Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Hate crime
Religious hate seen as motive in killing
Fremont slaying: Muslim leaders and relatives of Afghan American mother shot at point-blank range say only motive they can imagine for anyone wanting her dead was the garment of her faith, her head scarf
Local Muslim leaders on Friday denounced as a likely hate crime the brazen daylight shooting death in Fremont of a mother of six, and police said that they had arrested a parolee described as a "person of interest" in connection with the slaying.
Killed Thursday by a single bullet to the head as she walked with her 3-year-old daughter on a well-to-do residential street, she was distinguished by a hijab, the head scarf worn by some devout Muslim women. The Afghan immigrant had no purse or money on her, family members said.
Stunned relatives and Muslim leaders said the only motive they could see, outside of insanity, would be hatred.
"Whoever did this did not see Alia Ansari, a mother of six children," said Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, one of the nation's most respected Muslim scholars and leaders, who spoke to the media outside of the Ansaris' modest two-bedroom apartment. "He saw a symbol of something that people are taught to hate."
"All that we can assume is that it's a hate crime," said Hassan Ansari, 23, the youngest of Alia Ansari's seven siblings.
Fremont police said Friday that they don't know why Ansari was killed. At about 2:40 p.m. Thursday, she was walking near Central Avenue and Glenmoor Drive with her 3-year-old daughter to pick up two other children from elementary school when a man opened fire before fleeing in a car.
"We still have no definite indication as to motive," said police Sgt. Jeff Swadener, a department spokesman. "Was it racial? Was it a hate crime? Was it a street robbery or a random act of violence? I don't know."
Police said a 27-year-old Fremont man was being held on an unrelated parole violation but remained a person of interest in the homicide. His name wasn't released.
Police detained the man about an hour after the shooting and about a mile away. Officers pulled the man over near Mowry Avenue and Blacow Road because he and his black Toyota Tercel matched the description provided by witnesses, police said.
"We're still up in the air as far as the actual involvement or linking to the homicide," Swadener said.
The Alameda County coroner had planned to do an autopsy Friday, but Ansari's relatives said they want to keep her body intact because of their religious beliefs. A coroner's spokesman declined to discuss the delay but said a decision on how to proceed could be made Monday.
Islam prohibits the desecration of any dead body, said Yusuf, co-founder of the Zaytuna Institute in Hayward, believed to be the first Islamic seminary in the nation. In addition, only female relatives are allowed to wash and view a naked female body.
Yusuf said that an autopsy of just Alia Ansari's head, rather than her full body, would be acceptable.
Hassan Ansari, Alia's brother, said family members were planning to take legal action to stop the autopsy, but said they were leaving the decision in the hands of her husband, Ahmadullah Ansari.
Throughout the day, a weeping procession of dozens of relatives and Afghan community members filed into the Ansaris' apartment in the Glenmoor neighborhood of Fremont. It is a short walk from a cluster of Afghan businesses often called Little Kabul, the economic heart of the largest Afghan community in the nation.
Friends and relatives said they could see no reason, other than the head scarf, why a stranger would want to kill Alia Ansari, who was often described as "kind" and "innocent."
Most classical interpretations of Islam require women to wear a head scarf, although only a fraction of American Muslim women wear one, several female Muslim leaders said.
"What happened here is an act of terrorism," said Rona Popal, executive director of the Afghan Coalition, which provides services to the community. "There is no reason to shoot an innocent woman walking down the street, holding her child."
Local Muslim leaders and the victim's relatives attributed blame to an American culture of violence, propagated through movies and video games that reward players for killing. In addition, they said things such as talk radio, politicians and religious zealotry by some Christians had focused on Muslims since the Sept. 11 attacks.
"Justice will not be served by merely catching the killer," said Hassan Ansari. "We have to figure out how to stop these kinds of things from happening. ... American society is what feeds people's ignorance."
"Mostly it's the fault of the media, because they show Muslims in such a way that people hate them," said Feraidoon Mojadedi, owner of the Rumi Bookstore in Little Kabul. "People are dying all over the world, but what did she have to do with it? She's a housewife, a mother of children."
Three women at the Islamic Society of the East Bay said they would continue to wear head scarves even if the killing was a hate crime. "Even if they wiped out everyone on Earth, I would not remove the hijab," said Suzanne Azim, 43, a Hayward resident.
Alia Ansari, 37, had lived in the United States since 1986 and had become a U.S. citizen, family members said. Like many Afghan Americans, Ansari was a refugee from the war against the Soviet Union. She came from Mazar-e Sharif, where her sole sister still lives.
She typically drove to pick up two of her daughters from Glenmoor Elementary School, but left home on foot Thursday because of engine trouble. Witnesses said a man got out of a car, approached her and shot her at point-blank range before returning to the car and speeding away.
The young daughter who was with Ansari was unharmed, Swadener said.
When Ansari was shot, her daughter began crying and later told her family over and over, "A man killed my mother," said Hassan Ansari.
Maria Garcia, who lives across the street from where the shooting occurred, said, "I didn't see what happened but I heard the gunfire, and I heard the crying of the child."
The slaying marks the second time someone in the victim's family has been shot and killed in Fremont. In January 2002, Afghan community leader Rahim Ansari, 34, of Union City was shot and killed inside his business, Pamir Travel, in Little Kabul.
The suspected gunman in that incident, upset over a spurned romance, also wounded Rahim Ansari's brother-in-law, Zabiullah Ansari, a second-cousin of Alia Ansari. In an interview Friday, Zabiullah Ansari, 48, expressed hope that the right person had been arrested. But he said, "They don't know what happened.
"You're killed in front of your kid -- how can people do that? They're not human beings. This lady was totally innocent. Why did someone shoot her? "
Fremont slaying: Muslim leaders and relatives of Afghan American mother shot at point-blank range say only motive they can imagine for anyone wanting her dead was the garment of her faith, her head scarf
Local Muslim leaders on Friday denounced as a likely hate crime the brazen daylight shooting death in Fremont of a mother of six, and police said that they had arrested a parolee described as a "person of interest" in connection with the slaying.
Killed Thursday by a single bullet to the head as she walked with her 3-year-old daughter on a well-to-do residential street, she was distinguished by a hijab, the head scarf worn by some devout Muslim women. The Afghan immigrant had no purse or money on her, family members said.
Stunned relatives and Muslim leaders said the only motive they could see, outside of insanity, would be hatred.
"Whoever did this did not see Alia Ansari, a mother of six children," said Sheikh Hamza Yusuf, one of the nation's most respected Muslim scholars and leaders, who spoke to the media outside of the Ansaris' modest two-bedroom apartment. "He saw a symbol of something that people are taught to hate."
"All that we can assume is that it's a hate crime," said Hassan Ansari, 23, the youngest of Alia Ansari's seven siblings.
Fremont police said Friday that they don't know why Ansari was killed. At about 2:40 p.m. Thursday, she was walking near Central Avenue and Glenmoor Drive with her 3-year-old daughter to pick up two other children from elementary school when a man opened fire before fleeing in a car.
"We still have no definite indication as to motive," said police Sgt. Jeff Swadener, a department spokesman. "Was it racial? Was it a hate crime? Was it a street robbery or a random act of violence? I don't know."
Police said a 27-year-old Fremont man was being held on an unrelated parole violation but remained a person of interest in the homicide. His name wasn't released.
Police detained the man about an hour after the shooting and about a mile away. Officers pulled the man over near Mowry Avenue and Blacow Road because he and his black Toyota Tercel matched the description provided by witnesses, police said.
"We're still up in the air as far as the actual involvement or linking to the homicide," Swadener said.
The Alameda County coroner had planned to do an autopsy Friday, but Ansari's relatives said they want to keep her body intact because of their religious beliefs. A coroner's spokesman declined to discuss the delay but said a decision on how to proceed could be made Monday.
Islam prohibits the desecration of any dead body, said Yusuf, co-founder of the Zaytuna Institute in Hayward, believed to be the first Islamic seminary in the nation. In addition, only female relatives are allowed to wash and view a naked female body.
Yusuf said that an autopsy of just Alia Ansari's head, rather than her full body, would be acceptable.
Hassan Ansari, Alia's brother, said family members were planning to take legal action to stop the autopsy, but said they were leaving the decision in the hands of her husband, Ahmadullah Ansari.
Throughout the day, a weeping procession of dozens of relatives and Afghan community members filed into the Ansaris' apartment in the Glenmoor neighborhood of Fremont. It is a short walk from a cluster of Afghan businesses often called Little Kabul, the economic heart of the largest Afghan community in the nation.
Friends and relatives said they could see no reason, other than the head scarf, why a stranger would want to kill Alia Ansari, who was often described as "kind" and "innocent."
Most classical interpretations of Islam require women to wear a head scarf, although only a fraction of American Muslim women wear one, several female Muslim leaders said.
"What happened here is an act of terrorism," said Rona Popal, executive director of the Afghan Coalition, which provides services to the community. "There is no reason to shoot an innocent woman walking down the street, holding her child."
Local Muslim leaders and the victim's relatives attributed blame to an American culture of violence, propagated through movies and video games that reward players for killing. In addition, they said things such as talk radio, politicians and religious zealotry by some Christians had focused on Muslims since the Sept. 11 attacks.
"Justice will not be served by merely catching the killer," said Hassan Ansari. "We have to figure out how to stop these kinds of things from happening. ... American society is what feeds people's ignorance."
"Mostly it's the fault of the media, because they show Muslims in such a way that people hate them," said Feraidoon Mojadedi, owner of the Rumi Bookstore in Little Kabul. "People are dying all over the world, but what did she have to do with it? She's a housewife, a mother of children."
Three women at the Islamic Society of the East Bay said they would continue to wear head scarves even if the killing was a hate crime. "Even if they wiped out everyone on Earth, I would not remove the hijab," said Suzanne Azim, 43, a Hayward resident.
Alia Ansari, 37, had lived in the United States since 1986 and had become a U.S. citizen, family members said. Like many Afghan Americans, Ansari was a refugee from the war against the Soviet Union. She came from Mazar-e Sharif, where her sole sister still lives.
She typically drove to pick up two of her daughters from Glenmoor Elementary School, but left home on foot Thursday because of engine trouble. Witnesses said a man got out of a car, approached her and shot her at point-blank range before returning to the car and speeding away.
The young daughter who was with Ansari was unharmed, Swadener said.
When Ansari was shot, her daughter began crying and later told her family over and over, "A man killed my mother," said Hassan Ansari.
Maria Garcia, who lives across the street from where the shooting occurred, said, "I didn't see what happened but I heard the gunfire, and I heard the crying of the child."
The slaying marks the second time someone in the victim's family has been shot and killed in Fremont. In January 2002, Afghan community leader Rahim Ansari, 34, of Union City was shot and killed inside his business, Pamir Travel, in Little Kabul.
The suspected gunman in that incident, upset over a spurned romance, also wounded Rahim Ansari's brother-in-law, Zabiullah Ansari, a second-cousin of Alia Ansari. In an interview Friday, Zabiullah Ansari, 48, expressed hope that the right person had been arrested. But he said, "They don't know what happened.
"You're killed in front of your kid -- how can people do that? They're not human beings. This lady was totally innocent. Why did someone shoot her? "
Words of wisdom
"Truly in the heart there is a void that can not be removed except with the company of God. And in it there is a sadness that can not be removed except with the happiness of knowing God and being true to Him. And in it there is an emptiness that can not be filled except with love for Him and by turning to Him and always remembering Him. And if a person were given all of the world and what is in it, it would not fill this emptiness."
- Imam ibnul Qayyim
- Imam ibnul Qayyim
Pearls of hadith
Assalamo Aleikum wrb
I pray to Allah swt that everyone is doing well and that you are having blessed holidays.
I have just returned back from a journey in Africa and insh Allah I will like to share some of my feelings and experiences with you. But before I recollect my thoughts I wanted to leave you with 50 ahadith (thanks to brother Adamo) which I believe could change your life if you live by them. We need to get back to practicing the teachings our our beloved prophet Muhammad sas and we will change the world insh Allah.
Pearls of Hadith
1. "Acquire knowledge, it enables its professor to distinguish right from wrong; it lights the way to heaven. It is our friend in the desert, our company in solitude and companion when friendless. It guides us to happiness, it sustains us in misery, it is an ornament amongst friends and an armour against enemies."
2. "A Muslim who plants a tree or sows a field, from which man, birds and animals can eat, is committing an act of charity." (Muslim)
3. "There is a polish for everything that takes away rust; and the polish for the heart is the remembrance of Allah." (Bukhari)
4. "What actions are most excellent? To gladden the heart of human beings, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the sufferings of the injured." (Bukhari)
5. "The most excellent Jihad is that for the conquest of self." (Bukhari)
6. "If you put your whole trust in Allah, as you ought, He most certainly will satisfy your needs, as He satisfies those of the birds. They come out hungry in the morning, but return full to their nests." (Tirmidhi)
7. "When Allah created his creatures He wrote above His throne: 'Verily, my Compassion overcomes my wrath." (Bukhari & Muslim)
8. "Allah will not give mercy to anyone, except those who give mercy to other creatures." (Abdullah b. Amr: Abu Daud & Tirmidhi)
9. " 'Son, if you are able, keep your heart from morning till night and from night till morning free from malice towards anyone.' Then the Prophet said: 'O my son! This is one of my laws, and he, who loves my laws verily loves me.' " (Bukhari)
10. "Say what is true, although it may be bitter and displeasing to people." (Baihaqi)
11. "Kindness is a mark of faith, and whoever is not kind has no faith." (Muslim)
12. "When you see a person who has been given more than you in money and beauty, look to those, who have been given less." (Muslim)
13. "If you do not feel ashamed of anything, then you can do whatever you like." (Abu-Masud: Bukhari)
14. "O Lord, grant me your love, grant me that I love those who love you; grant me, that I might do the deeds that win your love. Make your love dearer to me than the love of myself, my family and wealth." (Tirmidhi)
15. "It is better to sit alone than in company with the bad; and it is better still to sit with the good than alone. It is better to speak to a seeker of knowledge than to remain silent; but silence is better than idle words." (Bukhari)
16. "Verily, a man teaching his child manners is better than giving one bushel of grain in alms." (Muslim)
17. "Whoever is kind, Allah will be kind to him; therefore be kind to man on the earth. He Who is in heaven will show mercy on you."(Abu Daud: Tirmidhi)
18. "It is difficult for a man laden with riches to climb the steep path, that leads to bliss." (Muslim)
19. "Once a man, who was passing through a road, found a branch of a tree with torns obstructing it. The man removed the thorns from the way. Allah thanked him and forgave his sins." (Bukhari)
20. "Who are the learned? Those who practice what they know." (Bukhari)
21. "Allah has revealed to me, that you must be humble. No one should boast over one another, and no one should oppress another." (Iyad b. Hinar al-Mujashi: Muslim)
22. "Who is the most favoured of Allah? He, from whom the greatest good comes to His creatures." (Bukhari)
23. "A true Muslim is thankful to Allah in prosperity, and resigned to His will in adversity." (Muslim)
24. "A Muslim who meets with others and shares their burdens is better than one who lives a life of seclusion and contemplation. " (Muslim)
25. "Serve Allah, as you would if you could see Him; although you cannot see Him, He can see you. (Umar: Muslim)
26. "Allah does not look at your appearance or your possessions; but He looks at your heart and your deeds." (Abu Huraira: Muslim)
27. "The best richness is the richness of the soul." (at the field ofTabuk, Syria, Rajab 9 A.H.: Bukhari)
28. "Keep yourselves far from envy; because it eats up and takes away good actions, like a fire eats up and burns wood." (Abu Daud)
29. "Much silence and a good disposition, there are no two things better than these." (Bukhari)
30. "Verily, Allah is mild and is fond of mildness, and He gives to the mild what He does not give to the harsh." (Muslim)
31. "Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him." (Bukhari)
32. "Once the Prophet was asked:'Tell us, which action is dearest to Allah?' He answered:'To say your prayer at its proper time.' Again he was asked: 'What comes next?' Mohammed said: 'To show kindness to parents.' 'Then what?' he was asked, 'To strive for the cause of Allah!' " (Ibn Masad: Bukhari)
33. "When two persons are together, two of them must no whisper to each other, without letting the third hear; because it would hurt him." (Bukhari & Muslim)
34. "Verily, it is one of the respects to Allah to honor an old man." (Bukhari)
35. "All Muslims are like a foundation, each strengthening the other; in such a way they do support each other." (Abu Musa: Bukhari & Muslim)
36. "Strive always to excel in virtue and truth." (Bukhari)
37. "You will not enter paradise until you have faith; and you will not complete your faith till you love one another." (Muslim)
38. "He, who wishes to enter paradise at the best gate, must please his father and mother." (Bukhari & Muslim)
39. "I am leaving two things among you, and if you cling to them firmly you will never go astray; one is the Book of Allah and the other is my way of life." (Farewell Pilgrimage: Muatta)
40. "Allah is One and likes Unity." (Muslim)
41. "The best of alms is that, which the right hand gives and the left hand knows not of." (Bukhari)
42. "The perfect Muslim is not a perfect Muslim, who eats till he is full and leaves his neighbors hungry." (Ibn Abbas: Baihaqi)
43. "He is not of us who is not affectionate to the little ones, and does not respect the old; and he is not of us, who does not order which is lawful, and prohibits that which is unlawful." (Ibn Abbas: Tirmidhi)
44. "No man is a true believer unless he desires for his brother that, what he desires for himself." (Abu Hamza Anas: Bukhari & Muslim)
45. "To strive for the cause of Allah from daybreak to noon and sunset is better than the goods and enjoyment of the whole worldly life." (Bukhari)
46. "Be not like the hypocrite who, when he talks, tells lies; when he gives a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he proves dishonest." (Bukhari & Muslim)
47. "The proof of a Muslim's sincerity is, that he pays no heed to that, which is not his business." (Abu Hureira: Tirmidhi)
48. "Do you know what is better than charity and fasting and prayer? It is keeping peace and good relations between people, as quarrels and bad feelings destroy mankind." (Muslims & Bukhari)
49. "Conduct yourself in this world, as if you are here to stay forever; prepare for eternity as if you have to die tomorrow." (Bukhari)
50. "The worldly comforts are not for me. I am like a traveller, who takes a rest under a tree in the shade and then goes on his way." (Tirmidhi)
--------------------
I pray to Allah swt that everyone is doing well and that you are having blessed holidays.
I have just returned back from a journey in Africa and insh Allah I will like to share some of my feelings and experiences with you. But before I recollect my thoughts I wanted to leave you with 50 ahadith (thanks to brother Adamo) which I believe could change your life if you live by them. We need to get back to practicing the teachings our our beloved prophet Muhammad sas and we will change the world insh Allah.
Pearls of Hadith
1. "Acquire knowledge, it enables its professor to distinguish right from wrong; it lights the way to heaven. It is our friend in the desert, our company in solitude and companion when friendless. It guides us to happiness, it sustains us in misery, it is an ornament amongst friends and an armour against enemies."
2. "A Muslim who plants a tree or sows a field, from which man, birds and animals can eat, is committing an act of charity." (Muslim)
3. "There is a polish for everything that takes away rust; and the polish for the heart is the remembrance of Allah." (Bukhari)
4. "What actions are most excellent? To gladden the heart of human beings, to feed the hungry, to help the afflicted, to lighten the sorrow of the sorrowful, and to remove the sufferings of the injured." (Bukhari)
5. "The most excellent Jihad is that for the conquest of self." (Bukhari)
6. "If you put your whole trust in Allah, as you ought, He most certainly will satisfy your needs, as He satisfies those of the birds. They come out hungry in the morning, but return full to their nests." (Tirmidhi)
7. "When Allah created his creatures He wrote above His throne: 'Verily, my Compassion overcomes my wrath." (Bukhari & Muslim)
8. "Allah will not give mercy to anyone, except those who give mercy to other creatures." (Abdullah b. Amr: Abu Daud & Tirmidhi)
9. " 'Son, if you are able, keep your heart from morning till night and from night till morning free from malice towards anyone.' Then the Prophet said: 'O my son! This is one of my laws, and he, who loves my laws verily loves me.' " (Bukhari)
10. "Say what is true, although it may be bitter and displeasing to people." (Baihaqi)
11. "Kindness is a mark of faith, and whoever is not kind has no faith." (Muslim)
12. "When you see a person who has been given more than you in money and beauty, look to those, who have been given less." (Muslim)
13. "If you do not feel ashamed of anything, then you can do whatever you like." (Abu-Masud: Bukhari)
14. "O Lord, grant me your love, grant me that I love those who love you; grant me, that I might do the deeds that win your love. Make your love dearer to me than the love of myself, my family and wealth." (Tirmidhi)
15. "It is better to sit alone than in company with the bad; and it is better still to sit with the good than alone. It is better to speak to a seeker of knowledge than to remain silent; but silence is better than idle words." (Bukhari)
16. "Verily, a man teaching his child manners is better than giving one bushel of grain in alms." (Muslim)
17. "Whoever is kind, Allah will be kind to him; therefore be kind to man on the earth. He Who is in heaven will show mercy on you."(Abu Daud: Tirmidhi)
18. "It is difficult for a man laden with riches to climb the steep path, that leads to bliss." (Muslim)
19. "Once a man, who was passing through a road, found a branch of a tree with torns obstructing it. The man removed the thorns from the way. Allah thanked him and forgave his sins." (Bukhari)
20. "Who are the learned? Those who practice what they know." (Bukhari)
21. "Allah has revealed to me, that you must be humble. No one should boast over one another, and no one should oppress another." (Iyad b. Hinar al-Mujashi: Muslim)
22. "Who is the most favoured of Allah? He, from whom the greatest good comes to His creatures." (Bukhari)
23. "A true Muslim is thankful to Allah in prosperity, and resigned to His will in adversity." (Muslim)
24. "A Muslim who meets with others and shares their burdens is better than one who lives a life of seclusion and contemplation. " (Muslim)
25. "Serve Allah, as you would if you could see Him; although you cannot see Him, He can see you. (Umar: Muslim)
26. "Allah does not look at your appearance or your possessions; but He looks at your heart and your deeds." (Abu Huraira: Muslim)
27. "The best richness is the richness of the soul." (at the field ofTabuk, Syria, Rajab 9 A.H.: Bukhari)
28. "Keep yourselves far from envy; because it eats up and takes away good actions, like a fire eats up and burns wood." (Abu Daud)
29. "Much silence and a good disposition, there are no two things better than these." (Bukhari)
30. "Verily, Allah is mild and is fond of mildness, and He gives to the mild what He does not give to the harsh." (Muslim)
31. "Whoever loves to meet Allah, Allah loves to meet him." (Bukhari)
32. "Once the Prophet was asked:'Tell us, which action is dearest to Allah?' He answered:'To say your prayer at its proper time.' Again he was asked: 'What comes next?' Mohammed said: 'To show kindness to parents.' 'Then what?' he was asked, 'To strive for the cause of Allah!' " (Ibn Masad: Bukhari)
33. "When two persons are together, two of them must no whisper to each other, without letting the third hear; because it would hurt him." (Bukhari & Muslim)
34. "Verily, it is one of the respects to Allah to honor an old man." (Bukhari)
35. "All Muslims are like a foundation, each strengthening the other; in such a way they do support each other." (Abu Musa: Bukhari & Muslim)
36. "Strive always to excel in virtue and truth." (Bukhari)
37. "You will not enter paradise until you have faith; and you will not complete your faith till you love one another." (Muslim)
38. "He, who wishes to enter paradise at the best gate, must please his father and mother." (Bukhari & Muslim)
39. "I am leaving two things among you, and if you cling to them firmly you will never go astray; one is the Book of Allah and the other is my way of life." (Farewell Pilgrimage: Muatta)
40. "Allah is One and likes Unity." (Muslim)
41. "The best of alms is that, which the right hand gives and the left hand knows not of." (Bukhari)
42. "The perfect Muslim is not a perfect Muslim, who eats till he is full and leaves his neighbors hungry." (Ibn Abbas: Baihaqi)
43. "He is not of us who is not affectionate to the little ones, and does not respect the old; and he is not of us, who does not order which is lawful, and prohibits that which is unlawful." (Ibn Abbas: Tirmidhi)
44. "No man is a true believer unless he desires for his brother that, what he desires for himself." (Abu Hamza Anas: Bukhari & Muslim)
45. "To strive for the cause of Allah from daybreak to noon and sunset is better than the goods and enjoyment of the whole worldly life." (Bukhari)
46. "Be not like the hypocrite who, when he talks, tells lies; when he gives a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he proves dishonest." (Bukhari & Muslim)
47. "The proof of a Muslim's sincerity is, that he pays no heed to that, which is not his business." (Abu Hureira: Tirmidhi)
48. "Do you know what is better than charity and fasting and prayer? It is keeping peace and good relations between people, as quarrels and bad feelings destroy mankind." (Muslims & Bukhari)
49. "Conduct yourself in this world, as if you are here to stay forever; prepare for eternity as if you have to die tomorrow." (Bukhari)
50. "The worldly comforts are not for me. I am like a traveller, who takes a rest under a tree in the shade and then goes on his way." (Tirmidhi)
--------------------
Monday, December 8, 2008
Mercy and compassion is instilled in every creature
The Qur'an Majeed says: "There is not an animal on earth, nor a bird that flies on its wings, but they are communities like you…". (Qur'an 6:38).
Look at this video subhan Allah amazing how this dog saves his or her companion, only if we could learn from them
Look at this video subhan Allah amazing how this dog saves his or her companion, only if we could learn from them
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Brother Adamo's response to a missionary
In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
I want to begin by Praising and Thanking God, for truly there is none worthy of Praise or Thanks but Him.
I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but the One True God, whom has no partner in His Glory, who Is absolutely One, who has no son and no mother, He begets not and never was He begotten. I also bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and His Final Messenger, whom was sent to the lost tribes of the desert of Arabia to proclaim the Message of Pure Monotheism, to restore it's people back to the faith of Abraham and the Prophets, peace be upon them all. I seek the Grace of God, for by His Grace all things are possible, and I seek His Help and His Guidance, for those whom He Guides to Himself can never stray. He is the Ever Living Eternal One, the One who spoke directly to Moses, and the One who was worshiped and Glorified by Jesus. I ask God to reward the believers with the ultimate blessing, with is to look upon His Glorious and Radiant Face in the Hereafter, and to be with Him for Eternity. I send peace and blessings upon all of His Prophets, and upon His Final Prophet, and upon his family, his companions, and all those who follow him in righteousness until the Day of Resurrection, ameen.
Peace be with you John, I read the email you sent to my mother regarding the confrontation of Catholics and Muslims. I was born in a Roman Catholic home, and after a long search and journey seeking the Truth, I found Islam by the Guidance of the Most Merciful. So as you know, I am a Muslim. And I say this with the utmost humility, not our of pride or arrogance. A Muslim is one who submits himself to God alone, this is the literal meaning of a Muslim. For God Almighty has commanded the Muslim in the Holy Qur'an:
"And the servants of Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, "Peace!" Qur'an 25:63
As I know, you are a Christian, and as most Christians you might not have a true understanding of Islam and what it truly means. So before I attempt to respond to the points you made in that email, I must summarize the essence of Islam and its meaning.
The arabic word Islam literally means "surrender" or "submission". Islam, as a faith, means total and sincere surrender to God alone so that one can live in peace and tranquility.
The name Islam is Universal in meaning. Islam is not named after a tribe of people or an individual, as Judaism is named after the tribe of Judah, Christianity after Christ, and Buddhism after Buddha. Islam is not a name chosen by human beings; it was divinely communicated from God. Islam is a complete way of life, implying total sincere submission to God. One who surrenders his or her will to God willingly, is called a Muslim. It was Adam who brought Islam to humanity, since it is the same Message and Way that God revealed since the beginning of time. It is only logical that the name of God's religion or path that He has prescribed for us to follow, should be Universal and not restricted to a certain people, place or time. The name Islam is unique in that it is the only Religion where it's name is not derived from a person, place or thing. And it's essence is so Universal that it can be applied to anytime or place in history where a group of people simply believed in the one God and bowed to Him alone.
Islam simply means to submit yourself to God. Islam has a combination of three central meaning, submission, peace, and salvation. So as a whole, Islam literally means "submitting to the Will of God, and by doing this you will achieve peace and salvation." Being a Muslim is a constant action of submitting to God, it is a verb.. not a noun. All of the Prophets and Messenger submitting their whole self to the One God and Creator of the Universe, hence in essence they were 100 % Muslim (submitters to God). That is why we do not believe that Islam was a new Religion, but it was the completion of the same Universal Message that God has revealed throughout the ages. As God revealed in the Holy Qur'an:
"The same religion He has established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah, which We have sent by inspiration to you, and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus." - Holy Qur'an 42:13
"We have sent you Inspiration, as We sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him. We sent Inspiration to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron and Solomon, and to David We gave the Psalms." Holy Qur'an 4:163
You said in your email that God established His promise and revelation with the Children of Israel, which is true and we believe this as well. But we do not believe that God restricted His Message to only a certain people, but that since the beginning of time every people was sent a Messenger to teach to them the Universal Truths of God. For God revealed in the Holy Qur'an:
"And verily, We have sent among every Nation a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship God alone, and avoid evil and false deities" Then of them were some whom God guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied." Qur'ân 16:36
God also says:
"O Children of Israel! Call to mind the favour which I bestowed upon you, and fulfill your covenant with Me as I fulfill My Covenant with you, and fear none but Me. And believe in what I reveal now, confirming the revelation which is with you, and be not the first to reject Faith therein, nor sell My Signs for a small price, and fear Me, and Me alone. And cover not Truth with falsehood, nor conceal the Truth when you know. And be steadfast in prayer, practice regular charity, and bow down your heads with those who bow down." Qur'an 2:40- 41
The Message of Islam is very same Message given to the Hebrews. The absolute pure unadulterated Monotheism of Islam is the same creed the Hebrews and the Prophet's brought for thousands of years. Never did any Prophet speak of God being a "trinity", the Hebrew Bible is explicit about this. God is One, and His Message is One and the same and does not change throughout History. The revelation of God is a straight line without any crookedness. You say in your email that..
"not from an Islamic understanding of God several centuries later following Christ’s revelation, with Islam linking itself to Abraham for legitimacy."
It is the doctrine of Christianity that is alien and blasphemous, the Jews and the Muslims are those that have maintained the Pure Monotheism that God has ordained since the beginning. God took that same Message that He gave to the Hebrews and when He revealed it again to Muhammad, He made it complete and for the whole world. That same Message that was sent to every people and ever tribe was now proclaimed for all of mankind. God's revelation is consistent, what He said to Noah, He said the same thing to Abraham, and to Moses and to all people. All of the Prophet's were Muslims because they worshiped none but God and submitted to Him, the Pure Message of Islam has always existed.
God revealed in the Holy Qur'an:
"Never We send before a Messenger before you without this same inspiration sent by Us to him; that there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve Me alone." Qur'an 21:25
John, I grew up a Catholic. Everything we ever did was dedicated to the virgin Mary, and the Saints an things other than the one true God. I got sick of this and I just wanted to worship God and nothing else, as the Prophet's did. Only Islam offered me this, and only Islam was so clear me and made perfect sense. I do not worship a mystery God, or a three in one mystery that can never be understood. I worship the one true and Ever Living God of the Prophets with nothing along side with Him. This is the Religion of the Prophet's, of the Hebrews, and of Jesus.
As for the so called old testament prophesies of Jesus being God or what not.. just talk to a Hebrew scholar or someone who knows the original Hebrew of the Tanach, and clearly you will be shown that the so called prophesies are purposely translated to fit Christian dogma. I just bought a Hebrew Bible with English, and it is not the exact same as the Christian translation. And as for the Catholic Church..
Christianity as we know it today is a result of hundreds of years of theological development and was not complete from the beginning. Here is some of my proof that I now offer from the "New Catholic Encyclopedia". The central and core doctrine of Christianity is the "trinity", this is Christianity's theological foundation, for God's nature is a crucial part of ones faith.
"It is difficult in the second half of the 20th century to offer a clear, objective and straightforward account of the revelation, doctrinal evolution, and theological elaboration of the Mystery of the trinity. Trinitarian discussion, Roman Catholic as well as other, present a somewhat unsteady silhouette. Two things have happened. There is the recognition on the part of exegetes and Biblical theologians, including a constantly growing number of Roman Catholics, that one should not speak of Trinitarianism in the New Testament without serious qualification. There is also the closely parallel recognition on the part of historians of dogma and systematic theologians that when one does speak of an unqualified Trinitarianism, one has moved from the period of Christian origins to, say, the last quadrant of the 4th century. It was only then that what might be called the definitive Trinitarian dogma 'One God in three Persons' became thoroughly assimilated into Christian life and thought ... it was the product of 3 centuries of doctrinal development" (emphasis added).
"The New Catholic Encyclopedia," Volume XIV, p. 295
But God Revealed in the Holy Qur'an:
"This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your way of life, but do not fear them, only fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your way of life" Qur'an 5:3
As For Jesus (peace be upon him), God revealed about him in the Holy Qur'an:
"When Jesus came with Clear Signs, he said: "Now have I come to you with Wisdom, and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) on which ye dispute: therefore fear Allah and obey me. "For God, He is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him alone, this is the Straight Way."But sects from among themselves fell into disagreement: then woe to the wrong-doers, from the Penalty of a Grievous Day!" Qur'an 43:63-65
Jesus was a servant of God, he called people to worship God alone. Many early Christian groups held to this belief that Jesus was a servant of God who called people to worship God. The Ebionites are an example of Jewish Christians who denied the divinity of Jesus (peace be upon him).
In the end, Islam is simply the worship of God alone. All beings in the Heavens and on Earth bow to the Creator and nothing else. Bowing to images of human beings or any living thing, or seeking refuge in things other than the Creator are blasphemous before God and violate the First Commandment which was the very cornerstone of truth that each Prophet taught, including Jesus. I once bowed to images and statues of Mary and Saints, but now I bow to God my Creator, the One True God and only King and Lord, the same God Jesus relied upon and worshiped in submission. Islam has liberated me from the idolatry of Roman Catholicism, it has liberated me from worshiping pictures and dead people, I now worship my Creator alone and have a direct and personal relationship with Him, if Moses spoke directly to God, then so can I, without any barriers. And many people are coming to the light of Islam, dozens people have embraced Islam in our Mosque in the past year, and more people are seeing the Truth.
"Don't you see that to God bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens and on earth, the sun, the moon, the stars; the hills, the trees, the animals; and a great number among mankind?" Qur'an 22:18
"I am the Lord and there is no other, besides me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged Me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting, men may know that there is none besides Me. I am the Lord and there is no other. I form the Light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster. I, the Lord, do all these things." Isaiah 45: 5-7
"God! There is no god but He, the Living, the Self-Subsisting, Eternal One. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the Heavens and on Earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He gives permission? He knowswhat (appears to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He wills. His Footstool extends over the Heavens and the Earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme." Qur'an 2:255
AND IN THE WISE WORDS OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD (peace be upon him)
"My relation to the long chain of Prophets can be understood by the parable of a Palace. The Palace was most beautifully built. Everything was complete therein except that one brick. I am that brick and now the Palace has been completed." - Prophet Muhammad (s)
I want to begin by Praising and Thanking God, for truly there is none worthy of Praise or Thanks but Him.
I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but the One True God, whom has no partner in His Glory, who Is absolutely One, who has no son and no mother, He begets not and never was He begotten. I also bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and His Final Messenger, whom was sent to the lost tribes of the desert of Arabia to proclaim the Message of Pure Monotheism, to restore it's people back to the faith of Abraham and the Prophets, peace be upon them all. I seek the Grace of God, for by His Grace all things are possible, and I seek His Help and His Guidance, for those whom He Guides to Himself can never stray. He is the Ever Living Eternal One, the One who spoke directly to Moses, and the One who was worshiped and Glorified by Jesus. I ask God to reward the believers with the ultimate blessing, with is to look upon His Glorious and Radiant Face in the Hereafter, and to be with Him for Eternity. I send peace and blessings upon all of His Prophets, and upon His Final Prophet, and upon his family, his companions, and all those who follow him in righteousness until the Day of Resurrection, ameen.
Peace be with you John, I read the email you sent to my mother regarding the confrontation of Catholics and Muslims. I was born in a Roman Catholic home, and after a long search and journey seeking the Truth, I found Islam by the Guidance of the Most Merciful. So as you know, I am a Muslim. And I say this with the utmost humility, not our of pride or arrogance. A Muslim is one who submits himself to God alone, this is the literal meaning of a Muslim. For God Almighty has commanded the Muslim in the Holy Qur'an:
"And the servants of Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, "Peace!" Qur'an 25:63
As I know, you are a Christian, and as most Christians you might not have a true understanding of Islam and what it truly means. So before I attempt to respond to the points you made in that email, I must summarize the essence of Islam and its meaning.
The arabic word Islam literally means "surrender" or "submission". Islam, as a faith, means total and sincere surrender to God alone so that one can live in peace and tranquility.
The name Islam is Universal in meaning. Islam is not named after a tribe of people or an individual, as Judaism is named after the tribe of Judah, Christianity after Christ, and Buddhism after Buddha. Islam is not a name chosen by human beings; it was divinely communicated from God. Islam is a complete way of life, implying total sincere submission to God. One who surrenders his or her will to God willingly, is called a Muslim. It was Adam who brought Islam to humanity, since it is the same Message and Way that God revealed since the beginning of time. It is only logical that the name of God's religion or path that He has prescribed for us to follow, should be Universal and not restricted to a certain people, place or time. The name Islam is unique in that it is the only Religion where it's name is not derived from a person, place or thing. And it's essence is so Universal that it can be applied to anytime or place in history where a group of people simply believed in the one God and bowed to Him alone.
Islam simply means to submit yourself to God. Islam has a combination of three central meaning, submission, peace, and salvation. So as a whole, Islam literally means "submitting to the Will of God, and by doing this you will achieve peace and salvation." Being a Muslim is a constant action of submitting to God, it is a verb.. not a noun. All of the Prophets and Messenger submitting their whole self to the One God and Creator of the Universe, hence in essence they were 100 % Muslim (submitters to God). That is why we do not believe that Islam was a new Religion, but it was the completion of the same Universal Message that God has revealed throughout the ages. As God revealed in the Holy Qur'an:
"The same religion He has established for you as that which He enjoined on Noah, which We have sent by inspiration to you, and that which We enjoined on Abraham, Moses, and Jesus." - Holy Qur'an 42:13
"We have sent you Inspiration, as We sent it to Noah and the Messengers after him. We sent Inspiration to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron and Solomon, and to David We gave the Psalms." Holy Qur'an 4:163
You said in your email that God established His promise and revelation with the Children of Israel, which is true and we believe this as well. But we do not believe that God restricted His Message to only a certain people, but that since the beginning of time every people was sent a Messenger to teach to them the Universal Truths of God. For God revealed in the Holy Qur'an:
"And verily, We have sent among every Nation a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship God alone, and avoid evil and false deities" Then of them were some whom God guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied." Qur'ân 16:36
God also says:
"O Children of Israel! Call to mind the favour which I bestowed upon you, and fulfill your covenant with Me as I fulfill My Covenant with you, and fear none but Me. And believe in what I reveal now, confirming the revelation which is with you, and be not the first to reject Faith therein, nor sell My Signs for a small price, and fear Me, and Me alone. And cover not Truth with falsehood, nor conceal the Truth when you know. And be steadfast in prayer, practice regular charity, and bow down your heads with those who bow down." Qur'an 2:40- 41
The Message of Islam is very same Message given to the Hebrews. The absolute pure unadulterated Monotheism of Islam is the same creed the Hebrews and the Prophet's brought for thousands of years. Never did any Prophet speak of God being a "trinity", the Hebrew Bible is explicit about this. God is One, and His Message is One and the same and does not change throughout History. The revelation of God is a straight line without any crookedness. You say in your email that..
"not from an Islamic understanding of God several centuries later following Christ’s revelation, with Islam linking itself to Abraham for legitimacy."
It is the doctrine of Christianity that is alien and blasphemous, the Jews and the Muslims are those that have maintained the Pure Monotheism that God has ordained since the beginning. God took that same Message that He gave to the Hebrews and when He revealed it again to Muhammad, He made it complete and for the whole world. That same Message that was sent to every people and ever tribe was now proclaimed for all of mankind. God's revelation is consistent, what He said to Noah, He said the same thing to Abraham, and to Moses and to all people. All of the Prophet's were Muslims because they worshiped none but God and submitted to Him, the Pure Message of Islam has always existed.
God revealed in the Holy Qur'an:
"Never We send before a Messenger before you without this same inspiration sent by Us to him; that there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve Me alone." Qur'an 21:25
John, I grew up a Catholic. Everything we ever did was dedicated to the virgin Mary, and the Saints an things other than the one true God. I got sick of this and I just wanted to worship God and nothing else, as the Prophet's did. Only Islam offered me this, and only Islam was so clear me and made perfect sense. I do not worship a mystery God, or a three in one mystery that can never be understood. I worship the one true and Ever Living God of the Prophets with nothing along side with Him. This is the Religion of the Prophet's, of the Hebrews, and of Jesus.
As for the so called old testament prophesies of Jesus being God or what not.. just talk to a Hebrew scholar or someone who knows the original Hebrew of the Tanach, and clearly you will be shown that the so called prophesies are purposely translated to fit Christian dogma. I just bought a Hebrew Bible with English, and it is not the exact same as the Christian translation. And as for the Catholic Church..
Christianity as we know it today is a result of hundreds of years of theological development and was not complete from the beginning. Here is some of my proof that I now offer from the "New Catholic Encyclopedia". The central and core doctrine of Christianity is the "trinity", this is Christianity's theological foundation, for God's nature is a crucial part of ones faith.
"It is difficult in the second half of the 20th century to offer a clear, objective and straightforward account of the revelation, doctrinal evolution, and theological elaboration of the Mystery of the trinity. Trinitarian discussion, Roman Catholic as well as other, present a somewhat unsteady silhouette. Two things have happened. There is the recognition on the part of exegetes and Biblical theologians, including a constantly growing number of Roman Catholics, that one should not speak of Trinitarianism in the New Testament without serious qualification. There is also the closely parallel recognition on the part of historians of dogma and systematic theologians that when one does speak of an unqualified Trinitarianism, one has moved from the period of Christian origins to, say, the last quadrant of the 4th century. It was only then that what might be called the definitive Trinitarian dogma 'One God in three Persons' became thoroughly assimilated into Christian life and thought ... it was the product of 3 centuries of doctrinal development" (emphasis added).
"The New Catholic Encyclopedia," Volume XIV, p. 295
But God Revealed in the Holy Qur'an:
"This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your way of life, but do not fear them, only fear Me. This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your way of life" Qur'an 5:3
As For Jesus (peace be upon him), God revealed about him in the Holy Qur'an:
"When Jesus came with Clear Signs, he said: "Now have I come to you with Wisdom, and in order to make clear to you some of the (points) on which ye dispute: therefore fear Allah and obey me. "For God, He is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him alone, this is the Straight Way."But sects from among themselves fell into disagreement: then woe to the wrong-doers, from the Penalty of a Grievous Day!" Qur'an 43:63-65
Jesus was a servant of God, he called people to worship God alone. Many early Christian groups held to this belief that Jesus was a servant of God who called people to worship God. The Ebionites are an example of Jewish Christians who denied the divinity of Jesus (peace be upon him).
In the end, Islam is simply the worship of God alone. All beings in the Heavens and on Earth bow to the Creator and nothing else. Bowing to images of human beings or any living thing, or seeking refuge in things other than the Creator are blasphemous before God and violate the First Commandment which was the very cornerstone of truth that each Prophet taught, including Jesus. I once bowed to images and statues of Mary and Saints, but now I bow to God my Creator, the One True God and only King and Lord, the same God Jesus relied upon and worshiped in submission. Islam has liberated me from the idolatry of Roman Catholicism, it has liberated me from worshiping pictures and dead people, I now worship my Creator alone and have a direct and personal relationship with Him, if Moses spoke directly to God, then so can I, without any barriers. And many people are coming to the light of Islam, dozens people have embraced Islam in our Mosque in the past year, and more people are seeing the Truth.
"Don't you see that to God bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens and on earth, the sun, the moon, the stars; the hills, the trees, the animals; and a great number among mankind?" Qur'an 22:18
"I am the Lord and there is no other, besides me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged Me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting, men may know that there is none besides Me. I am the Lord and there is no other. I form the Light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster. I, the Lord, do all these things." Isaiah 45: 5-7
"God! There is no god but He, the Living, the Self-Subsisting, Eternal One. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the Heavens and on Earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He gives permission? He knowswhat (appears to His creatures as) before or after or behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He wills. His Footstool extends over the Heavens and the Earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme." Qur'an 2:255
AND IN THE WISE WORDS OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD (peace be upon him)
"My relation to the long chain of Prophets can be understood by the parable of a Palace. The Palace was most beautifully built. Everything was complete therein except that one brick. I am that brick and now the Palace has been completed." - Prophet Muhammad (s)
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Continuation to a sister's e mail
hello my sister
I wanted your input on this article. What do you think about it?
Do you agree or disagree
Also about one of your comments - yes I agree that good people are just good people whether they are Muslims or not. However not believing in Allah is the worse of actions because it spurs from arrogance, and that was what got Satan to be where he is. So yes good people are good people. One of the best I met was an Atheist. However that does not dismiss Islam from being the truth. If it would have been as such people would have been left alone without any guidance, and as we know people have disagreed over centuries as to what does it mean to be A GOOD PERSON. They even killed each other.
My argument based on proof was that a practicing Muslim or Islam does not allow evil and ill treatment of women, but encourages kind treatment. Every woman is a wife or a daughter, a mother or a grandmother, and paradise is at their feet. Would you treat someone in evil ways if you know that paradise is at their feet. Would you if you knew that the prophet himself told you to treat them kind? No
People have adopted different interpretations of things over the centuries, and women suffered because of their opression, however Islam came to liberate them. Not from God but from this world. A woman has her role in life, give by god, and so does a man. Together they are a team. In a football game the defender cannot complain how come the forward gets to score all the goals? The defender cannot go and leave his or her position and play forward, not can the gollie. When they do, they get a goal against. The defender is part of the team. They have a great major role, and should not complain how come the forward gets certain priviledges. That is the same with man and women. They work together. Women should not complain how come men get to do this and that, while their job is so important and in the eyes of God so great. Women do not need to do all the work to earn paradise as man do. All they have to do is be obedient in good things, and to protect themselves and they can choose which paradise door they want to enter from. They are bestowed upon great things such as child bearing, and mercy that men can never understand. Is that unfair from God or from Islam. My wife loves our children in a different and better way because God gave her that advantage. Should I complain. I have to go out and work hard to earn paradise, while my wife has it at her feet, all she has to do is be satisfied and accept her position on the team. In Islam there are rights and duties. When we come to accept them we will achieve peace.
Women are not instruments of men, not in Islam. They are equitable in the sight of God, but with different rights and obligations. Islam gives equity not equality. Equality means giving 30 children of different genders and different ages the same color shoes, the same size shoes. What is the problem? It won't fit, it will not match their gender, they will seek all their life to try to fit in those shoes, but they will not be. Equity is giving each child based on what they need and what they can accommodate. Each child gets colors that match their gender and size that match their feet. That is Islam
I wanted your input on this article. What do you think about it?
Do you agree or disagree
Also about one of your comments - yes I agree that good people are just good people whether they are Muslims or not. However not believing in Allah is the worse of actions because it spurs from arrogance, and that was what got Satan to be where he is. So yes good people are good people. One of the best I met was an Atheist. However that does not dismiss Islam from being the truth. If it would have been as such people would have been left alone without any guidance, and as we know people have disagreed over centuries as to what does it mean to be A GOOD PERSON. They even killed each other.
My argument based on proof was that a practicing Muslim or Islam does not allow evil and ill treatment of women, but encourages kind treatment. Every woman is a wife or a daughter, a mother or a grandmother, and paradise is at their feet. Would you treat someone in evil ways if you know that paradise is at their feet. Would you if you knew that the prophet himself told you to treat them kind? No
People have adopted different interpretations of things over the centuries, and women suffered because of their opression, however Islam came to liberate them. Not from God but from this world. A woman has her role in life, give by god, and so does a man. Together they are a team. In a football game the defender cannot complain how come the forward gets to score all the goals? The defender cannot go and leave his or her position and play forward, not can the gollie. When they do, they get a goal against. The defender is part of the team. They have a great major role, and should not complain how come the forward gets certain priviledges. That is the same with man and women. They work together. Women should not complain how come men get to do this and that, while their job is so important and in the eyes of God so great. Women do not need to do all the work to earn paradise as man do. All they have to do is be obedient in good things, and to protect themselves and they can choose which paradise door they want to enter from. They are bestowed upon great things such as child bearing, and mercy that men can never understand. Is that unfair from God or from Islam. My wife loves our children in a different and better way because God gave her that advantage. Should I complain. I have to go out and work hard to earn paradise, while my wife has it at her feet, all she has to do is be satisfied and accept her position on the team. In Islam there are rights and duties. When we come to accept them we will achieve peace.
Women are not instruments of men, not in Islam. They are equitable in the sight of God, but with different rights and obligations. Islam gives equity not equality. Equality means giving 30 children of different genders and different ages the same color shoes, the same size shoes. What is the problem? It won't fit, it will not match their gender, they will seek all their life to try to fit in those shoes, but they will not be. Equity is giving each child based on what they need and what they can accommodate. Each child gets colors that match their gender and size that match their feet. That is Islam
Woman's Reflection on Leading Prayer
by Yasmin Mogahed
"Given my privilege as a woman, I only degrade myself by trying to be something I'm not--and in all honesty--don't want to be: a man. As women, we will never reach true liberation until we stop trying to mimic men, and value the beauty in our own God-given distinctiveness."
On March 18, 2005 Amina Wadud led the first female-led Jumuah (Friday) prayer. On that day women took a huge step towards being more like men. But, did we come closer to actualizing our God-given liberation? I don't think so.
What we so often forget is that God has honored the woman by giving her value in relation to God-not in relation to men. But as western feminism erases God from the scene, there is no standard left-but men. As a result the western feminist is forced to find her value in relation to a man. And in so doing she has accepted a faulty assumption. She has accepted that man is the standard, and thus a woman can never be a full human being until she becomes just like a man-the standard.
When a man cut his hair short, she wanted to cut her hair short. When a man joined the army, she wanted to join the army. She wanted these things for no other reason than because the " standard " had it.
What she didn't recognize was that God dignifies both men and women in their distinctiveness--not their sameness. And on March 18, Muslim women made the very same mistake.
For 1400 years there has been a consensus of the scholars that men are to lead prayer. As a Muslim woman, why does this matter? The one who leads prayer is not spiritually superior in any way. Something is not better just because a man does it. And leading prayer is not better, just because it's leading. Had it been the role of women or had it been more divine, why wouldn't the Prophet have asked Ayesha or Khadija, or Fatima-the greatest women of all time-to lead? These women were promised heaven-and yet they never lead prayer.
But now for the first time in 1400 years, we look at a man leading prayer and we think, " That's not fair." We think so although God has given no special privilege to the one who leads. The imam is no higher in the eyes of God than the one who prays behind.
On the other hand, only a woman can be a mother. And God has given special privilege to a mother. The Prophet taught us that heaven lies at the feet of mothers. But no matter what a man does he can never be a mother. So why is that not unfair?
When asked who is most deserving of our kind treatment? The Prophet replied 'your mother' three times before saying 'your father' only once. Isn't that sexist? No matter what a man does he will never be able to have the status of a mother.
And yet even when God honors us with something uniquely feminine, we are too busy trying to find our worth in reference to men, to value it-or even notice. We too have accepted men as the standard; so anything uniquely feminine is, by definition, inferior. Being sensitive is an insult, becoming a mother-a degradation. In the battle between stoic rationality (considered masculine) and self-less compassion (considered feminine), rationality reigns supreme.
As soon as we accept that everything a man has and does is better, all that follows is just a knee jerk reaction: if men have it-we want it too. If men pray in the front rows, we assume this is better, so we want to pray in the front rows too. If men lead prayer, we assume the imam is closer to God, so we want to lead prayer too. Somewhere along the line we've accepted the notion that having a position of worldly leadership is some indication of one's position with God.
A Muslim woman does not need to degrade herself in this way. She has God as a standard. She has God to give her value; she doesn't need a man.
In fact, in our crusade to follow men, we, as women, never even stopped to examine the possibility that what we have is better for us. In some cases we even gave up what was higher only to be like men.
Fifty years ago, society told us that men were superior because they left the home to work in factories. We were mothers. And yet, we were told that it was women's liberation to abandon the raising of another human being in order to work on a machine. We accepted that working in a factory was superior to raising the foundation of society-just because a man did it. Then after working, we were expected to be superhuman-the perfect mother, the perfect wife, the perfect homemaker-and have the perfect career. And while there is nothing wrong, by definition, with a woman having a career, we soon came to realize what we had sacrificed by blindly mimicking men. We watched as our children became strangers and soon recognized the privilege we'd given up.
And so only now-given the choice-women in the West are choosing to stay home to raise their children. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, only 31 percent of mothers with babies, and 18 percent of mothers with two or more children, are working full-time. And of those working mothers, a survey conducted by Parenting Magazine in 2000, found that 93% of them say they would rather be home with their kids, but are compelled to work due to 'financial obligations'. These 'obligations' are imposed on women by the gender sameness of the modern West, and removed from women by the gender distinctiveness of Islam.
It took women in the West almost a century of experimentation to realize a privilege given to Muslim women 1400 years ago.
Given my privilege as a woman, I only degrade myself by trying to be something I'm not--and in all honesty--don't want to be: a man. As women, we will never reach true liberation until we stop trying to mimic men, and value the beauty in our own God-given distinctiveness.
If given a choice between stoic justice and compassion, I choose compassion. And if given a choice between worldly leadership and heaven at my feet-I choose heaven.
"Given my privilege as a woman, I only degrade myself by trying to be something I'm not--and in all honesty--don't want to be: a man. As women, we will never reach true liberation until we stop trying to mimic men, and value the beauty in our own God-given distinctiveness."
On March 18, 2005 Amina Wadud led the first female-led Jumuah (Friday) prayer. On that day women took a huge step towards being more like men. But, did we come closer to actualizing our God-given liberation? I don't think so.
What we so often forget is that God has honored the woman by giving her value in relation to God-not in relation to men. But as western feminism erases God from the scene, there is no standard left-but men. As a result the western feminist is forced to find her value in relation to a man. And in so doing she has accepted a faulty assumption. She has accepted that man is the standard, and thus a woman can never be a full human being until she becomes just like a man-the standard.
When a man cut his hair short, she wanted to cut her hair short. When a man joined the army, she wanted to join the army. She wanted these things for no other reason than because the " standard " had it.
What she didn't recognize was that God dignifies both men and women in their distinctiveness--not their sameness. And on March 18, Muslim women made the very same mistake.
For 1400 years there has been a consensus of the scholars that men are to lead prayer. As a Muslim woman, why does this matter? The one who leads prayer is not spiritually superior in any way. Something is not better just because a man does it. And leading prayer is not better, just because it's leading. Had it been the role of women or had it been more divine, why wouldn't the Prophet have asked Ayesha or Khadija, or Fatima-the greatest women of all time-to lead? These women were promised heaven-and yet they never lead prayer.
But now for the first time in 1400 years, we look at a man leading prayer and we think, " That's not fair." We think so although God has given no special privilege to the one who leads. The imam is no higher in the eyes of God than the one who prays behind.
On the other hand, only a woman can be a mother. And God has given special privilege to a mother. The Prophet taught us that heaven lies at the feet of mothers. But no matter what a man does he can never be a mother. So why is that not unfair?
When asked who is most deserving of our kind treatment? The Prophet replied 'your mother' three times before saying 'your father' only once. Isn't that sexist? No matter what a man does he will never be able to have the status of a mother.
And yet even when God honors us with something uniquely feminine, we are too busy trying to find our worth in reference to men, to value it-or even notice. We too have accepted men as the standard; so anything uniquely feminine is, by definition, inferior. Being sensitive is an insult, becoming a mother-a degradation. In the battle between stoic rationality (considered masculine) and self-less compassion (considered feminine), rationality reigns supreme.
As soon as we accept that everything a man has and does is better, all that follows is just a knee jerk reaction: if men have it-we want it too. If men pray in the front rows, we assume this is better, so we want to pray in the front rows too. If men lead prayer, we assume the imam is closer to God, so we want to lead prayer too. Somewhere along the line we've accepted the notion that having a position of worldly leadership is some indication of one's position with God.
A Muslim woman does not need to degrade herself in this way. She has God as a standard. She has God to give her value; she doesn't need a man.
In fact, in our crusade to follow men, we, as women, never even stopped to examine the possibility that what we have is better for us. In some cases we even gave up what was higher only to be like men.
Fifty years ago, society told us that men were superior because they left the home to work in factories. We were mothers. And yet, we were told that it was women's liberation to abandon the raising of another human being in order to work on a machine. We accepted that working in a factory was superior to raising the foundation of society-just because a man did it. Then after working, we were expected to be superhuman-the perfect mother, the perfect wife, the perfect homemaker-and have the perfect career. And while there is nothing wrong, by definition, with a woman having a career, we soon came to realize what we had sacrificed by blindly mimicking men. We watched as our children became strangers and soon recognized the privilege we'd given up.
And so only now-given the choice-women in the West are choosing to stay home to raise their children. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, only 31 percent of mothers with babies, and 18 percent of mothers with two or more children, are working full-time. And of those working mothers, a survey conducted by Parenting Magazine in 2000, found that 93% of them say they would rather be home with their kids, but are compelled to work due to 'financial obligations'. These 'obligations' are imposed on women by the gender sameness of the modern West, and removed from women by the gender distinctiveness of Islam.
It took women in the West almost a century of experimentation to realize a privilege given to Muslim women 1400 years ago.
Given my privilege as a woman, I only degrade myself by trying to be something I'm not--and in all honesty--don't want to be: a man. As women, we will never reach true liberation until we stop trying to mimic men, and value the beauty in our own God-given distinctiveness.
If given a choice between stoic justice and compassion, I choose compassion. And if given a choice between worldly leadership and heaven at my feet-I choose heaven.
Poem about Allah
Poem about Allah
Allahu Allahu Allahu
Allahu Allahu Allahu
Truly He is the One!
He has no father or son!
Everything in creation was by Him begun
With His infinite power anything could be done
Ask Allah for His Pardon
And you’ll enter the Garden
Before Him there were none
Of partners He has none
He knows what is apparent and what is hidden
All the fate of creation has already been written
His Will is always done
And can never be undone
From amongst all humans
Muhammad was chosen
He was illiterate and he was an orphan
Yet Allah sent him to those who were pagans
Oh Allah let us drink
From his hand in the fountain
Ya Allah You’re the Sovereign
You’re the Sultan of Sultans
Please protect me from Shaytan and all of his treason
Let him not with his whispers my iman ever weaken
My only wish in this life
Is to attain Your Pardon
Allahu Allahu Allahu
Allahu Allahu Allahu
Truly He is the One!
He has no father or son!
Everything in creation was by Him begun
With His infinite power anything could be done
Ask Allah for His Pardon
And you’ll enter the Garden
Allahu Allahu Allahu
Allahu Allahu Allahu
Truly He is the One!
He has no father or son!
Everything in creation was by Him begun
With His infinite power anything could be done
Ask Allah for His Pardon
And you’ll enter the Garden
Before Him there were none
Of partners He has none
He knows what is apparent and what is hidden
All the fate of creation has already been written
His Will is always done
And can never be undone
From amongst all humans
Muhammad was chosen
He was illiterate and he was an orphan
Yet Allah sent him to those who were pagans
Oh Allah let us drink
From his hand in the fountain
Ya Allah You’re the Sovereign
You’re the Sultan of Sultans
Please protect me from Shaytan and all of his treason
Let him not with his whispers my iman ever weaken
My only wish in this life
Is to attain Your Pardon
Allahu Allahu Allahu
Allahu Allahu Allahu
Truly He is the One!
He has no father or son!
Everything in creation was by Him begun
With His infinite power anything could be done
Ask Allah for His Pardon
And you’ll enter the Garden
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
What does islam mean to me (by brother Adamo)
My Du'a
"O Allah, my Lord and my God! O Ever Living and Eternal One! O Most Merciful One! O Most Gracious One! O Most Loving One! O Most Patient One! O Most Kind One! O Most Gentle One! O Most Holy One! O Most Wise and Knowing One! O Almighty and Most High One! You alone are my King! You alone are my God! I bear witness that You are One and without partner! Bless Muhammad, his pure family and companions! O my Lord, Keep me among those who bow down in Submission to Your Will. Bless me and keep me on Your Straight Path, the Path that You have Revealed from Yourself, the Path that You have Favoured, the Path which leads to Your Grace. Preserve me as a Muslim, one who bows down to You in submission and humility, and protect me from joining partners in worship along with You, which is a sin that You have sworn that You will never forgive. O Allah, I thank you for all of the Blessings You have given me. And I thank You for the Greatest Blessing and Mercy that You have bestowed upon me, which is the Bounty of Al-Islam; the Pure Religion, the Straight Path, the True Faith, the Way of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, never did they associate partners with You. O Loving One, make the Qur'an the Light of my life and the Love of my heart, for it is Your Eternal Speech and Word. O Forgiving One! Save me from the Fire and grant me Paradise where I will live with You forever and look upon Your Most Glorious Face. And Bless Your Final Messenger, the one whom You chose to Guide mankind and Reveal the Truth. Bless Muhammad, his pure family and his righteous companions! Truly Lord, You are One, and I submit my face toward You and You alone, and by Your Grace, I am a Muslim."
What Islam means to me..
To me, Islam is the purest of pure, the holiest of holy, the most complete of complete. It is the Way of the entire Universe. The planets, the stars, the sun, the moon, the air, the wind, the seas, the rivers, the trees, the animals, the matter, and the countless number of atoms that make up the Universe.. all submit to the Will, Order, Law, and Design of the Creator of all things. That is Islam. The Way of the Universe, the Universal Law that is Eternal. It is the only religion/faith in which it's name does not come from a person, a place or a thing.. making it completely Universal and un-restricted to any specific place or time in history. Islam is the Religion, Faith, Teaching and Way of all the Prophets, who all brought the same Message to Humanity, which is to worship God alone and attest to His Oneness, His Holiness, His Purity, and His Uniqueness, and to shun the worship of idols and false gods. Islam is a direct Relationship with the Lord of the Universe, without anything or anyone between, just you and your Loving Creator. Islam is Salah, which is the Pillar and Perfection of Deen. Is is the most Perfect, Complete and Spiritually Nourishing Prayer. It is standing before the Presence of God, facing the East towards His Holy Temple/House, it is worshiping Him as He commanded us, as the Prophets did, bowing and prostrating in humbleness and love for Him, praising Him before sunrise, at noon, when the sun is at it's highest, when the sun sets, and when it is dark, constantly remembering Him, praising Him, and seeking His help. It is the Perfect Prayer and Ritual that came from Heaven itself, it is the exact imitation of the worship that the Angels offer up to God in Heaven before His Glorious and Mighty Throne. They are the 5 daily Prayers that were chosen for us in Heaven, which started by our beloved Prophet Moses telling our blessed Prophet Muhammad peace be upon them to go to God and make it easy for us. Salah is the Prayer and Ritual of the Prophets, and one of the foundations of Islam, Islam is perfecting your Salah.
Islam is the only Religion that befits God's Majesty and Perfection. Every other religion distorts God to some extent. Islam is deliverance from idolatry, Islam is deliverance from worshiping things which can not hear you or benefit you. Islam is the 10 Commandments, the Way of Noah, Moses, Abraham and Jesus, peace be upon them. Islam is the way of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.. never did they associate partners with God. Islam is loving and following all of the Prophets of God, and following the Seal of Prophets, Muhammad the Beloved One of God, peace be upon him and his pure family. Islam is believing in the Holy and Glorious Qur'an, which is the very Speech of the Eternal and Living God. Reciting, reading, listening, and pondering upon the Beauty, Power, Wisdom, and Eloquence of the Qur'an is one of the many blessings and wonders of being a Muslim. The Qur'an is the gateway to God, when we recite it and hear it, we are in the Presence of God through His Speech, in communion with Him.. just as the Prophet Moses was in the Presence of God at the burning bush when hearing God's Holy Speech, so are the Muslims connected to God in His Presence when we interact with the Qur'an, the Preserved Speech and Word of God Almighty, Allah azza wa jal! Every time a Muslim opens the Qur'an and recites it or hearts it, he/she is like Moses hearing the Speech of Allah at the burning bush in the Holy Valley of Tuwa.
Islam is Surrendering to the Will and Laws of God, and by doing such, one will attain Peace.
Islam is the Truth.
Ameen
By brother Adamo/Abdul Wahid
"O Allah, my Lord and my God! O Ever Living and Eternal One! O Most Merciful One! O Most Gracious One! O Most Loving One! O Most Patient One! O Most Kind One! O Most Gentle One! O Most Holy One! O Most Wise and Knowing One! O Almighty and Most High One! You alone are my King! You alone are my God! I bear witness that You are One and without partner! Bless Muhammad, his pure family and companions! O my Lord, Keep me among those who bow down in Submission to Your Will. Bless me and keep me on Your Straight Path, the Path that You have Revealed from Yourself, the Path that You have Favoured, the Path which leads to Your Grace. Preserve me as a Muslim, one who bows down to You in submission and humility, and protect me from joining partners in worship along with You, which is a sin that You have sworn that You will never forgive. O Allah, I thank you for all of the Blessings You have given me. And I thank You for the Greatest Blessing and Mercy that You have bestowed upon me, which is the Bounty of Al-Islam; the Pure Religion, the Straight Path, the True Faith, the Way of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, never did they associate partners with You. O Loving One, make the Qur'an the Light of my life and the Love of my heart, for it is Your Eternal Speech and Word. O Forgiving One! Save me from the Fire and grant me Paradise where I will live with You forever and look upon Your Most Glorious Face. And Bless Your Final Messenger, the one whom You chose to Guide mankind and Reveal the Truth. Bless Muhammad, his pure family and his righteous companions! Truly Lord, You are One, and I submit my face toward You and You alone, and by Your Grace, I am a Muslim."
What Islam means to me..
To me, Islam is the purest of pure, the holiest of holy, the most complete of complete. It is the Way of the entire Universe. The planets, the stars, the sun, the moon, the air, the wind, the seas, the rivers, the trees, the animals, the matter, and the countless number of atoms that make up the Universe.. all submit to the Will, Order, Law, and Design of the Creator of all things. That is Islam. The Way of the Universe, the Universal Law that is Eternal. It is the only religion/faith in which it's name does not come from a person, a place or a thing.. making it completely Universal and un-restricted to any specific place or time in history. Islam is the Religion, Faith, Teaching and Way of all the Prophets, who all brought the same Message to Humanity, which is to worship God alone and attest to His Oneness, His Holiness, His Purity, and His Uniqueness, and to shun the worship of idols and false gods. Islam is a direct Relationship with the Lord of the Universe, without anything or anyone between, just you and your Loving Creator. Islam is Salah, which is the Pillar and Perfection of Deen. Is is the most Perfect, Complete and Spiritually Nourishing Prayer. It is standing before the Presence of God, facing the East towards His Holy Temple/House, it is worshiping Him as He commanded us, as the Prophets did, bowing and prostrating in humbleness and love for Him, praising Him before sunrise, at noon, when the sun is at it's highest, when the sun sets, and when it is dark, constantly remembering Him, praising Him, and seeking His help. It is the Perfect Prayer and Ritual that came from Heaven itself, it is the exact imitation of the worship that the Angels offer up to God in Heaven before His Glorious and Mighty Throne. They are the 5 daily Prayers that were chosen for us in Heaven, which started by our beloved Prophet Moses telling our blessed Prophet Muhammad peace be upon them to go to God and make it easy for us. Salah is the Prayer and Ritual of the Prophets, and one of the foundations of Islam, Islam is perfecting your Salah.
Islam is the only Religion that befits God's Majesty and Perfection. Every other religion distorts God to some extent. Islam is deliverance from idolatry, Islam is deliverance from worshiping things which can not hear you or benefit you. Islam is the 10 Commandments, the Way of Noah, Moses, Abraham and Jesus, peace be upon them. Islam is the way of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.. never did they associate partners with God. Islam is loving and following all of the Prophets of God, and following the Seal of Prophets, Muhammad the Beloved One of God, peace be upon him and his pure family. Islam is believing in the Holy and Glorious Qur'an, which is the very Speech of the Eternal and Living God. Reciting, reading, listening, and pondering upon the Beauty, Power, Wisdom, and Eloquence of the Qur'an is one of the many blessings and wonders of being a Muslim. The Qur'an is the gateway to God, when we recite it and hear it, we are in the Presence of God through His Speech, in communion with Him.. just as the Prophet Moses was in the Presence of God at the burning bush when hearing God's Holy Speech, so are the Muslims connected to God in His Presence when we interact with the Qur'an, the Preserved Speech and Word of God Almighty, Allah azza wa jal! Every time a Muslim opens the Qur'an and recites it or hearts it, he/she is like Moses hearing the Speech of Allah at the burning bush in the Holy Valley of Tuwa.
Islam is Surrendering to the Will and Laws of God, and by doing such, one will attain Peace.
Islam is the Truth.
Ameen
By brother Adamo/Abdul Wahid
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
First Islamic Inscription May Solve Qur'an Question
First Islamic Inscription May Solve Qur'an Question
Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News
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1,300-Year-Old Note | Discovery News Video
Nov. 18, 2008 -- An Arabic traveler who engraved his name on a block of red sandstone over 1,300 years ago may help solve a question about the Qur'an that has vexed historians for hundreds of years: Why was the text seemingly written without diacritical marks?
Diacritical marks, which include accent marks, tildes, umlauts and other notations, help to distinguish one letter from another and aid in pronunciation. When added or removed, they can completely change the meaning of a word or sentence.
Analysis of the recently found sandstone inscription, which predates the earliest known copies of the Qur'an, determined that it reads: "In the name of Allah/ I, Zuhayr, wrote (this) at the time 'Umar died/year four/And twenty."
According to researcher Ali ibn Ibrahim Ghabban, who, with his wife, discovered the 644 A.D. inscription northwest of Saudi Arabia, "It is an immensely important find, since it is our earliest dated Arabic inscription."
Ghabban, a member of the Supreme Commission for Tourism, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, added that it also "shows evidence of a fully-fledged system of diacritical marks."
A paper describing the find appears in the latest issue of the journal Arabian Archaeology and Epigraphy.
Related Content:
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Jennifer Viegas' Blog
HowStuffWorks.com: The Qur'an
Robert Hoyland, a professor of Arabic and Middle East Studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, explained the significance of Ghabban's determination to Discovery News.
"Whether the Qur'an was originally written in a script that contained diacritical marks is very important because Western Qur'an scholars generally say that it wasn't and therefore feel free to make some amendments to the Qur'anic text by changing the diacritical marks to give it a different meaning, which is, of course, very unpopular with modern Muslim scholars and Muslims in general, who mostly feel that the Qur'anic text they use is the original text revealed to Muhammad by God," he said.
Although the earliest Islamic inscription, which is also the world's second oldest evidence for written Arabic, does not include punctuation or vowel marks, it does contain markings to distinguish consonants that are identical in shape. This proves such a marking system was already in place before the earliest known copies of the Qur'an, which date to sometime between 652 and 680 A.D., Hoyland indicated.
Ghabban now believes Muhammad's close associates and early followers "stripped Qur'ans of diacritical marks" in order to permit "Muslims to read the Qur'an as it was revealed to Muhammad in the various dialects of the Arabs, and allowing the skeleton of the word to bear all the meanings which appear in it."
Hoyland added that, "this would mean that Western scholars would have less excuse to change the text as we have it now."
Without diacritical marks, for example, a sentence such as, "I took with my whole hands," can also be interpreted as, "I took with my fingertips."
The first known Islamic inscription, whose carver might have made his own mark while walking down a Syrian pilgrimage road, may solve yet another Arabic history mystery: When did noted Islamic leader Umar ibn al-Khattab die?
According to tradition and other historical accounts, a Persian soldier assassin stabbed Umar in public as the caliph was leading prayers in a mosque. Zuhayr, who may have witnessed the violent crime, recorded that Umar died in "four and twenty," which means 644 A.D.
Monday, November 17, 2008
An e mail response to a woman about abuse in Islam
Living in England,talking about virtues of thrue islam doesnt impress me at all.I was a muslim and I havent converted to any other religion.I`m not advertising any belief or talking behalf of anybody(as muslims claim,like being paid by america,israel..BULLSHIT!).As a women Im simply saying I`ve had it.I dont want to suffer anymore by islam.Instead of preaching us about "what is islam or what is not".Go to the places where Islam rules and see what is islam has done there,what is suffering and preach those wrongdoers who doesnt know islam as much you do.I wish you good luck! And I like to send couple brunch of miswak to one of converted ladies who was preaching about women rights in islam.She can understand what is being beaten by miswak(she thinks man can beat wife with a tootbrush)
Answer:
peace be with you
Thank you for your e mail. I do agree with you on many points. I have travelled to Muslim lands, and I know what you mean. There are many people who have done lots of evil, and women have been marginalized, abused and destroyed. However I would like to say that Islam is not that. Islam does not abuse women. Stupid so called Muslim men abuse women. The prophet Muhammad said: THE BEST AMONGST YOU IS THE BEST TO HIS WIFE.
So those people who beat women are not the best.
People have distorted Islam, and just because a country is called a Muslim country does not mean that there are Muslim rulling it. Look at Libya, look at Saudi, look at Sudan, who rules those so called Muslim countries? Proper God fearing Muslims? No, but corrupt people.
If you study the history of Islam you will find that true Islam existed and insh Allah will come back. People are ignorant, people don't know Islam. In Pakistan (my wife is from there) the mullahs' without knowledge have taken over, very few people of knowledge left. THIS WAS A SIGN OF THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT PROPHESIZED. THE PROPHET SAID THAT TOWARDS THE END OF TIME, KNOWLEDGE WILL BE LIFTED FROM PEOPLE.
You see the treatment of Muslim women as the media shows you as a bad thing. I see it number one as a prophecy, and number two as a big media stunt. Talk to my wife, talk to other sisters not even from the west but from those bad countries in the east, and see if they are abused? I know many, how have God fearing husbands, who treat them like princesses.
As for the tooth brush issue, I dont' agree with that. An I will come very blunt here. I am not an apologetic. The example used by the prophet of the tooth brush was to show that a woman should not be abused or hit hard. So beating a woman with a toothbrush is just not possible. How can you? It's a joke. It was symbolic. However a GOD fearing man who controls his anger, who is sincere a good person, who finds his wife cheating, or gambling or drinking, or doing bad things, leaving her children wihthout provision, stripping in clubs, going with boy frinds out to the bar, drinking herself till she passes out, showing her body to everyone, and acting in porno movies, trying to puke everytime she eats because the stupid movies she is watching are telling her what is beauty and what is not, killing herself wiht drugs (this is what the west is doing to the female gender - while man love to sit back and enjoy the product) well a good God fearing husband should FIRST SEEK HELP, IN TERMS OF TALKING TO HER, ADVISING HER, BEING GENTLE, DOING GOOD TO HER, TRYING TO SOLVE IT OUT. (THERE IS NOT TIME LIMIT FOR THIS) SECOND STEP HE SHOULD CUT SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH HER. HE SHOULD NOT SLEEP WITH HER. (how many husbands can do that. Andn I'm not talking about one day. How many can do that. Yet they jump and beat their wives. They jump from sept 0 to step 3 and leave their wives with a black eye, with a broken head, with broken limbs. Allah will punish them and trow them in hell if they dont' stop.) AND IF TALKING NICE AND TRYING TO FIND A PEACEFUL SOLUTION DOES NOT WORK, AND STAYING AWAY FROM HER SEXUALLY DOES NOT WORK, SHE STILL DOES DRUGS, SHE STILL IS EVEIL, SHE STILL STRIPS, SHE LETS THE KIDS ALMOST DIE, SHE SLEEPS WITH ANOTHER MAN, SHE KEEPS TROWHIGN OUT THE FAMILY MONEY AT THE PUB, IN THE CASION, AT STRIP CLUBS, THEN THE TRIRD STEP IS THAT HE WITH FEAR OF GOD, NOT OUT OF ANGER, BUT OUT OF GOD'S ORDER, HE CAN HIT HER AND MAKE HER REALIZE THAT SUCH CRAP IS NOT TOLERATED, AND HE PUTS FEAR IN HER, WITH HOPE THAT SHE WILL WAKE UP AT LEAST IF NOT OUT OF LOVE FOR HIM AND FEAR OF GOD, AT LEAST OUT OF FEAR OF HIM. A parent loves his child but sometimes he slaps his or her but when words dont' sink in, and we all know that that slap kept us out of trouble many times.
ONE HUGE POINT HERE IS THAT HE THE HUSBAND IS NOT ALLOWED TO HIT THE FACE. THE PROPHET SAID THAT HITTING ANYONE IN THE FACE IS A SIN.
So there you have it. I say things as they are, I don't apologize and I don't like when people sugar coat things. O HIT ME WITH A TOOTHBRUSH. IT WILL NOT HURT ME. THAT'S GARBAGE.
But having the correct knowledge of what Islam is and what it allows and what it's not, is the difference between heaven and hell.
I pray that you look into the truth of Islam and not the stupid actions of some people who are astray maximized by stupid media, and hypocrites who call themselves Muslims.
I am a Muslim and I'm proud of it and I hope to die defending the truth of it, even against those who have messed YOU my sister up.
I pray for you and for the healing of your heart. I pray that Al Waddud (The Most Loving - one of Allahs names) will shower you with His love and mercy and heal your scars. I feel like crying when I get e mails like this, and I tell you I do get them quite often.
You take care
I hope to hear from you
peace
Answer:
peace be with you
Thank you for your e mail. I do agree with you on many points. I have travelled to Muslim lands, and I know what you mean. There are many people who have done lots of evil, and women have been marginalized, abused and destroyed. However I would like to say that Islam is not that. Islam does not abuse women. Stupid so called Muslim men abuse women. The prophet Muhammad said: THE BEST AMONGST YOU IS THE BEST TO HIS WIFE.
So those people who beat women are not the best.
People have distorted Islam, and just because a country is called a Muslim country does not mean that there are Muslim rulling it. Look at Libya, look at Saudi, look at Sudan, who rules those so called Muslim countries? Proper God fearing Muslims? No, but corrupt people.
If you study the history of Islam you will find that true Islam existed and insh Allah will come back. People are ignorant, people don't know Islam. In Pakistan (my wife is from there) the mullahs' without knowledge have taken over, very few people of knowledge left. THIS WAS A SIGN OF THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT PROPHESIZED. THE PROPHET SAID THAT TOWARDS THE END OF TIME, KNOWLEDGE WILL BE LIFTED FROM PEOPLE.
You see the treatment of Muslim women as the media shows you as a bad thing. I see it number one as a prophecy, and number two as a big media stunt. Talk to my wife, talk to other sisters not even from the west but from those bad countries in the east, and see if they are abused? I know many, how have God fearing husbands, who treat them like princesses.
As for the tooth brush issue, I dont' agree with that. An I will come very blunt here. I am not an apologetic. The example used by the prophet of the tooth brush was to show that a woman should not be abused or hit hard. So beating a woman with a toothbrush is just not possible. How can you? It's a joke. It was symbolic. However a GOD fearing man who controls his anger, who is sincere a good person, who finds his wife cheating, or gambling or drinking, or doing bad things, leaving her children wihthout provision, stripping in clubs, going with boy frinds out to the bar, drinking herself till she passes out, showing her body to everyone, and acting in porno movies, trying to puke everytime she eats because the stupid movies she is watching are telling her what is beauty and what is not, killing herself wiht drugs (this is what the west is doing to the female gender - while man love to sit back and enjoy the product) well a good God fearing husband should FIRST SEEK HELP, IN TERMS OF TALKING TO HER, ADVISING HER, BEING GENTLE, DOING GOOD TO HER, TRYING TO SOLVE IT OUT. (THERE IS NOT TIME LIMIT FOR THIS) SECOND STEP HE SHOULD CUT SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH HER. HE SHOULD NOT SLEEP WITH HER. (how many husbands can do that. Andn I'm not talking about one day. How many can do that. Yet they jump and beat their wives. They jump from sept 0 to step 3 and leave their wives with a black eye, with a broken head, with broken limbs. Allah will punish them and trow them in hell if they dont' stop.) AND IF TALKING NICE AND TRYING TO FIND A PEACEFUL SOLUTION DOES NOT WORK, AND STAYING AWAY FROM HER SEXUALLY DOES NOT WORK, SHE STILL DOES DRUGS, SHE STILL IS EVEIL, SHE STILL STRIPS, SHE LETS THE KIDS ALMOST DIE, SHE SLEEPS WITH ANOTHER MAN, SHE KEEPS TROWHIGN OUT THE FAMILY MONEY AT THE PUB, IN THE CASION, AT STRIP CLUBS, THEN THE TRIRD STEP IS THAT HE WITH FEAR OF GOD, NOT OUT OF ANGER, BUT OUT OF GOD'S ORDER, HE CAN HIT HER AND MAKE HER REALIZE THAT SUCH CRAP IS NOT TOLERATED, AND HE PUTS FEAR IN HER, WITH HOPE THAT SHE WILL WAKE UP AT LEAST IF NOT OUT OF LOVE FOR HIM AND FEAR OF GOD, AT LEAST OUT OF FEAR OF HIM. A parent loves his child but sometimes he slaps his or her but when words dont' sink in, and we all know that that slap kept us out of trouble many times.
ONE HUGE POINT HERE IS THAT HE THE HUSBAND IS NOT ALLOWED TO HIT THE FACE. THE PROPHET SAID THAT HITTING ANYONE IN THE FACE IS A SIN.
So there you have it. I say things as they are, I don't apologize and I don't like when people sugar coat things. O HIT ME WITH A TOOTHBRUSH. IT WILL NOT HURT ME. THAT'S GARBAGE.
But having the correct knowledge of what Islam is and what it allows and what it's not, is the difference between heaven and hell.
I pray that you look into the truth of Islam and not the stupid actions of some people who are astray maximized by stupid media, and hypocrites who call themselves Muslims.
I am a Muslim and I'm proud of it and I hope to die defending the truth of it, even against those who have messed YOU my sister up.
I pray for you and for the healing of your heart. I pray that Al Waddud (The Most Loving - one of Allahs names) will shower you with His love and mercy and heal your scars. I feel like crying when I get e mails like this, and I tell you I do get them quite often.
You take care
I hope to hear from you
peace
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Legal age for marriage - was prophet Muhammad A pedophile
This is a video made by a non muslim (Largo64) who explains how the things were decades or a century ago, marrying young girls was something permissible at that time.
His grandmother married at the age of 14 when his granfather was much more older than her.
He wishes that nobody accused his granfather of pedophilia when it was something moral and ethical less than a century ago in USA.
Ps: My grandmother got married at the age of 10 and she was pregnant at the age of 11 my grandfather was 23!!!!
NOBODY ACCUSED MY GRANFATHER FOR BEING A PEDOPHILE or a child molester in Michigan 89 years ago lol
please check my videos later I will make a video with reliable sources showing the age of consent in most of the states in the USA during the 20th century (exemple: For DELAWARE IT WAS ONLY 7) hahahaha
I will call it AMERICA PROMOTING PEDOPHILIA?
http://womhist.alexanderstreet.com/te...
In the late nineteenth century,"Age of consent" referred to the legal age at which a girl could consent to sexual relations. Men who engaged in sexual relations with girls who had not reached the age of consent could be criminally prosecuted. American reformers were shocked to discover that the laws of most states set the age of consent at the age of ten or twelve, and in one state, Delaware, the age of consent was only seven. Women reformers and advocates of social purity initiated a campaign in 1885 to petition legislators to raise the legal age of consent to at least sixteen, although their ultimate goal was to raise the age to eighteen. The campaign was eventually quite successful; by 1920, almost all states had raised the age of consent to sixteen or eighteen.
"Girl, you'll be a woman sooner than expected"
GOOGLE IF IT ISN T WORKING
By Susan Brink, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
January 21, 2008
http://www.latimes.com/features/healt...,0,892400.story
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_c...
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/grow/bo...
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcom...
http://www.medem.com/search/article_d...
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/...
http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/polls/...
http://scienceroll.com/2006/12/09/the...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,202601,00.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/45...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/453...
http://listlva.lib.va.us/cgi-bin/wa.e...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/talking_p...
http://womhist.alexanderstreet.com/te...
His grandmother married at the age of 14 when his granfather was much more older than her.
He wishes that nobody accused his granfather of pedophilia when it was something moral and ethical less than a century ago in USA.
Ps: My grandmother got married at the age of 10 and she was pregnant at the age of 11 my grandfather was 23!!!!
NOBODY ACCUSED MY GRANFATHER FOR BEING A PEDOPHILE or a child molester in Michigan 89 years ago lol
please check my videos later I will make a video with reliable sources showing the age of consent in most of the states in the USA during the 20th century (exemple: For DELAWARE IT WAS ONLY 7) hahahaha
I will call it AMERICA PROMOTING PEDOPHILIA?
http://womhist.alexanderstreet.com/te...
In the late nineteenth century,"Age of consent" referred to the legal age at which a girl could consent to sexual relations. Men who engaged in sexual relations with girls who had not reached the age of consent could be criminally prosecuted. American reformers were shocked to discover that the laws of most states set the age of consent at the age of ten or twelve, and in one state, Delaware, the age of consent was only seven. Women reformers and advocates of social purity initiated a campaign in 1885 to petition legislators to raise the legal age of consent to at least sixteen, although their ultimate goal was to raise the age to eighteen. The campaign was eventually quite successful; by 1920, almost all states had raised the age of consent to sixteen or eighteen.
"Girl, you'll be a woman sooner than expected"
GOOGLE IF IT ISN T WORKING
By Susan Brink, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
January 21, 2008
http://www.latimes.com/features/healt...,0,892400.story
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_c...
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/grow/bo...
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welcom...
http://www.medem.com/search/article_d...
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/...
http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/polls/...
http://scienceroll.com/2006/12/09/the...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,202601,00.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/45...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/453...
http://listlva.lib.va.us/cgi-bin/wa.e...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/talking_p...
http://womhist.alexanderstreet.com/te...
Friday, November 7, 2008
Barak Obama's promises
Ok brothers and sisters, here are the US new president's promises. Ten great points that might improve the world situation, insh Allah. But is he up to his word? We have to wait and see.
and here are 10 key campaign promises made by Barack Obama, you can see his full platform here http://www.barackobama.com/issues/:
Reduce the US's carbon emissions 80% by 2050 and play a strong positive role in negotiating a binding global treaty to replace the expiring Kyoto Protocol
Withdraw all combat troops from Iraq within 16 months and keep no permanent bases in the country
Establish a clear goal of eliminating all nuclear weapons across the globe
Close the Guantanamo Bay detention center
Double US aid to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015 and accelerate the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculoses and Malaria
Open diplomatic talks with countries like Iran and Syria, to pursue peaceful resolution of tensions
De-politicize military intelligence to avoid ever repeating the kind of manipulation that led the US into Iraq
Launch a major diplomatic effort to stop the killings in Darfur
Only negotiate new trade agreements that contain labor and environmental protections
Invest $150 billion over ten years to support renewable energy and get 1 million plug-in electric cars on the road by 2015
-------------------------------------
and here are 10 key campaign promises made by Barack Obama, you can see his full platform here http://www.barackobama.com/issues/:
Reduce the US's carbon emissions 80% by 2050 and play a strong positive role in negotiating a binding global treaty to replace the expiring Kyoto Protocol
Withdraw all combat troops from Iraq within 16 months and keep no permanent bases in the country
Establish a clear goal of eliminating all nuclear weapons across the globe
Close the Guantanamo Bay detention center
Double US aid to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015 and accelerate the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculoses and Malaria
Open diplomatic talks with countries like Iran and Syria, to pursue peaceful resolution of tensions
De-politicize military intelligence to avoid ever repeating the kind of manipulation that led the US into Iraq
Launch a major diplomatic effort to stop the killings in Darfur
Only negotiate new trade agreements that contain labor and environmental protections
Invest $150 billion over ten years to support renewable energy and get 1 million plug-in electric cars on the road by 2015
-------------------------------------
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Age of consent for a woman to have sex or marry in western 18th century
That is not to far from us, yet they always bring up the marriage of the prophet to Aisha.
Introduction
In the late nineteenth century,"Age of consent" referred to the legal age at which a girl could consent to sexual relations. Men who engaged in sexual relations with girls who had not reached the age of consent could be criminally prosecuted. American reformers were shocked to discover that the laws of most states set the age of consent at the age of ten or twelve, and in one state, Delaware, the age of consent was only seven. Women reformers and advocates of social purity initiated a campaign in 1885 to petition legislators to raise the legal age of consent to at least sixteen, although their ultimate goal was to raise the age to eighteen. The campaign was eventually quite successful; by 1920, almost all states had raised the age of consent to sixteen or eighteen.
Introduction
In the late nineteenth century,"Age of consent" referred to the legal age at which a girl could consent to sexual relations. Men who engaged in sexual relations with girls who had not reached the age of consent could be criminally prosecuted. American reformers were shocked to discover that the laws of most states set the age of consent at the age of ten or twelve, and in one state, Delaware, the age of consent was only seven. Women reformers and advocates of social purity initiated a campaign in 1885 to petition legislators to raise the legal age of consent to at least sixteen, although their ultimate goal was to raise the age to eighteen. The campaign was eventually quite successful; by 1920, almost all states had raised the age of consent to sixteen or eighteen.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Love of Allah
Yet of mankind are some who take unto themselves (objects of worship which they set as) rivals to Allah, loving them with a love like (that which is the due) of Allah (only) - those who believe are stauncher in their love for Allah - Oh, that those who do evil had but known, (on the day) when they behold the doom, that power belongeth wholly to Allah, and that Allah is severe in punishment!
( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #165)
What is the most important thing in your life? Think about it right now. What do you love the most? What would you give your life for? What would you leave your family for? Who is the one who is in your heart all the time, remembering?
For me it is Allah swt. I love Allah with all my heart and soul. I would hat to live a life that is deprived of Allah's remembrance, His love, His mercy and compassion. No matter what happens, loving Alalh is what keeps me going.
As Muslims our deen is under attack by missionaries left and right. They say: Islam does not love, there is no love in Islam, it's all hate and hell and blood. But what more ignorant of statement than that? Allah's name is Al Waddud. The Loving, the One who Loves, the best love. He loves you and I if we love Him. He loves us if we repent to Him, He loves us if we listen to him. It is the love, the special love the love that only believers receive. Allah does care about all His creatures however the believer and non believer are not loved the same. Why? Because in Islam there is a fine line between evil and good. Good is rewarded, evil is punished. God is loved, evil is hated. People keep claiming that they love God, yet they do not demonstrate it. How can someone claim that they love God, and they disobey Him day and night. How come? Do you love God? Then obey Him.
Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
( سورة آل عمران , Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #31)
I leave you with a beautiful Hadith and I want you to concentrate on the last part, the part about love. The prayer that the prophet makes to Allah, about love.
Narrated Mu’adh ibn Jabal Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) was detained one morning from observing the dawn prayer (in congregation) along with us till the sun had almost appeared on the horizon. He then came out hurriedly and Iqamah for prayer was observed and he conducted it (prayer) in brief form. When he had concluded the prayer by saying As-salamu alaykum wa Rahmatullah, he called out to us saying: Remain in your places as you were. Then turning to us he said: I am going to tell you what detained me from you (on account of which I could not join you in the prayer) in the morning. I got up in the night and performed ablution and observed the prayer as had been ordained for me. I dozed in my prayer till I was overcome by (sleep) and lo, I found myself in the presence of my Lord, the Blessed and the Glorious, IN THE BEST FORM. He said: Muhammad! I said: At Thy service, my Lord. He said: What these highest angels contend about? I said: I do not know. He repeated it thrice. He said: Then I saw Him put HIS PALMS between my shoulder blades till I felt the coldness of HIS FINGERS between the two sides of my chest. Then everything was illuminated for me and I could recognize everything. He said: Muhammad! I said: At Thy service, my Lord. He said: What do these high angels contend about? I said: In regard to expiations. He said: What are these? I said: Going on foot to join congregational prayers, sitting in the mosques after the prayers, performing ablution well despite difficulties. He again said: Then what do they contend? I said: In regard to the ranks. He said: What are these? I said: Providing of food, speaking gently, observing the prayer when the people are asleep. He again said to me: Beg (Your Lord) and say: O Allah, I beg of Thee (power) to do good deeds, and abandon abominable deeds, to love the poor, that Thou forgive me and show mercy to me and when Thou intendst to put people to trial Thou causes me to die unblemished and I beg of Thee Thy love and the love of one who loves Thee and the love for the deed which brings me near to Thy love. Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: It is a truth, so learn it and teach it. Transmitted by Ahmad, Tirmidhi who said: This is a hasan sahih hadith and I asked Muhammad ibn Isma'il about this hadith and he said: It is a sahih hadith. (Tirmidhi Hadith, Number 245; ALIM CD-ROM Version)
So love one another brothers and sisters. The prophet said you will not believe until you love one another. Love one another, don't hate each other. Spread the salams, spread the peace.
( سورة البقرة , Al-Baqara, Chapter #2, Verse #165)
What is the most important thing in your life? Think about it right now. What do you love the most? What would you give your life for? What would you leave your family for? Who is the one who is in your heart all the time, remembering?
For me it is Allah swt. I love Allah with all my heart and soul. I would hat to live a life that is deprived of Allah's remembrance, His love, His mercy and compassion. No matter what happens, loving Alalh is what keeps me going.
As Muslims our deen is under attack by missionaries left and right. They say: Islam does not love, there is no love in Islam, it's all hate and hell and blood. But what more ignorant of statement than that? Allah's name is Al Waddud. The Loving, the One who Loves, the best love. He loves you and I if we love Him. He loves us if we repent to Him, He loves us if we listen to him. It is the love, the special love the love that only believers receive. Allah does care about all His creatures however the believer and non believer are not loved the same. Why? Because in Islam there is a fine line between evil and good. Good is rewarded, evil is punished. God is loved, evil is hated. People keep claiming that they love God, yet they do not demonstrate it. How can someone claim that they love God, and they disobey Him day and night. How come? Do you love God? Then obey Him.
Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
( سورة آل عمران , Aal-e-Imran, Chapter #3, Verse #31)
I leave you with a beautiful Hadith and I want you to concentrate on the last part, the part about love. The prayer that the prophet makes to Allah, about love.
Narrated Mu’adh ibn Jabal Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) was detained one morning from observing the dawn prayer (in congregation) along with us till the sun had almost appeared on the horizon. He then came out hurriedly and Iqamah for prayer was observed and he conducted it (prayer) in brief form. When he had concluded the prayer by saying As-salamu alaykum wa Rahmatullah, he called out to us saying: Remain in your places as you were. Then turning to us he said: I am going to tell you what detained me from you (on account of which I could not join you in the prayer) in the morning. I got up in the night and performed ablution and observed the prayer as had been ordained for me. I dozed in my prayer till I was overcome by (sleep) and lo, I found myself in the presence of my Lord, the Blessed and the Glorious, IN THE BEST FORM. He said: Muhammad! I said: At Thy service, my Lord. He said: What these highest angels contend about? I said: I do not know. He repeated it thrice. He said: Then I saw Him put HIS PALMS between my shoulder blades till I felt the coldness of HIS FINGERS between the two sides of my chest. Then everything was illuminated for me and I could recognize everything. He said: Muhammad! I said: At Thy service, my Lord. He said: What do these high angels contend about? I said: In regard to expiations. He said: What are these? I said: Going on foot to join congregational prayers, sitting in the mosques after the prayers, performing ablution well despite difficulties. He again said: Then what do they contend? I said: In regard to the ranks. He said: What are these? I said: Providing of food, speaking gently, observing the prayer when the people are asleep. He again said to me: Beg (Your Lord) and say: O Allah, I beg of Thee (power) to do good deeds, and abandon abominable deeds, to love the poor, that Thou forgive me and show mercy to me and when Thou intendst to put people to trial Thou causes me to die unblemished and I beg of Thee Thy love and the love of one who loves Thee and the love for the deed which brings me near to Thy love. Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: It is a truth, so learn it and teach it. Transmitted by Ahmad, Tirmidhi who said: This is a hasan sahih hadith and I asked Muhammad ibn Isma'il about this hadith and he said: It is a sahih hadith. (Tirmidhi Hadith, Number 245; ALIM CD-ROM Version)
So love one another brothers and sisters. The prophet said you will not believe until you love one another. Love one another, don't hate each other. Spread the salams, spread the peace.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Should it matter what color Jesus was?
The truth is YES, it should, not because of the color but because of what happened to people of his color and what happened in the first place when Jesus was depicted as being white. Just like Christmas, the date is false, the event is false, but they say: HEY IT'S THE SPIRIT THAT MATTERS. What happened to people is that they don't want truth anymore, all they care is about the spirit, wile the spirit is leading them astray. I wonder which spirit that is? Maybe Satan?
Friday, October 31, 2008
What kids see, they do.. amazing
This commercial really says it all. I think all of us, especially parents have to be aware of this. Our children look at us for examples. They learn from us. Vygotsky came up with a theory called socio-constructivist theory which says that humans learn while they interact with their peers.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Anti Islamic lectures in Windsor (this is an older one, but I found the picture now)
Anti-Islamic lecture cancelled by church
Pastor defends actions to standing-room only audience
Dalson Chen, Windsor Star
Published: Friday, January 19, 2007
A Windsor church that drew heated criticism last week for hosting the anti-Islamic lecture of a purported former Muslim terrorist cancelled his second speech Thursday night to give the church's embattled leader a chance to defend himself.
"First and foremost, I am a Christian," proclaimed Pastor Donald McKay before a capacity crowd at Campbell Baptist Church.
"As a Christian, I am also under a very heavy mandate to do my part in defending this great country of ours -- this dominion of Canada -- from any attacks, either overt or incipient," he said."
Zachariah Anani speaks to 23-year-old Windsor Muslim Gabriel Keresztes at Campbell Baptist Church Jan. 18, 2007.
Jason Kryk, Windsor Star
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McKay said he stands in defence of Canadian liberties, freedoms, "our Canadian way of life" and "our values" and promised to "jealously guard these things from being overtaken, from being overthrown."
Controversy has dogged the church since Jan. 11, when McKay arranged a lecture by 49-year-old Lebanon-native Zachariah Anani -- billed as a man who had "killed hundreds of people in the name of Allah" before converting to Christianity.
Under the title The Deadly Threat of Islam, Anani accused Islamic doctrine of advocating violence against non-believers, especially Christians and Jews. McKay himself described Islamic doctrine as "vicious" and "oppressive," and warned of its spread in Windsor.
The second lecture of the series was scheduled under the title Could Jihad Be Coming to Your Neighbourhood?
But on Thursday night, McKay announced that Anani would not speak as planned, citing "distressing comments made in the media about his citizenship."
"We certainly would not want to put his citizenship or any other person's citizenship -- Canadian citizenship -- in jeopardy," McKay said.
Instead of Anani's speech, McKay launched into a sermon on the Christian faith.
In speaking of jihad, McKay recited a list of attacks made by Islamic terrorists in the last 25 years. "There is a militant form of jihad that all Canadians -- irrespective of ethnicity, irrespective of their background -- should be concerned about."
But McKay followed by stating his focus as the "internal kind" of jihad, and the nature of man as a sinner.
"There's a lot of things we could talk about tonight," McKay said. "The issues that are ultimately important in life are spiritual issues, and eternal issues."
No question period followed McKay's sermon, and he quickly exited the hall after ending the meeting.
The change in format surprised the audience of around 550 people.
"I wanted to listen to this bad guy who created this mess," said Windsor Muslim Saeeb Chaudhary, 53. "Where's he at? Everyone has a question."
Mustafa Omar, 30, said he was left unsatisfied by the event. "I thought there was going to be some discussion, OK?" he said. "So (McKay) said what he had to say and he muted everybody by leaving. We can't talk to the wall."
But Gabriel Keresztes, a Muslim convert who attended last week's lecture, said he wasn't disappointed by the cancellation. "Everyone wanted peace. That's all we wanted," said the 23-year-old Windsor resident.
"God knows what their intentions were from the beginning. I don't think they accomplished what they wanted because the Windsor community is united." Keresztes said. "God knows best."
Anti-Islamic lecture cancelled by church
Pastor defends actions to standing-room only audience
Dalson Chen, Windsor Star
Published: Friday, January 19, 2007
For more than an hour after the sermon, scores of people continued to debate about the Christian and Muslim faiths in clusters throughout the church.
"That's what discussion should be like," Keresztes said. "Gentle, intellectual."
Although he made no speech, Anani fielded questions from members of the public in an impromptu circle in one the church's back rooms.
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Anani said he doesn't see the change in format as a concession to critics. "Not at all," he said. "I would never back down. In 32 years up until now, I have never backed down, and I never will."
According to Anani, he agreed not to lecture in order to give McKay a platform to "correct" what has been said about him. "He was attacked viciously, so he has a right to answer to that."
Asked about the future of the lecture series, which was to include a speech Jan. 25 entitled Why the Islamic Faith is Indefensible, McKay was non-committal. "People will just have to come and see."
Protesters stationed themselves outside the church before the event. Tory James carried a placard with the words "Be afraid.... Be very afraid of bigots."
James said "it goes without saying" that the lecture series preached bigotry. "It's bigotry of the highest order."
© The Winds
Monday, October 27, 2008
Open house at our mosque
Muslims reach out
Monica Wolfson, Windsor Star
Published: Monday, October 27, 2008
An open house at the Windsor Mosque on the weekend provided the public with a look at Islamic culture.
"(Muslims) are no longer just over the Atlantic," said Abdelkader Tayebi, a member of the Windsor Islamic Association's board of directors.
"They are your neighbours, your physician. About (one-fifth) of the doctors in Essex County are Muslim. The issue isn't the number, it's that they are part of the local fabric."
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ISLAMIC CULTURE: The Windsor Islamic Association held an open house on the weekend, celebrating Canadian Islamic History Month. Gabriel Keresztes, left, who embraced Islam five years ago, and Abdelkader Tayebi, a member of the board of directors, discuss display material at the mosque.
Scott Webster, The Windsor Star
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Gabriel Keresztes's deep love for God drew him to the Islamic faith. He "reverted" to the religion five years ago.
Tarik Baalbaki, an Islamic association volunteer, said the term "revert" is in reference to someone who takes up the Muslim faith after being gone for a while. Since Baalbaki believes everyone is born a Muslim, when they come back to the faith, they are reverting.
"When I was in high school, I would take books from the library and read about Islam," Keresztes said. "The more I learned, the more (I was drawn to it). There is God in each religion. They all bring the same message."
In the mosque there were displays of local and nationally renowned Muslim artists, fabrics representing the different styles of dress, posters explaining the history of Islam and it's stand on war and peace. A table was laden with Middle Eastern delicacies including humus, samosas and vegetable-stuffed grape leaves.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Christians Hand Out Pro-Christian, Anti-Muslim Pamphlets in School
Tuesday February 27, 2007
A teacher at Enloe High School in Wake County, N.C., invited a representative of the Kamil International Ministries Organization to address a class. At this time, the representative handed out literature that promoted Christianity while attacking Islam and Muslims. Does this sound like something appropriate for an official school lecture?
"First of all, it slanders, things like, Mohammed is a 'criminal,' is 'demon possessed' ... that just made my blood boil," said Triaq Butte, whose daughter, Saira, participated in a ninth grade orientation seminar... Butte is a non-practicing Muslim; he said his wife is Christian and his children are taught to accept and respect all religions. "So for a person like me to feel like that — I've never been to a mosque — to feel like that … for me to feel such hideous attacks, they were not just pointing out failures or weaknesses in Islam or Muslims, they were just attacking." ...
Among the materials handed out was a pamphlet called "Jesus not Muhammad," as well as one entitled, "Do Not Marry a Muslim Man." The latter pamphlet compares parts of the Koran with those of the Bible...
It warns women not to be lured into marrying a Muslim, even for his "dark good looks, education, financial means, and the interest he shows in you."
"You may be excited that you found the 'tall, dark, and handsome man' you have been looking for. His sweet words and attention may blind you regarding the power, importance, and influence of his culture and Islamic faith," the pamphlet says. "Because in the United States, we have freedom of religion, he may agree that you can remain a Christian and you may think there will be no problem with such a marriage. But do not be fooled and become a victim of his religion, Islam, which has very oppressive rules regarding women's status and rights. Such marriages will never be out of trouble."
Source: Fox News
The principal has acknowledged that the presentation was "inappropriate," but also seems to insist that the school is dedicated to the "exchange of ideas" — as if bigotry and hate were merely an "idea" that should be exchanged in school. Free speech is important, of course, but schools have an obligation not to become platforms for bigots to practice their craft and increase their numbers. There also isn't any "free speech" protection for government officials to invite someone to promote their religion to other people's children.
It's difficult to imagine that the teacher had absolutely no idea what would happen, but even if they did they must be held responsible for what happened — and for not stopping things as soon as it was clear what was going on. This teacher, and arguably the entire school, fell down on their responsibility to the students by favoring a bigoted version of Christianity.
Representatives of Muslim organizations ask what a Muslim student must have felt sitting there, but what about other non-Christians? The message being sent wasn't simply that Islam was disfavored and Muslims are inferior, but that Christianity is favored and Christians are superior. How should Jewish, Buddhist, or atheist students react to such a situation? Do these students need to be told that Christianity is favored by their school and teacher? Do they need to wonder if perhaps they will be next for denigration after they are finished with Islam?
A teacher at Enloe High School in Wake County, N.C., invited a representative of the Kamil International Ministries Organization to address a class. At this time, the representative handed out literature that promoted Christianity while attacking Islam and Muslims. Does this sound like something appropriate for an official school lecture?
"First of all, it slanders, things like, Mohammed is a 'criminal,' is 'demon possessed' ... that just made my blood boil," said Triaq Butte, whose daughter, Saira, participated in a ninth grade orientation seminar... Butte is a non-practicing Muslim; he said his wife is Christian and his children are taught to accept and respect all religions. "So for a person like me to feel like that — I've never been to a mosque — to feel like that … for me to feel such hideous attacks, they were not just pointing out failures or weaknesses in Islam or Muslims, they were just attacking." ...
Among the materials handed out was a pamphlet called "Jesus not Muhammad," as well as one entitled, "Do Not Marry a Muslim Man." The latter pamphlet compares parts of the Koran with those of the Bible...
It warns women not to be lured into marrying a Muslim, even for his "dark good looks, education, financial means, and the interest he shows in you."
"You may be excited that you found the 'tall, dark, and handsome man' you have been looking for. His sweet words and attention may blind you regarding the power, importance, and influence of his culture and Islamic faith," the pamphlet says. "Because in the United States, we have freedom of religion, he may agree that you can remain a Christian and you may think there will be no problem with such a marriage. But do not be fooled and become a victim of his religion, Islam, which has very oppressive rules regarding women's status and rights. Such marriages will never be out of trouble."
Source: Fox News
The principal has acknowledged that the presentation was "inappropriate," but also seems to insist that the school is dedicated to the "exchange of ideas" — as if bigotry and hate were merely an "idea" that should be exchanged in school. Free speech is important, of course, but schools have an obligation not to become platforms for bigots to practice their craft and increase their numbers. There also isn't any "free speech" protection for government officials to invite someone to promote their religion to other people's children.
It's difficult to imagine that the teacher had absolutely no idea what would happen, but even if they did they must be held responsible for what happened — and for not stopping things as soon as it was clear what was going on. This teacher, and arguably the entire school, fell down on their responsibility to the students by favoring a bigoted version of Christianity.
Representatives of Muslim organizations ask what a Muslim student must have felt sitting there, but what about other non-Christians? The message being sent wasn't simply that Islam was disfavored and Muslims are inferior, but that Christianity is favored and Christians are superior. How should Jewish, Buddhist, or atheist students react to such a situation? Do these students need to be told that Christianity is favored by their school and teacher? Do they need to wonder if perhaps they will be next for denigration after they are finished with Islam?
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
My trip to Romania part 3
Salamo Aleikum
I know I did not write about this topic for some time however here it continues:
The weather in Romania was very nice, and hot. We went to town a few times my wife and I and you should have seen the looks. My wife got very mad at a certain point and she would jokingly say "i'm gonna punch the next person who stops and gives me a look". The looks she talked about was not your average stare, it was more like STOP, TURN, FROWN, LOOK, SHAKE HEAD.
We looked strange, for most people were naked and we were dressed. I wore my curta so my wife is not the only one who looks different. It was kind of nice though, because our daughter Maryam was taking heat off, because she is cute and people would regain their vision after staring at us, and look at her and they would begin to smile. So that was nice.
I did see a Muslim sister in the town, well actually two. I was really happy and amazed. My wife was also happy. My uncle told me that there are quite a few Muslims in town mostly of Turkish origin.
We did not wait to see more, we actually embarked on a trip to a nearby city to visit a masjid. It was great. We arrived there, and we could not find it at first, only to be told that we passed by it. The building did not look like a typical masjid. Once inside it felt like home. We were welcomed by a few brothers and we spoke to the imam. We also got some islamic literature in Romanian language, and of course we returned the next Friday for jumah. It was a great experience to hear a khutbah in Romanian. I also met a convert brother there, his name was Robert. May Allah bless him.
We met another Muslim family when we went to the mountains. That was also a great experience. It shows that Muslims are everywhere and if we were to do our job properly more people should have been Muslims by now. We ask Allah to forgive us for our shortcomings.
I know I did not write about this topic for some time however here it continues:
The weather in Romania was very nice, and hot. We went to town a few times my wife and I and you should have seen the looks. My wife got very mad at a certain point and she would jokingly say "i'm gonna punch the next person who stops and gives me a look". The looks she talked about was not your average stare, it was more like STOP, TURN, FROWN, LOOK, SHAKE HEAD.
We looked strange, for most people were naked and we were dressed. I wore my curta so my wife is not the only one who looks different. It was kind of nice though, because our daughter Maryam was taking heat off, because she is cute and people would regain their vision after staring at us, and look at her and they would begin to smile. So that was nice.
I did see a Muslim sister in the town, well actually two. I was really happy and amazed. My wife was also happy. My uncle told me that there are quite a few Muslims in town mostly of Turkish origin.
We did not wait to see more, we actually embarked on a trip to a nearby city to visit a masjid. It was great. We arrived there, and we could not find it at first, only to be told that we passed by it. The building did not look like a typical masjid. Once inside it felt like home. We were welcomed by a few brothers and we spoke to the imam. We also got some islamic literature in Romanian language, and of course we returned the next Friday for jumah. It was a great experience to hear a khutbah in Romanian. I also met a convert brother there, his name was Robert. May Allah bless him.
We met another Muslim family when we went to the mountains. That was also a great experience. It shows that Muslims are everywhere and if we were to do our job properly more people should have been Muslims by now. We ask Allah to forgive us for our shortcomings.
Things really change in half a century
SCHOOL -- 1957 vs. 2007
Scenario: Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun,
goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail
and ! never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in
for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins.
Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark.
Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario: Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.
1957 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal.
Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zo! mbie.
Tested for ADD. School gets extra money from sta te
because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal,
goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse.
Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang.
State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers
being abused herself and their dad goes to prison.
Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.
Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 - Mark shares aspirin with Principal out on the smo king dock.
2007 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations.
Car searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.
1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state.
Newspaper articles appear nationally
explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist.
ACLU files class action lawsuit against ! state school system
and Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum.
&n bsp; Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up
mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.
1957 - Ants die.
! 2007- BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called.
Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents,
siblings removed from home, comput ers confiscated,
Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list
and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job.
She faces 3 years in State Prison.
&nbs p; Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.
Scenario: Jack goes quail hunting before school, pulls into school parking lot with shotgun in gun rack.
1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun,
goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail
and ! never sees his truck or gun again. Counselors called in
for traumatized students and teachers.
Scenario: Johnny and Mark get into a fistfight after school.
1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins.
Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police called, SWAT team arrives, arrests Johnny and Mark.
Charge them with assault, both expelled even though Johnny started it.
Scenario: Jeffrey won't be still in class, disrupts other students.
1957 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling by the Principal.
Returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes a zo! mbie.
Tested for ADD. School gets extra money from sta te
because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario: Billy breaks a window in his neighbor's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal,
goes to college, and becomes a successful businessman.
2007 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse.
Billy removed to foster care and joins a gang.
State psychologist tells Billy's sister that she remembers
being abused herself and their dad goes to prison.
Billy's mom has affair with psychologist.
Scenario: Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school.
1957 - Mark shares aspirin with Principal out on the smo king dock.
2007 - Police called, Mark expelled from school for drug violations.
Car searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario: Pedro fails high school English.
1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college.
2007 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state.
Newspaper articles appear nationally
explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist.
ACLU files class action lawsuit against ! state school system
and Pedro's English teacher. English banned from core curriculum.
&n bsp; Pedro given diploma anyway but ends up
mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English.
Scenario: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from 4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle, blows up a red ant bed.
1957 - Ants die.
! 2007- BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called.
Johnny charged with domestic terrorism, FBI investigates parents,
siblings removed from home, comput ers confiscated,
Johnny's Dad goes on a terror watch list
and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job.
She faces 3 years in State Prison.
&nbs p; Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Where I'm from
Where I’m from
I’m from European ghetto suburbs
I’m from fights on the way to school
I’m from give me your lunch money or I’ll beat you
I’m from a divorced family
I’m from my brother was a drug dealer
I’m from the religion that many people hate but know nothing about
I’m from those who seek the truth in life
I’m from those who try to defeat their fears.
Where are you from?
By unanimous
I’m from European ghetto suburbs
I’m from fights on the way to school
I’m from give me your lunch money or I’ll beat you
I’m from a divorced family
I’m from my brother was a drug dealer
I’m from the religion that many people hate but know nothing about
I’m from those who seek the truth in life
I’m from those who try to defeat their fears.
Where are you from?
By unanimous
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
witchcraft or religious freedom ?
September 04, 2007
Beheadings in India, apologies in America
Another horrible story about the treatment of people suspected of witchcraft. This time two women and one man were found beheaded in India, another body is yet to be found. Police say they had been accused of sorcery. Four people have confessed to the horrific crime and it has been called a revenge attack after a local village leader's son was killed by a snake bite two weeks ago.
In America, President Bush has apologised to a Wiccan widow who won a law suit to have the symbol of Wicca placed on her husband's grave - he died fighting in Afghanistan.
Beheadings in India, apologies in America
Another horrible story about the treatment of people suspected of witchcraft. This time two women and one man were found beheaded in India, another body is yet to be found. Police say they had been accused of sorcery. Four people have confessed to the horrific crime and it has been called a revenge attack after a local village leader's son was killed by a snake bite two weeks ago.
In America, President Bush has apologised to a Wiccan widow who won a law suit to have the symbol of Wicca placed on her husband's grave - he died fighting in Afghanistan.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
The Moment of Awakening - a hungarian orientalists embraces Islam
By Yasser Hejazi**
Apr. 12, 2006
Julius Germanus
The journey of Abdul-Karim Germanus (formerly known as Julius Germanus) to Islam transformed his life forever. He once described his conversion as his "moment of awakening."
Germanus was a university professor in Hungary who spent half of his life defending Islam and the Arabic language. After having freed himself from the troubles of youth and the oppression of traditions, he became attracted to Islam.
The Beginning of the Path
Germanus was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1884 and was raised as a Christian. Immediately after graduating from the University of Budapest, he decided to specialize in the Turkish language. So he traveled to the University of Istanbul in 1903 to study Turkish. In only two years, he was able to master the Turkish language and excelled in speaking, reading, and writing it.
During his time at the University of Istanbul, he came across an exegesis of the Qur'an in Turkish. This marked the beginning of his transformation and his interest in Islam and the Qur'an. The exegesis enabled him to understand Islam from the original sources, and he saw in the various exegeses which were available in several languages, the fallacies which were taught about Islam by Christian missionaries.
Motivated to learn the truth about Islam, he decided to conduct research in which he compared what the Christians were writing about Islam to what was really written in the Qur'an and Sunnah. He also endeavored to read Turkish translations of Hadith in order to study the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad from authentic sources.
Back to Europe
Germanus returned to Hungary from Istanbul and found his former professors, who were reputable Orientalists, speaking falsely about Islam. He argued with them about the true character of Prophet Muhammad and the many hadiths attributed to him. After clashing with his professors, Germanus decided to study the Arabic language after he found that Turkish was full of many Arabic words. He pursued Arabic and soon became proficient in it, he then went on to master Persian.
He excelled in the study of languages, and, in 1912, was appointed professor of Arabic, Persian, and Turkish as well as Islamic history at the Hungarian Royal Academy in Budapest. He was later appointed to the Department of Oriental Studies at the University of Economics in Budapest.
After working for a short time at the University of Budapest, the Bengali-Indian poet, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), one of Bengal's greatest figures, invited Germanus in 1928 to teach as the chair of Islamic Studies of Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, Bengal. He stayed in India for several years and it was there he publicized his conversion to Islam in the Great Delhi Mosque. Henceforth, he was known Abdul-Karim. He was given the privilege of being able to give the weekly Friday sermon at the mosque.
Friendships with Poets
Germanus with Tagore
Picture courtesy Terebess.hu
Germanus' great desire to learn more about Islam and Muslims led him to meet one of the most prominent Muslim poets of the time. He enjoyed a friendship with the famous Pakistani Muslim poet, Muhammad Iqbal. They would have long conversations, delving into important issues facing Muslims. They also would discuss the scholarship of Orientalists and the activities of Christian missionaries.
Germanus and Iqbal differed over their views on missionary activities. Whereas Germanus believed that the propaganda spread by European Christian missionaries was a problem, Iqbal believed that the problem lay in Muslims' lack of unity and opposition to anti-Islam missionaries. Their long dialogue ended with the problem of Orientialism and the shortcomings of Orientalist scholarship.
Germanus also formed a strong relationship with the famous Egyptian writer, Mahmoud Timour. Timour wrote about Germanus' journey to Islam in one of his books:
Germanus in Egypt
Picture courtesy Terebess.hu
When I [Timour] was speaking to him, I asked [Germanus], "What is the story of your conversion, Hajji? Germanus combed his fingers through his beard and then responded, "It was a moment of awakening for me because Islam is the true religion. Enlightened minds and free thinkers find tolerance in Islam, in its doctrine and in the Shari`ah. They find truth is Islam which convinces them of its validity. With Islam, free thinkers set themselves loose from the oppression of traditions. I know many intellectuals who, as soon as they free themselves of the troubles of youth and the oppression of traditions, secretly become Muslim and conceal their faith and submission to Allah in the depths of their hearts." Timour responded, saying the following: His answer did not cure or entice me with its excessive details, I asked him "Can't you tell me about what attracted you to Islam? "He became less agitated and said, "One thing attracted me to Islam, it is the essence of all things, and that thing is the religion of purity, the religion of cleanliness, of both the body and spirit, and social behavior and manners and the human feeling.
Germanus' love of the Arabic language brought him to Cairo, Egypt, where he furthered his studies of classical Arabic. When he first arrived to the port city of Alexandria, he was surprised with the way the locals responded to him. They would laugh when he spoke Arabic because he was speaking classical Arabic! When they spoke to him in their colloquial dialect, he couldn't make out what they were saying. Germanus became very angry and screamed out, "I am here in order to learn the language of the Qur'an from you! Why do you respond with laughter and ridicule?"
Germanus found himself back in the University of Budapest and worked as a professor of history and civilization for more than 40 years. He published several research papers calling for the revival of classical Arabic in the Arab world. He wanted to bring back classical Arabic, which had died out just as Latin had in Europe. He dreamed of a time when all Arab countries would speak the same form of Arabic that would tie Arabs to their rich heritage and history.
Throughout his academic career, Germanus waged a war with European Orientalists who supported colonialism. He would use evidence and rational arguments, although he was confronted with much antagonism. As a result of his disputes with Orientalists, he was fired from the university on the grounds that his attitude was not appropriate.
Despite mounting opposition against Germanus, his students sided with him and his ideas. They praised his works and saw that his work had huge influence throughout academia in both the West and the Muslim world. Because of this support, he was able to continue in his position as a professor of history despite protest from Orientalists colleagues.
Mahmoud Timour, Germanus' good friend, wrote three plays in colloquial Egyptian Arabic that he dedicated to Germanus to inform him, in a courteous way, that he had written in the colloquial Egyptian dialect in order to educate Egyptians and to raise their level of culture.
Germanus responded to Timour, saying, "The colloquial dialect is only a modern language, it cannot express deep sentiments and emotions, nor can it reveal our innermost feelings. On the other hand, classical Arabic can best express our most minute feelings of yearning to perfection."
Germanus was calling for Timour to stop writing in colloquial Arabic and to work on refining his skills in writing literature. Eventually, Timour became a member of the Academy of Arabic Language in Cairo and improved his literary writing skills in classical Arabic.
Mahmoud Timour was fascinated by Germanus' personality and sought inspiration from him for his story, "The One Who Asked Allah for Help," in a collection of short stories called Behind the Veil. The story narrated the journeys of a traveler who went to Cairo, lived in the neighborhood of Al-Hussein, and adopted an Egyptian lifestyle. He would wear a long white robe and stroll the neighborhood in his flowing Arab clothing. He was always anxious to prayer Fajr in the mosque and to hear the voice of the muezzin (the man who calls for the prayer) in the silence of the night.
A Lifetime of Activity
Modern-day Budapest
In the mid-20th century, scholarly organizations in the Arab world were looking to catch up with the modern world. They hoped to make more connections with Western scholars and so they elected Germanus to the Scholarly Organization of Iraq in 1962 as an overseas member, he was also elected as a member of the Arabic language academies in both Cairo and Damascus.
Back home in Hungary, Germanus endeavored to bring together all of the Muslims in his country, Muslims only numbered between 1,000 to 2,000 at that time. He established an organization which ran Muslims' affairs in Hungary and which was able to convince the Hungarian government to recognize Islam as one of the official state religions.
In addition, Germanus was one of the few Europeans to ever have visited the holy sites in Makkah and Madinah when he traveled from Egypt to Saudi Arabia in 1935. He wrote a memoir of his journey to the holy sites in Hungarian called, Allahu Akbar, which was translated into several languages. He went on Hajj for a second time in 1939.
Germanus was married to a European woman who was Christian at the time of their marriage. However, his wife also eventually converted to Islam with the help of the famous author and academic Ahmed Abd Al-Ghafur Attar.
Germanus can be credited with having motivated the Egyptian writer Muhammad Huseyn Haykal to perform Hajj. Haykal recorded memoirs of his trip in In the House of Revelation, and in the introduction, he wrote the following:
I was fiddling with the radio signals on different stations until I reached the Budapest broadcast. And the very first thing I heard from the broad was the voice of the presenter say, "I was in the middle of a huge crowd of people who were circumambulating the Ka`bah. All around me I heard the phrase, 'Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.' And when I finished the circumambulation, I walked between the two mounts of Safaa and Marwa."
So I [Haykal] said to myself, "Is this European professor, who is talking about the truth of Islam, more truthful and strong-willed than I am that he has already visited the sacred sites?
Germanus wrote about Islam in various European publications. In one article he wrote:
I am a European man who didn't find my home in being enslaved to gold, power, or domination. I was influenced by the simplicity of Islam and in the respect it had in the eyes of Muslims. … The Muslim world will keep its true essence through its spirituality and its supreme example. And Islam always preserves its foundations of freedom, fraternity, and equality between all human beings.
He also wrote the following in another article:
Islam transcends by elevating humans from an animal state to the height of refined civilization and I hope, or rather I expect, that Islam will once more be able to achieve this miracle at the time when great darkness will surround us.
Germanus wrote many books, including The Greek, Arabic Literature in Hungarian, Lights of the East, Uncovering the Arabian Peninsula, Between Intellectuals, The History of Arabic Literature, The History of the Arabs, Modern Movements in Islam, Studies in the Grammatical Structure of the Arabic Language, Journeys of Arabs, Pre-Islamic Poetry, Great Arabic Literature, Guidance From the Light of the Crescent (a personal memoir), An Adventure in the Desert, Arab Nationalism, Allahu Akbar, Mahmoud Timour and Modern Arabic Literature, The Great Arab Poets, and The Rise of Arab Culture.
Germanus passed away on November 7, 1979 after having served the cause of Islam and Muslims for nearly 50 years.
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