Messages

151

General Discussions / Re: Why is shirk the worst sin?

« on: December 25, 2015, 08:43:20 AM »

Salaam mia666,

Further to your understanding of what constitutes Shirk, Joseph Islam has an interesting take on it in his 'Idolatry According to the Quran' article:

"The Quranic understanding of shirk is deep and not restricted to 'worshiping idols' as commonly and restrictively understood....most people don't realize when they enter idolatry thinking it is only restricted to statue worship. Setting up partners with God can come in many different guises according to the Quran."

http://quransmessage.com/articles/idolatry%20according%20to%20the%20quran%20FM3.htm
 

152

General Discussions / Re: Concept of an Islamic State

« on: December 17, 2015, 11:43:32 AM »

Salaam mia666,

With respect to Jizya, Joseph Islam has touched on it in the following link:

http://quransmessage.com/forum/index.php?topic=315.0


Further to that, the same commentator who I've mentioned in my pevious comment has the following to say about it, as well.:

"In the Islamic state, every able-bodied Muslim is obliged to take up arms in jihad (i.e., in a just war in God's cause) whenever the freedom of his faith or the political safety of his community is imperiled: in other words, every able-bodied Muslim is liable to compulsory military service. Since this is, primarily, a religious obligation, non-Muslim citizens, who do not subscribe to the ideology of Islam, cannot in fairness be expected to assume a similar burden. On the other hand, they must be accorded full protection of all their civic rights and of their religious freedom: and it is in order to compensate the Muslim community for this unequal distribution of civic burdens that a special tax is levied on non-Muslim citizens (ahl adh-dhimmah, lit., "covenanted" [or "protected"] people", i.e., non-Muslims whose safety is statutorily assured by the Muslim community). Thus, jizyah is no more and no less than an exemption tax in lieu of military service and in compensation for the "covenant of protection" (dhimmah) accorded to such citizens by the Islamic state. (The term itself is derived from the verb jazd, "he rendered [something] as a satisfaction", or "as a compensation [in lieu of something else]" - cf. Lane II, 422.) No fixed rate has been set either by the Qur'an or by the Prophet for this tax; but from all available Traditions it is evident that it is to be considerably lower than the tax called zakah ("the purifying dues") to which Muslims are liable and which - because it is a specifically Islamic religious duty - is naturally not to be levied on non-Muslims. Only such of the non-Muslim citizens who, if they were Muslims, would be expected to serve in the armed forces of the state are liable to the payment of jizyah, provided that they can easily afford it. Accordingly, all non-Muslim citizens whose personal status or condition would automatically free them from the obligation to render military service are statutorily - that is, on the basis of clear-cut ordinances promulgated by the Prophet - exempted from the payment of jizyah: (a) all women, (b) males who have not yet reached full maturity, (c) old men, (d) all sick or crippled men, (e) priests and monks. All non-Muslim citizens who volunteer for military service are obviously exempted from the payment of jizyah."


And by the way, yes I am still attending school; I am only a year away from getting my bachelors, God-willing.

153

General Discussions / Re: Concept of an Islamic State

« on: December 17, 2015, 01:11:36 AM »

Salaam mia666,

You asked several good questions which I, personally, won't be able to give my opinion on at the moment, because I have Finals which I must study for. But there is one question you asked which I believe I can give an answer to.

You asked:

"How would an actual "Islamic state" be run?"

Muhammad Asad, a man whom I admire greatly for his commentary of/on the Quran, lays out the structure and governing of an 'Islamic State' in the following link. Albite he sometimes makes use of the hadith to make his case, over-all I think you may like what he has to say with respect to the structure and function of an 'Islamic State'.:

https://m1scqw.bn1302.livefilestore.com/y3mCtWQXV4MO6NJfyp3W7Vut5eZ3tysRkjr2jiPuQLpGnn7pN8CPWV2vr3jQBU0UHQeggS9lHTCk7FpXNTaB57pybeZ-3XwW_AYsOxQ6l9GWiI4zyRX4M6LUX28UCxT8ay2_gPQQHjZDjk2QLXkgceRgA/Principles-State-Government-Islam.pdf?psid=1

If the above link doesn't work, or you want a PDF version of the above link, you can google the following tittle and it should give you a PDF option:

"The Principles of State and Government in Islam"

154

General Discussions / Re: Does God need our worship?

« on: December 09, 2015, 03:47:34 PM »

Salaam mia666,

You asked:

"if God doesn't need anything...why does He want us to worship Him"

You are right in saying that God is not in need of us. I am, therefore, of the belief that Worshipping Him has been legislated for us solely for the benefit of humanity, on an individual as well as societal level. We must bear in mind that in Islam worshipping God does not simply consist of the five daily Prayers, fasting once a month every year, etc; but it also consist of acts such as giving charity (76:8-9; 2:110; 2:215; 2:273), forbidding the doing of evil, encouraging the doing of good (3:110;), defending the oppressed (4:75), standing up for justice (4:135), all of which, though placed under the umbrella of 'worshiping God', are actions which help us to elevate ourselves and our societies. Supplicating, imploring, praising God, and reciting verses from His revelation, though also under the umbrella of 'worshipping God', helps us in being ever-conscious of God and thus creates a strong sense within the individual to remove the evil within himself and in the community/environment he lives in, as well as to strive to establish the word of God within himself and within his community. Society is merely a conglomeration of individuals, and when individuals are spiritually and morally upright through the remembrance/worshiping of God, then society itself will also be upright. Therefore, Allah asks us to worship Him (by fulfilling the above acts) not so that He may benefit from it, but so that we (on an individual as well as societal level) may benefit from it/them.

You also asked:

"Many people are born into extreme poverty and God is the one who's made them suffer, so why does He get mad if these people don't worship Him?"

With respect I must ask why you believe God would get mad and inflict his punishment upon those who've been unfortunate enough to be born into extreme poverty? If those who've been unfortunate enough to be birthed into extreme poverty have no concept of God, and His existence and commandments have either never reached them or have never been clearly manifested to them then, as alluded to earlier, I find no reason why Allah would punish them, seeing as how He is full of mercy and forgiveness. It is only those who, though having been born into extreme poverty, deny the existence of God and rebel against Him even after His existence and commandments have been fully manifested to him/them that Allah will be displeased with; or He may choose to forgive them, given their unfortunate state.

UNDERSTANDING OUR TRIALS - WHY ME?
http://quransmessage.com/articles/understanding%20trials%20FM3.htm

WE WILL BE TESTED
http://quransmessage.com/articles/tests%20FM3.htm

155

General Discussions / Re: 4:142

« on: December 05, 2015, 01:09:44 PM »

Salaam Hamzeh,

Thank you for the correction and for your input. 

156

General Discussions / Re: 4:142

« on: December 04, 2015, 09:11:02 AM »

Salaam mia666,

You said:

"Allah led people to believe Jesus died on the cross, but actually he didn't"

With respect I am going to have to disagree with you. We as Muslims know that Jesus did not die on the cross, as per the following verses:

"And [for] their saying: ‘Indeed, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.' And they did not kill him, nor did they crucify him; but [another] was made to resemble him to them. And indeed, those who differ over it are in doubt about it. They have no knowledge of it except the following of assumption. And they did not kill him, for certain. Rather, Allah raised him to Himself. And ever is Allah Exalted in Might and Wise. And there is none from the People of the Scripture but that he will surely believe in Jesus before his death. And on the Day of Resurrection he will be against them a witness." [Quran 4"157-159]

Thus, as per the above verses, the Qur'an categorically denies the story of the crucifixion of Jesus; so I fail to see how Allah (as you stated) mislead people to believe otherwise.

You also said:

"Allah also once sent Muhammad a dream that made it look like Muhammad would have few enemies in battle, but he ended up having a lot, and Allah said He sent the dream so Muhammad's troops wouldn't feel discouraged."

May I ask you to cite me the verse/s which supports the above statement?

157

General Discussions / Re: heaven and hell

« on: November 26, 2015, 02:44:51 PM »

Salaam mia666,

You've asked some good questions. But, unfortunately, to the best of my limited knowledge and understanding I can only answer one of them.

You asked:

"On the Day of Judgement...do you think there would be a 3rd place for people who never got the message of monotheism?"

I would refer to the scenario you painted as ‘the absence of belief (or disbelief out of ignorance). This scenario is best characterized by one whom the truth (in this case the existence of Allah) has either never reached, or has not been clearly manifested to him/her, or has come to him in such a garbled and corrupt/ed form that it makes it difficult for him to recognize it as the truth. I don’t consider this state ‘disbelieve’ but rather the ‘absence of belief’; because in such state one either never encountered the truth or it has not been clearly manifested to him, hence he/she never had the option to believe or disbelieve.

To illustrate this better consider the following scenario:

Suppose there is a man on an isolated island, and has been on that island since birth. Now suppose that that man has never made contact with anyone or anything outside of that island. As such, said man would have no idea of the existence of a God, as the truth (in this case God’s existence) has never reached him nor been clearly manifested to him (seeing as how he’s on an isolated island); as such, the man would have an ‘absence of belief’ in the existence of a God. Now suppose this man dies on that island, without the truth (in this case the existence of a God) having ever reached him. Now tell me, would it not be unjust for Allah to punish him for supposedly disbelieving? Seeing as how the truth (the existence of Allah) has never reached or been clearly manifested to him; hence never having the chance to believe or disbelieve.

So, to answer you question, I firmly believe that one whom the truth of a certain matter (in this case the existence of Allah) has either never reached him or has never been clearly manifested to him cannot (in my opinion) be considered a ‘disbeliever’ and therefore would be unjust for Allah to condemn them to the hell-fire. Now personally I do not know what will happen to people in the above-mentioned scenario but I would like to think Allah (seeing as how merciful and forgiving He is) would pardon them.

By the ways, brother Joseph Islam wrote of a similar issue in the following article:

http://quransmessage.com/articles/understanding%20kufr%20FM3.htm

Hope this answers your question.

158

General Discussions / Re: 24:45

« on: November 26, 2015, 01:41:05 PM »

Salaam mia666,

With respect to your question I, personally, don't believe that there can ever be correct answer to. I say that because I, personally, don't know if ever (here on earth) we will come in-contact with the Jinn or the Angel so as to know their anatomy (biologically).

That said, I don't believe that there is a contradiction between the Quran stating that all living beings are created from water (24:45) while also stating that the Jinn were created from fire and the Angels from light. It is possible that those two being, though created from and composed of different elements, may very well have water (whatever the percentage) in their system.

Furthermore, with respect to the claim of the Jinn being created from fire, I share the sentiment of joseph Islam when he states that: "Contrary to popular belief, the composition elements of the Jinn do not necessarily allude to a literal understanding of fire. There is indeed some semblance of fire (nar), but it is primarily a description used by the Quran to best describe to a 7th century Arab audience, a substance which they may not be familiar with."

http://quransmessage.com/articles/jinn%20FM3.htm

159

General Discussions / Re: Understanding Quran 8:39

« on: November 25, 2015, 11:28:51 AM »

Salaam brother Joseph Islam,

Thank you, as well. And God bless

160

General Discussions / Re: Understanding Quran 8:39

« on: November 25, 2015, 11:26:34 AM »

Salaam mia666,

With respect to the question you asked on your last comment on whether I would consider a believer or disbelievers the father who considers music, art, and cartoons haram, my answer is simply that I am in no position to say who is and isn't a believer/disbeliever; I am in no position to judge others. Only Allah has the right to judge and the right to determine who, among His servants, are believers or disbelievers.

That said, I would like to address that fathers claims in saying that music, art, and cartoons are haram.

As I have alluded to in a previous reply: Any and all religious assertions or theological standpoints/practices must find unequivocal support from the Quran; any theological standpoint whatsoever in the name of God's religion, must provide clear, unambiguous, unequivocal proof and authority from the Quran for those position; as it is the Quran that is the primary and ultimate authority from God.
Therefore, the burden of prove would be on the father you mentioned to support his assertions solely from a Quran perspective for his proclamation of music, art, and cartoons being haram.

The verse most Muslims cite to support their declaring of music being as haram is the following verse:

"But there are, among men, those who purchase idle (Arabic: Lahwa-l) tales (Arabic: Hadith), without knowledge, to mislead from the Path of God and throw ridicule (on the Path): for such there will be a Humiliating Penalty" [Quran 31:6]

But what is being referred to in the above verse is not music but rather those who mock the Quran. Nowhere in that verse is there any mention of the word 'music'. Rather the word used in that verse, which some translators translate as music, is the word ‘idle’ (or Lahwa-l Hadith). All this verse says is that there are, among man, those who purchase false words/idle (or Lahwa-l Hadith) without knowledge. It’s, as Muhammad Asad states: an allusion to a pseudo-philosophical play with words and metaphysical speculations without any real meaning (or evidence) behind them.

Brother Joseph Islam further elucidates on that verse and on the topic of music in the following article:
http://quransmessage.com/articles/music%20FM3.htm

With respect to the other two (art and cartoon), the declaration of them being haram also finds absolutely NO support from the Quran.

Peace,
Hassan.

161

General Discussions / Re: Understanding Quran 8:39

« on: November 24, 2015, 01:43:42 PM »

Salaam sister Mariyah,

You said:

"Either way, killing random people is in no way justifiable if you read other Quranic verses."

I agree with you, sister.

You also said:

"I think reading Quran brings out the best and worst in people...It's basically your choice, which is why you have to read Quran with an open mind."

Indeed. As brother Joseph Islam expressed in one of his articles: "No matter how accurate a source, and indeed the source of the Quran remains 'perfect' (i.e. God), it is the fallible mind which interprets the source which causes the variance."

With respect to the Quran teacher you alluded to, I completely disagree with the claims he made when he said that taking Christians as friend is haram or that Allah likes men more than women. Such claims find absolutely NO support from the Quran.

As brother Joseph Islam alluded to in one of his articles: Any and all religious assertions or theological standpoints/practices must find unequivocal support from the Quran; any theological standpoint whatsoever in the name of God's religion, must provide clear, unambiguous, unequivocal proof and authority from the Quran for their position; as it is the Quran that is the primary and ultimate authority from God. That said, the burden of prove would be on the Quran teacher you mentioned to support his assertions (i.e. haram to be friend with Christians, or men being more liked than women) solely from a Quran perspective.

If we examine in particular those Quranic verses, which individuals (such as the Quran teacher you mentioned) usually cite as support for their assertions, it becomes obvious that those verses, in fact, does not support their claims.

So, with respect to that Quran teachers claim about men being favored more than women by Allah, there is absolutely NO verse in the Quran supporting it. The verse most misogynistic Muslims (and non-Muslim critics) cite to support this claim is the following verse:

"Men are in charge of women by [right of] what Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [for maintenance] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband's] absence what Allah would have them guard. But those [wives] from whom you fear arrogance - [first] advise them; [then if they persist], forsake them in bed; and [finally], strike them. But if they obey you [once more], seek no means against them. Indeed, Allah is ever Exalted and Grand." [Quran 4:34]


But Brother Joseph Islam explains that verse beautifully in another discussion (link below):
http://quransmessage.com/forum/index.php?topic=436.0


And, with respect to the Quran teachers claim about having Christians as friends being haram, this too finds absolutely NO support in the Quran. The Quran is best understood when verses do not conflict with one another (or when a command in one verse does not conflict with or contradict the command of/in another verse). That said, it becomes obvious that that teachers claim (about Christian friends being haram) is in contradiction of the Quran. And here's why. Allah has told us in the Quran that we (Muslims) are free to marry from 'people of the book' (meaning Jews and Christians)(see:5:5); so how can being friends with Christians (or Jews) be haram when Allah has already said we can marry them? Therefore that teacher’s claim is false. Those who make the claim that being friends with Jews or Christians usually use the following verse to justify their claims:

"Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah: except by way of precaution, that ye may Guard yourselves from them. But Allah cautions you (To remember) Himself; for the final goal is to Allah." [Quran 3:28]

Brother Joseph Islam explains that verse beautify in another following discussion (link below):
http://quransmessage.com/forum/index.php?topic=260.0


Please also visit the following articles by Brother Joseph Islam, which touch on some of those issues:

http://quransmessage.com/articles/people%20of%20the%20book%20FM3.htm

http://quransmessage.com/articles/marriage%20with%20people%20of%20the%20book%20FM3.htm

http://quransmessage.com/articles/aggressive%20(mis)translations%20of%20the%20quran%20to%20enslave%20women%20FM3.htm

I hope this helped. Please feel free to continue asking questions on this forum and I and the other respected members on this forum will try our best to answer them for you, God willing.

Peace,
Hassan.

162

General Discussions / Re: Understanding Quran 8:39

« on: November 23, 2015, 11:48:59 AM »

Salaam mia666,

You said:

<< "From my understanding, it seems like whenever a Quranic verse instructs people to kill disbelievers, it is a prerequisite that the disbelievers are breaking treaties and being hostile. And the believers are instructed not to transgress the limits of warfare, so that means they have to avoid killing women/children and incline to peace if the enemy also does so" >>

Yes brother/sister your understanding is absolutely right.

You also said:

<< "However, it seems like some verses can be very easily misinterpreted if taken in isolation">>

I absolutely agree with you. It's unfortunate that there are those (Muslims and non-Muslims alike) who purposely misinterpret verses so as to further their devious agenda. But I truly believe, as alluded to earlier, that verse of the Quran must be looked at in their historical as well as textual context to get a better understanding of them.

You also said:

<<"The word deen means not only religion; it can also mean system, government, or way of doing things. That clears a lot of things up. Verse 8:39 is not telling believers to make all religion for Allah, it is actually telling them to make the governing system the way Allah has decreed it. Allah's religion means being monotheistic. However, Allah's governing system means freedom of religion for everyone. That translation is more applicable in 8:39, and it erases any ideas of forced conversion.">>

Again, you are absolutely right in your assessment, brother/sister. Here is an article by Brother Joseph Islam which shares that same sentiment (i.e. that the word 'deen' does not only mean religion, but also means system/government):

http://quransmessage.com/articles/what%20is%20the%20true%20defintion%20of%20deen%20FM3.htm


Finally, with respect to 9:123, I believe that if read we read 2:190-194, 22:39, 60:8-9, which lay down the general circumstances in which war is permitted, then it becomes apparent that the reference to "those deniers of the truth who are near you" refers only to those whom we are currently engaged in war with and who happen to be "near us"; the reason being that their proximity to ”us” would be dangerous in a physical sense.

Hope that (at least) clarifies.
Hassan.

163

General Discussions / Re: Understanding Quran 8:39

« on: November 22, 2015, 11:00:59 AM »

Salaam mia666,

You asked:

"The Quran seems to take any excuse to wage war against disbelievers. It says to fight those who actively oppose God and His Messenger, and the Charlie Hebdo cartoonists did just that, and Islamic extremists killed them. Is this justifiable by the Quran?"

I would disagree with you in saying that the Quran actively advocates for fighting against those who oppose God and His messenger. I believe if you examine the historical as well as textual context of those verses you find that fighting is made permissible only for those who have been (first) aggressed.

Now with regards to the Charlie Hebdo shooting I (as a Muslims) absolutely condemn it. No-where in the Quran does it justify killing those who make a mockery of the prophet. In fact, we as Muslims must follow the example of the prophet, when it comes to dealing with those who mock us (or the prophet). The Quran cites the mockery and abuse by the prophet faced (during his time).

He was called "a man possessed":

"And they say,"O you upon whom the message has been sent down, indeed you are mad." [Quran 15:6]

He was called:

"And when We substitute a verse in place of a verse - and Allah is most knowing of what He sends down - they say, "You, [O Muhammad], are but an inventor [of lies]." But most of them do not know." [Quran 16:101]

Yet despite all these verbal insults, never once was the prophet asked to retaliate in a similar manner. Rather he was asked to simply "bear patience over what they say". As evident by the following verses:


"Be patient over what they say and remember our servant David, the man of strength for he was repeatedly turning (to God)."
[Quran 38:17]

“Therefore be patient with what they say, and celebrate (constantly) the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun and before its setting, yea, celebrate them for part of the hours of the night, and at the sides of the day: that you may have (spiritual) joy”
[Quran 20:130]


Therefore we, as Muslims, must also follow that example when it comes to dealing with those who insult the religion, Allah, the prophets, etc.

164

General Discussions / Re: Understanding Quran 8:39

« on: November 22, 2015, 10:22:09 AM »

Salaam mia666,

You asked:

"the verse very clearly says "until ALL religion is for Allah." Does this mean freedom of religion"

To the best of my understanding it simply means 'until man is free to worship God.' A similar phrase is used in 2:193, as well. Therefore, once both verses have been exaimen it becomes obviouse that "until ALL religion is for Allah" simply means until God can be worshipped without fear of persecution, and none is compelled to bow down in awe before another human being. (See also 22:40.) The term 'din' is in this context more suitably translated as "worship" inasmuch as it comprises here both the doctrinal and the moral aspects of religion: that is to say, man's faith as well as the obligations arising from that faith.

You also asked:

"does He want us to live peacefully with everyone?"

I would argue He wants us to live peacefully with others, as eviden from the following verse (which is just one of many verses that advocate a similar lifestyle):

“Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal with equity”

[al-Mumtahanah 60:8].

165

Islamic Duties / Re: Telling" Ameen" after Surah Fatiha is right?

« on: November 18, 2015, 01:08:24 PM »

Salaam Sardar Miyan,

More onto what brother Hamza has said, here is a nice article (from brother Joseph islam) which I believe may suffice:

http://quransmessage.com/articles/amen%20FM3.htm