₦airaland Forum

for people that are insulting Prof David West, i think you are half illiterate, the guy is a Prof mind you and i believe 99.9% of will never attend what he has achieve in life.

Thus the fact that man has been favored in some ways more than woman does not automatically make him superior to her. It is only when his taqwa is more than hers that he can from the Qur'anic point of view be considered superior to her. And when a person's taqwa increases to a worthwhile level the question of his superiority does not interest him, for he or she realizes that all praises are due to God.

2) The first reason then why men are qawwamun over women is their physical ability to protect women. The second is that "they (i.e. men) spend out of their wealth." Although the Holy Qur'an permits women to earn and own wealth, it expects that men will generally be able to earn more than women because of the natural differences between them. This means that they will generally be responsible for the economic needs of women and this responsibility also makes them qawwamun.

In thinking of men as qawwamun over women we should not limit their role to mere protectors and providers. Properly taking care of women requires more than ensuring their physical security and providing food and shelter. It also requires looking after their psychological and emotional needs which can be summed up in terms of the need for love (30:21). Thus man's role in the relationship between men and women (as husbands and wives) generally consists of three things: protecting the woman, looking after her economic needs and giving her love.

What is the woman's role in this relationship? A brief statement follows about this in the verse:

"The righteous women are devout (qanitat) and guard what Allah has willed to be guarded even though out of sight."

Of all the Qur'anic passages about men and women perhaps the one most often misunderstood or misused by both Muslims and non-Muslims is verse 34 of Surah an-Nisa. The English translation of this verse reads as follows:

"Men are (meant to be righteous and kind) guardians of women because God has favored some more than others and because they (i.e. men) spend out of their wealth. (In their turn) righteous women are (meant to be) devoted and to guard what God has (willed to be) guarded even though out of sight (of the husband). As for those (women) on whose part you fear ill-will and nasty conduct, admonish them (first), (next) leave them alone in beds (and last) beat or separate them (from you). But if they obey you, then seek nothing against them. Behold, God is most high and great. (4:34)

The purpose of this article is to give a detailed commentary on the verse in order to make it better understood.

The verse begins with the statement that "men are qawwamun over women". The root of the key word, qawwamun (pl. of qawwam), is qama which means "to stand or to make something stand or to establish something". It is often used in the Holy Qur'an in the sense of establishing religion or prayer. A related word is qa'im which means "one who stands or makes something stand". Qawwam is an intensive form of qa'im and has a sense of continuity in the action involved. So it means one who is continuously standing over something (as, for example, a guard or caretaker) or one who is continuously making something stand, i.e. is maintaining it. In the Qur'anic usage of qawwam and related words there is almost always present an idea of propriety. For example, aqamah of salah is not only praying but also praying properly. The function of qawwam is also understood in the Qur'an to be characterized by fairness. Thus in 4:134 and 5:8, the only other passages in the Qur'an where the word is used, the believers are told:

"O you who believe! Be qawwamin with fairness, "

"O you who believe! Be qawwamin for God as witnesses to fairness, "

Thus to be a qawwam over something or someone is to guard, maintain or take care of that something or someone in a proper and fair manner. If there is any single word in English that can convey the meaning of the word as used in the present word it is probably the one used by Muhammad Pickthal, namely, guardian.

@chuqudy (m)
i want u to know the image of Islam will never be damaged because God is the one that judges our hearts, and because of bombings and killings believe me even Christians kills but we are not here to make comparison but you should no in any religion u will see people that will use religion to achieve certain things, for example most of the kidnappings,Fake Drugs,Arm robbery,women trafficking and so on u will quite agree with me is our mostly our fellow Christians that are fun of doing it, but we have not said Christianity is damaged but rather we should for solutions not blames. majority of Nigerian Muslims are peace abiding citizens and are also against the activity of Boko Haram. in Islam who ever kills an innocent life Muslim or christian that person will face the anger of Allah

@big_sean believe me most Muslims are condeming boko haram and no Muslim want associate him self with them,but u should know that if a common man condem them it doesnt necessarily means that paper will carry it, let me tell you, who ever kill an innocent soul been him a muslim or chiristian is going to hell fire no doubt about it. and what we need in Nigeria is killing of any kind should stop whether in name of religion or tribe, whether in name of crimes like kidnapping,arm robbery,fake drugs, political assinations and so on

@Okija_juju who is wishing people dead, i am sure death will visit you before them, b you don't have a clean mind, your mind is wicked toward orders, Bible does nt teach you this nonesene

@lakesider you raised  very important point, According to our constitution Nigeria is a secular State, but most holidays favour our Christian brothers, in some countries where the have Muslim like Nigeria Thursday and Friday work free day some only Friday, but no Muslim have ever come and requested for Friday as work free day even knowing is the most important day of the week, and Muslim in Nigeria have the constitutional right to ask for Friday as work free day, but the ignore it for our country to move forward.

hello,

for peple accusing Islam and our beloved prophet, the should always think twice before doing such, we Muslim believe in Jesus and you can not be a Muslim if you did't believe in Jesus that is why we Muslim even by mistake don't accused or say any wrong word Jesus because we believe he was sent by God.

way the no make it 100 naira only because of fresh air, remember the slogan of fresh air is suffer know and enjoy tommorow- haba Ngozi,snusi and maduweke

tafa bologun is the best IG cos he is still the richest ever IG

is a liar

Israel is Anti Christ, i will never believe them, the have the highest Bad record of Human being abuse and toture in the world, modecai vanunu is in solitary confiment for saying the truth

and if i can recall the present NSO AZAZI was indicted during obasanjo regime by a panel for giving Niger Delta Militants weapons, why are people not saying anything about his appointment as NSO people should remove sentiments while voicing out their opinions

@ Wily1Wily
If the appointment of Abubakar a member of Boko Haram as IG is God Chosen, then tell us why Northern Moslems are against the Election of GoodLuck who is also a God Chosen

please note that muslim have elected GEJ as president, and u will quite agree with me that most States in the North Nigeria has voted for our present president and u will agree with me it is because he has gotten 25% and over that in some states that is why he qualify to become president, and you will also agree with me that not all christian in Nigeria have voted for him.

for all of you that are saying rubbish about the appointment of new AG, just come out and tell the house is a Muslim that you don't want to be IG of police but you should remember he is God chosen if u didn't like his appointment then you can challenge God. He has come stay whether you like it or not and Mr President is not as useless as some of you might think,he did the right thing at the right time

that is their problem, thank God Nigeria  president is not birom, so the can go to hell,

some of you if opportune will be worst than Our President, is the right decision in the right direction, you people should know Nigeria does not belong to one tribe or religion and for some of you that are calling him Boko Haram and he is indicted should get loss, i believe most of you are not even of to 30% clean as per as integrity is concern. so go and change ur own attitute before complaining about some one.

no smoke without fire, this statement is the from the govt of FGN

even if is true, Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. statistic is there

http://articles.cnn.com/1997-04-14/world/9704_14_egypt.islam_1_islamic-world-scarves-or-veils-prophet-mohammed?_s=PM:WORLD

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2007/05/13/the_list_the_worlds_fastest_growing_religions


The List: The World's Fastest-Growing Religions
From Muslims in Europe to evangelical Christians in Africa, it is religious believers who are shaping the early 21st Century. Charismatic movements are sweeping throughout the Southern Hemisphere, while high birth rates among immigrants are provoking soul-seeking in the historically Christian West. For this List, FP looks at the fast-growing faiths that are upending the old world order.
MAY 14, 2007

QASSEM ZEIN/AFP/Getty Images

Islam

Growth rate*: 1.84 percent

Adherents: 1.3 billion

Behind the trend: High birthrates in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe

Areas to watch: The worlds largest Muslim populations are in fast-growing countries such as Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Egypt, and Iran. Islam also happens to be the fastest growing religion in Europe, where an influx of Muslim immigrants from North Africa, Turkey, and South Asia has sent shock waves into a mostly Christian and secular population whose birthrates have stagnated. The Muslim question has empowered anti-immigrant parties in France, Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany, while sparking a fierce debate over the place of women in Islam and symbols of faith like the Muslim head scarf.

Moshe Milner/GPO/Newsmakers

The Bahai Faith*

Growth rate: 1.70 percent

Adherents: 7.7 million

Behind the trend: High birthrates in India

Areas to watch: Bahais are spread throughout the world, but a good chunkaround 1.8 millionlive in India. The Bahai faith was founded in 1863 in Iran by Bahullh, who claimed to be the latest in a line of prophets stretching from Abraham to Jesus Christ to Mohammed. The world headquarters of the Bahai faith are in Haifa, Israel. Today, Bahais often suffer persecution elsewhere in the Middle East, especially in Iran.

RAVEENDRAN/AFP/Getty Images

Sikhism

Growth rate: 1.62 percent

Adherents: 25.8 million

Behind the trend: High birthrates in India

Areas to watch: Thousands of Sikhs were killed during the bloody partition between Pakistan and India in 1947, and at least 3,000 Sikhs were killed by Hindu mobs in New Delhi following the assassination of Indira Gandhi by a pair of Sikh extremists in 1984. Today, Sikhs are prospering. The prime minister of India, Manmohan Singh, is Sikh. Over 90 percent of the worlds Sikhs live in India; of those, a large majority are concentrated in the northern Indian state of Punjab. Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States host growing Sikh minorities of several hundred thousand people each. In several isolated incidents after 9/11, turban-wearing Sikh men in Britain and the United States were mistaken for Muslims and attacked.

AFP/Getty Images

Jainism

Growth rate: 1.57 percent

Adherents: 5.9 million

Behind the trend: High birthrates in India

Areas to watch: Jains are a small but relatively powerful minority in India, making up about half of one percent of the population. They tend to be concentrated in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Outside of India, some of the largest concentrations of Jains are in Leicester, UK; Mombasa, Kenya; and major cities in the United States.

Mario Tama/Getty Images

Hinduism

Growth rate: 1.52 percent

Adherents: 870 million

Behind the trend: Surprise! High birthrates in India

Areas to watch: Most of the worlds Hindus live in India, and, to a lesser extent, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Significant Hindu minorities also live in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Malaysia. Since the 1960s, Hindus have become a growing presence in the United States, with as many as 1.5 million generally well-off adherents spread across the continent and prevalent in Texas, New Jersey, and Ohio. There are also several hundred thousand Hindus in the United Kingdom and South Africa, and there is a small Hindu minority in Russia, where its presence has aroused controversy in the Russian Orthodox Church.

PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images

Christianity

Growth rate: 1.38 percent

Adherents: 2.2 billion

Behind the trend: High birthrates and conversions in the global South

Areas to watch: Pentecostal movements in Latin America, Africa, China, and India. The fastest-growing individual church in the world is Misin Carismtica Internacional in Colombia; the Pentecostal denomination began in 1983 in Bogot and now boasts 150,000 members. Then theres Orissa Baptist Evangelical Crusade in India, which reports some 670,000 adherents. And in China, tens of millions of Christians practice their faith under the watchful eye of a very suspiciousand often hostileChinese government.

*Growth rates over the period from 2000 to 2005; all figures from the nondenominational World Christian Database, a project of the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

*The entry on the Bahai faith was revised to reflect the concerns of readers. Originally, the item was entitled Bahaism, and described the religion as an offshoot of Islam. Additionally, the sentence on Israel was clarified to better reflect the fact that Bahais are treated well in that country, but face discrimination elsewhere in the Middle East.

soldier with weapons and heavy machine guns,tankers ans so on have surrounded Gani Fawahemi square this morning, dictatorship, i pray this soldier will consume this current political dispensation because is like the don't have human feelings

asari ois a mad man, with negative attitude soon he will be impesched and nothing will happen to oil cos is not niger delta resources alone is for all Nigerian and with this kind of tribal attitutdw i dont think any responsible Nigerian will for ever cast his vote for area boys

i am beggining to blame gOV'T OF HIDING TRUTH, GEJ, we beg you to do something by way of bringing who ever is involve to book, since u said u knew them then what are u waiting for

dear all,

believe me peace is the only weapon we should preach for our selves, killing can't take us any where and i am telling majotiry of our chiristian brother are leaving in peace in most part of the North is only in North east, the are challenges and the Gov't as per as i am concern the govt have to take serious cautions,because some criminals are using umbrella of boko haram to commit crime may God save innocent soul where ever he is amen.

i am so happy the subsidy has being removed, at least God has punish most of you that turn  blind and voted for him and leave a better candidate, any way i thing he has a special subsidy for people of the south south and south west. congratulations, Gen Buhari  is the solution to our problem keep sentiments aside, am begging to mr fresh air to increase the price to N 3OO Per Litre

let the army take over this country in the interest of peace and unity of our country, suspend the constitution and make a new one, since 1999 our country is gradually turning to a war zone, i believe this useless politicians are not after the unity of Nigeria but rather their selfish agenda

the time has come, day of reckoning is here, we will slaughter them one after the other, i mean people behind this mess, we can't hold our hands and allow this blood sucking predatory elites to finish us before our time, let rise up and save our selves and Nigeria

1- The concept of God: in Islam God is
SURA 112. Ikhlas, or Purity (of Faith)
{1. Say: He is Allah, the One and Only;
2. Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
3. He begetts not, nor is He begotten;
4. And there is none like unto Him.}
God is one is clear non controversial sentence. No one can claim that he understood from reading the above chapter that God is 5 or 3.
Question number one: in the canonical bibles do you have clear non controversial sentence that states that God is three?
2-Jesus in the Quran is messenger
{And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said: O Children of Israel! I am the messenger of God (sent) to you, confirming the law ( Tawrat which came) before me, and giving Glad Tidings of an messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad. But when he came to them with Clear Signs, they said, This is evident sorcery!} Saf 6
The above verse states very clearly the position of Jesus. No one can claim that he understands (I am the messenger of God) as he is saying he was God himself.
Question number two: in the canonical bibles do you have clear non controversial sentence that state that Jesus is God?
Question number three: in the canonical bibles do you have clear non controversial sentence that state that Jesus is the biological son God?
Question number four: in the canonical bibles do you have clear non controversial sentence by which Jesus said: I am the son of God therefore worship me?
Question number five: in the canonical bibles do you have clear non controversial sentence by which Jesus said: I am the son of God therefore worship me?
Question number sex: in the canonical bibles do you have clear non controversial sentence by which Jesus said: I am the part of God therefore worship me?
Question number seven: in the canonical bibles do you have clear non controversial sentence by which Jesus said: I am the messenger of God therefore believe in me?
I will answer the seventh question for you. The bibles are loaded with so many verses stating that Jesus is a Prophet sent by God.
He was one prophet in a chain of prophets that God sent to humanity.
{The same religion has He established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah the which We have sent by inspiration to you and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus: Namely, that you should remain steadfast in Religion, and make no divisions therein: to those who worship other things than God, hard is the (way) to which you call them. God chooses to Himself those whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him)}Shura 13
For the other 6 questions you have only two answers
1- Yes Jesus is God or his son no matter what. In this case according to the Quran you are practicing polytheism.
{God forgives not that partners should be set up with him; but he forgives anything else, to whom he pleases; to set up partners with God is to devise a sin most heinous indeed.} Nisa 48

2- No Jesus is messenger as the bible clearly states. In this case according to the Quran you are practicing Islam but not the one revealed to Mohammed but the one reveled to Jesus.
{And behold I inspired the disciples to have faith in me and mine messenger (Jesus): they said, we have faith, and do you bear witness that we bow to God as Muslims.} Maeda 111
If your reference is the canonical bibles only not tradition. Then you are from the people of the book whom Quran addressed
{Say: O people of the book come to common terms as between us and you: that we worship none but God; that we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, lord and patrons other than God. if then they turn back, say you: bear witness that we are Muslims (bowing to God's will)}. Al Umran 41
And you will be among those whom God addressed as believers calling them to believe in his last messenger (Prophet Mohammed).
{O you who believe in God , believe in God and his messenger, and the scripture which he has been sent to his messenger and the scripture which he sent to those before (messenger). any who denies God, his angels, his books, his messengers, and the day of judgment, has gone far, far astray.} Nisa 136