Messages

106

Discussions / From Belgium - Hostility from Others

« on: January 28, 2014, 09:23:55 PM »

Salaam alaykoum dear brother in the beautiful Islam,

We recognized exactly the same content in your approach towards our deen as we have been promoting over the last 10 years.

You site was InshaaAllaah brought under our attention by one of our worst enemies but Hamdulilaah it feels great to find someone who does not drown in the Sea of Truth.

Unfortunately we also suppose you must have encountered the same hostile attitude from our brothers and sisters towards our interpretation of Quran and Sunnah.

We do stand our ground and if given the chance nobody seems to be able to contradict the proofs we offer. 

The only way our adversaries can compete is trough banning our messages or us, or to get into the world of insults of every kind.

We can live with all this fitnah.

It only makes us doing du'a for those who are blind and deaf for His Message.

Wa salaam alayoum dear brother,

107

Discussions / Your Website

« on: January 24, 2014, 05:28:18 AM »

Dear Br Joseph Islam,

   It is not too long that I came across your website while doing my routine independent research. I always wished to do justice with Quranic words but after going through your research articles I quit. It cannot be more thoughtful and perfect Mashallah. Please continue your efforts and we will continue our efforts by suggesting people to this website Inshallah. I am sure honest truth seeker would not argue.
The verses below are approx. 75% applicable on Muslim community:

43:22: But they say; “Indeed we found our forefathers upon a certain way and indeed we are guided on their footsteps.
43: 24: He said, Even if I brought you better guidance than that upon which you found your forefathers. They said; “Indeed we disbelieve in that which you have been sent”.

If I replace term of 43:24 “forefather” with “Imams” and add in 43:24 “better guidance (Quran) than that (Hadiths inconsistent with Quran)” These are now approx. 97% applicable.

   I always observed whenever conventional “Islamic scholars” sit down the outcome is “Division in Islam (New Firqa) and whenever revert scholar strives outcome is honest and true picture of Islam”. It’s been a while that I only prefer studying Revert Scholars like Jeffery Lang.
   I am crazy for Gary Miller’s lectures but unfortunately he is very limited when it comes to writing articles and giving public appearances. I never thought any scholar would be able to bypass Gary Miller. By the grace of God you are no less. A scholar like you one in 100 years would have been enough in last 1300 centuries to uplift the true message. I sincerely pray at least one scholar per century in the future.
I would also like to modify George Orwell for you (My humble appreciation)

“During times of religious deceit, telling the truth (Quran) becomes an Evolutionary act”

Inshallah the efforts you are seeding will evolve in perfect form with the help of God. Would you please allow me to post my thoughts? I never had any account or open discussion online stuff etc ever. Not completely sure how it works. But your forum is a noble cause.

Just few lines about me; I have a MPhil in Molecular Biology, PhD from UMASS (USA) in Cell and Molecular Biology and pursuing Post Doctorate in Clinical Stem cell signaling mechanisms.

I do not know my mail reaches you or you like to reply personally. However, I will be excited to hear your permission and reply. May God keep you and your family in good health.

108

Discussions / A Journey in Search of Truth

« on: January 16, 2014, 12:58:09 PM »

Assalam o Alaikum.. May peace be upon you Brother Joseph.. I have been a traditional Muslim always thinking Hadith as an irrefutable part of Islam.. Thanks to readings from you I feel now I am on a journey in search of truth.. Its difficult but its the truth, my heart tells me that.. Please pray for me that I remain sincere in search of truth..

109

Discussions / Your Articles and a Question on Quran's Authority

« on: January 15, 2014, 08:53:51 AM »

Dear brother Joseph,

Peace be with you,

May Allah protect en guide you, and give you the ability and strength to keep up the good works of clarifying en spreading His message.

Going over your articles for more than a year now, I don’t know where to start. I certainly have to thank you for all explanations you have given me, by the mercy of Allah. Thank you for that very much. I ask Allah to grand you of His goodness therefore. But even more, I admire your method and your humble behaviour. This is a very great example for all people that pursuit to know the truth. I also thank you for that. And I thank Allah for this understanding en this experience.

I could say many more things that I experienced during my (ongoing) study of topics on your website, but you and I have limited time. Therefore I would like to start with some simple questions. I hope you will clarify them for me.

On your website you say:
The Quran remains the final source of judgement and the ultimate authority for all true believers.

What evidence, or reasonable motivation, do you have for the statement that the Quran is the final source of judgement? If you refer to secondary sources, than I can understand it. But if you mean final source for judgement period, does it then mean that there can’t be (is or is to come) no other source of judgement than the Quran? As far as I know, the Quran never explicitly say so. My second question is similar. What is the base of your statement that the Quran is the ultimate authority for true believers?

Kind regards,

110

Discussions / Your Works

« on: January 06, 2014, 12:00:52 AM »

Salam Alaykum Brother Joseph,

I thought came to me and I wanted to send it off to you before I forget in this busy world.

It is certain that many people penned did great works in the past that would perhaps have been beneficial to others had the works been extant.

Because of the non random loss of works, there is problem of making an accurate sense of narrations and views of Muslim layperson and scholars of the past.

1.  I  find your work to be mashallah excellent to be both very accessible and also to contain much relevant and scholarly analysis and finally to be brief enough for non scholars to benefit from.

I assume you have backed up your works in case there is some attack on the server that houses your work.

There are many ways to safeguard your work.

2.  But please consider safeguard them instantaneously.  There is or are companies that can do that.

3.  Please also consider of making your works in a book or volumes that can be serially increased to be housed in libraries, etc.

4. And please also provide a legal access to your works to multiple people whom you trust who will be responsible people to continue to discharge your efforts.

I don't know how old are you but I know as you do through common sense but also as a physician of how so many people can die suddenly or be incapacitated (May God protect us and all those close to us) in car accidents, or many other ways. 

5.  Please plan on making an institution that can be Inshallah blessed to continue your efforts for decades or centuries after you pass on. 

As you know Allah emphasizes the importance of having a will and ensuring that wealth is carried on.

Of course your work is not material wealth but I find it more valuable.

Although I would not agree with anything as no two people would agree on all issues, I feel frustrated how your excellent points are not adequately discussed by Muslim scholars...Inshallah that time will eventually come in future and Inshallah sooner than later but it would be nice if people don't have to reinvent the wheel and sometimes certain insights might never be thought of again.

I am sure you thought of the above to some extent or another.....however, you have mentioned that you are quite busy.

I know that often in busy lives, important planning is put off and sometimes never gets implemented because of catastrophes mentioned above.

May Allah prevent that but just wanted to encourage you for your planning.

Allah is with the patient ones.

Although we are outnumbered today...Inshallah with planning, the efforts of today can make even more positive impact in the Muslim society if all is made secure, and trusted individuals empowered, and institution created.

I am sure you can find ways to stay anonymous while you do the above.

Sincerely,

111

General Discussions / Geebath and Zina

« on: December 31, 2013, 06:47:12 AM »

GEEBATH AND ZINA

By: A. Ismail Sait


GEEBATH:

In Sura 49. verse 12, we have been fore-warned regarding three human traits, grouped as a trio consisting of (i) suspicion, (ii) spying, and (iii) backbiting.

In a human society, these three are unavoidable. By any strech of imagination, we cannot assume a society sans these three traits:

(i) Suspicion is natural, and can lead to preventive measures.

(ii) Spying can help to take preventive as well as curative measures against harm done by enemies.

(iii) Backbiting cannot be equated with complaining against some one in order to seek justice, or warning someone to be wary of a particular person or group.

Man, by nature, feels that these three traits, although unavoidable in particular situations and contexts, are not to be indulged in, to the detriment of social harmony.

Sura 49. verse 12, translates thus: "O Those who believe! Desist from suspicion aplenty, for, some of it is sinful. Neither spy (inordinately), nor (habitually) backbite one another..."

After all, the Intelligence Department is the backbone of any government. And its stock-in-trade is cumulated suspicions, and regulated spying.
As for speaking ill of a person behind his back, the folowing example will suffice:
If you know that someone is commiting zina in your neighbourhood, and you want to bring the culprit to justice, you will have to create three more witnesses besides yourself. You cannot do this without thorough deliberation and meticulous planning.

ZINA:
                                               
That all obsceneties are forbidden, has been repeated umpteen number of times in Al Quran. Fornication is an obscenity (17:32). They, including fornication have been ranked among the deadliest of sins.

In one place ZINA has been mentioned as one of a trio, along with joining partners in the worship of Allah, and murder, thereby proving beyond any doubt that it is one of the three most heinous, deadliest of sins, placed at the topmost slot among all the sins of the world.

It is the worst sin in the world, next only to invoking others beside Allah, and murder.

"Those who invoke not with Allah any other god, nor kill without absolute justificaton the life that Allah has made sacred, nor commit zina; - and any who does this (not only) meets punishment but the torment on the Day of Resurrection will be doubled for him and he will abide therein in utter ignominy." (25: 68, 69)

The original phrase translated here as "he will abide therein", belongs to the same root that is used to denote the punishment for shirk and kufr throughout the Quran: ie; khulood finnar. 

Now compare the trio in (49:12), and the trio in (25:68-69)!!

Even after chrystal clear presentation of everything in Al Quran,  we - the purported standard bearers of Al Quran - have distorted our religion so appallingly, and with such blatant impunity, that our self conceit is matchless in the past and present world!                                                 

In spite of crystal clear verses of Al Quran, we equate geebath with zina! Worse still, we consider it to be worse than zina!!

Regards,

A. Ismail Sait.

112

Discussions / From a Convert

« on: December 29, 2013, 09:34:52 AM »

assalamu alaykum,

Best wishes to you on your website quransmessage.com.  As a convert I noticed early on that the Quran has been put on the periphery of religion and not at the center as it should be.  I think the articles written are extremely informative. I have come to the conclusion that the hadith, sunnah aren't to be rejected outright but that the Quran is the main source of our religion.  I think taking extremes like a "quran only" approach is not helpful and creates poor dialogue with traditional minded folks.   Many converts see the problems with hadiths and some are afraid to talk about it openly for fear of being shunned by the community.

Again i cant emphasize that I really enjoy the website and even after studying 10 years Islam i learned new things here.

Jazak khair allah,

113

Discussions / Your Website and a Question About Hadith

« on: November 20, 2013, 08:57:24 PM »

Greetings Mr. Islam,

I came across your website and found it very interesting. It has touched on some points that I have really struggled with regarding Islam. I was born a Sunni Muslim and have practiced the faith without ever really looking too deeply into it.

Since moving to the Middle East about four years ago from the USA, I have a lot of time to observe Muslims and their behavior and how they go about their day to day lives and how they treat each other people from other and Non-Muslims. What I observed that actually caused to investigate the faith more deeper is a people who were once the leaders of the world in science are now struggling with the basic concept of common sense. I could write volumes on this area but my point is something else.

What I believe is that the Quran is the word of God for all of mankind. But in order for the Quran to be fully followed, Hadith have to play a role in that. For instance, how are we supposed to do Wudu, pray, perform Hajj, etc.?

On the other hand, reasons as to why we don't have any original Hadith from the Prophet (PBUH) or the Sahaba's is what's troubling me to perfectly implement the perfect book.

It is difficult to believe that the Prophet (PBUH) forbade the writing of Hadith because it would somehow get mixed with the Quran. These are the reasons cited in the literature. Does anybody actually believe this? He was memorizing it, having trusted people write it down, had access to an angel Gabriel, and God promised that no one could affect the perfection of the Quran. Additionally, a statement in Quran states that no one could produce even a single chapter like. I don't think anybody had anything to worry about as far as Hadith getting mixed in with Quran. But alternatively, the Prophet (PBUH) understood the importance of the written word as evidence by his knowledge of previous corrupted scripture i.e. Bible, first Testament.

Since the Explanation of the Quran (Hadith) is essential for its understanding and to perform what is prescribed in the Quran, it doesn't make sense that Hadith were not written.

From what I have read, Hadith were written down and Abu Bakr but later burned them. The reason for burning them was that he was afraid that what he wrote down may not have been in perfect alignment with what was said. If we are to accept this, then why do we accept his verbal words 20 transmitters later? Instead of burning them, he could have begun his work on perfecting them if that was really his concern. From what we read about him, he was not a bad guy who would intentionally lie about the Prophet (PBUP).

Umar further forbade the writing of Hadith and supposed burned other written Hadith books because he did not want anyone to abandon the Quran and focus on Hadith. Again, not sure what that means. Those people were the same illiterate society and the Hadith were alive and well verbally. Writing them down would not have increased their significance for anybody as the oral tradition was being utilized in peoples lives already. Writing the Hadith down would have kept them for around for mankind. He could have also just produced a single copy to preserve for future generations instead of making many copies to distribute. There are many he could have accomplished the task of preservation and kept focus on the Quran.

How can we trust one Hadith while others are not be trusted like when Aisha is quoted talking about sexual issues. Can somebody actually trust that she was so open about this issue with all of humanity? Aren't these private issues even if they were the way they are stated in Hadith? Other hadiths seem absolutely absurd.

Wouldn't it have been wonderful to have the original sayings of the prophet without centuries of debate about this chain or that chain, strong versus weak, etc.? And who do you follow? I'm not Shia but when they claim Hadith from Ali, it would seem those to be more reliable then generations removed from Umar and Abu Bakr? Yet these Hadiths are only used by them. I don't know enough about Shia's to have an opinion but these are things that make me think.

My questions for you is something that I have wanted to asked a learned person for sometime now for only my understanding:

Are reason why we don't have the original Hadith which are essential for the explanation of the Quran in some cases and needed for step by step practice of the faith in other cases due to what Abu Bakr and Umar did or did not do?

The Quran is perfect but is its understanding and implementation deficient as a result of mismanagement of Hadith?

If we are to follow the Quran only as Hadith are not reliable, then how can we pray, do Wudu, perform Hajj, etc? And what about the explanation of the Quran? Where does the explanation come in some cases if we discount Hadith as a explanatory source?

If we chose to follow Quran with good Hadith, isn't this also problematic as how will we know which ones are acceptable and which are not? We are essentially cherry picking which is not right either. But I would find it hard to believe that Aesha was talking about her intimate issues with the Prophet (PBUH) with the community.

What I struggle with is how can the perfect book not have the perfect implementation or explanation?

Regards,

114

Discussions / Ancient Ties Restored

« on: November 20, 2013, 08:48:02 PM »

Hello,

My name is [Identity Removed], and am currently doing Post Graduate studies in Islamic Studies. I just wanted to say I am very impressed with your site!!

I am  from the Monotheism outside of Islam belief, and have been studying with some Islamic scholars for over a decade. Some areas that are not on your site that I am interested in, or have slightly differing views are:

- The connection with the Hawaariyuun / Jerusalem community following Nabi Isa, through to Mecca, Waraqa Bin Nauffel etc. It would seem that as every year goes past, there is a realisation that the Prophet Muhammad was an extension of the Hawariyuun.

- For me personally, I find it easier to read the Qur'an as a Holy Book with a secondary purpose and proclamation of bringing reform within Christendom, drawing them back to their origin of being rooted in Hebraic belief. This is why even though my theology is Islamic, I do not become a Muslim as Christian conversion was not the purpose of Prophet Muhammad.

- I do not hold to significant textual criticism of the Injil, except for concrete variants which are mostly Christological. In having a low view of scripture contradicts the Prophet himself. HOWEVER, I believe the Qur'an is a call to reinterpret Paul, as people such as Hans Kung are doing. Christrianity is the unnatural branch which is grafted in to the "Religion of God" (the natural branch), the Semitic monotheism.  In that sense, Christianity is grafted in to Islam, and the 2 become 1.... This is the mystery of the Injil.

Anyway, these are some initial thoughts, I would love to correspond, in particular my Muslim friends would love to translate some of your materials if possible. Keep up the good work!!

Wasalam

115

Discussions / From a Christian Wanting to Understand Islam

« on: September 21, 2013, 07:12:14 AM »

I would just like to extend a thank you for providing the etymology of the word "khimar". Your site provided an excellent break down from the use of the word in the Quran 24:31. I value the etymology break down like in this example. It mirrors what another Muslim clarified to me (he is both an Arabic speaker and a
degree in Islamic Studies). 
 
Too often I hear that the people say that Quran tell women to cover their face and hair justified by that verse, as well as apply other verses to oppress women.

I will be coming back often to read your work as I read the Quran (don't worry about  me using it as the only source for interpretation).  Your are a humble servant and do great service by helping others with your work such as helping me as a Christian wanting to understand the Islam of those I can call friends, coworkers and neighbors.
 
cheers,

116

Prophets and Messengers / Re: Giving indication of next Prophet's coming

« on: August 17, 2013, 07:01:34 PM »

Comments by Sardar Miyan (By Email).
Agreed to be posted.

Assalam , At first instance when I read your reply  to my post I thought (Nauzu billah ) that you don't believe in Khatam-e- Nabuat but after reading your reply to my post I was glad the my fear was wrong. I was just trying to trace reply to my post sometime back asking about this Ayah 7:35 but I could not find so far. Secondly this Ayah appears to be in past tense. Thirdly when the Final message is give to mankind where is the need for anybody else to give any message. Fourthly if it is supposed how could we identify such person in this wide world & who has to do that? I am still not convinced with this idea & no Translator or Mufassir had written about this.

Thanks

117

Discussions / Comments About Quransmessage.com

« on: August 09, 2013, 10:19:34 AM »

Salam Alaykum, Joseph. You don’t know me and neither do I but the insight and long yearned for confidence to thread a path of non sectarianism in faith that you have been able to rekindle through your most timely and straight forward site; quransmessage.com, has been nothing less than a short in the arm. The shackles that the global religious systems and specifically that of the “muslim” world puts on humanity is so entrenching that it not only takes a clear mind and an open heart but also immense courage not to thread the long nurtured path of the faith zombie they so dearly want to maintain humanity on. And it is on this I salute you sir. May the Almighty Creator the true Lord of mankind bless you for this. You have given me and I hope many others out there, the pleasure of heart in knowing that there is a body out there that is willing to stand on their conviction in the self-efficacy of nothing but THE WORD. I can only hope many more people of various ‘religious’ traditions can come out of the closet. It is also good to know you don’t have to be a 19nist to be unshackled from the Faith Industry. Once again bro Salam Alaykum, Shalom, Ire.

118

Discussions / Jazakallah Khairan

« on: August 04, 2013, 08:51:50 PM »

Assalamu'alaikum Wrth Wbth, Brother Joseph,
 
Thanks very much for your website @ http://quransmessage.com which has helped to answer many of the queries I was unable to answer satisfactorily through my own research, such as issues on apostasy, spiltting of the moon, stoning for adultery, etc.
 
Alhamdulillah for your clear explanations based on references from the Quran, and thanks for helping me to understand my religion, Islam, better through your site - Jazakallah Khairan.
 
I wish to take this opportunity to wish you & family,
Ramadhan Kareem and Eid Mubarak!
 
Thanks Wassalam:)

119

Discussions / Thank you

« on: August 01, 2013, 07:07:47 PM »

Assalamu alaikum and Ramadan mubarak -

I found your site while looking up articles on interfaith marriage, and found yours.  I like the even nature and tone of your article, which stands out from many of the more strident or heated articles I have found.  I have bookmarked your site and plan to go through it from time to time.

Wassalam,
[a sister in faith]

120

Discussions / Listening Ear

« on: July 29, 2013, 08:42:06 PM »

Joseph, I am grateful to God that you continue to be a listening ear. I am making every effort not to abuse your generosity; as you no doubt have many commitments, and the work you are engaged in is both illuminating and vital in the overall struggle of removing the veils of falsehood.