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Islamic Talk: - Islam for Muslims (8) - Nairaland

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Re: Islamic Talk: by babs787(m): 2:41pm On Mar 28, 2009
The human body, a totally separate world of its own, resembles a living “machine.” Inside that machine there is equipment with a technology far superior to any advanced technology outside, specialized elements displaying consciousness, by the will of Allah, fully equipped soldiers and many other systems. It is our Lord, Almighty Allah, Lord of the Worlds, who creates this order in the systems in the body and the sublime design visible at every point.

BRAIN / COMPUTER

Every nerve cell possesses special units for transmitting data. All by itself, the brain is capable of performing the work of 4.5 million transistors that permit the transmission of data by the microprocessor in a good computer. This figure is very low compared to the 10 billion nerve cells engaged in the electrical exchange of information in the brain. In addition, while the brain is able to perceive taste and smell signals, there is as yet no product of industry capable of doing this.

MUSCLE AND BONE / CENTRAL HEATING-AIR CONDITIONING

The movement of the muscles warms the body in cold weather. In this way the muscles are able to provide 90% of body heat. Perspiration, on the other hand, functions as an ideal cooling mechanism in the event of overheating. These two complementary systems work to keep the body temperature stable under all circumstances. This system works much faster, and with much better results, than any central heating or air conditioning system.

HORMONES / THE MAIL SYSTEM

Everything in the body is in a state of communication. Many messages consist of hormones, made up of large molecules. There is no destination address on the message packet carried by hormones, which travel freely through the circulatory system and neurons. Yet, the package still reaches its destination because the organs to open it are equipped with special receptors to capture these messages.

KIDNEYS/ PURIFICATION FACILITIES

Thanks to up to a million mini-filters known as nephrons, the human kidney filters 140 liters of blood a day. Over the course of 80 years around 1 deciliter a minute (one-tenth of a liter) is constantly subjected to this filtration process. Processing facilities, used for industrial wastes, have a greater capacity than that of kidneys. However, their life spans are incomparably shorter. Moreover, the structure of the substances being filtered is much simpler than that of blood. The kidney has a far more complex and efficient system than any filtration facility

THE HEART / PUMPING SYSTEMS

The heart starts beating while still in the mother’s womb and works non-stop at a rate of 70-200 beats a minute throughout one’s life. It rests for at least half a second between beats. It beats approximately 10,000 times a day. At the time of resting, the heart of someone weighing 60 kilos pumps an average of 6.5 liters of blood. During one’s life time the heart pumps enough blood to fill 500 swimming pools with a volume of 300 m3. Man-made pumping systems are unable to function as efficiently without requiring any maintenance.

ARM / LEVER

The arm works like a lever. It uses the elbow as a fulcrum and establishes movement by stretching and contracting the muscles. Levers operate on the same principle. Yet, Levers have to show the same effort no matter what weight is involved, whereas the arm muscles are capable of adjusting their contraction accordingly.

EYE / CAMERA

The retina layer in the eye is the most light-sensitive of all known materials. Different types of light-perceiving cells are arranged so as to provide the best image of the field of vision. The eye also focuses automatically and adjusts its sensitivity according to the intensity of light outside. Such features make the eye far more superior to any camera or photographic equipment in the world.

EAR / HI-FI

Hairy cells in the human inner ear convert vibrations in the air into electrical signals, like a microphone. The ear only perceives sounds between frequencies of 20-20,000 Hz. This range is the ideal specially selected for human beings. If the human hearing range had been any wider, we would be able to detect the footsteps of an ant walking on the ground or the high-frequency sound waves in the atmosphere. Living in such a constant state of noise would mean that human beings would never enjoy neither peace nor comfort.

IMMUNE SYSTEM / ARMY

Our organisms are being protected by some 200 billion lymphocytes (white blood corpuscles). These have intelligence systems, lethal weapons and particular war strategies, similar to that of soldiers. Nevertheless, no army in the world is as accurate, flawless, and successful as the immune system. (Harun Yahya, The Design in Nature)

CELL / ENGINE

In terms of fuel, the cell is a very economical engine. It burns small molecules namely ATP as fuel. The efficiency it maintains in using these molecules is greater than that of any engine. The cell also performs various and highly complex functions which technological devices are not able to perform.


Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?
Re: Islamic Talk: by babs787(m): 8:18pm On Apr 10, 2009
yawm Al-Qiyyaamah


There will come one day when Allah SWT will command everything to be destroyed. He will command Angel Israfeel to blow the Horn.Upon the first blowing all the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth will fall dead except whom Allah wills.

When Allah commands Israfeel to blow the Horn for the second time, whoever lived will be resurrected unto a terrible day. Mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds for judgement.

People on that day will witness terrible happenings.On that day,"a man will flee from his brother and his mother and father and his wife and his children;every man among them that day will have concern enough to make him indifferent to others."( surat Abas 80;34-7)

That is yawm Al-Qiyyaamah, or the Day of resurrection,when "the heaven is cleft asunder,and when the stars are scatterd,and when the seas are erupted,when the graves are laid open,each soul will then know what it has sent forth and what it has held back." ( surat Al-Infitaar, 82:1:5)

On that day, "the sky will be taken molten metal,and the mountains will be like wool[in the process of disintegration],and no friend will ask [anything of]a friend; they will be shown each other.The sinner (i.e the disbeleivers) will wish he could be ransomed from the punishment of that day by his children,and his wife and his brother and nearest kindred who shelter him,and whoever is on earth entirely [so]then it could save him (surat Al-Maarij,70:8-14)

Yawm Al-Qiyaamaah has a number of names including Yawm-ud-Deen[b] "the Day of judgement", Yawm-ul-Fasl " the Day of Decision", Yawm-ul-Hisaab "the Day of Reconing", Al-Haaqqah " the Sure Reality", Al-Ghaashiyah "the Overwhelming Event", Al Yawm-ul-Aakhir " the Last Day", Al-Waaqiah " the Inevitable Event" and As-Saa'ah " the Hour".[/b]

On this day, people will be assembled naked,barefooted and uncircumcised. The sun will be drawn near to heads of the people and their sweat will overcome them.The depth of the sweat will be as a result of the bad actions which people performed in the life of the world.

Seven types of people,however, will be shelterd in the shade of Allah SWT Throne on this day : "A just ruler, a youth who grew up with the worship of Allah, a person whose heart is attached to the mosques, two persons who love and meet each other and depart from each other for the sake of Allah, a man whom a beautiful woman seduces [for illicit relation] but he { rejects this offer} saying, 'I fear Allah', a person who gives in charity and conceals it [to such an extent] that his left hamd might not know what his right has given, and a person who remembers Allah in solitude and tears well up his eyes."(Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)

On that day , people will also receive their records of deeds. The righteous will receive theirs in their right hand and read it with great pleasure and satisfaction, but the wicked will have theirs in their left hand behind their backs.

Al-Meezaan, or the balance of deeds will be set up and in which all things will be weighed,and nobody will be wronged. Allah SWT on this day will judge His creation in complete justice, for He is the Best of judges: "This day, every person will be recompensed for what he earned. This Day no injustice [ will be done to anybody]. Truly Allah is swift in reconing." ( Surat Ghaafir, 40:17)

The true beleivers who feared their Lord and did good actions during their earthly life will be admitted into paradise in Allah's infinite Mercy, while the disbelievers and wicked sinners will be admitted into Hellfire due to Allah's infinite justice.

May Allah SWT forgive us our sins , increase our imaan and make our life end in total submission to His will.amin.
Re: Islamic Talk: by babs787(m): 7:58pm On May 01, 2009
CLEANLINESS IN ISLAM


As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu


Cleanliness

The first thing in the religion brought by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the concern for cleanliness. The concept of cleanliness in Islam covers physical and spiritual, mundane and religious domains.

Before performing any rituals prescribed by Islam, one should cleanse his body, and his dress, his place of worship and his environment should also be clean.

Prior to carrying out his prayers or starting for pilgrimage, one has to make his Wudu (ablution). If he or she is in a state of impurity after having had a lawful intimate intercourse or post-natal period or other reasons, he or she has to take a complete bath by pouring clean water over the whole body.

In the case of daily prayer, every Muslim has to clean his/her private parts, face, hands, feet, mouth, nose, and ears at least five times every day for the five daily prayers. This also reminds him/her to keep his/her soul clean from unlawful deeds.

Cleanliness is not in the physical sense only. The body should be purified as well from evil doings that might harm his relationship with others and with Allah (SWT). He has to clean his mind from bad intentions or committing unlawful acts. He has to clean his heart from jealously, hypocrisy and other evil desires. He has to embody hope, truthfulness, forgiveness, compassion, holiness, the sense of brotherliness, neighborliness and other noble qualities.

He has to pay special attention to his diet against all unhealthy food medically and religiously. He has to keep his eyes, ears, tongue from evil. These are among the noble characteristics as exemplified by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

To clean the wealth, Islam instituted the zakat system (way of purifying wealth). A person whose wealth has reached a certain point is obligated to pay zakat (alms) which is a duty enjoined by God and undertaken Muslims in the interest of society as a whole.

For those capable persons whose wealth does not reach the minimum chargeable rate, he can also give voluntary contribution to the needy. This does not mean that the needy should always be receiving help from the affluent ones.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:

"The upper hand (giver) is better than the lower one (receiver)"
. Muslim Kitab Zakat No. 124

If the receiver of zakat can grasp the spirit of the Prophet's (PBUH) saying, he will try his best to be the giver instead of the receiver by endeavoring to better his life as encouraged by the teachings of Islam.

In Islam the possession of more wealth does not raise a man's dignity, nor does poverty degrade him. It is true that wealth is necessary for man to live on this earth but it is only a means, not the end. The end is happiness in life by attaining the higher values and not losing sight of in the pursuit of wealth.

Among the great virtues of Islam is the command to do good and the prohibition to do evil. The good should be preserved and the evil should be discarded. In short, Islam is actually composed of a series of commands and prohibitions. Allah the most Knowing, the Most Merciful, did not decree any law and regulations but for the good and benefit of his creatures.

The prohibition was decree because of its evil implications to humanity. The evils were created to test the human conscience and challenge their freewill in choosing between right and wrong.

All the commands and prohibitions from Allah as transmitted through His Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was intended to purify the human soul in order to live a pure and clean life adored by Allah (SWT) and human beings.
Re: Islamic Talk: by babs787(m): 9:03pm On May 21, 2009
Happy Family


"Certainly, the excellence of character and being gracious to one's household is part of the completion of faith " Prophet Muhammad


The human being as a social being has the responsibility of being most beneficial and least problematic to society. This responsibility begins in the closest circle of the community, the building block of society - the family. From there it extends to relatives, neighbors, friends and the rest of society. In this social context, let us reflect on some guidelines pertaining to individual responsibility.

Parents

The first in a series of commandments appearing in Surah al-Israa', God has decreed that you worship none but Him and be good to parents. We are instructed to reflect on the effort that parents exert to bring us into this world and to nurture us and therefore to acknowledge our appreciation we are advised to be thankful to God and your parents. Of all the bonds of relationships, the mother holds a unique position. When the Prophet was asked who has most right to our respect and companionship he said your mother, then your mother, then your mother then the rest of society. He also advised a young questioner regarding his relationship with his mother by saying paradise lies at the feet of thy mother.

Spouses

The relationship between two individuals coming together in a loving union of marriage ought to be based on love and compassion. The resulting union must provide sakinah (tranquility). The association of one with the other is described symbolically as garments unto each other; covering, embracing and protecting one another.

The marital relationship is the most intimate of relationships. This Qur'an makes reference to this close bond between the spouses in the words: "they are like garments unto you as you are like garments unto them". Within the bonds of this intimacy; shared feelings, honest and open communication, genuine understanding, mutual responsibility and caring needs to flourish. The intimacy must provide a haven that offers a sense of warmth, safety, security and interdependence. After all, the relationship, according to the Qur'an (30:21), is founded on mawaddah (love and affection) and rahmah (tenderness and compassion), intended to result in sakinah (tranquility and harmony).

This togetherness is multi-dimensional, but is ineffective if it is limited only to bonding through physical closeness. How often has the problem between the spouses been the separation of the husband and wife in unshared emotions, in not being aware of the opinions of the other, of having separate entertainments.

It is not uncommon for a husband to keep his problems to himself, not consider the advice or opinion of his wife, going off to enjoy sporting events while leaving the wife at home with the kids (as if it is her duty), and refusing to help with the household chores because "it is the women's work".

Togetherness means much more than sitting at the table for dinner and sleeping in the same bed. There must exist ,

· an emotional togetherness that emanates from being attuned to each other's feelings

· an intellectual togetherness that allows the sharing of thoughts, ideas and opinions

· a work togetherness where there is involvement in performing chores and everyday tasks

· a recreational togetherness when you have fun and excitement together

· a crisis togetherness when you can lean on each other and support one another in times of difficulty and tragedy

· an aesthetic togetherness through which you share the beauties of the artistry of life and of living

· a spiritual togetherness by means of which you inspire the best in one another and grow closer to the Creator

The best of blessings for the husband is to have a faithful wife who does not betray her husband either in personality or in wealth.

Following the advice of Prophet Muhammad , it is best for the husband to live with his wife in keeping with the best of standards.

The Prophet said: Shall I inform you of the best among you? The respectful gentleman, who has good manners and honors his wife as best he can. In fact, the measure of the goodness of a man is measured by how he treats women.
Re: Islamic Talk: by Nobody: 11:29pm On May 21, 2009
@Babs787
i hail you sir, too much knowledge,or are you a lecturer?
Re: Islamic Talk: by babs787(m): 9:10pm On May 22, 2009
@Uplawal

@Babs787
i hail you sir, too much knowledge,or are you a lecturer?

A student ma'am cheesy. Learning from my intelligent brothers and sisters here as well as my non-muslims friends grin
Re: Islamic Talk: by folami86: 11:59pm On May 22, 2009
at Poster


Do you know the concept of hijab?

Why some Muslim women don't wear Islamic dress or hijab except for Temple worshipping

Why some Muslim men wear their pants below their waist (for fashion)

For those who don't follow the rules, are they true Muslims or hypocrites?
Re: Islamic Talk: by Nobody: 12:26am On May 23, 2009
blabs . . . stop being a fraud - learn to site your sources when you copy and paste instead of falsely claiming the credit for what you didnt write.
Re: Islamic Talk: by babs787(m): 9:43pm On May 23, 2009
@Dawoda nackson, e dey pain you?
Re: Islamic Talk: by Nobody: 12:59am On May 25, 2009
@davidlyan
when has it become a crime to be knowledgeable,whats your stress on Babs doing the works of ALLAH, atleast you are rated high in christian section chewing and gulking what is best wrote in the Bible init? i wouldnt blame you or anyone cos i was even more BORNAGAIN than you are before, to the extent that i would argue to the last and would not ever want to hear ISLAM and hardly have relations with muslims, all because of what i have been taught and digested and always ready to defend it anytime then.
Re: Islamic Talk: by Nobody: 1:01am On May 25, 2009
uplawal:

@davidlyan
when has it become a crime to be knowledgeable,whats your stress on Babs doing the works of ALLAH,  atleast you are rated high in christian section chewing and gulking what is best wrote in the Bible init? i wouldnt blame you or anyone cos i was even more BORNAGAIN than you are before, to the extent that i would argue to the last and would not ever want to hear ISLAM and hardly have relations with muslims, all because of what i have been taught and digested and always ready to defend it anytime then.

He is not knowledgeable, he is simply copying articles from the internet and pasting it here. Unless of course you have cottonwool for brains you would have noticed that.

You were never born again . . . if not you wont be going from love, mercy and grace to hatred, hell and death.
Re: Islamic Talk: by Nobody: 2:09am On May 25, 2009
@davidlyan
if you say i was not bornagain,got cottonwool in my brain,leaving love,mercy and grace and accepting to go for hell, hatred and so on, will not argue that with you because you wont and never understand it until GOD himself show you the TRUTH and then you would wished to have not been gulked all this years since you were born, let me tell you its high time you wake up from slumber, take it or wave it.
Re: Islamic Talk: by Nobody: 2:17am On May 25, 2009
uplawal:

@davidlyan
if you say i was not bornagain,got cottonwool in my brain,leaving love,mercy and grace and accepting to go for hell, hatred and so on, will not argue that with you because you wont and never understand it until GOD himself show you the TRUTH and then you would wished to have not been gulked all this years since you were born, let me tell you its high time you wake up from slumber, take it or wave it.

this is unislamic borrowed bible speak. where in the quran did allah claim to show anyone the truth?
Re: Islamic Talk: by Nobody: 2:54am On May 25, 2009
@davidlyan
am sure u know what am saying but just whining yourself not me, the fact that am now a muslim does not mean i can't talk in a manner GOD will approve, am not borrowing any word from christianity into ISLAM okay, or you think its only in christianity GOD shows himself? if you don't get it i mearnt in spirit not bodily or you think its only CHRISTIANS that have GODSpirit in them? The HOLYSPIRIT i mean GODS SPIRIT as been in existence from creation on different mission and not different from the one JESUS has been giving his desciples even when not gone to the father in heaven and the one HE said he would be sending after his gone manifested in ANGEL GABRIEL'S form to muhammad and you people termed it as demon,its okay if you say that but GODS final word will not and never die compared to how the bible has already been, i read about a topic on one thread relating to the lost TORAH and INJIL, am sure common sense should have just told you that all the lies in the BIBLE we have has been corrected in the HOLY KORAN, all the message that was twisted in the TORAH and the INJIL is just what the KORAN is and if you look deeply ISLAM answers it all as JESUS says it will teach us all things, i dont have power to change you but God has it, so its all left to you to accept it or still be in slumber in our IMAGINARY HOLYSPIRIT we all claim will teach us all things.SALAM
Re: Islamic Talk: by Nobody: 3:02am On May 25, 2009
uplawal your write-ups are basically senseless . . .

the fact that am now a muslim does not mean i can't talk in a manner GOD will approve - When did Allah start approving stuff like "showing himself to you"? Did he show himself even to mohammad?

if you don't get it i mearnt in spirit not bodily or you think its only CHRISTIANS that have GODSpirit in them? The HOLYSPIRIT i mean GODS SPIRIT as been in existence from creation on different mission and not different from the one JESUS has been giving his desciples even when not gone to the father in heaven and the one HE said he would be sending after his gone manifested in ANGEL GABRIEL'S form to muhammad and you people termed it as demon

This is miserable gibberish:
1. The holy Spirit is NOT one with allah's spirit. Infact NOT ONCE does either the quran or hadith talk of allah having a spirit . . . neither does it tell us anything about this spirit visiting muslims.

2. The Holy Spirit NEVER appeared as angel Gabriel . . . both are TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES . . . one is God in spirit and the other is a mere angel.
As regards angel Gabriel allegedly appearing to Mohammad? That is impossible, in ALL biblical accounts, no one (unlike mohammad) had schizophrenic fits on sighting an angel. Infact men like Abraham had one-on-one conversation with them.

all the lies in the BIBLE we have has been corrected in the HOLY KORAN, all the message that was twisted in the TORAH and the INJIL is just what the KORAN is and if you look deeply ISLAM answers it all as JESUS says it will teach us all things, i dont have power to change you but God has it, so its all left to you to accept it or still be in slumber in our IMAGINARY HOLYSPIRIT we all claim will teach us all things.SALAM

- Is that why muslims are still ferreting in the bible for simple facts on Ishmael? Is that why the quran is empty on the alleged "prophets" of islam?

What a fraud.
Re: Islamic Talk: by Nobody: 3:22am On May 25, 2009
@davidlyan
don't really have the time to tell you things for now.
and my own question is why would a forteen plus be left unsacrificed and then all of a sudden an infant will then follow his father Abraham to the sacrificial ground asking him questions WHY THIS and THAT and carrying burnt offering wood,its okay for you to believe what you have been fraudly written for you to believe
Re: Islamic Talk: by Nobody: 3:25am On May 25, 2009
uplawal:

@davidlyan
don't really have the time to tell you things for now.
and my own question is why would a forteen plus be left unsacrificed and then all of a sudden an infant will then follow his father Abraham to the sacrificial ground asking him questions WHY THIS and THAT and carrying burnt offering wood,its okay for you to believe what you have been fraudly written for you to believe

thou deluded fool . . . why did allah not record these details in his own quran? Why is it that stuff like age and the child who followed Abraham is ONLY found in the bible?
Re: Islamic Talk: by Nobody: 6:39am On May 25, 2009
Are we still at the level of using words like this?
Re: Islamic Talk: by babs787(m): 7:57pm On May 25, 2009
@Davidylan

I am still very much around the corner reading your discussion with Uplawal. You better join us and make a u-turn like we did before it would be too late


@Uplawal

I have sent something to your mailbox. Read, digest and learn more ,
Re: Islamic Talk: by Nobody: 1:54pm On May 28, 2009
@babs
i have not seen the message you sent to my box,pls resend it, thank you sir
Re: Islamic Talk: by babs787(m): 6:55pm On May 29, 2009
@Uplawal

I sent again but came back. Kindly tell me your email addy or send mail to tundebabs787@yahoo.com
Re: Islamic Talk: by Nobody: 9:27pm On May 29, 2009
@babs787
okay then will send message to your box
Re: Islamic Talk: by babs787(m): 8:15pm On Jun 04, 2009
Ten things people should know about Islam


1. Allah is God. The great majority of the non-Muslims I meet believe that Allah is a kind of personal name for some kind of small-"g" god, perhaps like Jupiter or Vulcan (gods of the Roman pantheon). I've even heard people refer contemptuously to the God of Islam as a "desert god," as if Judaism and Christianity originated in Yankee Stadium or something. The fact is that Allah is simply a compound word made from the Arabic words al (the) and lah, (god): the God. Monotheism -- the belief in a single, supreme, divine creator -- is the central and most important aspect of Islam. (And it's pronounced uh-LAH, not "Al, uh?"wink Even most English translations of the Qur'an I've seen do not translate the word. I believe it is really problematic and misleading not to translate such a key word for which there is an exact English equivalent.

Along these lines, I've taken several Muslims to task for using the Arabic term for God when they're speaking in English: all it does it serve to confuse those for whom it's never been made clear that Allah is the same God worshipped by Jews and Christians. Muslims may differ on various points with Jews and Christians, but this is not one of them. You'd never know, though, from the way these groups act with each other much of the time, that they each hold dear the same belief in the God of Abraham, Moses, and of Jesus (for Christians and Muslims) and, for Muslims, of Muhammad. (Muslims accept all the prophets prior to Muhammad, including Jesus.

2. The biggest sin in Islam is shirk: "associating partners with God." Shirk may be generally defined as polytheism, but also includes such things as the Christian concept of a triune God, or the worshipping of anything other than God, whether it's a human being, any natural/human creation or phenomenon. This tends to create quite a theological abyss between Muslims and polytheists, but also with Christians and certain other religious groups.

You can imagine from this that expressions such as "Holy Mother of God!" give most observant Muslims the theological willies.

3. Muslims don't believe that Jesus was the son of God. As mentioned in #1, Muslims accept Jesus (in Arabic, "Isa"wink as a prophet, and an extremely important one at that. Following from #2, however, they do not accept the Christian belief that Jesus was the son of God (literally or metaphorically), although they do believe he is the son of Mary (in Arabic, "Maryam"wink. They further believe that at the time of the Crucifixion, another man was substituted for Jesus and made to look like him. Jesus was then raised up, "body and soul" by God into heaven.

This is probably the most significant point of difference between Christians and Muslims. Some Christian theologians and clergy believe that Christians err by placing too much emphasis on Jesus and elevating him to God's level, but that's an argument for another time.

4. Muslims don't worship the Prophet Muhammad. This naturally follows from #2, but, I suspect because of the extreme emphasis on Jesus in much of Christian practice, many assume that Islam parallels this with Muhammad and Muslims. While the Prophet is considered by Muslims to have been the human being with the best character, he is still regarded as a human being, albeit an exceptional one. And while he is regarded as the final prophet of God, he is not the only one. He does not have divine status, although Muslims hold him in the highest regard and are expected and encouraged to try to emulate his habits and characteristics, those being of the highest quality.

Muslims were for years incorrectly referred to as Mohammedans (spelled variously). This has generally become archaic, but you still see it now and then. It's actually profoundly offensive, since it implies shirk. (And while we're on it, it's Muslim, not Moslem, and Qur'an or Quran, not Koran.)

5. Translations of the Qur'an are not the Qur'an. It's well-known that something is always lost in translation. For those English speakers who don't ever expect to read the Bible in Hebrew, Aramaic, and whatever other languages in which its component texts originally appeared, it seems to be accepted that translations of the Bible are all more or less equally valid, although one may have a preferred translation. But only the Qur'an in its original Arabic is considered to be the Qur'an; translations are treated with great respect but are simply not equally valid. Muslims believe that the Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad (who was completely illiterate) by God through the angel Jibril (Gabriel). Muhammad memorized the passages as they were revealed and recited them and shared them with his family and followers. Pre-Islamic Arab culture was predominantly oral, and others ultimately learned and memorized the entire Qur'an; it was not completely written down until after the Prophet's death.

There have been many, many translations over the 1400-odd years since it was first written down; plenty of them are bad -- a few of them deliberately so in order to discredit Islam. Many poor translations offer little more than the bias and ignorance of the translator. But it's imperative to remember that any translation is at best an approximation, and it can be very dangerous to make sweeping judgments based on translated verses, especially in isolation.

6. Not all Muslims are Arabs; not all Arabs are Muslims.
There seems to be widespread confusion about this. I suppose that, on some level, it's understandable: the Qur'an was revealed to an Arab speaker in Arabia, and two of Islam's holiest sites (the Holy Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah) are in what is now Saudi Arabia . But Arab people live in many countries, not just Saudi Arabia , and subscribe to many different religions, not just Islam: Christianity, Judaism, and Druze among them. The most populous Muslim country in the world is not even an Arab country: it's Indonesia . Only about twelve percent of the world's Muslims are Arabs.

Muslims are nationals of many countries, from India to Sweden to Australia . Anyone who wants to can convert to Islam, and it's actually only a minority of Muslims who are also of Arab heritage. Also, not all Arab customs are Muslim. All Muslims do not speak Arabic, although prayers are to be said in Arabic, and Muslims are encouraged to learn to read Arabic so that they can understand the Qur'an. And while I would really, really like to believe this doesn't even need to be said, recent events have proved me wrong: not everyone with brown skin or wearing a turban is a Muslim or an Arab.

7. Culture is not religion. So much of the oppression and misogyny (female illiteracy, "honor" killing, female genital mutilation, forced marriages, physical abuse, etc.) we hear about in quasi- and pseudo-Islamic countries such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Iran stems from patriarchal cultural customs and baggage and not from Islam, although it's always "justified" sixty ways to Sunday with supposed religious dictates and self-serving interpretations of scripture.

If any of these countries actually thoroughly implemented Islam as intended and honored the spirit as well as the letter of the "law," women, for example, would not only have far more rights and freedoms than they currently do in any of these countries, but the behavior of men and the actions of governments would have to change so radically that you would probably not recognize these countries at all. Islamic concepts and requirements are that different from how these countries currently operate.

8. Islam is not a monolith. It is a large, widespread, rich, and complex religion, with an extremely intricate and sometimes enigmatic scripture, and an estimated 1.2 billion followers worldwide. There is overwhelming diversity within the Islamic world, beginning with the major Islamic subgroups: Sunni Muslims (accounting for around 85-90% of Muslims), Shi'ite Muslims, Sufis, Ismailis, and other small splinter groups. Within these groups there are schools of legal thought; there are four major ones within Sunni Islam alone. Muslims might be born into the religion or convert to it, and this contributes to the diversity within its adherents. It's absolutely essential not to see any one Muslim, genuine or otherwise, as representative of all Muslims.

The very diversity of Muslims worldwide is one reason the annual pilgrimage (hajj) to Makkah, the birthplace of Islam, is so compelling: every year for over fourteen hundred years, millions of Muslims have united for a few days, putting aside all differences of race, ethnic background, class, gender and language, to participate in a ritual established by the Prophet Muhammad.

9. Jihad does not mean "holy war." This has to be one of the most damaging, most persistent myths about Islam. The Western media have helped perpetuate this, but there are plenty of benighted Muslims who insist on misapprehending and incorrectly using this term. Jihad, (which comes from the Arabic root word jahada, meaning "to toil, to exert oneself, to strive for a better way of life"wink is correctly translated as "struggle" or "endeavour," and can easily apply to such things as a student working to earn a medical degree or a group of people raising money to build a mosque. It can apply to the struggle to control one's temper, or to learn to read and write. Part of my husband's jihad as a Muslim is the effort it takes for him to get up in time to offer the first prayers of the day, which occur before dawn. It encompasses the idea of struggling or fighting for good or against evil, but that does not necessarily mean with violence, and it certainly does not mean that any crackpot claiming to be Muslim and waving a Qur'an around can decide who is good and who is evil, and start killing people.

There are certain extreme circumstances under which the notion of jihad might encompass aggression or armed conflict, but these are only to be engaged in as a last resort, when all legal, political, economic, social, and diplomatic attempts to defend Muslims and their right to worship, or to combat other severe oppression (and not only against Muslims), have failed. Any kind of military action is, at best, a subset of the concept of jihad. In fact, there is a well-known Islamic saying indicating that any kind of military conflict is the "minor jihad"; the "major jihad" is the struggle to control and improve oneself. Some of the passages in the Qur'an describing battle and aggression (the passages militants often quote out of context to support their agendas) are narrating actual historical events, not advising them as a course of action or a religious duty. They are also offset by many other passages enjoining peace, mercy, goodness, tolerance, patience, forgiveness, compassion, restrictions in warfare, etc. It seems the bin Ladens and "Muslim" militants of the world just haven't gotten to those parts of the Qur'an yet.

10. Islam does not promote, sponsor, condone or encourage terrorism or murder. The smear campaign against Islam (during the twentieth century in particular) has been extremely thorough and successful.
Re: Islamic Talk: by babs787(m): 7:39pm On Jun 23, 2009
Toward a Good End

Allah's mercy embraces each and every thing in the universe. Almighty Allah enjoined people to perform righteous deeds in this world. If they do, He will consequently raise their ranks in the hereafter. Therefore, Muslims should be perseverant in obeying Him and should strive in worshipping Him. If they show patience in times of hardship, this will be for their own good in the hereafter. If they are thankful and grateful to Allah for the favors He bestows upon them, it would be good for them in the hereafter too. Allah says about such Muslims,

(Those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure.) (Az-Zumar 39:10)


Life is humans' wealth in this world. If they make good use of it, it will surely benefit them in the hereafter and their actions will be profitable. On the other hand, if they misuse their lives by committing sins and disobeying Allah until they meet Him in such a state, they will surely be losers. Those who have good sense should call themselves to account, before Allah calls them to account on the Day of Judgment. In the hereafter, those who committed sins in the worldly life will try to go faraway from them before these sins lead them to destruction in Hellfire.

Abandonment of sins and fear from Allah are important elements that help one gain a good end. `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud said, "[True] believers see themselves with their sins as if they were sitting beside a mountain, fearing that it will soon fall upon them" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

Many times a person persists on committing a minor sin while he or she knows it is a sin. Such a person considers it to be nothing, not thinking of the greatness of the One being disobeyed! In many cases, this minor sin can be the bad end of a person's life, and so this person would be admitted to Hellfire. Anas ibn Malik said, "You do deeds that you consider more minute than a hair, but we used to consider them major sins at the time of the Prophet"
(Al-Bukhari).

In the Glorious Qur'an, Almighty Allah draws the believers' attention to the importance of the good end of one's life and deeds; He says,

(O you who believe, be careful of (your duty to) Allah with the care that is due to Him, and do not die unless you are Muslims.) ([/b]Aal `Imran 3:102)

He also says,

[b] (And serve your Lord until there comes to you that which is certain.)
(Al-Hijr 15:99)

In the previous verses, Almighty Allah commands us to fear Him and worship Him (alone) until we die, so that a good end could be attained. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said that there are some people who strive in obeying Allah for a long time of their lives, but shortly before they die they commit sins and end their lives as sinners. The Prophet said,

[b]"A person may do deeds that characterize the people of Hellfire, so that there is only a cubit between him and it, and then what has been written transcends, so he starts doing deeds that characterize the people of Paradise and enters Paradise . Similarly, a person may do deeds that characterize the people of Paradise , so that there is only a cubit between him and it, and then what has been written transcends, so he starts doing deeds of the people of Hellfire and enters Hellfire."([/b]Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Sa`d ibn Sahl As-Sa`idi narrated that [during one of the battles with the disbelievers] the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) looked at a man fighting against the pagans and he was one of the most competent persons fighting on behalf of the Muslims. The Prophet said, "Let him who wants to look at a man from the dwellers of the Hellfire, look at this (man)." Another man followed him and kept on following him till he (the fighter) was injured and, seeking to die quickly, he placed the blade tip of his sword between his breasts and leaned over it till it passed through his shoulders (i.e., committed suicide)." The Prophet added,

"A person may do deeds that seem to the people as the deeds of the people of Paradise while in fact, he is from the dwellers of the (Hell) Fire: and similarly a person may do deeds that seem to the people as the deeds of the people of the Hellfire while in fact, he is from the dwellers of Paradise. Verily, the (results of) deeds done depend upon the last actions." (Al-Bukhari)

Almighty Allah describes the believers as those who combine both fear of Allah's punishment and sincerity in worship in their hearts:
[b]
(Verily those who go in awe for fear of their Lord and those who believe in the signs of their Lord and those who do not associate (aught) with their Lord and those who give what they give (in alms) while their hearts are full of fear that to their Lord they will return —these hasten to good things and they are foremost in (attaining) them.)([/b]Al-Mu'minun 23:57–61)

This was the state of the reverend Companions. It was narrated that Abu Bakr As-Siddiq said, "I wish I were a hair in a believer's body." He used to touch his tongue saying, "This would lead me to the ways of destruction."

Another element of the work aiming at a good end is detaching low, worldly desires from one's heart. It is reported that `Ali ibn Abi Talib used to fear two things: having long hope and pursuing desires. He said, "Long hope makes [you] forget all about the hereafter, and pursuing desires swerves [you] from the way of truth."

He also used to say,” Verily this world has run away, and the hereafter is approaching very fast. And there are people for both, so be of the people of the hereafter, and do not be of the worshippers of this world, for in this world there are deeds without reckoning. But tomorrow [on the Day of Judgment], there will be reckoning without deeds."

Reminding oneself that death may come all of a sudden urges one to be ready for that destiny. Moreover, in Islam, sudden death is a detested thing, because it gives the individual no time for repentance. A person might get used to doing something evil, and sudden death can make this person's life end in such a state.

The righteous predecessors used to dread the bad end of one's life. Sahl At-Tusturi, one of the righteous predecessors, said, "Truthful persons used to fear the bad end of one's life in any move or at any moment. In the Glorious Qur'an, they are described by Allah as (Their hearts are full of fear) [Al-Mu'minun 23:60]."

Fear of a bad end of one's life should be present before one's eyes all the time, for fear induces people to do good deeds. The Prophet said,

[b]"Whoever fears should walk at night [i.e., begin very early, work very hard to complete his or her journey, and race for good deeds], and whoever walks at night reaches home [ Paradise ]. Allah's commodity is expensive — Allah's commodity is Paradise ."([/b]At-Tirmidhi)

However, when a person comes close to death, he or she should have more hope for Allah's mercy and should look forward to meeting Allah, for Allah likes to meet those who like to meet Him. The Prophet said,"None of you [Muslims] should die without having a good thought about Allah"(Muslim).

But many laypersons among Muslims depend on Allah's abundant mercy and forgiveness and keep on disobeying Him. Knowing that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful, they are tempted to commit more sins! This is a fatal error and a destructive way of thinking. Although Allah is Most Merciful and Forgiving, He is also the Severest in punishment. In the Glorious Qur'an, He says,

[b](Inform My servants that I am the Forgiving, the Merciful, and that My punishment is the painful punishment.)([/b]Al-Hijr 15:49–50)

He also says,

[b](The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Mighty, the Knowing,the Forgiver of the faults and the Acceptor of repentance, the Stern in punishment, the Bountiful ; there is no god but He; to Him is the eventual coming.)([/b]Ghafir 40:2–3)

Ma`ruf Al-Karkhi, one of the righteous predecessors, said, "Your hope in the mercy of the One Whom you do not obey is foolishness and disappointment [for you]."

A Muslim should always be keen to pay back people's debts and to give them their rights, for rights due to others will surely be taken back on the Day of Resurrection, if not in this worldly life. If the debtor has no rewards to his credit on the Day of Judgment, the creditor's sins will be laid on the debtor's repository of sins (and eventually be admitted to Hell).

The Prophet informed us that a believer's soul will be hindered from getting into Paradise by his or her debts, until these debts are paid on this believer's behalf back to the creditor.

Fearing Allah, remembering death, doing good, repenting, and forsaking sins lead to a good end; this is the way of those addressed by the Forgiver in the following verse:

((To the righteous soul will be saidsmiley "O (you) soul at rest, return to your Lord well-pleased (with him), well-pleasing (Him), so enter among My servants and enter My Heaven!"wink (Al-Fajr 89:27–30)
Re: Islamic Talk: by babs787(m): 7:48pm On Aug 17, 2009
In the Path of Self-Purification : Obstacles and Pitfalls


A responsible highway authority will erect a variety of warning signs in order to alert drivers to dangers and so ensure safe passage. Similarly, it is necessary that certain obstacles in the path of self-purification be identified for the benefit of the seekers of truth. Doing so will help them reach their destination safely. In broad terms, there are certain failings that can gradually separate one from one's goal and against which it is important to be forewarned.

Negligence and Carelessness


This is a very common failing. One is, without doubt, drawn by nature towards a program of self-reform and may be granted some success. However, human beings are liable to forgetfulness and negligence. The Qur'an repeatedly warns against becoming one of those who are negligent. It is important therefore to be fully on guard, to value greatly any success, and to thank Allah profusely for it so that one may be deserving of more of His bounties. Conversely, a lack of appreciation, indifference, and negligence result in the loss of all that Allah has granted. The Qur'an says plainly of the Jews and Christians that they did not value their Scriptures and disregarded them; as a result, they fell prey to mutual differences and strayed from the straight path (Al-Ma'idah 5:13-14).

Pride and Arrogance

Believers who turn their attention to self-purification, shun misdeeds, and practice the virtues will grow in social prominence and respect. People will praise them for their integrity, gentleness, and piety. As they succeed in their efforts to attain piety and excellence, their virtues become the focus of attention. However, if they are not careful enough, they may fall into pride and suffer from complacency and conceit, and a superiority complex may trouble them. We must recognize that it is a satanic strategy to deceive the believers. Satan fell from divine grace on account of his pride. It is recorded that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "One with (even) an iota of pride will not enter Paradise " (Muslim).

To protect against pride and arrogance, we should not look to those who are inferior in knowledge and good deeds, but to those who occupy higher ranks in terms of piety, knowledge, and gnosis of Allah. We should always remember that Allah has presented the role model of the illustrious conduct of the messengers and Companions. In comparison with that model, we will always become aware of our inferiority to them, and that will protect us from falling prey to pride and arrogance. Once we suffer from the delusion that we have attained excellence, it marks the starting point of our decline and decay. We should, therefore, seek refuge with Allah against this, lest we are deprived of all that we have gained.

Desire for Perfection

It is people's natural desire to attain the zenith of achievement in their chosen field. This ambition in itself is valuable. However, since human beings are fallible, they cannot maintain the same standard of excellence at all times. Some people are never satisfied with what they do, obsessed with the desire to achieve perfection. Failing to reach the highest standard, they lose heart and slide into despair and despondency. By definition, an ideal is something to be pursued; it is, in principle, always unattainable. As already indicated, the Prophet represents the role model for us to emulate the highest standard, which we cannot measure up to.

Hastiness

Human beings are instinctively hasty[b] (Al-Anbiyaa' 21:37), [/b] while the process of self-purification is long and drawn out. People cannot achieve straightaway what they wish and want in this respect, and they are exposed to many obstacles and hardships on the way. Perseverance and courage are needed to overcome these obstacles. Succumbing to impatience or hastiness is itself an impediment to success; whereas consistently and valiantly confronting the hardships and obstacles brings out the best in the seeker. Indeed, striving and steadfastness are essential elements of self-purification. People cannot attain high standards by acting hastily and impatiently.

Despair


Despair is a fatal disease. At times, it brings one into unbelief. Allah says,

(Never give up hope of Allah's mercy. Certainly, no one despairs of Allah's mercy, except the people who disbelieve.) (Yusuf 12:87)

In adverse circumstances, when the chances of success are remote, people are naturally inclined to lose hope and turn to cynicism or pessimism. However, even in the face of repeated failures, people must never despair of Allah's mercy. Every failure should inspire renewed vigor to confront the unfavorable circumstances and persevere in the cause, in accordance with the promise of Allah,

(As for those who strive hard in Our cause, We will surely guide them to Our paths.) (Al-`Ankabut 29:69)[/b]

[b]Extremism


Human beings are prone to go to extremes when overtaken by passion. They often adopt an extremist position on particular issues, whether acts of worship or points of morality, overemphasizing certain matters at the expense of others. Islam enjoins human beings to seek balance and moderation in their outlook and warns them against extremism of any sort. People should therefore observe moderation in the effort to attain self- and blessings purification. It is reported on the authority of Anas that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Do not strain yourself in matters of faith lest Allah may treat you harshly." In another hadith he warned, "Beware! Do not become entrapped by extremism. For people before you were destroyed on account of their extremism in faith."

We have taken note of the obstacles and pitfalls on the road to self-purification. This should not give rise to the impression that people cannot make progress on this road. Certainly this is not that difficult. Human beings instinctively welcome goodness and are repelled by evil. There are lessons to be learned from every event in this universe, as well as from personal experience. People do not stand in need of joining some training course to assimilate these lessons. Furthermore, it is within people's capacity to fulfill the obligations prescribed by Allah. Allah does not burden anyone beyond their capacity, for that would run counter to justice.
Re: Islamic Talk: by babs787(m): 3:17pm On Sep 26, 2009
What After Ramadan?

The Muslim must continuously be in the state of obedience to Allah at all times even after Ramadan ends.

We leave the blessed month of Ramadan, its beautiful days and its fragrant nights. We leave the month of the Quran, taqwa, patience, jihad, mercy, forgiveness and freedom from hell-fire.

Have we fulfilled the requirements of taqwa? Have we fought our souls and desires and defeated them, or have we been overtaken by our customs and blind imitations? Have we performed our actions in a way that fulfills the conditions for receiving mercy, forgiveness and release from the Fire? Many questions and numerous thoughts come to the heart of the sincere Muslim, who asks and answers with truthfulness.

What Have We Gained From Ramadan?

Ramadan is a school of iman and a ‘stop to recharge one’s spiritual batteries’ - to acquire one’s provision for the rest of the year,

For when will one take a lesson and change for better if not in the month of Ramadan?
The noble month is a true school of transformation in which we change our actions, habits and manners that are in variance with the Law of Allah. If you are from those who benefited from Ramadan, fulfilled the requirements of taqwa, truly fasted the month, prayed in it with truthfulness, and strove against your soul, then praise and thank Allah, and ask Him for steadfastness upon it until you meet your death.

Imagine the condition of one who returns to sins and evil after Ramadan and leaves obedience and righteous actions. So after he was favoured with the blessing of obedience and enjoyment of communicating with Allah he returned to the blaze of sins and evil actions. How evil are the people who know Allah only in Ramadan!

Falling short in one’s commitment to Islam after Ramadan is manifested in many ways, including:

Men leaving the five prayers in congregation, after they filled mosques for Taraweeh prayers, thus going to the masjid for recommended prayers and leaving obligatory ones.

Return to entertainment and forbidden films. This is not thankfulness for blessings and favours, nor is it the sign of acceptance of one’s actions, rather this is opposition to favours and absence of thankfulness. The Muslim must continuously be in the state of obedience of Allah.

If the fasting in Ramadan has ended, then there remains voluntary fasting, such as fasting six days in Shawwal, on Mondays and Thursdays, the three days in the middle of the month, the days of ‘Aashoora and ‘Arafat.

If standing in prayer at night during Ramadan has ended, then there remains voluntary night prayer throughout the year.

If the charity in Ramadan and Zakat ul-fitr have ended, then there is the obligatory Zakat, and also there are many other open doors to charity.

Reading of the Qur’an and contemplating it is not only for Ramadan, rather it is for all times.

Righteous actions are for all times and all places. And remember that it is not allowed for us to leave the obligatory actions or delay them, such as the five daily prayers on time, in congregation etc.

And do not fall into forbidden actions, such as forbidden sayings, food and drinks, or by looking at or listening to what is forbidden.

So be steadfast and upright upon the commands of Allah at all times, for you do not know when you’ll meet the Angel of Death. Beware of him taking you while you are in a state of sin.

We ask Allah to accept our good deeds and grant us His forgiveness and mercy
Re: Islamic Talk: by babs787(m): 7:44pm On Mar 26, 2010
The Debt We Owe to Religion

The Arabic word commonly translated as "religion" is deen. "Religion" is a fairly good translation[b][/b], but as many will point out, there is a problem in the modern idea of religion that diminishes the value of the word for this translation. (This is a linguistic argument, not a point to make against modernity.) Religion has come to mean different things because of secular cultural pressure, a common influence in definitions: Religion may mean certain hollow rites that people do during certain seasons of the year; or peculiar acts taken over by culture or family pressure, although they once were connected to devotion; or charming involvement with some vague tradition, with shades of transcending meaning or none at all, stuff that add color to how we live. The relationship of religion binding with the unseen and the Hereafter has become almost vestigial. That really creates a translation problem for deen (although "religion" is still hard to replace, if not impossible). "Religion" means literally to "reconnect" or "form a bond," namely, to bind one's will with God ("lig" as in "ligature," to tie together something, and "ligament," the connective tissue that binds bone to bone). "Religion" has lost its sense of a way of life, for if you connect with God, it becomes a relationship that takes over.

Admonition aside, way of life really does inform what the Arabic word deen implies, for deen is actually a short explanation as to why we live at all, if we look closely at the word's original meaning. Linguistically, deen comes from root word dayana, from which dayn derives-"debt" that must be paid back. So there's connection between debt and religion, as one considers that we are essentially accountable beings who come into this world with a debt to fulfill, a debt due to God-a debt that grows as we mature into adults, charged with volition and discernment[b][/b].

Daily in our prayers, we recite that God is Malik Yawm al-Deen: Master of the Day of Judgment- a day in which all debts are settled, a day of retribution-pay back in other words. Sermon-talk resumed, had it not been for His mercy and grace, it would be impossible to fulfill that debt to God. Yet He makes it easy through religion, which magnifies the small things we do: He reveals human obligations and a Sacred Law that has a mighty purpose, live right (live a good life) and to prepare us for a Day of Debt-a day in which there is no mercy but His, no refuge but with Him.

To devote some time in a day, an hour of a week, or a month in a year, by all logic, should appear to be short in paying our debt, especially when we consider the payoff in the Hereafter of an eternity in Gardens of amazing peace, bliss, and constant fulfillment, with never a burden or fear-always lucky. Today, I[b] have perfected your religion [deen] for you, and completed My blessing upon you, and I have chosen Islam as your religion (Quran, 5:3). [/b]

Clearly, deen is the medium through which we understand our purpose and the path that helps us fulfill a purpose that, on our own accord, would be beyond reach, hence the grace of deen, a religion that multiplies a small investment into what is beyond calculation. We tend to forget, at a deep level, that God created us, blessed us with existence, and has given us all that we make use of, all that we see, all that we spend and consume, all the senses that we apply to learn and find relief-all of everything. If we reflect on what we owe to our parents for their care and nurturing, then imagine what we "owe" to God?
Re: Islamic Talk: by bilms(m): 6:52pm On Mar 27, 2010
Babs.

jazakallahu khair,

nice work here
Re: Islamic Talk: by babs787(m): 7:31pm On Apr 07, 2010
Muslim character as it should be

Muslims today are associated with terror, oppression, extremeness and harshness. Unfortunately due to the actions of a few, a huge isrepresentation of who a Muslim is and what the word stands for has developed.

To understand its right meaning, we should look into the life of Muhammad (peace is upon him). Several Muslims exert their utmost efforts to follow the Prophet (peace be upon him), but as fallible mortals, we all fall short.

If a group of Muslims cause terror around the globe by indiscriminately killing Muslims and non-Muslims and justify their actions by misquoting and misconstruing the verses of the Qur'an, is it fair to label all Muslims as terrorists? Take the example of a father who beats his children. Because of one such father, do we label all fathers as child-beaters? We cannot judge Islam by the people, we judge it by the Qur'an and the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). [/b]

A Muslim is someone who firstly believes in and submits to Allah, and obeys His Messenger. He understands and attests to the five pillars of Islam. Understanding monotheism and having the correct belief is the most important of all.

As for the character, a Muslim has to be honest and truthful. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said [b]"Three things are the sign of the hypocrite: when he speaks he tells lies, when he promises he breaks it and when he is trusted he proves to be dishonest." ( Al-Bukhari, Eng. Trans. 1/31/no.32 and Muslim, Eng. Trans. 1/40/no.112) . We should ask ourselves: Do we fall into these categories or are we safe from them?


A Muslim is expected to be gentle. Gentleness spreads love and unites people. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said "Indeed Allah is gentle and loves gentleness, and gives due to gentleness that which He does not give to harshness. (Ibn Majah, no. 3688)

A Muslim should also be quick to forgive others. Allah said in the Qur'an:

"And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for Al-Muttaqûn (the pious).

Those who spend (in Allah's cause) in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves Al-Muhsinûn (the good­doers)."[b][/b] (Qur'an, 3:133-134)

Worthy to mention here is an example of the Prophet's kindness and forgiveness:

Before migration, when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was living in Makkah, an old woman would throw rubbish on him whenever he passed by her house. The Prophet (peace be upon him) would silently pass by that house everyday, without expressing any anger or annoyance. The old woman, one day, fell ill. The Prophet (peace be upon him) not finding his usual greetings, enquired about the woman's well-being by visiting her and if he could in any way help her.

The old woman was greatly moved by this kindness. The example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) made her understand that he was truly the Prophet of Allah and that Islam was the true religion. She accepted Islam at once. 

As Muslims, we should try our utmost to be a proper representative of Islam. We should portray the message brought by the Prophet (peace be upon him). We should always look at ourselves first before judging others.
Re: Islamic Talk: by chakula: 11:09am On Apr 08, 2010
@bab787,

salam,

before i commented your posts, let me seek from almighty Allah to grant Jannatul Firdausi undeviating to you and to those that believe in oneness of Allah and Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W) as a true massenger and role model to all muslims for them to copy from his tradition, and however, i will never come across to this topic but today it is really interested for those that they are ready to learn more about islamic teachings and others roles governed to the islamic credence,keep it up ,your reward is unknown by nobody except Allah (S.W.T).
Re: Islamic Talk: by babs787(m): 7:14pm On Apr 12, 2010
@Chakula

salam,

before i commented your posts, let me seek from almighty Allah to grant Jannatul Firdausi undeviating to you and to those that believe in oneness of Allah and Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W) as a true massenger and role model to all muslims for them to copy from his tradition, and however, i will never come across to this topic but today it is really interested for those that they are ready to learn more about islamic teachings and others roles governed to the islamic credence,keep it up ,your reward is unknown by nobody except Allah (S.W.T).

Jazakhallah, I am benefitting from my friends.
Re: Islamic Talk: by babs787(m): 7:17pm On Apr 12, 2010
Qur'an Your Gateway to a New World


If we are like most Muslims, we probably have a copy of the Qur'an somewhere in our home. We may not know where it is, but that is only because we never needed to look for it. Most often, it occupies the top shelf in any stack of books (ensuring maximum accessibility! ), or found wrapped in multiple layers of decorated cloth (ensuring optimum visibility!) . More likely than not, it's the one book with the most dust on it and the one we are least likely to pick for our night-time reading. There is a reason we treat this 'holy book' in such a disgraceful manner: we do not know why we have it and why we need it in the first place.

By our indifference, we have ignored its awesome power to change people and transform societies. By our misguided love for the physical Book, we have made it "untouchable" , suitable only for occasional mouthing of its syllables, but otherwise to be stored away. By our overemphasis on minute details, we have erected barriers between the Qur'an and ourselves, counting on someone else to tell us how to understand it, so that we hardly ever interact with it personally!


The Qur'an as Reality

"Allah. There is no god but He, the Ever-living, the Self-subsisting [by whom all subsist]. He has sent down upon you the Book with the Truth , as a guidance unto mankind" (Qur'an 3: 2-3)


For those who heard it for the first time from the lips of the Prophet, blessings and peace be on him, the Qur'an was a living reality. They had no doubt that, through him, Allah was speaking to them. Their hearts and minds were therefore seized by it. Their eyes overflowed with tears and their bodies shivered. They found each word of it deeply relevant to their concerns and experiences, and integrated it fully into their lives. They were completely transformed by it - both as individuals and as a community - into a totally new, alive and life-giving entity. Those who grazed sheep, herded camels and traded petty merchandise became the shepherds and leaders of mankind!

How do we make the Qur'an, again, a living, relevant force, as powerful for us now, 1420 years away, as it was then? Only by entering the world of the Qur'an as if Allah were speaking to us through it now and today, and by fulfilling the necessary conditions for such an encounter.

Encountering the World of the Qur'an

Firstly, then, we must realize what the Qur'an, as the word of God, is and what it means to us, and bring all the reverence, love, longing, and will-to-act that this realization demands. Secondly, we must read it as it asks to be read, as Allah's Messenger instructed us, as he and his Companions read it. Thirdly, we must bring each word of the Qur'an to bear upon our own realities and concerns by transcending the barriers of time, culture and change.

The New World that Awaits You

As you come to the Qur’an, you come to a new world. No other venture in your life can be so momentous and crucial, so blissful and rewarding, as your journey to and through the Qurân.

It is a journey that will take you through the endless joys and riches of the words that your Creator and Lord has sent to you and all mankind. Here you will find a world of untold treasures of knowledge and wisdom to guide you on the pathways of life, to mould your thoughts and actions. In it, you will find deep insights to enrich you and steer you along the right course. From it, you will receive a radiant light to illuminate the deeper reaches of your soul. Here you will encounter profound emotions, a warmth to melt your heart and bring tears running down your cheeks.

Undertaking the Journey

To remain determined and steadfast on our road to its discovery, and to derive the maximum benefit from our undertaking of studying the Qurân, we must approach it with certain convictions.

First, our lives will remain meaningless and ruined unless they are guided by the Qurân, the word of God.

Second, the Qurân, being the eternal guidance given by the Ever-living God, is as relevant for us, today; as it was fourteen centuries ago, and will remain so forever.

Third, we almost have a right, in some sense and measure, to receive its blessings today as its first believers did; provided, of course, that we come to it and move in it in a manner that may entitle us to share its rich harvest.

Fourth, every Muslim has a duty to devote himself to reading, understanding, memorizing and implementing the Qurân.

Fifth, one must abandon oneself totally, in thought and deed, to whatever the Quran has to offer. Any pride, arrogance, sense of self-sufficiency, reservation, or ingenuity that can mistakenly be read into it, is fatal to its understanding and would shut the door to its blessings.

Sixth, the path of the Qurân is the path of self-surrender, of practicing what it tells you, even if one learns only one Ayah. One Ayah learnt and acted upon is better than a thousand explained beautifully but which do not impart any beauty to the reader's life. Obedience, after all, is the real key to understanding.

Living the Qur’an

Reading the Qur’an will be of little benefit to you, it may even bring misery and harm, unless you, from the first moment, begin to change and reconstruct your life in total surrender to God who has given you the Qur’an. Without the will and striving to act, neither the states of heart and enraptures of the soul, nor the ecstasies of mood, nor intellectual enrichment will be of any use to you. If the Qur’an does not have any impact upon your actions and if you do not obey what it enjoins and avoid what it prohibits, then you are not getting nearer to it.

Reading the Qurân should induce faith inside your heart; that faith should shape your lives. It is not a gradual piecemeal process, by which you first spend years reading the Qurân, then understanding it and strengthening your faith, and only then act upon it. All things take place simultaneously: as you hear or recite the words, they kindle faith inside you; as you have faith inside you, your life begins to change.

What we must remember is that to live by the Qurân requires a major decision on our part: we have to completely alter the course of our life, irrespective of what may be the dominant thought-patterns around us, or what our society may be dictating, or what others may be doing. This decision requires major sacrifices. But unless we, as believers in the Qurân being the word of God, are prepared to take the plunge, not much good will come out of the time spent with the Qur’an.

O people! There has come to you an exhortation from your Lord - a healing for what is in the hearts, a guidance and a mercy for the believers. Say: In this bounty of Allah, and in His mercy, in it, let them rejoice!" (Qur’an10: 57-cool

Let us rejoice then and re-acquaint our selves with Allah through His Book.

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