Topics

76

Discussions / Your Website & Facebook Page

« on: November 10, 2014, 01:36:37 AM »

Assalamu alaikum,

May I just say your website and Facebook page have been a great comfort and inspiration to me mashallah, I read a great deal and your website stands well above any another of this subject because of the humility you present your well researched information with.

may Allah reward you.

your sister

77

Discussions / Thank you for the Website

« on: November 10, 2014, 01:36:04 AM »

Brother Joseph,

I recently stumbled onto to your website.  I congratulate you on bringing this about.

78

Discussions / The Need to Continue Pondering

« on: October 10, 2014, 03:28:16 AM »

Salamun Alaikum,

Thanks to Allah S.W.T because I recently found your website. Your deep understanding regarding the word of Allah had made me realize that I should keep try and try to ponder Qur'an more in order to further my understanding regarding Allah mercy and amnesty.

For your information I'm in the way to search the concrete truth even I was born as a MUSLIM.

Regards

79

Discussions / Walking with Certainty

« on: October 03, 2014, 10:17:08 PM »

Salaam Joseph

God has bestowed on you an eloquence and an aptitude to recognize his signs and embrace the knowledge and wisdom they contain.

I came to the Deen after a lifetime of seeking and was fortunate to read it first without outside influence and it instantly galvanized my belief in God alone.
It is a marvel that I found your posts that further instilled in me that the path I have been shown can be walked with certainty.

Much heartfelt appreciation for choosing to be steadfast in faith and consistent in you selfless sharing.

Your ally..peace

80

Discussions / Thank you! and a Different Perspective

« on: September 26, 2014, 11:59:43 PM »

Salamun alaykum.

I am enjoying a whole different perspective of my faith courtesy of your writing.

Have a great weekend ahead, Joseph!

A sister in faith...

81

Discussions / Thank you!

« on: September 18, 2014, 12:03:32 AM »

Salam brother, Thank you for enlightening on the various misconceptions that I had. Your blog has answered all my questions about Islam. As a striving Muslim I always wanted to follow correct path... thanks once again... may Allah swt bless us all. Remember me in your prayers .

Jazak Allahu Khayran

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Discussions / Your Articles

« on: August 15, 2014, 05:12:13 AM »

Salam Alaykum,

I have been reading a number of your articles and have found them very intuitive, may Allah continue to increase you in knowledge.

Ma Salam

83

Discussions / Upholding the Quran

« on: August 15, 2014, 05:11:29 AM »

Salam Brother Joseph

I have been to your website many times and I really enjoy the articles that you wrote. I do uphold the Qur'an as the final source of judgement, but sometimes my brother and I wonder what if there is things such as punishment in the grave despite it not being in the Qur'an. Ultimately what I'm saying is we wonder if some Hadith's even if they have no basis in the Qur'an are true due to fear and I fear we might be putting the Hadith authority over the Qur'an. We don't want to do this but our fear is holding us back from disregarding them completely. Is there anyway to overcome this fear and judge by the Qur'an as you do because I admire your complete faith in it and I want to have the same, but as I said before fear.

From
Brother in faith

84

Discussions / Evolution

« on: August 15, 2014, 05:10:19 AM »

Hello Joseph, I LOVE your website. We think alike. 

I too have published a website and I spoke about evolution. Yours is significantly better but mine provides many more verses if you are interested in checking it out!

http://www.answeringislamicskeptics.com/evolution-in-islam-overview.html

85

Discussions / From Munich, Germany

« on: August 15, 2014, 05:09:31 AM »

Dear Brother Joseph,

I came across your website after I read your interesting article on misinterpretation of the koranic verse supposedly related to wife beating. My conscience, limited understanding and logic never accepted this outrageous explanation and adding to this nightmare, the most idiotic statement of most so called scholars, the gentle beating of women using a "Siwak" stick. Some go as far as introducing a method how to apply such a rule. Put the Koran under one armpit and the stick under the other and while both arms are tight against the upper abdomen, one needs to twist the upper body to gently strike his poor downtrodden wife.

The worse thing I heard not as far as yesterday, a sheikh from Saudi Arabia, the epicentre of ignorance on planet earth despite being God's epicentre of the earth, saying that Allah elevated the woman's honour to such high degree that even though the man can beat her up, he's not allowed to swear at her and this is the highest status given to the woman.

I am not sure how low can one go to even believe such ridiculous statements coming from a man of religion can be made public. No wonder we Muslims reached rock bottom.

The main reason I am writing to you is not just about this specific point but the Muslim situation in general. I am not sure the problem is tackled at the right level nor have we managed to agree on the root cause of the problem. Most of our so called scholars tend to avoid discussing the past fearing fitna which I believe is a trick to deviate people's attention from the real problem and they are paid to do so.

Atrocities committed today in Syria, Iraq and other Muslim countries is not something new in the Muslim world. This has been happening since the demise of our Prophet (PBUH) and continued throughout the kalifate era until today. Whoever has power destroys the weaker one and if in turn the weaker gets that power, he will do the same to others and so on.

When the British established the Al Saud dynasty or monopoly over the people of Hijaz and Mohamed ibn Abdelwahab as its mufti around 1740's, we read similar atrocities committed against their people and the people of neighbouring countries like Iraq.

The question is what went wrong after the Prophet's death? Did He really leave the decision open to the people to appoint a successor or did He appoint someone but the decision was overturned by a hostile group/movement to snatch this position after His death?

I believe the problem lies at this very level and if we, Muslims aren't prepared to turn every stone and face this problem that caused us to drift away from the right path, we'll never unite and we'll remain divided as long as we are on the face of planet earth.

The other question is "Who will be ready to commit to this humongous task?"

I would appreciate your comment/critic on my perspective and I would be very happy to hear from you no matter what your view on this is.

I wish you all the best and may Allah bestow his mercy upon you and your family especially in this month of Ramadhan.


Wassalaam

From Munich Germany.

86

Discussions / Assalamu Alaykum brother :) - From Australia

« on: August 15, 2014, 05:06:44 AM »

Salamun alaykum my brother is Islam,

How are you brother Joseph? Alhamdullillah, I'm a brother from Australia who's had the pleasure of reading many of the wonderful articles on your website. I come from a typical traditionalist Muslim family and have been asking many questions about our beautiful religion. Over time I began to question my beliefs and some of the widely known practices of our Deen. Alhamdullillah, I've had the honor and pleasure of reading the Holy Qur'an both in arabic and english without all those huge volumes of Tafseers, Fiqh books, and Hadeeth. And Allah (Sunhannahu Wa Ta'alaa) has proven to me without a shadow of a doubt that this book is indeed from Him! But unfortunately I cannot say the same about the world of Hadeeth literature.

I've had so many troubles, difficulties and confusion regarding hadeeth! Especially of those found in Bukhari, Muslim, Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi, bu Dawood, etc. Although, I personally find the so-called science of hadeeth as a praiseworthy thing. I understand that these great scholars of the passed have dedicated their lives to collecting these sayings of the prohpet (pbuh) but I find so many flaws in these books and they are too many to list here. For a long time I've had these questions in the back of my mind which I wouldn't dare ask our local Imams or even talk about them with my friends.

Some examples are: stoning an adulterer to death, executing an apostate, abrogation of Quranic verses, having sexual relations with slaves, the idea of a Dajjal, the Mehdi, and the return of Jesus (AS). But I personally cannot find anything in the Holy Qur'an that relates to these matters! Of course I'm no scholar and I don't know that arabic language but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that if these matters mentioned above are so important and is a matter of us going to hell or paradise, then why aren't these things mentioned in the Qur'an? it's reported that the prophet (pbuh) said: "all the prophets warned their people about the Dajjal" but the Qur'an never mentions it! I find this very strange indeed.

Anyway, I don't want to take up to much of your time brother Joseph but I must admit, your articles have really opened up my mind and made me think in a different light. May Allah bless you and your family. And by the way, I've also been reading some articles from another web sight by a brother named of Louay Fatoohi. MashaAllah he is also a very open minded and intelligent brother.

Keep up the great work brother and Baarak Allahu Feek

Salaam

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Discussions / From Your Nr.1 Fan in the Balkans (Kosovo)!

« on: August 12, 2014, 03:32:33 AM »

Peace be with you my dear brother in faith,

I am a muslim young woman who lives in Balkans (Kosovo, to be precise), and as a thirsty-for-knowledge person I've had the chance to read the works of many authors, but it was only when I read your works and studies that I felt I love Allah, I love Islam, I love the prophets, and so on. I'm not saying I didn't love them before, but there were many theories that kept me confused and whom my logic always told me they contradict the Koran, and which prevail in the so-called Islamic states. (like for example the Rabia-ruled Egypt, or Isis state, and similar - what is your opinion on them being 'islamic'? I'd appreciate it so much!)

I don't know where you're from, and I don't know much about you (as you don't reveal much about yourself), but that much I know is enough to feel an immense admiration and respect and affection for you. I feel blessed by Allah to have been put to contact with your beautiful work. I don't know how much are you famous in Kosovo or Balkans, but I can guarantee you that I'm your number-one fan in both of them may Allah bless you the same way he blessed us through you, and please, never let us without your help and guidance regarding the deen!

88

Discussions / Great - Your Website

« on: August 01, 2014, 11:32:12 AM »

Great website Joseph -
 
Loved your analysis of the hadith literature...concluded the same thing a while back - but at the same time it being conceptually necessary since after all - we know what was Qur'an and not Qur'an through 'hadith.'
 
Also - with a mind perverted through the absurdities of second wave feminism...I see much apology for the hadith and qur'anic verses  that are considered 'gender discriminatory.' 
 
I have concluded that most modern muslim interpreters have a perverted /dysfunctional view of gender relations and carry what is best called an  quantitative egalitarian prejudice- and then are forced to apologize for verses in  the qur'an and some select hadith (that may be authentic)  that have as their touchstone a correct ontological perspective of gender phenomenon and meaning (aside from difference in physiologic and cognitive capabilities).  This correct perspective seems to run counter to the subtle but very flawed paradigms that influence the analysis which is done by 'reform' minded individuals who are raised in the current milieu of academia and post modern secular humanism and its medley of ideology. 
 
The issue of a clearly theocentrically defined 'awraa'  (clothing which does not hug the form and the covering of the hair) is an important one, and more than a matter of prevailing custom or etiquette.   - and in my mind the matter is clear based on empirical evidence alone.  Furthermore - it is intuitively understood  (albeit not always practiced) in those regions which still have in its cultural fabric the ethos of a Sacred tradition - be it Vedic or Biblical. 
 
Clearly those (texts or interpretations)  that promote what any sane mind would consider  abusive cannot be authentic. 
 
Be well
 
[Name Removed] MD

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Discussions / Debates with Joseph Islam / Sam Shamoun (Islam Critic)

« on: July 19, 2014, 10:04:26 PM »

Site: http://www.answering-islam.org/authors/shamoun/contact.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SamShamoun

----------------------------------

From: answeringmuhammad1 . [mailto:sammy.shmn@gmail.com]
Sent: 07 May 2014 16:50
To: josephislam1@gmail.com
Subject: Your article on Gabriel and the Spirit
 
Hello,
 
Before I comment on your article I do want to say that I enjoy reading your articles since it is obvious you try your best to allow the Quran speak for itself and are not afraid to buck tradition when necessary. However, it is precisely this reason that I was greatly disappointed with what you did here in your article: http://quransmessage.com/articles/gabriel%20FM3.htm
 
You quote Luke 1:26-34 and compare it with Q. 19:17-21 to establish your contention that Gabriel is the Holy Spirit. I am very disappointed that you conveniently did not quote Luke 1:35 which refutes your position since Gabriel clearly distinguishes and differentiates himself from the Holy Spirit who would come upon Mary in order to cause her to supernaturally conceive Jesus without any sexual intercourse:
 
"THE ANGEL SAID TO HER, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.'" New Revised Standard Version
 
Since this verse follows immediately after verse 34 I find it hard to believe that you did not see it. Therefore, why did you omit this text which refutes your entire premise? Moreover, I think that the only honest thing you can do is to correct your article to accurately reflect what the context of Luke 1:26-35 says since it does not support your contention that Gabriel is the Holy Spirit or Spirit.

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Discussions / From Cape Town, South Africa

« on: June 25, 2014, 06:32:34 PM »

I just wanted to say shukran to you for your website quraansmessage.com. I have been in a terrible state for many years questioning what I have been taught about Islam whilst living in a culture and community that does not allow that. Finding your site has strengthened me and my faith. I can now proudly say again that this is MY Islam. May Allah reward you for your efforts, insha-Allah.

Brother Joseph. Every night I read new articles on your website and I cry for the many years Ive lost and for not being able to share this experience with my parents (out of fear). My commitment this Ramadaan is to start to study the Quran to my best ability.  Have a blessed and rewarding Ramadaan.