Messages

136

Discussions / Shi'a Doctrine

« on: May 26, 2013, 02:32:29 PM »

Comment by Arif Ali Vakil on Facebook

Salam Alaykum Wa rahmatullah brother Joseph Islam.

Voraciously been browsing your website quransmessage.com.I complment you on your efforts in ascertaining the truth. In The light and fot the sake of the Holy Quranic verse 33:33,5:55 and 42:23 '....say I do not ask you for any reward for it (for the toils of messengership) but, love of my near relatives", I request you to please go through http://www.al-islam.org/brief-history-of-fourteen-infallibles/5.htm Please study\ compare\add the timeline of the 14 infallibles to the timeline in your website and\or let me have your valued opinion on the same.I believe that there is an unbroken chain of traditions from the Holy Prophet (S) through his infallible progeny reaching mankind even today.It cannot be remotely imagined that God has created us and left us to ourselves in seeking the truth without a thorough guidance.This would defeat His own purpose of creating us.We certainly cannot rule out the possibility of authentic traditions reaching us even if they were compiled at a later stage. "And the Pleasure of Allah (swt) is the greatest bliss". Towards fulfilling the goal of our creation !!! .

Regards, Arif Ali Vakil

http://www.al-islam.org/brief-history-of-fourteen-infallibles/5.htm
www.al-islam.org

137

Discussions / A warm thanks from a brother

« on: May 21, 2013, 01:02:55 AM »

Salamun Alaikum,

All praises belong to Allah alone. I firstly thank Him that made me a muslim and opened my eyes to the much persecuted "Truth". So you could ask how do you know this is the truth that you believe? Allah knows that he favored me many times through my life and i thank Him for that every day.

I read the Quran in english firstly although i am Albanian. Then I was told that this was not enough because I should know the "Hadith of the Prophet". I read a lot of them probably half of Bukhari and half of Muslim. Many of them looked strange to me but i could not affirm that for the moment. Later on last year i read some arguments that we cannot believe these hadith were told by the Prophet and found them convincing. So my next step was to read the Quran thoroughly 3 times and got shocked how people are misguided with other not trustful (hadith) stories.

I totally agree with you when you state that knowledge is given by Allah to whom he wishes as in:
2:269 He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good. And none will remember except those of understanding.

Question: How do i know i had signs from Allah?
Several moments i have felt something unusual like sudden anxiety or little lack of breathing. On these moments i was talking about things i did not know about Allah and later on it seemed like i had done a mistake. An example is when i was talking about pork meat. I was saying (estagfirullah) that maybe pork is disallowed because they feed them with garbage, but if their food would be good also their meat would be good to eat. The anxiety was so obvious that i got surprised. But many other situations i have felt it also. So if this happens to me i know i said something i should not.

Is there any example of guidance?

Yes and not only one. The most obvious to me is understanding ayah 39:42:
39:42 Allah takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die [He takes] during their sleep. Then He keeps those for which He has decreed death and releases the others for a specified term. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.

So i had two conclusions:

1. Allah mentions soul taking when we sleep and when we die. I believe He draws parallels and shows there is something in common between sleep and death. When I say sleep i mean the one with no dreams. We all feel nothing when we are in deep sleep. we do not know where we are, what we are doing, how much time we are unconscious. My idea is that we feel through our soul and when the soul is not in the body we do not feel anything.
2. Secondly the ayah continues:
Then He keeps those for which He has decreed death and releases the others for a specified term
So a person who dies is similar to someone that cannot wake up from deep sleep.
Also another argument about Isa (pbuh) return:

If Muhammad (pbuh) is the last prophet then how Isa (pbuh) is coming again?
Quran 33:40.
Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah , of all things, Knowing.
In my opinion he is not coming back. To me raising to Allah means that Allah took him to Paradise after Isa's death. As Allah says about shahids and another prophet that they are alive :Please read 2:154, 3:169-170, 36:26-29

Surely all humans die on earth 7:25.

So i think that there are some "privileged people" that have been taken to Paradise immediately. They are the third kind of people "close to Allah" 56:11.
Note that the above arguments came to me "suddenly". Only after some weeks i read at your website.

I am reading your articles and really enjoy them.
May Allah reward you with the best reward for your efforts to study the Quran.
In the beginning i just wanted to say thank you for helping Islam but i could not help it to write more of my thoughts.
If you wish to reply i would be grateful. If not its OK.

Salamun Alaikum we rahmetullah.

138

Discussions / A THANK YOU from the USA

« on: May 18, 2013, 10:58:26 PM »

Salaam Alaikum,

Yesterday I read a news clip from the BBC website about Muslim vs Christian fighting in Nigeria. There was a line about Muslims raping female captives and how this was permitted in Islam according to the passage "....those whom your right hand possess...." This has always troubled me in the past. I have been a Muslim for 37 years having converted(reverted) at the age of 18 while in college.

As I searched the internet for a clear understanding of the verse I clicked on your website - quransmessage.com. Firstly, I was impressed by its graphic quality and user-friendly interface. But I was thoroughly and pleasantly astounded by your arguments for the sovereign, absolute and eternal sacredness of the Quran and how hadith and sunnah are indeed secondary and imperfect sources of enlightenment and Islamic understanding.

THANK YOU!

So many muslims in my area of the USA are totally subsumed by sunnah and hadith at the expense of the pure teaching of Allah's Holy Quran. They are missing the essence of Islam, its tranquility, its sublimity.

Interestingly, when I accepted Islam at the age of 18, it was as a follower of Imam Warith Deen Muhammad who always taught us to study Quran and not worry about the hadith or sunnah. He emphasized mastery of the edicts and message of the Quran and to become a slave of Allah so that we may become masters of ourselves.

When I later began reading a set of Bukari Hadith I was confounded and baffled by its texts. It actually made me feel repulsive to Islam(my soul's raison d'etre).

There were so many crude analogies and limitations on conduct that I stopped reading it. I asked myself "How can I follow these innumerable and contradictory prohibitions and still have a semblance of a happy and serene life in the USA?

I resolved to follow Quran as best I could and approach sunnah and hadith cautiously and with circumspect.

Thank you for your scholarly writings on "true" Islam and the history of hadith and sunnah. I spent 5 continuous hours on your website yesterday and it was all good.

Maa Salaam,

(an M.D.)

139

Discussions / Your Article on Wife Beating

« on: May 18, 2013, 12:41:30 AM »

Brother Joseph

You are Mashallah the best of the best of current understanders of Islam. May Allah give you long life, more wisdom and knowledge and keep you safe in humility.
I read, at the age 56, for the first time what you explain as meaning of idribuhunna. My heart was enriched and my mind put at peace.

My deep respect, admiration and Salam to you.

Best wishes

140

Discussions / Thank you!

« on: May 12, 2013, 08:29:22 PM »

Your web site has been very helpful for me and my wife . Especially for my wife, who is a convert and had difficulties understanding Ahadith as a source of Islam.

Unfortunately I had to stop visiting nearby mosque , because I honestly can not soberly listen to Imam's khutbas anymore. I do not understand why I have to hear 80 % stories and only 20 % (in the best case) of God's word , Koran.

Not only I am dissapointed with the fact that we are blind enough to not be satisfied with Kuran, but also with the state of muslims in general as well.

In any case, I am sure you have heard this before enough, but I pray to God that people like you and others who whole heartedly dedicate their life's to research in this field and clarify many things, without bias and challenge traditional thought, which needs to be challenged. I hope this voice will be heard strongly in upcoming years.

Salam aleikum.

141

Discussions / From South / Latin America

« on: March 18, 2013, 08:06:18 PM »

As salamalaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu brother.

I write from latin américa,I'm very surprised, with all I've read on the website, Allah reward all research efforts.

Unfortunately, and this is my biggest problem, I do not know Arabic, I returned to Islam two years ago and am learning.

I have had many questions,but for me is hard cant understand classical arabic and just have a spanish translate of Qur'an.

In Latin America have a big problem, most people who spread Islam is Arabic not know our Spanish and teach only basic things often baseless or daleel. And the Salafi stream is the one that spreads.

Well in sha Allah you can read this,and maybe you can share with me some articles to can read and learn more.

Baraka Allah fik

142

Discussions / From Saudi Arabia

« on: March 15, 2013, 11:32:36 PM »

I went through your site today, it's a real service to people who don't even understand God, good work brother.

I'm a person who believes in what you said on your site, surely my approach is more scientific as I have backing of science. I haven't read everything but I'm going through most of the things.

Good thing this site isn't blocked in Saudi Arabia before I use to check another site and it was blocked.

May Allah help you achieve your great goal, it's great to see your work.

Thanks,

143

Discussions / Re: Discussions on Manuscripts and My Responses to a Critique by Jason Wilson

« on: February 25, 2013, 08:34:23 PM »

A PEACEFUL ENDING


By: JASON WILSON

Peace be unto you. I want to apologize to you for anything that I said that was offensive or just simply wrong for me to say. When I started my web site after a crisis in my life I was going through google and your site came up. It was one of the best, if not the best I have read on the Qur'an only position. I had learned allot from you and I know many continue to do. I think your very intelligent, articulate, and can write better than anything that I could have hoped to accomplish. I hope that God continues to bless you and brings fruit to all that you do. As I met you in peace so too do I leave you in Peace.

http://quransmessage.com/(9)%20Facebook/Shared/others/jasonwilson1.jpg



Response by: JOSEPH ISLAM

Dear brother Jason,

Walaikum-salaam.

Thank you for your kind words.

We are both mere cogs in the greater machinery of information flow from whence we seek to quench our thirst of seeking truth for the sake of God. I believe you and I have sincere intent and therefore in that at least, we are kindred spirits.

Anything either of us transmits of truth is certainly by God's mercy and any errors are solely from ourselves.

Please do not feel the need to apologise dear brother. You are a respected soul and I look forward to seeing you in a spiritual kingdom that is promised to believers if it is God's will and He has mercy on our souls. May God forgive us, iA.

I am in the main, unavailable to my wider readership at present, so if you get an automated email, please do ignore it. I thought I'd make a special exception to respond to you.

With utmost respect, always.

Your brother in faith,

Joseph.

http://quransmessage.com/(9)%20Facebook/Shared/others/jasonwilson2.jpg

144

Discussions / Your Articles

« on: February 10, 2013, 10:43:31 PM »

Peace and blessing of Allah be upon you,
Dear Joseph Islam,
I have been looking thru the web for articles that addresses "Quran only". I came across your articles and found them simple and so easy to understand. By explaining the quranic verses, you have made it as clear as it could be. I am saying this after going thru a few of your articles. Looking forward to read and study the others, good work!
May the Lord of the Universe bless you,
PEACE,
[Name Removed]

145

Discussions / Re-Learning Islam and the Deserts of Sudan

« on: February 10, 2013, 09:54:27 AM »

Salaams Joseph

I hope you are well, inshallah.

In this amazing process of re-discovering and re-learning Islam and what it means to please God, inshallah, I came across your website a month or so ago. I have now even gone as far as to join your facebook page - only the 2nd page I have joined!

For me, the process I speak of above seems to be more exhilarating and liberating than when I first became Muslim in the deserts of Sudan over 20 years ago; al hamdullilah.

Your site and the considerable work it represents is quite simply wonderful, mashallah, and it is of great assistance in bringing some balance and overall comprehension to the various (and ever-increasing?) initiatives around developing a new understanding and practice of our beloved deen.

Are there any plans for a book perhaps or some other way of reaching out to greater numbers?

I see from your fb page that you are not really engaged at the moment - so I won't trouble you further. But, we look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience, God willing.

Wa salaam.

146

Discussions / From Myanmar (Burma)

« on: January 23, 2013, 02:07:36 AM »

Salamun Alaikum (Peace be upon you)

My name is [Name Removed] and I'm a learner of Quran in Myanmar.
There are only a few Quranist in my country.
But now a new dawn of Quranist at hand.

with love

147

Discussions / From Pakistan

« on: January 23, 2013, 02:05:22 AM »

WalekumAssalam warehmatullah !

[Name removed] here from Pakistan. Done my M.Phil in Comparative Religions from International Islamic University Islamabad Pakistan.
I have been skimming through your articles and really appreciate your style and ideas. May Allah sanctify your learning Amin ! Very precise, informative and relevant they are.

Let me know if I can help you in any way. I'm planning for a phd in near future. Any advice?

Prayers,
* BlackBerry Internet Service from Mobilink *

148

Discussions / Peace - Question on Rashad Khalifa

« on: January 23, 2013, 02:02:29 AM »

Peace brother ,

God bless you for the webpage quransmessage.com ,

i just want to now your opinion about Rashad Khalifa ,and the mathematical miracle 19, not because Rashad said , but because the Quran said to follow the Quran alone , and because the Quran make it clear that the messengers olso follow only the word of God , the Quran, i try to count for my self the initials of  the suras and i find that in quran uthmani minimum that i take from tanzil,com , this rezults,

(see the photos that i have sent to you, is my searching)

olso..

i cudn't count the for grups of suras that thay have the ALIF , because the pc don't recognizes this letter...in this link are all initials numbered one by one,http://submission.org/QI#/contents the suras with the initial ALIF don't correspod with the counts of Rashad Khalifa , but they are olso multipe of nineteen ,
and all the other suras are multiple of nineteen, however, and in case that if  only the suras without ALIF are multiple of nineteen ...IS THIS A "koencidensce" ?

scuse me for my english , i don't speak so good , my name is [Name removed] and i live ine greece

I agree with you to follow only the quran , and that the messengers can make mistakes,

Peace!

149

Discussions / A sincere thank you ...

« on: January 23, 2013, 01:59:37 AM »

Dear Mr. Joseph Islam, thank you.

Your Quran's Message site is a jewel of understanding, clarity and level-headed guidance, something I so need as I endeavor to understand the true spirit of the Quran vis-a-vis the clutter - yes, I said clutter - of unfounded beliefs, projections, overlays, and harsh forms of social compulsion imposed on Muslims and on the perceptions of non-Muslims from secondary sources.

As I read Asad's "Message of the Quran", I cannot help but notice the number of parenthetical "clarifications" he inserts throughout the verses, making it clear that "THIS" is what the more general statement of the Quran means more "specifically". Where the Quran itself offers a broad statement, the parenthetical insertion narrows it into a decidedly biased point of view. For instance, "adultery" becomes "and all other forms of fornication outside of legal marriage, including ...."

I think it is a crime what secondary sources have done to the purest intent of Islam. Where they have not meddled with the Quran itself (except I feel where they have inserted parenthetical assertions), it is through commentaries and jurisprudence based on commentaries that they have made a mockery of the central message of the revelation. All the emphasis on individual behaviors, and the minutia regarding these behaviors, has really done no more than hang lead weights on the Quran's message and as a result on Islam and Muslims also.

Keep up the good work, and please inform me of updates to the web site as they arise.

As selam aleikum,

A Brother

150

Discussions / Greetings - Possible Appointment as Imam

« on: January 16, 2013, 01:11:53 AM »

Assalam alaykum

I read your articles and pdf and i am amazed at the positions you have put forth. If i may explain my intentions.

I have been muslim for about 1 year now and have been taught many different ahadith and fiqh etc. Now I have recently embarked on a a quest of truth and looking to study the quran since it the criterion. Also being appointed by the imaam of my local masjid to assist him and take over from him when he leaves the country. I am also in a few days going to enroll in a madrasah to finish memorization of the entire quran and learn arabic and hadith etc. I find myself doubting a lot the hadith and interpreations of the quran and the associated fiqh derived from it. My emphasis of my study is the practical implementations of the quran to our lives and society as well as transformation of ourselves and characters etc. What i am trying to say is I feel conflicted in continuing with my studies to be a traditional "shaykh or alim" and the imaam or assistant imaam of the masjid because of my doubts. In otherwords, how can I teach and advise people when I am not even sure about what I am actually going to learn.

Hopefully I have made myself clear and I look forward to any guidance or advise you may be willing to offer.

I pray Allah keeps you firm and forgives your sins and rectify your affairs. Ameen