Author Archives: islamaus@yzm

Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

by . Posted on
05 Apr

QUARANTINE is a Prophetic ﷺ advice.*

“Run away from the leper (the one with contagious ailment) as you would run away from a lion.”
(Bukhari Volume 7, Book 71, Number 608)

SOCIAL DISTANCING is a Prophetic ﷺ command.

“Those with contagious diseases should be kept away from those who are healthy.”
Muslim (2221)

TRAVEL BAN is a Prophetic ﷺ teaching.

“Do not enter a land where the plague (contagious ailment) has broken out; don’t leave from where it has broken out”
Muslim (2219)

DON’T HARM OTHERS, if you have symptoms.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Do not cause harm or return harm.”
Sunan Ibn Mājah (2340)

If necessary, HOUSE IS A MASJID.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The entire earth has been made a Masjid, except graveyards and washrooms.”
Tirmidhi

THERE’S CURE; patience is the virtue

The Prophet ﷺ said “There is no disease that Allah sent without sending for it a cure.“
Bukhari (Volume 7, Book 71, Number 582)

Let’s TREAT; ALLAH WILL CURE

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Every disease has a cure. If a cure is applied to the disease, it is relieved by the permission of Allah.”
Muslim (2204)

FACE MASKING is a Prophetic ﷺ teaching

Prophet (ﷺ) while sneezing, would cover his face with his hand or with his garment,”
Tirmidhi (Book 43, Hadith 2969)

WASH HANDS every time you enter home.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Cleanliness is half of faith.”
Muslim (223)

My Hijab is My Freedom!

by . Posted on
15 Mar

Hijab, or head piece…or head cover. Or scarf, or headscarf- they all pretty much refer to the same thing: the head covering of a Muslim woman. The word is originally Arabic, and is literally defined as “Cover” or “veil”.

hijabThough this word has been confined to the piece of material which is used to cover- there is a much deeper meaning of the word which is what gives it intrinsic value and makes it so clear to and loved by Muslim women. But before I tell you what that is, there are some key facts you will need to know about the context for wearing hijab to better understand its purpose holistically. Read on and you’ll see:

  1. The word Hijab is a collective term for a Muslim woman’s entire dress, covering all parts which are deemed as “awrah” or physically attractive. i.e. a Woman’s entire body except her face and hands.
  2. The Hijab only becomes obligatory for women when they reach the age of puberty (i.e. a girl’s first menses cycle)
  3. It isn’t worn in front of everyone, all the time. A women only needs to be in hijab when she is in the presence of a non-mahram. An easy way to define mahram is: “a male whom she would NOT be able to marry” In other words, anyone who falls in one of the following categories: father, grandfather, brother, uncle (dad and mum’s brothers), and descendants (sons and nephews). Hence when a Muslim woman is in the presence of anyone whom isn’t from the above 6 categories she will need to be in hijab.
  4. As some of you may know, the hijab is mandatory for Muslim women, but it’s not actually limited to them.

Now that’s out of the way, let me tell you about the secret I mentioned earlier, the hijab is actually way beyond the outer appearance and physical covering of the body. It encompasses the inner morals and precious values which in turn reflect a woman’s actions and speech. I know what you’re thinking: “How can a piece of cloth mean all that?” Read on and you’ll see.

Modesty, coyness, polite manners, and self-discipline are just a few surface examples of lessons that women who wear hijab learn every day. Hijab is dedication, will power and confidence. It’s breaking free from the shackles of society’s limited definition of fashion. Hijab is its own statement: “I’m a servant to none but God”

Where we live in a world so lured by beauty and glamour- forgetting to dig behind the deeper meaning of things- hijab draws away from that refocusing an individual towards discovering dynamic personality, striking intelligence and hidden talent.

Finally and most importantly, hijab is submission to a higher purpose. It’s determination to seek pleasure of – not the creation, but the One and only Creator. It’s the realization that you are not the master of your own wills and desires, rather you are answerable to the One Who initiated this entire existence. It’s being at peace and contentment with yourself, and protection from unwanted attention from the undeserving eyes of immodest men.

And that, is hijab.

Many people today commonly associate the hijab with ‘oppression’ rather than see it as a voluntary act of God consciousness. In actual fact, Hijab is not something that was introduced within Islam, rather it’s been a religious symbol for thousands of years.

Did you know that traditional Christian women still wear the very same veil as Muslim women? Allow me to take you back in time, and let’s do a little comparison.

christian

Here we have a picture of three beautiful Greek Orthodox Nuns. Both young and old, happily smiling in their flowing black dresses.

christian-nuns

This is a group of Eastern Christian Nuns, standing tall, modest and confident, also cloaked in what appears to be similar to a Muslim woman’s Hijab.

serbian-nuns

And lastly, a warm, communal group of Serbian Nuns, closely bonded by none other than their faith.

Now that you have all the facts, you can be the judge.

REFERENCES:

Why Muslim Women Wear the Veil

http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/2770/why-muslim-women-wear-veil/

Hijab: The Head Cover – Unveiled

http://www.whyislam.org/social-values-in-islam/gender-relations-in-islam/hijab/

Greek Orthodox Nuns Image:

http://heroinscarlet.tumblr.com/post/45378747216/92-year-old-woman-fulfills-dream-of-becoming-a

Eastern Christian Nuns Image:

http://www.kurskroot.com/orthodox_nuns.html

Serbian Nuns Image:

http://www.euphrosynoscafe.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6750

Who deserves to be Worshipped Alone?

by . Posted on
21 Sep

Many people “discontent with God” because of the practices of the Church in medieval Europe and because of the claims of “god dwelling in a son”, and that “everyone is born with an original sin”. They “escaped” into worshipping a new theory called “mother nature” as well as the “material world”. Many also adopted the concept of “forgetting about God” and “let us live this life and enjoy it!” not realizing that they have chosen the worship of the “origin god” of Rome: The god of desire!

 
Do we posses the air we breathe? Did we create ourselves or others? Or were we ourselves the Creators? So is it our right to ignore our Creator when we are all in need of Him?

 
The innate nature in man (fitrah) recognizes what is good and bad, what is true and false. With respect to Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Rastafarianism, etc., all are forms of worship to created beings/things in one form or another. Men and women following these religions were born with the natural inclination of worshipping their Creator, Allaah and recognizing that the Attributes of their Creator must be True, Unique, and All-Perfect. It is their parents who had driven them into their respective traditions.

 
The Creator has Perfect Attributes. He is the First, nothing is before Him. He is the Last, everything ends except Him; the Most High, nothing is above Him; the Most Near, nothing is beyond His reach and his compassing, and He is the Most High in His nearness. He is the Ever-Living, to Him we shall all return, where everyone will be dealt with in the Most Perfect and Just way. He does not beget nor is He begotten. He provides the proofs that He is the One who can deliver man from the slavery to any form of creation and to turn to his Creator alone.

 
Those who attribute Divinity to Jesus forget or ignore the fact that Jesus was in a mother’s womb. He needed nutrition; he was born and grew up to be a man. He was trusted with the Gospel (Injeel) as a message to the Children of Israel. A man-messenger calling his nation not to worship him. A man who needs to eat, walk, sleep, rest, etc. cannot have Divine Attributes because he is in need, but Allaah, the God of Jesus, is far above any imperfection.

 
Allaah is the identifying name or title of the Majestic, sole and True God that applies to none other than Him. The meaning of the name Allaah is the ma’looh (that which is worshipped out of love, magnification, deification, and longing). He is the Creator: to Him belongs the Commandment.

 

The name Allaah is not chosen by man and it is not named after a prophet, saint or any famous man. The name “Allaah” was referred to by all prophets including Adam, Jesus, Moses, and by the last and final Prophet, Muhammad (PBUH), as the One true God who deserves to be worshipped alone.

 
The submission and obedience of man to His Creator is the essence of Islam. The Name “Islam” is chosen by God (Allaah) and not by man. It is the same message revealed to all the prophets and Messengers by Allaah and which they spread amongst their respective nations. In its final and universal form it was revealed to Muhammad (may Allaah exalt his mention and save him and his message from all kinds of evil).

 
Man is created for a purpose: to live a life in accordance with Allaah’s way. The religion accepted to Him is the one chosen by Him. Its essence must be One, because He is One and only one True God. It is the religion of submission to the Will and Commandment of the One Who brought us to life, the Ever Living who will never die. It is the complete way of life for all mankind. All these qualities are chosen by Allaah in His only religion: Islam.

The True God is Allah.

by . Posted on
21 Sep

The True God is Allah, And Man is in Need of Him.

There are those who do not believe in Allaah as the Only True God and there are those who believe that there is a Creator.

Those who believe that there is a Creator believes that the Creator must be the creator of everything, the heavens, the earth and all that is in between them, mankind and all that exists; that the Creator possesses Perfect Attributes. He is Perfect in His attributes, in Himself, in His Names, and in His Actions. He is Perfectly Wise in all of His Actions and that His creating is not aimless.

It is in His Final Revelation to man Allaah has stated:

“Did you think that We have created you in play without any purpose and that you will not be brought back to us, so exalted be Allaah the true king none has the right to be worshipped but He, the Lord of the Supreme Throne” [Quran 23: 115-116].
“Does man think that he will be left aimless (without purpose)?” [Quran, 75:36].
“Such is Allah, your Lord, the Creator of all things, there is no god but He: Then how ye are deluded away from the Truth!” [Qur’an, 40:62].

The term worship in Islam translates to a code of life, because worship means everything which Allaah loves from actions and (or) sayings that are apparent and (or) hidden. So this creation which Allaah created must have a code organizing its existence and its aims. Hence:
1. Allaah creates and His creating is all Wise and for a purpose.
2. Allaah did not leave us aimless. He set a code to live accordingly. So He legislates, commands, and prohibits, and justly sets reward and accountability, because He is all-Just.
3. In all aspects of this code, whoever ascribes is rewarded, since He is the Most Generous. When one commits a sin, his Creator accepts repentance and is oft-Forgiving. So the manifestations of Allaah’s Names and Attributes become realized on earth and this is beloved to Allaah, the Creator.
4. Allaah gives man life, physical sustenance, and spiritual guidance through the revelation which He entrusted His Messengers with. He guides man to know how to benefit from the provisions, what is good for him and what is harmful. He raises in honor those who submitted to Him, and justly puts in humiliation those who disdain and are arrogant. He Forgives and is Merciful; He punishes and rewards in order that man shapes his life with the code that is all beneficial to man and which makes his life on this earth upright. And it cannot be upright unless man ascribes to the guidance sent to him by His creator.
5. If all man kind come to ascribe to his code (i.e. worship) Allaah on one heart, then this does not oblige any change in Allaah’s Essence nor in His Attributes. If all the creation is on one heart, this does not increase in the dominion of Allaah anything. That is why He stated:

“But Allah is free of all wants, and it is ye that are needy. “ [Qur’an, 47:38]

And that is why He mentioned:

“If you do good, you do good for your own selves” [Qur’an, 17:7]
“And whoever does righteous good deeds, then such will prepare a good place in paradise for themselves.” [Qur’an, 30:44]

6. And as the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) related in the authentic hadith that Allaah said:

“O My slaves, you will not attain harm in Me so as to harm Me, and you will not attain benefit in Me so as to benefit Me; O My slaves, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as pious as the most pious heart of any one man of you, that will not increase My Kingdom in anything; O my slaves, were the first of you and last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as wicked as the most wicked heart of any one man of you, that will not decrease My Kingdom in anything; O My slaves, it is but your deeds that I reckon up for you and I recompense you for. So let him who finds good praise Allaah and let him who finds other than that blame no one but himself.” [Reported in Saheeh Muslim, No. 6246]

Daily Purify

On daily basis the person makes what is known as ritual purity (wudu). In every drop of water used to wash the face, hands, arms, head, and feet, sins fall off. It is therefore a tangible and intangible benefit to man. Listen to what Allaah, the Most High, says:

“Allaah does not want to place you in difficulty but He wants to purify you and to complete His favour upon you that you may be thankful.” [Qur’an, 5:6]

Piety That Reaches Allah

Also concerning the ritual of offering a sacrificial animal (from the cattle) in the pilgrimage, we read in the Qur’an:

“It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allaah but it is piety from you that reaches Him.” [Qur’an, 22:37].

What Benefits You

In human to human relationship, people do good for each other to attain their own interests, or to be praised. But with Allaah, if you do good, you do good for yourself, because this good that you do does not benefit Allaah.
In light of the above, we need to contemplate the great purpose for which we have been created. This is clearly stated by Allaah:

“And Allaah have not created the jinn and the men except that they should worship me alone.” [Qur’an, 51: 56-57]

They are called for what benefits them. They are the ones who, if they comply, will win. And that is why He asserted in the next verse:

“I seek not any provision from them nor do I ask that they should feed Me.” [Qur’an, 51:57].

Why did Allaah mention food and provisions here? It is traditionally known that the greatest need for man is the need for food, clothing and residence. This requires means and provisions, and this is the wealth. Allaah is all-Rich, free of all want; Self-Sufficient, needs nothing. He related to us in things we relate closely to so as to make this matter vividly clear.
The creation of man is not to bring a benefit for Allaah, but to establish this code of life which links him to his Creator. This code of life is laid down by the one who is All-Knowing and Perfect: Allaah; and is set in accordance with what Allaah has defined as worship, outwardly, and inwardly. The Noble objective is to submit and deliver. Otherwise there can be no love of our Creator without submission. This is the essence of all the revealed Messages to all the Prophets and Messengers. It is a single Message of Tawheed: singling Allaah alone as the true God worthy of worship and disassociating from any kind of worship to other than Him.

True Love

The true love is the love of Allaah, our Creator, sustainer, and provider. Shirk (opposite of Tawheed): associating partners with Allaah in worship is the most hated thing to Allaah. It takes away from the love of Allaah alone and equates Allaah, the Perfect, with the imperfect. Allaah warned about this, saying:

“And of mankind are some who take for worship others besides Allaah as rivals, they love them as they love Allaah but those who believe love Allaah more than anything else.” [Qur’an 2, 165]

So the truly beneficial thing to man is to know of His Creator, magnify Him, and love Him so that he gains His love and thus be amongst the happy ones in this life and in the hereafter. However, since man has tendencies towards his own lusts and desires, then this objective cannot be attained except when man follows what is pleasing to His Creator, Allaah. The stronger man’s love of Allaah is, the more he gains of His love and guidance. In practice this needs to be translated into compliance with the code of life set by Allaah.
Allaah loves for the person to repent; He loves for the person to return to Him in repentance; He loves forgiving; He loves pardoning; He loves clemency, and He loves justice because He is All-Just. When man realizes the manifestations of Allaah’s Names, Attributes and actions in the creation, then he knows the meaning of worship and clings to that.
All Praise is due to Allaah, the most Beneficent the most Merciful.
17/5/1427 AH
June 13, 2006

Acknowledgment: original Article Transcribed from the site www.understand-islam.net by sis Ummammar, may Allaah reward her with all good.

THE CREATION IS IN NEED OF ALLAH

by . Posted on
07 Sep

Man always looks for what benefits him and what protects him from harm. To accomplish this, man must be able to realise what is harmful. He must then know whom he should need, trust, and love so that he can attain what is beneficial as well as to feel good about his choice. He also must know the proper and good approach that would make him achieve this goal. This latter condition requires that man:

  1. Know about harm
  2. What ways can be used to drive harm away

 

Allah sent down His Books and chose His Messengers to guide man to:

  1. Know His Lord as He (i.e. Allah) had explained about Himself, and
  2. Seek Him Alone while living in accordance with His plan

 

This Revelation contains a complete code of life. Everything that is beneficial or harmful is established so that man can centre his life around this Revelation. If man commits wrong and knows that Allah is Oft-Forgiving he would turn to Him and to Him alone seeking His forgiveness:

“Know, therefore, that there is no God Who deserves to be worshiped except  Allah; and ask forgiveness for your sins.” (Qur’an, 47:19)

It is wrong to think or believe that  Allah created other ‘gods’ besides Him so that man turns to them for help; loves them or fear them, etc. He is the same God of all nations. He does not order that people should make of stars, sun, fire, Jesus, Moses, etc. gods besides Him. He (Most Exalted) cannot be ‘contradictory’. He has one way (religion) that calls man to surrender his will only to Him. He warned that if man (even Muhammad) would take partners with Him, then his work will fail and will be among losers:

“And verily, it had been revealed to you (O Muhammad ) as has been revealed to those before you. If you join others in worship with  Allah (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain and you will certainly be among the losers. Nay! But worship  Allah and be among grateful.” (Qur’an, 39:65-66)

Let us know what Muhammad , the man-Prophet, who knew  Allah best, used to say:

“O  Allah, I seek refuge in You for Your Pleasure and against Your Wrath, and in Your Forgiveness and against Your Punishment and in You from You, I cannot Praise You as You can Praise Yourself.” (Muslim, Abu Dawoud, at- Tirmidhi, ibn Majah)

“I have surrendered myself to You, I have directed my face to You, I have entrusted my affairs to You, I have compelled my back to refuge in You, in want and in fright of You, there is no resort nor survival from You except (in turning) to You. I have faith in Your book (i.e. the Qur’an) which You brought down and in the Prophet (Muhammad) you have sent.” (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

When we read in the Qur’an that:

“Whatever of Mercy (i.e. of good),  Allah may grant to mankind, none can withhold it, and whatever He may withhold, none can grant it thereafter. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” (Qur’an, 35:2)

And when we read that:

“If  Allah touches you with hurt, there is none can remove it but He; and if He intends any good for you, there is none who can repel His favor which He causes it to reach whomsoever of His slaves He will, and He is the Oft- Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an, 10:117)

We should be motivated to return to Him Alone at times of ease and at times of hardship.

And when we read that:

“If  Allah helps you none can overcome you, and if He forsakes you, who is there, after Him, that can help you. And in  Allah (alone) let believers put their trust.” (Qur’an, 3:160)

The Qur’an, therefore, leads man to a true liberation from any false attachment. It brings peace to the heart. It helps the believer against hypocrisy and all forms of dishonesty. Imagine, for example, a believer facing a problem at work. He sees wrong and faces unlawful practices. He does not fear rejecting what is wrong. He knows that the job is only a means to gain his sustenance. While he may be unable to correct what is wrong, he knows well that Allah is the One Who provides. If he leaves his job for the sake of Allah, Allah will give him a better one. Allah said:

“And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him. He will make a way for him to get out (from) every (difficulty), and He will provide him from (sources) he could never imagine.” (Qur’an, 65:2-3)

The above texts, necessitates that man must depend upon Allah (The Glorified and Exalted) asking Him Alone for assistance. It also requires that man must love Allah and worship Him Alone to gain His pleasure and His help. Is it not true that the people who consider this life as the “Final Goal” end up worshiping many things in it? You see them so careful about “having it all”. They torture themselves: pain, difficulty, constant worry, keeping their hands in the banks for loan after loan to keep up with the “demands of development”. They are under the constant threat of fore-closure. They constantly see poverty in front of their eyes. The Prophet said:

“Allah says: ‘Son of Adam: Fill your time with My worship and I will fill your heart with richness, and end off your poverty. But if you do not, I would make your hands fully busy (i.e. in worldly affairs) and I would not end off your poverty.'” (At-Tirmidhi said that it is a good hadeeth)

Our purpose of existence on earth is more meaningful than being slaves to worldly gains. There can be no meaningful life better than that prescribed by our Creator Allah. Every act done according to Allah’s way is an act of worship. Man is the beneficiary and Allah is in no need:

“O mankind! It is you who stand in need of Allaah, but Allaah is Rich (Free of all wants and needs), Worthy of All Praise.” (Qur’an, 35:15)

PURPOSE OF LIFE

by . Posted on
07 Sep

What Does Islam Say About Our Life’s Purpose? 

Have you ever asked yourself following questions?
“What is the purpose of L I F E?”
“My life?”
“Your Life?”

People everywhere are asking the questions; “What is the purpose of life?” and “Why are we here?” You might be amazed to learn, that Islam is providing clear and concise answers for these questions.

Most of those who reflect or think about life in any detail will consider and ponder these questions. There are as many different answers to these questions as there are people asking the questions. Some would hold that the purpose of life was to acquire wealth. Yet suppose they were to acquire millions of dollars, what then would they claim is their purpose after doing so?

If the purpose of life is to become wealthy, there would be no purpose after becoming wealthy.

The fact is that when people approach their purpose here in this life from the aspect of only gaining wealth, after collecting the money they have dreamed of their lives loose purpose and then they live in restless tension suffering from a feeling of worthlessness.

How could wealth then be considered as the aim of life?

Could the acquisition of wealth guarantee happiness? Of course not. When we hear of millionaires or members of their families committing suicide, how could we consider the purpose of life would be to gain great wealth?

Wealth can do little or nothing to bring happiness to one who is a disbeliever in Almighty God, because regardless of what he or she would gain in this life they would always live in fear of what will happen to them in the end. They would wonder what would become of them and how they would end up.

Worship of the One True Almighty God of the Universe [Allah in Arabic] as a primary goal or aim in life provides a believer with everything he needs to succeed in both this life and the Next Life.

The word for total surrender, submission, obedience, purity of heart and peace in the Arabic language is “Islam”. Those who try to perform these actions are called “MU-slims” [Islam-ERs].

To a Muslim the whole purpose of life is “ibadah” or worship to the One True Almighty God on Terms and under His Conditions.

The term “worship” to a Muslim includes any and all acts of obedience to Almighty Allah.

Because Islam teaches that this life is only a test or trial for the individual to show him his true nature, it is only natural that he would accept death as not so much an ending to everything but more as a beginning of the final and lasting life in the Hereafter.

Before entering into either of the final lodging places i.e.; Heaven or Hell, there must needs be a Day of Judgment or showing of one’s true self to make them aware of their own nature and thereby understand what they have sent on ahead during the life here on the earth.

Reward and punishment will be in direct proportion to each person and it is only Allah, alone who will be the Final Judge over us all.

Therefore the first life is a test

The life in the grave is a resting or waiting place before the Day of Judgment

The Day of Judgment brings about the clear understanding of what will now happen to the individual based on his own desires and actions.

The Permanent or Afterlife will either be spend in luxurious splendor or miserable punishment.

Following this clear understanding of life, the Muslim’s purpose is clear.

First of all, he has no doubt in his mind that:

  • he is only created by Allah
  • he is going to spend a period of time in this material world [called “Ad Dunyah” in Arabic]
  • he knows he will die
  • he knows he will spend time in the grave, either pleasant or difficult depending on his own choice of attitude and actions
  • he knows he will be resurrected for the Day of Judgment
  • he knows he will be judged according to the most fair of standards by Allah the Almighty, the All Knowing
  • he realizes his attitude and actions are going to come under very close scrutiny
  • he knows that this short life compared to the Eternal Life was in fact, only for a test

This life is very meaningful and purposeful to the Believing Muslim, as he realizes that it will determine is outcome and permanent position in the Next Life.

The Muslim’s permanent purpose is to Surrender, Submit, Obey, in Purity and Peace to Allah the Almighty, carrying out His Orders and staying in some form of worship to Him as much as possible everyday. This includes the orders of Allah in His Book, the Quran and His final Messenger and Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

You’re Not Catholic? Why?

by . Posted on
07 Sep

Questions from a “Catholic”?

I am Jonabeth from Philippines, I am a roman catholic. I have some questions and I hope u can help me to open my mind:

  1. Is it true that Jesus was crucified?
  2. Is it true that Jesus Christ is the son of God?
  3. Is it true that Jesus Christ got married?
  4. How do u treat Virgin Mary. Who is virgin Mary in Islam?
  5. What is the true meaning of life?
  6. Does Islam believe in life after death?

Hoping u can guide me to the right path by answering all these basics question..

In my own knowledge and belief, i believe that Jesus Christ is a prophet..

How come our priest always telling us that he is the son of GOD..

Thank you so much…hoping to hear from you soon..

Answers:

Peace and Blessings of Almighty God Most High (Salam alaykum wa Rahmatullah) – that’s what the Prophets used to say to their people.

Dear Jonabeth,

You are not a Roman Catholic, you are a beautiful human being, created by God and being Guided by God Almighty Himself.

Why did I say, “You are not a Roman Catholic”?

First of all, because you are from the Philippines, you are a “Philipino” – true?

The Romans forced their religion on people all the way back to the time of Alexander “The Great” (I don’t think he was all that “great” but anyway…). The official Church of Rome as far back as 300 B.C. was called “Universal” and they worshipped their idols, statues, trinkets and even Caesar himself, as gods in these “Universal Temples”. They had one religion for all people. They believed in a “Triune-god” (3 gods as one deity) or “Trinity”.

When the “Temple of Rome” overtook one of the smaller sect’s of deviant Christians in the fourth century, they made this new mixture of Roman gods, worship and idols into an all new form of worship and made it the new, official “Universal Church of Rome”. This was before the fall of the Roman Empire. The location of the last of their great temples was in Italy – Rome, Italy the place where the Vatican is today.

Interesting? How do you say “universal” in Latin? (clue – it starts with “C” … it is Catholic).

That’s right – these are the very same people who promoted their beliefs all around this planet, even today, as though it were from Jesus, peace be upon him.

They changed the day of birth of Jesus to go along with the date of the death of a bishop who had attended the official meeting to convene the first “Universal Church” at the council of Nicea (in Turkey, 325 A.D.).

They added the feast of goddess Ishtar, a springtime pagan celebration of fertility (sex) and called it the “Feast of Eastar” (sound familiar?).

They made Mary, peace be upon her, into a “mother-of-god” (horrible to even say for me as a Muslim), instead of the true story of her being the Blessed Virgin who gave birth to Christ, Jesus, peace be upon him.

They killed a number of bishops and priests who attended the council but did not agree with them on a number of issues regarding the “new” religion.

They destroyed hundreds of books of the Bible that were brought to the council meeting (same time when they killed the bishops I guess).

They came up with their own version of the Bible in Latin (Jerome’s Latin Vulgate).

They enforced what they believed at the point of the sword everywhere they went. (see: Crusades, Inquisition, missionaries of Catholic church to Muslim lands, Philippines, South America, Central America, the New World – in the encyclopedia).

So, that is why I said, “You are not a Roman Catholic”. For sure you are not Roman. And likely, you are not a “universalist” either.

From what you described, you are more along the lines of a person seeking truth wherever it takes you and you desire God Almighty to Guide you. So, you don’t need me anyway. The true guidance can only come from the One who created everything in the first place. Right or wrong?

Naturally, I am very happy to meet you and to share with you. But there is no way I can guide, like Almight God can. He is the Guide. The Only Real Guide.

He guided me. And thousands of others like me, and I am witness to this, in real life. Over and over and over again, wherever I travel, Jonabeth, I see people like me, like you, opening up our minds and our hearts to the One Lord Above, the Lord of the Universe, the Lord of the Israelites, the Lord of the Bible, the Lord of Jesus, peace be upon him, The Lord of you and me. Our Lord. Our savior. Our only savior. God Almighty – Allah.

I love Jesus, peace be upon him, even more than when I was a Christian. Know why? Because as a Christian, I had a hard time believing all the nonsense the church was telling me about Jesus, peace be upon him. But when I came into Islam, I was encouraged to ask questions and found the answers to be sane, logical and downright satisfying to my heart and my mind.

But you asked, “Who is Jesus” to us as Muslims.

The Quran tells us clearly, Jesus, peace be upon him, was more amazing than anything in the lies others have said about him. Why?

Because the Quran offers proof that it is from Allah, The Almighty, and as such what it is saying has the ultimate authority on this earth and about it there can be no doubt in the mind of a rational thinker.

Jesus, peace be upon him, was born, as a baby, from a woman, he had to be nursed, he had to go to the bathroom, he had to eat, he had to drink, he did not know everything – but most important to me, as a thinker – HE PRAYED.

Anyone who prays, believes there is a God. And he is praying to God. Jesus, peace be upon him, offered very sincere prayers, hardy prayers, strong prayers, crying in his prayers, sweating and pleading in his prayers…

(to who?)

Himself? Now, that is where the real problem starts to come in, right? How does a man, born of a woman as a baby, eating food, drinking water, walking around on two feet, believing in God, preaching about God, telling people to worship, “Your Lord and my Lord, your God and my God”, and then at the same time – tell people he’s god? Or a son-of-a-god?

How?

Does it make sense? Common sense? (not to me)

And not to thousands of others who have left the church throughout the centuries, most of them lost their faith and lost their way. That is sad.

But still, many today are finding the truth about the real Jesus, peace be upon him, and the real message he carried and shared, and learn about the man he spoke of and promised to “come after me”, whose name shall be “Ahmad.” (The word “Ahmad” comes from the Arabic word “hamd” which is “praise”) The name “Muhammad” is from the same word “Ahmad” and it means, “the praising one” (he praised Almighty God more than any other human in history, even Jesus, peace be upon both of them) and it means “the praised one” (he is prayed for in all of the prayers of the Muslims, every day, five times a day, and many other times when we say his name “Muhammad’, peace be upon him.

Notice throughout this email, I use the phrase (Peace be upon him) for Jesus, peace be upon him, and Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Why do I do that? We are told in Quran to spread the greetings of peace and also we are told in Islam to say “peace be upon him” after all prophets and especially pray for Muhammad, peace be upon him (like that) when we say his name.

Do priests, bishops or even the pope show this type of praising to Jesus, peace be upon him? I think not. Yet. all Muslims, everywhere, for the last 1,400 years have been doing this and we continue to do this every day, and anytime someone forgets – we remind them.

Was Jesus, peace be upon him, a miracle birth?

First of all, everyone is a “miracle birth” – stop and think about it. We all came from Adam, peace be upon him (first prophet), he was not “born” in the sense we were. He was given life directly from God Almighty Himself. God “Blew life into him”.

Eve, our first mother, was taken from Adam’s rib and God Almighty gave her life – another miracle “birth”. And from them all humanity has come forth, generation upon generation and most of them – ungrateful to Allah and not believers or worshippers of Him on His terms.

Yet, He the Almighty, is willing to bring more of us into being and gives all of us a chance to see the truth, a chance to know our purpose, but most do not care or they want to make up their own “gods” and their own WAY. But there is really only one “Way” – the “Way of the people of Jesus, peace be upon him”.

Surprised?

Don’t be. We Muslims know Jesus, peace be upon him, was just as much a prophet as Muhammad, peace be upon him.

They preached the same message – “Worship One God, One Way” and “follow me”. Follow the “Way” of the prophets, peace be upon them all.

Does any of this make sense to you? Is Allah guiding you right now? Are you seeing what I saw two decades ago?

Jonabeth, just keep on praying deep, down inside your own heart. He Knows you are talking to Him. He Sees you in all you are doing. He Hears every single thought. Jonabeth – He is there and here and everywhere – in His Knowledge, in His Seeing, in His Hearing and in His Mercy.

But He never is like you and I. He is not “in” His creation, like us. He is never “in” anything. He is Almighty and Above all things, Supreme. He holds the Power over all things. There is none like unto Him. He does not “beget” (have children) nor is He “begotten” (born like a human). Allah is the “God Almighty” of us all, including Muhammad and Jesus, peace be upon them and the mother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary.

We believe in Mary as a human being and one who gave birth in a miraculous way, by the Command of Almighty Allah, Who merely says, “BE” and it is as He has ordered.

Jesus, peace be upon him, gave the answer you are looking for, because all of the prophets of Allah (the Almighty) only had one message.

Their message was to all humans – to tell us all – What is our purpose – our purpose of life.

And that message is still alive today, in the original revelation, the Last and Final Testament to all manking from the Lord Above – The Recitation (Quran means “Recitation”).

Chapter 51, verse 56, this is the message from Almighty Allah to all humans in all time – the same thing all the prophets said (and then people tried to change it, over and over).

The message?

“You have to love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and all your mind and all your soul” (ref. Bible)

But what about the Quran’s message?

We even know the exact way it was said, word-for-word, in Arabic:

Allah Almighty says, “I did not create the jinn and mankind, except to worship me.” *Ad-Dariyat 51: 56

Transliteration: Wama khalaqtu aljinna waalinsa illa liyaAAbudooni

Worship Allah, Almight God, on His Terms, His Way, Obey His Commandments with full heart and mind.

That’s the message. That’s the secret of life.

I pray for you Jonabeth, to be guided as you have asked in your email. But you asked me to guide you and I know only Allah will do that. But I am happy to share with you as we both walk along the path together to achieve that goal of worshipping Him, Alone, without any other “gods” beside Him.

(ref. Bible, Book of Exodus, chapter 20, first commandment of Allah Almighty).

Are you ready for some references? Places to get more?

Well, when I came to Islam there wasn’t much in the way of English on these important topics.

So, I have made it my life’s work to provide as much as I can for people who, like me, would like to know the truth, the real truth, and nothing but the truth about God, about Jesus, peace be upon him, about the Bible, the Quran, Muhammad, peace be upon him, and most important – about “How to Worship God Almighty On His Terms”

There is a word for that in Arabic. It means the Way to worship God Almighty, in full surrender, complete submission, total obedience and sincerity and peace.

The word?

ISLAM

Peace dear brother and may Allah always guide you in the very best of His Love, His Mercy

and His Guidance, ameen.

Your Brother in Peace,

Yusuf Estes

National Muslim Chaplain (retired)

The Quran on Human Embryonic Development

by . Posted on
28 Aug

In the Holy Quran, God speaks about the stages of man’s embryonic development in such minute detail, much of which was unknown to scientists until only recently. It mentions the first stages of life after conception, the second stage of life after conception, and witnesses of scientists about these scientific facts of the Quran.

“We created man from an extract of clay. Then We made him as a drop in a place of settlement, firmly fixed. Then We made the drop into an alaqah (leech, suspended thing, and blood clot), then We made the alaqah into a mudghah (chewed substance)…” (Quran 23:12-14)

Alaqah Stage

Literally, the Arabic word alaqah has three meanings: (1) leech, (2) suspended thing, and (3) blood clot.

Leech

We find similarity between the leech[1] and the embryo as we can see in figure 1. At this stage the embryo obtains nourishment from the blood of the mother, similar to the leech, which feeds on the blood of others.[2]

image001

 

 

 

 

Suspended Thing

In figures 2 and 3, we can see the suspension of the embryo in the womb of the mother.

image004image003

Blood Clot

The external appearance of the embryo and its sacs is similar to that of a blood clot. This is due to the presence of relatively large amounts of blood present in the embryo during this stage[3] (see figure 4) that does not circulate until the end of the third week.[4] Thus, the embryo at this stage is like a clot of blood.

image007

Mudghah Stage

image009

The Arabic word mudghah means “chewed substance.” If one were to take a piece of gum and chew it in his or her mouth and then compare it with an embryo at the mudghah stage, we would conclude that the embryo at the mudghah stage acquires the appearance of a chewed substance. This is because of the somites at the back of the embryo that “somewhat resemble teethmarks in a chewed substance.”[5] (see figures 5 and 6).

The Staging of Human Embryos

Aristotle, the founder of the science of embryology, realized that chick embryos developed in stages from his studies of hen’s eggs in the fourth century B.C., but little was known about the staging and classification of human embryos until the twentieth century.

Hamm and Leeuwenhoek were the first scientists to observe human sperm cells (spermatozoa) using an improved microscope in 1677 (more than 1000 years after Muhammad). They mistakenly thought that the sperm cell contained a miniature preformed human being that grew when it was deposited in the female genital tract.[6]

Professor Emeritus Keith L. Moore[7] is one of the world’s most prominent scientists in the fields of anatomy and embryology and is the author of the book entitled The Developing Human, which has been translated into eight languages. In 1981, during the Seventh Medical Conference in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Professor Moore said: “It has been a great pleasure for me to help clarify statements in the Quran about human development. It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God, because almost all of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later. This proves to me that Muhammad must have been a messenger of God.”[8] (To view the RealPlayer video of this comment click here).

Consequently, Professor Moore was asked the following question: “Does this mean that you believe that the Quran is the word of God?” He replied: “I find no difficulty in accepting this.”[9]

How could Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, have possibly known all this 1400 years ago, when scientists have only recently discovered this using advanced equipment and powerful microscopes which did not exist at that time?

During one conference, Professor Moore also stated: “….Because the staging of human embryos is complex, owing to the continuous process of change during development, it is proposed that a new system of classification could be developed using the terms mentioned in the Quran and Sunnah (what Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said, did, or approved of). The proposed system is simple, comprehensive, and conforms with present embryological knowledge. The intensive studies of the Quran and hadeeth (reliably transmitted reports by the Prophet Muhammad’s companions of what he said, did, or approved of) in the last four years have revealed a system for classifying human embryos that is amazing since it was recorded in the seventh century A.D.

These descriptions were revealed to Muhammad from God. He could not have known such details because he was an illiterate man with absolutely no scientific training.”[10] (View the RealPlayer video of this comment).

image011

References:

Figure 1: The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 73.

Figure 2: The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 66.

Figure 3: The Developing Human, Moore 3rd ed., p. 66.

Figure 4: The Developing Human, Moore, 5th ed., p. 65.

Figure 5: The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 82

Figure 6: The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 79.

Endnotes

[1] The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 8.

[2] Human Development as Described in the Quran and Sunnah, Moore and others, p. 36.

[3] Human Development as Described in the Quran and Sunnah, Moore and others, pp. 37-38.

The Quran on Human Embryonic Development 5 of 6 www.IslamReligion.com

[4] The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 65.

[5] The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 8.

[6] The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 9.

[7] Note: The occupations of all the scientists mentioned in this web site were last updated in 1997.

[8] The reference for this saying is This is the Truth (videotape). For a copy of this videotape, please visit www.islam-guide.com/truth.htm

[9] This is the Truth (videotape).

[10] This is the Truth (videotape). For a copy, see footnote no. 9. 

The web address of this article: http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/216

Copyright © 2006-2011 IslamReligion.com. All rights reserved.

Let There Be No Compulsion in Religion

by . Posted on
28 Aug

One of the fundamental truths established by the sacred texts is that no one can be compelled to accept Islam. It is the duty of Muslims to establish the proof of Islam to the people so that truth can be made clear from falsehood.  After that, whoever wishes to accept Islam may do so and whoever wishes to continue upon unbelief may do so. No one should be threatened or harmed in any way if he does not wish to accept Islam.

Allah says in the Noble Quran (translated as):

“Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth has been made clear from error. Whoever rejects false worship and believes in God has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that never breaks. And God hears and knows all things.” (Quran 2:256) 

“If it had been your Lord’s will, all of the people on Earth would have believed. Would you then compel the people so to have them believe?” (Quran 10:99) 

So if they dispute with you, say ‘I have submitted my whole self to God, (and so) have those who follow me.’ And say to the People of the Scripture and to the unlearned, ‘Do you also submit yourselves?’ If they do, then they are on right guidance. But if they turn away, your duty is only to convey the Message. And Allah is All-Seer of (His) slaves.” (Quran 3:20) 

“The Messenger’s duty is but to proclaim the Message.” (Quran 5:99) 

If Islam indeed advocates such an approach, then what is all this we hear about jihad? How can we explain the warfare that the Prophet , may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, and his Companions waged against the pagans? The answer to this is that jihad in Islamic Law can be waged for a number of reasons, but compelling people to accept Islam is simply not one of them. Conversion is to be done peacefully by disseminating the Message with the written and spoken word. There is no place for the use of weapons to compel people to accept Islam.

The Prophet said in his letter to the Roman governor Heraclius, “I invite you to accept Islam. If you accept Islam, you will find safety. If you accept Islam, God will give you a double reward. However, if you turn away, upon you will be the sin of your subjects.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim)

Once people have heard the Message without obstruction or hindrance and the proof has been established upon them, then the duty of the Muslims is done. Even when the Muslims are compelled to fight and then, as a consequence, subdue the land, their duty thereafter is to establish God’s law in the land and uphold justice for all people, Muslim and non-Muslim. It is not their right to coerce their subjects to accept Islam against their will. Non-Muslims under Muslim rule must be allowed to remain on their own faith and must be allowed to practice the rights of their faith, though they will be expected to respect the laws of the land.

During a battle the Prophet , may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, prohibited the killing of women and children. Khalid ibn Al-Walid was leading the forces, so he dispatched a man to him saying, ‘Tell Khalid not to kill women or laborers.'” (Sunan Abi Dawud).

When the first Caliph, Abu Bakr, sent an army to Syria to fight the aggressive Roman legions, the Prophet , may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, went out to give them words of encouragement. He said, “You are going to find a group of people who have devoted themselves to the worship of God (i.e. monks), so leave them to what they are doing.” The only people who may be attacked are those who are actually participating in the fighting.

Source: http://islamhouse.com/en/articles/813478/

How Do We Know God is One?

by . Posted on
28 Aug

A Philosophical & Theological Perspective

– The oneness of God, in Arabic tawhid, is a central theme in the Qur’an and a message of all of the Prophets, the Qur’an eloquently describes the nature of God and His oneness in the 112th chapter, “Say: He is God, the One. God the Eternal. He begot no one nor was He begotten. No one is comparable to him.”

The concept of oneness in Islam is not limited to God’s singularity and uniqueness. It involves the way human beings should worship God, how they should understand His lordship, and how they should understand God’s names and attributes.

If God does exist what reasons do we have to believe He is one? There are many ways to answer the question referring to God’s singularity and uniqueness, thereby providing a positive case for the oneness of God range from theological to philosophical arguments.

Argument 1: Occam’s Razor

The Qur’an rhetorically asks the question “Did the universe come out of nothing?” Due to the metaphysical and undeniable logic, whatever begins to exist has a cause, and since the universe began to exist, therefore it must have a cause. Infinite regress of causes is impossible. It doesn’t make sense in the real world.

Ockham’s Razor is a philosophical principle attributed to the 14th century logician and Franciscan friar William of Ockham. This principle enjoins “Pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate”, in English “Plurality should not be posited without necessity.” In other words the simplest and most comprehensive explanation is the best explanation. A powerful being creating the whole universe is a far more coherent and simple explanation than a plurality of causes.

Argument 2: Logical Argument

Logic necessitates that if there were more than one God who created the universe it would be in chaos and there would not be the level of order we find in the cosmos.

However you may point out that your car was made by more than one creator, one person fitted the wheels, and someone else installed the engine and another person the computer system. So from this example there can be more than one creator with the created thing still able to exhibit order and stability.
God by definition is the being that has an unlimited imposing will. If there were two or more Gods that would mean that they would have a competition of wills and that would result in chaos and disorder. You may argue that they can agree to have the same will or each have their own domain, but that would mean that their wills are now limited and passive, which would mean they are not Gods anymore by definition!

Argument 3: Conceptual Differentiation

What makes us appreciate difference and duality? How do we differentiate between two people walking in the street? The answer lies in what is called conceptual differentiation. These concepts include space, distance, form, and physical features. In absence of these concepts we can’t perceive the two objects or any objects at all.
The cause of the universe must be outside the universe. If the cause was part of the universe it would mean that the universe created itself. This is absurd as it would necessitate the universe to exist and not exist at the same time!
If there were no cause for the universe then that would mean the universe, in the words of Bertrand Russell, “Is just there and that’s all”. In other words it would mean the universe is infinite, however this cannot be the case, as mentioned above the universe began to exist. Therefore a single independent cause is rationally necessary to explain the fact that the universe began to exist and that a plurality of causes cannot be perceived due to the absence of conceptual differentiators.

Argument 4: Uniqueness

The cause of the universe must be unique, as the Qur’an says “There is nothing like Him”.
If the cause of the universe was not unique that would mean there are some similarities between the cause of the universe and the universe itself. Why can’t the cause of the universe resemble the universe? The answer is straight forward; this cause must be immaterial because it created the sum of all material – which is the universe itself – and another principle that supports this is the 1st law of thermodynamics, it states “Energy cannot be created or destroyed”, simply put energy (in other words matter) cannot create itself.
The cause of the universe must be immaterial and therefore unique. How does this relate to the oneness of God? Well if there were more than one cause for the universe that would mean they are not unique anymore.

Argument 5: Revelation

How do you know God has announced himself to mankind and in what form is this revelation?There are only two possible ways to find out: externally and internally.

1. Internally

Finding out about God internally is implausible and would lead to fallacies because human beings are different. They have, what Psychologists call, “individual differences”, these individual differences include DNA, experiences, social context, intellectual and emotional capacities, gender differences, amongst many more.
These differences play a role in your ability to internalise via introspection or intuition, therefore the results of introspection or relying on your intuition will differ. From a historical point of view, since the ancient world 6000 BCE, there are records of approximately 3,700 different names and concepts for God!

2. Externally

It is obvious that the human being is not eternal, unique and powerful, therefore the human being could not conceptualise who God is. God would have to tell you via external revelation.
From an Islamic perspective this external communication is the Qur’an as it is the only text to claim to have come from God that fits the criteria for a divine text, these criteria include,

  • Consistence with the rational and intuitive conclusion on God

For example if a book says God is an Elephant with 40 arms you could safely assume that this book is not from God, as God must be external to the universe.

  • Internally and externally consistence

If the book says that the universe is only 6,000 years old then that would be an external inconsistency as reality as we know it s that the universe is older the 6,000 years.

  • It must have signposts to transcendence

It must have evidence to show that it is from God.  In the case of the Qur’an, supernatural explanations are the best explanation. Some of these signposts include:

A.The linguistic and literary inimitability

B.There are historical accounts that could not have been known by man at the time of revelation

C.There are some descriptions of natural phenomena that could not have been known by man at the time of revelation

Conclusion

The only way to know what God has announced to mankind is via external revelation, and this revelation can be proven to be the Qur’an – the Qur’an says “Know that your Lord God is one”.