91
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92
Women / Equality is a legal concept
« on: January 23, 2013, 12:43:28 AM »Peace all,
http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/losing-my-religion-for-equality-20090714-dk0v.html
We were created out of the same substance at the same time and by the same Creator. We are brothers and sisters to each other.
93
General Discussions / 4:135
« on: January 15, 2013, 04:03:57 AM »
Salaam all,
The US Harvard University has posted a verse of the Holy Quran at the entrance of its faculty of law, describing the verse as one of the greatest expressions for justice in history, a Saudi newspaper reported on Sunday.
Verse 135 of Sura Al Nisa (women chapter) has been posted at a wall facing the faculty’s main entrance, dedicated to the best phrases said about justice.
The US Harvard University has posted a verse of the Holy Quran at the entrance of its faculty of law, describing the verse as one of the greatest expressions for justice in history, a Saudi newspaper reported on Sunday.
Verse 135 of Sura Al Nisa (women chapter) has been posted at a wall facing the faculty’s main entrance, dedicated to the best phrases said about justice.
94
General Discussions / Hajar al aswad
« on: January 06, 2013, 07:04:25 AM »
Peace to all,
I've always enjoyed reading Ali Shariati's writings, full of wisdom, in my opinion. I want to share with you a chapter from his book HAJJ. In the book, he writes about what the Hajj experience has taught him.
Allegiance and the Black Stone
Circumambulation must begin at the point where the BLACK STONE is located. This is where you enter the universe's system. You join the other people and assimilate among them as a drop entering the ocean. This is the way to survival, the way to find your 'orbit'! If you do not join the people, you will not be able to pursue the orbit nor approach Almighty Allah. Firstly, with your right hand you must touch or point to the BLACK STONE. Then, immediately, you must be assimilated among the people. What does this stone symbolize? It symbolizes a hand - a right hand! And - whose right hand? The right hand of Allah!
In the past, individuals and tribes made contracts with the chiefs of other tribes. This was done to assure their maintenance and survival in the desert. The contract was known as an allegiance How was it actualized? The individual involved had to extend his right hand to shake and hold the right hand of the other in order that he becomes his ally. Automatically, it was understood that his previous allegiances were cancelled.
At the Black Stone, the moment of selection, you must choose your path, goal and future. When joining the people, you must shake hands with Allah who is extending His right hand - therefore taking the oath to become Allah’s confederate. You will be free from all previous allegiances; no longer will you be an ally of the powers, the hypocrites, the tribal chiefs, the rulers on the earth, the aristocrats of Quraish, the landlords, nor money. You are free!
Quran 48:10 The hand of Allah is over their hands.
Touch Allah’s hand. He is superior to all who have tied your hands in previous allegiances! Upon acquiring the status of being free (after shaking Allah’s hand and re-asserting your “original promise” to Him), it is your duty to join the people. Do not stop, continue on. You must find and select your orbit. Enter the system and move with the others As you circumambulate and move closer to Kaaba, you feel like a small stream merging into a big river. Carried by a wave, not by your feet, you are detached from the ground. Suddenly you find yourself floating and carried on by this flood. As you approach the middle, the pressure of the crowd squeezes you so hard that you are endowed with a new life. You are now part of the people; you are now a man alive and eternal! You move not ‘by yourself’ but ‘with others'. You join them not ‘diplomatically’ but ‘with love’.
See the Allah of Ibrahim. By relating you to Himself, Allah relates you to others. In such a deep, delicate and beautiful way He relates you to the people by the attracting forces of His love. Although you are here to see Allah, you find yourself so busy with the people. Allah has invited you from far distances to come to His house for a private visit, but now He tells you to join he people. You are not to enter His house, nor to stop and stare at the house. You must continue in your circumambulation, remaining shoulder to shoulder with the people. Kaaba is only the center of the orbit; therefore if you stop, move your position or turn your head, you are ‘out’ of the orbit! Once again, do not stop and do not go to the right or to the left. Qibla is in front of you; look ahead and continue going ahead.
Attracted by the forces of the world’s sun (Kaaba), you are on your orbit. You have become a part of this universal system. Circumambulating (Tawaf) around Allah, you will soon forget yourself. What prevails is love and attraction; you are only one of the many people who are “attracted”!
Going around and around, you see no one but Him.You are ‘nothing who feels His existence’ and simultaneously an ‘existence who feels nothing’. You are like a particle in this circular movement in an orbit, a motion, a Tawaf and a Hajj! Nevertheless, all of this is symbolic of Allah. Your position is that of ‘submission’.
By becoming departed from yourself, you have assumed a new form as a ‘particle’ that is gradually melting and disappearing. At its peak, love is absolute; you are a devotee in love! If love had to be described in terms of motion, what type of movement would it be? Very simply, it is best expressed o fa butterfly! In summary, it may be said that Kaaba is the center of love while you are the compass rotating around it.
Hajar was an example for humanity. Allah, the great love and ally of man, ordered her to leave her home with her nursing child. She was told to go to the fearful valley of Mecca where no plant, not even thistles, will grow. Out of love for Allah, she understood and accepted this order. It seems strange, a lonely woman with her lonely child cast into the depth of this valley among such ugly and inactive volcanoes. Without water? Without shelter? Without anyone? But why? All of this because Allah wanted absolute reliance upon Him! This rationale is not comprehendable by our wisdom nor does it appear logical. Water is necessary for existence, the baby needs milk, a man needs friends, and a mother needs help. This is true, yet love can replace all of those needs! One can live with love if the spirit recognizes it. Oh lonely maid, a helpless nursing mother, you and your child must rely upon Allah. Feeling secure with love, rely upon Him!
I've always enjoyed reading Ali Shariati's writings, full of wisdom, in my opinion. I want to share with you a chapter from his book HAJJ. In the book, he writes about what the Hajj experience has taught him.
Allegiance and the Black Stone
Circumambulation must begin at the point where the BLACK STONE is located. This is where you enter the universe's system. You join the other people and assimilate among them as a drop entering the ocean. This is the way to survival, the way to find your 'orbit'! If you do not join the people, you will not be able to pursue the orbit nor approach Almighty Allah. Firstly, with your right hand you must touch or point to the BLACK STONE. Then, immediately, you must be assimilated among the people. What does this stone symbolize? It symbolizes a hand - a right hand! And - whose right hand? The right hand of Allah!
In the past, individuals and tribes made contracts with the chiefs of other tribes. This was done to assure their maintenance and survival in the desert. The contract was known as an allegiance How was it actualized? The individual involved had to extend his right hand to shake and hold the right hand of the other in order that he becomes his ally. Automatically, it was understood that his previous allegiances were cancelled.
At the Black Stone, the moment of selection, you must choose your path, goal and future. When joining the people, you must shake hands with Allah who is extending His right hand - therefore taking the oath to become Allah’s confederate. You will be free from all previous allegiances; no longer will you be an ally of the powers, the hypocrites, the tribal chiefs, the rulers on the earth, the aristocrats of Quraish, the landlords, nor money. You are free!
Quran 48:10 The hand of Allah is over their hands.
Touch Allah’s hand. He is superior to all who have tied your hands in previous allegiances! Upon acquiring the status of being free (after shaking Allah’s hand and re-asserting your “original promise” to Him), it is your duty to join the people. Do not stop, continue on. You must find and select your orbit. Enter the system and move with the others As you circumambulate and move closer to Kaaba, you feel like a small stream merging into a big river. Carried by a wave, not by your feet, you are detached from the ground. Suddenly you find yourself floating and carried on by this flood. As you approach the middle, the pressure of the crowd squeezes you so hard that you are endowed with a new life. You are now part of the people; you are now a man alive and eternal! You move not ‘by yourself’ but ‘with others'. You join them not ‘diplomatically’ but ‘with love’.
See the Allah of Ibrahim. By relating you to Himself, Allah relates you to others. In such a deep, delicate and beautiful way He relates you to the people by the attracting forces of His love. Although you are here to see Allah, you find yourself so busy with the people. Allah has invited you from far distances to come to His house for a private visit, but now He tells you to join he people. You are not to enter His house, nor to stop and stare at the house. You must continue in your circumambulation, remaining shoulder to shoulder with the people. Kaaba is only the center of the orbit; therefore if you stop, move your position or turn your head, you are ‘out’ of the orbit! Once again, do not stop and do not go to the right or to the left. Qibla is in front of you; look ahead and continue going ahead.
Attracted by the forces of the world’s sun (Kaaba), you are on your orbit. You have become a part of this universal system. Circumambulating (Tawaf) around Allah, you will soon forget yourself. What prevails is love and attraction; you are only one of the many people who are “attracted”!
Going around and around, you see no one but Him.You are ‘nothing who feels His existence’ and simultaneously an ‘existence who feels nothing’. You are like a particle in this circular movement in an orbit, a motion, a Tawaf and a Hajj! Nevertheless, all of this is symbolic of Allah. Your position is that of ‘submission’.
By becoming departed from yourself, you have assumed a new form as a ‘particle’ that is gradually melting and disappearing. At its peak, love is absolute; you are a devotee in love! If love had to be described in terms of motion, what type of movement would it be? Very simply, it is best expressed o fa butterfly! In summary, it may be said that Kaaba is the center of love while you are the compass rotating around it.
Hajar was an example for humanity. Allah, the great love and ally of man, ordered her to leave her home with her nursing child. She was told to go to the fearful valley of Mecca where no plant, not even thistles, will grow. Out of love for Allah, she understood and accepted this order. It seems strange, a lonely woman with her lonely child cast into the depth of this valley among such ugly and inactive volcanoes. Without water? Without shelter? Without anyone? But why? All of this because Allah wanted absolute reliance upon Him! This rationale is not comprehendable by our wisdom nor does it appear logical. Water is necessary for existence, the baby needs milk, a man needs friends, and a mother needs help. This is true, yet love can replace all of those needs! One can live with love if the spirit recognizes it. Oh lonely maid, a helpless nursing mother, you and your child must rely upon Allah. Feeling secure with love, rely upon Him!
95
Discussions / JIHAD
« on: January 03, 2013, 10:36:32 AM »
Salaam all,
Very well written article by sister Sumbul Ali-karamali.
http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/01/02/sumbul-ali-karamali-who-are-you-calling-a-jihadist/
Very well written article by sister Sumbul Ali-karamali.
http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2013/01/02/sumbul-ali-karamali-who-are-you-calling-a-jihadist/
96
General Discussions / 52:24-28
« on: December 29, 2012, 06:48:16 AM »
Salaam brother Joseph,
Would you please explain to me your understanding of the verses 52:24-28
Thanks
Would you please explain to me your understanding of the verses 52:24-28
Thanks
97
Prophets and Messengers / Yahya's kitab?
« on: December 25, 2012, 11:13:31 AM »
Salaam all,
19:12 "Ya yahya khuthi alkitaba biquwwatin" here which Scripture are we talking about ? Was he granted a book? He had blessings on his birth-death-awekening, too just like prophet Issa. He was a nabi of Allah with exemplary character.
Peace
19:12 "Ya yahya khuthi alkitaba biquwwatin" here which Scripture are we talking about ? Was he granted a book? He had blessings on his birth-death-awekening, too just like prophet Issa. He was a nabi of Allah with exemplary character.
Peace
98
Discussions / PEACE
« on: December 22, 2012, 03:10:16 AM »
Peace to all,
Instead of focusing on the "doomsday" let's focus on its counterpart. Today, December 21st, the Solstice synchronizes exactly with the end of the 5,125 year cycle of the Mayan Calendar. This moment is considered a unique time to join with others around the world in a synchronized time of prayers for peace. Either gather with friends or take the time alone to center yourself in the space of what peace means to you. Then offer a prayer for peace for all beings and creatures everywhere.
Peace Seeds
All Faiths have prayers for Peace. You might use one or all of these or pray your own prayer. Here are Twelve Prayers for Peace from the World ’s Faith Traditions.
A Hindu Prayer for Peace
O God, lead us from the unreal to the Real.
O God, lead us from darkness to light.
O God, lead us from death to immortality.
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti unto all.
A Buddhist Prayer for Peace
May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings
of body and mind quickly be freed from their illnesses.
May those frightened cease to be afraid, and may those
bound be free. May the powerless find power, and may
people think of befriending one another.”
A Jain Prayer for Peace
‘Do not injure any living being.’ This is the
eternal, perennial, and unalterable way of spiritual life.
Forgive do I creatures all, and let all creatures
forgive me. Unto all have I amity, and unto none enmity.
A Muslim Prayer for Peace
In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the
merciful. Praise be to the Lord of the Universe who has
created us and made us into tribes and nations, that we
may know each other, not that we may despise each
other.
A Sikh Prayer for Peace
. . . we attain God when we love, and only that
victory endures in consequence of which no one is
defeated.
A Baha ’i Prayer for Peace
Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in
Adversity. . . . Be a lamp unto those who walk in
darkness, and a home to the stranger. Be eyes to the
blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring.
Be a breath of life to the body of human- kind, a dew
to the soil of the human heart, and a fruit upon the
tree of humility.
An African Prayer for Peace
Almighty God, . . . You are the one who does not
hesitate to respond to our call. You are the
cornerstone of peace.
A Shinto Prayer for Peace
Although the people living across the ocean are, I
believe, all our brothers and sisters – why are there
constant troubles in the world?
I only earnestly wish that the wind will soon puff
Away all the clouds which are hanging over the tops of
the mountains.
A Native American Prayer for Peace
O Great Spirit of our Ancestors, . . . Give us the
wisdom to teach our children to love, to respect, and
to be kind to each other so that they may grow with
peace in mind. Let us learn to share all the good things
that you provide for us on this Earth.
A Zoroastrian Prayer for Peace
We pray to God to eradicate all the misery in the
world: that understanding triumph over ignorance,
that generosity triumph over indifference, that trust
triumph over contempt, and that truth triumph over
falsehood.
A Jewish Prayer for Peace
Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
that we may walk the paths of the Most High. And we
shall beat our swords into plowshares, and our spears
into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword
Against nation – neither shall they learn war anymore.
And none shall be afraid . . .
A Christian Prayer for Peace
But I say to you that hear, love your enemies, do
good to those who hate you, bless those who curse
you, pray for those who abuse you.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be
called the sons and daughters of God.
- Excerpted from The Gift of Prayer: A Treasury of Personal Prayer from the World ’s Spiritual Traditions, A Fellowship in Prayer Book
Instead of focusing on the "doomsday" let's focus on its counterpart. Today, December 21st, the Solstice synchronizes exactly with the end of the 5,125 year cycle of the Mayan Calendar. This moment is considered a unique time to join with others around the world in a synchronized time of prayers for peace. Either gather with friends or take the time alone to center yourself in the space of what peace means to you. Then offer a prayer for peace for all beings and creatures everywhere.
Peace Seeds
All Faiths have prayers for Peace. You might use one or all of these or pray your own prayer. Here are Twelve Prayers for Peace from the World ’s Faith Traditions.
A Hindu Prayer for Peace
O God, lead us from the unreal to the Real.
O God, lead us from darkness to light.
O God, lead us from death to immortality.
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti unto all.
A Buddhist Prayer for Peace
May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings
of body and mind quickly be freed from their illnesses.
May those frightened cease to be afraid, and may those
bound be free. May the powerless find power, and may
people think of befriending one another.”
A Jain Prayer for Peace
‘Do not injure any living being.’ This is the
eternal, perennial, and unalterable way of spiritual life.
Forgive do I creatures all, and let all creatures
forgive me. Unto all have I amity, and unto none enmity.
A Muslim Prayer for Peace
In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the
merciful. Praise be to the Lord of the Universe who has
created us and made us into tribes and nations, that we
may know each other, not that we may despise each
other.
A Sikh Prayer for Peace
. . . we attain God when we love, and only that
victory endures in consequence of which no one is
defeated.
A Baha ’i Prayer for Peace
Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in
Adversity. . . . Be a lamp unto those who walk in
darkness, and a home to the stranger. Be eyes to the
blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring.
Be a breath of life to the body of human- kind, a dew
to the soil of the human heart, and a fruit upon the
tree of humility.
An African Prayer for Peace
Almighty God, . . . You are the one who does not
hesitate to respond to our call. You are the
cornerstone of peace.
A Shinto Prayer for Peace
Although the people living across the ocean are, I
believe, all our brothers and sisters – why are there
constant troubles in the world?
I only earnestly wish that the wind will soon puff
Away all the clouds which are hanging over the tops of
the mountains.
A Native American Prayer for Peace
O Great Spirit of our Ancestors, . . . Give us the
wisdom to teach our children to love, to respect, and
to be kind to each other so that they may grow with
peace in mind. Let us learn to share all the good things
that you provide for us on this Earth.
A Zoroastrian Prayer for Peace
We pray to God to eradicate all the misery in the
world: that understanding triumph over ignorance,
that generosity triumph over indifference, that trust
triumph over contempt, and that truth triumph over
falsehood.
A Jewish Prayer for Peace
Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
that we may walk the paths of the Most High. And we
shall beat our swords into plowshares, and our spears
into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword
Against nation – neither shall they learn war anymore.
And none shall be afraid . . .
A Christian Prayer for Peace
But I say to you that hear, love your enemies, do
good to those who hate you, bless those who curse
you, pray for those who abuse you.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be
called the sons and daughters of God.
- Excerpted from The Gift of Prayer: A Treasury of Personal Prayer from the World ’s Spiritual Traditions, A Fellowship in Prayer Book
99
General Discussions / Sexual Diversity
« on: December 21, 2012, 06:31:30 AM »
Salaam brother Joseph,
Dr. Scott Siraj al-Haqq Kugle in his book titled Sexual Diversity in Islam makes compelling arguments. I would like to get your opinion on the subject.
There is no mention of homosexuality in the Quran.
Verse 30:22 says God has created human beings with different alwan, a word that can mean both "colors" and "tastes." Human beings certainly have different tastes in many things—including sexuality. It seems clear that sexual diversity must also be a type of human diversity that was created by God's divine wisdom.
Verse 24:31-34 says ghayri uli l-ir’bati mina l-rijali having no physical desire for women among the men.
In the story, the Prophet Lut first advised the people of the city of Sodom to follow God's path, but they ignored him. Later, the men of Sodom threatened to rape Lut's male visitors, who were angels disguised as men. God then punished the entire city of Sodom for rejecting their Prophet and for "transgressions."
Some scholars interpret the "transgressions" in the story of Lut to refer to male homosexuality. Yet the word "transgressions" in the Qur'an can mean something sexual or something non-sexual. Men were not the only ones punished in the destruction of Sodom. According to the Qur'an, the whole city was destroyed. Lut's wife is specifically mentioned. Were Lut's wife, other women and the children of Sodom punished for male homosexuality? That does not seem to be a reasonable conclusion.
The Qu'ran says that the men of Sodom wanted to have sex with the visiting angels by force. This is an example of rape, not an example of sexual desire. Rape is about power. It is used to coerce, control or punish the victim.
Scholar Muhammad ibn Abdallah Al-Kisa'i puts the strange behavior of the men in context. Al-Kisa'i suggests that the people of Sodom had taken to showing their city's dominance by raping strangers. They were showing that they could take what they wanted from others. In that way, people became afraid to raid the city. This showed aggressiveness, stinginess and greed—all things that would justify their punishment.
Peace,
Dr. Scott Siraj al-Haqq Kugle in his book titled Sexual Diversity in Islam makes compelling arguments. I would like to get your opinion on the subject.
There is no mention of homosexuality in the Quran.
Verse 30:22 says God has created human beings with different alwan, a word that can mean both "colors" and "tastes." Human beings certainly have different tastes in many things—including sexuality. It seems clear that sexual diversity must also be a type of human diversity that was created by God's divine wisdom.
Verse 24:31-34 says ghayri uli l-ir’bati mina l-rijali having no physical desire for women among the men.
In the story, the Prophet Lut first advised the people of the city of Sodom to follow God's path, but they ignored him. Later, the men of Sodom threatened to rape Lut's male visitors, who were angels disguised as men. God then punished the entire city of Sodom for rejecting their Prophet and for "transgressions."
Some scholars interpret the "transgressions" in the story of Lut to refer to male homosexuality. Yet the word "transgressions" in the Qur'an can mean something sexual or something non-sexual. Men were not the only ones punished in the destruction of Sodom. According to the Qur'an, the whole city was destroyed. Lut's wife is specifically mentioned. Were Lut's wife, other women and the children of Sodom punished for male homosexuality? That does not seem to be a reasonable conclusion.
The Qu'ran says that the men of Sodom wanted to have sex with the visiting angels by force. This is an example of rape, not an example of sexual desire. Rape is about power. It is used to coerce, control or punish the victim.
Scholar Muhammad ibn Abdallah Al-Kisa'i puts the strange behavior of the men in context. Al-Kisa'i suggests that the people of Sodom had taken to showing their city's dominance by raping strangers. They were showing that they could take what they wanted from others. In that way, people became afraid to raid the city. This showed aggressiveness, stinginess and greed—all things that would justify their punishment.
Peace,
100
General Discussions / Zebibah
« on: December 16, 2012, 11:56:41 PM »Salaam,
Interesting article about a dangerous reasoning based on science.
http://marranci.wordpress.com/2012/12/11/prayer-bumps/
101
General Discussions / NUMBERS
« on: December 16, 2012, 01:18:54 PM »
Peace to All,
I concur with br. Joseph’s view on this issue regarding the Code 19 of the Quran as presented by Rashad Khalifa.
Numerology is a very interesting subject. According to Numerology, everything is, in essence, one thing. There is One whole in religious and mystical tradition representing Unity with Goodness and diversity with evil. In all religions, the essence of the belief is that of One God; even in trinity, the eventual source is always One. All numbers are made from one; 1+1+1+.... 10 was seen as completion or perfection because it completes the series of essential numbers from one to nine and brings them all back to unity.
10= 1 + 0 = 1
Prof. Annemarie Schimmel’s The Mystery of Numbers book is fascinating. She asks why is the number seven lucky- or even holy in almost every culture; why do we speak of the four corners of the earth or why do cats have nine lives (except in Iran, where they have seven) From literature to folklore to private superstitions, numbers play an obvious role in our daily lives.
Numbers have been filled with mystery and meaning since the earliest times, and across every society. Pre-Roman Europeans, for example, may have had a number system based on twenty, not ten, as suggested by the French word for 80 is four times twenty, while the Mayans had a system more sophisticated than our own. But the heart of the book is a guide to the symbolism of numbers from the philosophy of the Pythagoreans and Platonists, to the religious mysticism of the Cabala and the Islamic Brethren of Purity, to Kepler's belief that the laws of planetary motion should be mathematically elegant, to the unlucky thirteen.
Schimmel examines individual numbers ranging from one to ten thousand, discussing the meanings they have had for Judaic, Christian, and Islamic traditions, with examples from Indian, Chinese, and Native American cultures as well. Two, for instance, has widely been seen as a number of contradiction and polarity, a number of discord and antithesis. And six, according to ancient and neo-platonic thinking, is the most perfect number because it is both the sum and the product of its parts (1+2+3=6 and 1x2x3=6). Using examples ranging from the Bible to the Mayans to Shakespeare, she shows how numbers have been considered feminine and masculine, holy and evil, lucky and unlucky. In Islam, many acts are performed in odd numbers such as three or seven times.
Yet creation requires the existence of duality: of the Creator and the creation and God reveals Himself in the contrasting pair of jalal and jamal. The Quran just like the Torah begins with the letter b, as in the bismi’llahi and the numerical value of b as 2 points to the duality inherent in the creation. Alif with its numerical value 1, is the code for the One and Unique God.
Trinitarian thinking is deeply rooted in human beings who live in a three-dimensional world. We see number of concepts grouped in three. There are many customs and rites performed thrice. The Prophet is reported to repeat his words thrice. The life of piety is divided into three: islam, iman, ihsan. Quran offers three stages of the nafs: nafs ammara, nafs lawwama, nafs mutma’inna. The way to God is seen as sharia leading to haqiqa or ma’rifa. Three is the overarching principle. The first number can be constructed into a geometrical shape of triangle where contrasts are solved by the introduction of the third element: lover and beloved are united in Love. The one who recollects is united with the recollected object in the very act of dhikr. In Shia Islam, God, Muhammad and Ali are named together.
From ancient times, Four was the number of the orderly universe like the 4 directions and the 4 elements. In the spiritual sphere, there are 4 hierarchy of saints, 4 archangels, the four books, Torah, Psalms, Gospel and Quran; 4 rightly guided caliphs, four madhhab; up to 4 legitimate wives permitted, 4 witnesses required for adultery cases, 4 awtad pillars the Faith rests upon: patience, certitude, justice and striving. Patience rests on 4 pillars: longing, kindness, asceticism and watchfulness and so on.
Fivefold structures do not occur in crystalline forms, minerals, but occur in many vegetable forms. It is connected with the 5 senses. It is the numerical value of the letter h, the last and essential letter of Allah, 5 so-called pillars of islam; 5 ritual prayers; the ahl al-‘aba, 5 members of the prophet’s household under his cloak who are often called Panjtan; 5 law-giving prophets Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad
God created the world in 6 days. God inspiring the bee can be taken as pointing to the hexagonal shape of the beehive, symbol for the created world. The hexagram is an old magic sign as the six-pointed star, which combines the macrocosmic and microcosmic triangles.
7 gates of Hell; The 7 circumambulations of the Kaaba; 7 stonings of Satan repeated thrice are the central rites of Hajj. 7 was sacred both to Semites and to Iranians, also. Quran has a sevenfold meaning and there are 7 ways to recite it; each rak’a consists of 7 parts. The Ismaili emphasis on Seven is symbolized in the heptagonal fountain in the Ismaili Center in London. Seven is the numerological interpretation of an ideal combination of the spiritual Three and the material Four pillars, thus points to the perfect way through life.
Divine Throne carried by 8 angels, Paradise has 8 gates, one more than Hell because God’s Mercy is gtrater than His wrath. 8 blessings in the Sermon on the Mount; 8 teachings of the Buddha.
Nine is prominent among Turks and Turkic peoples, the concept of 9 spheres in Muslim astronomy. Among Turkish dynasties, nine remains important in etiquette and official life- in Mughal India the custom of bringing ninefold gifts to a high ranking person transformed the word dokuz, ‘nine’ into a term for ‘gift’.
Ten has been from the days of Pythagoreans, the number of perfection and completeness and the Arabs and Muslims used the decimal system. ‘ashara al-mubashshara, the 10 companions of the Prophet who were promised Paradise. For Shia, ten is usually a reminder of 10 Muharram.
12, the number of the zodiacal signs, 12 imams of the Shia
14 is a lunar number. Age 14 was often compared to the full moon in radiant beauty. The 14 of the 28 Arabic letters have diacritical marks and are connected with mulk, the created worlds, while the other 14 are plain and are related to the malakut, the realm of angels and powers; again, 14 of them are called huruf shamsiyya- they assimilate with the l of the Arabic article al-, and 14 are qamariyya/moon letters. The connection between the 28 lunar mansions and the 28 letters influenced the medieval astronomer al-Biruni to claim that the word of God as revealed in the letters and work of God as shown in the lunar mansions are intertwined.
19 is the numerical value of the word wahid, ‘One’; it is the sacred number of the Bahais. Many interpreters connected it with the number of letters in the basmala while others counted only 18 letters in this formula. In Shia speculation it is the sum of the 12 zodiacal signs and the 7 planets which correspond to the seven prophets and 12 imams.
40 is exceptionally important. It is the numerical value of the letter m, connected with Muhammad and in particular with his heavenly name ‘Ahmad’: Ahmad is distinguished from Ahad only by the m, meaning human beings have to reach God by means of 40 steps. In traditions 40 is preparation and purification for a rite of passage: 40 years during the COI erred through the dessert symbolize the feats that humankind has to undertake. Moses’ 40-day fast. Sufi has to practice 40 days of seclusion. The deluge lasted 40 days. Idris, Hud, Salih and Muhammad were called to act as prophets at age 40. Some believe the Mahdi will appear after 40 caliphs have ruled and will reign for 40 years. 40 saints are an important group in the mystical hierarchy; the ahl as-suffa, the pious poor ‘of the veranda’ in Muhammad’s house in Medina were the prototypes of later Suffis, consisted of 40 people. Turkish folklore says to drink a cup of coffee with someone creates a relationship that will last for 40 years. Ali Baba had to deal with 40 thieves. 40 days 40 nights celebrations in fairy tales.
72 sects of Islam one of which will be saved.
99 Divine Names of God
A brief example of the sacred aspects of nature and culture in human history symbolized by the NUMBERS
Quote
“Those that accept the veracity of the Quran as truth from God do not question the veracity of the two verses in question (9:128-129). They accept them as part of the Quran and vouch for the veracity of the Quran based on its powerful arguments as opposed to any inherent mathematical code. Furthermore, there is absolutely no evidence in any recitation or any ancient manuscript that there was ever an omission of verses 9:128-129. “
I concur with br. Joseph’s view on this issue regarding the Code 19 of the Quran as presented by Rashad Khalifa.
Numerology is a very interesting subject. According to Numerology, everything is, in essence, one thing. There is One whole in religious and mystical tradition representing Unity with Goodness and diversity with evil. In all religions, the essence of the belief is that of One God; even in trinity, the eventual source is always One. All numbers are made from one; 1+1+1+.... 10 was seen as completion or perfection because it completes the series of essential numbers from one to nine and brings them all back to unity.
10= 1 + 0 = 1
Prof. Annemarie Schimmel’s The Mystery of Numbers book is fascinating. She asks why is the number seven lucky- or even holy in almost every culture; why do we speak of the four corners of the earth or why do cats have nine lives (except in Iran, where they have seven) From literature to folklore to private superstitions, numbers play an obvious role in our daily lives.
Numbers have been filled with mystery and meaning since the earliest times, and across every society. Pre-Roman Europeans, for example, may have had a number system based on twenty, not ten, as suggested by the French word for 80 is four times twenty, while the Mayans had a system more sophisticated than our own. But the heart of the book is a guide to the symbolism of numbers from the philosophy of the Pythagoreans and Platonists, to the religious mysticism of the Cabala and the Islamic Brethren of Purity, to Kepler's belief that the laws of planetary motion should be mathematically elegant, to the unlucky thirteen.
Schimmel examines individual numbers ranging from one to ten thousand, discussing the meanings they have had for Judaic, Christian, and Islamic traditions, with examples from Indian, Chinese, and Native American cultures as well. Two, for instance, has widely been seen as a number of contradiction and polarity, a number of discord and antithesis. And six, according to ancient and neo-platonic thinking, is the most perfect number because it is both the sum and the product of its parts (1+2+3=6 and 1x2x3=6). Using examples ranging from the Bible to the Mayans to Shakespeare, she shows how numbers have been considered feminine and masculine, holy and evil, lucky and unlucky. In Islam, many acts are performed in odd numbers such as three or seven times.
Yet creation requires the existence of duality: of the Creator and the creation and God reveals Himself in the contrasting pair of jalal and jamal. The Quran just like the Torah begins with the letter b, as in the bismi’llahi and the numerical value of b as 2 points to the duality inherent in the creation. Alif with its numerical value 1, is the code for the One and Unique God.
Trinitarian thinking is deeply rooted in human beings who live in a three-dimensional world. We see number of concepts grouped in three. There are many customs and rites performed thrice. The Prophet is reported to repeat his words thrice. The life of piety is divided into three: islam, iman, ihsan. Quran offers three stages of the nafs: nafs ammara, nafs lawwama, nafs mutma’inna. The way to God is seen as sharia leading to haqiqa or ma’rifa. Three is the overarching principle. The first number can be constructed into a geometrical shape of triangle where contrasts are solved by the introduction of the third element: lover and beloved are united in Love. The one who recollects is united with the recollected object in the very act of dhikr. In Shia Islam, God, Muhammad and Ali are named together.
From ancient times, Four was the number of the orderly universe like the 4 directions and the 4 elements. In the spiritual sphere, there are 4 hierarchy of saints, 4 archangels, the four books, Torah, Psalms, Gospel and Quran; 4 rightly guided caliphs, four madhhab; up to 4 legitimate wives permitted, 4 witnesses required for adultery cases, 4 awtad pillars the Faith rests upon: patience, certitude, justice and striving. Patience rests on 4 pillars: longing, kindness, asceticism and watchfulness and so on.
Fivefold structures do not occur in crystalline forms, minerals, but occur in many vegetable forms. It is connected with the 5 senses. It is the numerical value of the letter h, the last and essential letter of Allah, 5 so-called pillars of islam; 5 ritual prayers; the ahl al-‘aba, 5 members of the prophet’s household under his cloak who are often called Panjtan; 5 law-giving prophets Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad
God created the world in 6 days. God inspiring the bee can be taken as pointing to the hexagonal shape of the beehive, symbol for the created world. The hexagram is an old magic sign as the six-pointed star, which combines the macrocosmic and microcosmic triangles.
7 gates of Hell; The 7 circumambulations of the Kaaba; 7 stonings of Satan repeated thrice are the central rites of Hajj. 7 was sacred both to Semites and to Iranians, also. Quran has a sevenfold meaning and there are 7 ways to recite it; each rak’a consists of 7 parts. The Ismaili emphasis on Seven is symbolized in the heptagonal fountain in the Ismaili Center in London. Seven is the numerological interpretation of an ideal combination of the spiritual Three and the material Four pillars, thus points to the perfect way through life.
Divine Throne carried by 8 angels, Paradise has 8 gates, one more than Hell because God’s Mercy is gtrater than His wrath. 8 blessings in the Sermon on the Mount; 8 teachings of the Buddha.
Nine is prominent among Turks and Turkic peoples, the concept of 9 spheres in Muslim astronomy. Among Turkish dynasties, nine remains important in etiquette and official life- in Mughal India the custom of bringing ninefold gifts to a high ranking person transformed the word dokuz, ‘nine’ into a term for ‘gift’.
Ten has been from the days of Pythagoreans, the number of perfection and completeness and the Arabs and Muslims used the decimal system. ‘ashara al-mubashshara, the 10 companions of the Prophet who were promised Paradise. For Shia, ten is usually a reminder of 10 Muharram.
12, the number of the zodiacal signs, 12 imams of the Shia
14 is a lunar number. Age 14 was often compared to the full moon in radiant beauty. The 14 of the 28 Arabic letters have diacritical marks and are connected with mulk, the created worlds, while the other 14 are plain and are related to the malakut, the realm of angels and powers; again, 14 of them are called huruf shamsiyya- they assimilate with the l of the Arabic article al-, and 14 are qamariyya/moon letters. The connection between the 28 lunar mansions and the 28 letters influenced the medieval astronomer al-Biruni to claim that the word of God as revealed in the letters and work of God as shown in the lunar mansions are intertwined.
19 is the numerical value of the word wahid, ‘One’; it is the sacred number of the Bahais. Many interpreters connected it with the number of letters in the basmala while others counted only 18 letters in this formula. In Shia speculation it is the sum of the 12 zodiacal signs and the 7 planets which correspond to the seven prophets and 12 imams.
40 is exceptionally important. It is the numerical value of the letter m, connected with Muhammad and in particular with his heavenly name ‘Ahmad’: Ahmad is distinguished from Ahad only by the m, meaning human beings have to reach God by means of 40 steps. In traditions 40 is preparation and purification for a rite of passage: 40 years during the COI erred through the dessert symbolize the feats that humankind has to undertake. Moses’ 40-day fast. Sufi has to practice 40 days of seclusion. The deluge lasted 40 days. Idris, Hud, Salih and Muhammad were called to act as prophets at age 40. Some believe the Mahdi will appear after 40 caliphs have ruled and will reign for 40 years. 40 saints are an important group in the mystical hierarchy; the ahl as-suffa, the pious poor ‘of the veranda’ in Muhammad’s house in Medina were the prototypes of later Suffis, consisted of 40 people. Turkish folklore says to drink a cup of coffee with someone creates a relationship that will last for 40 years. Ali Baba had to deal with 40 thieves. 40 days 40 nights celebrations in fairy tales.
72 sects of Islam one of which will be saved.
99 Divine Names of God
A brief example of the sacred aspects of nature and culture in human history symbolized by the NUMBERS
102
General Discussions / evolution of matter
« on: December 09, 2012, 07:20:04 AM »
Salaam all,
I had shared with you before:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Di73YH8vW7g
23:12-14
The inorganic matter becomes organic and living matter. The inorganic materials of the earth having been absorbed into living matter by way of food the living matter reproduces itself by means of sperm deposited in the ovum and fertilizes it and rests for a time in security in the mother’s womb. Fertilized egg converts into a clot of congealed blood; the zygote cells grow by segmentation; mass assumes shape in its growth. From the lump develop bones and organs and a nervous system.
This is the formation of physical body before Adam
Adam's progeny will spiritually evolve till they attain the stage when they can become 'khalifa' of God on earth.
I had shared with you before:
Quote
Rabb attribute creates a thing and then develops it taking it from stage to stage till it attains perfection. Rububiyah is another expression for the law of Evolution.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Di73YH8vW7g
23:12-14
The inorganic matter becomes organic and living matter. The inorganic materials of the earth having been absorbed into living matter by way of food the living matter reproduces itself by means of sperm deposited in the ovum and fertilizes it and rests for a time in security in the mother’s womb. Fertilized egg converts into a clot of congealed blood; the zygote cells grow by segmentation; mass assumes shape in its growth. From the lump develop bones and organs and a nervous system.
This is the formation of physical body before Adam
Adam's progeny will spiritually evolve till they attain the stage when they can become 'khalifa' of God on earth.
103
General Discussions / oppressive queen
« on: December 06, 2012, 08:30:14 AM »Peace brother Joseph and all,
Verse 27:23 i "I found there a woman ruling over them, one who has been granted everything (that a ruler is expected to have), and who has a mighty throne.”
Tamlikuhum is either translated as ‘ruling over’ or 'reigning over’ except Muhammad Ahmad-Samira’s rendering as “she owns/rules them”.
If owning can be used, then it is a totally different meaning: The Queen had enslaved her people. Thus the tension created by Solomon’s command disappears.
27:31 That do not become high, mighty and dignified over me, and come to me (as) Moslems/submitters .
This conflicts with the There is no compulsion in religion . 2:256 and
there should be no hostility except against the oppressors. 2:193
10:99, 18:29
104
General Discussions / 7:79
« on: December 05, 2012, 10:50:39 AM »
Peace br. Joseph and all,
Who are the prophets Salih and Shu'ayb talking to if their nations are destroyed?
" my people! I did indeed convey to you the Message for which I was sent by my Lord: I gave you good counsel, But ye love not good counsellors!"(7:79 and 7:93? Are they being addressed before or after death in these verses?
Thank you
Who are the prophets Salih and Shu'ayb talking to if their nations are destroyed?
" my people! I did indeed convey to you the Message for which I was sent by my Lord: I gave you good counsel, But ye love not good counsellors!"(7:79 and 7:93? Are they being addressed before or after death in these verses?
Thank you
105
General Discussions / Knowing God
« on: December 02, 2012, 06:18:23 AM »
Peace to all,
The essence of existence is something we name God and outside God can exist nothing but emptiness.
“All that is to perish and forever will remain the Face of your Sustainer, the Possessor of Majesty and Generous Giving” 55:26-27
In the beginning there is no time, no space only Divine Being in His undifferentiated Essence (Dhat). Bukhari hadith reports that the Prophet allegedly said, “God was and there was nothing with Him”
The Essence first differentiates itself into Divine duality and from there into plurality. The Jalal- jamal, negative-positive, male-female, mercy-wrath, Yang-ying, gentle-severe, active-receptive are the two basic perspectives of Divine Reality. God introduces Himself through al-asma’ al-husna.
There is another hadith attributed to the Prophet that only the Sufis accept as sound. For creation, God allegedly said, ‘I was a hidden treasure and I desired to be known‘ Whether this is sound or not, it helps in knowing God, in my opinion.
What can and cannot be known about God? What is it that differentiates God from everything in the cosmos?
He is not similar to anything else: incomparability. He is what everything else is not.
Tanzih declares His incomparability, transcendence and distance from creation and human insignificance.
42:11 “Nothing can be compared with Him!” God in His Essence cannot be known. “None knows God but God”
3:97 “God is independent of all creatures.” Ghani
Tashbih declares His similarity and nearness with His creatures.
God is “with you wherever you are” 57:4
He is “nearer to you than the jugular vein” 50:16
“Wherever you turn, there is the face of God” 2:115
“I respond to the call of one who calls, whenever he calls to Me” 2:186
To understand God as distant through His greatness, power, majesty, holiness is to see Him as the jalal, male, negative, yang, active aspects of the Reality. To understand God close through His mercy, compassion, kindness, generosity, forgiveness is to see Him as the jamal, female, positive, yin, receptive aspects of the Reality.
God is not limited by either perspective. God is not only inaccessible but is also present with His servants. Incomparability yields to “abd”and islam; Similarity yields to “khalifa” and ihsan when humans manifest nothing but the attributes of God.
There are many names related to acts of God which make sense only in relation to creation.
Al-Ghafoor forgives some people for their sins, hence the necessity for sin.
Al-Khaaliq cannot function without a creation.
Al-Rabb the Creator, Evolver, Sustainer and Cherisher of all the creatures and everything else in the world. His protective care embraces both the physical and spiritual provisions for mankind.
God does not create anything, living or non living in its perfect condition all at once; after creating a thing carries it through a series of stages, gradual creation. This does not mean that He has no power to create a thing in its perfect form. He does not do so to allow His Rububiyah to function.
All the laws of nature are the manifestations of His attributes. To think that His Absolute Power, one of His attributes, would go against His other attributes would amount to denying perfection to His attributes. This is the reason the laws of God are immutable.
17:77 no change in the course
33:62 no change in the course
30:43 no alteration in the course
Rabb attribute creates a thing and then develops it taking it from stage to stage till it attains perfection. Rububiyah is another expression for the law of Evolution.
The concept of God demands incomparability and similarity, the cosmos and the complementary names.
"The green in every tree is YOU.
The beauty of every garden is YOU.
My wealth, my work
my Master, is YOU.
There is no reality except YOU."
~Rumi
The beauty of every garden is YOU.
My wealth, my work
my Master, is YOU.
There is no reality except YOU."
~Rumi
The essence of existence is something we name God and outside God can exist nothing but emptiness.
“All that is to perish and forever will remain the Face of your Sustainer, the Possessor of Majesty and Generous Giving” 55:26-27
In the beginning there is no time, no space only Divine Being in His undifferentiated Essence (Dhat). Bukhari hadith reports that the Prophet allegedly said, “God was and there was nothing with Him”
The Essence first differentiates itself into Divine duality and from there into plurality. The Jalal- jamal, negative-positive, male-female, mercy-wrath, Yang-ying, gentle-severe, active-receptive are the two basic perspectives of Divine Reality. God introduces Himself through al-asma’ al-husna.
There is another hadith attributed to the Prophet that only the Sufis accept as sound. For creation, God allegedly said, ‘I was a hidden treasure and I desired to be known‘ Whether this is sound or not, it helps in knowing God, in my opinion.
What can and cannot be known about God? What is it that differentiates God from everything in the cosmos?
He is not similar to anything else: incomparability. He is what everything else is not.
Tanzih declares His incomparability, transcendence and distance from creation and human insignificance.
42:11 “Nothing can be compared with Him!” God in His Essence cannot be known. “None knows God but God”
3:97 “God is independent of all creatures.” Ghani
Tashbih declares His similarity and nearness with His creatures.
God is “with you wherever you are” 57:4
He is “nearer to you than the jugular vein” 50:16
“Wherever you turn, there is the face of God” 2:115
“I respond to the call of one who calls, whenever he calls to Me” 2:186
To understand God as distant through His greatness, power, majesty, holiness is to see Him as the jalal, male, negative, yang, active aspects of the Reality. To understand God close through His mercy, compassion, kindness, generosity, forgiveness is to see Him as the jamal, female, positive, yin, receptive aspects of the Reality.
God is not limited by either perspective. God is not only inaccessible but is also present with His servants. Incomparability yields to “abd”and islam; Similarity yields to “khalifa” and ihsan when humans manifest nothing but the attributes of God.
There are many names related to acts of God which make sense only in relation to creation.
Al-Ghafoor forgives some people for their sins, hence the necessity for sin.
Al-Khaaliq cannot function without a creation.
Al-Rabb the Creator, Evolver, Sustainer and Cherisher of all the creatures and everything else in the world. His protective care embraces both the physical and spiritual provisions for mankind.
God does not create anything, living or non living in its perfect condition all at once; after creating a thing carries it through a series of stages, gradual creation. This does not mean that He has no power to create a thing in its perfect form. He does not do so to allow His Rububiyah to function.
All the laws of nature are the manifestations of His attributes. To think that His Absolute Power, one of His attributes, would go against His other attributes would amount to denying perfection to His attributes. This is the reason the laws of God are immutable.
17:77 no change in the course
33:62 no change in the course
30:43 no alteration in the course
Rabb attribute creates a thing and then develops it taking it from stage to stage till it attains perfection. Rububiyah is another expression for the law of Evolution.
The concept of God demands incomparability and similarity, the cosmos and the complementary names.