos clases de jihad. La otra jihad es la lucha interior que cada uno realiza contra sus deseos egoistas con el fin de alcanzar al paz interior.
◊ La alimentacion
El codigo alimenticio que observan los musulmanes, aunque es mucho mas sencillo que las leyes dieteticas seguidas por los judios y los primeros cristianos, prohibe el consumo de la carne de cerdo o de cualquier tipo de bebida alcoholica. El Profeta enseno que 'tu cuerpo tiene derechos sobre ti', y una comida saludable y el llevar una vida sana se consideran obligaciones religiosas.
El profeta dijo: 'Pidele a Dios la certeza [de la fe! y la salud; pues despues de la certeza, nadie recibe un don mejor que el de la salud!
"Diversidad cultural reflejada en la arquitectura de las mezquitas:
Nuevo Mexico, USA
Iran
Mali
La Mezquita de la Universidad de Al Azhar ha sido un centro de ensenanza desde el ano 969. Asisten a ella estudiantes de todo el Mundo Islamico.
◊ Como garantiza el Islam los derechos humanos?
La libertad de conciencia esta establecida por el propio Coran: 'No cabe coaccion en la religion.'
En un estado islamico, la vida y la propiedad de todos los ciudadanos se consideran sagradas tanto si una persona es musulmana como si no lo es.
El rasismo es una nocion incompresible para los musulmanes pues el Coran habla de la igualdad humana en los siguientes terminos:
Hombres! Os hemos creado de un alma unica, varon y hembra, y hemos hecho de vosotros pueblos y tribus, para que os conozcais unos de otros. Para Dios, el mas honorable de entre vosotros es el mas piadoso. Dios es omnisciente, todo lo sabe. (Coran 49:13)
◊ El Islam en los Estados Unidos
Resulta imposible generalizar sobre los musulmanes americanos: conversos, inmigrantes, trabajadores de fabricas, medicos, todos contribuyen al futuro de America. Esta comunidad compleja esta unida por una fe comun y apoyada por una red de mil mezquitas a lo largo del pais.
El centro cultural islámico, Washington DC.
Los musulmanes llegaron pronto a Norteamerica. Ya en el siglo dieciocho habia muchos miles de ellos trabajando como esclavos en las plantaciones. Estas comunidades tempranas, desgarradas de su herencia y familias, perdieron inevitablemente su identidad islamica con el paso del tiempo. Hoy, muchos musulmanes afro-americanos desempenan una funcion importante dentro de la comunidad islamica.
El siglo diecinueve presento, sin embargo, los comienzos de una afluencia de musulmanes arabes, muchos de los cuales se establecieron en los principales centros industriales, donde rezaban en habitaciones alquiladas. Al principio del siglo veinte llegaron algunso cientos de miles de musulmanes de la Europa del Este. La primera mezquita albanesa se abrio en Maine en 1915; pronto surgieron otras y un grupo de musulmanes polacos inauguro una mezquita en Brooklyn en 1928.
En 1947 se fundo el Centro Islamico de Washington durante la presidencia de Truman y, en los anos cincuenta, se crearon diversas organizaciones a nivel nacional. Durante el mismo periodo se formaron otras comunidades que en muchos aspectos tomaban como modelo el Islam, pero mas recientemente numerosos miembros de estos grupos se han adherido a la ortodoxia Islamica. En la actualidad, se calcula que existen en America alrededor de cinco millones de musulmanes.
Al Khulafa Al Rashiudin Mezquita - Asmara Eritrea.
Shibam, Hadramwat, Yemen (La tierra de la reina Sheiba.)
Para mas información, por favor comuníquese.
The Islamic Bulletin P.O. Box 410186, San Francisco, CA 94141-0186Phone 415-552-8831info@islamicbulletin.org
Why Don’t Jews Believe In Jesus?
From: http://www.simpletoremember.com/articles/a/jewsandjesus#5
Jewish Beliefs About Jesus And Jews For JesusFor 2,000 years, Jews have rejected the Christian idea of Jesus as messiah. Why?
It is important to understand why Jews don’t believe in Jesus. The purpose is not to disparage other religions, but rather to clarify the Jewish position. The more data that’s available, the better-informed choices people can make about their spiritual path.
JEWS DO NOT ACCEPT JESUS AS THE MESSIAH BECAUSE:
Intro:(What exactly is the Messiah?)
Jesus did not fulfill the messianic prophecies.
Jesus did not embody the personal qualifications of the Messiah.
Biblical verses "referring" to Jesus are mistranslations.
Jewish belief is based on national revelation. At the end of this article, we will examine these additional topics:
Christianity contradicts Jewish theology
Jews and Gentiles
Bringing the Messiah
MORE RESOURCES + JUDAISM & OTHER RELIGIONS (AT BOTTOM)
What exactly is the Messiah?
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The word “Messiah” is an English rendering of the Hebrew word “Mashiach”, which means “Anointed.” It usually refers to a person initiated into God’s service by being anointed with oil. (Exodus 29:7, I Kings 1:39, II Kings 9:3)
Since every King and High Priest was anointed with oil, each may be referred to as “an anointed one” (a Mashiach or a Messiah). For example: “God forbid that I [David] should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s Messiah [Saul]...” (I Samuel 26:11. Cf. II Samuel 23:1, Isaiah 45:1, Psalms 20:6)
Where does the Jewish concept of Messiah come from? One of the central themes of Biblical prophecy is the promise of a future age of perfection characterized by universal peace and recognition of God. (Isaiah 2:1-4; Zephaniah 3:9; Hosea 2:20-22; Amos 9:13-15; Isaiah 32:15-18, 60:15-18; Micah 4:1-4; Zechariah 8:23, 14:9; Jeremiah 31:33-34)
Many of these prophetic passages speak of a descendant of King David who will rule Israel during the age of perfection. (Isaiah 11:1-9; Jeremiah 23:5-6, 30:7-10, 33:14-16; Ezekiel 34:11-31, 37:21-28; Hosea 3:4-5)
Since every King is a Messiah, by convention, we refer to this future anointed king as The Messiah. The above is the only description in the Bible of a Davidic descendant who is to come in the future. We will recognize the Messiah by seeing who the King of Israel is at the time of complete universal perfection.
1) JESUS DID NOT FULFILL THE MESSIANIC PROPHECIES
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What is the Messiah supposed to accomplish? The Bible says that he will:
A. Build the Third Temple (Ezekiel 37:26-28).
B. Gather all Jews back to the Land of Israel (Isaiah 43:5-6).
C. Usher in an era of world peace, and end all hatred, oppression, suffering and disease. As it says: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall man learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4)
D. Spread universal knowledge of the God of Israel, which will unite humanity as one. As it says: "God will be King over all the world—on that day, God will be One and His Name will be One" (Zechariah 14:9).
The historical fact is that Jesus fulfilled none of these messianic prophecies.
Christians counter that Jesus will fulfill these in the Second Coming, but Jewish sources show that the Messiah will fulfill the prophecies outright, and no concept of a second coming exists.
2) JESUS DID NOT EMBODY THE PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS OF MESSIAH
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A. MESSIAH AS PROPHET
Jesus was not a prophet. Prophecy can only exist in Israel when the land is inhabited by a majority of world Jewry. During the time of Ezra (circa 300 BCE), when the majority of Jews refused to move from Babylon to Israel, prophecy ended upon the death of the last prophets—Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.
Jesus appeared on the scene approximately 350 years after prophecy had ended.
B. DESCENDENT OF DAVID
According to Jewish sources, the Messiah will be born of human parents and possess normal physical attributes like other people. He will not be a demi-god, (1) nor will he possess supernatural qualities.
The Messiah must be descended on his father’s side from King David (see Genesis 49:10 and Isaiah 11:1). According to the Christian claim that Jesus was the product of a virgin birth, he had no father—and thus could not have possibly fulfilled the messianic requirement of being descended on his father’s side from King David! (2) SEE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH’S RESPONSE TO THIS QUESTION
C. TORAH OBSERVANCE
The Messiah will lead the Jewish people to full Torah observance. The Torah states that all mitzvot (commandments) remain binding forever, and anyone coming to change the Torah is immediately identified as a false prophet. (Deut. 13:1-4)
Throughout the New Testament, Jesus contradicts the Torah and states that its commandments are no longer applicable. (see John 1:45 and 9:16, Acts 3:22 and 7:37) For example, John 9:14 records that Jesus made a paste in violation of Shabbat, which caused the Pharisees to say (verse 16), "He does not observe Shabbat!"
3) MISTRANSLATED VERSES "REFERRING" TO JESUS
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Biblical verses can only be understood by studying the original Hebrew text—which reveals many discrepancies in the Christian translation.
A. VIRGIN BIRTH
The Christian idea of a virgin birth is derived from the verse in Isaiah 7:14 describing an "alma" as giving birth. The word "alma" has always meant a young woman, but Christian theologians came centuries later and translated it as "virgin." This accords Jesus’ birth with the first century pagan idea of mortals being impregnated by gods.
B. CRUCIFIXION
The verse in Psalms 22:17 reads: "Like a lion, they are at my hands and feet." The Hebrew word ki-ari (like a lion) is grammatically similar to the word "gouged." Thus Christianity reads the verse as a reference to crucifixion: "They pierced my hands and feet."
C. SUFFERING SERVANT
Christianity claims that Isaiah chapter 53 refers to Jesus, as the "suffering servant."
In actuality, Isaiah 53 directly follows the theme of chapter 52, describing the exile and redemption of the Jewish people. The prophecies are written in the singular form because the Jews ("Israel") are regarded as one unit. The Torah is filled with examples of the Jewish nation referred to with a singular pronoun.
Ironically, Isaiah’s prophecies of persecution refer in part to the 11th century when Jews were tortured and killed by Crusaders who acted in the name of Jesus.
From where did these mistranslations stem? St. Gregory, 4th century Bishop of Nazianzus, wrote: "A little jargon is all that is necessary to impose on the people. The less they comprehend, the more they admire."For further reading on the "suffering servant": jewsforjudaism.org/ss
4) JEWISH BELIEF IS BASED SOLELY ON NATIONAL REVELATION (back)
Of the 15,000 religions in human history, only Judaism bases its belief on national revelation—i.e. God speaking to the entire nation. If God is going to start a religion, it makes sense He’ll tell everyone, not just one person.
Throughout history, thousands of religions have been started by individuals, attempting to convince people that he or she is God’s true prophet. But personal revelation is an extremely weak basis for a religion because one can never know if it is indeed true. Since others did not hear God speak to this person, they have to take his word for it. Even if the individual claiming personal revelation performs miracles, there is still no verification that he is a genuine prophet. Miracles do not prove anything. All they show—assuming they are genuine—is that he has certain powers. It has nothing to do with his claim of prophecy.
Judaism, unique among all of the world’s major religions, does not rely on "claims of miracles" as the basis for its religion. In fact, the Bible says that God sometimes grants the power of "miracles" to charlatans, in order to test Jewish loyalty to the Torah (Deut. 13:4).
Maimonides states (Foundations of Torah, ch. 8):
The Jews did not believe in Moses, our teacher, because of the miracles he performed. Whenever anyone’s belief is based on seeing miracles, he has lingering doubts, because it is possible the miracles were performed through magic or sorcery. All of the miracles performed by Moses in the desert were because they were necessary, and not as proof of his prophecy.
What then was the basis of [Jewish] belief? The Revelation at Mount Sinai, which we saw with our own eyes and heard with our own ears, not dependent on the testimony of others… as it says, "Face to face, God spoke with you…" The Torah also states: "God did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us—who are all here alive today." (Deut. 5:3)
Judaism is not miracles. It is the personal eyewitness experience of every man, woman and child, standing at Mount Sinai 3,300 years ago.
See "Did God Speak at Mount Sinai" for further reading.
5) CHRISTIANITY CONTRADICTS JEWISH THEOLOGY
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The following theological points apply primarily to the Roman Catholic Church, the largest Christian denomination.
A. GOD AS THREE?
The Catholic idea of Trinity breaks God into three separate beings: The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19).
Contrast this to the Shema, the basis of Jewish belief: "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is ONE" (Deut. 6:4). Jews declare the Shema every day, while writing it on doorposts (Mezuzah), and binding it to the hand and head (Tefillin). This statement of God’s One-ness is the first words a Jewish child is taught to say, and the last words uttered before a Jew dies.
In Jewish law, worship of a three-part god is considered idolatry—one of the three cardinal sins that a Jew should rather give up his life than transgress. This explains why during the Inquisitions and throughout history, Jews gave up their lives rather than convert.
B. MAN AS GOD?
Roman Catholics believe that God came down to earth in human form, as Jesus said: "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30).
Maimonides devotes most of the "Guide for the Perplexed" to the fundamental idea that God is incorporeal, meaning that He assumes no physical form. God is Eternal, above time. He is Infinite, beyond space. He cannot be born, and cannot die. Saying that God assumes human form makes God small, diminishing both His unity and His divinity. As the Torah says: "God is not a mortal" (Numbers 23:19).
Judaism says that the Messiah will be born of human parents, and possess normal physical attributes like other people. He will not be a demi-god, and will not possess supernatural qualities. In fact, an individual is alive in every generation with the capacity to step into the role of the Messiah. (see Maimonides - Laws of Kings 11:3)
C. INTERMEDIARY FOR PRAYER?
The Catholic belief is that prayer must be directed through an intermediary—i.e. confessing one’s sins to a priest. Jesus himself is an intermediary, as Jesus said: "No man cometh unto the Father but by me."
In Judaism, prayer is a totally private matter, between each individual and God. As the Bible says: "God is near to all who call unto Him" (Psalms 145:18). Further, the Ten Commandments state: "You shall have no other gods BEFORE ME," meaning that it is forbidden to set up a mediator between God and man. (see Maimonides - Laws of Idolatry ch. 1)
D. INVOLVEMENT IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD
Catholic doctrine often treats the physical world as an evil to be avoided. Mary, the holiest woman, is portrayed as a virgin. Priests and nuns are celibate. And monasteries are in remote, secluded locations.
By contrast, Judaism believes that God created the physical world not to frustrate us, but for our pleasure. Jewish spirituality comes through grappling with the mundane world in a way that uplifts and elevates. Sex in the proper context is one of the holiest acts we can perform.
The Talmud says if a person has the opportunity to taste a new fruit and refuses to do so, he will have to account for that in the World to Come. Jewish rabbinical schools teach how to live amidst the bustle of commercial activity. Jews don’t retreat from life, we elevate it.
6) JEWS AND GENTILES
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Judaism does not demand that everyone convert to the religion. The Torah of Moses is a truth for all humanity, whether Jewish or not. King Solomon asked God to heed the prayers of non-Jews who come to the Holy Temple (Kings I 8:41-43). The prophet Isaiah refers to the Temple as a "House for all nations."
The Temple service during Sukkot featured 70 bull offerings, corresponding to the 70 nations of the world. The Talmud says that if the Romans would have realized how much benefit they were getting from the Temple, they’d never have destroyed it.
Jews have never actively sought converts to Judaism because the Torah prescribes a righteous path for gentiles to follow, known as the "Seven Laws of Noah." Maimonides explains that any human being who faithfully observes these basic moral laws earns a proper place in heaven.
For further study of the Seven Laws of Noah: The Seven Laws of Noah
7) BRINGING THE MESSIAH
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Maimonides states that the popularity of Christianity (and Islam) is part of God’s plan to spread the ideals of Torah throughout the world. This moves society closer to a perfected state of morality and toward a greater understanding of God. All this is in preparation for the Messianic age.
Indeed, the world is in desperate need of Messianic redemption. War and pollution threaten our planet; ego and confusion erode family life. To the extent we are aware of the problems of society, is the extent we will yearn for redemption. As the Talmud says, one of the first questions a Jew is asked on Judgment Day is: "Did you yearn for the arrival of the Messiah?"
How can we hasten the coming of the Messiah? The best way is to love all humanity generously, to keep the mitzvot of the Torah (as best we can), and to encourage others to do so as well.
Despite the gloom, the world does seem headed toward redemption. One apparent sign is that the Jewish people have returned to the Land of Israel and made it bloom again. Additionally, a major movement is afoot of young Jews returning to Torah tradition.
The Messiah can come at any moment, and it all depends on our actions. God is ready when we are. For as King David says: "Redemption will come today—if you hearken to His voice."
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsLargely adapted from Aish.com
Jewish-Christian Disputations
Moses Nachmanides and TheDebate in Barcelona, Spain, 1263
The most famous of all Jewish-Christian disputations was between the apostate Jew Pablo Christiani and Moses Nachmanides (the Ramban).
Nachmanides argued that the central issue separating Christianity and Judaism was not the issue of Jesus’ messiahship, but whether or not Jesus was divine. There was no basis in Judaism, Nachmanides said, for believing in the divinity of the Messiah or, indeed, of any man. To Nachmanides, it seemed most strange "that the Creator of heaven and earth resorted to the womb of a certain Jewess and grew there for nine months and was born as an infant, and afterwards grew up and was betrayed into the hands of his enemies who sentenced him to death and executed him, and that afterwards… he came to life and returned to his original place. The mind of a Jew, or any other person, cannot tolerate this." Nachmanides told the Spanish monarch, "You have listened all your life to priests who have filled your brain and the marrow of your bones with this doctrine, and it has settled with you because of that accustomed habit." Had King James heard these ideas propounded for the first time when he was already an adult, Nachmanides implied, he never would have accepted them.
Blogger Comment:
The Islamic clarification reconcile to great extent the differences of the Jews and Chrsitians. Jesus is the messiah he was human. He will return to the earth again in glory. He will bring the knigdom of God in the earth and fullfil most prophecies of the Messiah.
Jewish Beliefs About Jesus And Jews For JesusFor 2,000 years, Jews have rejected the Christian idea of Jesus as messiah. Why?
It is important to understand why Jews don’t believe in Jesus. The purpose is not to disparage other religions, but rather to clarify the Jewish position. The more data that’s available, the better-informed choices people can make about their spiritual path.
JEWS DO NOT ACCEPT JESUS AS THE MESSIAH BECAUSE:
Intro:(What exactly is the Messiah?)
Jesus did not fulfill the messianic prophecies.
Jesus did not embody the personal qualifications of the Messiah.
Biblical verses "referring" to Jesus are mistranslations.
Jewish belief is based on national revelation. At the end of this article, we will examine these additional topics:
Christianity contradicts Jewish theology
Jews and Gentiles
Bringing the Messiah
MORE RESOURCES + JUDAISM & OTHER RELIGIONS (AT BOTTOM)
What exactly is the Messiah?
(back)
The word “Messiah” is an English rendering of the Hebrew word “Mashiach”, which means “Anointed.” It usually refers to a person initiated into God’s service by being anointed with oil. (Exodus 29:7, I Kings 1:39, II Kings 9:3)
Since every King and High Priest was anointed with oil, each may be referred to as “an anointed one” (a Mashiach or a Messiah). For example: “God forbid that I [David] should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s Messiah [Saul]...” (I Samuel 26:11. Cf. II Samuel 23:1, Isaiah 45:1, Psalms 20:6)
Where does the Jewish concept of Messiah come from? One of the central themes of Biblical prophecy is the promise of a future age of perfection characterized by universal peace and recognition of God. (Isaiah 2:1-4; Zephaniah 3:9; Hosea 2:20-22; Amos 9:13-15; Isaiah 32:15-18, 60:15-18; Micah 4:1-4; Zechariah 8:23, 14:9; Jeremiah 31:33-34)
Many of these prophetic passages speak of a descendant of King David who will rule Israel during the age of perfection. (Isaiah 11:1-9; Jeremiah 23:5-6, 30:7-10, 33:14-16; Ezekiel 34:11-31, 37:21-28; Hosea 3:4-5)
Since every King is a Messiah, by convention, we refer to this future anointed king as The Messiah. The above is the only description in the Bible of a Davidic descendant who is to come in the future. We will recognize the Messiah by seeing who the King of Israel is at the time of complete universal perfection.
1) JESUS DID NOT FULFILL THE MESSIANIC PROPHECIES
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What is the Messiah supposed to accomplish? The Bible says that he will:
A. Build the Third Temple (Ezekiel 37:26-28).
B. Gather all Jews back to the Land of Israel (Isaiah 43:5-6).
C. Usher in an era of world peace, and end all hatred, oppression, suffering and disease. As it says: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall man learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4)
D. Spread universal knowledge of the God of Israel, which will unite humanity as one. As it says: "God will be King over all the world—on that day, God will be One and His Name will be One" (Zechariah 14:9).
The historical fact is that Jesus fulfilled none of these messianic prophecies.
Christians counter that Jesus will fulfill these in the Second Coming, but Jewish sources show that the Messiah will fulfill the prophecies outright, and no concept of a second coming exists.
2) JESUS DID NOT EMBODY THE PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS OF MESSIAH
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A. MESSIAH AS PROPHET
Jesus was not a prophet. Prophecy can only exist in Israel when the land is inhabited by a majority of world Jewry. During the time of Ezra (circa 300 BCE), when the majority of Jews refused to move from Babylon to Israel, prophecy ended upon the death of the last prophets—Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.
Jesus appeared on the scene approximately 350 years after prophecy had ended.
B. DESCENDENT OF DAVID
According to Jewish sources, the Messiah will be born of human parents and possess normal physical attributes like other people. He will not be a demi-god, (1) nor will he possess supernatural qualities.
The Messiah must be descended on his father’s side from King David (see Genesis 49:10 and Isaiah 11:1). According to the Christian claim that Jesus was the product of a virgin birth, he had no father—and thus could not have possibly fulfilled the messianic requirement of being descended on his father’s side from King David! (2) SEE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH’S RESPONSE TO THIS QUESTION
C. TORAH OBSERVANCE
The Messiah will lead the Jewish people to full Torah observance. The Torah states that all mitzvot (commandments) remain binding forever, and anyone coming to change the Torah is immediately identified as a false prophet. (Deut. 13:1-4)
Throughout the New Testament, Jesus contradicts the Torah and states that its commandments are no longer applicable. (see John 1:45 and 9:16, Acts 3:22 and 7:37) For example, John 9:14 records that Jesus made a paste in violation of Shabbat, which caused the Pharisees to say (verse 16), "He does not observe Shabbat!"
3) MISTRANSLATED VERSES "REFERRING" TO JESUS
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Biblical verses can only be understood by studying the original Hebrew text—which reveals many discrepancies in the Christian translation.
A. VIRGIN BIRTH
The Christian idea of a virgin birth is derived from the verse in Isaiah 7:14 describing an "alma" as giving birth. The word "alma" has always meant a young woman, but Christian theologians came centuries later and translated it as "virgin." This accords Jesus’ birth with the first century pagan idea of mortals being impregnated by gods.
B. CRUCIFIXION
The verse in Psalms 22:17 reads: "Like a lion, they are at my hands and feet." The Hebrew word ki-ari (like a lion) is grammatically similar to the word "gouged." Thus Christianity reads the verse as a reference to crucifixion: "They pierced my hands and feet."
C. SUFFERING SERVANT
Christianity claims that Isaiah chapter 53 refers to Jesus, as the "suffering servant."
In actuality, Isaiah 53 directly follows the theme of chapter 52, describing the exile and redemption of the Jewish people. The prophecies are written in the singular form because the Jews ("Israel") are regarded as one unit. The Torah is filled with examples of the Jewish nation referred to with a singular pronoun.
Ironically, Isaiah’s prophecies of persecution refer in part to the 11th century when Jews were tortured and killed by Crusaders who acted in the name of Jesus.
From where did these mistranslations stem? St. Gregory, 4th century Bishop of Nazianzus, wrote: "A little jargon is all that is necessary to impose on the people. The less they comprehend, the more they admire."For further reading on the "suffering servant": jewsforjudaism.org/ss
4) JEWISH BELIEF IS BASED SOLELY ON NATIONAL REVELATION (back)
Of the 15,000 religions in human history, only Judaism bases its belief on national revelation—i.e. God speaking to the entire nation. If God is going to start a religion, it makes sense He’ll tell everyone, not just one person.
Throughout history, thousands of religions have been started by individuals, attempting to convince people that he or she is God’s true prophet. But personal revelation is an extremely weak basis for a religion because one can never know if it is indeed true. Since others did not hear God speak to this person, they have to take his word for it. Even if the individual claiming personal revelation performs miracles, there is still no verification that he is a genuine prophet. Miracles do not prove anything. All they show—assuming they are genuine—is that he has certain powers. It has nothing to do with his claim of prophecy.
Judaism, unique among all of the world’s major religions, does not rely on "claims of miracles" as the basis for its religion. In fact, the Bible says that God sometimes grants the power of "miracles" to charlatans, in order to test Jewish loyalty to the Torah (Deut. 13:4).
Maimonides states (Foundations of Torah, ch. 8):
The Jews did not believe in Moses, our teacher, because of the miracles he performed. Whenever anyone’s belief is based on seeing miracles, he has lingering doubts, because it is possible the miracles were performed through magic or sorcery. All of the miracles performed by Moses in the desert were because they were necessary, and not as proof of his prophecy.
What then was the basis of [Jewish] belief? The Revelation at Mount Sinai, which we saw with our own eyes and heard with our own ears, not dependent on the testimony of others… as it says, "Face to face, God spoke with you…" The Torah also states: "God did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us—who are all here alive today." (Deut. 5:3)
Judaism is not miracles. It is the personal eyewitness experience of every man, woman and child, standing at Mount Sinai 3,300 years ago.
See "Did God Speak at Mount Sinai" for further reading.
5) CHRISTIANITY CONTRADICTS JEWISH THEOLOGY
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The following theological points apply primarily to the Roman Catholic Church, the largest Christian denomination.
A. GOD AS THREE?
The Catholic idea of Trinity breaks God into three separate beings: The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19).
Contrast this to the Shema, the basis of Jewish belief: "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is ONE" (Deut. 6:4). Jews declare the Shema every day, while writing it on doorposts (Mezuzah), and binding it to the hand and head (Tefillin). This statement of God’s One-ness is the first words a Jewish child is taught to say, and the last words uttered before a Jew dies.
In Jewish law, worship of a three-part god is considered idolatry—one of the three cardinal sins that a Jew should rather give up his life than transgress. This explains why during the Inquisitions and throughout history, Jews gave up their lives rather than convert.
B. MAN AS GOD?
Roman Catholics believe that God came down to earth in human form, as Jesus said: "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30).
Maimonides devotes most of the "Guide for the Perplexed" to the fundamental idea that God is incorporeal, meaning that He assumes no physical form. God is Eternal, above time. He is Infinite, beyond space. He cannot be born, and cannot die. Saying that God assumes human form makes God small, diminishing both His unity and His divinity. As the Torah says: "God is not a mortal" (Numbers 23:19).
Judaism says that the Messiah will be born of human parents, and possess normal physical attributes like other people. He will not be a demi-god, and will not possess supernatural qualities. In fact, an individual is alive in every generation with the capacity to step into the role of the Messiah. (see Maimonides - Laws of Kings 11:3)
C. INTERMEDIARY FOR PRAYER?
The Catholic belief is that prayer must be directed through an intermediary—i.e. confessing one’s sins to a priest. Jesus himself is an intermediary, as Jesus said: "No man cometh unto the Father but by me."
In Judaism, prayer is a totally private matter, between each individual and God. As the Bible says: "God is near to all who call unto Him" (Psalms 145:18). Further, the Ten Commandments state: "You shall have no other gods BEFORE ME," meaning that it is forbidden to set up a mediator between God and man. (see Maimonides - Laws of Idolatry ch. 1)
D. INVOLVEMENT IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD
Catholic doctrine often treats the physical world as an evil to be avoided. Mary, the holiest woman, is portrayed as a virgin. Priests and nuns are celibate. And monasteries are in remote, secluded locations.
By contrast, Judaism believes that God created the physical world not to frustrate us, but for our pleasure. Jewish spirituality comes through grappling with the mundane world in a way that uplifts and elevates. Sex in the proper context is one of the holiest acts we can perform.
The Talmud says if a person has the opportunity to taste a new fruit and refuses to do so, he will have to account for that in the World to Come. Jewish rabbinical schools teach how to live amidst the bustle of commercial activity. Jews don’t retreat from life, we elevate it.
6) JEWS AND GENTILES
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Judaism does not demand that everyone convert to the religion. The Torah of Moses is a truth for all humanity, whether Jewish or not. King Solomon asked God to heed the prayers of non-Jews who come to the Holy Temple (Kings I 8:41-43). The prophet Isaiah refers to the Temple as a "House for all nations."
The Temple service during Sukkot featured 70 bull offerings, corresponding to the 70 nations of the world. The Talmud says that if the Romans would have realized how much benefit they were getting from the Temple, they’d never have destroyed it.
Jews have never actively sought converts to Judaism because the Torah prescribes a righteous path for gentiles to follow, known as the "Seven Laws of Noah." Maimonides explains that any human being who faithfully observes these basic moral laws earns a proper place in heaven.
For further study of the Seven Laws of Noah: The Seven Laws of Noah
7) BRINGING THE MESSIAH
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Maimonides states that the popularity of Christianity (and Islam) is part of God’s plan to spread the ideals of Torah throughout the world. This moves society closer to a perfected state of morality and toward a greater understanding of God. All this is in preparation for the Messianic age.
Indeed, the world is in desperate need of Messianic redemption. War and pollution threaten our planet; ego and confusion erode family life. To the extent we are aware of the problems of society, is the extent we will yearn for redemption. As the Talmud says, one of the first questions a Jew is asked on Judgment Day is: "Did you yearn for the arrival of the Messiah?"
How can we hasten the coming of the Messiah? The best way is to love all humanity generously, to keep the mitzvot of the Torah (as best we can), and to encourage others to do so as well.
Despite the gloom, the world does seem headed toward redemption. One apparent sign is that the Jewish people have returned to the Land of Israel and made it bloom again. Additionally, a major movement is afoot of young Jews returning to Torah tradition.
The Messiah can come at any moment, and it all depends on our actions. God is ready when we are. For as King David says: "Redemption will come today—if you hearken to His voice."
by Rabbi Shraga SimmonsLargely adapted from Aish.com
Jewish-Christian Disputations
Moses Nachmanides and TheDebate in Barcelona, Spain, 1263
The most famous of all Jewish-Christian disputations was between the apostate Jew Pablo Christiani and Moses Nachmanides (the Ramban).
Nachmanides argued that the central issue separating Christianity and Judaism was not the issue of Jesus’ messiahship, but whether or not Jesus was divine. There was no basis in Judaism, Nachmanides said, for believing in the divinity of the Messiah or, indeed, of any man. To Nachmanides, it seemed most strange "that the Creator of heaven and earth resorted to the womb of a certain Jewess and grew there for nine months and was born as an infant, and afterwards grew up and was betrayed into the hands of his enemies who sentenced him to death and executed him, and that afterwards… he came to life and returned to his original place. The mind of a Jew, or any other person, cannot tolerate this." Nachmanides told the Spanish monarch, "You have listened all your life to priests who have filled your brain and the marrow of your bones with this doctrine, and it has settled with you because of that accustomed habit." Had King James heard these ideas propounded for the first time when he was already an adult, Nachmanides implied, he never would have accepted them.
Blogger Comment:
The Islamic clarification reconcile to great extent the differences of the Jews and Chrsitians. Jesus is the messiah he was human. He will return to the earth again in glory. He will bring the knigdom of God in the earth and fullfil most prophecies of the Messiah.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
The Pleasures of Paradise
From: www.islamreligion.com
The Pleasures of Paradise (part 1 of 2)
By M. Abdulsalam
The reality of Paradise is something which people will never be able to understand until they actually enter it, but God has shown us glimpses of it in the Quran. He has described it as a place essentially different to the life of this world, both in the very nature and purpose of life, as well as the types of delights which people will enjoy therein. The Quran tells people about Paradise, which God offers to them, describes its great blessings, and proclaims its beauties to everyone.
It informs people that Paradise is one of two ways of life prepared for them in the afterworld, and that every good thing will be theirs in Paradise to a degree that surpasses our present ability to imagine. It also shows that Paradise is a place where all blessings have been created perfectly and where people will be offered everything their souls and hearts will desire, and that people will be far removed from want and need, anxiety or sadness, sorrow and regret. Every kind of beauty and blessing exists in Paradise and will be revealed with a perfection never seen or known before. God has prepared such blessings there as a gift, and these will be offered only to people with whom He is pleased.
But what is the nature of these delights in Paradise, and how will it be different from the delights of this world? We will try to highlight a few of these differences.
Pure delight without pain and suffering
While people in this world experience some delight, they also face much toil and suffering. If one was to scrutinize the life which they live, they will find that the amount of hardship they face is much more than the ease and comfort. As for the life of the Hereafter, there will be no hardship nor suffering in it, and people will live therein in pure joy and delight. All the causes of sorrow, pain and suffering which people experience in this life will be absent in the Hereafter. Let’s take a look at some of these causes.
Wealth
When one thinks of success in this life, they usually conjure the image of big houses, fine jewelry and clothing, and expensive cars; financial stability is seen to be the key to a happy life. To most people, success is inseparably related to wealth, even though this is the furthest from the truth. How many times have we seen the wealthiest of people living such miserable lives, that it sometimes even leads them to commit suicide! Wealth is something which humans in their very nature desire at any cost, and this desire has been created for a great and wise purpose. When this desire is not satiated, it causes some extent of grief in a person. For this reason, God has promised the inhabitants of Paradise that they will have all that they imagined as far as wealth and belongings are concerned, both for those who were extremely poor, experiencing even hunger and thirst, to those well-to-do but who desired even more. God gives us a glimpse of this when he says:
“... there will be there all that the souls could desire, all that the eyes could delight in …” (Quran 43:71)
“Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent forth (good deeds) in days past!” (Quran 69:24)
“… They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade. They will recline therein on raised thrones. How good [is] the recompense! How beautiful a couch [is there] to recline on!” (Quran 18:31)
Disease and Death
Another cause of pain and suffering in this life is the death of a loved one or disease, which are both non-existent in Paradise. None will feel any sickness or pain in Paradise. The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said about the people of Paradise:
“They will never fall ill, blow their noses or spit.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
None will die in Paradise. All shall live eternally enjoying the pleasures therein. The Prophet Muhammad said that a caller will call out in Paradise when people enter it:
“Indeed may you be healthy and never be sick again, may you live and never die again, may you be young and never grow feeble again, may you enjoy, and never feel sorrow and regret again.” (Saheeh Muslim)
Social Relationships
As for the remorse felt due to a rift in personal relationships, people will never hear any evil or hurting comments or speech in Paradise. They will only hear good words and words of peace. God says:
“They will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin. But only the saying of: Peace! Peace!” (Quran 56:25-26)
There will be no enmity between people nor ill-feelings:
“And We shall remove from their breasts any (mutual) hatred or sense of injury (which they had, if at all, in the life of this world)…” (Quran 7:43)
The Prophet said:
“There will be no hatred or resentment among them, their hearts will be as one, and they will glorify God, morning and evening.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
People will have the best of companions in the Hereafter, who were also the best people in the world:
“And whoever obeys God and the Messenger – those will be with the ones upon whom God has bestowed favor – of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions!” (Quran 4:69)
The hearts of the people of Paradise will be pure, their speech will be good, their deeds righteous. There will be no hurtful, upsetting, offensive or provocative talk there, for Paradise is free of all worthless words and deeds. If we were to discuss all the causes for anguish in this life, we would surely find its absence or opposite to be true in Paradise.
The Pleasures of Paradise (part 2 of 2)
By M. Abdulsalam
The Eternalness of the Hereafter
The Pleasures of this world are transient whilst the joys of the hereafter are lasting and eternal. In this life when a person enjoys something, it is only a short while before they get bored with it and proceed to search for something they feel is better, or they may not feel a need for it altogether. As for the delights of Paradise, a person will never feel bored with anything, but rather, its goodness will increase each time they indulge in it.
Also, the life of this world is very short. Humans only live on this earth for a short while, and very few people reach the age of seventy.
“…Say: Short is the enjoyment of this world. The Hereafter is (far) better for him who fears God...” (Quran 4:77)
As for Paradise, people will live forever. God says:
“...its provision is eternal and so is its shade…” (Quran 13:35)
“What is with you must vanish, and what is with God will endure …” (Quran 16:96)
“(It will be said to them): This is Our Provision, which will never finish” (Quran 38:54)
Superior Delights
The delights of the people of Paradise, such as their clothing, food, drink, jewelry and palaces, will be far superior to their counterparts in this world. There is in fact no room for comparison, as even the smallest space in Paradise is better than this world and all that is in it. The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said:
“The space of the bow of any one of you in Paradise is better than all that the sun rises upon” (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh 3/85, no. 5615)
Free from all Impurities
Paradise is free from all the impurities of this world. Eating and drinking in this life results in the need for excretion and its associated unpleasant odors. If a person drinks wine in this world, he loses his mind. Women in this world menstruate and give birth, which are sources of pain and hurt. Paradise is free from all of these discomforts: its people will not urinate, defecate, spit or suffer from catarrh. The wine of Paradise, as described by its Creator, is:
“Crystal-white, delicious to those who drink (thereof), free from intoxication, nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom” (Quran 37:46-47)
The water of Paradise does not become brackish, and its milk never changes in flavor:
“...rivers of water incorruptible; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes...” (Quran 47:15)
The women of Paradise are pure and free from menstruation, postnatal bleeding and all the other impurities suffered by women in this world, and all are free from stool and feces. God says:
“...and they shall have therein purified mates…” (Quran 2:25)
The prophet answered a person when they asked how the people of Paradise will relieve themselves:
“They relieve themselves by perspiring through their skins, and its fragrance will be that of musk, and all stomachs will have become lean.” (ibn Hibbaan)
What we have mentioned has been a mere comparison in order to understand the nature of Paradise, but as God said, its delights are truly hidden:
“No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do.” (Quran 32:17)
Paradise: There is Nothing Like It
The delights of Paradise surpass the imagination and defy description. They are like nothing known to the people of this world; no matter how advanced we may become, what we achieve is as nothing in comparison with the joys of the Hereafter. As is mentioned in several reports, there is nothing like Paradise:
“It is sparkling light, aromatic plants, a lofty palace, a flowing river, ripe fruit, a beautiful wife and abundant clothing, in an eternal abode of radiant joy, in beautiful soundly-constructed high houses”. (Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan)
The Sahabah asked the Prophet about the buildings of Paradise and he replied with a wonderful description:
“Bricks of gold and silver, and mortar of fragrant musk, pebbles of pearl and sapphire, and soil of saffron. Whoever enters it is filled with joy and will never feel miserable; he will live there forever and never die; their clothes will never wear out and their youth will never fade.” (Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, ad-Daarimee)
God says:
“And when you look there (in Paradise) you will see a delight (that cannot be imagined), and a great dominion.” (Quran 76:20)
What God has kept hidden from us the delights of Paradise is beyond our ability to comprehend. The Prophet said that God said:
“I have prepared for My slaves what no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human heart can imagine.” Recite if you wish:
“No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.” (Quran 32:17)
In another report:
“Never mind what God has told you; what He has not told you is even greater.” (Saheeh Muslim)
In other articles, we will attempt to mention some of the specific details of Paradise and the delights therein described to us by God and His last Prophet.
The Pleasures of Paradise (part 1 of 2)
By M. Abdulsalam
The reality of Paradise is something which people will never be able to understand until they actually enter it, but God has shown us glimpses of it in the Quran. He has described it as a place essentially different to the life of this world, both in the very nature and purpose of life, as well as the types of delights which people will enjoy therein. The Quran tells people about Paradise, which God offers to them, describes its great blessings, and proclaims its beauties to everyone.
It informs people that Paradise is one of two ways of life prepared for them in the afterworld, and that every good thing will be theirs in Paradise to a degree that surpasses our present ability to imagine. It also shows that Paradise is a place where all blessings have been created perfectly and where people will be offered everything their souls and hearts will desire, and that people will be far removed from want and need, anxiety or sadness, sorrow and regret. Every kind of beauty and blessing exists in Paradise and will be revealed with a perfection never seen or known before. God has prepared such blessings there as a gift, and these will be offered only to people with whom He is pleased.
But what is the nature of these delights in Paradise, and how will it be different from the delights of this world? We will try to highlight a few of these differences.
Pure delight without pain and suffering
While people in this world experience some delight, they also face much toil and suffering. If one was to scrutinize the life which they live, they will find that the amount of hardship they face is much more than the ease and comfort. As for the life of the Hereafter, there will be no hardship nor suffering in it, and people will live therein in pure joy and delight. All the causes of sorrow, pain and suffering which people experience in this life will be absent in the Hereafter. Let’s take a look at some of these causes.
Wealth
When one thinks of success in this life, they usually conjure the image of big houses, fine jewelry and clothing, and expensive cars; financial stability is seen to be the key to a happy life. To most people, success is inseparably related to wealth, even though this is the furthest from the truth. How many times have we seen the wealthiest of people living such miserable lives, that it sometimes even leads them to commit suicide! Wealth is something which humans in their very nature desire at any cost, and this desire has been created for a great and wise purpose. When this desire is not satiated, it causes some extent of grief in a person. For this reason, God has promised the inhabitants of Paradise that they will have all that they imagined as far as wealth and belongings are concerned, both for those who were extremely poor, experiencing even hunger and thirst, to those well-to-do but who desired even more. God gives us a glimpse of this when he says:
“... there will be there all that the souls could desire, all that the eyes could delight in …” (Quran 43:71)
“Eat and drink at ease for that which you have sent forth (good deeds) in days past!” (Quran 69:24)
“… They will be adorned therein with bracelets of gold, and they will wear green garments of fine silk and heavy brocade. They will recline therein on raised thrones. How good [is] the recompense! How beautiful a couch [is there] to recline on!” (Quran 18:31)
Disease and Death
Another cause of pain and suffering in this life is the death of a loved one or disease, which are both non-existent in Paradise. None will feel any sickness or pain in Paradise. The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said about the people of Paradise:
“They will never fall ill, blow their noses or spit.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
None will die in Paradise. All shall live eternally enjoying the pleasures therein. The Prophet Muhammad said that a caller will call out in Paradise when people enter it:
“Indeed may you be healthy and never be sick again, may you live and never die again, may you be young and never grow feeble again, may you enjoy, and never feel sorrow and regret again.” (Saheeh Muslim)
Social Relationships
As for the remorse felt due to a rift in personal relationships, people will never hear any evil or hurting comments or speech in Paradise. They will only hear good words and words of peace. God says:
“They will not hear therein ill speech or commission of sin. But only the saying of: Peace! Peace!” (Quran 56:25-26)
There will be no enmity between people nor ill-feelings:
“And We shall remove from their breasts any (mutual) hatred or sense of injury (which they had, if at all, in the life of this world)…” (Quran 7:43)
The Prophet said:
“There will be no hatred or resentment among them, their hearts will be as one, and they will glorify God, morning and evening.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)
People will have the best of companions in the Hereafter, who were also the best people in the world:
“And whoever obeys God and the Messenger – those will be with the ones upon whom God has bestowed favor – of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous. And excellent are those as companions!” (Quran 4:69)
The hearts of the people of Paradise will be pure, their speech will be good, their deeds righteous. There will be no hurtful, upsetting, offensive or provocative talk there, for Paradise is free of all worthless words and deeds. If we were to discuss all the causes for anguish in this life, we would surely find its absence or opposite to be true in Paradise.
The Pleasures of Paradise (part 2 of 2)
By M. Abdulsalam
The Eternalness of the Hereafter
The Pleasures of this world are transient whilst the joys of the hereafter are lasting and eternal. In this life when a person enjoys something, it is only a short while before they get bored with it and proceed to search for something they feel is better, or they may not feel a need for it altogether. As for the delights of Paradise, a person will never feel bored with anything, but rather, its goodness will increase each time they indulge in it.
Also, the life of this world is very short. Humans only live on this earth for a short while, and very few people reach the age of seventy.
“…Say: Short is the enjoyment of this world. The Hereafter is (far) better for him who fears God...” (Quran 4:77)
As for Paradise, people will live forever. God says:
“...its provision is eternal and so is its shade…” (Quran 13:35)
“What is with you must vanish, and what is with God will endure …” (Quran 16:96)
“(It will be said to them): This is Our Provision, which will never finish” (Quran 38:54)
Superior Delights
The delights of the people of Paradise, such as their clothing, food, drink, jewelry and palaces, will be far superior to their counterparts in this world. There is in fact no room for comparison, as even the smallest space in Paradise is better than this world and all that is in it. The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said:
“The space of the bow of any one of you in Paradise is better than all that the sun rises upon” (Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh 3/85, no. 5615)
Free from all Impurities
Paradise is free from all the impurities of this world. Eating and drinking in this life results in the need for excretion and its associated unpleasant odors. If a person drinks wine in this world, he loses his mind. Women in this world menstruate and give birth, which are sources of pain and hurt. Paradise is free from all of these discomforts: its people will not urinate, defecate, spit or suffer from catarrh. The wine of Paradise, as described by its Creator, is:
“Crystal-white, delicious to those who drink (thereof), free from intoxication, nor will they suffer intoxication therefrom” (Quran 37:46-47)
The water of Paradise does not become brackish, and its milk never changes in flavor:
“...rivers of water incorruptible; rivers of milk of which the taste never changes...” (Quran 47:15)
The women of Paradise are pure and free from menstruation, postnatal bleeding and all the other impurities suffered by women in this world, and all are free from stool and feces. God says:
“...and they shall have therein purified mates…” (Quran 2:25)
The prophet answered a person when they asked how the people of Paradise will relieve themselves:
“They relieve themselves by perspiring through their skins, and its fragrance will be that of musk, and all stomachs will have become lean.” (ibn Hibbaan)
What we have mentioned has been a mere comparison in order to understand the nature of Paradise, but as God said, its delights are truly hidden:
“No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do.” (Quran 32:17)
Paradise: There is Nothing Like It
The delights of Paradise surpass the imagination and defy description. They are like nothing known to the people of this world; no matter how advanced we may become, what we achieve is as nothing in comparison with the joys of the Hereafter. As is mentioned in several reports, there is nothing like Paradise:
“It is sparkling light, aromatic plants, a lofty palace, a flowing river, ripe fruit, a beautiful wife and abundant clothing, in an eternal abode of radiant joy, in beautiful soundly-constructed high houses”. (Ibn Maajah, Ibn Hibbaan)
The Sahabah asked the Prophet about the buildings of Paradise and he replied with a wonderful description:
“Bricks of gold and silver, and mortar of fragrant musk, pebbles of pearl and sapphire, and soil of saffron. Whoever enters it is filled with joy and will never feel miserable; he will live there forever and never die; their clothes will never wear out and their youth will never fade.” (Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, ad-Daarimee)
God says:
“And when you look there (in Paradise) you will see a delight (that cannot be imagined), and a great dominion.” (Quran 76:20)
What God has kept hidden from us the delights of Paradise is beyond our ability to comprehend. The Prophet said that God said:
“I have prepared for My slaves what no eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human heart can imagine.” Recite if you wish:
“No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.” (Quran 32:17)
In another report:
“Never mind what God has told you; what He has not told you is even greater.” (Saheeh Muslim)
In other articles, we will attempt to mention some of the specific details of Paradise and the delights therein described to us by God and His last Prophet.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
What Do You Need to Do to Edit Your Quran?
By: Maged Taman
Many Muslims would not like me using this question. The reality is God is the one himself that invited the disbelievers to do that. He invited them to replicate a book like the Quran. They failed over 1428 years to do that. If you want to try today in order to succeed you need all of these:
1- You need a computer to correct your spellings and grammar since there are no wrong spellings or grammatical errors in the Quran.
2- You have to be a poet and linguistic genius, with the problem that you need to find a bahar (sea of poem) that the people never know and unable to replicate.
3- You have to make people enjoy the rhyme without their ears awaiting the rhyme, but the meaning and for their enjoyment they get both.
4- You have to know the bible stories and to add to them or modify them to be quite believable.
5- You need a group of scientists to give you accurate scientific facts in medicine, space and physics.
6- You need a group of judges to make new law or Sharia that is applicable and modifiable to suit every age.
7- You need astrologers to tell you things that would happen in the future that are factual.
8- You need to make the speaker full of authority, confidence and glory that people listen to with attention, admiration and humility.
9- You need the speaker changing his talking from ordering, telling, calling, worshiping.... without feeling lost or overburdened
10- You have to tell the story using the least of words and the greatest of the meaning.
11- You have to make your book readable, recitable, enjoyable to sing and memorable so millions of people in the future will happily memorize it.
12- You have to answer to the current events and in the mean time make it applicable to every age.
If you succeed in all of that and you come up with this book (which has never happened) you still did not make the case that Muhammad (PBUH) had invented the Quran. Because he had no computer, he actually did not read or write. He was a single person and no humans contributed to the Quran. He was not a poet, he had no judges, no Bible scholars, and no scientists working for him. Even if he had found scientists they have to have a knowledge that is over one thousand year advanced to their age.
Besides, he was observed over 23 years as the Quran inspired to him and he dictated the Quran to the Muslims who wrote it down. No one saw him thinking about the verses or correcting them. So if you to make your Quran you have to show everyone around you that you are not hiding a computer, a bible scholar or a scientist in your closet. If you succeeded in making the Quran You have to be very bold in telling a great lie that this book is from God and you did not make it up. You have to use it in your prayer to faithfully pray to the God that you lied about.
[2:97] Say, "Anyone who opposes Gabriel should know that he has brought down this (Quran) into your heart, in accordance with GOD's will, confirming previous scriptures, and providing guidance and good news for the believers."
[2:98] Anyone who opposes GOD, and His angels, and His messengers, and Gabriel and Michael, should know that GOD opposes the disbelievers.
[2:99] We have sent down to you such clear revelations, and only the wicked will reject them.
[2:100] Is it not a fact that when they make a covenant and pledge to keep it, some of them always disregard it? In fact, most of them do not believe.
[2:101] Now that a messenger from GOD has come to them,* and even though he proves and confirms their own scripture, some followers of the scripture (Jews, Christians, and Muslims) disregard GOD's scripture behind their backs, as if they never had any scripture.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay6Cbus_LSA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki1PhJCdro4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAXNFvNTzgI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KY5B6GHOQg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=illFaEsY2uA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQMlGAIVB84&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6eCard26xE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1Tt9I--nCg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pi55PKpkbc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOPSvgB35ho&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwa7mNhoJE8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJj5hj4I4lQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0668PbN1nbs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3HEe5G2gdU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKqhYq6X1VA&feature=related
Many Muslims would not like me using this question. The reality is God is the one himself that invited the disbelievers to do that. He invited them to replicate a book like the Quran. They failed over 1428 years to do that. If you want to try today in order to succeed you need all of these:
1- You need a computer to correct your spellings and grammar since there are no wrong spellings or grammatical errors in the Quran.
2- You have to be a poet and linguistic genius, with the problem that you need to find a bahar (sea of poem) that the people never know and unable to replicate.
3- You have to make people enjoy the rhyme without their ears awaiting the rhyme, but the meaning and for their enjoyment they get both.
4- You have to know the bible stories and to add to them or modify them to be quite believable.
5- You need a group of scientists to give you accurate scientific facts in medicine, space and physics.
6- You need a group of judges to make new law or Sharia that is applicable and modifiable to suit every age.
7- You need astrologers to tell you things that would happen in the future that are factual.
8- You need to make the speaker full of authority, confidence and glory that people listen to with attention, admiration and humility.
9- You need the speaker changing his talking from ordering, telling, calling, worshiping.... without feeling lost or overburdened
10- You have to tell the story using the least of words and the greatest of the meaning.
11- You have to make your book readable, recitable, enjoyable to sing and memorable so millions of people in the future will happily memorize it.
12- You have to answer to the current events and in the mean time make it applicable to every age.
If you succeed in all of that and you come up with this book (which has never happened) you still did not make the case that Muhammad (PBUH) had invented the Quran. Because he had no computer, he actually did not read or write. He was a single person and no humans contributed to the Quran. He was not a poet, he had no judges, no Bible scholars, and no scientists working for him. Even if he had found scientists they have to have a knowledge that is over one thousand year advanced to their age.
Besides, he was observed over 23 years as the Quran inspired to him and he dictated the Quran to the Muslims who wrote it down. No one saw him thinking about the verses or correcting them. So if you to make your Quran you have to show everyone around you that you are not hiding a computer, a bible scholar or a scientist in your closet. If you succeeded in making the Quran You have to be very bold in telling a great lie that this book is from God and you did not make it up. You have to use it in your prayer to faithfully pray to the God that you lied about.
[2:97] Say, "Anyone who opposes Gabriel should know that he has brought down this (Quran) into your heart, in accordance with GOD's will, confirming previous scriptures, and providing guidance and good news for the believers."
[2:98] Anyone who opposes GOD, and His angels, and His messengers, and Gabriel and Michael, should know that GOD opposes the disbelievers.
[2:99] We have sent down to you such clear revelations, and only the wicked will reject them.
[2:100] Is it not a fact that when they make a covenant and pledge to keep it, some of them always disregard it? In fact, most of them do not believe.
[2:101] Now that a messenger from GOD has come to them,* and even though he proves and confirms their own scripture, some followers of the scripture (Jews, Christians, and Muslims) disregard GOD's scripture behind their backs, as if they never had any scripture.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ay6Cbus_LSA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki1PhJCdro4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAXNFvNTzgI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KY5B6GHOQg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=illFaEsY2uA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQMlGAIVB84&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6eCard26xE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1Tt9I--nCg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pi55PKpkbc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOPSvgB35ho&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwa7mNhoJE8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJj5hj4I4lQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0668PbN1nbs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3HEe5G2gdU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKqhYq6X1VA&feature=related
Monday, May 17, 2010
To Get Arabic Translation to my website
Go through this link to get Google translation to my web site:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=ar&langpair=en%7Car&u=http://jesussecondcoming.blogspot.com/2009/12/heart-mind-relationship-in-h
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=ar&langpair=en%7Car&u=http://jesussecondcoming.blogspot.com/2009/12/heart-mind-relationship-in-h
Sunday, May 16, 2010
SCRIPTURES EXPLAINING THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE EARTH!
From: http://www.jesusiscoming.com/Scripture.htm
New Testament scriptures only. All scriptures taken from NIV version. Partial list only.
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.
Matthew 23:39 For I tell you, you wil not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'
Matthew 24:27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Matthew 24:30 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.
Matthew 24: 36-39 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothng about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Matthew 24:42 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."
Mathew 26:64 "Yes it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
Mark 8:36-38 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with holy angels.
Mark 13:26-27 At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
Mark 13:35-37 Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back - whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'
Mark 14:61-62 Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Might One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
Luke 9:26-27 If anyone I fanyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."
Luke 17:28-30 "It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. "It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.
Luke 18:8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Luke 21:25-28 "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, becasue your redemption is drawing near."
John 14:1-4 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."
Acts 1:11 "Men of Galilee," they said. "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Acts 3:19-21 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you - even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
1 Corinthians 1:7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
1 Corinthians 11:26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
1 Corinthians 15:23-24 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.
Philippians 1:10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
1 Thessalonians 1:9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead - Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
1 Thessalonians 3:13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:4 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of god, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should suprise you like a thief.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.
2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destory by the splendor of his coming.
1 Timothy 6:13-16 I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time - God the blessed and only Ruler, the King of Kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen
2 Timothy 4:1-2 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage- with great patience and careful instruction.
2 Timothy 4:8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Titus 2:12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching.
Hebrews 3:7 For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay.
James 5:7-9 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
1 Peter 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and ito an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvataion that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that though they acuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice that you participate in the suffering of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
2 Peter 1:16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2 Peter 3:3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is the 'coming' he promised?
2 Peter 3:8-10 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is ike a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to peris, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; The elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
1 John 2:28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
1 John 3:2 Dear friends, now we are like children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
Jude 1:14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him."
Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Revelation 1:4 To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from who is, and who was, and who is to come,
Revelation 1:7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
Revelation 3:11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it.
Revelation 16:15 "Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed."
Revelation 22:12 Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Revelation 22:20-21 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen, Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.
Blogger comment:
No doubt we are at the end of time. Jesus Second Coming is true. Al Mahdi in Islam is not the Antichrist but very pro-Christ. Jesus is the Messiah and no doubt about it. The Quran is true and Jesus is a great prophet no doubt about it. People who are arrogantly denying that the Quran is the word of God and try find a lot of errors in the Quran have to be ready to meet God in the day of judgment. They will have to show him the errors in the Quran and stand strongly to their lies. God is just you have the right to be skeptical. That is how God talk to us in the Quran he does not talk to us like we are seeing him otherwise it would be over and no testing to our faith. But he talk to us like we could be skeptical with very powerful language, firm logic and great glory. The worst to God actually not the sinners, since they may humble themselves and repent but the arrogant who stand against God and his words.
New Testament scriptures only. All scriptures taken from NIV version. Partial list only.
Matthew 16:27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.
Matthew 23:39 For I tell you, you wil not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'
Matthew 24:27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Matthew 24:30 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.
Matthew 24: 36-39 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothng about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
Matthew 24:42 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."
Mathew 26:64 "Yes it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
Mark 8:36-38 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with holy angels.
Mark 13:26-27 At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
Mark 13:35-37 Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back - whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'
Mark 14:61-62 Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Might One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
Luke 9:26-27 If anyone I fanyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."
Luke 17:28-30 "It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. "It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.
Luke 18:8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Luke 21:25-28 "There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, becasue your redemption is drawing near."
John 14:1-4 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."
Acts 1:11 "Men of Galilee," they said. "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Acts 3:19-21 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you - even Jesus. He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.
1 Corinthians 1:7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
1 Corinthians 11:26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
1 Corinthians 15:23-24 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.
Philippians 1:10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
1 Thessalonians 1:9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead - Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
1 Thessalonians 2:19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
1 Thessalonians 3:13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-5:4 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of god, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should suprise you like a thief.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.
2 Thessalonians 2:1 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.
2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destory by the splendor of his coming.
1 Timothy 6:13-16 I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time - God the blessed and only Ruler, the King of Kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen
2 Timothy 4:1-2 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage- with great patience and careful instruction.
2 Timothy 4:8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Titus 2:12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Hebrews 9:28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the day approaching.
Hebrews 3:7 For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay.
James 5:7-9 Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
1 Peter 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and ito an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade - kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvataion that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that though they acuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice that you participate in the suffering of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
2 Peter 1:16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2 Peter 3:3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is the 'coming' he promised?
2 Peter 3:8-10 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is ike a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to peris, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; The elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
1 John 2:28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
1 John 3:2 Dear friends, now we are like children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
Jude 1:14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: "See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him."
Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Revelation 1:4 To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from who is, and who was, and who is to come,
Revelation 1:7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
Revelation 3:11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it.
Revelation 16:15 "Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed."
Revelation 22:12 Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Revelation 22:20-21 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen, Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen.
Blogger comment:
No doubt we are at the end of time. Jesus Second Coming is true. Al Mahdi in Islam is not the Antichrist but very pro-Christ. Jesus is the Messiah and no doubt about it. The Quran is true and Jesus is a great prophet no doubt about it. People who are arrogantly denying that the Quran is the word of God and try find a lot of errors in the Quran have to be ready to meet God in the day of judgment. They will have to show him the errors in the Quran and stand strongly to their lies. God is just you have the right to be skeptical. That is how God talk to us in the Quran he does not talk to us like we are seeing him otherwise it would be over and no testing to our faith. But he talk to us like we could be skeptical with very powerful language, firm logic and great glory. The worst to God actually not the sinners, since they may humble themselves and repent but the arrogant who stand against God and his words.
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