From: http://www.islamicity.com/
By: Naomi Wolf Iviews* -
Do nations have psychological processes - even Freudian processes, such as collective egos that can be injured, and repressed guilt feelings that can well up from the collective unconscious - just as individuals do? I believe that they do.I also believe that just as an individual's dreams and slips of the tongue reveal his or her repressed knowledge, so a culture's "dreamwork" - its films, pop music, visual arts, and even in the resonant jokes, cartoons and advertising images - reveal the signs of this collective unconscious. Moreover, a nation's "irrational dreamwork" often reflects its actual condition more truthfully than its "ego" - its official pronouncements, diplomatic statements and propaganda.
So take this theory with you when you see James Cameron's "Avatar," and watch for two revealing themes: the raw, guilty template of the American unconscious in the context of the "war on terror" and late-stage corporate imperialism, and a critical portrayal of America - for the first time ever in a Hollywood blockbuster - from the point of view of the rest of the world.In the Hollywood tradition, of course, the American hero fighting an indigenous enemy is innocent and moral, a reluctant warrior bringing democracy, or at least justice, to feral savages.
In "Avatar," the core themes highlight everything that has gone wrong with Americans' view of themselves in relation to their country's foreign policy.The hero, Jake Sully, is crippled from combat in a previous American conflict, but is not well cared for by his own country; if he does his job of genocide properly, "the corporation" will reward him with proper medical treatment. He signs on, essentially, as a corporate contractor - shades of Blackwater's massacre of civilians in Baghdad's Nisour Square.The enterprise is a "mission" in which the soldiers fight not "for freedom" but "for a paycheck." They take their direction from corporate bureaucrats in waging war against the indigenous people, whose sacred land is sited on vast reserves of "unobtainium," which the corporation wishes to secure at all costs.The soldiers are portrayed as being manipulated by their leaders - through vicious racism and religious derision - into brutal action against the non-aggressive "hostiles." When the villain, the American military leader of the attack, plans to bomb flat the indigenous people's sacred tree, he boasts that he will blow such a massive hole in their "racial memory" that they won't come "within a thousand clicks" of the place again.Even the machinery of US military combat is portrayed non-heroically.
Instead of the classic images of the US Cavalry courageously sweeping down on the savages, or of decent American doughboys bravely clearing out nests of Nazis, bored technocrats, insulated by immense layers of technology, firebomb green valleys, slaughtering enemy warriors and defenseless women and babies while sipping coffee and casually fiddling with touch screens.
The characters' lines (all quotes are approximate) are those that never pierce the bubble of American self-regard with respect to Iraq and Afghanistan. "You should not be here!" exclaims the indigenous heroine, and eventual love interest, Neytiri, as if she is speaking of the entire US enterprise overseas. "You are like a baby." Gesturing at the mayhem caused by the destructive but self-regarding hero, before he "goes native," she says, "This is your fault. They should never have had to die."Later, as Sully starts to become sympathetic toward those whom he has been sent to betray, he tells the bureaucrats: "If people are sitting on something you want, you call them the enemy." When he has fully identified himself with their cause, he joins a movement that is essentially a counterinsurgency, even a jihad ("Let's show the Sky People [the US] whose land this is!").
He and his small band of Americans are even locked in a small Guantanamo-style cell and called "traitors."The indigenous people are an amalgam of echoes from all the great wars of empire that have troubled the recent American conscience. Although they are physically a fantasy sci-fi mix of blue skin and cat-like movement, they are culturally a mix of Native Americans and Vietnamese, with Arabic accents thrown in. They have qualities that Americans would do well to emulate. They respect their environment, whereas the Americans must "return to a dying planet," because, as the indigenous people put it, "they have killed their own mother."Sully's journey is not one of conquest but of awakening to his and his people's true relationship to others: "What am I, the bad guy?" he laughs at first, as if that were impossible. In the end, however, he tries to warn his own imperialist team of the futility of their brutal approach: "What do we have to offer them? Light beer? Blue Jeans? They will never leave the Hometree [their sacred land]. We have nothing that they want."
Ironically, "Avatar" will probably do more to exhume Americans' suppressed knowledge about the shallowness of their national mythology in the face of their oppressive presence in the rest of the world than any amount of editorializing, college courses, or even protest from outside America's borders. But I am not complaining about this. Hollywood is that powerful. But, in the case of "Avatar," the power of American filmmaking has for once been directed toward American self-knowledge rather than American escapism.
Naomi Wolf is a political activist and social critic whose most recent book is "Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries
http://www.youtube.com/user/officialavatar?blend=1&ob=4
Saturday, February 13, 2010
The Qur'an is a Jewish Book
From: http://www.jews-for-allah.com/
by Ya'akov
The Quran and Jewish Patriarchs and Prophets
The first time a Jew reads the Quran he is often surprised by the fact that the Quran does not focus on Muhammed, Ishmael or the Arab people. Instead the Quran focuses primarilly on the Jewish patriarchs and prophets. The Quran concerns itself primarily with the history and future of the Children of Israel. Thus the primary figures of the Quran are figures like Abraham, Joseph, Moses and King David. In fact the primary figure of the Quran is Moshe Aveynu (Moses our father) who is mentioned more than any other individual in the Quran. Many Jews are surprised to learn that one entire "Surah" (chapter) of the Quran (Surah 17) is titled "The Children of Israel".
The Father of Jews the mentioned most in Quran
Of all the Prophets cited in the Quran, our Prophet Moses is talked about the most, even more than Prophet Muhammad, within the Quran, his life, journies, and relationships with the children of Israel is spoken about more than other Prophets.
176 Verses in the Quran mention the name of Prophet Moses:
002.051 002.053 002.054 002.055 002.060 002.061 002.067 002.068 002.069 002.071 002.087 002.092 002.108 002.136 002.246 002.248 003.003 003.084 003.093 004.153 004.164 005.020 005.022 005.024 005.044 006.084 006.091 006.154 007.103 007.104 007.107 007.115 007.116 007.117 007.122 007.127 007.128 007.131 007.132 007.134 007.138 007.142 007.143 007.144 007.148 007.150 007.151 007.154 007.155 007.159 007.160 010.075 010.077 010.080 010.081 010.083 010.084 010.087 010.088 010.089 011.017 011.096 011.110 014.005 014.006 014.008 017.002 017.101 017.102 018.060 018.062 018.064 018.066 018.069 018.071 018.073 018.074 018.076 018.077 019.051 020.009 020.011 020.017 020.019 020.025 020.036 020.040 020.045 020.049 020.057 020.059 020.061 020.065 020.067 020.070 020.077 020.083 020.086 020.088 020.091 020.092 020.095 020.097 021.048 021.105 022.044 023.045 023.049 025.035 026.010 026.018 026.020 026.024 026.026 026.028 026.030 026.032 026.043 026.045 026.048 026.052 026.053 026.061 026.062 026.063 026.064 026.065 026.066 027.007 027.009 027.010 028.003 028.007 028.008 028.010 028.011 028.015 028.018 028.019 028.020 028.029 028.030 028.031 028.036 028.037 028.038 028.043 028.044 028.046 028.048 028.076 029.039 032.023 033.007 033.069 037.114 037.120 040.023 040.026 040.027 040.037 040.053 041.045 042.013 043.046 043.052 043.054 046.012 046.030 051.038 053.036 061.005 062.005 079.015 079.020 087.019
While only 4 mention the name of Prophet Muhammad.
The Quran teaches that the Jews are Elohim's Chosen People
Children of Israel! call to mind the favour which I bestowed upon you, and that I preferred you to all others. (Surah 2:47 repeated in 2:122)
Remember Moses said to his people: "O my people! Call in remembrance the favour of Allah unto you, when He produced prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not given to any other among the peoples.(Surah 5:21)
We did deliver aforetime the Children of Israel from humiliating Punishment, Inflicted by Pharaoh, for he was arrogant (even) among inordinate transgressors. And We chose them aforetime above the nations, knowingly, (Surah 44:30-32)
We did aforetime grant to the Children of Israel the Book the Power of Command, and Prophethood; We gave them, for Sustenance, things good and pure; and We favoured them above the nations. (Surah 45:16)
The Quran and Jewish Liturgy
The opening Surah of the Quran is very comparable to the traditional Jewish liturgy. Traditional Jewish blessings generally begin with:
Baruch Atta Adonai, Eloheynu Melech HaOlam
"Blessed are you Lord our God, King of the universe/world"
Surah 1:1 reads (in Hebrew):
Baruch L'Elohim, Ribon HaOlamim
"Blessing to Elohim, Master of the Worlds."
In fact there is nothing about Surah 1 (apart from its being part of the Quran) that would prevent it from being uttered as a Jewish prayer. It could easily appear in a Jewish prayer book if it were not for the fact that someone might say... "wait a minute this is from the Quran!".
The Talmuds, Midrashim, Targums and the Quran
Many Quran stories and sayings appear elsewhere only in the Mishnah, Talmud, Midrashim and Targums.
Islamic teachers have often, unfortunately taught that the extra-biblical traditions of Judaism are false and are of no value to the Believer. On the contrary however the Quran makes it clear that many of the extra-biblical Jewish traditions preserved in the Midrashim, Talmuds, Mishna etc. contain truth.
A primary example is that of the story of Abraham and his father the idol maker. The same basic story appears in the Talmud, the Midrash Rabbah and the Midrash Sefer Ha-Yashar. It also appears in the Quran but it does NOT appear in the Bible at all.
The story appears this way in Midrash Rabbah: Terah was an idolator once he went away and left Abraham to sell his idols. Whenever a buyer came, Abraham asked him his age. If he replied, I am fifty, or sixty years old, Abraham said 'Woe to the man of sixty who desires to worship the work of a day, so that the buyer went away ashamed.'1 Once a woman came, with a dish of wheat and said, 'Here, put this before them;' but Abraham took a stick and beat down all the idols, and put the stick into the hands of the largest idol when his father returned, he said, 'Who has done this?'
On which Abraham replied, 'Why should I deny it?, A woman came with a dish of wheat and bade me set it in front of them. I had scarcely done so when each wanted to eat before the other, and the greatest beat them all down with the stick which he had in his hand. Terah said: 'What art thou inventing for me?
Have they then understanding?' Abraham replied, 'Do thine ears not hear what thy month says?' Then Terah took him and gave him over to Nimrod, who said: 'We will worship fire.' Abraham said: 'Rather water, which extinguishes. ' Nimrod replied: 'Water then.' 'Rather the cloud which carries water.' 'The cloud then.' 'Rather the wind which scatters the cloud.' 'The wind then.' 'Rather men, who endure the wind. Nimrod at this became angry and said:
'Thou art only making a speech. I worship fire and will throw thee into it. The God whom thou dost worship may come and save thee out of it.' Abraham was then thrown into a glowing furnace, but was saved from it. (Midrash Rabbah on Gen. Paragraph 38)
A comparison of this story with the parallel story in the Quarn reveals unique similarities in the Qur'an and the Midrash which appear nowhere in the Bible.
The Qur'anic account of Abraham and the idols commences in Sura 6:74 where Abraham is quoted as saying "Takest thou idols for gods?" and this theme is then expanded in Sura 21:51-71. It is exactly the same theme as the Midrash where Abraham takes issue over the idols of his father.
The shared themes in the Midrashic account:
The Midrashic account is cited here and the Qur'anic equivalent can be found in the ayats in the brackets.
1. Abraham's father accused of being an idolater: "Terah (Abraham's father) was a manufacturer of idols" ie. He was an idolater. (52)
2. "He once went away somewhere and left Abraham..." (57)
3. Abraham breaks all the idols except the biggest: "So he took a stick, broke them, (the idols) and put the stick in the hand of the largest." (58)
4. "When his father returned he demanded, 'What have you done to them?'" (59)
(In the Qur'anic account this demand is made by his father and the people.) Abraham claims: "Thereupon the largest arose, took the stick, and broke them." (63)
6. Abraham is seized and delivered up for judgement: "Thereupon he seized him and delivered him to Nimrod." (68)
The Qur'an does not mention by name who was to punish Abraham.
7. Abraham is saved from the fire:
"When Abram descended into the fiery furnace and was saved..." (69)
All the above points are unique both to the Qur'anic and the Midrashic accounts.
They do not appear anywhere in the Bible.
Another example is the story of the Queen of Sheba (Surah 27:20-44) which appears elsewhere only in a Midrash interjected in a Targum to Esther:
Then the wild rooster replied before King Solomon, saying to him; 'Hear my words, My Lord, O king, incline your ear and listen (to) my utterances. Have not three months (passed) that I have given advice and counsel; my words are truth; I did not eat food, nor did I drink water before I flew throughout the whole world inspecting it, saying; Is there a country whose ruler is not subservient to my lord, O king? Whereupon I noticed a certain country in the land of the East, its name was the city of Qitor, whose dust is so precious and whose gold and silver exists like dung in the streets.
They do not know anything about waging war; they are unable to draw the bow; However, truly I have seen a single woman rule over them and her name is the Queen of Sheba.
Then the scribes of the king were summoned and they wrote a letter and tied the letter to the wing of the wild rooster, which proceeded to ascend heavenward and soared soaringly. It then flew among the birds which proceeded to follow it in flight; they went on to the city of Qitor to the land of Sheba. Towards morning the Queen of Sheba went out to worship the sea (? ) - when (suddenly) the birds obscured the sunlight, which caused her to take hold of her clothes and tear them. Whereupon she was very stunned. As she was in her very stunned state, the wild rooster descended towards her, and she observed a letter tied to is wing.
So she untied (it) and read it; and what was written in it? - From me, the kingdom of Solomon: Peace to you, peace to your princes.
As you know; the Holy One, Blessed be He, appointed me to reign over the wild beasts, over the fowl of the heavens and over demons and spirits.
Now all the kings of the East, the West, the South and the North come to greet me. Now if you wish to come and greet me, I will show you greater honour than all those whom I have hosted before me.
But if you do not wish to come and greet me, I will send kings and legions against you (which belong) to King Solomon.
The wild beasts are the kings, the fowl of the heavens are the raiders, the armies are the spirits, and the demons and the Liliths are the legions (who will) strangle you in your beds inside your houses; the wild beasts will kill you in the field; the fowl of the heavens (will) eat your flesh from you.
When the Queen of Sheba heard the words of the letter, she took hold of her clothes and tore them. She then summoned her elders and princes and said to them; 'Do you know what King Solomon told me?' They replied, saying: 'We do not know King Solomon nor do we recognise his kingdom.
' But she did not trust (them) and did not heed their words. She summoned all the ships of the sea and had them loaded with bracelets, pearls and precious gems. She then wrote a letter and sent it to King Solomon.......
'And now, with prayer and supplication which I will plead before you, I will come to you at the end of three years,' Now it came about at the end of three years that the Queen of Sheba came to King Solomon.
Now when King Solomon heard that she was coming to him, King Solomon arose and went to sit down in a bathhouse. When the Queen saw that the king was sitting in a bathhouse, she thought to herself the king must be sitting in water. So she raised her dress to wade across.
Whereupon he noticed the hair on her leg, to which King Solomon responded by saying: 'Your beauty is the beauty of women, but your hair is the hair of men. Now hair is beautiful for a man but shameful for a woman.' Whereupon the Queen of Sheba answered saying to him: O lord king 'I will cite you three riddles;
if you will solve them for me I will acknowledge that you are a wise man, but if not, (you are) like the rest of mankind....
Whereupon she commented, saying to him: 'I would not have believed it. Praiseworthy are these your servants.' Whereupon he brought her into the royal palace. Now when the Queen of Sheba saw the greatness and glory of King Solomon, she offered praise to the One Who created him, saying: 'Blessed be the Lord, your God who has chosen you to place you on the throne of His kingdom to do righteousness and justice.' She then gave the king a great deal of fine gold while the king gave her what she desired.
One final example is Sura 5:27-32 which is the Qur'anic story of Cain and Abel. Initially, the Torah and the Qur'an basically agree on the narrative, however in ayat 31, the two diverge.
Then God sent down a raven, which dug the earth to show him how to bury the naked corpse of his brother. (Sura 5:31)
We find a striking parallel between the Quran and a Jewish Midrash, the "Pirke Rabbi Eliezer". In Pirke Rabbi Eliezer we find this story:
Adam and his companion sat weeping and mourning for him (Abel) and did not know what to do with him as burial was unknown to them. Then came a raven, whose companion was dead, took its body, scratched in the earth, and hid it before their eyes;
then said Adam, "I shall do as this raven has done", and at once he took Abel's corpse, dug in the earth and hid it. The similarity is obvious. The only difference is that the Qur'an says Cain did the burying, the Midrash says Adam did the burying.
The next Qur'anic verse further illustrates the point:
That is why We laid it down for the Israelites that whoever killed a human being, except as punishment for murder or other villainy in the land, shall be deemed as though he had killed all mankind; and that whoever saved a human life shall be deemed as though he had saved all mankind. (Sura 5:32)
Initially, there appears to be no connection between verses 31 and 32. Why the life or death of one should be as the salvation or destruction of all mankind in not made clear in the Qur'an. When we turn to another Jewish record - the Mishnah, we find the link between the story and what follows:
We find it said in the case of Cain who murdered his brother, "The voice of thy brother's bloods crieth" (Gen. 4:10).
It is not said here blood in the singular, but bloods in the plural, that is, his own blood and the blood of his seed. Man was created single in order to show that to him who kills a single individual it shall be reckoned that he has slain the whole race, but to him who preserves the life of a single individual it is counted that he hath preserved the whole race. m.Sanhedrin 4:5
Because the word for blood is in the plural in Gen. 4:10 the Mishah teaches that all Abel's offspring had been killed with him which signified that any murder or life-saving act had universal implications.
Here is a clear instance where a study of the Mishnah sheds light and gives greater understanding to the Quran!
by Ya'akov
The Quran and Jewish Patriarchs and Prophets
The first time a Jew reads the Quran he is often surprised by the fact that the Quran does not focus on Muhammed, Ishmael or the Arab people. Instead the Quran focuses primarilly on the Jewish patriarchs and prophets. The Quran concerns itself primarily with the history and future of the Children of Israel. Thus the primary figures of the Quran are figures like Abraham, Joseph, Moses and King David. In fact the primary figure of the Quran is Moshe Aveynu (Moses our father) who is mentioned more than any other individual in the Quran. Many Jews are surprised to learn that one entire "Surah" (chapter) of the Quran (Surah 17) is titled "The Children of Israel".
The Father of Jews the mentioned most in Quran
Of all the Prophets cited in the Quran, our Prophet Moses is talked about the most, even more than Prophet Muhammad, within the Quran, his life, journies, and relationships with the children of Israel is spoken about more than other Prophets.
176 Verses in the Quran mention the name of Prophet Moses:
002.051 002.053 002.054 002.055 002.060 002.061 002.067 002.068 002.069 002.071 002.087 002.092 002.108 002.136 002.246 002.248 003.003 003.084 003.093 004.153 004.164 005.020 005.022 005.024 005.044 006.084 006.091 006.154 007.103 007.104 007.107 007.115 007.116 007.117 007.122 007.127 007.128 007.131 007.132 007.134 007.138 007.142 007.143 007.144 007.148 007.150 007.151 007.154 007.155 007.159 007.160 010.075 010.077 010.080 010.081 010.083 010.084 010.087 010.088 010.089 011.017 011.096 011.110 014.005 014.006 014.008 017.002 017.101 017.102 018.060 018.062 018.064 018.066 018.069 018.071 018.073 018.074 018.076 018.077 019.051 020.009 020.011 020.017 020.019 020.025 020.036 020.040 020.045 020.049 020.057 020.059 020.061 020.065 020.067 020.070 020.077 020.083 020.086 020.088 020.091 020.092 020.095 020.097 021.048 021.105 022.044 023.045 023.049 025.035 026.010 026.018 026.020 026.024 026.026 026.028 026.030 026.032 026.043 026.045 026.048 026.052 026.053 026.061 026.062 026.063 026.064 026.065 026.066 027.007 027.009 027.010 028.003 028.007 028.008 028.010 028.011 028.015 028.018 028.019 028.020 028.029 028.030 028.031 028.036 028.037 028.038 028.043 028.044 028.046 028.048 028.076 029.039 032.023 033.007 033.069 037.114 037.120 040.023 040.026 040.027 040.037 040.053 041.045 042.013 043.046 043.052 043.054 046.012 046.030 051.038 053.036 061.005 062.005 079.015 079.020 087.019
While only 4 mention the name of Prophet Muhammad.
The Quran teaches that the Jews are Elohim's Chosen People
Children of Israel! call to mind the favour which I bestowed upon you, and that I preferred you to all others. (Surah 2:47 repeated in 2:122)
Remember Moses said to his people: "O my people! Call in remembrance the favour of Allah unto you, when He produced prophets among you, made you kings, and gave you what He had not given to any other among the peoples.(Surah 5:21)
We did deliver aforetime the Children of Israel from humiliating Punishment, Inflicted by Pharaoh, for he was arrogant (even) among inordinate transgressors. And We chose them aforetime above the nations, knowingly, (Surah 44:30-32)
We did aforetime grant to the Children of Israel the Book the Power of Command, and Prophethood; We gave them, for Sustenance, things good and pure; and We favoured them above the nations. (Surah 45:16)
The Quran and Jewish Liturgy
The opening Surah of the Quran is very comparable to the traditional Jewish liturgy. Traditional Jewish blessings generally begin with:
Baruch Atta Adonai, Eloheynu Melech HaOlam
"Blessed are you Lord our God, King of the universe/world"
Surah 1:1 reads (in Hebrew):
Baruch L'Elohim, Ribon HaOlamim
"Blessing to Elohim, Master of the Worlds."
In fact there is nothing about Surah 1 (apart from its being part of the Quran) that would prevent it from being uttered as a Jewish prayer. It could easily appear in a Jewish prayer book if it were not for the fact that someone might say... "wait a minute this is from the Quran!".
The Talmuds, Midrashim, Targums and the Quran
Many Quran stories and sayings appear elsewhere only in the Mishnah, Talmud, Midrashim and Targums.
Islamic teachers have often, unfortunately taught that the extra-biblical traditions of Judaism are false and are of no value to the Believer. On the contrary however the Quran makes it clear that many of the extra-biblical Jewish traditions preserved in the Midrashim, Talmuds, Mishna etc. contain truth.
A primary example is that of the story of Abraham and his father the idol maker. The same basic story appears in the Talmud, the Midrash Rabbah and the Midrash Sefer Ha-Yashar. It also appears in the Quran but it does NOT appear in the Bible at all.
The story appears this way in Midrash Rabbah: Terah was an idolator once he went away and left Abraham to sell his idols. Whenever a buyer came, Abraham asked him his age. If he replied, I am fifty, or sixty years old, Abraham said 'Woe to the man of sixty who desires to worship the work of a day, so that the buyer went away ashamed.'1 Once a woman came, with a dish of wheat and said, 'Here, put this before them;' but Abraham took a stick and beat down all the idols, and put the stick into the hands of the largest idol when his father returned, he said, 'Who has done this?'
On which Abraham replied, 'Why should I deny it?, A woman came with a dish of wheat and bade me set it in front of them. I had scarcely done so when each wanted to eat before the other, and the greatest beat them all down with the stick which he had in his hand. Terah said: 'What art thou inventing for me?
Have they then understanding?' Abraham replied, 'Do thine ears not hear what thy month says?' Then Terah took him and gave him over to Nimrod, who said: 'We will worship fire.' Abraham said: 'Rather water, which extinguishes. ' Nimrod replied: 'Water then.' 'Rather the cloud which carries water.' 'The cloud then.' 'Rather the wind which scatters the cloud.' 'The wind then.' 'Rather men, who endure the wind. Nimrod at this became angry and said:
'Thou art only making a speech. I worship fire and will throw thee into it. The God whom thou dost worship may come and save thee out of it.' Abraham was then thrown into a glowing furnace, but was saved from it. (Midrash Rabbah on Gen. Paragraph 38)
A comparison of this story with the parallel story in the Quarn reveals unique similarities in the Qur'an and the Midrash which appear nowhere in the Bible.
The Qur'anic account of Abraham and the idols commences in Sura 6:74 where Abraham is quoted as saying "Takest thou idols for gods?" and this theme is then expanded in Sura 21:51-71. It is exactly the same theme as the Midrash where Abraham takes issue over the idols of his father.
The shared themes in the Midrashic account:
The Midrashic account is cited here and the Qur'anic equivalent can be found in the ayats in the brackets.
1. Abraham's father accused of being an idolater: "Terah (Abraham's father) was a manufacturer of idols" ie. He was an idolater. (52)
2. "He once went away somewhere and left Abraham..." (57)
3. Abraham breaks all the idols except the biggest: "So he took a stick, broke them, (the idols) and put the stick in the hand of the largest." (58)
4. "When his father returned he demanded, 'What have you done to them?'" (59)
(In the Qur'anic account this demand is made by his father and the people.) Abraham claims: "Thereupon the largest arose, took the stick, and broke them." (63)
6. Abraham is seized and delivered up for judgement: "Thereupon he seized him and delivered him to Nimrod." (68)
The Qur'an does not mention by name who was to punish Abraham.
7. Abraham is saved from the fire:
"When Abram descended into the fiery furnace and was saved..." (69)
All the above points are unique both to the Qur'anic and the Midrashic accounts.
They do not appear anywhere in the Bible.
Another example is the story of the Queen of Sheba (Surah 27:20-44) which appears elsewhere only in a Midrash interjected in a Targum to Esther:
Then the wild rooster replied before King Solomon, saying to him; 'Hear my words, My Lord, O king, incline your ear and listen (to) my utterances. Have not three months (passed) that I have given advice and counsel; my words are truth; I did not eat food, nor did I drink water before I flew throughout the whole world inspecting it, saying; Is there a country whose ruler is not subservient to my lord, O king? Whereupon I noticed a certain country in the land of the East, its name was the city of Qitor, whose dust is so precious and whose gold and silver exists like dung in the streets.
They do not know anything about waging war; they are unable to draw the bow; However, truly I have seen a single woman rule over them and her name is the Queen of Sheba.
Then the scribes of the king were summoned and they wrote a letter and tied the letter to the wing of the wild rooster, which proceeded to ascend heavenward and soared soaringly. It then flew among the birds which proceeded to follow it in flight; they went on to the city of Qitor to the land of Sheba. Towards morning the Queen of Sheba went out to worship the sea (? ) - when (suddenly) the birds obscured the sunlight, which caused her to take hold of her clothes and tear them. Whereupon she was very stunned. As she was in her very stunned state, the wild rooster descended towards her, and she observed a letter tied to is wing.
So she untied (it) and read it; and what was written in it? - From me, the kingdom of Solomon: Peace to you, peace to your princes.
As you know; the Holy One, Blessed be He, appointed me to reign over the wild beasts, over the fowl of the heavens and over demons and spirits.
Now all the kings of the East, the West, the South and the North come to greet me. Now if you wish to come and greet me, I will show you greater honour than all those whom I have hosted before me.
But if you do not wish to come and greet me, I will send kings and legions against you (which belong) to King Solomon.
The wild beasts are the kings, the fowl of the heavens are the raiders, the armies are the spirits, and the demons and the Liliths are the legions (who will) strangle you in your beds inside your houses; the wild beasts will kill you in the field; the fowl of the heavens (will) eat your flesh from you.
When the Queen of Sheba heard the words of the letter, she took hold of her clothes and tore them. She then summoned her elders and princes and said to them; 'Do you know what King Solomon told me?' They replied, saying: 'We do not know King Solomon nor do we recognise his kingdom.
' But she did not trust (them) and did not heed their words. She summoned all the ships of the sea and had them loaded with bracelets, pearls and precious gems. She then wrote a letter and sent it to King Solomon.......
'And now, with prayer and supplication which I will plead before you, I will come to you at the end of three years,' Now it came about at the end of three years that the Queen of Sheba came to King Solomon.
Now when King Solomon heard that she was coming to him, King Solomon arose and went to sit down in a bathhouse. When the Queen saw that the king was sitting in a bathhouse, she thought to herself the king must be sitting in water. So she raised her dress to wade across.
Whereupon he noticed the hair on her leg, to which King Solomon responded by saying: 'Your beauty is the beauty of women, but your hair is the hair of men. Now hair is beautiful for a man but shameful for a woman.' Whereupon the Queen of Sheba answered saying to him: O lord king 'I will cite you three riddles;
if you will solve them for me I will acknowledge that you are a wise man, but if not, (you are) like the rest of mankind....
Whereupon she commented, saying to him: 'I would not have believed it. Praiseworthy are these your servants.' Whereupon he brought her into the royal palace. Now when the Queen of Sheba saw the greatness and glory of King Solomon, she offered praise to the One Who created him, saying: 'Blessed be the Lord, your God who has chosen you to place you on the throne of His kingdom to do righteousness and justice.' She then gave the king a great deal of fine gold while the king gave her what she desired.
One final example is Sura 5:27-32 which is the Qur'anic story of Cain and Abel. Initially, the Torah and the Qur'an basically agree on the narrative, however in ayat 31, the two diverge.
Then God sent down a raven, which dug the earth to show him how to bury the naked corpse of his brother. (Sura 5:31)
We find a striking parallel between the Quran and a Jewish Midrash, the "Pirke Rabbi Eliezer". In Pirke Rabbi Eliezer we find this story:
Adam and his companion sat weeping and mourning for him (Abel) and did not know what to do with him as burial was unknown to them. Then came a raven, whose companion was dead, took its body, scratched in the earth, and hid it before their eyes;
then said Adam, "I shall do as this raven has done", and at once he took Abel's corpse, dug in the earth and hid it. The similarity is obvious. The only difference is that the Qur'an says Cain did the burying, the Midrash says Adam did the burying.
The next Qur'anic verse further illustrates the point:
That is why We laid it down for the Israelites that whoever killed a human being, except as punishment for murder or other villainy in the land, shall be deemed as though he had killed all mankind; and that whoever saved a human life shall be deemed as though he had saved all mankind. (Sura 5:32)
Initially, there appears to be no connection between verses 31 and 32. Why the life or death of one should be as the salvation or destruction of all mankind in not made clear in the Qur'an. When we turn to another Jewish record - the Mishnah, we find the link between the story and what follows:
We find it said in the case of Cain who murdered his brother, "The voice of thy brother's bloods crieth" (Gen. 4:10).
It is not said here blood in the singular, but bloods in the plural, that is, his own blood and the blood of his seed. Man was created single in order to show that to him who kills a single individual it shall be reckoned that he has slain the whole race, but to him who preserves the life of a single individual it is counted that he hath preserved the whole race. m.Sanhedrin 4:5
Because the word for blood is in the plural in Gen. 4:10 the Mishah teaches that all Abel's offspring had been killed with him which signified that any murder or life-saving act had universal implications.
Here is a clear instance where a study of the Mishnah sheds light and gives greater understanding to the Quran!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
How can a Muslim connect with GOD Almighty in life?
From: Muslim website
My philosophy about living as a Muslim in life and connecting with Allah Almighty is as follows:
1- You must have an infinite amount of faith in Allah Almighty:
Through faith in Allah Almighty we build hope and optimism and remove depression and fear. Through faith in Allah Almighty we gain victory in life and feel secured and happy. Through the Holy Spirit that Allah Almighty created for us to guide us in life, we can overpower Satan and his evil followers from Mankind. Allah Almighty said:
"When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way. (The Noble Quran, 2:186)"
"How can ye reject the faith in God?- seeing that ye were without life, and He gave you life; then will He cause you to die, and will again bring you to life; and again to Him will ye return. (The Noble Quran, 2:28)"
"But those who have faith and work righteousness, they are companions of the Garden: Therein shall they abide (For ever). (The Noble Quran, 2:82)"
"Yet there are men who take (for worship) others besides God, as equal (with God): They love them as they should love God. But those of Faith are overflowing in their love for God. If only the unrighteous could see, behold, they would see the penalty: that to God belongs all power, and God will strongly enforce the penalty. (The Noble Quran, 2:165)"
2- You must have an infinite amount of patience:
Allah Almighty created us here on earth to test us. His purpose for life is to filter out the good from the evil in humans. Life is a struggle for the believers and the righteous. Therefore, we must have an infinite amount of patience when dealing with life and its challenges. We must also have an infinite amount of patience when seeking Allah Almighty. The way Allah Almighty operates in life is that He allows for things to happen and He in many times takes His time to fulfill our prayers to make us appreciate the value of Him and life. Allah Almighty said:
"Nay, seek (Allah's) help With patient perseverance And prayer: It is indeed hard, except To those who bring a lowly spirit -- Who bear in mind the certainty That they are to meet their Lord, And that they are to return to Him. (The Noble Quran, 2:45-46)"
"O ye who believe! seek help With patient Perseverance And Prayer: for Allah is with those Who patiently preserve. (The Noble Quran, 2:153)"
"(Namely), those who say: "Our Lord! we have indeed believed: forgive us, then, our sins, and save us from the agony of the Fire;"- Those who show patience, Firmness and self-control; who are true (in word and deed); who worship devoutly; who spend (in the way of God); and who pray for forgiveness in the early hours of the morning. (The Noble Quran, 3:16-17)"
"And be steadfast in patience; for verily God will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish. (The Noble Quran, 11:115)"
3- You must have a good amount of discipline:
With discipline you work hard and try hard to make things better. With discipline you take actions to support what's right and condemn what's wrong. If you only have faith and patience and don't have the discipline to put your faith and patience to practice, then you will never accomplish anything good in life. You can never for instance study hard and pass your exam and get the highest grades possible without studying hard. Studying hard requires a lot of discipline and seriousness about success in life. Without it, you can never study hard or accomplish anything. Allah Almighty said:
"It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in God and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing. (The Noble Quran, 2:177)"
"They believe in God and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works: They are in the ranks of the righteous. (The Noble Quran, 3:114)"
"It is not your wealth nor your sons, that will bring you nearer to Us in degree: but only those who believe and work righteousness - these are the ones for whom there is a multiplied Reward for their deeds, while secure they (reside) in the dwellings on high! (The Noble Quran, 34:37)"
"But give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that their portion is Gardens, beneath which rivers flow. Every time they are fed with fruits therefrom, they say: "Why, this is what we were fed with before,"for they are given things in similitude; and they have therein companions pure (and holy); and they abide therein (for ever). (The Noble Quran, 2:25)"
4- You must always try your honest best in everything you do, and everything you do has to be for a good cause that pleases Allah Almighty:
Working hard is not enough in life. You must always try your honest best, where you deep inside yourself know that there is nothing more you could've done to accomplish the goal. This helps you to have inner peace and comfort even during your loss times, because you would know that the loss happened from the Determination and Will of Allah Almighty, and not because of your lack of hard work or discipline. Allah Almighty said:
"Say: 'Nothing will happen to us except what God has decreed for us: He is our protector': and on God let the Believers put their trust. (The Noble Quran, 9:51)"
"Say: 'I have no power Over any harm or profit To myself except as Allah Willeth. To every People Is a term appointed: When their term is reached, Not an hour can they cause Delay, nor (an hour) can they Advance (it in anticipation).' (The Noble Quran, 10:49)"
"In whatever business thou mayest be, and whatever portion thou mayest be reciting from the Quran,- and whatever deed ye (mankind) may be doing,- We are witnesses thereof when ye are deeply engrossed therein. Nor is hidden from thy Lord (so much as) the weight of an atom on the earth or in heaven. And not the least and not the greatest of these things but are recorded in a clear record. (The Noble Quran, 10:61)"
"Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it! And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it. (The Noble Quran, 99:7)"
"And their Lord hath accepted of them, and answered them: "Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female: Ye are members, one of another: Those who have left their homes, or been driven out therefrom, or suffered harm in My Cause, or fought or been slain,- verily, I will blot out from them their iniquities, and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing beneath;- A reward from the presence of God, and from His presence is the best of rewards." (The Noble Quran, 3:195)"
"They believe in God and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works: They are in the ranks of the righteous. (The Noble Quran, 3:114)"
"Verily this Quran doth guide to that which is most right (or stable), and giveth the Glad Tidings to the Believers who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a magnificent reward; (The Noble Quran, 17:9)"
5- You must have an infinite amount of trust in Allah Almighty:
As a Muslim, once you tried your honest best to accomplish the good cause that pleases Allah Almighty, whether it is studying for schools, working at a job, spreading Islam to Mankind, etc..., you must always keep your trust in Allah Almighty, and know that whatever gains or losses that result from your work are only determined and chosen for you by Allah Almighty to further test you in life. Allah Almighty said:
"Say: 'Nothing will happen to us except what God has decreed for us: He is our protector': and on God let the Believers put their trust. (The Noble Quran, 9:51)"
"It is part of the Mercy of God that thou dost deal gently with them Wert thou severe or harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about thee: so pass over (Their faults), and ask for (God's) forgiveness for them; and consult them in affairs (of moment). Then, when thou hast Taken a decision put thy trust in God. For God loves those who put their trust (in Him). (The Noble Quran, 3:159)"
"They have "Obedience" on their lips; but when they leave thee, a section of them Meditate all night on things very different from what thou tellest them. But God records their nightly (plots): So keep clear of them, and put thy trust in God, and enough is God as a disposer of affairs. (The Noble Quran, 4:81)"
"For, Believers are those who, when God is mentioned, feel a tremor in their hearts, and when they hear His signs rehearsed, find their faith strengthened, and put (all) their trust in their Lord; (The Noble Quran, 8:2)"
Warning: Watch out from gaining too much self confidence and arrogance from your successes. If you begin to gain arrogance and think too highly of yourself, then you are beginning to loss faith and trust in Allah Almighty. Sometimes Allah Almighty grants more gains to the arrogant and evil people in life to finish their rewards and gains during their life times, so they wouldn't have anything in the Day of Judgement. So a true Muslim, must always humble him or herself and must never think that they are a big deal and forget that it was Allah Almighty that put them in that position to test them to see if they're worthy or not. Allah Almighty said:
"Nor walk on the earth with insolence: for thou can not rend the earth asunder, nor reach the mountains in height. (The Noble Quran, 17:37)"
"And swell not thy cheek (for pride) at men, nor walk in insolence through the earth; for God loveth not any arrogant boaster. (The Noble Quran, 31:18)"
Insolence, or arrogance, or undue elation at our powers or capacities, is the first step to many evils. Besides, it is unjustified. All our gifts are from Allah Almighty.
6- Always pray and prostrate to Allah Almighty in humility:
Allah Almighty loves those who seek Him in prayers and humble themselves for Him in humility by prostrating to Him. Allah Almighty said:
"And be steadfast in prayer; practise regular charity; and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worship). (The Noble Quran, 2:43)"
"Nay, seek (God's) help with patient perseverance and prayer: It is indeed hard, except to those who bring a lowly spirit,- (The Noble Quran, 2:45)"
"O ye who believe! seek help With patient Perseverance And Prayer: for Allah is with those Who patiently preserve. (The Noble Quran, 2:153)"
"Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before God in a devout (frame of mind). (The Noble Quran, 2:238)"
"Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do. (The Noble Quran, 29:45)"
Conclusion:
If you follow the above six points, then I promise you that you will always have inner peace and feel the connection with Allah Almighty. No matter how difficult life is on you, if you keep your infinite faith, patience and trust in Allah Almighty, and always try your honest best in everything you do, and keep yourself disciplined and work hard to accomplish your goals, and pray to Allah Almighty in humility, then no evil will ever overpower you, nor will you ever feel any regrets for losses, because you know it would be from the Will of Allah Almighty and not your own fault or lack of hard work.
My philosophy about living as a Muslim in life and connecting with Allah Almighty is as follows:
1- You must have an infinite amount of faith in Allah Almighty:
Through faith in Allah Almighty we build hope and optimism and remove depression and fear. Through faith in Allah Almighty we gain victory in life and feel secured and happy. Through the Holy Spirit that Allah Almighty created for us to guide us in life, we can overpower Satan and his evil followers from Mankind. Allah Almighty said:
"When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will, Listen to My call, and believe in Me: That they may walk in the right way. (The Noble Quran, 2:186)"
"How can ye reject the faith in God?- seeing that ye were without life, and He gave you life; then will He cause you to die, and will again bring you to life; and again to Him will ye return. (The Noble Quran, 2:28)"
"But those who have faith and work righteousness, they are companions of the Garden: Therein shall they abide (For ever). (The Noble Quran, 2:82)"
"Yet there are men who take (for worship) others besides God, as equal (with God): They love them as they should love God. But those of Faith are overflowing in their love for God. If only the unrighteous could see, behold, they would see the penalty: that to God belongs all power, and God will strongly enforce the penalty. (The Noble Quran, 2:165)"
2- You must have an infinite amount of patience:
Allah Almighty created us here on earth to test us. His purpose for life is to filter out the good from the evil in humans. Life is a struggle for the believers and the righteous. Therefore, we must have an infinite amount of patience when dealing with life and its challenges. We must also have an infinite amount of patience when seeking Allah Almighty. The way Allah Almighty operates in life is that He allows for things to happen and He in many times takes His time to fulfill our prayers to make us appreciate the value of Him and life. Allah Almighty said:
"Nay, seek (Allah's) help With patient perseverance And prayer: It is indeed hard, except To those who bring a lowly spirit -- Who bear in mind the certainty That they are to meet their Lord, And that they are to return to Him. (The Noble Quran, 2:45-46)"
"O ye who believe! seek help With patient Perseverance And Prayer: for Allah is with those Who patiently preserve. (The Noble Quran, 2:153)"
"(Namely), those who say: "Our Lord! we have indeed believed: forgive us, then, our sins, and save us from the agony of the Fire;"- Those who show patience, Firmness and self-control; who are true (in word and deed); who worship devoutly; who spend (in the way of God); and who pray for forgiveness in the early hours of the morning. (The Noble Quran, 3:16-17)"
"And be steadfast in patience; for verily God will not suffer the reward of the righteous to perish. (The Noble Quran, 11:115)"
3- You must have a good amount of discipline:
With discipline you work hard and try hard to make things better. With discipline you take actions to support what's right and condemn what's wrong. If you only have faith and patience and don't have the discipline to put your faith and patience to practice, then you will never accomplish anything good in life. You can never for instance study hard and pass your exam and get the highest grades possible without studying hard. Studying hard requires a lot of discipline and seriousness about success in life. Without it, you can never study hard or accomplish anything. Allah Almighty said:
"It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or West; but it is righteousness- to believe in God and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing. (The Noble Quran, 2:177)"
"They believe in God and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works: They are in the ranks of the righteous. (The Noble Quran, 3:114)"
"It is not your wealth nor your sons, that will bring you nearer to Us in degree: but only those who believe and work righteousness - these are the ones for whom there is a multiplied Reward for their deeds, while secure they (reside) in the dwellings on high! (The Noble Quran, 34:37)"
"But give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, that their portion is Gardens, beneath which rivers flow. Every time they are fed with fruits therefrom, they say: "Why, this is what we were fed with before,"for they are given things in similitude; and they have therein companions pure (and holy); and they abide therein (for ever). (The Noble Quran, 2:25)"
4- You must always try your honest best in everything you do, and everything you do has to be for a good cause that pleases Allah Almighty:
Working hard is not enough in life. You must always try your honest best, where you deep inside yourself know that there is nothing more you could've done to accomplish the goal. This helps you to have inner peace and comfort even during your loss times, because you would know that the loss happened from the Determination and Will of Allah Almighty, and not because of your lack of hard work or discipline. Allah Almighty said:
"Say: 'Nothing will happen to us except what God has decreed for us: He is our protector': and on God let the Believers put their trust. (The Noble Quran, 9:51)"
"Say: 'I have no power Over any harm or profit To myself except as Allah Willeth. To every People Is a term appointed: When their term is reached, Not an hour can they cause Delay, nor (an hour) can they Advance (it in anticipation).' (The Noble Quran, 10:49)"
"In whatever business thou mayest be, and whatever portion thou mayest be reciting from the Quran,- and whatever deed ye (mankind) may be doing,- We are witnesses thereof when ye are deeply engrossed therein. Nor is hidden from thy Lord (so much as) the weight of an atom on the earth or in heaven. And not the least and not the greatest of these things but are recorded in a clear record. (The Noble Quran, 10:61)"
"Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it! And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it. (The Noble Quran, 99:7)"
"And their Lord hath accepted of them, and answered them: "Never will I suffer to be lost the work of any of you, be he male or female: Ye are members, one of another: Those who have left their homes, or been driven out therefrom, or suffered harm in My Cause, or fought or been slain,- verily, I will blot out from them their iniquities, and admit them into Gardens with rivers flowing beneath;- A reward from the presence of God, and from His presence is the best of rewards." (The Noble Quran, 3:195)"
"They believe in God and the Last Day; they enjoin what is right, and forbid what is wrong; and they hasten (in emulation) in (all) good works: They are in the ranks of the righteous. (The Noble Quran, 3:114)"
"Verily this Quran doth guide to that which is most right (or stable), and giveth the Glad Tidings to the Believers who work deeds of righteousness, that they shall have a magnificent reward; (The Noble Quran, 17:9)"
5- You must have an infinite amount of trust in Allah Almighty:
As a Muslim, once you tried your honest best to accomplish the good cause that pleases Allah Almighty, whether it is studying for schools, working at a job, spreading Islam to Mankind, etc..., you must always keep your trust in Allah Almighty, and know that whatever gains or losses that result from your work are only determined and chosen for you by Allah Almighty to further test you in life. Allah Almighty said:
"Say: 'Nothing will happen to us except what God has decreed for us: He is our protector': and on God let the Believers put their trust. (The Noble Quran, 9:51)"
"It is part of the Mercy of God that thou dost deal gently with them Wert thou severe or harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about thee: so pass over (Their faults), and ask for (God's) forgiveness for them; and consult them in affairs (of moment). Then, when thou hast Taken a decision put thy trust in God. For God loves those who put their trust (in Him). (The Noble Quran, 3:159)"
"They have "Obedience" on their lips; but when they leave thee, a section of them Meditate all night on things very different from what thou tellest them. But God records their nightly (plots): So keep clear of them, and put thy trust in God, and enough is God as a disposer of affairs. (The Noble Quran, 4:81)"
"For, Believers are those who, when God is mentioned, feel a tremor in their hearts, and when they hear His signs rehearsed, find their faith strengthened, and put (all) their trust in their Lord; (The Noble Quran, 8:2)"
Warning: Watch out from gaining too much self confidence and arrogance from your successes. If you begin to gain arrogance and think too highly of yourself, then you are beginning to loss faith and trust in Allah Almighty. Sometimes Allah Almighty grants more gains to the arrogant and evil people in life to finish their rewards and gains during their life times, so they wouldn't have anything in the Day of Judgement. So a true Muslim, must always humble him or herself and must never think that they are a big deal and forget that it was Allah Almighty that put them in that position to test them to see if they're worthy or not. Allah Almighty said:
"Nor walk on the earth with insolence: for thou can not rend the earth asunder, nor reach the mountains in height. (The Noble Quran, 17:37)"
"And swell not thy cheek (for pride) at men, nor walk in insolence through the earth; for God loveth not any arrogant boaster. (The Noble Quran, 31:18)"
Insolence, or arrogance, or undue elation at our powers or capacities, is the first step to many evils. Besides, it is unjustified. All our gifts are from Allah Almighty.
6- Always pray and prostrate to Allah Almighty in humility:
Allah Almighty loves those who seek Him in prayers and humble themselves for Him in humility by prostrating to Him. Allah Almighty said:
"And be steadfast in prayer; practise regular charity; and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worship). (The Noble Quran, 2:43)"
"Nay, seek (God's) help with patient perseverance and prayer: It is indeed hard, except to those who bring a lowly spirit,- (The Noble Quran, 2:45)"
"O ye who believe! seek help With patient Perseverance And Prayer: for Allah is with those Who patiently preserve. (The Noble Quran, 2:153)"
"Guard strictly your (habit of) prayers, especially the Middle Prayer; and stand before God in a devout (frame of mind). (The Noble Quran, 2:238)"
"Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do. (The Noble Quran, 29:45)"
Conclusion:
If you follow the above six points, then I promise you that you will always have inner peace and feel the connection with Allah Almighty. No matter how difficult life is on you, if you keep your infinite faith, patience and trust in Allah Almighty, and always try your honest best in everything you do, and keep yourself disciplined and work hard to accomplish your goals, and pray to Allah Almighty in humility, then no evil will ever overpower you, nor will you ever feel any regrets for losses, because you know it would be from the Will of Allah Almighty and not your own fault or lack of hard work.
If God Wills
From: Reading Islam
By Neveen Shedid
Reading Islam Team
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"If God wills" or "God willing" are common phrases Muslims use regularly and quite frequently in their daily conversations.
If you ever happen to have a conversation with a Muslim you will always find him ending most of his sentences about anything that he will do in the future with the phrase "If God wills" (in sha' Allah in Arabic), be it something he will do in the next coming minutes or after ten years.
Muslims believe that nothing in the heavens or the earth happens unless God wants it to happen. Part of believing in the Oneness of God and true submission to Him is believing in His full control and power over everything He created.
A firm believer in God knows that God gave him limited powers, he can't assure to himself that he will live to the following day, let alone guaranteeing taking his second breath. So he always attributes any will or power to God, for He is the one Who gives it to him.
When the pagans asked Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to tell them about "the Sleepers of the Cave", the story of "Zul-Qarnain" and the soul, he said tomorrow I will tell you the answers of your questions, without saying "If God wills".
Prophet Muhammad waited for a revelation from God with the answers for these questions for fifteen days. Then God revealed to him the following verses reminding him that no one should say tomorrow I will do so and so without saying If God wills,
[And do not say of anything: Surely I will do it tomorrow, Unless Allah pleases; and remember your Lord when you forget and say: Maybe my Lord will guide me to a nearer course to the right than this.] (Al-Kahf 18:23-24)
This, of course, is not an open invitation to be passive, break promises, and lay back, saying, "I have no power whatsoever over my life."
Reliance on God for help and sustenance, and admitting His power should not be interpreted as passivity of action in one's life, for God ordered us to work hard and at the same time seek His guidance and help and rely on His wisdom for deciding what is better for us.
As we don’t know the future, and the Unseen belongs to God only. We should trust in His divine providence.
God says in the Quran what means,
[Say: I do not control any benefit or harm for my own soul except as Allah please; and had I known the Unseen I would have had much of good and no evil would have touched me; I am nothing but a warner and the giver of good news to a people who believe.] (Al-A`raf7:188)
Believing in God's power over everything is a kind of relief for every Muslim, for he knows that God only decrees what's good for him. When faced with ordeals and calamities, Muslims believe that God will always guide them to a way out.
They truly mean it when they say " Tomorrow will be better, if God wills" for they know that their Lord only does what's best for them, and from Him comes all the bounties and all the Good.
Neveen Shedidis an editor at Reading Islam. She holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Cairo university and a diploma in Islamic studies.
The Greatness of God
By: Ibn Al-Qayyim
He governs the affairs of the various kingdoms and He commands and forbids, creates, sustains, gives death, gives life, gives power,strips power (to and from whom He wills) and alternates the night and day.
He gives varying fortunes to people and alternates governments(and states), destroying some and bringing some into existence. His Command and Power are dominant in the heavens and their zones, the earth and all that which is on and in it, in the seas and in the air.
His Knowledge has encompassed everything and He counted everything. He hears all types of voices and they do not confuse Him. Rather, He hears each voice in its distinct language and need, and no voice will make Him busy from fulfilling the need of another, and no need will ever escape His Perfect Knowledge (and His Power to deliver).
He does not become bored because of the many needs of those who need. His Sight encompasses all that which there is. He sees the movement of a black ant on a barren rock during a dark night. To Him, the Unseen is uncovered end the secret is secret no more, “Whosoever is in the heavens and on Earth begs of Him (its needs from Him).
Every day He has a matter to bring Forth (such as giving honor to some, disgrace to some, life to (some, death to some, etc.).” [55:29]
He forgives an evil deed, makes depression vanish and brings reprieve from disasters, relief for whoever needs it, wealth for the poor,guidance for the misguided, light for the lost, help for he who is desperate, fullness for the hungry, cover for the barely clothed, cure for the ill and ease for he who suffers.
He accepts he who repents, gives reward for he who does good, gives aid for he who was dealt within justice, destroys an arrogant person, covers mistakes, gives safety after fear end elevates some people and humiliates others.
If those who inhabit His heavens and His earth and all those whom He created,whether mankind or the Jinns, had hearts similar to the most pious heart, His Kingdom will not increase. If all His creation, whether mankind or the Jinns, had hearts similar to the heart of the most wicked heart, this will not decrease from His Kingdom.
Also, if all those who inhabit His heavens and His earth, all mankind and all the Jinns, the dead and the living, stand up on one strip of land and each asks Him for his need, and He then fulfils their needs, this will not decrease from what He has a bit.
He is the First, nothing is before Him, the Last, nothing is after Him, the Most High, nothing is above Him, and the Most Near, nothing is nearer than Him. He, Exalted and Ever High as He is, is the Best Whom one can and should remember, the only One Who deserves to be worshiped and thanked, the Kindest of all those who own and the Most generous of all those who are asked to give.
He is the King Who has nopartner, the One Who has no competitor, the Samad (Self-Sufficient)Who has no offspring, and the Ever High, none like unto Him.Everything perishes save His Face and every kingship is bound to perish except His.
He will only be obeyed by His Leave, and His Knowledge uncovers all disobedience to Him. When He is obeyed, He thanks for it, and when He is disobeyed, He grants forgiveness (forthose who truly repent to Him). Every punishment from Him is just and every bounty is a grace.
He is the Closest Witness and the Nearest Onewith His Perfect Care. He controls the forelocks of everything and hasthe full records of all deeds end the books of all ages. The heartsare unmasked to Him and the secret is unveiled. His giving and punishing is merely a Command, “Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, ‘Be, and it is!’” [36:82].
He governs the affairs of the various kingdoms and He commands and forbids, creates, sustains, gives death, gives life, gives power,strips power (to and from whom He wills) and alternates the night and day.
He gives varying fortunes to people and alternates governments(and states), destroying some and bringing some into existence. His Command and Power are dominant in the heavens and their zones, the earth and all that which is on and in it, in the seas and in the air.
His Knowledge has encompassed everything and He counted everything. He hears all types of voices and they do not confuse Him. Rather, He hears each voice in its distinct language and need, and no voice will make Him busy from fulfilling the need of another, and no need will ever escape His Perfect Knowledge (and His Power to deliver).
He does not become bored because of the many needs of those who need. His Sight encompasses all that which there is. He sees the movement of a black ant on a barren rock during a dark night. To Him, the Unseen is uncovered end the secret is secret no more, “Whosoever is in the heavens and on Earth begs of Him (its needs from Him).
Every day He has a matter to bring Forth (such as giving honor to some, disgrace to some, life to (some, death to some, etc.).” [55:29]
He forgives an evil deed, makes depression vanish and brings reprieve from disasters, relief for whoever needs it, wealth for the poor,guidance for the misguided, light for the lost, help for he who is desperate, fullness for the hungry, cover for the barely clothed, cure for the ill and ease for he who suffers.
He accepts he who repents, gives reward for he who does good, gives aid for he who was dealt within justice, destroys an arrogant person, covers mistakes, gives safety after fear end elevates some people and humiliates others.
If those who inhabit His heavens and His earth and all those whom He created,whether mankind or the Jinns, had hearts similar to the most pious heart, His Kingdom will not increase. If all His creation, whether mankind or the Jinns, had hearts similar to the heart of the most wicked heart, this will not decrease from His Kingdom.
Also, if all those who inhabit His heavens and His earth, all mankind and all the Jinns, the dead and the living, stand up on one strip of land and each asks Him for his need, and He then fulfils their needs, this will not decrease from what He has a bit.
He is the First, nothing is before Him, the Last, nothing is after Him, the Most High, nothing is above Him, and the Most Near, nothing is nearer than Him. He, Exalted and Ever High as He is, is the Best Whom one can and should remember, the only One Who deserves to be worshiped and thanked, the Kindest of all those who own and the Most generous of all those who are asked to give.
He is the King Who has nopartner, the One Who has no competitor, the Samad (Self-Sufficient)Who has no offspring, and the Ever High, none like unto Him.Everything perishes save His Face and every kingship is bound to perish except His.
He will only be obeyed by His Leave, and His Knowledge uncovers all disobedience to Him. When He is obeyed, He thanks for it, and when He is disobeyed, He grants forgiveness (forthose who truly repent to Him). Every punishment from Him is just and every bounty is a grace.
He is the Closest Witness and the Nearest Onewith His Perfect Care. He controls the forelocks of everything and hasthe full records of all deeds end the books of all ages. The heartsare unmasked to Him and the secret is unveiled. His giving and punishing is merely a Command, “Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, ‘Be, and it is!’” [36:82].
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
A SCIENTIST'S INTERPRETATION OF REFERENCES TO EMBRYOLOGY IN THE QURAN
By Keith L. Moore, PhD., F.I.A.C.
Statements referring to human reproduction and development are scattered throughout the Quran. It is only recently that the scientific meanings of some of these verses have been appreciated fully. The long delay in interpreting these correctly resulted mainly from inaccurate translations and commentaries and from a lack of awareness of scientific knowledge.
Interest in explanations of the verses of the Quran is not new. People used to ask the prophet Muhammad all sort of questions about the meaning of verses referring to human reproduction. The Apostle's answers from the basis of the Hadith literature. The translations of the verses from the Quran which are interpreted in this paper were provided by Sheik Abdul Majid Zendani, a professor of Islamic Studies in King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
"He makes you in the wombs of your mothers in stages,one after another, in three veils of darkness."
This statement is from Sura 39:6We do not know when it was realized that human beings underwent development in the uterus (womb), but the first known illustration of a fetus in the uterus was drawn by Leonardo da Vinci in the 15th century. In the 2nd century A.D., Galen described the placenta and fetal membranes in his book "On the Formation of the Foetus."Consequently, doctors in the 7th century A.D. likely knew that the human embryo developed in the uterus. It is unlikely that they knew that it developed in stages, even though Aristotle had described the stages of development of the chick embryo in the 4th century B.C.
The realization that the human embryo develops in stages was not discussed and illustrated until the 15th century.After the microscope was discovered in the 17th century by Leeuwenhoek descriptions were made of the early stages if the chick embryos. The staging of human embryos was not described until the 20th century: Streeter (1941) developed the first system of staging which has now been replace by a more accurate system proposed by O'Rahilly (1972)
"The three veils of darkness"May refer to:1- The anterior abdominal wall;2- The uterine wall; and3- The amniochorionic membrane. Although there are other interpretations of this statement, the one presented here seems the most logical from an embryological point of view.
"Then We placed him as a drop in a place of rest"This statement is from Sura 23:13.The drop of nutfah has been interpreted as the sperm or spermatozoon, but a more meaningful interpretation would be the zygote which divides to form a blastocyst which is implanted in the uterus ("a place of rest"). This interpretation is supported by another verse in the Quran which states that"A human being is created from a mixed drop."The zygote forms by the union of a mixture of the sperm and the ovum ("The mixed drop") "Then We made the drop into a leech-like structure."This statement is from Sura 23:14. The word "alagah" refers to a leech or bloodsucker. This is an appropriate description of the human embryo from days 7-24 when it clings to the endometrium of the uterus, in the same way that a leech clings to the skin. Just as the leech derives blood from the host, the human embryo derives blood from the deciduas or pregnant endometrium. It is remarkable how much the embryo of 23-24 days resembles a leech. As there were no microscopes or lenses available in the 7th century, doctors would not have known that the human embryo had this leech-like appearance. In the early part of the fourth week, the embryo is just visible to the unaided eye because it is smaller than a kernel of wheat.
"Then of that leech-like structure, We made a chewed lump."This statement is also from Sura 23:14. The Arabic work "mudghah" means "chewed substance or chewed lump." Toward the end of the fourth week, the human embryo looks somewhat like a chewed lump of flesh. The chewed appearance results from the somites which resemble teeth marks. The somites represent the beginnings or primordial of the vertebrae. "Then we made out of the chewed lump, bones and clothed the bones in flesh."This continuation of Sura 23:14 indicate that out of the chewed lump stage, bones and muscles form. This is in accordance with embryological development. First the bones form as cartilage models and then the muscles (flesh) develop around them from the somatic mesoderm.
"Then we developed out of it another creature."This next part of Sura 23:14 implies that the bones and muscles result in the formation of another creature. This may refer to the Human-like embryo that forms by the end of the eighth week. At this stage it has distinctive human characteristics and possesses the primordial of all the internal and external organs and parts. After the eighth week the human embryo is called a fetus. This may be the new creature to which the verse refers.
"And he gave you hearing and sight and feeling and understanding."This part of Sura 32:9 indicates that the special senses of hearing, seeing, and feeling develop in this order, which is true. The primordial of the internal ears appear before the beginning of the eyes, and the brain (the site of understanding) differentiates last.
"Then out of a piece of chewed flesh, partly formed and partly unformed."This part of Sura 22:5 seems to indicate that the embryo is composed of both differentiated and undifferentiated tissues. For example, when the cartilage bones are differentiated, the embryonic connective tissue or mesenchyme around them is undifferentiated. It later differentiates into the muscles and ligaments attached to the bones.
"And we cause whom We will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term."This next part of Sura 22:5 seems to imply that God determines which embryos will remain in the uterus until full term. It is known that many embryos abort during the first month of development and that only about 30% of zygotes that form, develop into fetuses that survive until birth. This verse has also been interpreted to mean that God determines whether the embryo will develop into a boy or girl.The interpretation of the verses in the Quran referring to human development would not have been possible in the 7th century AD, or even a hundred years ago. We can interpret them now because the science of modern Embryology affords us new understanding. Undoubtedly there are other verses in the Quran related to human development that will be understood in the future as our knowledge increases.
From: The Journal of the Islamic Medical Association, Vol. 18, Jan-June 1986, pp. 15-16
Statements referring to human reproduction and development are scattered throughout the Quran. It is only recently that the scientific meanings of some of these verses have been appreciated fully. The long delay in interpreting these correctly resulted mainly from inaccurate translations and commentaries and from a lack of awareness of scientific knowledge.
Interest in explanations of the verses of the Quran is not new. People used to ask the prophet Muhammad all sort of questions about the meaning of verses referring to human reproduction. The Apostle's answers from the basis of the Hadith literature. The translations of the verses from the Quran which are interpreted in this paper were provided by Sheik Abdul Majid Zendani, a professor of Islamic Studies in King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
"He makes you in the wombs of your mothers in stages,one after another, in three veils of darkness."
This statement is from Sura 39:6We do not know when it was realized that human beings underwent development in the uterus (womb), but the first known illustration of a fetus in the uterus was drawn by Leonardo da Vinci in the 15th century. In the 2nd century A.D., Galen described the placenta and fetal membranes in his book "On the Formation of the Foetus."Consequently, doctors in the 7th century A.D. likely knew that the human embryo developed in the uterus. It is unlikely that they knew that it developed in stages, even though Aristotle had described the stages of development of the chick embryo in the 4th century B.C.
The realization that the human embryo develops in stages was not discussed and illustrated until the 15th century.After the microscope was discovered in the 17th century by Leeuwenhoek descriptions were made of the early stages if the chick embryos. The staging of human embryos was not described until the 20th century: Streeter (1941) developed the first system of staging which has now been replace by a more accurate system proposed by O'Rahilly (1972)
"The three veils of darkness"May refer to:1- The anterior abdominal wall;2- The uterine wall; and3- The amniochorionic membrane. Although there are other interpretations of this statement, the one presented here seems the most logical from an embryological point of view.
"Then We placed him as a drop in a place of rest"This statement is from Sura 23:13.The drop of nutfah has been interpreted as the sperm or spermatozoon, but a more meaningful interpretation would be the zygote which divides to form a blastocyst which is implanted in the uterus ("a place of rest"). This interpretation is supported by another verse in the Quran which states that"A human being is created from a mixed drop."The zygote forms by the union of a mixture of the sperm and the ovum ("The mixed drop") "Then We made the drop into a leech-like structure."This statement is from Sura 23:14. The word "alagah" refers to a leech or bloodsucker. This is an appropriate description of the human embryo from days 7-24 when it clings to the endometrium of the uterus, in the same way that a leech clings to the skin. Just as the leech derives blood from the host, the human embryo derives blood from the deciduas or pregnant endometrium. It is remarkable how much the embryo of 23-24 days resembles a leech. As there were no microscopes or lenses available in the 7th century, doctors would not have known that the human embryo had this leech-like appearance. In the early part of the fourth week, the embryo is just visible to the unaided eye because it is smaller than a kernel of wheat.
"Then of that leech-like structure, We made a chewed lump."This statement is also from Sura 23:14. The Arabic work "mudghah" means "chewed substance or chewed lump." Toward the end of the fourth week, the human embryo looks somewhat like a chewed lump of flesh. The chewed appearance results from the somites which resemble teeth marks. The somites represent the beginnings or primordial of the vertebrae. "Then we made out of the chewed lump, bones and clothed the bones in flesh."This continuation of Sura 23:14 indicate that out of the chewed lump stage, bones and muscles form. This is in accordance with embryological development. First the bones form as cartilage models and then the muscles (flesh) develop around them from the somatic mesoderm.
"Then we developed out of it another creature."This next part of Sura 23:14 implies that the bones and muscles result in the formation of another creature. This may refer to the Human-like embryo that forms by the end of the eighth week. At this stage it has distinctive human characteristics and possesses the primordial of all the internal and external organs and parts. After the eighth week the human embryo is called a fetus. This may be the new creature to which the verse refers.
"And he gave you hearing and sight and feeling and understanding."This part of Sura 32:9 indicates that the special senses of hearing, seeing, and feeling develop in this order, which is true. The primordial of the internal ears appear before the beginning of the eyes, and the brain (the site of understanding) differentiates last.
"Then out of a piece of chewed flesh, partly formed and partly unformed."This part of Sura 22:5 seems to indicate that the embryo is composed of both differentiated and undifferentiated tissues. For example, when the cartilage bones are differentiated, the embryonic connective tissue or mesenchyme around them is undifferentiated. It later differentiates into the muscles and ligaments attached to the bones.
"And we cause whom We will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term."This next part of Sura 22:5 seems to imply that God determines which embryos will remain in the uterus until full term. It is known that many embryos abort during the first month of development and that only about 30% of zygotes that form, develop into fetuses that survive until birth. This verse has also been interpreted to mean that God determines whether the embryo will develop into a boy or girl.The interpretation of the verses in the Quran referring to human development would not have been possible in the 7th century AD, or even a hundred years ago. We can interpret them now because the science of modern Embryology affords us new understanding. Undoubtedly there are other verses in the Quran related to human development that will be understood in the future as our knowledge increases.
From: The Journal of the Islamic Medical Association, Vol. 18, Jan-June 1986, pp. 15-16
Female figures in the Qur'an
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about female figures that appear in the Qur'an. For the roles, rights, and duties of women as laid out in the Qur'an, see Women and Islam.
Female figures in the Qur'an are important characters and subjects of discussion in the stories and morals taught in Islam. Some of the women in the Qu'ran are portrayed in a positive light, while others are condemned for their actions. Mary is the only female mentioned in the Qur'an by name; the others' names come from other traditions. Most of the women in the Quran are represented as either the mothers or wives of certain leaders and prophets. Women in the Quran still retained a surprising amount of autonomy from men in some respects; for example, the Quran describes women who converted to Islam before their husbands did, or women who took an independent oath of allegiance to Muhammad. [1]
Contents[hide]
1 Eve
2 Wives of Noah and Lot
3 Sara (سارة), Wife of Abraham
4 Aziz's Wife and the Ladies
5 Mother and sister of Moses
6 Wife of Moses
7 Asiyah, Wife of the Pharaoh
8 The Queen of Sheba (Bilqis)
9 Wife of Imran
10 Mary (مريم)
11 The woman who complained to Muhammad
12 See also
13 References
//
[edit] Eve
God created Adam and Eve and had them live in Paradise. The first human mistake was by Adam and Eve who both ate fruit forbidden by God:
“
But Satan whispered evil to him: he said, "O Adam! shall I lead thee to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that never decays?" Then they twain ate thereof, so that their shame became apparent unto them, and they began to hide by heaping on themselves some of the leaves of the Garden. And Adam disobeyed his Lord, so went astray. [Qur'an 20:120]
”
[edit] Wives of Noah and Lot
The Quran speaks of the wives of Noah (Arabic:Nuh) and Lot (Arabic:Lut) in contempt:
“
"God sets forth an example to those who disbelieve: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot, they were both under two of Our righteous servants, but they acted treacherously towards them so they availed them naught against God, and it was said: Enter both the fire with those who enter." [Qur'an 66:10]
”
[edit] Sara (سارة), Wife of Abraham
“
And his wife was standing (there), and she laughed (either, because the Messengers did not eat their food or for being glad for the destruction of the people of Lut (Lot). But We gave her glad tidings of Ishâq (Isaac), and after Ishâq, of Ya'qûb (Jacob). (71) She said (in astonishment): "Woe unto me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman, and here is my husband, an old man? Verily! This is a strange thing!" (72) [Qur'an 11:71-72].
”
[edit] Aziz's Wife and the Ladies
“
But she in whose house he was, sought to seduce him from his (true) self: she fastened the doors, and said: "Now come, thou (dear one)!" He said: "Allah forbid! Truly (thy husband) is my lord! He made my sojourn agreeable! Truly to no good come those who do wrong!" [Qur'an 12:23]
When she heard of their malicious talk, she sent for them and prepared a banquet for them: she gave each of them a knife: and she said (to Joseph), "Come out before them." When they saw him, they did extol him, and (in their amazement) cut their hands: they said, "Allah preserve us! No mortal is this! This is none other than a noble angel!" [Qur'an 12:31]
(The king) said (to the ladies): "What was your affair when ye did seek to seduce Joseph from his (true) self?" The ladies said: "Allah preserve us! No evil know we against him!" Said the 'Aziz's wife: "Now is the truth manifest (to all): it was I who sought to seduce him from his (true) self: He is indeed of those who are (ever) true (and virtuous)." [Qur'an 12:51]
”
[edit] Mother and sister of Moses
The Qur'an narrates that Mūsā is watched by his sister, refuses the milk of other nurses and is suckled by his own mother.[2]
“
'And We revealed to Musa's mothers, saying: "Give him luck, then when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear nor grieve; surely We will bring him back to you and make him one of the apostles." And the heart of Musa's mother was empty she would have almost disclosed it had We not strengthened her heart so that she might be of the believers. And she said to his sister: "Follow him up. So she watched him from a distance while they did not perceive."' [Qur'an 28:7-10-11]
”
[edit] Wife of Moses
“
And when he arrived at the watering (place) in Madyan, he found there a group of men watering (their flocks), and besides them he found two women who were keeping back (their flocks). He said: "What is the matter with you?" They said: "We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take back (their flocks): And our father is a very old man." [Qur'an 28:23]
So he watered (their flocks) for them; then he turned back to the shade, and said: "O my Lord! truly am I in (desperate) need of any good that Thou dost send me!" [Qur'an 28:24]
Afterwards one of the (damsels) came (back) to him, walking bashfully. She said: "My father invites thee that he may reward thee for having watered (our flocks) for us." So when he came to him and narrated the story, he said: "Fear thou not: (well) hast thou escaped from unjust people." [Qur'an 28:25]
Said one of the (damsels): "O my (dear) father! engage him on wages: truly the best of men for thee to employ is the (man) who is strong and trusty" [Qur'an 28:26]
He said: "I intend to wed one of these my daughters to thee, on condition that thou serve me for eight years; but if thou complete ten years, it will be (grace) from thee. But I intend not to place thee under a difficulty: thou wilt find me, indeed, if Allah wills, one of the righteous." [Qur'an 28:27]
”
[edit] Asiyah, Wife of the Pharaoh
The wife of the Pharaoh, known in some traditions as Asiyah, is mentioned in the Quran:
“
And Allâh has set forth an example for those who believe; the wife of Fir'aun (Pharaoh), when she said: "My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Fir'aun (Pharaoh) and his work, and save me from the people who are Zâlimûn (polytheists, wrong-doers and disbelievers in Allâh). [Qur'an 66:11]
”
[edit] The Queen of Sheba (Bilqis)
The Quran speaks of the Queen of Sheba, also known as Balqees:
“
"I found (there) a woman ruling over them and provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent throne. [Qur'an 27:23]
"I found her and her people worshipping the sun besides Allah: Satan has made their deeds seem pleasing in their eyes, and has kept them away from the Path,- so they receive no guidance,- [Qur'an 27:24]
She said: "Kings, when they enter a country, despoil it, and make the noblest of its people its meanest thus do they behave. [Qur'an 27:34]
"But I am going to send him a present, and (wait) to see with what (answer) return (my) ambassadors." [Qur'an 27:35]
So when she arrived, she was asked, "Is this thy throne?" She said, "It was just like this; and knowledge was bestowed on us in advance of this, and we have submitted to Allah (in Islam)." [Qur'an 27:42]
She was asked to enter the lofty Palace: but when she saw it, she thought it was a lake of water, and she (tucked up her skirts), uncovering her legs. He said: "This is but a palace paved smooth with slabs of glass." She said: "O my Lord! I have indeed wronged my soul: I do (now) submit (in Islam), with Solomon, to the Lord of the Worlds." [Qur'an 27:44]
”
[edit] Wife of Imran
The wife of Imran (father of Mary), and thus Isa's grandmother is not named in the Qur'an, but referred to in narratives. In Judeo-Christian tradition she is identifeid as Hannah. According to the Qur'an, Imran and his wife were old and childless, and she invoked God for a child:[3]
“
"How the wife of ʿImrān said, O my Lord, I have vowed to thee what is in my womb. Now accept [this vow] from me, thou art the hearing, the knowing. And when she had given birth to the child, she said, O my lord, I have given birth to a female child... and I have called her Maryam".[Qur'an 3:31]
"Behold! a wife of Imran said: "O my Lord! I do dedicate into Thee what is in my womb for Thy special service: So accept this of me: For Thou hearest and knowest all things." "When she was delivered, she said: "O my Lord! Behold! I am delivered of a female child!"- and Allah knew best what she brought forth- "And whatever no wise is the male like the female. I have named her Mary, and I commend her and her offspring to Thy protection from Satan, the Rejected." [Qur'an 3:35-36]
”
[edit] Mary (مريم)
A key female character in the Quran is Mary, the mother of Jesus. The name of Maryam frequently appears in the Qur'an alongside that of Isa (Jesus) in the format "ʿĪsā Ibn Maryam" (meaning Jesus the son of Mary).[4] surah 19 is named after her:
“
When she was delivered, she said: "O my Lord! Behold! I am delivered of a female child!" - and God knew best what she brought forth - "And not wise is the male like the female. I have named her Mary, and I commend her and her offspring to Thy protection from the Evil One, the Rejected." [Qur'an 3:34]
”
God sent Gabriel to Mary to give her tidings of a son:
“
Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah; [Qur'an 3:45]
”
The Qur'an also states that the conception of Jesus by Mary was miraculous:
“
She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: God createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is!"' [Qur'an 3:47]
"Mary the daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity; and We breathed into (her body) of Our spirit; and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and of His Revelations, and was one of the devout (servants)." [Qur'an 66:12]
”
Mary is especially revered by many Muslims, and she is praised much by the Quran:
“
"Behold! the angels said: 'O Mary! God hath chosen thee and purified thee - chosen thee above the women of all nations.'" [Qur'an 3:42]
And Maryam, the daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into her of Our inspiration and she accepted the truth of the words of her Lord and His books, and she was of, the obedient ones. [Qur'an 66:12]
”
[edit] The woman who complained to Muhammad
The Qur'an speaks of her in surah 58 (She that Disputeth), her name being Khoulah bint Thalabah.
“
"Allah has indeed heard (and accepted) the statement of the woman who pleads with thee concerning her husband and carries her complaint (in prayer) to Allah: and Allah (always) hears the arguments between both of you: for Allah hears and sees (all things)." [Qur'an 58:1]
”
The verses that follow are to restore her rights (as well as those of any other woman in her position), when the husband does a specific pre-Islamic tradition.
This article is about female figures that appear in the Qur'an. For the roles, rights, and duties of women as laid out in the Qur'an, see Women and Islam.
Female figures in the Qur'an are important characters and subjects of discussion in the stories and morals taught in Islam. Some of the women in the Qu'ran are portrayed in a positive light, while others are condemned for their actions. Mary is the only female mentioned in the Qur'an by name; the others' names come from other traditions. Most of the women in the Quran are represented as either the mothers or wives of certain leaders and prophets. Women in the Quran still retained a surprising amount of autonomy from men in some respects; for example, the Quran describes women who converted to Islam before their husbands did, or women who took an independent oath of allegiance to Muhammad. [1]
Contents[hide]
1 Eve
2 Wives of Noah and Lot
3 Sara (سارة), Wife of Abraham
4 Aziz's Wife and the Ladies
5 Mother and sister of Moses
6 Wife of Moses
7 Asiyah, Wife of the Pharaoh
8 The Queen of Sheba (Bilqis)
9 Wife of Imran
10 Mary (مريم)
11 The woman who complained to Muhammad
12 See also
13 References
//
[edit] Eve
God created Adam and Eve and had them live in Paradise. The first human mistake was by Adam and Eve who both ate fruit forbidden by God:
“
But Satan whispered evil to him: he said, "O Adam! shall I lead thee to the Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that never decays?" Then they twain ate thereof, so that their shame became apparent unto them, and they began to hide by heaping on themselves some of the leaves of the Garden. And Adam disobeyed his Lord, so went astray. [Qur'an 20:120]
”
[edit] Wives of Noah and Lot
The Quran speaks of the wives of Noah (Arabic:Nuh) and Lot (Arabic:Lut) in contempt:
“
"God sets forth an example to those who disbelieve: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot, they were both under two of Our righteous servants, but they acted treacherously towards them so they availed them naught against God, and it was said: Enter both the fire with those who enter." [Qur'an 66:10]
”
[edit] Sara (سارة), Wife of Abraham
“
And his wife was standing (there), and she laughed (either, because the Messengers did not eat their food or for being glad for the destruction of the people of Lut (Lot). But We gave her glad tidings of Ishâq (Isaac), and after Ishâq, of Ya'qûb (Jacob). (71) She said (in astonishment): "Woe unto me! Shall I bear a child while I am an old woman, and here is my husband, an old man? Verily! This is a strange thing!" (72) [Qur'an 11:71-72].
”
[edit] Aziz's Wife and the Ladies
“
But she in whose house he was, sought to seduce him from his (true) self: she fastened the doors, and said: "Now come, thou (dear one)!" He said: "Allah forbid! Truly (thy husband) is my lord! He made my sojourn agreeable! Truly to no good come those who do wrong!" [Qur'an 12:23]
When she heard of their malicious talk, she sent for them and prepared a banquet for them: she gave each of them a knife: and she said (to Joseph), "Come out before them." When they saw him, they did extol him, and (in their amazement) cut their hands: they said, "Allah preserve us! No mortal is this! This is none other than a noble angel!" [Qur'an 12:31]
(The king) said (to the ladies): "What was your affair when ye did seek to seduce Joseph from his (true) self?" The ladies said: "Allah preserve us! No evil know we against him!" Said the 'Aziz's wife: "Now is the truth manifest (to all): it was I who sought to seduce him from his (true) self: He is indeed of those who are (ever) true (and virtuous)." [Qur'an 12:51]
”
[edit] Mother and sister of Moses
The Qur'an narrates that Mūsā is watched by his sister, refuses the milk of other nurses and is suckled by his own mother.[2]
“
'And We revealed to Musa's mothers, saying: "Give him luck, then when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear nor grieve; surely We will bring him back to you and make him one of the apostles." And the heart of Musa's mother was empty she would have almost disclosed it had We not strengthened her heart so that she might be of the believers. And she said to his sister: "Follow him up. So she watched him from a distance while they did not perceive."' [Qur'an 28:7-10-11]
”
[edit] Wife of Moses
“
And when he arrived at the watering (place) in Madyan, he found there a group of men watering (their flocks), and besides them he found two women who were keeping back (their flocks). He said: "What is the matter with you?" They said: "We cannot water (our flocks) until the shepherds take back (their flocks): And our father is a very old man." [Qur'an 28:23]
So he watered (their flocks) for them; then he turned back to the shade, and said: "O my Lord! truly am I in (desperate) need of any good that Thou dost send me!" [Qur'an 28:24]
Afterwards one of the (damsels) came (back) to him, walking bashfully. She said: "My father invites thee that he may reward thee for having watered (our flocks) for us." So when he came to him and narrated the story, he said: "Fear thou not: (well) hast thou escaped from unjust people." [Qur'an 28:25]
Said one of the (damsels): "O my (dear) father! engage him on wages: truly the best of men for thee to employ is the (man) who is strong and trusty" [Qur'an 28:26]
He said: "I intend to wed one of these my daughters to thee, on condition that thou serve me for eight years; but if thou complete ten years, it will be (grace) from thee. But I intend not to place thee under a difficulty: thou wilt find me, indeed, if Allah wills, one of the righteous." [Qur'an 28:27]
”
[edit] Asiyah, Wife of the Pharaoh
The wife of the Pharaoh, known in some traditions as Asiyah, is mentioned in the Quran:
“
And Allâh has set forth an example for those who believe; the wife of Fir'aun (Pharaoh), when she said: "My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Fir'aun (Pharaoh) and his work, and save me from the people who are Zâlimûn (polytheists, wrong-doers and disbelievers in Allâh). [Qur'an 66:11]
”
[edit] The Queen of Sheba (Bilqis)
The Quran speaks of the Queen of Sheba, also known as Balqees:
“
"I found (there) a woman ruling over them and provided with every requisite; and she has a magnificent throne. [Qur'an 27:23]
"I found her and her people worshipping the sun besides Allah: Satan has made their deeds seem pleasing in their eyes, and has kept them away from the Path,- so they receive no guidance,- [Qur'an 27:24]
She said: "Kings, when they enter a country, despoil it, and make the noblest of its people its meanest thus do they behave. [Qur'an 27:34]
"But I am going to send him a present, and (wait) to see with what (answer) return (my) ambassadors." [Qur'an 27:35]
So when she arrived, she was asked, "Is this thy throne?" She said, "It was just like this; and knowledge was bestowed on us in advance of this, and we have submitted to Allah (in Islam)." [Qur'an 27:42]
She was asked to enter the lofty Palace: but when she saw it, she thought it was a lake of water, and she (tucked up her skirts), uncovering her legs. He said: "This is but a palace paved smooth with slabs of glass." She said: "O my Lord! I have indeed wronged my soul: I do (now) submit (in Islam), with Solomon, to the Lord of the Worlds." [Qur'an 27:44]
”
[edit] Wife of Imran
The wife of Imran (father of Mary), and thus Isa's grandmother is not named in the Qur'an, but referred to in narratives. In Judeo-Christian tradition she is identifeid as Hannah. According to the Qur'an, Imran and his wife were old and childless, and she invoked God for a child:[3]
“
"How the wife of ʿImrān said, O my Lord, I have vowed to thee what is in my womb. Now accept [this vow] from me, thou art the hearing, the knowing. And when she had given birth to the child, she said, O my lord, I have given birth to a female child... and I have called her Maryam".[Qur'an 3:31]
"Behold! a wife of Imran said: "O my Lord! I do dedicate into Thee what is in my womb for Thy special service: So accept this of me: For Thou hearest and knowest all things." "When she was delivered, she said: "O my Lord! Behold! I am delivered of a female child!"- and Allah knew best what she brought forth- "And whatever no wise is the male like the female. I have named her Mary, and I commend her and her offspring to Thy protection from Satan, the Rejected." [Qur'an 3:35-36]
”
[edit] Mary (مريم)
A key female character in the Quran is Mary, the mother of Jesus. The name of Maryam frequently appears in the Qur'an alongside that of Isa (Jesus) in the format "ʿĪsā Ibn Maryam" (meaning Jesus the son of Mary).[4] surah 19 is named after her:
“
When she was delivered, she said: "O my Lord! Behold! I am delivered of a female child!" - and God knew best what she brought forth - "And not wise is the male like the female. I have named her Mary, and I commend her and her offspring to Thy protection from the Evil One, the Rejected." [Qur'an 3:34]
”
God sent Gabriel to Mary to give her tidings of a son:
“
Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah; [Qur'an 3:45]
”
The Qur'an also states that the conception of Jesus by Mary was miraculous:
“
She said: "O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?" He said: "Even so: God createth what He willeth: When He hath decreed a plan, He but saith to it, 'Be,' and it is!"' [Qur'an 3:47]
"Mary the daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity; and We breathed into (her body) of Our spirit; and she testified to the truth of the words of her Lord and of His Revelations, and was one of the devout (servants)." [Qur'an 66:12]
”
Mary is especially revered by many Muslims, and she is praised much by the Quran:
“
"Behold! the angels said: 'O Mary! God hath chosen thee and purified thee - chosen thee above the women of all nations.'" [Qur'an 3:42]
And Maryam, the daughter of Imran, who guarded her chastity, so We breathed into her of Our inspiration and she accepted the truth of the words of her Lord and His books, and she was of, the obedient ones. [Qur'an 66:12]
”
[edit] The woman who complained to Muhammad
The Qur'an speaks of her in surah 58 (She that Disputeth), her name being Khoulah bint Thalabah.
“
"Allah has indeed heard (and accepted) the statement of the woman who pleads with thee concerning her husband and carries her complaint (in prayer) to Allah: and Allah (always) hears the arguments between both of you: for Allah hears and sees (all things)." [Qur'an 58:1]
”
The verses that follow are to restore her rights (as well as those of any other woman in her position), when the husband does a specific pre-Islamic tradition.
To Chrisitans and Muslims The Jews Are not The Messiah
By: Maged Taman
Muslims and Christians have to wake up the Jews are not the Messiah. They choose the leaders for both of us in the west and in the Arab/Muslims countries. This is not my paranoia read in many websites how the Jews control the world.
They did not do a good job and have a just world. They are far from being a messiah but close enough to be the Anti-Christ. I have known from the history that a lot of them are wicked people particularly the elites and those who stood against their prophets. They are more allied with Satan in most part. The thing is you find some good Jews that they stand with their prophets and for the truth and buy their eternity and you find them the best of people.
By me attacking the evil Jews I am hoping to give the rise up of the good Jews and also to encourage some of the evil Jews or the undecided Jews to come to the truth. Leaving the world to the evil Jews will draw us towards hell. Even the Chinese and Russians are getting angry about the wicked economic policies of the wicked Jews which only help themselves.
Thus it became clear that a lot of people in the world do not like to see the evil Jews control the world including Muslims, Christians and a lot of major countries.
Muslims and Christians in large part share the same ideals and the teachings of Jesus peace be upon him. About his divine or non-divine nature he will let all of us know in few years. Most important for Muslims and Christians is to have dissent and good lives. Why should we suffer while the evil Jews are taking all our money and enjoying hiding it overseas.
Thus it is clear to us that the Jews are not the messiah and in fact they are waiting for their own messiah, surprise, surprise he will be an evil man like some of them. For the good Jews many of you will receive the real Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Still some in the American establishment think I am a crazy guy holding a sign of the end of times in the corner of the street. One problem a lot of people believe me including your government and a lot of Muslims and Christians, even Jews all over the world. We can not go back now we are at the end of time. I prophesied one day about Taman Health Plan and in few months God got the prophecy to be true. A thing that the American government knew for years about my connection with God. Examine my health plan and moral utopia project and compare them with what the evil Jews who are controlling the world have for us for now.
Muslims and Christians have to wake up the Jews are not the Messiah. They choose the leaders for both of us in the west and in the Arab/Muslims countries. This is not my paranoia read in many websites how the Jews control the world.
They did not do a good job and have a just world. They are far from being a messiah but close enough to be the Anti-Christ. I have known from the history that a lot of them are wicked people particularly the elites and those who stood against their prophets. They are more allied with Satan in most part. The thing is you find some good Jews that they stand with their prophets and for the truth and buy their eternity and you find them the best of people.
By me attacking the evil Jews I am hoping to give the rise up of the good Jews and also to encourage some of the evil Jews or the undecided Jews to come to the truth. Leaving the world to the evil Jews will draw us towards hell. Even the Chinese and Russians are getting angry about the wicked economic policies of the wicked Jews which only help themselves.
Thus it became clear that a lot of people in the world do not like to see the evil Jews control the world including Muslims, Christians and a lot of major countries.
Muslims and Christians in large part share the same ideals and the teachings of Jesus peace be upon him. About his divine or non-divine nature he will let all of us know in few years. Most important for Muslims and Christians is to have dissent and good lives. Why should we suffer while the evil Jews are taking all our money and enjoying hiding it overseas.
Thus it is clear to us that the Jews are not the messiah and in fact they are waiting for their own messiah, surprise, surprise he will be an evil man like some of them. For the good Jews many of you will receive the real Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Still some in the American establishment think I am a crazy guy holding a sign of the end of times in the corner of the street. One problem a lot of people believe me including your government and a lot of Muslims and Christians, even Jews all over the world. We can not go back now we are at the end of time. I prophesied one day about Taman Health Plan and in few months God got the prophecy to be true. A thing that the American government knew for years about my connection with God. Examine my health plan and moral utopia project and compare them with what the evil Jews who are controlling the world have for us for now.
Capitalist tool
From: http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_5540.shtml
By: Michael Collins
Feb 4, 2010, 00:20
Email this article Printer friendly page
Just a few cynics doubted the magnificent procession of then Senator Barack Obama to the highest office in the land. He was the redemption of our past sins, the proof that we were a better nation than we had been. After all, race has been at the center of American politics since Bacon’s Rebellion was crushed in 1667 but we were moving beyond that. And we did. Race was set aside for most of those who voted.
As it turned out, the campaign wasn’t about redeeming anything other than the bill that Wall Street presented to the citizens of the United States in October 2008. The financial system was grinding its gears, about to flame out in a series of big investment bank failures. The secretary of the Treasury, Henry Paulson, told a private session of Congress that absent immediate aid, the financial calamity would be so devastating that Congress should prepare for riots by outraged citizens.
The people spoke in unison as they hadn’t in decades. No bailout! Congressional staffers were swamped with a flood of telephone calls, emails, and faxes. The peoples’ will and wisdom was honored and the first bailout proposal was defeated 228 to 205 in the House of Representatives.
Undeterred, The Money Party swung into action. They hit the offices of reluctant supporters and plied them with “contributions” (also known as legalized bribes). More importantly, they put on a show of political unity, something they like to call bipartisanship. Both presidential candidates showed up in Washington and spoke to their party caucuses. They worked their magic and the bailout was complete. Wall Street was saved to wage class war against the citizens once again, at will, with few if any restraints. The prize: the biggest wealth transfer in history, the looting of the Treasury for private firms, and a free hand to pay their bonuses as they saw fit. It was and is all about them.
Capitalist tool
President Obama won the election amidst a great hope for change that he’d promised.
What did we get?
Right away, the new president turned the Treasury and economic policy over to consummate, long-term Wall Street insiders, Tim Geithner, secretary of the Treasury, and Larry Summers as economic guru. Geithner “was one of our nation’s top regulators” for Wall Street during the great rip-off of the Bush years and Summers had helped repeal those pesky laws that restrained big banks from dangerous investments. The foxes were in charge of the hen house. There were more bailouts and the Federal Reserve extended a $23.7 trillion line of credit for the big banks.
Then, there were the attempts to help citizens with epidemic foreclosures and usurious credit interest rates. We did get a Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights but the president and Congress forgot to cap those huge credit card interest rates. Unfortunately for the millions of victims of mortgage fraud, the president and Congress couldn’t quite figure out how to pass a modest foreclosure relief bill. The sponsor of that legislation threw up his hands, as the president sat it out, and said, the banks “frankly own the place!” No kidding.
It didn’t stop there. A few months into the era of hope and change, we found out that the administration was heavily staffed with CitiBank insiders who were doing their best to keep that tottering zombie walking as though it were alive.
All the while, the jobless rate rose month after month until real world unemployment reached 17 percent. Those official unemployment figures we get do not include workers who simply give up looking for jobs after months of finding nothing. They’re unemployed, nonetheless.
Instead of focusing on jobs, the administration became obsessed with passing a health reform bill. It was reform, but not for citizen health. It seems that the health of the insurance companies was a bit off after years of bad investments and acquisitions. They needed 40 million new customers and a central role in the new plan. They got both. Citizens are now about to get a Frankenstein health bill that they can’t afford. Hard to pay those premiums if you’re out of work, earning flat wages for the past 10 years.
Now we’re told that domestic programs will be frozen for three years while foreign aid and military expenditures for Obama’s new war in Afghanistan won’t be touched.
And, to add insult to injury, the president just announced that a big part of NASA will be privatized with the corporations “too big to fail” launching our astronauts into space.
We are nothing to them
It doesn’t take much to figure that out.
We lose our jobs. The insiders have theirs forever.
Our wages are flat while Wall Street fat cats get ever increasing bonuses.
We lose our health coverage while Congress, the judiciary, and the executive branches enjoy the best insurance around.
Commercial credit for most is tight but the big banks have trillions in credit.
Organized crime would never have been this insensitive. At least, they realized that they needed customers with a few bucks to place a bet.
We are in the great decline of the ruling elite, addled by nepotistic inbreeding and cronyism beyond imagination; coddled by the government that they bought and paid for; and ready to take everything that isn’t nailed down, only to blame the people for having nothing.
Welcome to the new klelptocracy where insiders make the rules then claim the high ground of intelligence and morality after winning a game they rigged in the first place.
Once we had a real hope that endured despite the challenges. It helped produce major changes when we demanded them. Now, we’re left with scraps from the movable feast that is devouring the nation and we’re expected to say, “Thank you sir, may I have another?”This article may be reproduced in full or part with attribution of authorship and a link to this article.
By: Michael Collins
Feb 4, 2010, 00:20
Email this article Printer friendly page
Just a few cynics doubted the magnificent procession of then Senator Barack Obama to the highest office in the land. He was the redemption of our past sins, the proof that we were a better nation than we had been. After all, race has been at the center of American politics since Bacon’s Rebellion was crushed in 1667 but we were moving beyond that. And we did. Race was set aside for most of those who voted.
As it turned out, the campaign wasn’t about redeeming anything other than the bill that Wall Street presented to the citizens of the United States in October 2008. The financial system was grinding its gears, about to flame out in a series of big investment bank failures. The secretary of the Treasury, Henry Paulson, told a private session of Congress that absent immediate aid, the financial calamity would be so devastating that Congress should prepare for riots by outraged citizens.
The people spoke in unison as they hadn’t in decades. No bailout! Congressional staffers were swamped with a flood of telephone calls, emails, and faxes. The peoples’ will and wisdom was honored and the first bailout proposal was defeated 228 to 205 in the House of Representatives.
Undeterred, The Money Party swung into action. They hit the offices of reluctant supporters and plied them with “contributions” (also known as legalized bribes). More importantly, they put on a show of political unity, something they like to call bipartisanship. Both presidential candidates showed up in Washington and spoke to their party caucuses. They worked their magic and the bailout was complete. Wall Street was saved to wage class war against the citizens once again, at will, with few if any restraints. The prize: the biggest wealth transfer in history, the looting of the Treasury for private firms, and a free hand to pay their bonuses as they saw fit. It was and is all about them.
Capitalist tool
President Obama won the election amidst a great hope for change that he’d promised.
What did we get?
Right away, the new president turned the Treasury and economic policy over to consummate, long-term Wall Street insiders, Tim Geithner, secretary of the Treasury, and Larry Summers as economic guru. Geithner “was one of our nation’s top regulators” for Wall Street during the great rip-off of the Bush years and Summers had helped repeal those pesky laws that restrained big banks from dangerous investments. The foxes were in charge of the hen house. There were more bailouts and the Federal Reserve extended a $23.7 trillion line of credit for the big banks.
Then, there were the attempts to help citizens with epidemic foreclosures and usurious credit interest rates. We did get a Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights but the president and Congress forgot to cap those huge credit card interest rates. Unfortunately for the millions of victims of mortgage fraud, the president and Congress couldn’t quite figure out how to pass a modest foreclosure relief bill. The sponsor of that legislation threw up his hands, as the president sat it out, and said, the banks “frankly own the place!” No kidding.
It didn’t stop there. A few months into the era of hope and change, we found out that the administration was heavily staffed with CitiBank insiders who were doing their best to keep that tottering zombie walking as though it were alive.
All the while, the jobless rate rose month after month until real world unemployment reached 17 percent. Those official unemployment figures we get do not include workers who simply give up looking for jobs after months of finding nothing. They’re unemployed, nonetheless.
Instead of focusing on jobs, the administration became obsessed with passing a health reform bill. It was reform, but not for citizen health. It seems that the health of the insurance companies was a bit off after years of bad investments and acquisitions. They needed 40 million new customers and a central role in the new plan. They got both. Citizens are now about to get a Frankenstein health bill that they can’t afford. Hard to pay those premiums if you’re out of work, earning flat wages for the past 10 years.
Now we’re told that domestic programs will be frozen for three years while foreign aid and military expenditures for Obama’s new war in Afghanistan won’t be touched.
And, to add insult to injury, the president just announced that a big part of NASA will be privatized with the corporations “too big to fail” launching our astronauts into space.
We are nothing to them
It doesn’t take much to figure that out.
We lose our jobs. The insiders have theirs forever.
Our wages are flat while Wall Street fat cats get ever increasing bonuses.
We lose our health coverage while Congress, the judiciary, and the executive branches enjoy the best insurance around.
Commercial credit for most is tight but the big banks have trillions in credit.
Organized crime would never have been this insensitive. At least, they realized that they needed customers with a few bucks to place a bet.
We are in the great decline of the ruling elite, addled by nepotistic inbreeding and cronyism beyond imagination; coddled by the government that they bought and paid for; and ready to take everything that isn’t nailed down, only to blame the people for having nothing.
Welcome to the new klelptocracy where insiders make the rules then claim the high ground of intelligence and morality after winning a game they rigged in the first place.
Once we had a real hope that endured despite the challenges. It helped produce major changes when we demanded them. Now, we’re left with scraps from the movable feast that is devouring the nation and we’re expected to say, “Thank you sir, may I have another?”This article may be reproduced in full or part with attribution of authorship and a link to this article.
Some Eye Opening Web Sites
By: Maged Taman
Some links in the Web tell you about the corrupt who control the world. The elites think Muslims and Christians to weak or dumb that they will control us. Again the Messiah to Muslims and Christians is one and the same Jesus Christ. No look alike or confusion about. That is why the Evil Jews God curse them are managing large campaign to attack Islam. The last thing they would like are Muslims and Christians coming together and unite in Jesus against their Anti-Christ joined by the good Jews.
Like Texe Marrs says I say: We do not necessarily share all the opinions or beliefs of the following links, but you may find them informative, and helpful!
Conspiracy World
My Amazing Future
NutriMedical — Dr. Bill Deagle
Infowars.com
American Free Press
Jeff Rense
Codex Magica
Judicial-Inc
Free Press International
Truth: Exposing Israeli Apartheid
The Resistance Manifesto
Truth Tellers
Save the Males
The Cutting Edge
Propaganda Matrix
Jack McLamb
Federation for American Immigration Reform
Close the Border Now
Conspiracy Pen Pal
Faithful and True
Conspiracy Culture
New Frontier Coalition
The Idaho Observer
Honest Media Today
Current Issues
Illuminati News
Freedom's Phoenix
CounterPunch
Information Clearing House
Real Jew News
Alex Jones' Prison Planet
Global Research
Online Journal
Cactus48
MarWen Media
Evangelical Truth
Frankly Speaking
The Sniper's Perspective: Craig Roberts
Electronic Intifada
No More Fake News
World Affairs Brief
Watch Unto Prayer
Strike the Root
CASPIAN - Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering
European American Evangelistic Crusades (EAEC)
Radio Liberty
Lew Rockwell
Tom Flocco
William Thomas
Barry Chamish
The Freeman Perspective
Greg Palast
Eric Hufschmid
Prophetic News.Com— An Outreach of Susan Puzio Ministries
Old Thinker News
Freedom Underground
Lazarusunbound.com
The Jefferson Party
The Revelation
Breaking All The Rules
Illuminati Conspiracy Archive
Steamshovel Press. All Conspiracy
Chemtrail Central
MilitaryCorruption.com
WingTV
Dark Government conspiracy forum, ufo,technology,and discussion
Bilderberg - The High Priests of Globalisation
Jew Watch
Illuminati Scoreboard
Watchman Prophecy
Eternal Path for Seekers of Truth
The Berean Chronicles
Dissident Voice
Sweet Liberty with Jackie Patru
We The People Will Not Be Chipped
Want to Know Cover-up Information—9/11, Energy, Health, Media, Mind Control, War Cover-ups & More
Radio Alchymy (Eben Rey)
Insurgency Watch
Amazing Bible
World's Last Chance
Pacific Rim Bible Ministries
WWCR Shortwave Radio
Republic Broadcasting Network
The Prophecy Club
Ambassador House
The French Connection—Daryl Bradford Smith
David Icke
Cremation of Care
The Mormon Conspiracy
The Institute of Unlearning
Preaching Freedom
The Free American
Armegeddon Books
911 Eyewitness
Criminal Politics
Independent Texans
The Smoking Gun
The Memory Hole
Unknown News
Chris Gerner's Amerikan Exposé
Dr. G. A. Riplinger
Bill Schnoebelen
Jack Chick
Dan Pilla (Tax Help Online)
Gayle Ross
American Patriot Friends Network
Vance Publications
The Omega Times
Last Trumpet Ministries
Indianapolis Baptist Temple
The Insider
Truth in Media
Creation Science Evangelism
Black Box Voting
The Drudge Report
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble
Home Assemblies by W. B. Howard
Home Church Central
List of King James Churches
Gospelcom.net—Devotionals
Ephesians 5:11
Prophecy/Prophecies, Visions, Occurences and Dreams
How to Be Saved
Christ Watch
Exit and Support Network
Christian Apolgetics and Bible Prophecy at the Jeremiah Project
Bible Challenge for Catholics
Hour of the Time
Hate Laws Exposed
National Archives List of Executive Orders
Darpa Home
The Deliberate Dumbing Down of America
Truth Radio
Some links in the Web tell you about the corrupt who control the world. The elites think Muslims and Christians to weak or dumb that they will control us. Again the Messiah to Muslims and Christians is one and the same Jesus Christ. No look alike or confusion about. That is why the Evil Jews God curse them are managing large campaign to attack Islam. The last thing they would like are Muslims and Christians coming together and unite in Jesus against their Anti-Christ joined by the good Jews.
Like Texe Marrs says I say: We do not necessarily share all the opinions or beliefs of the following links, but you may find them informative, and helpful!
Conspiracy World
My Amazing Future
NutriMedical — Dr. Bill Deagle
Infowars.com
American Free Press
Jeff Rense
Codex Magica
Judicial-Inc
Free Press International
Truth: Exposing Israeli Apartheid
The Resistance Manifesto
Truth Tellers
Save the Males
The Cutting Edge
Propaganda Matrix
Jack McLamb
Federation for American Immigration Reform
Close the Border Now
Conspiracy Pen Pal
Faithful and True
Conspiracy Culture
New Frontier Coalition
The Idaho Observer
Honest Media Today
Current Issues
Illuminati News
Freedom's Phoenix
CounterPunch
Information Clearing House
Real Jew News
Alex Jones' Prison Planet
Global Research
Online Journal
Cactus48
MarWen Media
Evangelical Truth
Frankly Speaking
The Sniper's Perspective: Craig Roberts
Electronic Intifada
No More Fake News
World Affairs Brief
Watch Unto Prayer
Strike the Root
CASPIAN - Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering
European American Evangelistic Crusades (EAEC)
Radio Liberty
Lew Rockwell
Tom Flocco
William Thomas
Barry Chamish
The Freeman Perspective
Greg Palast
Eric Hufschmid
Prophetic News.Com— An Outreach of Susan Puzio Ministries
Old Thinker News
Freedom Underground
Lazarusunbound.com
The Jefferson Party
The Revelation
Breaking All The Rules
Illuminati Conspiracy Archive
Steamshovel Press. All Conspiracy
Chemtrail Central
MilitaryCorruption.com
WingTV
Dark Government conspiracy forum, ufo,technology,and discussion
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